Tagged by @stringslady
It's the week of my finals, I am tryin' man.
1. when did you start writing
Hmm...well the practice of pen on paper, maybe three. It was mainly just letters and gibberish; however, I started wanting to write a book in third grade. I started keeping books of ideas and pictures of scenes and notes. I never thought I could be good enough to write, but that changed. I began physically writing my ideas into stories in 2015, two weeks before I broke up with then boyfriend.

2. What is the first book you wrote or read that made you cry?
The Bible. I was a high school freshman, and a kid in my class had just died from accidentally shooting himself. That weekend I felt constantly upset, and when I went to do my devotions, it was over joy in sorrowful times because it produces perseverance. I cried so hard tears hut the page. God's word is still the only book that evokes deep feeling in me.

3. Does writing energize or exhaust you?
Energize. I could do it all day, but then I get over obsessive and I forget to eat😬

4. What is your writing kryptonite?
Characters. I love people and how they think, so usually as I write nee people just pop in. I love it, but it confuses people.

5. Do you try to be more original or deliver what the reader wants?
Both. I don't base my plot or ideas on people, but I am aware people read my stuff. I try to make the story as concise and developed as possible for the reader.

6. What other authors are you friends with and how do they help your work?
Ha! Nice! I have social anxiety, and talking with people about the weather scares me, so sharing works that carry pieces of my soul is like death. Anyway, I have two authors in my life. One in my buddy H, she reads my stuff and helps my grammar. The second is my sister, A. She is a saint! I love her so much! She helps with my stuff, which I have not published (sorry not done)

7. If you could tell younger writing you anything, what would it be?
Listen to grammar. I know you are panicking and the teachers are horrible, but calm down and try. You aren't stupid.

8. What is the best money you have ever spent as a writer?
Notebooks. Notebooks. Pens. Notebooks. In my opinion, good writers keep some form of recording device always on them. Those Ah-Ha moments come once.

9. What is your favorite unappreciated novel?
Chronicles of Narnia. If you like the movies, read the books! They are beautiful and CS Lewis will expand you descriptive style!

10. How many unpublished and half books do you have?
The mother load question! I have so many unfinished ideas, really! I have notebooks of sketches and at least ten stories I have terminated. One I am finishing now. I am five chapters from completion, then I will revise, then I am done! Ah! I'm excited! Best advice for unfinished books, never force yourself to finish. Sometimes you have a flawless character, but that's not the story they belong in. Wait to find them.

11. What research do you do, and how long do you do it before starting a book?
I do people research. I mainly look up "" probs. Such as, my character is from California, so I looked up LA probs, and read people's common and relatable things from living in LA. From that, I made a character better, and added dimension. My research is spotty, so I do it when I come up to it. This mainly consists of google for a few minutes.

12. What is the most difficult thing about writing from the perspective of a character who is the opposite gender?
Cognition, temperament and mentality. I am currently a psych major, and although the genders don't differ too much, men and women do have different perspectives on some things (like the purpose of friends and how to measure self-worth.) As of right now, I do not have a male lead, but I did do 1 chapter. It was easy, after all, men are people too.

13. How do you select names for your characters?
Sounds! I picture what they look like and how they act, and then I pick a name that pops in my head. The meaning of the name usually doesn't matter to me. After all, my parents just liked the sound of my name, not the meaning.

14. Do you hide any secrets in your book only a few people would find?
Like personal jokes? Nah! I have like five close people in my life, and I feel like the reader would be left out.

15. What is the hardest scenes to write?
Love scenes. I can do violent, angry, sad, but romance is not something I have experienced so I have no clue.

16. What is the hardest part of your artistic process?
Stopping and making stuff too complicated. I spend way to much time in my own head, so a plot that is obvious to me is not to others, so I have to settle down.

17. How long does it take you on average to finish a book?
I'll tell you when I write more than 1.

18. Do you believe in writers block?
As much as I believe Kansas is real. It's natural because books are so long and take so much creativity and work. When I hit it, I make crappy works, so I have to make myself quit.

19. Which one of your characters do you feel closest to?
A piece of me is in all of them (like anyone does) but it is contrasted with something I am really not. However, I do relate most to Dale (you can meet him when I publish Why Me.) He never gives up on people, loves them, but has a hard time relating to people because he hasn't had a terrible life. But, I am not like him because he is neat and has far more initiative to yell at people than I do.

20. What is a piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers?
One, do it! You aren't crazy! Use the ideas in your head! You are amazing and achieving greatness is possible! Two, do it right! Do not slack off. You owe yourself, your mind, your ideas, your characters, your experiences, and your stories far more than half-butted work. It will pay off and it will make you better.

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Have fun!