I’m late to the party with this as usual, but I liked this tag because (wonder of wonders!) there are some questions in it that I don’t think I’ve answered in a tag before. I think it originated with Cait, but I filched it from Jenny Freitag. So, here we go…
What genres/styles/topics do you write?
Genres: Historical, historical, and historical. Within those parameters, I also write mysteries sometimes; and I choose to regard western as a sub-genre of historical fiction.
Styles: I’ve been told, and I think myself, that my style tends to be old-fashioned. I grew up on classics and my tastes have always run to older books, so I’ve absorbed a lot of their style and rhythm. The vast majority of the time I write in third-person, though I take a plunge into first-person on occasion—I’ve written a few short, sharp bits of fiction in first (like this, and more recently this), and some longer ones with more dry semi-humorous narration.
Topics: I seldom actually sit down and think what specific topic I want to write about, but when I look over my whole body of work I see some themes recurring. I seem to like writing about relationships between people—family relationships and close friendships as well as romantic pairings. I also notice themes of conscience, of trust and loyalty, of being forced to make decisions about the right thing to do.
How long have you been writing?
I can’t even remember. My earliest efforts extant (such as Adventures in the Woods, which I fondly believed to be #20 in the Boxcar Children series) are dated 1996 and 1997, so it seems I’ve been at it since I learned how to string words together. What I regard as my first serious writing efforts were my first NaNoWriMo attempts in 2008 and 2009, both of them murder-mysteries. The first I’m content to regard as practice, the second has been re-outlined two or three times and may yet see daylight one day.
Why do you write?
‘Cause I just can’t help it.
When is the best time to write?
Theoretically, mid-morning and/or early afternoon, the times when I tend to have gotten everyday household chores out of the way and nobody’s likely to call me to do anything else. Of course, it doesn’t always work out that way. Some of the very best writing sessions I ever had were in the summertime when I could get up early in the morning and go outside to work on the deck in almost perfect peace and quiet. I’d love to get back into that routine this summer.
What parts of writing do you love // what parts of writing do you hate?
Love: the excitement that comes with the first rush of a new idea, when I’m scribbling down character names and plot ideas and bits of dialogue. The moment when I write a sentence or paragraph and realize that hey, that’s rather good…that probably won’t need to be touched in the second draft. The rare occasions when I really get on a roll and simply don’t want to stop.
Hate: the moment when I know exactly what my character is supposed to do next, but can’t find the words to describe them doing it. The moment when I know exactly what’s going to happen in the scene after this one, but not what’s going to happen in this one. The moment when I know there’s something wrong with a story draft, know that it needs editing, but can’t put my finger on exactly what changes need to be made.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
Lately I’ve been coming to think that writer’s block is like being stuck in a thorn hedge: if you struggle too hard, it’s just going to hurt worse. For me, anyway. Sometimes overcoming it can be as simple as laying the project aside for a little while (and maybe writing something else); often I get a rush of new creativity from reading a good book or watching a good movie, particularly one in the same genre/historical period that I’m trying to work in.
Are you working on something at the moment?
Yes, still inching along in little baby steps on Dearest Lieutenant.
Do you have any writing goals for this year?
Just to get as much of Dearest Lieutenant’s first draft written as I can…and I’d like to get my next Mrs. Meade Mystery published at some point during the year. Anything else that happens will be on the spur of the moment.
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Hamlette says
Oh, you’re not that late — I have this tag sitting in my drafts right now, half filled out.
We have a lot of themes in common, I think. Probably why I enjoy your books!
Hannah Gaudette says
Nope, you aren’t late. I just got mine in today. 🙂 Our “Why do You Write” answers were quite similar.
https://hannahgaudetteauthor.wordpress.com/2017/05/09/the-writers-tag-questions-for-a-writer/