So, this post was supposed to go up yesterday, but it didn’t because it was my birthday and I was feeling lazy. Let’s all just pretend it d...

Tag Week: A Writer’s Life For Me

Alexa Mintah

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So, this post was supposed to go up yesterday, but it didn’t because it was my birthday and I was feeling lazy. Let’s all just pretend it did, though. :)

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Hello peoples! Random note: it is my 18th birthday! *throws confetti and eats cake* Though I’m not sure whether to be excited about the fact that I am legally a grown-up or cry because I don’t want to adult.

While I try to figure that out, here’s our first tag for the week.

Ze Rules:

1. Thank the person who tagged you.

2. Repost the picture.

2. Answer the ten questions.

4. Tag 5-10 bloggers.

Well, first things first: I was tagged for this by the spectacular Heather from Sometimes I’m a Story. Thank you so much, Heather! :D By the way, everyone, if you haven’t checked out the post she did for this, you have to because it is hysterical. Like seriously, amazing.

On to the questions!

What Kind Of Writer Are You?

Um... the writing kind?

More specifically, I’m the cackly, evil kind who’d love to rip her readers’ hearts out, burn them, and dance on the ashes, but also experiences intense pain when she hurts her characters. So I’m generally both cackling and mentally crying at the same time. I am a dreadful paradox.

When Did You Start Writing? What Made You Want To Try It?

This is actually kind of a long story, but to make it short: I was about 5 or 6 when I wrote my first story, and I don’t remember why I did it. Just wanted to, I guess.

Fast forward to 14, I’ve been writing on and off for the past 8 years, but after moving four states away from my hometown, writing became an outlet for my thoughts and emotions. Then my mom recommended NaNoWriMo to me, and I gave it a go because I literally had nothing else to do with my life. But I’m glad I didn't because NaNo was a blast, I adored my story, and I’ve been writing ever since.

What Inspires Your Stories?

Everything.

Seriously though. I can literally find inspiration anywhere: from another story to a song to a movie or a tv show, from the people I know to the people I don’t know, from long dissertations to random snippets of conversation. I just keep my ears and eyes open, and the next thing I know, BAM. Inspiration.

(That was not intentional, but I just realized a lot of it rhymed. Maybe I should write a poem... Anywho)

So yeah, short answer is everything and anything can and has inspired my stories.

What Themes Do You Like To Explore In Your Writing?

Depends on the story. I’ve done everything from the kind of common love-and-forgiveness story to coming-of-age to the human psyche and mental illness. I just like exploring all themes and ideas, and once something grabs my interest, I just write about it, exploring the concept through words until I feel like I understand it or at least have a handle on how I feel about it.

Are You A Pantser, A Plotter, or A Bit Of Both?

Almost entirely pantser, but I have tried to plot a bit before writing some of my stories.

Where Are You At In Your Writing Journey? Querying? Agenting? Published?

(Funny story, when I was typing this out, I accidentally wrote “questing” instead of “querying” and that just seemed strangely accurate to me, lol. But moving on)

I’ve bounced between editing and querying for the last two years or so but right now, I’m back to querying.

Have You Ever Entered Any Writing Contests? Finaled? Won?

I have entered a LOT of writing contests, lol. But I’ve only finaled in the GTW ones (which count in my opinion), and I won a contest that S. Alex Martin did on his blog (which I also say counts, and it is my birthday, so you have to agree with me.)

Who Are Your Writer Heroes?

Sorry, but I really don’t know, lol. There are just too many amazing authors. Like I could basically sit here all day and just list my various writing heroes for various reasons. Writers are amazing, guys.

Have You Ever Been To A Writing Conference? Share Your Best and Worse Experiences.

Never been. Will someday. Talk to you then.

Top 3 Tips You’d Give To Newbie Writers:

Ahahaha, I’m not really sure I’m the best person to go to for advice, so disclaimer: use at your own risk. But I’m pretty sure these are good. Mostly because I’ve heard them elsewhere but whatever:

1. Write. You’re a writer if you write. That’s all there is to it.

2. Don’t worry, you’ll get there eventually.

3. Don’t compare yourself to other writers. Like I said in the second tip, you’ll get there eventually, and there was a time when those great writers were exactly where you are right now.

It’s like this quote I saw once: don’t compare your chapter 1 to someone else’s chapter 20. Those big dogs who have million-dollar contract deals (do those exist for books?) have been at this way longer than us newbies, so it seems like they’ve got it all together and their writing is perfect. But one, they probably don’t; two, it isn’t; and three, if we keep at it, we’ll get better and we’ll make it there eventually. :)

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That got kind of deep at the end. Nice.

We all know I’m not that great at tagging people, but here goes nothing: I tag Koko, Kat, Shar, Charisma, and Ciera.

*nods* I did five. I feel accomplished. And if you wanna do the tag and I didn’t tag you, here you go *tosses it at you* Feel free to steal it from me. :D

Comment time! What advice would you give a newbie writer? Have you ever been to a writers’ conference? Pick some of the other questions above and answer them in the comments! I’d love to hear from you all. :D

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