Veritaserum27 Posted August 31, 2017 Share Posted August 31, 2017 Our lovely site has been up and running for well over a year and I'm just now getting to this... I think the reason I'm just getting to this is that I haven't done too much in the way of writing for the past year -- until very recently. I've told myself that I'm not going to write anything else until I've finished my novel, so at this point, Actions Speak Louder Than Words (M) is my main focus. For now, I only write in the HP fandom, but in the back of my mind (way, WAY back), I'm toying with the idea of OF. If you've dropped by out of curiosity or you accidentally clicked the wrong link () feel free to leave a few questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Rumpelstiltskin Posted September 1, 2017 Share Posted September 1, 2017 Hi, Beth! I remember starting Actions Speak Louder Than Words once upon a time (I'll have to finish it). So far, what has been the most difficult scene/chapter/character/etc for you to write for that novel? How did you manage to overcome writing that difficult scene/chapter/etc.? What is your favorite genre to read? Is it also your favorite genre to write? What about the least favorite? So, in that way back part of your mind where you're toying with OF, do you have any general ideas about what you might like to write (or that appeals to you if you were to write)? (Genre, themes, settings, age-group, etc?) What is your favorite story (either in ff or original fiction, written by anyone in the world)? What makes it so special to you? What is your favorite trope in storytelling? Are there any other fandoms that you might be interested in possibly writing in (even if it is in the not-so-distant future)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum27 Posted October 21, 2017 Author Share Posted October 21, 2017 Questions? Pour moi?! Soooo sorry I didn't get to these sooner! Quote I remember starting Actions Speak Louder Than Words once upon a time (I'll have to finish it). So far, what has been the most difficult scene/chapter/character/etc for you to write for that novel? How did you manage to overcome writing that difficult scene/chapter/etc.? Sooooooo.... the hardest part so far has been getting over the hump riiiiiiiight before all hell breaks loose. I think I've been working on it for months now. I've made some decent progress (thanks to word races with you!), but I'm still struggling. I'm more than a little worried that I'll end up leaving a loose end, or there will be a plot hole. Quote What is your favorite genre to read? Is it also your favorite genre to write? What about the least favorite? Well, I love writing BOTH mystery/action and fluff. I think I like reading mystery a bit more. I love to try and figure out whodunit! Quote So, in that way back part of your mind where you're toying with OF, do you have any general ideas about what you might like to write (or that appeals to you if you were to write)? (Genre, themes, settings, age-group, etc?) Oh jeez. So I've sort of been dreading this question. I think it will make it a bit too real if I put it out there, but here goes... I'm thinking on keeping with what I know best - and it will likely be a mystery sorted around a science concept. Like, some kind of 'accident' in the chemistry lab and as the protagonist (who's a woman, of course) starts digging she uncovers some dark secrets. (cue dramatic music ) Quote What is your favorite story (either in ff or original fiction, written by anyone in the world)? What makes it so special to you? Holy crap, this is a TOUGH DECISION! Okay, I'm going to go with the VERY first book that I ever read, because it totally got me hooked on reading, and books, and strong female role models and mystery and awesomeness. My favorite book is "A Little Princess" by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was also the first book that made me cry. Quote What is your favorite trope in storytelling? It's gotta be the Underdog wins the big fight. I'm a Harry Potter fan, aren't I? And I'm a total sucker for this trope. I will read these stories forever! Quote Are there any other fandoms that you might be interested in possibly writing in (even if it is in the not-so-distant future)? I've thought about this one for quite a while and unfortunately, I really don't see myself writing for any other fandoms. I haven't really felt invested in any other cast of characters, like I feel with the HP universe. Thanks so much for these awesome questions! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nott theodore Posted September 15, 2018 Share Posted September 15, 2018 Hi Beth! I thought I'd already been here before to ask you some questions, but at least I can rectify that now! 1. You pack so much into the first chapter of Actions Speak Louder Than Words. What advice would you give to someone writing their own first chapter of a novel? 2. Your novel is narrated by both Rose and Scorpius. Do you find one of them easier to write than the other? 3. Rose has obviously experienced quite a lot of trauma - both during and before the events of the novel. Do you have to do a lot of research to portray that aspect accurately? 4. Without giving too much away, the villains you write are excellent. What do you enjoy most about writing antagonists? 5. Besides Rose and Scorpius, who is your favourite character to write in ASLTW? 6. Do you tend to read other versions of Rose and Scorpius when you read fic, or do you try and steer clear of other writers' portrayals of them while you're writing a novel about them? 7. You've also started a story about Luna. What do you like most about writing her character? 8. Is there anything you've learnt during the course of writing ASLTW that you wished you'd known at the outset of writing a novel? (For the House Cup 2018-2019 Opener) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Tanda Posted October 8, 2018 Share Posted October 8, 2018 Hi, Beth. I stopped by to drop my work, Inktober 2018, Day 7 asking you to write chapter 2 of Hurricane Luna！ questions： １What motivation made you write this story？ ２Which Ravenclaw do you like the best in HP books? ３ Does the movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them affect you for writing the next chapter? 4 Which do you prefer at both writing and reading, Action/mystery or Romance/angst ? 5 Is Rolf Scamander your type as a man? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum27 Posted October 13, 2018 Author Share Posted October 13, 2018 Sian! OMG - I apologize for taking far too long to respond to these. It was so lovely to see that you stopped by! Eeep! @nott theodore 1. You pack so much into the first chapter of Actions Speak Louder Than Words. What advice would you give to someone writing their own first chapter of a novel? Gah! I really appreciate this! I think that a great first chapter should include three basic things: 1. It should be relatively short. If people don' t know anything about an author, they really don't want to make a huge commitment with an 8,000+ word chapter. 2. I should introduce (at least some of) the major players. 3. Add some intrigue. Readers need a reason to click on the next chapter. 2. Your novel is narrated by both Rose and Scorpius. Do you find one of them easier to write than the other? I actually tried REALLY hard to make it only one POV. And I also tried to write it in third person instead of first, but neither of those worked. So it had to be two person POV. I think Rose is a little easier than Scorpius, because I can relate to her a bit more (being female :D) 3. Rose has obviously experienced quite a lot of trauma - both during and before the events of the novel. Do you have to do a lot of research to portray that aspect accurately? I did do a bit of research. I also had some personal experience to draw from (but no, I was never actually kidnapped by an evil wizard and tortured with a particularly evil curse ) . The other part I wanted to make sure was done accurately was the healing process, and how it's not linear or even remotely fast paced. 4. Without giving too much away, the villains you write are excellent. What do you enjoy most about writing antagonists? OMG. Thank you so much! I actually don't enjoy making my characters suffer, but I do enjoy 'helping' them get better. So I sort of, by default, like to write them into a pretty bad situation, so that they can overcome it and come out on the other side. 5. Besides Rose and Scorpius, who is your favourite character to write in ASLTW? Hmmm.. my first instinct is to say Albus, because he's so damn emotional, but I have some chapters coming up that feature James Sirius. He acts as a bit of a comic relief and it's a nice change of pace to the intensity of the plot. 6. Do you tend to read other versions of Rose and Scorpius when you read fic, or do you try and steer clear of other writers' portrayals of them while you're writing a novel about them? A little of both? I'm sometimes inspired by other versions of them and the way that other authors craft their relationship. But there are times when I need to focus on my own version so that I can get through a scene. 7. You've also started a story about Luna. What do you like most about writing her character? Luna is amazing. I love her carefree attitude and keen insight. People think she's completely off her rocker, but Luna's perception isn't clouded by social mores or other influences. I love that she's stripped away of being influenced by others' opinions of her. 8. Is there anything you've learnt during the course of writing ASLTW that you wished you'd known at the outset of writing a novel? Wow. I don't even know if I could list everything. I never wrote ANYTHING before attempting this, so I've learned so, so much! I wish I'd had the foresight to outline a bit more. I had a veeeeery rough outline from the get-go, but I really should've fleshed it out a bit more (especially the ending). I wish I'd known a little more about "showing instead of telling" before I started this. It probably would've made some of the earlier chapters a bit less cringey. Thanks so much for these amazing questions! @starfeather Hi Kenny! That Inktober pic is amazing! What?! I have several chapters of Hurricane Luna finished. I didn't realize that I never uploaded them! I will rectify that ASAP! １What motivation made you write this story？ I think I started it for a challenge. But once I got into it, I realized that I really liked coming up with magical creatures and how Luna and Rolf would interact with them. My goal is for each chapter to feature a different creature. ２Which Ravenclaw do you like the best in HP books? Luna. Not even a contest. ３ Does the movie, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them affect you for writing the next chapter? Ooo! I never thought of this, so I guess the answer is 'no.' I actually wrote most of the story well before the movie or the script came out. So it was completely done without knowing about JKR's version. 4 Which do you prefer at both writing and reading, Action/mystery or Romance/angst ? Can I have both?! My favorite stories are ones that successfully incorporate a little of each. If I have to pick one, it would be action/mystery — mostly because romance can be overdone and also done so very poorly that it can be a huge turnoff. 5 Is Rolf Scamander your type as a man? Haha - I think he's a little too wrapped up in his work for my liking. He also doesn't really seem to be able to draw the line between work and a personal life. (at least at the beginning of the story), he's also not very considerate, either. Again, thanks to BOTH of you for these great questions! Beth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Veritaserum27 Posted June 7, 2019 Author Share Posted June 7, 2019 So... I'm very near the end of Actions Speak Louder than Words. It may not seem that way, based on what I've posted thus far, but I wanted to sort out the ending in case I needed to change any pertinent details leading up to it. And... Oh. Merlin. Mysteries and Action/Adventure are HARD to write. My biggest issue is the reveal. I'm not entirely sure of how much to let go at any given moment. I turned to the HP books for inspiration, and they seemed to let a quite a bit go at a pivotal moment, so that's what I've done. But I'm still shaking in my boots that it's too much. Or too little. Or simply confusing. I've read it through and re-read it and at some point I have to just take the leap and hope for the best. Anyone else experience THIS amount of consternation at the end of a large work? No? Just me? Alrighty then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
just.a.willow.tree Posted July 18, 2020 Share Posted July 18, 2020 Hi hi, Beth! I had the utterly magical opportunity of reading Hurricane Luna, and I wanted to ask you some questions! 1. How did you come up with your characterization for Rolf? He's such a gruff character (with a soft spot inside), and I love the way you've written him! 2. Are there any more chapters? (I know you transferred from HPFF, so I'm secretly hoping there are some that just haven't been posted yet, haha!) 3. What was the hardest thing about writing Luna? What was your favorite thing about writing Luna? 4. Will we ever see a chapter from Luna's perspective? I'm so curious about how she feels after the events of the fourth chapter! 5. We first meet Luna when she's perched on a tree. How did that initial meeting come to be? What was Luna up to? 6. How do you personally feel about the events of chapter four? It left me feeling so emotional! Thank you for writing such a sweet story! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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