What’s your character’s saving grace?

Question for the Followers:

Feedback please!

What kinds of posts/materials that you haven’t seen before on FYCD would be helpful to you? What recent posts have been useful? What would you like to see more of?

Question: When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

This question is a rather simple one. When did you first realize that you wanted to take up writing? For me, I’ve been writing as long I can remember. Since kindergarten, at least. My father works in a furniture factory, and used to come home with these sheets of paper stapled together that was supposed to serve as a notepad. I used to  take these notepads and write stories in them (along with drawing my own terrible kiddie illustrations, orz.) The only thing I can remember writing back then in detail was a story about a puppy that ran away from home. Then it took off from there.

So, when did you first realize that you wanted to write? Feel free to share your story!

- Pen

Question: What are your thoughts on ‘Death of the Author’?

For those of you who don’t know the meaning of the term, TV Tropes has a nice article on it: Death Of The Author.

Personally, here are my thoughts: Everyone has different life experiences and personalities, and so everyone will approach and interpret works differently. Once you make your message public and unleash it to the world, it doesn’t really belong solely to you anymore. It will have different meanings to different people. So, I do agree that there should be an allowance of different interpretations to a work. Not: “Lets disregard everything the author has to say about their work.” More: “The author’s interpretation is not always absolute and shouldn’t be the be all end all interpretation.”

- Pen

Question

Who, at the moment, is your favorite character to write?

Which Writer/Person/Thing Has Inspired Your Writing The Most And Why?

Just a question for fun, again. :)

Myself,

I’d say the writer who has inspired me the most, in terms of overall themes, is the mangaka Kaori Yuki. A lot of themes from her works have bled over into my own (tragic characters, forbidden love, Gothic mysteries/romance, lots of internal conflict.) In terms of style, I tend to feed off of whoever I may be reading at the time, but my style used to derive heavily from the works of Oscar Wilde. I also get inspiration from video games, like the Silent Hill series (mostly for atmosphere), or games from Remedy like the Max Payne series or Alan Wake (dialogue. Oh my god, I love Max’s narrative voice.)

What about you guys? Feel free to share! 

- Pen

Not an author, but P. T. Barnum.  I’ve read both of the available autobiographies I could find (he write several as his life progressed).  He was the greatest showman ever.  I mean, he did a bunch of crazy stuff, like plow his fields with an elephant and pay a guy to walk around picking up and putting down bricks for a few hours while people watched, and it worked.  In the 1800’s, everybody knew Barnum, and it’s a shame people only know him as “the circus guy” today, because that was only one part of him.  I eventually want to be a great showman as well as an author, and I consider P. T. Barnum to be something of a role model.

-Shannah

Question: What’s your favorite snack/drink when writing?

Do you have a favorite food or beverage to eat/drink while you’re writing? For me, I’m partial to a glass of cold sweet tea, hazelnut coffee if I’m up late (which is pretty often, haha), and the occasional fuzzy navel. As far as food goes, I like to munch on anything sweet, but I’m more prone to drinks.

What about you guys? I’m asking cause I’m curious and I think this would be kind of fun, after the playlist question got so many responses. Or maybe I’m just hungry, haha.

- Pen

Question: What Songs Do You Listen To While Writing?

Do you guys have an specific songs you listen to while writing? There are character playlists, of course, but sometimes I like to listen to instrumental music that will help me relax and feel calm. Usually, its from video game OSTs. Here’s two that I’ve been listening to a lot lately: Resident Evil Save Room Compilation, So Noted. 

If any of you guys have specific songs you listen to, feel free to reply to this post with their names!

- Pen

Important Question?

Hey guys! Pen here.

We’ve gotten a lot of feedback about asks lately, and one in particular caught my eye. So, I am going to pose a question:

Would you guys be interested in a separate tumblr that deals specifically with advice/ asks? I’m thinking of something akin to Writer Leopard Advice.

Please respond! I’d also like to hear the other co-admins’ opinions on this.