19. Is there something you always find yourself repeating in your writing? (favourite verb, something you describe 'too often', trope you can’t get enough of?)

Christmas! Especially Christmas trees. I've written several Christmas stories down the years; and, if a tree is relevant, it definitely gets into the story. In fact, the seasonal episode of FK4 actually describes no fewer than three different trees.

My mother's family always managed a tree, even at the worst of the Depression; and Christmas was very important to her family. My Dad (whose mother died when he was just shy of fourteen) considered the holiday to be mainly for children; but no one else agreed with him. It's a family holiday for us: the tree, the turkey, and presents.

We had our first family tree when I was four. Or so I've been told. It was a tiny live tree (which my Dad planted in the garden afterwards, and dug up the following Christmas) with decorations that my grandmother had sent from Canada. According to my mother, I was astounded; and, the last night before it was taken down, I sat for ages just staring at it. The following year, I saw The Nutcracker for the first time. I do remember that: when the Christmas tree grew at the end of the first act, it was utter magic. Christmas trees have been special ever since.

Although my father always insisted on a "real" tree, I have one that is artificial: this is best for the glass ornaments, since there won't be any droop from drying out. It's only a six-footer; but that means I can reach the top without having to stand on anything. I've had it since 1986. As for the ornaments, I bought my first ones in the late seventies, and still pick up a few each year. Nowadays, I store them in carefully organized boxes in a cupboard off the living room.

This is my tree from 2020:




Full list:
1. Tell us about your current project(s) – what’s it about, how’s progress, what do you love most about it?
2. Tell us about what you’re most looking forward to writing – in your current project, or a future project.
3. What is that one scene that you’ve always wanted to write but can’t be arsed to write all of the set-up and context it would need? (consider this permission to write it and/or share it anyway).
4. Share a sentence or paragraph from your writing that you’re really proud of (explain why, if you like).
5. What character that you're writing do you most identify with?
6. What character do you have the most fun writing?
7. What do you think are the characteristics of your personal writing style? Would others agree?
8. Is what you like to write the same as what you like to read?
9. Are you more of a drabble or a longfic kind of writer? Pantser or plotter? Do you wish you were the other? Both, or neither?
10. How would you describe your writing process?
11. What do you envy in other writers?
12. Do you want your writing to be famous?
13. Do you share your writing online? (Drop a link!) Do you have projects you’ve kept just for yourself?
14. At what point in writing do you come up with a title?
15. Which is harder: titles or summaries (or tags)?
16. Tried anything new with your writing lately? (style, POV, genre, fandom?)
17. Do you think readers perceive your work - or you - differently to you? What do you think would surprise your readers about your writing or your motivations?
18. Do any of your stories have alternative versions? (plotlines that you abandoned, AUs of your own work, different characterisations?) Tell us about them.
19. Is there something you always find yourself repeating in your writing? (favourite verb, something you describe 'too often', trope you can’t get enough of?)
20. Tell us the meta about your writing that you really want to ramble to people about (symbolism you’ve included, character or relationship development that you love, hidden references, callbacks or clues for future scenes?)
21. What other medium do you think your story would work well as? (film, webcomic, animated series?)
22. Do you reread your old works? How do you feel about them?
23. What’s the story idea you’ve had in your head for the longest?
24. Would you say your writing has changed over time?
25. What part of writing is the most fun?