there has always been those days when i wondered what have i been doing to myself but couldn't find the right state of mind to go further to answer it. seeing Dream_Keeper's questions on specifically writing made me think. and realize that there is so much i have to improve on. especially, my mistrust on revealing my written work.

so, here goes.
 

1. Do you write stories (or parts of it) everyday? Day or night?
I'd like to say i write everyday, because my mind is "writing" them even as i write this but i never have the time to put them down in human writing. but when i do, it's usually at night till about 4 in the morning and if i could push it till sunrise even on a work-day i would. since i live and breathe design, it isn't any different to stay awake for that long to write or get a design done when i get hit by the wave, which comes everyday, unfortunately. i've had guilt trips on why i don't write for weeks sometimes and excuse myself on being busy at work. but after coming back from that visit to my sister in Korea, i've learned to zen it out. if i have no urge to write, i won't force it like i used to in school.

i used to write everyday, during my high school days, mostly for practice since i took a deeper interest in History, Lit and Art in general even though i was a Science major. and then Philosophy came into my life.

it creeped into my life like a e. wait. that sounds wrong.

i mean i knew about it from my Dad since he was into Politics and Ethics. but i didn't want to dabble in it at all if i could or at least until i was a ready adult. but it kept coming to me in the form of Existentialism, Zen, Transcendentalism and lately the Gladwellian thought.

i began to contradict my habits and argued over the thought if i was doing everything for others, have i thought of doing it all or anything for myself, especially in my direction for art and literature. and that was when quietly changed. my written work grew a little different. my poetry and prose didn't want to be confined by a structure. gradually i discovered new writing methods on my own. and you can see a tiny bit of it here, on aff.

2. Do you have any writing rituals? If yes, what are they?
i do. but i'll be damned cuz i can't properly explain them unless i write a chapter on it.

oh. but i listen to 8tracks (http://8tracks.com/amberbyul) while i do.

3. Where do you write: MS Word, Notepad app, notebook, AFF text editor, Google doc, etc.?
i may be good at compartmentalizing my thoughts, but the Department of Imagination in what one might call call my Mind Palace doesn't have any set protocols and i do not want it to be confined. ever. so i would only organize them as i take them out. mostly for my personal original work i rely on a software called Storybook (you can download it for free) that has prepared much of what you need for an organized novel or short-story, like Parts, Chapters, Scenes and Character Background formats.

okay. i just realized i've not used Parts even once. it's usually for those who've decided to write more than one book. or a sequel.

i use Storybook for my fanfics too, but not as structured as the originals (which takes research and months to work on) because the fanfic characters and outlines can be recycled and re-edited when you save it to another story file.

on collective research for my originals and fanfics i've relied mostly on Pocket, Evernote, Tumblr and Pinterest so i could at least get my facts right or at least twist the plot from what i discovered.

to avoid getting distracted i use the Write app for full screen writing with black background or another colour depending on my mood.

4. Do you start a fic with an outline? If the answer is no, proceed to #6.
sometimes.

it depends on the genre, for me. i realized outlines are better and more functional when writing Sci-Fi or Fantasy. i don't do structured outlines when i write Angst, Fluff or . kinda cuz having a boyfriend for that long. we kinda know what would come next.

5. Is your outline fixed or a work in progress? 
my outlines are never fixed for too long. the longest i had one outline survive me was about two years. and then i couldn't take it and had it restructured. you'd probably have an idea why already. i kind of evolve with my work and vice-versa.

6. How do you know if a chapter is done?
when i realize myself mulling over the plot "zis zhould go next..." or "after zis chapter..."

7. When do you update?
i hate to make promises on updates. but when i do it's almost always on an unannounced Sunday. and then there are those random hot sweaty days when there's nothing else to do but kind of days...

so yeah, when it comes to updating i'm not such an awesome promise-keeper (since i'm doing design it's always with work, tutorials, work, and more work) but i try to make up for it with my writing. but then there is that apprehension on updating, too. so fanficion is kind of like a therapy and i guess i'm thankful that the most patient people are those who subscribe to my fanfics. thank you for understanding my complications.

8. Do you usually write short chapters (<1500) or long ones (>2500)?
depending on the genre. crack-fics basically could up to 1000+ and everything else can go up to 3500+
 

9. Is it a must for your story to have a poster?
since i do graphic design. i kind of feel obliged to..yeah. and i try to make it look as crappy as possible so it doesn't make me feel guilty that i'm putting more effort on a hobby than at the studio.

10. What do you usually write in your foreword?
i cringe at myself doing forewords. so uh. haha.

since i don't do it on my original work, and i'm obliged to on AFF, i'd usually just place a part of the scene in the chapters. or a short decription. otherwise it's just a gif. or my own poster for the story. i know it doesn't attract anyone to get hooked on it and i have like such low karma points and subscribers, but i'm not here to hook anyone to anything anyway.

so if you get it. haha.

okay. yeah. i know i've been told. i should try harder on a forward.

11. What font do you use? Font size?
i will never for the life of me, use Comic Sans especially with my line of work.

so preferably, Helvetica. 11pt.

12. Do you write stories about your bias?
in my original stories, there really are no bias. haha. but for my fanfiction, only one is dedicated to Tabi.

my ultimate bias is actually Verbal Jint, and i've not found the right story to suit him. yet. maybe i'll never find one. ever.

13. Which of your fictional characters can you relate to the most? Why?
original character: i've to keep this secret.
fanfiction character: Minseok in Feral Tales of Lone Wolves. i have no idea why. or maybe i haven't really thought of why.

14. Have you requested reviews for your stories?
even though i'm forever thankful, i've still not been able to adjust to the subscribers on my fanfiction. so i'm not sure how i will deal with requesting for reviews apart from a general review of a reader that's been reading it. that i welcome very, very much. cuz it's feels strange to request cuz i don't like making people feel obliged to read what i write. it's like telling someone to stand in front of a painting and speak their thoughts before moving to the next one. 

it's already a completed work once it's up anyway so to each their own. but i prefer the natural process of others discovering my written work and giving their tuppence where i could improve on. it's the reason why i'm here anyway. i hate to be forced. so i'd hate to get anyone to oblige to me, too.

15. What are your weaknesses when it comes to writing?
i don't know if it is called a weakness, but through experience; mistrust and all that comes with it would probably be the reason why i'm kinda like one of those hermit writers on AFF. my dire and tiring instinct of mistrust to those who reads them since my early schoold days. i can't fully say that it's cuz i could read through anyone's demeanor and be able to read fake-sincerity like a window; but i guess the fact that i had once been through a hell time proving that most of what i produced including the airplane i drew in 6th grade was actually drawn with my own hands and that the essay i wrote became an issue when my teachers thought that i had unusual tendencies towards anti-governmental political thought when it was only about me supporting PETA and AMNESTY. that, had me learning until today that even writing has it's politics. that was in 5th grade.

so yeah. i'm kinda used to being misunderstood and alright with criticism. but blind-judgement is a whole other issue for me.

16. Why do you write fanfics?
fanfiction is my dojo. it's my practice ground.

17. Any advice/tips about writing?
look out for a muse that inspires. it/he/she doesn't have to be an idol or your bias. my muse(s) in real life is my boyfriend and actually, ironically my closest friends on roleplay writing. and it's not a betrayal if you change your muse or have a few.

keep a fan that gives healthy critiques cuz one is already enough. if there are more, that's a bonus.

trust yourself first. take your time.

back-up your pc/mac/laptop/tablet and don't lose your work. if you want to throw your written work out. and remind your mom just as a precaution, that if you ever chuck out that thumb-drive filled with your work or threw away your printed draft...to pick it up and keep it somewhere for you, cuz who knows it might be worth looking for one day.

be cautious, but talk to at least one stranger a week (and this doesn't mean someone that's older than you. kids and someone your age could do. war veterans are the best storytellers). and let it grow to a stranger a day. you never know where your next story comes from.

that's about it. i'm actually writing this in the studio. it's a saturday, yeah. but deadline got extended so i have some time. going home soon. have a great weekend. and greater writing moments.

xoxo.
b.