#ScribesAndMakers 1.2 — Vivid?

Let's talk about vivid verbs. They enrich our writing for readers. "Vivid verbs" are active words that convey a clear, concise, and evocative action, and are strong enough to stand alone without additional description (or adverbs). Characters doing, wanting, going, destroying, creating, etc. It's easy to fall back on broad, boring verbs that paint the characters' actions in wide, clunky strokes. However, that generality holds our readers at a distance from the story. For example, "shuffle" and "saunter" are two vivid verbs that describe the act of walking, each with different connotations and imagery, that we can use instead of saying "walked slowly" or "walked lazily." I could go on, but I'll refrain. I love being nerdy about this kind of stuff.

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.3 — Write instructions from the perspective of someone who has never done the thing they're giving instructions for.

I'll post this funny thing I showed my podcast followers once...

To make a demon yours, you can follow these steps:

1. Take the situation seriously and consider if you're serious about summoning a demon.
2. Move into a home with a dark past.
3. Get into the occult.
4. Start using a Ouija board.
5. Cultivate an obsession with death.
6. Keep your expectations in check.
7. Seek out haunted items.
8. Become as ungodly as possible.

Hopefully, things go well! Let me know how it works.

#Funny #WritingCommunity #PandasDen #Podcast #PodcastLife #Podcaster

#ScribesAndMakers 1.4 — Share a mondegreen (misheard lyric) you like.

While most people don't belt out ancient English poetry in the shower, they have misconstrued Jimi Hendrix's sexual orientation on the iconic hit "Purple Haze" with this one: 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy... Among many other offenses. The reason why I mention this is because I'm a *huge* Hendrix fan and "Purple Haze" is one of my favorite songs.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.5 — Make a story or art based on the misheard lyric you shared yesterday.

The misheard lyric: 'Scuse me while I kiss this guy...

I gotta be honest here, as a romance author this is the exact scenario you'll find in a lot of my stories. Let's talk about my WIP right now. I'll leave a little something down below. It's from an upcoming chapter.

(This is just an unedited / unfinished piece.)

#WingsOfQuietLonging #ParanormalRomance #Romantasy #Fantasy #Vampires #Werewolves #Ghosts #Romance #Victorian #Worldbuilding #AmWriting #WritingCommunity

#ScribesAndMakers 1.6 — How long does it usually take you to decide if you like a piece of visual art?

For me, it's instant. I either like it or I don't. And just because *I* might not fancy it, doesn't mean someone else won't. Art is subjective. That's the beauty in it.

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.8 — How long does it usually take you to decide if you like a piece of music?

Probably right after it's finished playing. If I play it again, then you *know* I probably like it and I'm trying to decide how much I do or if it's just a passing fancy.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.9 — Is there a difference in how long it takes you to decide if you like different mediums? Why do you think that is?

Alright, I'm gonna make a joke-not-joke here. I have a paranormal podcast AKA #PandasDen. *I'm* a medium. I can communicate with spirits. It takes me less than ten minutes to feel out whether someone else is a medium or not, if they're lying for attention or not, etc. You can *always* tell.

But more to the point, in reference to writing, films, photography, and art, it always takes time. Pictures are easier to digest, art takes longer, and novels take even longer. Nothing is ever the same when it comes to taking things in.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.11 — Is your creativity ever inspired by dreams you've had? If so, can you give an example.

That's usually the case with me. Dreams inspire me. I have very vivid ones. I watch a lot of TCM and older films or television, so sometimes I'll even dream in black and white. I'm also a fan of musicals and am myself a musician, so I'll occasionally dream in musical or Broadway format as well. But I do have very intricate, interesting dreams. Plots or characters for some of my stories might come from them. My current WIP, which I talk about quite a bit, actually originated from a dream. There's a good example.

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.17 — What's an animated movie you love?

Oh, gosh. Can I list three? Because I can't just narrow that down to one. Let's go with Spirited Away (2001), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), and Monsters, Inc. (2001).

#ScribesAndMakers 1.18 — Have you ever experienced interactive art? If so, can you tell us about it?

Not really, no. But I *am* looking forward to reading everyone's responses to this prompt. That'll be fun.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.20 — When it comes to theatre, do you prefer tragedy or comedy?

Tragedy, always. Comedy is fun, and I do love it, but there's something special about tragedies. I say this as someone who is a massive opera lover as well.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.21 — Share an author quote you find meaningful.

It'll always be something from Mary Shelley when it comes to me.

"Nothing contributes so much to tranquilize the mind as a steady purpose - a point on which the soul may fix its intellectual eye."

This reflects Shelley's belief in the importance of purpose and focus in life, and I can heavily relate. It's something I should remind myself of more often as well.

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.25 — You're going on a creative retreat. What's the most important thing you need to bring with you?

Books for breaks, packed clothes and stuff, CBD, laptop, notebook(s), lots of chargers, and a few pairs of my bluetooth earbuds, etc. You gotta be prepared!

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.26 — Tell us about a memorable live music experience.

It was 2015 and I spent the entire weekend camping on the beach in Seaside Heights, New Jersey for a music festival of sorts. They're called stopovers. Long story short, Mumford & Sons get their buddies together, all their friends and their bands, and put on a hell of a show for a few days. It's brilliant. Local bands play for a few days before as well for those who are either in the area or camping, and it brings in a ton of business for the area. I had the best weekend ever, made a ton of friends, danced my heart out, enjoyed the time with my dad, and had such a blast. What a lovely time that was.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.27 — Are you good at threading needles?

Heck no. I have Multiple Sclerosis. I'll be honest here... Neuropathy and nerve damage keep me from doing work like this with my hands. I do miss it, though.

#ScribesAndMakers 1.28 — What's the most stressful thing about your creativity?

This ties in perfectly with the #WritersCoffeeClub answer that I just wrote, but the answer genuinely is the same thing: patience. Having patience, or rather, *finding* it can be the most stressful thing in the world when it comes to the creative process, but it's integral. You can't rush yourself.

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.29 — What's the most rewarding thing about your creativity?

It's seeing and rereading the finished product. Not only that, but let's add in the comments from my readers. Just knowing that your writing can bring others joy and comfort makes the entire process and the chaos of it all so worth it.

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#ScribesAndMakers 1.31 — Share something about your creative work this month.

I can definitely do that. This is a bit of a funny scene in the midst of the chaos.

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#ScribesAndMakers 2.1 — What's one creative thing you'd like to get done this month?

More editing for "Wings of Quiet Longing" and to get some new chapters uploaded. I know and understand myself well enough to know that I should never ask for more. Now, if I get more done, that'd be great too, but I won't put any pressure on myself. It never ends well.

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#ScribesAndMakers 2.2 — Do you have any annual traditions not tied to holidays?

Let's talk about my story... Vampiric holidays, of course, and ones for the werewolves. Pagan holidays. Things of that sort. My current WIP is a gothic and paranormal romance. It calls for the scarier things when it comes to traditions and holidays.

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