La Poseurs discussion
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Opportunities and Stardom!
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Interviews!
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Angel: Uh, yeah!:3
Me: Alrighty then, let's get started! So, did you think that your story would make it this far in the competition?
Angel: No, actually, seeing that it was really short and poorly written I thought there were other stories better than mine, more longer and more detailed.
Me: Well, I must say, I thought it was awesome! Plus, not to mention, I found amusement in the spontaneous attacks of the little boy. Is that wrong? Ha! Well, how does it feel to know that your writing has earned you a place among the top entries of this contest?
Angel: It feels good, in fact it feels amazing! That was just a short story without many over looks and not really really worked on. If thats good- then I guess my writing really is good. So yes Riley, it feels amazing.
Me: I can only imagine, a huge congratulations to you for your success thus far! Now, it is said that authors write about stuff that they've had experience in... does this mean that you yourself have had to deal with some rather "eccentric" children?
Angel: Well, yes actually. My old best friend used to live down the street before her parents divorced and her little brother named Caleb liked me, so every time he saw me he'd slap my butt, jump on my back, pull my arm, tackle me, and touch my hair.
Me: Wow! Sounds like a real handful! In your story, there are two characters that are being focused on. When I was reading it, I found myself becoming very fond of both of them! Was this your goal, to create two characters instead of just one that the audience would get attached to?
Angel: Yes, I'm surprised you got that! Usually my teacher disagrees with such thing, but this isn't school.
Me: I thought it was a unique tactic, and obviously it worked for you very well! Alright, I have just a few questions left. After seeing how far your writing has gotten you in this competition, do you feel a little better about your creative abilities? Do you think writing might be something that you could possibly pursue?
Angel: Seeing that my writing has progressed and made it this far yes. I never thought I'd get this far in anything. I don't know about pursuing, I will try more than anything, so yes as well.
Me: Well, I believe that you could do anything you put your mind to. We're just about to wrap up here, but do you have any words of advice for others who will submit their writing to La Poseurs contests in the future?
Angel: Practice makes perfect, haha, but really, only a little time in roleplaying and putting my work out there - even if it really did stink - I have gotten this far.
So here is my advice: Keep trying, the writer's-depression will be there, there will be good days and there will be bad. But keep fighting and pushing through and it all pays off, all of it.
Me: Wonderful words of encouragement. And with that as a conclusion to this interview, I must thank you. Thank you for your awesome story submission, and thank you for this interview! It's been real nice getting a little "behind the scenes" look at your thinking about creating this short, but very amusing, tale! That'll be all for now interview-wise, but I wish you luck with the competition!
Mod
Me:1. Your submission was definitely chock-full of a college student's vocabulary list. Did you earn your articulate tongue from reading? From school? From rigorous personal training?
Paro:In all honesty, I earned my wide range of vocabulary from role-play, albeit as I got into authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and William Shakespeare, I have been able to expand my vocabulary even further. I also listen when adults talk and when I word I do not know pops up, I write it down in this individual, insignificant journal of "Words I Do Not Know" so I can look it up later.
Me:Do you relate at all to the character in your submission?
Paro: I relate to my character in the sense that both of my parent's are... gone, but in two different ways. One committed suicide and the other is in jail; I would love to tell you more but an interview shouldn't be too personal, no? I have never been to a counselor, but I certainly need to though and I have the audacity to admit it.
Me: On your profile you make a point of shaming ridiculous cliches. What cliche is your least favourite, and why?
Paro: My least favorite would have to be the one having to do with sexism. I can't even begin to comprehend how many times I've heard sexist remarks about men and women alike. Something about sexism just.... It is known pique my anger quite easily.
Me:Out of all the books you have ever read, which one had a character that truly spoke to you?
Paro: Oh gosh, I haven't even read that many books, honestly. Uh... I think a character that I find relative to my own idiosyncrasies and morals would be Ponyboy from The Outsiders at the current moment. He had a low self-esteem and talked trash about himself, accepting the negative acclaims others said about him; that just reminded me of myself big time. In the end, however, I kinda learned how to accept myself I suppose, but even now I still don't... like myself.
Me What is a pet peeve of yours when it comes to other people?
Paro: It would have to be the way people are improper and insensitive. I just... stupidity- that's what it is all about; I do and say stupid stuff every now and then but I hate it when people act like they don't have enough sense. I am also surprisingly irritated with the word "gay." When people say it, it makes me mad. Gay isn't supposed to mean what most use it for; its suppose to mean happy. I also hate how people ruined the acronym, "YOLO." It's suppose to be a quote relative to "shoot for the stars".or something, and people just totally screwed it up and made it an excuse to do stupid stuff.
Me: Have you ever completed a novel, or are you aspiring to?
Paro: Dear, I've tried countless times and I never have the creativity enough to make a whole book; I stick to short stories and poems at the time being, but I am trying to come up with a plot for another attempt at a story. I'm using the help of some other friends who like to write and we might join characters together into one story or something.
Me: Out of all the other entries, which one did you enjoy the most?
Paro: I liked EJ's. I guess its because I like that horror and morbidity.
Me: Okay, what about an inverse of #4- have you ever read a book where the main character was not admirable at all?
Paro: Yes.... Twilight; Bella was stupid and too quick to love. She was a mary-sue and had no personality so I don't even see how everyone wanted to be her friend and how everyone wanted to take her to the dance.... She was a stupid character.
That was my interview with Paro. It's a great experience, being able to get to know a contestant, being able to burrow into their head and really see what inspires them. Best of luck to him in the competition. As mods, Autumn and I will not be voting on the winner. This, my dear friends, is completely up to you.
Mod
EJ: ._.
Can I ever be truly ready to be interviewed by "the creator"?
I guess I'll just have to be. :D
Me: Haha, don't worry, I'll go easy on you! ;) So EJ, I must say, I was incredibly impressed by your story. Still, as impressive as it is, did you think that it'd make it to the top four?
EJ: Absolutely not.
The story, in and of itself, is okay, but it didn't fit the theme as well as I'd hoped. Instead of focusing on an individual person and digging into his/her psyche and thoughts, I told more a story of her fall from abused housewife to possible mania and insanity. Whether the doll really did anything is up to questioning though as we know her mind wasn't too terribly... sane at the time.
It was also hastily written with small sentences, forced dialogue, and terrible visual descriptions that seemed either too lengthy or non-existent.
I found quite a few others that were much better than mine, in my opinion.
Me: Well, in my personal opinion, I thought everyone had really great stories, including you! About the plot in yours specifically though, you mentioned that you made it so it was unclear for the reader about whether or not the doll actually committed the murder, or if it was the mother after all. As the writer of the story, do you think that it was Rags who was the killer, or that the mother was simply mentally unhealthy?
EJ: That depends on interpretation of the facts. Everywhere Rags showed up, something bad happened...
but the mother was also in the same vicinity at the time of the "accidents".
The mother was being abused verbally, mentally, and physically so she could've imagined Rags being evil the whole time.
Personally, I believe Rags is pure evil, but that's just in my opinion.
Me: What an interesting insight! So, was concept for this story something that you've been thinking about for awhile, or did you just think of it spontaneously?
EJ: Actually I had this story written a long time ago, but I lost the original short story after a while. I have no idea where the real one is anymore. It was a lot better in my opinion back then. I just can't remember it correctly anymore.
And part of the idea with the doll came from a writing conference I attended at a college (UW-Whitewater) last year. A guy in my "group" wrote a story involving a doll and schizophrenia which culminated in the daughter stabbing her parents, then sneaking into her sister's room and stabbing a doll repeatedly. It was amazing and inspired me to write a story based around a doll.
Me: Wow! Well, you were right, the idea is incredibly interesting, one of the reasons your story was chosen. Would you say that you tend to enjoy reading and writing stories on the creepier side in general? What's your preference?
EJ: According to my Creative Writing teacher, I "always kill off my protaginist" so I guess mine are generally on the creepier side, lol. I read just about everything though from "The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak to J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter Series to Kristin Cashore's "Graceling" to "The Geeks Shall Inherit the Earth". Anything that catches my eye or seems like an interesting read.
Personal preference of genre: Dark Fantasy/Fantasy
-This would include the zombie/werewolf/vampire franchise without the Twilight and Harry Potter's thrown in.
Me: And as a writer, is there anything that that you try to avoid when creating a story?
EJ: Things I try to avoid are common story lines that everyone knows already. Things that are cliche or trite are boring to readers because, well, they've seen it before.
I also try to avoid making any character infallible. Everyone has a weakness; it's just harder to find it sometimes.
Me: I agree, it's good to stay original as possible. What would you say that your weaknesses and strengths as a writer might be?
EJ: My weakness and strength are the same.
Description.
Either I have lots of description that paints a clear picture while boring the reader with fancy-shmancy words and long descriptions on the texture and look of it...
or I have NO description leaving the description open to the reader's mind, which if it's a creepy/horror novel is sometimes the best option. There is nothing scarier than the human mind.
Me: Once again, I completely agree with you. Well, I have one last question for you, and then we can wrap things up here; do you think you will be participating in future La Poseurs writing competitions?
EJ: Of course!
I like the ideas behind the contests and the idea of interviewing the top four!
I'll probably stay out of the next one though...
*bitchy comment loading...*
...so someone else can be in the top four for once. *flips hair*
:)
Me: Haha! Very well EJ, very well. Thank you so much for this interview, and congratulations for making it this far in the Character Contest! I wish you good luck!
*whispers*You put Paro in bold not EJ...
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Me: What was your original inspiration for the entry?
Aprille: Well, I was inspired by this girl I knew back in middle school. I'd just gotten back from going around Australia (and being homeschooled for two years), and this girl in my class decided to make my life rather difficult because of that. She dropped out two years later.
Me:As I happen to know you are in college now, was it a bit sentimental to write about high school days? Did you go to a high school like the one in your entry?
Aprille:Yes I did go to a high school just like that. I hated it! That writhing cesspool of hormonal emotions... I was so glad to finish. But it makes for interesting settings for my stories, so I guess it served some purpose.
Me: Couldn't be more true! Haha Let's talk books- your favorite character from any book or series in the history of all time.
Aprille:Oh my gosh... hm... Well, at the moment, probably Eowyn from Lord of the Rings. She's just so brave and strong; I think she is just amazing and is an idol worth looking up to
Me: Who are the people that inspire your writing the most?
Aprille: My goodreads peeps! Without you guys, I'd still be back at my 9-5 job because I thought I was an awful writer. Sometimes I still think that but you guys turn me around. I should also mention my wonderful boyfriend who has to put up with me shushing him so I can write.
Me: Aww, we love you too. Did any of the entries stand out to you?
Aprille: I loved EJ's. From the second I started reading it I couldn't stop. I love the psychological thrill and the mystery, because we never find out if the doll was actually killing people, or if the wife was insane *shivers* I loved it.
Me: It seems to be a popular one XD So, when you went to high school, how often did you meet girls like your protagonist?
Aprille:Very often. There used to be a big group of them. You know the kind, would shorten their dresses and would wear them even in winter. They'd always hang around in the bathroom and do their makeup. I absolutely hated them.
Me:Would you say you have a strength or weakness in writing?
Aprille:A weakness, I think. I sometimes have a funny way of wording things, and I'm awful for trying to space events out. I'm kind of like 'I know what happens! Here guys, have a look!', so I would say I'm not so good with keeping spoilers as spoilers.
Me: Last but not least! What is your favorite story on Goodreads, currently?
Aprille: I would have to say Injection by Kara. She's a fantastic writer and it's a great science fiction dystopian (my favourite).
And now that we've gathered all the interviews, feel free to look them over. The voting will commence tomorrow, so read over these interviews, re-read the entries, and get your votes straight! I, for one, eagerly anticipate the results!
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
Right now, your mods are currently interviewing Angel, Paro, EJ, and Aprille, the top four contestants of the Character Contest here at La Poseurs. After all is done, we shall post our results here for you guys!