Hi guyssss! It’s taggy time again 🙂 I’ve been tagged for the Sunshine blogger award by Freja64 of The Grey Witches. I’ve gotta say – I recently started reading her story, and it’s a true delight 🙂 I command you to go read! (Okay, I don’t command you, but I strongly recommend it). The rules for the award, of course, are as follows:
– In a blog post, thank the person who nominated you and link back to their blog.
– Answer the 11 questions sent by the person who nominated you.
– Nominate 11 new blogs to receive the award and write them 11 new questions.
– List the rules and display the Sunshine Blogger Award logo in your post and/or your blog.
Now, here goes my answers to the questions:
- Why did you start writing?
I’m not sure I can say why I started. I’ve always been telling and writing stories. However, I can say why I, at age fifteen, decided that I wanted to be a writer. It’s a little embarrassing, as is usually the case with teenage junk. Well, at age fifteen I read and became completely obsessed with The Da Vinci Code. Actually, with all Dan Brown’s books. I read them multiple times and learnt lines by heart and treated them like they were super reliable (lol) and super amazing books (LOL). Whatever you may say about his books – at least the made me realise I wanted to be a writer, so that’s something I’m thankful for…
(… even if I dare not read them again for fear that I’ll realise they’re bad. Another book I LOVED at the time, I read later, in my twenties, and it was utter garbage. Wtf, teenage me? So sometimes, you just gotta enjoy the memories and not revisit them – they don’t always live up to the hype). - Where do you write your stories?
In Microsoft Word. Sometimes, I’ll write a bit of a chapter by hand in a notebook if I’m just desperate to get words down. Sometimes even on my phone, if it’s all I have. As for the physical where – at my desk. Though I sometimes like bringing my laptop to a coffee shop and write there. For some reason, having a lot of people and noice around me – but not people I know – calms me. - Do you write the story first or are you inspired by your gameplay?
Eh, I don’t really play The Sims as of this writing. With AMVS, I do usually take pictures first and then write, though. In other cases, I write and then take pictures, and generally I’ve come to prefer the latter version. - Have you ever used a version of “yourself” in a story?
More like bits and pieces of myself. I am well aware that I’d make for an extremely boring main character – a good protagonist does stuff, which I hardly ever do. But my characters have something of me: Nadir is shy and has social anxiety, Genevieve is bookish, Celeste enjoys good wine/food and is optimistic, Carlo is a romantic at heart. Vittoria… Okay, Vittoria I have nothing in common which.Hence why she’s a pain in the ass to write. - Do you listen to music while writing / playing? If yes, what kind?
I very nearly always listen to music when I’m writing, yes 🙂 Same goes for when I play ts3. If I get very caught up in writing, I sometimes just write without listening to anything, though it’s rare. What I listen to depends on my mood. The past few days I’ve been listening to game soundtracks: Skyrim, Assassin’s Creed II, and Yooka-Laylee being my soundtracks of choice. Other times, I just put on my playlist, which is full of everything from classic rock to the most recent sappy love songs. I like a bit of nearly everything 🙂 - What kind of books do you read and why?
Fantasy, mystery, and romance, mostly. Sometimes a mixture of all of those! I like fantasy because it can do everything that “normal” fiction can… but with dragons and magic powers. I like mystery because I’m a sucker for that – give me an intriguing mystery and I’ll probably be glued to the pages. Romance… is because I’m a big old sappy sap 🙂 Though that said, I prefer books with romantic subplots. Just becuase I like romance, doesn’t mean you can throw a Danielle Steel novel at me (I’ll likely throw it back at you, because I read one of her novels and it was awful). - Which of your characters could be your roomie?
Vittoria. Probably Celeste 🙂 Cheerful, enjoys life, outgoing – it would suit my own social awkwardness well 🙂 - Have you ever imagined getting your story published?
I have. It’s still something I’m thinking of doing for one of my stories, though I’m taking it easy. I only know that I might want to some day. For now, though, the ts3 WordPress community is plenty to satisfy me. - Have you already cried while writing something particularly moving?
I almost cried writing another ending to CoM, which I ended up scrapping. It was too bad, because I liked the scene a lot (honestly, I hope I saved it – maybe I can use it later) – it was just waaaaaaay too overwrought and didn’t fit where the characters were at the time. - Is there someone who reads your stories and who gives you feedback before publishing?
So far there hasn’t been. My boyfriend’s been reading after I’ve posted. However, he’s going to be reading the CoM sequel and AMVS edit before posting them 🙂 - Have you ever wanted to be like one of your characters?
Not really. I try and make my characters flawed, and I’d rather not have their flaws to deal with. I already have my own and they’re quite the struggle. I’ve become a lot more comfortable in my own skin since mid-last year as well, so though I still have bad times, I’m generally happy to be me 🙂
Well, that’s it for now. Thanks again to Freja64 for the nomination and for the great questions. This was a lot of fun 🙂 I’m going to pass on nominating anyone myself, because I’m tired and the math is getting harder. We’re on differentials right now and I gotta say guys… there are so many numbers and I’m just tired.
Anyway, I’ll leave this here and hope everyone has a great day 🙂 I’ll see you in the next post!
Cheers!
~Louise/NotJustaBook
0 Comments
loladiamond01 · April 10, 2018 at 5:21 pm
These questions seem really fun. It seems like I’m in the minority of those who haven’t really met Freja yet. I always have it hard trying to catch up on another simlit. It’s so much easier and less demanding with real books when I know no one controls how quickly I read and so on 😛
I myself, too, write my stuff in Word, and also in the notebook on my phone, but this is mainly for notes (I know, I’ve just discovered America saying you write notes in notebooks… Lol, is there even such a saying in English? We say so in Poland with sarcasm).
Yes, I get you on the ts3 community. Everyone feels so welcome here, not at all like in the real world of books publishing where you can stumble upon many nasty people and haters. Though I wouldn’t mind if someone criticized me sometimes, just for improvement.
freja64 · April 11, 2018 at 6:34 am
Hi there! So now we have met, loladiamond01 😉 My uncle was Polish and he always spoke so well about his country, which he left during WWII. He only went back to see his family a couple of times in the eighties, and it was one of the highlights of his life.
I don’t mean to be pushy, but I never check the progression tabs on my blog, I’m just happy if someone reads! If that someone should like or give some feedback, its a bonus 🙂 I will check out your blog too, hoping you won’t keep tabs on me, lol!
loladiamond01 · April 11, 2018 at 11:58 am
Hello! 😉
Poland is a wonderful country, we were through so much and so much was taken away from us, many people had to leave the country to keep their safety.
Of course I will eventually get around to checking your blog out, it’s just I believe that everyone deserves my opinion and sometimes it takes a lot from me, because I’m such an introvert. It’s not about anyone keeping tabs on anyone I have this feeling no matter if someone checks or not.
freja64 · April 11, 2018 at 1:24 pm
That’s why I have partly deserted the forums – it takes a lot of time to write answers to everyone, and I feel bad if I miss out on someone. It’s easier to lurk around, handing out likes and awesomes… I’m usually on my cell, reading the notifications on my mail, and as I don’t have unlimited Internet, I read and like!
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:14 pm
I think they were really great questions, too – had a lot of fun answering them 🙂
Well, I only met Freja recently and I haven’t read much of her stuff yet, but it’s super good 🙂 Books are a little easier sometimes, yeah, because you can’t add comments on them, lol 😛
Our little community here is so lovely 🙂 I would like more constructive criticism, myself, but that’s what I’m going to use boyfriend for, ha, ha 😛
Lila Remonn · April 11, 2018 at 12:35 am
Nice answers! “So sometimes, you just gotta enjoy the memories and not revisit them…” < great advice ☺️
Good luck with the maths, oh boy 😬
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:16 pm
Thank you! In my experience, it can be sort of dangerous to try and relive the past – it rarely lives up to the memories 😛
Ha, ha, and thanks again – it really is getting hard. I’m so tired in my head!
amyqueen · April 11, 2018 at 1:04 am
Congrats~ I totally identified with a lot of your answers, especially the first one XD There have been several times when I’d try to revisit something I placed on a pedestal in my youth and have shattered the image it held because my much older self catches way more things that kind of ruin it, haha.
I’ve tried writing prior to photo-taking on several occasions and have found it hard because sometimes I can’t capture things the way I want to and the story shifts gears and takes a life of its own and I have to scrap some stuff (r.i.p) so now I do he opposite 99% of the time, but it’s cool to see that writing first works for you 🙂
(btw Ezio’s Family is one of my fave tracks off that AC II soundtrack :D)
Math is not fun once it gets more complicated, best of luck with that!
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:18 pm
Thank you <3
Argh, I know, right?! It's sad, because something that just seemed like the best ever once just ends up being… not as great. Ah, at least we'll always have the memories of how great it was 🙂
For the longest time, it didn't work for me either. And to be fair – I sometimes build sets and create sims before I write, then I write, then I take pictures. It does help to visualise the setting and the characters, I find 🙂
(That's a great tune! :D)
Thank you! I agree, I probably liked the less abstract stuff more, though I feel like I'm starting to get differentials – it's just suuuuper draining!
freja64 · April 11, 2018 at 6:24 am
Thanks for answering so fast! I hope everything goes well with your differentials! Maths is awesome, and scary… and completely incomprehensible for me who is an English teaecher 😀
You give good advice concerning not revisiting old memories. Same goes for places – returning to live where you have grown up isn’t the same. About books – the only book I’ve ever read several times with the same wonder is The Lord of the Rings!
Like you, I do my real writing at my desk at home, otherwise it’s in my notebook wherever, whenever! I can relate to you putting bits and pieces into your important characters! I think it’s unavoidable, if you’re not making up someone who’s exactly the opposite. But then again, something of you is there anyway…
Don’t worry, I don’t have any Danielle Steel novels to throw at you! But I do have some Jackie Collins gathering dust somewhere 😉
It’s good to have your boyfriend reading your story, so you can get feedback from a person in your immediate circle. I miss that… Writing is therapeutic; a diary, a story… It helps getting your emotions and thoughts in place! Feeling good being you is what matters most, so go get those exams! Good luck!
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:23 pm
You’re welcome – it was really fun and the questions were great 🙂
Trust me when I say I used to HATE math all the way through school. It helps that I have a teacher who can explain herself and that I’m absolutely determined to pass so that I can become a programmer 🙂
No, it really isn’t – it’s often better to visit those places in your memories 🙂 I always enjoy when I re-read Pride and Prejudice and Emma. They always make me happy 🙂
I have a note app on my phone I use for when I get desperate, if you know what I mean. Sometimes, I just itch to get some words down and the phone is better than nothing 🙂
I don’t know if Jackie Collins is better or worse… I just know that Danielle Steel has got to be one of the worst I’ve ever read xD
I do really like having someone give feedback, and boyfriend is very honest despite loving me. He’s great like that!
Thank you so much, and thanks again for the tag <3
freja64 · April 11, 2018 at 5:29 pm
Jackie Collins is the same. Trust me. With more sex.
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 6:56 pm
Well, there’s another writer I don’t want to read 😀
freja64 · April 12, 2018 at 6:34 am
I think I have NTBR list that is slightly longer than the TBR is!
sempreviva · April 11, 2018 at 7:27 am
Condratulations on your award! <3
Hehe, the thing with Dan Brown's book reminds me of Paulo Coelho's "The Alchemist"! When I read it I thought it was super deep (please don't judge me lol) and then I went and bought another book of his which, upon reading, I discovered it was essentially the same with the first one! It reminded me of those self help books if I ever read one. Okay, enough ranting! 😂
I wish you good luck at uni and on those dreadful differentials! 😁 <3
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Thank you <3
I haven't read that myself, but I've heard some people saying how deep it is and others how deep it… isn't. It's funny how one can change over time 😛
And thanks again 😀 I'm going to kick those differentials' butts, for sure! 😉
hell0chloe · April 11, 2018 at 11:33 am
Congrats on your award – these are some great answers!!
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:24 pm
Thank you very much 🙂
Claire S. · April 11, 2018 at 11:34 am
Congrats on your award! I loved reading your answers!!!
When the Da Vince Code movie version came out, I was at a catholic school at the time and it got the whole class shook 😂! Needless to say, it was a pretty funny time!
NotJustaBook · April 11, 2018 at 4:25 pm
Thank you!
Ha, ha, oh the drama! I do remember all the controversy, though these days it’s died down pretty hard – I think for most it’s just an uninteresting page-turner these days 😛
RosemaryMarie · April 11, 2018 at 10:26 pm
Congratulations! I’m a huge mystery fan, too. 🙂
NotJustaBook · April 12, 2018 at 6:46 am
Thank you, Rosemary! Nothing like a good mystery to hook me in 😀
RosemaryMarie · April 12, 2018 at 12:33 pm
Ain’t that the truth! 😀 Every time I look for something to read, I’m like, “Yes, but is there a mystery in it?” LOL