30 days on writing: Entry #20: The question must explain itself

[ed_rex]

Random Gloats:

Return to the personal

And then there's meme

I got a telephone call from Philadelphia last night, from one of the best friends I have that I've not met in person.

Among the things we talked about was Raven. "I've never seen a picture of her," quoth Ms Philadelphia.

"Nor will you any time soon," I said, "Raven is pretty strict about limiting her online exposure. I'm awfully sweet on her and I'd love to show her off to the world, but well, I ain't allowed to."

But it's also true that I am allowed to speak of her in general terms. And it is even more true that I really am sweet on her. 我爱 Raven indeed.

Truth to tell, in the abstract there's a lot to be worried about in our relationship. She's not much interested in politics and our tastes in film and literature are pretty different (though we agree on the general awesomeness that was the late, lamented The Sarah Silverman Program), she doesn't like me to sing or prance around in public and there's that 19 year age-gap and the China/Canada cultural divide ...

But on the plus side of the ledger, the truth is we get along like gangbusters. Almost to the point of scariness.

Another reason I've mostly stopped blogging about my personal life is that, Raven aside, I pretty much don't have one. I've gone out socializing (sans Raven or visiting family members in or around hospital) precisely once, back in January or February.

I think Raven (again accepting her 6 week sojourn back "home") has been out twice, possibly three times on non-Geoffrey social expeditions.

And if you think that sounds scary to you, think what it sounds like to us!

But, somehow, we haven't bored one another yet and I at least, find myself more in love with her every day. So I prefer to think of this intense period of togetherness as a kind of compatibility test, one which we have thus far passed with flying colours.

But still, I know I need to get out more. And as soon as my finances improve — even a little — I'm going to try to do just that. There are a couple of Ottawa folks I definitely hope to have return engagaments with, if they're still willing.

But meanwhile, coccooning with my sweetie has been a hermatose pleasure that I can't really complain about.

Meanwhile, back at the meme,

20. What are your favorite character interactions to write?

You know, I really am finding it difficult to figure this question out.

Is it asking whether I prefer to write fight scenes or love scenes? Explicit sex scenes or or telephone conversations?

How about I say that I like to write character interactions which help lend verisimilitudinous dimensionality in time to the reader's conceptualization of the personae of my characters while also providing a chronological displacement to the narrative flow?

No, seriously. Does anyone else have a better idea what that question means?

0. Explain yourself! In which Young Geoffrey explains the meme and his reasons for exploring it.

1. Tell us about your favorite writing project/universe that you've worked with and why.

2. How many characters do you have? Do you prefer males or females

3. How do you come up with names, for characters (and for places if you're writing about fictional places)?

4. Tell us about one of your first stories/characters!

5. By age, who is your youngest character? Oldest? How about "youngest" and "oldest" in terms of when you created them?

6. Where are you most comfortable writing? At what time of day? Computer or good ol' pen and paper?

7. Do you listen to music while you write? What kind? Are there any songs you like to relate/apply to your characters?

8. What's your favorite genre to write? To read?

9. How do you get ideas for your characters? Describe the process of creating them.

10. What are some really weird situations your characters have been in? Everything from serious canon scenes to meme questions counts!

11. Who is your favorite character to write? Least favorite?

12. In what story did you feel you did the best job of worldbuilding? Any side-notes on it you'd like to share?

13. What's your favorite culture to write, fictional or not?

14. How do you map out locations, if needed? Do you have any to show us?

15. Midway question! Tell us about a writer you admire, whether professional or not!

16. Do you write romantic relationships? How do you do with those, and how "far" are you willing to go in your writing? ;)

17. Favorite protagonist and why!

18. Favorite antagonist and why!

19. Favorite minor that decided to shove himself into the spotlight and why!

21. Do any of your characters have children? How well do you write them?

22. Tell us about one scene between your characters that you've never written or told anyone about before! Serious or not.

23. How long does it usually take you to complete an entire story — from planning to writing to posting (if you post your work)?

24. How willing are you to kill your characters if the plot so demands it? What's the most interesting way you've killed someone?

25. Do any of your characters have pets? Tell us about them.

26. Let's talk art! Do you draw your characters? Do others draw them? Pick one of your OCs and post your favorite picture of him!

27. Along similar lines, do appearances play a big role in your stories? Tell us about them, or if not, how you go about designing your characters.

28. Have you ever written a character with physical or mental disabilities? Describe them, and if there's nothing major to speak of, tell us a few smaller ones.

29. How often do you think about writing? Ever come across something IRL that reminds you of your story/characters?

30. Final question! Tag someone! And tell us what you like about that person as a writer and/or about one of his/her characters!

Comments

hello from Philadelphia

[jade-noir.livejournal.com]

Yes I am home! It was good to hear your near-sandpapery voice on the other end of the line before going to bed. And I have yet to read your 1-19 entries. Why are you using Dreamwidth? and why can't people without dreamwidth accounts see your entries? Should I get a dreamwidth account? Inquires the Mz Philly.

Re: hello from Philadelphia

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

'Sandpapery', eh? I blame your phone and/or the lousy connectivity on your end; half the time I had to work out what you were saying based on context! Anyway, I'm glad you're home and (I presume) at least reasonably well.

As for the Dreamwidth entries, they are all available here, so you don't need to read them there, even the friends-locked ones. Still, you might want to look into getting one (I think I sent you an invite code ages ago, but you never used it). I believe they're a non-profit enterprise and they're selling themselves as believing in freedom of speech first and foremost. If it matters to you, many and possibly most of the people behind it, including the techs, seem to be women, as well.

I think I still have that code if you're interested.

[sabotabby]

I took it as meaning that sometimes characters are interesting in particular combinations. So I might prefer writing scenes where Aisha and Boris interact, because they have such a complicated relationship, over writing scenes where Clarissa and Darshika interact. Everyone else took it to mean "do you like writing fighting scenes or fucking scenes?"

*Sigh* I hate being part of dumb old 'everyone else'

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

You're probably right. I wish I'd posted first thing in the morning so I could claim that sleep was still clogging up my brain, but unfortunately that would require a pretty major lie.

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

I think there is something to be said for differences in relationships. I think what matters is whether or not those differences are complementary or compound bad personality traits/problems. I'm convinced one of the reasons my husband and I work so well is because we each have positive traits that balance the other's negative ones.

Vive la difference!

[ed-rex.livejournal.com]

I think and hope that you're right. And with Raven and I, so far so good; I've never spent so much concentrated time for so long (not even close!) with a partner before and we are somehow still not boring one another.