Cairn wrote:

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Well actually, I hadn't been writing all day, and no, it can't wait until morning. Not when you're totally in your zone and the creative juices are pulsing. When your muse strikes you just gotta go with it. Time is irrelevant when you're a writer. But at least [my stepsister] was right about it being my passion

Being a writer myself, I couldn't agree more. I write humor, normally short and too-to-the-point. Dave Barry style or otherwise. I often find that if I don't sit down and pin down the idea on the spot...
(a) I don't get around to writing the piece at all
(b) I forget the all-important details and/or the better of the punch lines
(c) The piece loses the desired "right tone"

So.. I have two questions for you Cairn (and other writers out there as well)

(1) What do you write?
(2) Do you find yourself writing at any favorite hours?
(For the past several years, I have only been reasonably witty between 11 pm and 2 am. When otherwise uninspired, I just wait for my ripe time of day. Other times often find me busied with other things, distracted by pretty hair, or craving cheddar terribly.)

Anais Satin

Hi Anais!   :)

I always get good ideas at random times and places, and have forgotten enough of them that I now make sure to carry around a notebook and pencil everywhere I go, just in case inspiration strikes. Who knows how many of us could have written the Great American Novel if only we'd had a scrap of paper to jot down that great but fleeting idea?  ;)

In answer to your questions:
1) I write mostly short stories and a little bit of poetry (if I'm reeeeally in the mood). Someday I'd like to write a full-length novel. I mostly stick to the fantasy genre or inspirational fiction. I have a couple things published at this site if you're interested in reading:
http://elfwood.lysator.liu.se/libr/k/a/kasnell/kasnell.html

2) My favorite time to write is the same as yours, between 11 pm and 2 am. It's after everyone else has gone to bed, so the house is quieter and I can work without distraction. I don't like writing with other people nearby and looking over my shoulder. I use the daylight hours to do things that actually require sunlight, not just the glow of the computer screen.  ;)

Have you ever had any of your work published, or do you just write for yourself? Right now I do it mostly for my own gratification, but I've entered a couple contests and hope to be published someday.

Hi Cairn!

Thanks for responding. I carry around a notebook all the time too. It's become a sketchbook nowadays, since I like to diagram my writing as well. There's a collection of twenty-something notebooks on my bookcase at home, a la Kurt Cobain. As for writing times, I prefer 11-2am because my mind seems to work differently around those hours. My humor is not published, but I am currently working on an English translation of an Asian bestseller (author gave me exclusive! woohoo)

You have such a beautifully designed web site : )
I really like your writing style too; it's very vibrant. Best of luck to you and your work!

Anais

Wow - small world, Cairn. My friend Thomas runs that site, it's based in Linköping, Sweden - where I live (the liu stands for Linköping University).

Keep writing, I'm sure you've got many novels in you! :-)

/Kate

Woah Kate, what a crazy coincidence!  :o Talk about a small world!

Thanks Anais; I'm glad you like it. But I didn't design it at all; the site is called Elfwood (very well run by Kate's friend!), and hosts many fantasy/science-fic artists and writers who want to share their work. There's many very talented people there.

You're translating an Asian book? Very cool! So in a way, when the book hits U.S. stores, you could almost say you have been published. ;) How accurate do you have to be in the translation? I'd imagine it'd be impossible to do it word for word, but if it were me I'd be horribly tempted to change things around here and there and add my own personal flair to the writing and hope no one would notice.  ::) ;)

Hey Cairn and Kate

That's so funny... the degrees of separation from Illinois to Linköping Sweden! p.s. Kate, how do you put in accented vowels??
...I definitely get the urge to add my own flair. The first time I did a "sample" translation for the author, he liked my style and actually gave me the freedom to change what I please. Weird, I know!

I stick with 'word-fo-word' for about 90% of the time, especially with the important things.. but when he's describing scenery or when word-for-word is IM-possible (my language has a lot of slang and idioms that are almost impossible to explain in English) ... for those inexplicable cases, I often rearrange sentence structure, use a similar idiom or literary phrase, or even change some of the words slightly if it means getting the intended tone.

soooo... you dig JRR TOLKIEN too!!!! I loooved all three LOTR books and the Hobbit. Do you find that Tolkien's style sneaks into your writing?

Anais

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That's so funny... the degrees of separation from Illinois to Linköping Sweden

Like that "Seven Degrees of Separation" theory that says you're connected to every other person on earth through a maximum of only seven people. Maybe it's true after all... ;)

Anais, I'm guessing you're translating from Chinese? My stepsister is learning Chinese in college and is almost fluent. From what I've heard her explain, the language and its symbols do seem to have a lot of intricate meanings that can't be easily translated to English. The complexity is so impressive.

Ahh, Tolkien...yes, I LOVE his work! I'll admit I was quite obsessed for a while, but I've gotten it down to a healthy admiration.  :) Whenever I'm reading him I do notice that his style tends to creep into my writing a bit, but I haven't read anything by him in a while. I'm on a C.S. Lewis spree right now actually, and have noticed that my own writing style is reflecting it.

Speaking of Tolkien and Lewis, when visiting Oxford while in England, we (actually, I convinced my family to) stopped by The Eagle and Child, the pub where Tolkien, Lewis and their other writer friends used to hang out and read bits of their writing to each other. As Tolkien & Lewis are my two favorite authors, it was like standing on literary holy ground. Here's a picture:

http://www.angelfire.com/dragon2/ciarn/Oxford

Sorry, it's kinda big. That's me in the doorway with the look of dumb ecstacy on my face. The chopped-off person on the right side of the picture is my sister.

Hi Cairn!

That's awesome that you got to make your pilgrimage : ) Consider it your going on behalf of all of us Tolkien lovers. Your picture is lovely, by the way.


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Anais, I'm guessing you're translating from Chinese? My stepsister is learning Chinese in college and is almost fluent.

My parents know a lot more Chinese than I do : P I am translating from latinized Vietnamese--the post-French-colonial form that people use today. It's been said by anthropologists/linguists that Chinese, Korean, and Japanese all evolved from ancient Vietnamese scripts. So it turns out that most Asian languages can be described in your words: "a lot of intricate meanings that can't be easily translated to English."

Sometimes I notice Tolkien creeping into my work. Some of the classic, old-fashioned style of writing. Do you have a writing group or writing buddy you meet with to share work a la Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? My friends and I used to do that, but nowadays with not enough time.. we all go our own separate ways.

Anais

wrote on Jul 29^th, 2004 at 6:02pm:

It's been said by anthropologists/linguists that Chinese, Korean, and Japanese all evolved from ancient Vietnamese scripts.

Interesting...I never would have thought. But then, I don't know squat about Asian languages.  ::)


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Do you have a writing group or writing buddy you meet with to share work a la Tolkien and C.S. Lewis? My friends and I used to do that, but nowadays with not enough time.. we all go our own separate ways.

Unfortunately I don't have any friends or even know of anyone (off the internet, at least) who is anywhere near as interested in pursuing literature outside of the classroom as I am. Last November I participated in National Novel Writing Month ([url=www.nanowrimo.org[/url]]www.nanowrimo.org[/url] - check it out!), and I got together with a couple other participants in my area to share our work and offer support and advice. We talked about starting a regular writers' group, but with our busy lives, it never happened. I know there's an established writers' guild that meets regurlarly in my town, but since I'm still in high school I'd feel too out-of-place.

It's especially hard because I'm mostly interested in fantasy, which automatically places me in the "geek" category. Because of that I'm mostly pretty private about my writing around my friends and family. Which is also why I love the internet so much - there's so many people who share the same interests and passions. If only some of them could live closer to me...

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It's especially hard because I'm mostly interested in fantasy, which automatically places me in the "geek" category.

Why Cairn, that's not at all true. You're placing yourself in a box here.  
And I know we write completely different genres.. but if you're interested in starting a "Writer's Posse" with just the two of us, feel free to send me an email. We can definitely exchange work and criticism.

So... there MUST be other writers out there besides us two?? Giddalti, I know you're a writer... so if you read up on these posts, pleeease join us on the thread : )

Anais

wrote on Jul 30^th, 2004 at 2:03am:

Why Cairn, that's not at all true. You're placing yourself in a box here.

Well, it's true in my high school, at least. But you're right, I shouldn't beat myself up for it. I'm happy with who I am.  :)

I would LOVE to have a Writers' Posse! It'd be great to have someone to share ideas, suggestions, etc. with. And since we write in such different genres, we'd probably both get a lot more out of it; it's always good for any writer to broaden their horizons by studying and picking up tips from other genres. Personally, I'm horrible at writing humor; I'm sure you could teach me a thing or two.  :)

I'd love to send you an e-mail with a piece of my work, but I'll have to dig through my journals and find something worth the effort first. I don't have the time right now (it's the middle of the night and I've got writing to do ;)), and I'm leaving for a week-long camping trip in Colorado on Saturday. You can send me an e-mail if you want, and I'll be all over it soon as I get back.

And yes, there MUST be other writers out here, or at least prospective writers! C'mon people, sharpen those pencils and join us!

Yes it is a small world indeed!

Writing can be a painful process, anyone with the persistence to keep at it has my admiration. I used to write (mostly short stories) when I was younger, but somehow its hard to work up the inspiration to write anything nowadays. I crank out the occasional mediocre poem.

Oh and I can do accented vowels because I have a Scandinavian keyboard. You can do them through your computer's character map. :-)

/Kate

Oh Thank you Kate : ) I've been wanting to type "a la" with accents

and Cairn, I hope you have a wonderful camping trip : ) You mentioned the conditions and water limitations they have up at camp.. the shower limit time and everything. Two years ago I went to a massive international camp where no showers were even possible. We camped out in a gigantic field. Over that week and a half, I stuck my head under the spigot as often as I could manage.. but didn't use shampoo (they didn't allow soap product residue). It was awful... I kept my hair up most of the time.  

I hope everything goes well for your hair care out in the Rockies.. Other than having to worry about that, I'm sure you'll have a wonderful time.

Anais