Questions, Questions, Questions

My writer buddy, Donna, from Donna's Book Pub, tagged me to answer the following four questions. The tag made me a little nervous until I remembered something totally irrelevant from my college days. Good old essay questions. When test time rolls around, if you like to write, you like essay questions. You want essay questions. You pray for essay questions. Not that I had all the answers, mind you, because often I did not. However, give me an essay question and I could make it sound like I knew what I was talking about. But I digress. Let's get on with the (essay) questions...

What are you working on right now?

Well, nothing, but I'm THINKING about what I should be working on. Does that count? If so, let me fill you in. I've got about 2 essays that are "ripening" before I take another look at them, and an idea for a third. Hopefully next week I'll dust off the keyboard and get back to work.

I've also been toying with ideas for one of my NaNoWriMo manuscripts. Rather than focusing on a new NaNo this year, I thought it might be fun to devote the month of November to improving/editing one of my three previous NaNo manuscripts. What good is doing NaNo if the piece never goes any further? The one I wrote last year has been bouncing around in my brain lately and I think I'm ready to go for it. 

How does it differ from other works in the genre?

My 2012 Nano manuscript is an historical fiction story told from the point of view of Jesse James' wife, Zee. I've been considering some unorthodox situations for her, but haven't decided yet whether or not to do it. There are lots of strong feelings (especially in Missouri) about the James legend, and twisting it too much could prove to be highly unpopular. No, I'm not talking about a Vampire Jesse or Zombie Zee. Just a sprinkle of fictional literary spice.

Why do you write what you do? 

I write what moves me. If I can't connect to a story, it's dead in the water. 

What is the hardest part about writing?

3 things are tough for me...discipline, discipline, and discipline. It's redundant but true. I can make any excuse about why I don't have time to write. I'm tired, I need to do laundry, I have to watch a television program or read. Blah, blah, blah. Way too often I treat writing like Scarlett O'Hara would do and figure I'll think about it tomorrow (or next week). 

Recently I read Stephen King's On Writing for the second time. That man writes 2,000 words every single day of the year. He doesn't even rest on Sunday. No wonder he's published at least a bazillion books. Is it possible for a little old slacker like me to tap into that kind of commitment to writing? I sure hope so because I hereby pinkie-swear that I will try harder to accomplish my new writing goal. 250 words a day. Yep, 250 words is better than none, right? Besides, I don't want Mr. King to feel threatened.

Anyway, thanks, Donna, for this chance to ruefully consider my writing habits.

Today my final duty is to tag other writers to answer the same questions. Pretty much everyone who reads Critter Alley is a writer in one form or another. Thus I tag all of you. Tell us a bit about what's going on in your writing world!

We Got Tagged!

Our blogger buddy, Rubie tagged both Indy and Bogey, challenging them to answer 10 questions. Since Indy and Bogey have a tendency to behave, well, like dogs and cats, Mom will act as moderator. Ahem...

1. Describe yourself in 7 woofs.

I. Handsome! Funny! Smart! Outdoorsman! Snuggler! Playful! Enthusiastic!

B. Woofs? I don't speak any foreign languages.

2. Thanks for keeping that to seven words, Bogey. Now, what keeps you both up at night?

I. Getting Mom up to let me outside. My bladder isn't what it used to be.

B. Tickling Mom's face with my whiskers.

3. Clearly, sleeping is not something that happens much in this house for Mom. On to the next question: Who would you like to be?

I. Happy being me!

B. An undercover agent for the C.I.A. (Cat In-charge-of-everything Association)

4. What are you wearing right now?

I. My camo collar.

B. A collar that has a most annoying appendage. I'd love to get my paws on whoever wrote the words "belling the cat".

5. What scares you?

I. I hate firecrackers. On Fourth of July (otherwise known as the day the earth explodes) it's nearly impossible to potty in peace. This is a problem (see number 2).

B. Ha! I laugh at fear.

6. Best and worst of blogging. Indy, you cover the worst. Bogey,  please share the best.

I. Mom is typing instead of snuggling with me.

B. Mom is trying to type while I stand on the keyboard.

7. Last web site visited.

I & B. We last visited Rubie's Adventures to get the questions for this blog!

8. What is one thing I'd change about myself?

I. Mom likes me as I am...so nothing!

B. I'd give myself opposable thumbs.

9. Slankets-yes or no?

I. No.

B. Slanket? What's a slanket?

10. Tell us something about the blogger who tagged you.

I. She is a beautiful (sigh) salt and pepper Schnauzer.

B. She speaks a strange foreign language (see number 1).

Thank you. That concludes our interview. We are now supposed to tag other bloggers, but I'm sorry to report that Indy and Bogey got into such a tiff over who to nominate that I had to intervene.

Thus we tag all our followers with these questions. Take, go forth, and answer.

As for me, it's President's Day. I'm going back to bed.