Questions to Ask When Creating Fictional Cities

     It's no secret I am a wild fan of world-building. Creating worlds that I can mold with my hands and mind is one of my favourite parts of writing! So I've decided to make "Questions to Ask When..." a permanent blog series! I've really enjoyed writing the previous installments, and you all seemed to find them super helpful, so here's the third post in the series! Hopefully I'll have a new one up monthly or bi-monthly from now on.

     Today's topic is creating fictional cities! And the questions aren't just for fantasy cities, so don't worry! You can apply them to any city setting in your story.

     To the questions!

1) What is the city called by its inhabitants? By outsiders? Does it have any nicknames?

     For this example and the following I'll be using a city from my current WIP, Golden Revenge: Peresay. Its inhabitants call it the "City of Bad Singers", however! For good reason...

2) What is the "hub" of the city? A market, shopping district, garden, etc.?

3) Are there any famous landmarks? Are they natural/geographical, such as a mountain, or man-made, like a clock tower?

4) Where does the city's government reside? A building or elsewhere? How does the city's government differ from the country it resides in, if at all?

5) Geographically speaking, where is the city? Besides a river, in a valley, in plains, by mines, etc.?

    Peresay rests beside Dreaming Rock, where the Dreamers (the central figures of one of the world's religions) were said to have created people. Believers of the Dreamers claim the massive orange rock was a piece of the sky that fell down with the Dreamers when they came to the earth.

6) What is the city's water and/or food source? The river, the ocean, surrounding farms?

7) Why did this city grow from a town/village into its current state? Is it the capital, a hub for trade, a key resource area, or have some historical/religious significance?

8) What kind of defenses does it have? Walls? Buttresses? Guards/police who patrol?

9) What's the average income for its residents? What is the most common occupation?

10) What kind of architecture would be seen walking around its streets? Are most of the homes made of brick, wood, stone, cement? Are paint colours vibrant or subdued? Do buildings crowd each other out, or are they evenly spaced? Does it change depending on the part of the city you're in?

    Peresay's buildings are almost all made of red, yellow, and orange bricks, which is a reflection of the dusty and rocky area the city rests in. Little wood is used, as they don't live near any forests. But there are splashes of colours in vibrant rugs that lie before the front door of each home.

11) How is the city with crime? Is it overrun by murder and theft, or is it fairly quiet and peaceful? Are criminals bold in flaunting their power (if any) or do they stick to secretive means?

12) Who holds the most power? The government, businesses, criminals, other organisations?

13) What does the city smell like? Does it reek of fish caught at the docks, thick perfume of blooming flowers, the stench of sewerage, etc.?

14) What kind of relationship do its inhabitants have with inhabitants of other cities? Are they friendly, rivals, neither?

     As an official rebel army stronghold, the residents of Peresay are strong believers in the rebel cause, so they have a good relationship with any other cities that support the rebels. If there are any cities that are in the royal grasp, on the other hand, they will have nothing to do with them. This is a civil war, after all.

I imagine Peresay a little like this, except with a massive rock next to it! (And no ocean in the background.)

15) Are there any places of religious gathering? (Eg. churches, temples, altars, etc.)

16) What are those secret spots that only long-term residents know about? Is there a "best cafe in the city", or peaceful garden tucked away from the hustle and bustle?

17) How popular is the city with outsiders/tourists? Is it a well-known travel destination, or more isolated?

18) What kind of cultures are seen in the city? Are its residents a singular ethnic culture, or a mix?

19) Does the city have any celebrations/festivals specific to itself? When and how are these celebrated?

    Whenever the rebels win a battle or have some other kind of victory, those in Peresay climb to the top of Dreaming Rock, where an altar rests. Then they'll have animal sacrifices, incense, loud music, and dancing all night long, to thank the Dreamers for their grace.

20) What is the city's history? Has it been under siege or attack? What major historical events have taken place in its depths, if any?

Isn't this city gorgeous? I'd love to live here!

    That brings us to the end of the questions! I really hope they can be of help to you when brainstorming a city setting, or adding those juicy world-building features in edits!

Tell me about one of your fictional cities! What landmarks does it have? Who lives there? Oh, and are you a big fan of world-building too? Any suggestions of what theme to have for my next "Questions to Ask When..." post?

Good luck with your writing, and have a spectacular day! <3

Beautiful People - Author Writing Process Edition

     Hello everyone! I hope you're having a great July and aren't too busy with Camp NaNo/life! For me, it's that time again where I participate in Beautiful People. It's a wonderful monthly link-up hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further in. (Do check out their blogs, they're fabulous!) 

    Usually I would introduce which character and WIP I'd be talking about here, but this month's Beautiful People is a little different. Its theme is "all about the author", so I'll be talking about myself, and my writing process! *points to title*

   Let's jump into the questions, shall we?

1) How do you decide which project to work on?

    I am what you call a snail-like writer. This means I might work seriously on only one or two projects a year (as far as first drafting or editing goes). I get a lot of ideas! But as I'm so slow, I have to hone in on which ones I'm really passionate about. If I get an idea and have no interest in it after a couple of months, I won't write it. If I love it after so long? It'll be next on my list!

2) How long does it usually take you to finish a project?

    Too long. *nods to above answer* Generally first drafts can take me between four and six months, second drafts around four months, and the rest varies.

3) Do you have any routines to put you in the writing mood?

    I get my glass of water, start blaring music in my earphones, and sit down. Then I write! Nothing super exciting.

4) What time of day do you write best?

    Late mornings/afternoons/evenings. Anything other than late at night.

This is a random photo of yours truly's journal where her writing progress is recorded daily

5) Are there any authors you think you have a similar style to?

    Ummm...to be honest I'm not sure? I try not to think about who I'm similar to, so I don't get caught up in comparing myself to them all the time. 

6) Why did you start writing, and why do you keep writing?

    I started because I wanted to get down the stories and crazy worlds inside my head. I keep writing because I've discovered my passion in it, and it thrills me like nothing else to explore characters and places that have been created in my imagination.

7) What’s the hardest thing you’ve written?

    Draped in Deception. In case you didn't know, I've set that story aside now. It will always have a place in my heart, but I struggled for months with trying to get the plot where I wanted it, and it still isn't there. Who knows, I might return to it someday!

8) Is there a project you want to tackle someday but you don’t feel ready yet?

    Ugh, so many! Like Draped in Deception, for example. (And no, I am not going to tell you the others because I don't have a fancy premise/blurb written for them yet.)

Unfortunately I look nothing like this stylish lady when writing. Except for the glass of water.

9) What writing goals did you make for 2017 and how are they going?

    I don't remember my exact words, but one of the goals was to finish second draft edits of Golden Revenge. And I'm almost there! So needless to say, I am very pleased about that. I also hope to complete the first draft of Splintered Crown this year.

10) Describe your writing process in 3 words or a gif!

    Slow but steady!

So there you have it, my writing process! (Granted, there's a lot more to it, but if you want to know the details let me know, and maybe I'll do a longer post!)

What's your writing process? What are some of your writing goals for this year, and how are they going? How long does a first draft usually take you?

Good luck with your writing, and have a great day! <3

The Comparison Trap

    The comparison trap hides itself well. You could be doing anything--beta-reading, reading another blogger's post, devouring your favourite author's latest book--and snap. You're suddenly ensnared in a net of your lying thoughts.

    Why can't I write like this? My writing is horrible... How come they have so many followers when I've been blogging for longer? People must hate my blog... No one likes my story idea. My style isn't as good as theirs. I should just quit. I'm not good enough.

    I'll admit it to you all, at the time of writing this, I'm in this trap. It's odd how it hit me, really. I was dropping by another blog, and something just...snapped. Broke. First came jealousy, and then the trap's metal teeth began to sink into my flesh. I wasn't as good as this blogger. They had far more followers. My average post never got so many comments.

    Now, I really love this blogger's posts and blog. They're amazing! (And just to let you know, I wrote this far before I posted so none of you would begin over-analyzing whether this was you.) I won't lie to you guys, it wasn't even this blogger's best post. But I could feel the trap creeping in this time, first a swallow, then slowly, slowly a tightening in my chest as I read through their post.   

     So what was it then, that made this grey cloud gather above my head? How did I fall into it? What caused me to suddenly feel like I wanted to curl into a ball and cry?

    I compared our styles, our follower amounts, our number of comments, everything. And doing so only reinforced the trap. What was I looking for? Something that I could point to and say: "see? I'm better at this" or "I have more of that". It was wrong of me to do this.

    Here's the thing, something that both you and I need to remember: 

    When you start looking at others' successes, the only thing you will see are your own failures.

    I won't profess to being a super inspiring blogger. I won't scream that I'm the next J.K. Rowling or John Green or any other super famous author. Why? Because I know where I am on my journey right now. Because I know that my "failures" are just stepping stones to becoming a better writer, better person. I may be ahead of you, or I may be a thousand miles behind.

    When I forgot that I was on a different journey than this blogger, I let comparison trap me with lies. We are all on different paths of different lengths, with different obstacles, different mountains to climb, different achievements.

    You too are at a certain point in your personal journey. Maybe you've written a hundred novels or maybe you haven't finished one yet. Maybe you think publication is within your reach, or maybe you're still struggling to get words on the page each day.

    It's okay. Either option of those I listed, and every other issue you're experiencing at the moment--it's okay to be there. Breathe.

    I've had a few days to reflect on my being in the comparison trap. I'd like to cautiously say I'm out of it now. Here are a couple things I did to escape:

1) I gave myself some space from my writing until I stopped moping about. In such a state, the only effect I'll have on my stories is a negative one.

2) I gave myself time to think over my thoughts until the lies exhausted themselves from screaming so loud.

3) I immersed myself in someone else's story. Now, this might seem a little odd given the nature of comparison, but sometimes I need to be engaged in the wonder of storytelling to make myself yearn to do it again. It has to be a story from someone I know is far, far, far ahead of me though.

4) I made peace, acknowledged that I made a mistake getting myself caught up in jealousy and self-doubt, and moved forward. 

5) I returned to writing, slowly, and read bits of my writing that I knew were good. (In some cases, I might even go back to positive feedback from others and read it over and over again.)

   And now I'm out, I'm free.

   For everyone the comparison trap holds them captive in different ways. What you have to realize is that it happens to every single person alive, and you are you. No one else. You are unique and special, and I'm so glad, because that means your journey is too.

   I can't wait to see where it takes you.

Thank you to all who follow my blog, comment, everything! You are incredible to me and honestly, the major reason I've kept this blog up. Sorry for the ramble today; I hope it was half coherent and maybe can help you escape your own trap.

What about you; have you ever been in the comparison trap? How did you break out? And if you're still in it, then I hope you keep believing in yourself. You owe yourself that.

Have a wonderful day! <3

The Writer's Tag (And An Announcement!)

    Hello everyone! Guess what? I'm finally on holidays! (And no, that's not my announcement, though it is pretty awesome as well.) Not only does this mean that I have more time to write posts for you all, but I can also devour books and write, write, write. 

    Which brings us to today's post! I was tagged for the Writer's Tag by Andrea @ A Surge of Thunder agessss ago. Thanks for the tag Andrea, and apologies that I'm so late! (Go check out her blog, it's wonderful!)

    Let's get into it!

1. What genres, styles, and topics do you write about?

    If you've been around on the blog, you know that I LOVE fantasy. I have so much fun creating whole new worlds, and the cultures, history, and people within them. As for topics, I like writing characters who are far from perfect, but keep trying to do the right thing. My stories are full of raw emotions and show the brutal, disastrous side of war; it's not glorious for everyone. 

    And finally, I like writing cracks of light into a world shrouded in shadow.

2. How long have you been writing?

    I've been "seriously" writing for about 4 and a half years now. That was when I actually had the thought that "I want to be a writer". It's been a blast ever since! (Mostly, that is.)

3. Why do you write?

   Wow, this is a difficult question to answer! I originally started because my massive imagination created scenarios that I wanted to explore. I was always an avid reader, so being able to create my own stories, own books? The idea blew my little mind! Ever since I've loved exploring new worlds and going on journeys with my characters, all of whom become dear friends.

   I believe writing is what I want to do with my life--it's in my mind, it's my passion, it throbs with each beat of my heart--so I keep at it, no matter what.

4. When is the best time to write?

    I write best in the afternoons on weekdays (not that I have much of a choice with school), but on holidays I can knock out a lot of words in the morning/early evening. I'm definitely not a late night writer, however!

5. What parts of writing do you love and hate?

    World-building, first drafting, and some parts of editing are my favourite. Yes, I did say editing. *gasp* While there are aspects of editing I dislike, it gives me a thrill to see my manuscript improve after each revision. Line edits, though, are not my favourite. They can be very tedious.

I'm not sure why, but I really like this picture? I think it's because I'm jealous of whoever has this typewriter.

6. How do you overcome writer's block?

    I don't get writer's block, per se, just times when I don't feel up to writing or uninspired. When that happens, I often switch to another project and read through its chapters to convince myself not everything I write is horrible. If that doesn't work, I watch a movie and/or go on a reading frenzy!

7. Are you working on something at the moment?

   Aren't I always?

   Yes, I am. As I've mentioned in posts before, I'm editing Golden Revenge, and am up to rewriting the last fifth of it or so. Bring on the climax!

8. What are your writing goals this year?

   They are: finish the 2nd round of editing for Golden Revenge, finish the first draft of Splintered Crown, and write at least 3 more short stories. And as for Camp NaNo (which starts right now for me!) I want to do at least 50 hours of work on Golden Revenge.

    That brings me to the end of the tag! Today I'm going to tag EVERYONE; if you want to do it, do it! Now for the announcement...

    *drumroll*

    You might remember I wrote a post about #RebelliousWriting a few weeks ago. And now, Rebellious Writing is getting its own website very soon! I'm also co-heading its Twitter account, so if you're interested, pop by and say hello!

What are your writing goals for this year? What are you working on? (I hope it's going great!) What's your favourite genre to write? Are you doing Camp NaNo???

Let me know in the comments, and have a fabulous day! <3

Am Currently... #9

     Hi everyone! It's been some time since I've done one of these posts, and since so much has happened in the last two months, I thought I'd give you allll the updates!

     The last few weeks have been crammed with assignments and exams (Australian schools' winter holidays begin in July) so I didn't have as much time as I would have liked for reading and writing, but as always, I found a way to squeeze them in. Now, as for what I'm reading...

    For English we were assigned The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood to read, and I really enjoyed it! Some parts made me feel a little bit uncomfortable, but as my teacher said, we're reading very controversial texts this year, so I expected certain scenes and was able to skim/skip them. The book discusses some very interesting points, and if you're a mature reader, I think there's lot to be learned from the writing style!

    As for pleasure reading, I'm about a third of the way into A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray. I don't think it will be my favourite book, but the world-building really intrigues me and I feel there are incoming plot twists that will blow my mind...

    On the writing front, most of my focus has been on second draft revisions/editing of Golden Revenge. To sum up the project: "A refugee's quest for revenge collides with a cursed golden princess's desire for freedom." I'm nearing the end of rewrites, and have been sending earlier chapters to my wonderful critique partner (*hugs if you're reading this*)! They've been incredibly helpful, and I know the direction I'll need to take in the next draft thanks to them!

    Apart from Golden Revenge, I had to write a short story for my Extension English course, which both thrilled and terrified me. Thrilled, because, you know, writing! But it terrified me because it was supposed to be around 1500 words. For me that's incredibly short, so I really had to work on nailing down key points and characters.

   It ended up being around 2000 words, but I was still able to write it in the time limit! I titled the dystopian short story BRAXEN76. I based it off the ancient law "an eye for a eye", except in this society it's taken a step further to "a life for a life." Here's a short snippet:

It was a moment, maybe two, before the judge spoke next, Steele’s metal side knew it. But her meaty heart didn’t. It squeezed, stopped, shuddered within a space of time, like the moment before a bomb explodes, its silver hide arching through air.

Unstoppable.

"I have granted Steele Caelus the right to kill."

     

    I've been in love with Carrie Underwood's latest album, Storyteller! I don't usually listen to country music, but the stories in her songs are so beautifully crafted it's hard not to enjoy them. As usual, I've also had my favourite movie soundtracks on repeat (Beauty and the Beast, Prince of Egypt, and La La Land).

    Pretty well! I'm excited to get into my writing today and immerse myself into my characters' stories. Writing endings always gives me a thrill! As for my personal life, the last few months have been a bit of roller-coaster ride for me emotionally, but I understand that's part of transitioning, and God and all the lovely people in my life have been helping me through it.

   That brings us to the end of this month's Am Currently! I hope you have a wonderful month, be it summer or winter, and achieve all your goals!

What are you writing at the moment? (Yes, I will be doing Camp NaNo!) What books do I NEED to read? Any songs you're playing on repeat at the moment?

Let me know in the comments, and good luck with your writing! <3

#RebelliousWriting - Where is the Light?

     There's a riddle I'm quite fond of: I need light to exist, but when light shines on me, I die. What am I?

     (Highlight this sentence for the answer: a shadow!)

     I'm going to be talking about light and darkness today. In our world, right now, there is both dark and light; they co-exist. I personally believe that someday the light will win over the darkness, but before we get into that, I should tell you: I'm joining the Rebellious Writing Movement!

     #RebelliousWriting is not about rebelling against your parents; it's a movement rebelling against the dark side that has emerged in YA fiction. It's against the rise in explicit content in books, and it's against glorifying things such as drugs, swearing, etc. in books. Here is Gray's, the founder of the movement, post explaining it in more detail: #RebelliousWriting.

     Now, back to light and dark. I'm not talking about colours here, or what time of the day it is. What I really want to discuss is YA books. Light, in my eyes, is when hope is shown in a book, not where everything is horrible and life is portrayed as not worth living. True, we may feel like that sometimes, but here's the thing:

     Darkness doesn't last.

     Just as the sun always rises after a thick cloud of night, there will always be a flicker of flame to show you the way at the end. There will always be the choice to take the offered candle, and find your way out of shadows.

     It's a choice. It's your choice, your character's choice.

     Do they want to stay in darkness, or walk in light?

     Now don't get me wrong, it's important to show the dark, black, and filthy elements of life. We all sin, we all make mistakes, we all do things we shouldn't or witness them. That's, unfortunately, a part of the world in which we stand. Showing the darkness does not mean you have to promote it, however. Instead we should show it, because there are consequences for sin. There are real, painful consequences, in either this time or the next.

     But please, please, do not write the darkness in a way that glorifies it.

     Sin is not good. Pain is not good. Hurting others, hurting yourself is not good. So why write it like it is?

     Write the darkness in a way that doesn't make your reader uncomfortable, doesn't force them to consider a person's age when they want to recommend your book to them, doesn't make it seem like darkness is fun! so! much! fun!

     It's not.

     So why do I ask you to write about darkness? Aren't I supposed to be talking about light?

     When you write about shadows, you have an opportunity; you can show the burning candle. You can put hope and life and joy, even if it's just a smidgen, into the characters and your reader. You can show them that there is a flame that will show their battered feet where to walk, that they are wanted, and there are rewards for their fight for the good.

     Think about the phrase: "Black and white." Let's imagine that you were taught that no other colour existed, except white. Wouldn't then black also be white to you? Or at least, you would think it a different kind of white. If you didn't know the difference between wrong and right, only that there is "right", wouldn't everything be right?

     We are shown opposites because they help us understand the world around us. Wet, dry. Wood, stone. Day, night. Real, fake.

     Light and dark. Black and white.

     We can get so lost in trying to show the darkness, how raw and hurtful it can be, that sometimes we forget that light and dark must be paired together to really show the truth. If we are shown the consequences of darkness, we can turn towards the light. But if we are only shown consuming shadows, then we'll get lost. The reader will close the book feeling empty and without hope.

     So please, write the light. Show its goodness, its hope, its love, its peace, its perfect love.

     Light will always win in the end.
   

I hope you enjoyed today's post! Feel free to disagree or agree with me in the comments, just please remember to keep it clean and respectful; everyone's ideas are important and should be heard. :)
Do you try to show the light in your own writing? Anything else you'd like to add or ask me questions about? Will you be joining #RebelliousWriting?

Have an amazing day!<3

Beautiful People - June Edition

    Hello everyone! It's that special time of the month again when I participate in Beautiful People, a writing blog meme/link-up hosted by Cait @ Paper Fury and Sky @ Further Up and Further In. Their blogs are awesome, so please go check them out!

   For this edition, I'm switching the WIP I'm talking about from Splintered Crown to Golden Revenge, an YA Epic Fantasy. Why? I'm in the thick of second draft edits of Golden Revenge after finishing the first draft almost a year ago, and I'm absolutely adoring spending time again with its characters. Here's a blurb about Golden Revenge:

In a world ravaged by war, Taylan is yet another scarred teen refugee. He’s one in thousands of Paralinese that fled from their civil war strewn country, caught in bloody battles between magical royals and rebel soldiers. Now in Mohetania's refugee camp, he struggles to last from day to day. Hope keeps him alive; hope that someday he'll be able to return home, rid his country of blood-sucking royals, and bury his family.

Mida is a Mohetanian princess cursed with the touch of gold. A killer by age four, she keeps her hands trapped in magical leather. She isolates herself in order to protect others from the monster she believes lies inside her. But when her victim's brother pays her a visit, Mida snaps and begins to delve deep into the world of illegal magic, hunting for a cure.

When rebel soldiers begin to appear in the refugee camp, Taylan and Mida's desires and lives are caught up in plots of war. A war where there are no winners.

Here's a collage I made for the story agggessss ago!

   Let's throw Taylan some questions!

1) What's their favourite place they've ever visited?

   Taylan has lived in many places in his life, some he loved and some he hated, but as for a visit, probably the village his mother grew up in. When his mother was on the run from their father with Taylan and his sister, they stopped briefly at their aunt's house. It smelled of mint and woodsmoke, and it was where everyone was smiling after crying for so long.

2) What’s one mistake they made that they learned from?

   I would tell you, but that would be a massive spoiler. Let's just say that his anger got the best of him.

3) What was their favourite subject in school? Or favourite thing to learn about?

   It wasn't taught at school, but Taylan always enjoyed drawing. He taught himself by sketching objects over and over again until he got them just right.

4) What’s their favourite flower/growing thing?

   Probably orange trees; he ate an orange once and thought he might die of love for its sweet juice.

5) Have they ever made someone cry? What happened?

    When Taylan returned home from his mandatory time in the Royal Army, he tried to hide the scars whippings left on his back, but his mother eventually saw. Tears fell. He wished then he hadn't been stood up to the older soldiers, and just bowed his head and did as he was told.

6) Would you consider them a reliable or unreliable narrator?

    Reliable, a hundred percent.

7) What do they dream about at night?

    Nothing good; screams, devouring flames, sprays of blood.

8) They’ve gone out for a “special meal.” What would they eat?

    A "special meal" would mean anything other than weak stew and almost stale bread. Food is scarce in the refugee camp, so having a little meat would certainly be special.

My photos appear to be food orientated today. Sorry if you're now hungry!

9) What’s at least one thing they want to do before they die?

    Taylan desperately wants to return to his destroyed village and bury his mother and sister. But he knows he can't feel at peace with that until he's killed the royals that led to the destruction of his family, and country.

10) Do they have any distinguishing or unique talents?

    He's a very fast runner, and is fairly good at sketching in charcoal, though he doesn't have as much time to commit himself to his art as he used to.


    That wraps up this month's Beautiful People! I really hoped you enjoyed learning about Taylan. He'd appreciate any hugs, so feel free to send him any! ;)

Did you participate in BP this month? I'd love to check out your post! What do your characters dream about at night? What WIP are you working on right now?

Let me know in the comments below, and good luck with your writing! <3

The Sunshine Blogger Tag

    Who doesn't like a little sunshine? Considering Australia's just entered winter, I would LOVE some sun right now. (It's freezing for a girl that's grown up near the equator!) Anyway, my point is I'm fond of sunshine at the moment, so it seemed perfect to participate in the Sunshine Blogger Tag. Jem Jones tagged me over at her blog, so thanks Jem!

    Here are the rules:
#1: Answer the 11 questions from your nominee
#2: Tag 11 bloggers
#3: Ask them 11 new questions

   Let's get to it, shall we?

1) Is there a story you've always wanted to write, but haven't yet?

    I've always loved the idea of writing a story about a group of high-schoolers that are hiking on Leap Year's Day (when two worlds meet), and end up being kidnapped by the inhabitants of the other world. Magic is disappearing on the other world, so they take 'Earthens' every four years and use Earth's knowledge to rebuild their countries instead of relying on magic. Something like that!

    I haven't worked out the details yet, and the plot's still a bit fuzzy in my mind, but I might write it one day just for fun!

2) What tv show/movie have you binge-watched the worst?

    *consults Netflix account* I watched a lotttttt of Continuum's first season during my last holiday, so much so that I'm not sure if I did anything else...?

3) You know those innocent little mistakes we make that are so. embarrassing. they keep you up at night. five years later. Those. Tell me about one of them? 

    Those are the kinds of mistakes I like to erase from my memory. I can think of plenty of embarrassing moments, but none that came from innocent little ones. Hmmmm... I mean, I nearly got knocked unconscious by a fruit falling from a tree I was under. (It was a heavy fruit from a tall tree, okay?) That's the most embarrassing yet funny moment of my life. 

4) What's your biggest NOTP?

    Dorian and Celaena from Throne of Glass. Lots of readers want them together, but their relationship never felt true or comfortable to me. (Plus, I really want her with someone else...)

5) Would you rather be attacked by one horse-sized duck or a hundred duck-sized horses? 

    One horse-sized duck, because I feel like it would be far easier to escape one than a hundred? Though the thought of a duck that big is a tad disconcerting...

6) Is there a song you've been listening to on repeat?

    I always have a favourite song on repeat for a day, then it changes by the next day, then the next, etc. The latest though is probably 'Dream For You' by Casting Crowns. I love their lyrics so much!

7) Who is the first person that pops into your head when you think "weird"?

    No one pops into my head...? I find things people do weird, but not people themselves. 

8) What's your biggest pet peeve?

   When people unplug the hairdryer but don't switch it off, so when you plug it in you get a heart attack by it starting by itself. I find this really really REALLY annoying. Please never do that.

9) Oxford comma or no?

   I don't have a side in this debate, actually. For me it depends on the sentence and whether that extra comma makes it flow or not.

10) If you could pick a name for yourself, what would it be?

   I'm very happy with my name! (Especially my last name, though if you pronounce it Grav-it-tis and not Grav-vee-tis out loud I might glare at you. It's not pronounced how it's spelled weirdly enough.) I'd choose not to change it. Is that an option?

11) Why did you start a blog?

   Two reasons! The first of which was that I started reading writing and book blogs, and I really loved the idea of sharing my thoughts and writing journey. The second was that I wanted to connect with other writers and readers. (Like all you lovely people!)

   I think lots of people have already done this tag so I'll be a rebel and tag as many as I can. 

Grace @ Grace Writing
Gray @ Writing is Life

Rachel @ R's Loft

Audrey @ Audrey Caylin

Christine @ Musings of an Elf

Ellie @ On the Other Side of Reality

Jeneca @ Jeneca Writes
Victoria @ Wanderer's Pen
Catherine @ The Rebelling Muse

    If I tagged you and you've already done it, no worries! And if I didn't and you'd like to, then go for it and let me know! I'd love to read your answers. 

Here are my 11 questions:

#1 - Did anything 'spark' your passion (writing, reading, art, etc.) or did it come on gradually?

#2 - If a library was on fire and you could only save three of its books, which three would you choose?

#3 - Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, or another drink?

#4 - One of your characters can come alive for a day. Who do you want it to be?

#5 - How many siblings do you have?

#6 - Do you have a motto? (If you do, share it, if you don't, make one up!)

#7 - What's the strangest dream you've ever had?

#8 - Have you ever traveled out of your country, and if yes, where to?

#9 - If you wished on a shooting star, what would you wish for?

#10 - Would you rather go swimming in Antarctica or camping in the Sahara Desert?

#11 - How did you come up with your blog's name?

Is there a story you've always wanted to write but haven't yet? What are some of your answers to my questions? Are you in winter like me, or are you enjoying summer rays?

Let me know in the comments, and have a fabulous day! <3