While checking out some articles to include in this month’s collection, I saw an interesting post from Kat Impossible of Life and Other Disasters where she shared her preference for tea, love of writing at wee hours of the morning, and her map for a contemporary novel. As in any tags about books or writing you may find in this blog, I tagged myself yet again.

The original post from The Long Voyage enumerates the following rules:

• Link and thank the blogger who tagged you. – I sincerely thank myself for another self-tag but I want to acknowledge Kat Impossible as well.
• Include the graphic somewhere in the post (or make your own!) – I’m giving myself another pat on the shoulder.
• Answer the questions truthfully and honestly. – Don’t I ever?
• Tag 3 bloggers. – See list at the end of this post.

. . . started a novel that I did not finish.

Not yet. I consider myself as an amateur in the field of novel writing so everything that I start and haven’t finished are piled-not neatly- in my Google Drive to be dabbled in later.

…written a story completely by hand.

Yes. Fifteen years ago, I had a lot of practice in writing fanfiction during classes. My former teachers probably thought they saw a good student in me, scribbling continuously in my notebook. Oh boy, how wrong were they!

…changed tenses midway through a story.

I’m allowed to edit.

There are moments when a story sounds ‘right’ or ‘better.’ Tense definitely gives an impact to a story.

…not researched anything before starting a story.

Writing is an information-driven business. Even a short story is created based on minute, incremental researches writers have done through reading, observing, watching, and listening. What I am saying is it is inevitable. A must. I wish I knew this earlier, probably twenty years ago.

…changed my protagonist’s name halfway through a draft.

Yes, I have. I created the To be Continued protagonists’ names when I was in high school, changed the flow of their story in college, and finally revised everything in 2015 including Azalea’s name-nickname- from Azle to Euiea.

…written a story in a month or less.

I’ve written a good number of short stories in less than a month and if you can find my old DeviantArt account, feel free to evaluate them. My best record to-date is my NaNoWriMo novel.

…fallen asleep while writing

When I was in high school and using a typewriter (guess how old that information makes me) for an English paper, I remember working on our old kitchen table and stirring up to my mother’s voice. I didn’t even notice I had fallen asleep.

…corrected someone’s grammar IRL/online?

That “not unless” phrase really had to go, I’m not apologetic.

…yelled in all caps at myself in the middle of my novel.

Why would I have the need to yell at myself in all caps when I can simply pull my hair or peel the skin off my face? Apologies for such graphic examples, but I haven’t yelled at myself in capital letters while writing a novel. I simply mutter and have that deep, intellectual, conversation with myself on what a waste it is sending me to college without learning anything.

…used “I’m writing” as an excuse.

My best friend snorted in derision and left. But she still is my best friend so I believe she understood and will continue to do so.

…killed a character that was based on someone I know in real life.

Yes. The first time I did it was when I was in college. And that’s all I have to say about it.

…used pop culture references in a story.

I added Ed Sheeran into my fictional world so I’m going to tick that box.

…written between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.

All the time… (Fun fact: I wrote this on September 19, 4 a.m.)

…drank an entire pot of coffee while writing.

Yes.

…written down dreams to use in potential novels.

I did. I wrote the ones I could remember in my journal but I’m not consistent at it. Going back to sleep after waking up from a dream doesn’t help.

…published an unedited story on the internet/blog/Wattpad.

I edit a number of things I publish. Some of the earlier published ones may appear not edited but that’s because of my lack of talent.

…procrastinated homework because I wanted to write.

When I was still studying, yes, I did. Even when deadlines for occasional papers loomed over me, I still had an excuse to write. Procrastinated work, though, I can’t. My job involves a lot of writing so it’s a plus for me.

…typed so long that my wrists hurt.

For my job, yes, I have. For the pleasure of writing, not really. Ideas trickle to me like a stream, steady and gentle. I am rarely drowned by a waterfall of ideas to write and, admittedly, it bothers me.

…spilled a drink on my laptop while writing.

Good heavens, follow the golden- silver, bronze, platinum, call it what you will- rule in writing: thou shall not have a drink near your laptop!

…forgotten to save my work/draft.

Back in the days, it used to happen frequently. What made it incredibly frustrating was the fact that I didn’t own a laptop. I had a collection of colorful floppy disks yet I still failed to save my draft. Draw your own conclusions.

…finished a novel.

I have. Twice. Go check out the first one available in Amazon, Kindle, Barnes and Noble, and probably the DNF shelf of your friends’ Goodreads.

…laughed like an evil villain while writing a scene.

I have just done it. While typing this.

…cried while writing a scene.

I prefer not to answer this one.

…created maps of my fictional worlds.

Only in my head. Someone stealing my fictional world is a paranoia I share with a number of writers.

…researched something shady for a novel.

I haven’t. Not that I am aware of, at least.

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Who do I tag?

If I had taken a shot for every point I did, I would have been drunk by now.

I’m tagging the following writers in this Never Have I Ever, Writer Edition:

• Syme of The Average Gay Guy
• Drew of The Tattooed Book Geek
• Sofii of A Book. A Thought.

Should you have done this tag in the past, leave your post links in the comment section so I can read it as well.