Unique Blogger Award

Thank you, LillyDoves!

I don't normally respond to these things because, at first, they looked like chain mail to me. But this time, I will.

Questions:

1: What inspired you to write your story and its characters?

The inspiration for my story comes from simply playing the game. I cannot play without later writing about it. It's just how I work. Sometimes, I write first, but with this story, I play first. That way, the sims tell me the story and I just jot it down for them.

2: Which of your characters do you wish you could be more like?

To me, this question is a little backwards. It's more like there's a part of me in each of my characters. I guess the question would be which would be my ideal "me." I don't...have one. Wow. None of my characters are ideal people. But I have to pick one. I guess if I have to pick it would be Emily.  I can't pinpoint why. I feel most attached to her.

3: What advice do you have for other SimLit writers and/or aspiring SimLit writers?

One thing: Where did this term "SimLit" come from? To me, it's just Sims storytelling, but whichever. I left for a long while and came back to find everyone using this term.

I have been writing Sims stories pretty much since I started playing Sims back in 1999. My advice: Write what you like. Don't try to follow a "trend," hoping that will grant you more readership. That's just it: Don't write just to get readers and comments. Write for YOU! The popularity of my stories has had its ups and downs. Sure, I really enjoyed it when loads of people read my writing. Yes, I do get somewhat depressed when I don't have as many readers/commenters. But in the end, even if no one reads it/them, I'd still write--because I enjoy it that much. If other people enjoy it/them too, that's even better.

4: Where do you see your characters in your story?

I see them in my game. I see them in my head. 

You mean where do I see them going? Darker. Bad guys are more interesting. It's bad, but that's the way it is. Like Alex said (and I might be getting this somewhat off), "We all have a dark side." Some pretty awful stuff is about to happen, mixed in with happy stuff too just for a break. I can say that I have something absolutely horrible planned that I don't know if I'll be able to pull off, as in whether or not I'll be able to handle it emotionally.

5: What do you do in your free time when you aren't writing SimLit?

What is this "free time" you speak of? Honestly, I have a little too much of it, and I spend almost all of it writing. Currently, I've written over 20 chapters ahead in Chain Reaction. I also peck at an epic novel (or series) going to about a million words at the moment. If it turns into a series (I'll let the publisher make that decision), I want the whole thing written before the first book hits the shelves.

I guess I could answer this by saying that when I'm not writing, I work for the movie industry. Right now, the only job that pays me actual money is working as an extra. My goal is to be a script supervisor, and I'm currently working a weekend scripty job on a feature film for IMDb credit as well as resume fodder. I have the ambitious trait. Look out, world!

Nominations:

I would nominate Maladi777, but she was nominated at the same time I was. I would also nominate LillyDoves, but she nominated me. Those two aren't the only ones I'd nominate though, so they've at least made this difficult decision easier. I would also nominate jazen, but I see she's been nominated recently (that's where I got the pic).

I truly love Jean-Marie's sense of humor in her Matthews Legacy. She makes me laugh so hard that my stomach hurts yet makes me love her characters too. I don't know her forum name, though. I hope the link to the story is enough.

Another, even though she's been probably nominated, is Sterretjeee's Grace Legacy. That story is proof that I can get so irritated with a character that I want to toss her from a 50 story window--yet keep reading. I have to know what happens!

Rules:

1: Thank the one that nominated you.

2: Answer their questions.

3: Nominate other people.

My questions:

1: Are there any people in your life on which you base certain characters?

2: How important to you is photo editing? Why?

3: If you were trapped on a deserted island with only one of your characters, who would it be? Why?

4: Take each of your main characters and describe them as a piece of furniture. Why pick that type of furniture?

5: If you could bring one of your characters into your real world life, who would it be and why? (and make it different from someone in question 3, if possible)