Yet another blog hop: Liebster Award (oppan lazy style)

The Lobster, uh, Liebster Award.

Amber tagged me in her blog hop and said nice things about me (and I’m a sucker for that!). But I’m sort of blog-hopped out right now, so my participation in this will be half-assed. (At least I’m honest, right?)

The hop is called the Liebster Award. I’m not sure why.

Here are my 11 questions.

1. Describe your current MS in three sentences?

In December I finished the sequel to Isla’s Inheritance. As my next MS is still a glint in my proverbial eye (or maybe my actual one), that would be my current MS, I suppose. So here are three sentences on it. I’ve kept them deliberately vague because—spoilers!

Isla begins to come to terms with her unusual powers, but then one of her mother’s people arrives. He reveals a terrible secret. And there is a developing love triangle (who doesn’t love one of those)?

2. What is the most important thing you try to achieve within your own writing?

An easily accessible story. I’m a fan of straightforward prose and characters with a sense of humour. The characters do struggle with bigger issues (free will is a theme in both manuscripts) but they do it as regular teenagers. Some of whom have superpowers.

3. What has been your biggest writing high?

Finishing my first manuscript. It doesn’t get much better than that feeling of OMG-I-ACTUALLY-DID-IT!

4. What are your three favourite books?

I honestly have no idea. I love so many. So I will name three favourites from when I was a teenager. They got me into fantasy and speculative fiction more broadly:

“The Hobbit” – JRR Tolkien
“Dragonsdawn” – Anne McCaffrey
“Magic’s Pawn” – Mercedes Lackey

5. What is the primary focus of your blog?

Writing and editing. Mine and others.

6. Name three interesting Bloggers/Tweeters that you would like to know better?

Err. This is a hard one because I love my Tweeps and don’t want to single anyone out. So instead here are three blogs that I find really useful:

TERRIBLEMINDS: Chuck Wendig, Freelance Penmonkey

Grammar Girl’s Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

Bad Redhead Media

7. What is the single best piece of writing advice you ever heard/read?

Don’t fuss too much over the first draft. Get it down. You can fix it later.

8. How would you sum up your writing experience?

Protracted. I’m averaging one book a year.

9. What’s your plan for publication? Query Agents, Submit Direct to publishers or Self pub and why?

I’m currently querying agents. I’d prefer to go that route, because I’d like to think I’m wise enough to know when other people are smarter/more experienced than me. (As Chuck Wendig wrote today, The agent is there to say, “This clause, the one about eating babies, we’re going to say no to that one.”)

If that fails, then the other two options are plans B and C respectively.

10. What’s been your biggest challenge as a writer?

Finding the time. Single working mum, yadda yadda yadda. My goal is to write 1000 words a week; I usually manage a bit more. For a 70k word manuscript … well, you do the maths!

11. What keeps you going?

Coffee and OCD. Also, my son.

Now, I’m meant to tag 11 bloggers to participate. If you read this and want to participate, feel free. Leave me a comment and I’ll link you in my post.

Apologies for the lazy.