Stories that Matter
Random Fact Finding Session
If you’re a writer, you’ve probably heard how you’re supposed to interview your characters, right? Make lists, ask them a ton of questions, get to know them inside and out. Okay, I admit, I find this a bit anal. But then again, I find a lot of things anal so this should come as no surprise to you. It got me thinking about interviews though. And how we need to be honest when answering those questions.
When my book first came out last year, I gave a lot of interviews, mostly on blogs, so I had time to read the questions, mull them over and think about how best to answer. Occasionally, life would get in the way and I’d find myself scrambling through them to get them back to the interviewer in time. What surprised me in this scenario is the things that would just pop into my head as answers, without thought. Sometimes I’d sit back and go, “Huh.” “Really?” Yep, I’d tell myself. That’s really how I feel.
Have you ever been put on the spot and been afraid to speak your mind?
I find the older I get, the less afraid I am. Sometimes this is a good thing, sometimes people need to hear the truth, or at least my version of it, but sometimes it is far better to think about a response rather than blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. Trust me on this one. 🙂
But anyway, lets be spontaneous today. Let’s have a little fun. (And please, keep this PG!)
List 5 of your all time favorite things – food, movies, places – whatever.
List 5 of your worst things – things you simply can’t stand.
I’ll scramble up the names of everyone who takes part, and send one lucky person a copy of my novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, just for playing! Yes, I know. I’m cool that way.
And just to be fair – here’s my list.
Faves –
1. Family – can’t live without these people.
2. Friends – ditto.
3. My dog, Noah – he makes me happy, what can I say?
4. Being at my cottage in Northern Ontario – love that place.
5. Writing – I love what I do!
Worsts – No visuals on these. Ugh.
1. Flying. 2. Driving on major highways (as a passenger – I don’t drive on highways) 3. Going to the dentist. 4. Rats. 5. Whiny people.
Okay, that was interesting. I actually had a harder time writing down the things I love, because there are so many of them, I had to really think what could make such a short list. Things I hate, well, that was just the tip of the iceberg. 🙂 I could be here all day with that one. Which I suppose would make me fit into category five quite well, so I’ll quit while I’m ahead.
Looking forward to your answers!
Faves:
1. Family — including the son-in-love & daughter-in-love (I’m not just copycatting, Cath.)
2. Friends — Nothing like girlfriends when life knocks you for a loop. (Really. Not copycatting.)
3. Words — I am all about sayings. I post them on my walls. Talk about ’em in my blog, In Others’ Words. Mull ’em over. Edit ’em.
4. The ocean — I feel so close to God when I walk along the shore and listen to the waves. Nothing better than this except …
5. The mountains — So restful. So beautiful, especially during a sunrise. Or a sunset.
Worsts:
1. The dentist — I am a dental disaster waiting to happen.
2. Spiders — Hates ’em. Hates ’em. Hates ’em.
3. Fear — Because this held me back for far too long
4. Scary movies — Any kind.
5. Mean people — Any kind.
Thanks for this post today, Cathy.
Love your lists, Beth! 🙂
So fun! Off the top of my head —
Favorites:
1.God’s Word
2. My husband and six children — yes, six!
3. Reading — I could read all day every day!
4. Seattle — I would move there in a heartbeat.
5. Cloudy days.
Worsts:
1. Worry — It’s a love/hate relationship really.
2. Profanity.
3. Rudeness / Selfishness — like when a grown man allows my 12-year-old daughter to hold the door while he waltzes through.
4. Blatant immodesty.
5. Ants — there’s never just one.
Thanks, Cathy!
Meghan, I guess it goes hand in hand that you love cloudy days and Seattle!! Thanks for your list!
Favorites:
1. worship
2. my family
3. friends
4. stories (both writing them and reading them)
5. chocolate
6. fried pickles (sorry, this had to make the list)
Worsts:
1. cramps
2. headaches
3. being freezing cold
4. being uncomfortably hot
5. the way I feel when I’ve eaten too much chocolate and fried pickles
I can’t say that I have ever had a fried pickle! Are they sweet pickles or dills? Not sure I would like that…but might have to try it one day! Only not eat too many! 🙂
Favorites:
1. Studying God’s word – I really do love it!
2. My family – great husband, kids & grandkids, and fur babies
3. My house – we live in a 100 yr. old bungalow – my dream home
4. Photographing God’s creation – birds, flowers, sunsets
5. The beach in spring, mountains in fall
Worsts:
1. Like you, I despise driving on the interstate
2. Unending days without sunshine
3. People who are always negative
4. Not having enough energy to do what needs to be done
5. Poison ivy – I’m highly allergic
Teri, your house sounds amazing! And yes, that energy thing, I’m feeling that today!!
Favorites:
1. Writing anything–though a good story is always fun!
2. Taking a walk and seeing beautiful scenery (good for writing ideas)
3. Worshiping Jesus
4. Baseball–participating or observing
5. Reading or watching a movie that has a GREAT story
Worst:
1. Fixing my car
2. Dealing with difficult people
3. People who have no enthusiasm or dreams
4. Politics
5. Spiders
Enjoyed learning a bit more about you Cathy 🙂
Favorites:
1) People – my very awesome friends and family
2) Places – Cavendish Beach, PEI / Cape Spear, NL / Salt Spring Island, BC / Calgary, AB / Ingonish Beach, NS
3) Go to item when travelling – IPad for kicking back with a great book
4) Season – Christmas
5) Dream aka unaccomplished item on my bucket list – Canoe trip down the Yukon river
Worsts:
1) Bad Attitudes
2) Endless Delays
3) Being Lost
4) Bad Driving Conditions
5) Too Much Alone Time
Ooo, Lana, love your lists! But I actually DO enjoy my alone time! I guess I’m used to it now. I don’t do too well in crowds!
Favourites
books
tigers
My autograph bear,
cricket
traveling,
worsts
dogs (major fear)
doctors (another would rather go to the dentist any day than go to the dr)
negativity
Language of the neighbours (cant even sit outside without there disgusting language pentrating my space)
pain
Oh my goodness, Jenny we had neighbours like that in our old house. It was awful!! I feel for you. We simply couldn’t do anything right and it was so hard to ignore them- once I even wondered if I should call the police because of the shouting match going on over there! 🙁 No fun. I don’t know how some people can be that way, it’s a shame.
They are just loud young and annoying. at least weekdays they are at work. it wouldn’t be so bad if they talked at a lower level or normal level but some people are just loud. I have flats next to me set back from the road so its like a road between them and me. There have been times when they get out of control I thought I would have to ring the police. They house is for sale but has been for almost 2 and a half years. They are not looking after the place and no one seems to be wanting to look at it.