(no subject)

1. How often do you write a week?
Every single day. I write at work constantly. And during my lunch break, I write in livejournal. Livejournal is crack for writers. Actually email is crack for writers.

2. Do you carry a notebook with you? Is it full of stuff to do with writing?
No. Used to. Stopped. No time. Besides I write better on the computer.

3. Do you only write when inspired?
No, I have to write for work - write non-fictional business stuff. Also write when inspired.
Am driven to write. Somewhat compulsive about it.

4. Can you self edit?
Yes, I edit as I am writing. Actually, I tend to continue editing after I hit post--not a good habit but not one I can break. I've been known to edit some posts about three times after its been posted. And certain mistakes I let go, without worrying about them - such as minor grammatical errors, typos, or name misspellings - often this is due to time restraints. My problem with editing - is I can't do a copy or line edit without completely changing the content. It's impossible. Should probably have a beta, but since I hate betaing myself can't imagine anyone wanting to do it. (I have a tendency to change content.)

5. How do you feel about critique?
Sensitive to it. There's two types of criticism - constructive and really really not. And I've gotten both. A lot of people think they can do criticism, but they are not constructive. There's nothing worse than an amateur critic. Someone who has not been trained and doesn't get it.

They attack the post or writing, as opposed to explaining how it could be better. They also focus on the negative, without telling the writer what they liked or enjoyed. What worked. You have to remember two things regarding criticism - one not to take it personally and two to build a thick skin. As a critic - you should critique someone else's work as you might critique their parenting skills. This is their baby. You can be brutal - but if you are not constructive, it is useless. If you don't explain why, it won't work. IF you don't clarify what you liked, and what you hated - they will be confused. Also and this very important, keep in mind that anything beyond grammar is subjective. ie. Your opinion.

6. How do you feel about rejection?
Sensitive. It's tough to deal with. Experienced quite a bit of it with my work. Rejection unfortunately is part of the game - as a writer. It's the pain we all deal with. And it never gets easier. But, it does help to remember that JK Rowling got over 1000 rejections before Scholastic agreed to publish her.

7. Are you misunderstood?
Yes. People often think I'm aloof, when I'm just shy. And I have a tendency to say the wrong word or misprounce words.

8. Is your writing misunderstood?
All the time. Frustrating as hell. Have lost count of the number of times I wanted to tell someone who responded to a post - or something I wrote - no, no, no, that's not what I meant at all! It's scarey, because you realize that your writing which seems clear to you isn't clear to someone else. That it can be interpreted in ways you never intended. It's also sort of fun - because sometimes you like the other guys interpretation better.

9. Do you consider writing a craft? An art?
Depends on the writing. Not all writing is art. The writing I do at work is not art, it is functional writing - for informative purposes, precise, and to the point. Brief. Grammar has to be perfect. As does word choice on most occassions. I also write very fast and edit as I do it. Some of the writing I do on livejournal (the personal essays) and my fictional writing is art or at least I consider it art. Both are craft. Crafts take time and patience and hard work.

10. Have your relationships suffered because of writing?
Yes and no. I have chosen writing over a social life on many occassions. Just as I have chosen reading. So yes, that has been a price that I've paid.

11. Has your job suffered?
No. I have my job partly because I'm a good and fast writer.

12. Do you ever get smacked with inspiration?
Yes. I'm a compulsive writer. When I get smacked, I can't stop. I'm in the zone.

13. What percentage of writing is talent, inspiration, and hard work?
Depends on the writing and the writer, I guess.

14. And most importantly - do you enjoy writing?
Yes. I live to write. It drives me. I love and hate to write.

Should Willow have Done that Spell in Becoming?

During my discussion with gabrielleabelle in her post regarding Xander in Becoming, and my own re-watch of the series along with the reading of the comics, I'm wondering about that resouling spell in Becoming that Willow did. Online, I've seen numerous discussions about whether Xander was right to lie to Buffy about the spell, but I've never seen anyone discuss whether Willow was right to do it. Whether Buffy was right to ask her to. And whether Giles was right to endorse it.

Should Willow have ever attempted to re-ensoul Angel? Should she have done it twice? Let alone once? And was Xander right about Willow not doing the spell re-ensouling him?

[ETC: I really have no idea where I stand on this one.
In other words: Sort of agnostic. I can argue it both ways. Just throwing the arguments out there to see what everyone else thinks. ]

( Should Willow Have Re-ensouled Angel in Becoming )

*[Edited since first posting.]