Het Swap Exchange

The last sentence you wrote.

And to her joy, both she and Vasily were to attend the Hoogovens Tournament in the Netherlands shortly after New Year, which would give them nineteen days together. 

2. A character whose POV you’re currently exploring.

Beth Harmon from The Queen’s Gambit and Karen from All About Eve. Because I can never write on just one fic at the time.

3. How you feel about your current WIP.

Of the two I actively write on, I feel good. Of the ones that I haven’t written on for a very long time, varying degrees of guilt.

4. A story idea you haven’t written yet.

Several. On the top of my head I have ideas for Grimm, The Mummy and The Queen’s Gambit.

5. First sentence of the fifth paragraph of an unpublished WIP.

I don't have any unpublished WIPs… I have unpublished chapters, or rather chapters I'm still working on, though.

What made being married to Addison so difficult was what wasn’t there.

6. The word that appears the most in your current draft (wordcounter.net can tell you).

I’m sure it can, but I can’t muster up the energy to check. I don’t think it would be very interesting anyway.

7. Your preferred writing fonts.

Whatever is default. I don’t care, as long as it isn’t difficult to read.

8. If you had to write a sequel to a fic, you’d write one for…

A sequel to my Mummy-fic Ghosts. I have the whole plot mapped out, it’s the writing out that takes time.

9. Start to finish, how long did it take you to write the last fic you posted?

No idea. I never time it.

10. What is the longest amount of time you’ve let a draft rest before you finished it?

Probably a couple of years, but I’ve never timed that either.

11. A WIP you’d like to finish someday.

All of them. When, is another matter…

12. A trope you’re really into right now.

I’m not sure I can say I’m really into it, but marriage of convenience/forced marriage is looming large.

13. A fandom you’re thinking about writing for.

Grimm. Not sure I will write it, though. I’m having a lot of fun thinking out a plot for a Rosalee Calvert/Sean Renard-fic, but I doubt anyone would be very interested in it, so it may just live rent-free in my head instead.

14. Where do you get your inspiration?

I never really pinpointed exactly what it is that triggers my inspiration. I like strong female characters and morally ambiguous male ones, but there are plenty of media I really love that I never feel the urge to write for. Like Sens8 which certainly contains both and that I love so much, but when it comes to fanfic ideas, I have none.

15. Favorite weather for writing.

No idea. I never even thought about that.

16. Favorite place to write.

At work. I realize how that sounds, but my work largely is me having to sit in front of a computer waiting for things to happen. And mostly things don’t happen, and as long as I stay put I can do whatever I want to occupy myself, as long as I can drop it at once. I do all my writing and other computer activities at work and barely touch a computer when I'm home.

17. Talk about your writing and editing process.

I start with writing scenes and snatches of conservation I know I want to include. I’m not a very linear writer but go back and forth until the whole fic/chapter is complete. I usually do spellchecking continuously. When I need a little pause, but don’t do any major editing until I’m done. I usually read it through, and then run it through some kind of free grammar checker. If I have a beta, I then send it to them. And when I get it back I go over it again.

18. If you keep them, share a deleted sentence or paragraph from a published fic.

I don’t.

19. The most interesting topic you’ve researched for a fic.

17th century medicine for a Versailles-fic.

20. In what year did you publish your first fic?

2003. Which means I’ve been writing for 22 years, as I have been writing for a year before I got the nerve to publish it. On LJ and fanfiction.net. And it was a Hook/Wendy Peter-Pan-fic.

21. When did you publish your most recent fic?

Last chapter on a WIP in February this year. Last WIP I started was in September 2021, and the last finished fic was in February 2022.

22. Do you ever worry about public reaction to what you’re writing? How do you get past that?

I do, as I often write about pretty traumatizing things, like non-con. I don’t want to upset people, but I know some people get upset just by the fact that people write it, not how it is written. I try to be respectful of my subject, and I also make sure the fic in question is tagged accordingly, and often also have an AN in the beginning with warnings.

23. Pick three keywords that describe your writing.

Historical, fantasy, female protagonists. Ok, that was four words.

24. How do you recharge when you’re not feeling creative?

I try to not force myself, but I also try to do something creative every day, even if it’s just a very tiny thing.

25. Besides writing, what are your other hobbies?

Reading and sewing, both everyday clothes as well as historical costumes. I also enjoy other creative pursuits like embroidery, beading and, very recently, making paper flowers.

26. Are you able to write with other people around?

Yes, people around and talking is not a problem. But music is too distracting

27. Your favorite part of the writing process.

Coming up with the story, and being done!

28. Your least favorite part of the writing process.

Getting to the point that I start writing. I’m very good at finding other things to do. When I started, I always wondered what the fuss was about.

29. How easy is it for you to come up with titles?

Quite easy. But I often use quotes from published authors and poets.

30. Share a fic you’re especially proud of.