So, I’m a part of the Like A Virgin Contest– it’s for new writers working on manuscripts. Below are some questions and answers– looking forward to the rest of the contest. Xo.
- How do you remember your first kiss?
My first kiss was at my girlfriend’s birthday party in early elemental school. (The details are fuzzy. Second grade? First?) Anyway, she had a bunch of us over at her house and she pulled me up to her room under some flimsy pretext. Next thing you know, we were making out and stuff.
It was a fun party.
- What was your first favorite love song?
My first favorite love song was probably “Lovin’ You.” It was a ritual: my mother would play Minnie Riperton every Saturday when we cleaned the house, so it was programmed into my head very early. I still play it when I clean my apartment.
- What’s the first thing you do when you begin writing for the day?
I usually lock myself into an enclosed space: my bedroom, my office at work, or some other study/work room. I generally like to lock myself into a room before I start writing anything.
- Who’s the first writer who truly inspired you to become a writer?
Tough questions. If you mean novel-writing, that would be James Baldwin. Before that, I found most writing (other than blogging and poetry) frustrating—I was more of a Math/Science guy. It was James Baldwin that made me realize I wanted to write a novel. Blogging came organically—a friend of mine used to run an amazing blog on growing up Black and queer. I decided I had a lot to say on the topic (and on others) and started blogging in my early teen years.
- Did the final revision of your first book have the same first chapter it started with?
It does. It’s much different from how I’d originally written it (pacing, voice, tone, exposition), but the scenes themselves are the same.
- For your first book, which came first: major characters, plot or setting?
Major characters, definitely. I usually start my process with an image—I see a character doing something. So, I get a character first. Then I get the setting from their surroundings in the image. Finally, I think about a plotline and create other characters and a storyline connecting them.
- What’s the first word you want to roll off the tip of someone’s tongue when they think of your writing?
Engaging!
Check out the other blogs as well to check out the other participants.
StevenJHanton 
It’s funny how we have “house cleaning” songs. Mine is “Like The Weather” by 10,000 Maniacs. I should probably play that soon, my house could use some dust-control.
I haven’t heard that song before! I’ll have to check for it. Definitely looking forward to playing some Minnie and cleaning my apartment this weekend…
Wow, making out in first or second grade! That’s the age my daughter is…I’m just gonna plug my ears and rock in a corner thinking happy thoughts. 😉 Best of luck!
Haha, well, I’m from urban NJ, so we move a little quickly. I think it’s all location/culture-dependent. Thanks for the luck– good luck to you as well!
Ok. So maybe it is just me, but I always wondered about kissing from the boys perspective. . . ok I wonder about more than just kissing ;). Thanks for sharing.
Haha, well, at the time, I thought I was straight and I was super-into her. Glad to provide some perspective!
Now I’m double intrigued. I might have to get your take on kissing boys at some point. Just to compare if its different. Kissing girls is different than kissing boys. Since I got married, I’m out of practice, and I could be remembering wrong. 😉
I love your house cleaning song. Mine is probably Flight of the Bumblebee (or forensic shows, depending on my mood). Nice to meet you (I’m cornerofmadness on the link page)
Awesome song choice! Good to meet you as well. I’ll be sure to check your blog and everyone else’s– I’ve been swamped at work, so I was barely able to get my answers together @-@
No rush (mostly mentioned it since it’s a different name that how I have to sign in here). I get being swamped at work.
Another James Baldwin fan! Huzzah!
We exist!
I assume you’re in the contest– I’m still making my rounds on everyone’s answers yet. Good luck!
Nice to meet you Steven! I’m pretty sure my first kiss was pretty young too, though I don;t know if chasing boys down on the playground counts! Good luck in the contest.
Likewise, Jennifer! Haha, and I love the visual of girls chasing boys around the playground. True go-getter, 🙂
Good luck to you as well!
Lucky you to be good at science math and writing. I always assume that you are either left or right brained, I am very very right brained.
I assume right-brained is the creative side, right? Let me look that up…
And it’s nothing to be jealous of– I think talent at math/science, like most things, has to be nurtured. Once I stopped trying hard at math, it became like another language. I’ll never forget the misery that was Calc II in college…
Good luck in the contest!
I love Baldwin as well. Thanks so much for taking part and good luck!
Thanks for putting it together! Really glad to take part. 🙂
I wish I could lock myself in my office. I have a new puppy and she loves to get into things. I have now retreated to the living room! Good luck and nice to meet you!
Haha, aw! On the plus side, you have a new puppy. On the minus side…;-)
Good luck finding productivity in the living room; I just did some writing on my couch this morning. Good luck to you as well and nice to meet you!
I started out in the geek space, too. Quite a journey, eh?
Quite! What were you a nerd about?
Watching anime last night was so amazing. I completely forgot I used to live and breathe that stuff. So good.
James Baldwin< Go Tell It on the Mountain. Fantastic and masterful. Good luck in the contest!
It really is. I just finished that one last year; excellent read. If I could only dream of writing like Baldwin, 😉
Good luck to you as well!
Cleaning the house? Huh?
We maybe get one or two “summer days” here. Lovin’ You is often played on those rare, not a cloud in the sky days. Pimms, strawberries, chequered picnic blanket, basket (if your on the Thames, which I ain’t and will never be!)
Good Luck!
Where’s here? Judging from the Pimms and the Thames…somewhere in England? Sorry about the weather situation…I’m looking for somewhere a little warmer than Boston myself!
Good luck to you as well!
I wish I could lock myself in a room and write. Sounds marvelous 🙂
I liked your answers, best of luck in the contest!
It really is. My attention span is terrible– I’m way too easily distracted. Try an enclosed space! It works, I tell you.
Thanks, Shannon, :-). I’ll be sure to check yours as well– good luck in #LV14!