Wasting my time with Asks for Writers (with Gyu pics and fic excerpts)
As usually, I’m supposed to be working, but eh.
I decided it would be more fun to answer some (let’s face it, pretty common) writing questions, because you never know, your answers can always change.
(The blog I borrowed this from is here. Y'all can give your own answers!)
Let’s do this!
1. Things that inspire you:
y Kim Sunggyu
Cute Kim Sunggyu
Infinite (as led by Kim Sunggyu)
Are you perhaps sensing a pattern here?
No, but seriously, I can get inspired by anything: a news article, a photograph, a smell. My muse doesn’t have a preference.
2. Things that motivate you:
I motivate myself, for the most part, but my kind and loyal readers also encourage me a lot.
3. Name three favorite authors and your favorite work of theirs:
Sidney Sheldon, If Tomorrow Comes
This was honestly my first cheesetastic “beach” read and boy, did I pick the best one to start with, because the late Sidney Sheldon was a true master of the genre. He really, really knew how to write a page-turner. I think I shot through this one in two days, and that’s only because I had to eat and sleep!
Kitty Thomas, Comfort Food
I can never, ever gush enough about this book. It is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea—heck, it may not even be anyone’s cup of anything—but I love, love, love it. It’s not perfect, by any means, but I reread it all the time because it is definitely close to it.
Old school Harlequin Presents authors, (Insert cheesy title here)
Listen, there’s nothing wrong about the types of book the Harlequin/Mills & Boon line is churning out today. They’re fun, mostly light, and reassuring in their predictability. Like your favorite snack after a long week at work—empty of any real nutritional value, but wondrous for your psyche. That being said, my tastes always run to the old school Harlequin authors, like Violet Winspear, Sally Wentworth, Charlotte Lamb, etc. Basically, any author who didn’t meet an alpha male she didn’t like!
4. Name three authors that were influential to your work and tell why:
Just three? Nah. I have a load who have influenced me, some in good ways, some in bad (i.e. in what not to do).
5. Since how long did you write?
A long, long time, haha.
6. How did writing change you?
Well, it gave me an outlet for things that took up residence in my mind and refused to leave until they got on paper. It’s also a safe space to explore different scenarios I would never, ever wish to be part of!
7. Early influences on your writing:
I read A LOT, so basically, all of my childhood and teen reading. My parents believed in a diverse diet of books, so I pretty much read everything!
8. What time are you most productive?
Hard to pin down. Mostly if I feel I’ve crossed off enough items on my To Do list.
9. Do you set yourself deadlines?
Nope. Have too many of them already in my life. Won’t bother with them when I’m writing.
10. How do you do your research?
The Internet! It’s not just a series of tubes!
11. Do you listen to music when writing?
Occasionally. Here’s an older song that’s been very inspirational lately:
12. Favorite place to write:
In front of my computer!
13. Hardest character to write:
Whichever one I’m currently working on!
14. Easiest character to write:
Hmmm, none? I mean, there are ones I write kinda often (ahem, y alpha CEO Sunggyu), but frequency does not equal ease. If anything, it’s the opposite. The more you write a character, the harder you have to work to differentiate him/her from the other iterations you’ve already put in a fic.
15. Favorite AU to write:
All my fics are AUs. I guess the “chaebols doing naughty things” AU? (Which is basically Infinite in suits doing naughty things, heh). Is that a thing?
16. Favorite pairing to write:
Kim Sunggyu x ANYONE
17. Favorite fandom to write:
Infinite!
I’ve written in other fandoms, but they’re my main one.
18. Favorite story you've ever written:
Ugh, how can I choose? They’re all my babies! The one I’m happiest with at the moment, since I just finished it and it’s not a member I usually write for is:
I was wary at first, because it’s been so long since I’ve written Sungyeol, and it’s not dark per se, but definitely angsty, but I’m pleased it worked out. I’m about 95% pleased with it. (Okay, 94.6%...)
19. Least favorite story you've ever written:
I love them all! What are you talking about? It’s like asking which kid is your least favorite, haha.
20. Favorite scene you've ever written:
Lots, haha. One (non-rated) scene from one of my latest (totally rated, ha) fics:
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“W-why are you doing this?” It made no sense. A man like him could get any woman he desired; she could think of a handful at the academy alone who would gladly spread their legs for him if he so much as looked their way. She was ashamed to admit she likely would’ve been one of them. “Because I want you,” was the simple reply. “You could’ve just…” Her voice trailed off, red-hot embarrassment choking off her words. “Flirted with you? Pursued you?” he filled in derisively. One hand continued to hold hers imprisoned while the other slid into the opening of her robe to find the upper swell of one . When his fingers played over the spot where her heart was beating, it sped up as if it wanted to gallop away from his sensual touch. “No, chérie, I didn’t want you like that.” “Like…like what?” His fingers trailed lower, finding the smooth skin of her areola, just a finger’s length from her suddenly hypersensitive . “Like l’homme civilisé.” His fingers were achingly close to her , and though her rational mind told her she hated it, some base, animal part of her wasn’t quite certain. “I don’t speak French,” she snapped, almost peevishly, irked at how he was treating her so freely; angrier at herself for the tiny spark of arousal that ignited irrationally inside her at the brush of his fingertips ever closer to the rigid tip of her . “No matter,” he responded easily. The hand at her curved around to lock around her upper torso, drawing her against him. “Le seul vrai langage au monde est un baiser.” |
Excerpt from Acceptable Concession
21. Story you're most proud of:
What is this?!? A cage match for our fics?
22. Favorite story/poem of another author:
I don’t want to foist my tastes on anyone.
23. Hardest part of writing:
Getting from point A to point B in a logical manner.
24. Easiest part of writing:
Ha. Is there one?
25. Alternate title for (insert story title):
I can’t think of any I would rename. I spend a lot of time with titles. I don’t regret the ones I’ve chosen.
26. Single stories or multishot stories?
I tend to write something and once it’s over, it’s over.
27. One-shot or multi-chaptered stories?
Oneshots for sure! They take time and energy, but infinitely less time and energy than multichaptered works. Leads to less frustration overall.
28. Would you ever write a sequel for (insert title here)?
If my muse wanted to, any of my fics could get a sequel.
29. Do you reread your own stories?
To edit them, sure.
30. Do you plan or write whatever comes to your mind?
A combination. I have a general overview of what I want to say, but if inspiration strikes, I can start over from scratch if needed.
31. Do you write linear or do you write future scenes if you feel like it?
I write future scenes, flashbacks, flashbacks in flashbacks, you name it!
32. Share the synopsis of a story you are working on that you haven't published yet:
In a post-apocalyptic world, Kim Sunggyu strove to maintain a semblance of civilization. The leader of a rebellion against him has him questioning his own moral code, however.
33. Share a scene of a story you haven't published yet:
(This is subject to editing, of course.)
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Perhaps it was because it had been so long since he’d had a woman—not that there was any shortage of them throwing themselves at him. Women had always wanted him: for his looks, for his wealth, for his position. Even with all that stripped away, they wanted him still, drawn to the power he wielded in the lawless ruins of what was once the world. Sunggyu hadn’t paid any of them any attention. He told himself it was because he’d been too preoccupied with trying to keep everyone from starving or dying of exposure, but the moment he’d set eyes on the leader of the rebels, he knew that for the lie it was. He hadn’t looked twice at any of the women in the garrison who had so eagerly made themselves available simply because none of them warranted a second look. The rebels’ leader, however, this spitting, hissing vixen who seemed as if she wanted to cut his heart out from his chest; yes, here was a woman who stirred the blood. Here was a woman whose every last centimeter he wanted to explore—with his eyes, with his hands, with his tongue… |
Excerpt from Undefiable Desire:
34. How many unfinished stories/ideas are you working on at the same time?
Too darn many!
35. Promote your latest fic:
Just updated! It’s a dark Woohyun story, so all the warnings apply. I’ve entered this into the ralph laurent;; adult writing contest, which I highly recommend you all join!
Excerpt:
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It was with a frisson of alarm that she realized that though every other aspect of this stranger she could not even see was utterly alien to her, somehow, the sensation of his hand on her skin was…not. Not quite anyhow. The brush of the roughened fingertips across her cheek incited feelings that were strangely familiar. Beautiful, dirty feelings. A long-suppressed memory of a ravening hunger tempered by revulsion. Or, had it been the other way around? That was impossible, though. Absolutely impossible. She had never known a man in such an intimate sense, never had anyone touch her like this. Never had anyone take her like this. Having always been aware of who she was and the lofty expectations placed on her, of how she was meant to think and to act, she had never put herself in a position where she would even be tempted to let someone take these sorts of liberties with her. That’s not quite true, a small voice protested inside her. And with a heated flush, she realized she had felt something like this before—this heady combination of fluttering anxiety and quivering anticipation. It had only been once, however, just once. And it had been so brief, it might have only been a dream. A brief, fevered daydream beneath the sprawling branches of a cherry tree on the immaculate grounds of her parents’ estate. A dream? No. Rather a potent, shameful fantasy that had haunted her for far too long. |
This post approved by Kim “Great time-waster” Sunggyu.
*Pictures credited to their owners.
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