Tuesday 4 September 2012

GUTGAA - meet & greet


This thing is so cool, maaaaan! Deana Barnhart is the brains behind GUTGAA, and even if I'm not really ready for an agent, I'm still taking part 'cause it's cool and I guess blogfests are an awesome way of keeping oneself involved in the blogger writer community. Which I have struggled with lately, as confessed.

Anyway, yesterday was the Meet & Greet portion of the blogfest, but as I'd already posted I decided to wait for today to put up my meet & greet post. So here it is!

-Where do you write? On my couch, mostly, with my beautiful MacBook Pro on my lap. Sometimes a cat or two, as well.

-Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see? I'm not there right now, but if I were there and I were to look to my left, I'd see the arm of the couch, covered by a spotty red/white blanket (it really does have spots, on purpose), and beyond it, the "guitar corner" where my music equipment is stored, and some plastic boxes full of crap I have nowhere to put (my home is shockingly bereft of storage space, so I have to make my own). And then there are curtains, and a window. And a wall.

-Favourite time to write? Any time of day, I would be happy to sit down on my couch and get writing. I have an office, too, but it's not sorted, it's full of junk (ya know - that "no storage" thing?), and it has an old, crappy computer in it. Someday I intend to buy a delightful iMac and actually enjoy my office.

-Drink of choice while writing? A cup of tea, a glass of wine, a tumbler of Bailey's, some Coke Zero...and always a bottle of water on hand. But as for the non-water drinks, I'm not fussy. ;)

-When writing, do you listen to music or do you need complete silence? I listen to music when doing most things. It's a must in my life. It's like a limb is missing if I don't have music on. And wow, such inspiration to be gained from those wondrous strains!

-What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it? "My latest manuscript"? Ummm, well, the latest idea I had came to me in a dream (see previous blog post for more details). But I haven't really got stuck into writing that one yet. The novel I just rewrote (SUNDOWN) was inspired by Twilight, but no, it's not about vampires or stalkers or high school. You can read about what inspired it in this post.

-What's your most valuable writing tip? Don't worry about what others think, just write! And editing/revising can wait till later.

32 comments:

  1. I have lots to drink and music when I write too. Loved your writing tip too :)

    .....dhole

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  2. Really good writing tip. I think too many writers get caught up in trying to write what they think readers will like or what will get published!

    Great to see you two days in a row!

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    1. Agreed! I'd never bother trying to write what's wanted, because those wants seem to change so quickly!

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  3. This is so me!

    I listen to music when doing most things. It's a must in my life. It's like a limb is missing if I don't have music on. And wow, such inspiration to be gained from those wondrous strains!

    LOVE IT! :)

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  4. I love wine, but if I tried to drink it while writing, I'd fall asleep at the keyboard! I do have some Bailey's in the cupboard. Maybe I should give that a try tomorrow!

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    1. I always recommend giving Bailey's a try. haha. I try not to buy it too often because I will drink a whole bottle in very few days. ;)

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  5. Yay for dream inspirations! As you said on my blog, a lot of people have said that today - it's amazing! :D

    Hope you enjoy GUTGAA! :D

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  6. Hey Trisha! Since we already know ,each other, let me say I'm so glad your on the GUTGAA journey too!
    I am so jealous of your brand new macbook pro. *swoon* One day when I"m pubbed I"ll treat myself to one. :D

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  7. I was so hoping to participate in GUTGAA, but life isn't cooperating. I'll just have to follow vicariously when I get the chance. It was fun to learn more about your writing space and habits!

    ~Debbie

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  8. Fun post! I have to have silence when I write - I guess I'm just easily distracted.

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  9. Sounds very interesting. It’s fun ‘meeting’ everyone who’s doing GUTGAA!

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  10. love your easy going attitude! it shines in your answers!

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  11. My cat usually sleeps close by when I'm writing too.

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  12. Even when you have storage space - it's never enough ;)

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  13. I like having the radio on in the background too. A silent house feels odd. But now I can actually experience it since my kids are both in school.

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  14. Hi Trisha, Thanks for visiting my blog. My first love was painting/drawing - went to art college and all that. I think it comes through in my writing ;-)
    I am going to go follow you on Twitter now.

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  15. Cats and laptops are a great combo!

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  16. Your writing tip is perfect. :) I couldn't agree more.

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  17. Hey Trisha,

    Just dropping by to say it's great meeting you, too :) You sound like you have a lot of interesting artistic projects going on, which is awesome! Hope you keep pushing hard on your writing!

    Cheers and have a great #GUTGAA!

    John

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  18. I'm enjoying these little slices of life I'm finding around the blogosphere for GUTGAA.

    Can I just say I love that you're a Coke Zero girl? My whole family is all about the Diet Coke. They will not be converted.

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    1. I used to be a Diet Coke girl but Coke Zero won my heart after the first sip. hehe

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  19. Hello fellow GUTGAA-er. It's cool to meet so many new peeps. I cracked up at your plastic boxes of crap. I just told my kids we have to "adjust" our stuff to the number of actual closets in the house or we'll end up on an episode of Hoarders.

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  20. Love my MacBook Pro, too! Nice Blog and great to meet you! Hahaha yes, love the reference to the boxes, too. You sound totally human! Please check out my Mac at www.drmargaretaranda.blogspot.com and thanks!

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  21. Hi, Trisha!! Just checking in from GUTGAA ~ :) And, interesting! A book inspired by Twilight with no vampires? Cool. :)

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  22. It's amazing how the subconscious works. I love when a dream can inspire the creation of another world.

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  23. Hi From GUTGAA! I love my MacBook Pro, too. I spilled (well, I didn't, but I won't go there right now) coffee on my old one and thank goodness I had insurance. I got a brand, spanking new one, minus *ALL* my programs, but hey! I can't complain.

    Isn't GUTGAA already a blast?
    Talynn

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  24. Hi Trisha! It's so cool to meet you. I love your answers and your bio. :) Music is also so intricately linked to writing for me and though I don't write songs, I appreciate the connection between music and basically everything else! My cousin is a singer-songwriter, and I have other musicians in my family, so maybe that's why. We grew up with music.

    I LOVE that your latest project was inspired by a dream! It's a cool experience. lol

    Nice to meet you and good luck with GUTGAA!

    Alexandra

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  25. Guitar corner! That sounds lovely :-)

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!