5 Year Anniversary Q&A

Hello, everyone!

So I woke up this morning, logged onto AFF, and there's that present icon again— making nonverbal promises it just can't meet.

Time for a Q&A!

1. Do you plan on continuing The Devil Next Door after you finish your more recent ones? (xiuvivi)

Yes! It’s on my schedule to be completed this spring. I’ve had the outline and dialogue for the next chapter ready, but I haven’t had the will to fill in the gaps. Forcing a comedic chapter is not recommended (which, to my delight, is something I haven’t done in a long time). I’d like to think humor can’t be rushed — though this may be just another excuse for my serious case of procrastination.

2. I really love your gbom story. Could you write gbom one shot this year? (jiebom)

No. As much as I’d like to make you happy, that’s not going to happen. Hypothetically, you could do the following: 1) open up one of my oneshots; 2) pretend the characters are G-Dragon and Park Bom. Boom! Instant gbom oneshot! I know that’s not what you want, but writing another gbom story is not something I want to do either. Why is a harder question to answer — so I won’t.

3. Have you ever read the book Fangirl? Because as I was reading your Q&A from your 4 year I think you could relate to a lot of stuff in that book c: (LITTOLSTAR)

I haven’t. I’ve seen it at my local B&N — which I frequent so often without buying anything you’d think I’d get kicked out at closing time with more scowls than smiles. But I just looked up a short review of it, and I’ll take a closer look at it next time.

(Update: I’ve bought and am currently reading the first page of the book.)

4. Do you carry a thesaurus with you while you write? (LITTOLSTAR)

No. The first thing they do to you as an English Major is hit you over the head with the thesaurus you brought to class. That’s an over-exaggeration, but you get the idea. There’s only one time I use a thesaurus: for antonyms. For example, I was recently conflicted about whether “charitable” was the opposite of “utilitarian.” The thesaurus provided lackluster results, and I ended up going with my gut.

I use a dictionary quite often, though. In a perfect world, I would always use a word precisely where, when, and how it can most effectively be used. Pages comes preinstalled on all MacBooks (what I use), and — in a perfect world — I would husband Pages. Right click a word and immediately get the definition. You’ll frequently find my finger shifting right on the mousepad. 

You, dear, are not the first to ask this question. Consider this: I spend a good 5 minutes on every sentence I write. Sometimes I think about how to start a chapter for hours before I even write it. 

5. Where do you find your inspiration to write? (LITTOLSTAR)

My mind. I periodically spend time sitting in bed, taking a shower, people watching, driving while thinking. Just thinking about how to open those damn chapters. 

Music also plays a big part in getting me pumped to crank out a chapter. I use this image because writing is hard. The more you do it, the harder it gets. There’s a love for it that keeps you going, but there’s also a hate for it that drives you to do it better. 

6. What has writing done for you? Or what has writing on an online community made you realize? (LITTOLSTAR)

Writing has made my life in the most amazing way possible. I take my computer or a notepad everywhere I go. My humor, wit, general social skills are all practiced in my writing. I’d like to think I’m “interesting” because I actively immerse myself in the interesting: other worlds, conflicted heroes, misguided villains, the strange and the beautiful. 

One of the biggest compliments I’ve received came from someone whom I met twice and emailed to meet with a third time. She said, “I could hear you saying every word you typed.” Writing has helped craft the person I am — and will continue to do so.

This community has made me fully aware of what the word “demographic” means. It’s also thrown me on the other side of the fence. Told me, “Lily, what you write isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. But look! See that familiar subscriber? Whether they get it or not, they like it. You like it. Keep doing it.” Perseverance. Confidence. That’s what this community has given me.

7. Do you have any advice for people wanting to step into the writing world? (LITTOLSTAR)

I don’t think I’ve even made that step yet. Some advice I give myself is this: never stop writing. The more you do something, the likelier it is you’ll get better at it. Embrace new ideas, even if you don’t finish them. There’ve been multiple times where two story ideas I entertained didn’t play out, but I ended up combining them into one story later. Have fun. 

Now it’s time to say something controversial — as though this entire Q&A hasn’t offended almost everyone already. 

It doesn’t matter who or what you write for, as long as you love doing it. 

I write for me. To better myself. And, to me, that’s the ideal. But in the end it doesn’t really matter, does it? Enjoy yourself; life is too short to do otherwise.

8. How do you get out of writers block? and how do you keep the motivation to continue? (LITTOLSTAR)

What is this block you speak of? Is it a wall? A tower? A vengeful best friend who’s playing the role of human obstacle as you attempt to put in mini-golf? So I may or may not have cheated slightly on hole 13 — who’s keeping score?

Personally, I’ve never experienced writer’s block. It’s more an issue of “how do I say this,” rather than, “what do I say?” Let me dwell on why it isn’t an issue for me.

Fiction is a wonderful world of probable impossibilities. Since anything is within the realm of possibility, what’s blocking me? Expectations? Preset conditions created by previous chapters? Experimentation is the only way we figure out if something works. 

I do first and explain away later. It’s easier to ask for forgiveness than it is to beg for permission. Maybe that’s why people say things get “confusing” in my pieces sometimes. I can certainly promise each and every one of them it all makes sense — I’ve made sure of that. 

Motivation comes from deadlines. I’m an avid schedule-maker. I don’t always follow my schedules to a T, but the imaginary line in the sand keeps me moving forward. It’s also helps that I’m having a heck of a lot of fun.
 
9. I'm a big fan so I have many questions B) It's weird to call myself a "fan" of yours xD (LITTOLSTAR)

This isn’t a question. I’m responding to it anyway — just doing it, as the internet advises. To have a “fan” is to have someone who loves my writing as much as I love it. And validation feels amazing. Thank you. Remember: the weird ones are the most interesting.

A big thank you to my readers. You're all just darling. Here's to 2016!