Inkheart, Plotting, and Moose Tracks: It's snowing in the summer!

Well, actually it isn't. It's ninety degrees where I live and I'm dying. Well, not literally. Actually, technically, yes, literally, we're all dying.

Happy Labor Day! I hope that you're all having a relaxing weekend. I just got back yesterday from some time with my extended family which was decently nice and produced some thoughts for a (hopefully) kick butt post later this week. So stay tuned.

Today I bring to you the adorable Alexa Winters from over at Summer Snowflakes (what a great blog name, am I right?!). Enjoy, then go visit her at her blog!

What was the last movie you saw? Why did you (or didn't you) like it?

Heh. I actually had to think about this one for a little, lol, because I don't watch movies very often. BUT, I managed to remember: the last movie I watched was Inkheart and I loved it because the story is just so fascinating to me, and being able to read out your favorite characters or go into your favorite book is basically every bookworm's dream. Yet in the movie (and the book series) it kinda gets turned on its head and you see how there actually might be some problems with having such a power. :p Plus, it's just a really great, fun movie with crazy, quirky, amazing characters. One of my favorites for sure. :)

I saw Inkheart for the first time years ago, but I recently rewatched it with my siblings. My mind goes crazy with that story! It's so incredible, and especially great for writers. The book is awesome too!

What is one writing trait you'd like to improve on during this school year? 

Hmm... I hadn't really thought about this, but now that you mention it, I want to get better at plotting. I'm a pantser so I really just write whatever comes to me at the time and, while that's fun, it also leaves an extraordinary amount of space for plotholes. :p So yeah, I'd like to get better at plotting my stories, so I can fix the plotholes with less pain, stress, and tears, and maybe keep some of them from happening in the first place. :)

I've been working at getting better at plotting for the past year and a half. It's a serious struggle (well, for me, anyway), but it's so worth it. I enjoy drafting so much more after putting in a lot of work with the outline. Plus, there are a lot of awesome plotting worksheets on Pinterest! ;) 

Markers or crayons?

MARKERS. I love markers because I love watercolors but I'm very not good at painting. So markers give me a similar look but they're much easier to control than a paintbrush.

SAME GIRL!

I saw on your blog that you're homeschooled! *fist bump* How does homeschooling help your writing and how does it make writing more difficult?

*fist bump back* Homeschooling for the win, hehe! Well, for one thing, I can count writing as part of my schoolwork, and my mom is really cool about it. Last year, she even said I could take off math the entire month of November as long as I used that time to work on my NaNo novel. So yeah. She's amazing. :D

The only thing that's a bit more difficult is when I'm writing about public school or something, because I don't have any personal experience to draw on. I have to just trust TV, movies, and books (which are not always terribly accurate :p), and I often end up asking friends really obvious questions about school, then just hoping I get it right, lol

Ahhh that is so sweet!! I used to find that hard too, before I went to school (my freshman and sophomore years of high school), but there really isn't a whole lot to it.

Do you share your writing with anyone? If so, at what stage? (First draft, edits, etc.)

I do, and it depends. I used to ask for critiques only when my stories were as close to perfect as I could get them. Lately though, I've started asking earlier in the process, around second or third drafts, because, like I mentioned above, I've realized I need help with things like plotting and making sure the storyline makes sense.

Very smart! I do the same. Though, I think I struggle with the temptation of sharing too early sometimes...

Ten years from now, where do you hope to be with your writing? 

Well, unrealistically, I want to be a bestseller with 20 million published novels (yes, I have that many ideas) and half of them made into movies, lol.

Realistically, I'd like to have published a few books and really be getting my name out in the market, but still writing and learning every step of the way. :)

You go girl! Best of luck to you.

What was your favorite part of this summer? 

CAMP. I got to go a mission camp this summer and it was EPIC. We had the best time, just learning about God and having fun together, plus we got to serve Jesus, and the community. It was great. :D

That sounds amazing! The camp I went to was definitely one of my favorite summer memories as well.

What are you working on right now, writing wise? 

I just finished a character-driven YA thriller (that has about a million plotholes, but whatever. Editing exists), I'm taking a break on my contemporary story, and I'm in the process of editing a dystopian with a friend. I also write some fanfictions and—obviously—my blog.

Oooh, busy!  Good luck editing...definitely not my favorite.

Who is your favorite main character that you've ever written? 

OH MY GOODNESS I DON'T EVEN KNOW. All of my babies are too adorable for words <3

However, I think I'm gonna have to say Elliot. He's the MC in my contemporary story (that might be called Sketchy Moments and might be called Low Expectations, I'm really not sure yet), and I love him because he's cute and sarcastic and broken and adorable, but also, he's my first original MC since I really got passionate about writing. So he'll always hold a special place in my heart. <3

Aww, author/character love. Gotta love it.

What is your current favorite song? How does music inspire your writing?

Hahaha, okay so here's the thing: I get so obsessed with music that I'm not even sure what my favorite song is. I LOVE IT ALL, lol, and I get randomly addicted to different artists, so my favorites can literally change by the day. By the hour, actually.

At this very moment, though, I'm going to have to go with either Flares or Paint The Town Green by The Script or Better Than Revenge by Taylor Swift. Honestly though, none of the above influence my writing at all. I mean, Flares a little bit (I could use it for a few characters maybe) but they're really just fun songs I listen to whenever—maybe while writing, maybe taking a break... just whenever. :)

I'm the same way. And I have never heard either song by The Script, I'm going to have to check them out! 

What is your favorite ice-cream flavor?

Coffee. But also moose tracks. And mint moose tracks. And bunny tracks. And girl scout Samoa cookies.

I could probably go on for a while (but I will stop) because I really love ice cream. It also holds a very special place in my heart.

And I don't think that I could end that in a better way. So we're just going to leave it at that.

(Head on over to Alexa's blog!)

I FOUND AN OPAL!

Well, actually, I found the Opal. Here she is, in interview format.

AMS: What are your writing goals for this summer?
OS: In New Zealand, we are heading into winter at the moment. It's the busiest time of the school year, so I am lucky if I get a few hours of writing time in any week. When summer comes around again, I'd like to finish my WIP- but summers a while off yet.

I often feel like there is some big conspiracy that life is behind to prohibit writers from writing by producing enough business to make our heads spin.

AMS: What is your favorite character that you've written?
OS: It's hard to say who my all time favorite would be. At the moment I'm fond of a character in my WIP, who seems to be made of bits and pieces from people I know.

Oooh, sounds like a fun one to write! Nearly all of my characters are inspired by aspects of people I know. (Watch out...just joking! ...maybe)
AMS: Favorite author and why?
OS: Ally Carter is always at the top of my list, I love her books. I also like Jodi Picoult, because I love her writing style.

I haven't read either of them! But I do see their names and books all over the place, I'll have to check 'em out.

AMS: Favorite childhood toy?
OS: I played with dolls all through my childhood, so probably the doll I got for my birthday one year. I called her Anna and was played happily together for years.

YAY FOR DOLLS! Why isn't it acceptable for grown-ups to play with dolls?! Maybe that's the reason why we have daughters...

AMS: Best piece of writing advice?
OS: I can never remember how it goes exactly, but I'll give it a go. "Remember when your writing your first draft, you are shoveling the sand into a pile so you can form a sand castle." Or something along those lines.

I've never heard that one before! I really like it, writing it down right now.

AMS: Are there any particular songs that inspire your writing? Which ones?
OS: I listen to a huge range of music, so it's hard to say which songs inspire my writing. It's almost never classical though. I listened to Crash by Jamie Mcdell and Cool Kids by Echosmith on repeat when I first started my current WIP.

Love love love Echosmith.

AMS: Do you share your writing (besides blogging)? If so, with whom?
OS: I used to share some of my writing with a friend at school, but I stopped doing it a while ago. I also have two critique partners. I find that sharing writing I haven't edited myself doesn't generally help. If I have polished a piece, then I am prepared for others to put their thoughts into it. I guess it's important for me to be happy with it before I consider changing anything, even if it a slow way to go about it.

That's interesting! I usually save my writing until the end (by end, when I finish the first draft) to share, but there are a few people I share with as I go along. It keeps me motivated to finish! And it's cool to know that other people are excited about my writing too.

AMS: What are you looking forward to most this summer?
OS: When summer comes back around to New Zealand, sometime in December, I look forward to traveling, seeing my best friend, loud music and dip dying my hair. I don't like summer because of the heat, but over the last few years I've come to cherish the few months of no school when I can put unnatural colors in my hair, sleep in and learn what I choose.

AMEN TO THAT! Love sleep.

AMS: Latest book you've read?
OS: I just finished The Raven Boys, after months and months of letting it drop down my TBR list. I am still confused about what happened, but I came away quite pleased.

I haven't read Raven Boys yet, but I have read other Maggie Stiefvater books and I think she's amazing.

AMS: How often do you write?
OS: I haven't had the time to work on my WIP for a few months now, which is pretty miserable. During the holidays, I might spend the whole day writing, so at the moment I'm just looking ahead to that. Ideally I would get a few hours every week.

Good luck finding the time!

AMS: Favorite ice-cream flavor?
OS: Cookies and Cream! Whoever thought of putting chocolate cookie in ice cream was genius.

PREACH! So utterly, inexplicably beautiful.

Opal can most often be found hidden behind a book or computer. She dreams of one day ruling the world with her cat, Hunter. If she can't rule the world, she hopes to at least change it for the better in some way. Opal blogs at Opal Swirls, where she talks about life, writing, books and whatever else floats through her mind.

Tune back in THIS MONDAY, for my summer goals and a SPECIAL announcement. On the special-o-meter, it's probably like a four or five, so not too big. But kinda cool. Anyway, come back! Because I love you and you're the bestest, most fabulousest readers in the universe. Have an AMAZING weekend!!