Oh No. I've Been ... Tagged!

So the evil Alaskan idea-generating dictator for life Stephanie Thornton tagged me yesterday with this mass of questions that I'm apparently supposed to answer. I figured "What the heck? It'll save me having to come up with any ideas for a day."

Also, apparently the rules state I have to tag more people, so here goes: Bane of Anubis, Rick Daley, and Anita Saxena? Go nuts.

1. What's the last thing you wrote? What's the first thing you wrote that you still have?
I'm currently dragging my feet on CALLARION AT NIGHT (stupid Chapter 18 is giving me headaches). The earliest piece of writing I still have easy access to is an abortive fantasy novel called JOURNEY THROUGH THE WIZARD'S KINGDOM. I think that got up to page 60.
2. Write poetry?
Very, very little. I'm a prose writer through and through.
3. Angsty poetry?
What's the fun in that? I'd much rather put fictional people through hell rather than write about my own angst. Not nearly as interesting.
4. Favorite genre of writing?
Have you looked at the content of this blog? Steampunk of course.
5. Most annoying character you've ever created?
Major Nicolai Drovgor, the ex-fiance of Moriah Rowani (protag of CALLARION AT NIGHT). He's not annoying to me -- I love writing him -- but he's annoying to her. Which is the point.
6. Best Plot you've ever created?
The main plot for The Haldor Saga is pretty cool if I do say so myself. Powerful magic, memories of past lives, and a kick-ass battle that nearly rips the world in half. Action movie here I come.
7. Coolest Plot twist you've ever created?
Remember how Moriah's mother disappeared? Yeah, she comes back. Coolest. Character. Ever.
8. How often do you get writer's block?
Every few months. Most of the time it can be unstuck by plugging away at the thing (or writing one of my cleanser pieces).
9. Write fan fiction?
I have an unfinished Harry Potter fanfic. It's archived over at SIYE if anyone's interested.
10. Do you type or write by hand?
Type. Definitely type. Sometimes I don't even print it out to revise anymore.
11. Do you save everything you write?
Occasionally. If something's so horrid that it just doesn't work in the context of the scene, then I tend to eliminate it entirely.
12. Do you ever go back to an idea after you've abandoned it?
Yep! CALLARION AT NIGHT was originally a short story called MORIAH, CHILD OF THE ROWAN.
13. What's your favorite thing you've ever written?
Definitely CALLARION AT NIGHT.
14. What's everyone else's favorite story that you've written?
That remains to be seen.
15. Ever written romance or angsty teen drama?
God no. I've included romantic subplots in my stories, but that's about it. And angsty teen drama bores me to tears.
16. What's your favorite setting for your characters?
I have to pick one?
17. How many writing projects are you working on right now?
Technically three. I'm in research for FUMO IRACUNDIA AEGYPTUM, slacking off on CALLARION AT NIGHT, and letting SON OF MAGIC sit for a bit before I look at it again.
18. Have you ever won an award for your writing?
Nope.
19. What are your five favorite words?
Antidisestablishmentarianism, Rosh Hashannah, exuberant, thermodynamics, and splat.
What character have you created that is most like yourself?
Thomas Caine, master artificer and engineer, from CALLARION AT NIGHT. He's much older than me, but shares my excitement about machinery and technology. We're weird, I know.
21. Where do you get ideas for your characters?
Everywhere
22. Do you ever write based on your dreams?
On occasion. There have been several unfinished stories based on my dreams.
23. Do you favor happy endings?
It depends on whether the story calls for it or not. If it's an unhappy story in general, then I feel a Happily Ever After ending isn't warranted.
24. Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Definitely. I get annoyed with myself when I find missing words or clunky sentences too.
25. Does music help you write?
It varies. I write a lot at work where I can't play music, so I find the clacking of the keyboard helps me keep a rhythm.
26. Quote something you've written. Whatever pops into your head.
"My name is Moriah Esther Rowani, daughter of Archduke Alexei Brandon Rowani. I have recently spent a month and a half in the Itzcalian jungles, which are hot, sticky, and very, very messy. Add in my fellow passengers deciding to question me, and I am in an extremely bad mood, sergeant. So you will retract your improper statement or I will put a bullet clear through your brain and that of every one of your thugs." Moriah spoke very slowly into the soldier's pale face. "You will then release this man, return to the Lord Premier, and tell him that he is thieving scum not worth the muck on my boots. Do you understand?"*

* Said with her gun pressed to the soldier's forehead and five more repeating rifles trained on her. Yeah, she badass.