Sunshine Blogger Nominee?

Three days ago I got the surprising message saying I was nominated for Sunshine Blogger Award. This award was started by Lori Scharf with her blog Warriorco as a blogging award passed around by bloggers in this fassion:

• Nominees are asked 11 questions by the previous award holder.

• Nominees will answer the questions in a post in their blog.

• These nominees will then tag 11 bloggers (if you know 11, or just tag the ones you know) in the same post where they answered those 11 questions.

• (Make sure the Blogger Award is shown in your post. Hint: take a screen shot of the award and put it at the top of your post)

• In that post, ask those tagged bloggers your own 11 questions then go to the bloggers’ latest posts and comment on it to allert them of their nomination.

• In that comment, make sure to link back to your nominee post.

• Make sure to rewrite these steps in your post so the new nominees will know how to spread the word!

Okay, now that we have that down, let’s get on.

I was nominated by The Faithful Wanderer with this post. I’m forever warmed by your kindness. ♥︎

These are her 11 questions and my answers:

1) Where and when do you write best? (ex. morning, desk)

I write at my desk, on my tablet with my feet propped up in the sofa armrest that sits right beside my desk. I can’t seem to write any other way. There’s something about resting in that giant desk chair with my feet up that gets the mental juices flowing. I usually write after school around three or four in the afternoon, or sometimes at night, in bed. But it’s so often impossible for me to write durring the morning hours.

2) Favorite blog post you've ever written?

Ah…that’d probably be Weeping With Jesus. I was in such a specific headspace when I wrote that and it gets the point across so clearly I’ve admired the post ever since.

3) What genre do you dislike writing? And do you like reading that genre or not?

Oh boy…good question. I can’t say I dislike writing any genre, but I once tried Epic Fantasy. Hehe, let’s just say it didn’t turn out well. My motivation completely flopped and I lost all interest in the story. However, I do not hate reading epic fantasy. It’s actually part of my few favourite genres. But Epic Fantasy will probably never top Dystopian YA or Sci-Fi.

4) Why do you write?

I write different genres for different reasons.

I write on my blog (non-fiction) to bring more of Jesus to the world, to spread His ministry and show His love. I write novels (fiction) for Jesus too, but also for pleasure, for publishing, and to show that young people can do hard things even when the world doesn’t believe them, or support them.

5) If you could go anywhere in the world for 24 hours, where would it be and why?

New York City.

Why? Because the first full novel I ever wrote was Spider-Man fanfiction and New York City was the first city I ever looked into. NYC is the first place I researched enough to know what the tallest building is and where Central Park is via Times Square and how large New York Bay is compared to Liberty Island. I have an emotional connection to that city, even though I’ve never been there before. (sometimes, it feels like I have.)

6) Do you listen to music when you write? If so, what do you listen to?

Yes! I absolutely have to be listening to music, or I can’t focus. The genre depends on the mood of what I’m writing. Sometimes it’s alternative, sometimes it’s classical or instrumental. Other times it’s pop.

7) Favorite book everyone should read?

Steelheart by Brandon Sanderson.

Ee. I just finished the sequel to the three book series—The Reckoners—on the edge of my seat. I cried laughing once, and it made me so, so sad at times I felt like crying. Brandon Sanderson knows how to put a book together. From the characters, to the plot, to the prose it’s 5-star worthy. I’ve read some great books this year, but this one tops them all.

8) What advice would you give to every young writer?

Insperational:

Don’t stop trying.

It’s going to feel really lonely at times. Sometimes the prose isn’t going to sound right and sometimes the words don’t fit together. But we’ve all got to write those bad scentences before we can write the good ones. Remember, you are going to be someone’s favourite author one day.

Useful:

Use these three easy rules—

1. Remember to ‘Show don’t tell’ (ie. Describe the road instead of just saying ‘it was a dirt road.’)

2. Remember your tense (ie. Pressed vs. Press, Showed vs. Show, Worked vs. Work.)

3. Every practise takes time. Lots of time. You don’t sit down at the piano and expect to play Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in two hours. Keep that in kind. ;)

9) Would you rather write inside or outside?

It depends. If I could write outside without the wind blowing hair into my face and without the glare of the sun on my screen, I’d be happy to write outside. I’ve tried many times. But I usually end up writing inside.

10) What made you start a blog?

I started my blog with my favourite post, Weeping With Jesus. Life was really hard at the time and so many things weren't going the way they should have and writing blog posts and non-fiction and poetry made it to much easier to share my feelings. I don’t often share my feelings and what’s going on in my head with the people around me, so blogging has really helped me get out all the things I want to say to people without actually looking them in the eye.

11) Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Oo…that’s a fun one.

In five years…2029. Eee! Exciting! I’ll be 19 then. Done school. Have a job. I don’t know! Honestly, I’ll probably be published, whether it’s traditional or indie. I’ll be writing in the afternoons, working mornings. I might be playing a sport or Oo! I’ve always wanted to learn how to fly an airplane. Right now there are so many possibilities, and I can’t choose just yet. It’s so exciting to think of life in five years, because it’s really not that far away.

Okay!! Yay! Now for my less-than-11-bloggers who I want to nominate because I don’t know too many.

• Emily Bollenbacher at Rooted Scribbles

• Bree Pembrook at Laughs and Literature

• Book Adventurer at Books Are Diamonds

• Person of Letters at Inspitation Station

• Story Builder at The Story Builder

Okay guys, here are my 11 questions for you to answer:

1. What is your favourite piece of advice anyone has ever given you? (writing related or not)

2. What is your favourite genre, to read and write?

3. What is your favourite book-turned-movie?

4. Have you ever felt lonely while on your writing journey? If so, what was the one thing that helped you get back on track?

5. If you could talk to any published author in person, what would be the first five questions you’d ask them?

6. What is your favourite part about blogging?

7. Have you ever held a book in your hands and imagined it was yours? If so, what did it feel like?

8. Have you ever cried over a book? If you have, what was it called?

9. Your most useful piece of writing advice?

10. What is the number one country you’d ever want to go, fictional or real?

11. How long have you been writing, and do you see writing in your future?

Thank you so much! I hope you all have blessed days and write with dignity and grace. God be with you.

-Claudia