Fellow author and low-key my inspiration, J.M Williams nominated me to participate in the Writers Tag, started by Lorraine Ambers and Ari Meghlen (who have a knack for these things I won’t lie). Click on the names to visit their blogs and let’s work to continue both growing the writing community and expanding our circle of writers.
The Writer Tag has the following prerequisites so other bloggers can link back to each other and we can all see how other authors answer the questions. So here we go:
- Post the Tag and Image on your blog (see above)
- Thank whoever nominated you and give a link back to their blog.
- Mention the creators of the award and link back to their blogs.
- Nominate 6+ deserving bloggers and notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.
I have been trying to keep my personal life out of my “author” life as these feel like two separate entities encompassed in one body – and yet the same person. Not even close to the Trinity but the analogy works haha. Right, so let’s get into it.
Name one novel that inspired you to write.
It was not a book that inspired me to write, but an old writing program called Storybook Weaver by MECC. I was in Grade 2 or 3 when we were taken to the computer lab to “learn” and I was using it craft my own stories. It was also here that I fell in love with computers and decided to study Information Technology (I.T).
As for books, perhaps R.L Stine’s Goosebumps and K.A Applegate’s Animorphs? It could also be a Stephen King novel (Cujo? Carrie? Firestarter?) or Clive Barker’s “Books of Blood” or James Herbert’s “Once” as I progressed to harder horror at the tender age of twelve? It’s very hard to pin down but Storybook Weaver still stays with me always.
What’s your favourite genre to write and read?
Of course it’s horror. Everyone knows this. Although, over time, I have grown to love writing and reading Fantasy and Sci-Fi.
Do you prefer to write stand-alone or series?
I have no real preference. The story dictates where it will all lead and whether there should be a follow up, or leave it as it is. Initially I was a stand-alone writer, then I discovered I could also write short stories and novellas which could be put together into a series. Interestingly enough, I haven’t published a stand-alone novel yet, though I have tons in my drafts haha.
Use 3 words to describe yourself.
Fluctuating. Creative. Fickle.
Reveal your WIP aesthetics or an image that represents your MC or setting.
How long did your first MS take to draft?
Wow. No idea. I don’t think I’ve ever completed a MS… oh wait, in 2015 I actually won NaNoWriMo with my African-based fantasy novel Ngwana Wa Lesedi – The Child of Light. I also managed to knocked out the first draft of my upcoming novella Beneath the Wax in about a month.
Who is your author idol?
Have you read my blog? I should rename it to Stephen King Fan Account.wordpress. Haha, although I have idolized Clive Barker, H.G Wells, Frank Herbert, H.P. Lovecraft and a host of other authors.
Share a writing memory that made you determined to carry on.
This is one of my most vivid memories growing up. I was in Grade 9 and instead of using my Biology notebook for, you know, Biology, I used it to write. I remember once in class I was sitting half-way near the back, scribbling furiously away at one of my (sadly now lost) stories and a classmate walked past my desk, saw what I was doing and said,
“You sure love writing huh?”
And just that little acknowledgement pushed me to carry on writing.
It was also the growth of this blog once I started posting my short stories and people actually enjoyed them. That was how I got featured in my first Internationally published anthology Dark Tales, and told me perhaps I’m not such a terrible writer after all.
Tell us something surprising or unique about yourself.
While I was learning the craft of writing, I immensely enjoyed singing and music. I found an old diary from back in the 90’s when I was a tyke, where I re-wrote the classic song La Bamba by Ritchie Valens to be about me. *Cringes with joy
Share the hardest part about being a writer and how you overcame it.
I don’t think I have overcome it, and there are days (sometimes weeks) where it fully and wholly encompasses me. Just the idea of opening my word processor is enough to deter me from writing. And of course it’s the fear and irrational anxiety that I’ve wasted my time as a writer because I am not good enough that is the hardest part of writing for me.
This blog, my friends both locally in South Africa and Internationally, as well as some of my own stories (surprisingly) have been imperative in pulling me out of that funk and getting me to get on with it. I doubt it will ever go away, but I hope it gets better.
What’s your favorite social media and why? Share your link.
I used to be very active on Facebook and Twitter and Instagram. They aren’t my favourite but they are useful. I even tried to start a Bookstagram and linked all my blog posts to Tumblr. I just found that at the end of the day it was about statistics rather than about people enjoying my content – which you now know doesn’t help with the question above.
A “Like” doesn’t mean they read what I posted, or any proof that they actually did like it. On occasion, I know I do the same, and I know many who do too. Now I will take the time to go through the content and if something resonates, I will take the time to comment.
Share some uplifting wisdom in six words or less.
Find Yourself. Be Yourself. Live Freely.
Right, now to tag some of my faves.
- Carin Marais – Hersenskim
- Michael Baker – Thousandscars
- AllThingsUncanny
- Justin J – JustinJTheWriter
- Kelly Griffiths
- Adam – Writet
- Lionel Ray Green
Looking forward to reading all of your responses, and thank you for taking the time to have visited my blog (as many others have too).
A-Scribe To Describe 