Describe your desk
Imagine your school locker: cluttered to the point of bursting, stuffed with paperwork and texts from a dozen different subjects, littered with sundry items (some starting to smell and grow fuzz) that really should be cleaned out, peppered with knickknacks acquired who knows where but are hard to part with, and adorned with cherished photos. That's my desk--it's my high school locker transported into the future and splayed across a flat surface!
What is your writing process?
I write best in the mornings when I’m fully caffeinated and still able to pin my muse to a page. Mornings work best for me because I'm able to seize upon any inspiration roused during the night by my dreams. I tend to remember my dreams when I wake, and often find them inspiring--not so much the content, but the sense of mystery, awe, and surprise that lingers. I try to capture that sense in my writing.
Whenever I take a road trip, I'll take time to look at maps and scope out several possible routes. I like to maintain a sense of where I am and where I'm going. Writing's no different. I'm an outliner. I make a map of where my story is headed (in the form of a preliminary synopsis). But I also let the characters dictate and the scenes unfold. It's no different than finding an unexpected roadside attraction on a road trip--they're what make the journey worthwhile. When I do deviate from my outline, however, I will update it to maintain a sense of my story's direction.
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