Meme Answers Part 3
Sep. 8th, 2019 01:14 pmToday's questions were posed by ![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
margaret_r and scfrankles
#2. Which author has influenced you the most?
That's a difficult one. All sorts of authors have had an impact on me, but as regards writing, I'd have to say Conan Doyle. Although really, any author whose books I have enjoyed and contributed to my love of reading.
#7. Do you listen to music while you write/read?
Rarely. I'm assuming this question is talking about deliberately listening to music as opposed to hearing SM's singing practice, or if he's listening to music. (Or having my headphones on when he's on the phone to his mother and listening to Verdi's Dies Irae from his Requiem). If I'm writing something which specifically involves a piece of music I will listen to it while I write (Mendelssohn's Third Symphony being an example). Andstonepicnicking_okapi has written various ficlets based on pieces of music, so I always wait to read them until I can listen to the music at the same time.
#5. Do you think stories can change lives? Is there a story that has changed yours?
I think stories can have an effect, and that many stories together may change lives. Reading a story may lead onto wanting to learn about a particular subject, or follow up an issue, and this can change lives. For me there's no one story I could point to, but it would be more of a 'butterfly effect', one small thing leads to another, or maybe several different butterflies. Even if a story makes you stop and think and be slightly slower in prejudging a person or situation then it may change lives.
#6. What's your pet peeve when it comes to writing?
Persuading my laptop to open the word doc! Being partway through a story, writing a few paragraphs and feeling like I'm walking through mud, then realising I've taken over the story with my own wishes, rather than looking at it from the characters' point of view and having to rewrite because it won't go further until I do.
#15. What kind of character do you wish you saw portrayed more often?
Competent characters. People who are in a position to do something but don't because they are sloppy and incompetent. Yes, I know that happens, but there are those people who are perfectly capable. The local policeman who is portrayed as lazy could instead be not the brightest officer, but could have a good rapport with the locals, giving the officers who are brought in something to build on. So I'd also like to see more teamwork, rather than conflict within the team. Yes, there can be disagreements, but that doesn't have to mean deliberate obstruction.
margaret_r and scfrankles #2. Which author has influenced you the most?
That's a difficult one. All sorts of authors have had an impact on me, but as regards writing, I'd have to say Conan Doyle. Although really, any author whose books I have enjoyed and contributed to my love of reading.
#7. Do you listen to music while you write/read?
Rarely. I'm assuming this question is talking about deliberately listening to music as opposed to hearing SM's singing practice, or if he's listening to music. (Or having my headphones on when he's on the phone to his mother and listening to Verdi's Dies Irae from his Requiem). If I'm writing something which specifically involves a piece of music I will listen to it while I write (Mendelssohn's Third Symphony being an example). And
stonepicnicking_okapi has written various ficlets based on pieces of music, so I always wait to read them until I can listen to the music at the same time.#5. Do you think stories can change lives? Is there a story that has changed yours?
I think stories can have an effect, and that many stories together may change lives. Reading a story may lead onto wanting to learn about a particular subject, or follow up an issue, and this can change lives. For me there's no one story I could point to, but it would be more of a 'butterfly effect', one small thing leads to another, or maybe several different butterflies. Even if a story makes you stop and think and be slightly slower in prejudging a person or situation then it may change lives.
#6. What's your pet peeve when it comes to writing?
Persuading my laptop to open the word doc! Being partway through a story, writing a few paragraphs and feeling like I'm walking through mud, then realising I've taken over the story with my own wishes, rather than looking at it from the characters' point of view and having to rewrite because it won't go further until I do.
#15. What kind of character do you wish you saw portrayed more often?
Competent characters. People who are in a position to do something but don't because they are sloppy and incompetent. Yes, I know that happens, but there are those people who are perfectly capable. The local policeman who is portrayed as lazy could instead be not the brightest officer, but could have a good rapport with the locals, giving the officers who are brought in something to build on. So I'd also like to see more teamwork, rather than conflict within the team. Yes, there can be disagreements, but that doesn't have to mean deliberate obstruction.
