I found a list of questions that every writer should ask themselves at some point in their writing career. I decided to answer them here.


What reason(s) do you write for?
I write to communicate. I am an awful speaker at times -- for a writer, I don't communicate emotions well verbally. As a matter of fact, I don't communicate anything well verbally, so I taught myself how to write well from a young age. If I have something that I need to say, I write a story or poem about it. It's the best way I know how to communicate. For example, if there is something that is confusing my handsome beau and I feel that it needs to be explained, I write a poem about it and show it to him.

However, I don't write to publish, like most writers do. I honestly fear publication, because that means that whatever I publish is complete -- it's done, and even if I re-edit it, it's out in print now... there's no way to track down every owner of that copy and give them the new version. What I print, I am done with. Though, I know that I will eventually publish. It's the fastest way to get my stuff out there to the most people.


Do you take your writing seriously?
I take my writing seriously... at times. I generally take my prose more seriously than my poems. My poems are mostly just messing around and getting my feelings out, but most of the ones I submit here, I take seriously.

I'm careful not to take it too seriously, though. If you do take it too seriously, it will be hard to accept critiques. Writing is a fun career! In my opinion, taking it too seriously is killing the fun.


If so, when did you start taking writing seriously?
I started taking my writing seriously about the time I created this dA account. That's when I started seriously considering it as a real part of my future. I was serious for a while before that, but then I just let myself drift away from it. I got a few things published way back when, but I can't even remember which poems they were anymore... that's how long it's been.



Where do you feel you stand as a writer?
Tough question. It's difficult to say where I stand as a writer. I honestly don't know how good I am. It'd be like asking a new mom, "How cute is your baby?" Writers are biased. Just about every writer adores (most) of their writing if they put effort into it. That's what critiques are for. To get an outsider's view about what you need to improve on. However, DO NOT critique a baby -- a mother will not take well to you calling her newborn "ugly".


What do you feel you do well? (ie, characterisation, dialogue, imagery, etc.)
Oh, gosh... I really don't know what I do well. It depends on the story, really. As a writer once said, "The more I write, the luckier I get." (I think it was Kurt Vonnegut, but I'm not really sure.) Whatever I do well, I pretty much consider luck. I haven't really put much thought into it. However, I have noticed that it's easier for me to get my readers emotionally involved with the characters. Everyone who has read Not Just a Library Book told me that it made them sad.


What do you feel you struggle with?
That's an easy one. I struggle the most with coming up with things to write about! That's why I love the dA communities that have daily/weekly prompts. It makes my job a thousand times easier.


What do you most want to improve on?
Spelling. (*ZefiraelRain saves my life every day. I swear, she is my unofficial beta. ) And mastering the flow of a story. I feel like my stories are either too fast or too slow sometimes... I don't know if my readers feel the same way, but that's what I think I need to improve on.


Do you have any questions to ask your readers?
1) Know any more good communities? I love the three that I am a part of, but more communities never hurt anyone.
2) What do YOU think I need to improve on? Be harsh. I can take it. There's no way I will know unless you tell me.
3) What do YOU think I do well? Be honest. No need for flattery or sucking up, as ego-inflating as it is...


Thanks for taking the time to read!

(Note: This list was taken from the journal entry about a competition from . It can be found here!)