The Member Of the Month for April is :
CONGRATS!!
1.Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA, where I still live. I'm one of the last true city natives.
I currently live three blocks from the ocean and am impatiently awaiting for summer.
2.What is the first thing you remember that perked your interest in writing?
People leaving comments that they really liked poems and short stories I was posting in xanga. A girl there told me about Allpoetry and then I found Storywrite from there.
3.Did you go to college/university?
I took night classes at Tidewater Community College for a while. Never quite finished the degree though.
4.If so, what was your major?
Graphic design.
5.Outside of college, how have you educated yourself beyond secondary school?
I've been an artist for years (sketching and painting) which led me to working in an art gallery and helping people display their own work. I've been working in galleries for almost twenty years and now do art consultation and custom picture framing for corporate clients.
6.How's the weather?
This is a trick question isn't it? -chuckles- Right now it's fluctuating anywhere between the fifties and seventies, it's windy as heck and it's raining a lot. I'm just waiting for summer.
7.What's your favorite color?
Hmm. Shades of green and blue. Earth colors. They remind me of the forest, the ocean and the sky.
8.Food?
Pasta and seafood. .. And pizza and hot wings. lol
9.Pastime?
Hmm. Multiple ones here. Reading, playing guitar, artwork and writing. In no particular order.
10.Music?
Wow, all over the place on this one. Being a musician I listen to a little of everything.
My favorites would probably be acoustic and alternative rock.
11. Writer?
Terry Brooks, David Eddings, JRR Tolkien and Anne McCaffery are the first to come to mind, but their are many others.
12. TV show?
I don't watch much tv but I like crime dramas. The CSI's, Criminal Minds, Numb3rs, that kind of thing.
13 .Movie?
I love how Peter Jackson was able to bring 'The Lord of the Rings' to life on the screen.
14. Book?
No single one. Terry Brook's Shannara series, Anne McCaffery's Dragonriders of Pern series, and of course The Lord of the Rings trilogy.
15.Poem?
Edgar Allen Poe's 'The Raven'
Info about your Writing :
1.When did you first begin to write?
Since music and art were my first influences I've just gotten serious about writing in the last two or three years.
2.What kind of stories do you prefer to write?
My poetry (which is what I still write more of) is all about human feelings, ..and nature.
My stories so far fall along the same line but nature is more involved there. I'm currently working on some fantasy stuff.
3.Fiction or non-fiction?
As you could tell from my favorite authors, my favorite genre to read is fantasy, and science fiction.
I'm still working on being able to write it.
4.Have you published anything?
No. Maybe one day though, huh? *sighs*
5.What is your reaction when the muse visits? Drop everything and write it down or tuck it away in memory and write it later?
A little of both. -chuckles- It usually hits when I'm out at the park or on the beach or falling asleep. When I'm near paper and pen I jot down notes. I have pages of them, mostly single lines or mere thoughts. I keep them all in a notebook. I often come up with a similar thought later and go back and come up with something cohesive from the prior thought. Weird how that works.
6 .Do you consider yourself a spontaneous writer or do you tend to plan things out in advance?
Again, a little of both. Poems are mostly spontaneous. Sometimes a single line will come to mind and then half an hour later I have a poem. Stories don't work that way. I usually come up with a main theme and work on thoughts for it, jotting notes as they come to me. Then I'll write up a beginning and work from there.
7. .How does reading other authors affect your writing skills?
Very much. I always notice styles and word phrasings and remember the ones I like and try to incorporate their essence into my own writings. I read constantly. Anything that really strikes me in some way stays in the back of my mind and I remember it when it relates to something I'm trying to accomplish.
8. When you sit down to write something is it fun or work?
It's usually fun but when a block strikes it can be agonizing. Then I usually just set it aside and come back to it later.
9. .How do you get past writers block?
I'm getting one right now. lol. Just kidding.
I just set what I'm working on aside and read. While I like to think I'm very imaginative but many of my ideas for stories originate from a single thought I've read somewhere else. I'll expand on that thought and personalize it and go from there.
One of my poems is strictly about writers block and the feeling of overcoming it.
10. What feeds your desire to continue writing?
The feeling of accomplishing what I set out to do. The encouraging comments from those who read my work also makes me want to write more. It helps me feel like maybe I'm doing it right.
11.Who are your influences?
The authors I mentioned before as well as anyone who has written a story that I enjoyed reading.
12.How do you know when your story is finished?
That's a real trick question there! I don't. I just wait till I get to the point where I say "Ok, this is it."
Hey! I'm still learning this stuff here!
General things about you
1.Hobbies?
I already told you. Music, art, reading, writing. Duh.
2.Pets?
None right now.
3.Talents?
Playing guitar, creating artwork and trying to write.
4.Jobs?
What? All of them? Let's just stick with Art Gallery consultant and framer.
5.What advice would you give to growing writers?
Don't give up. It often takes a while to find your forte.
And never stop reading. Reading, whether it's stories or poetry, is the best inspiration you can get for finding ideas and styles that can help you form your own.
Then just get creative. Think outside the box. Make it happen.
Check out a story he wrote!! Click right here :
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Comments have been turned off to encourage more personal interaction. Like commenting on his story, or sending him a private personal im of congratulations etc.
If you know of anyone that you think should be member of the month please IM me and link to me their page. In time they will be reviewed.
On the side note Abstract Muse thank you for being one of storywrites active members! We do appreciate the stories you contribute to the site.
