What the heck is GUTGAA?
GUTGAA stands for Gearing Up to Get an Agent. It is a blogfest Deana Barnhart started last year in the hopes that those of us striving to reach “agented” status could come together, polish those pitches and have fun at the same time.
The first round for GUTGAA is a meet and greet so here’s my mini bio:
I was born and raised in Minneapolis, MN, where I now live. I also lived a few years in the “Low Country,” Charleston, SC. I love traveling to foreign countries, and do so as often as I can. I’m not an English major (my BA is in cultural anthropology), and have never had anything published (unless a letter to the editor counts). I have also never tried to get anything published. But I will be working on that soon.
And here is my Q&A:
Where do you write?
On the bus, on the treadmill (tricky, but I’ve done it), in the park, in the coffee shop, on the couch and at my desk in the sun room. Mostly on the couch and in the sun room, but anywhere is good.
Quick. Go to your writing space, sit down and look to your left. What is the first thing you see?
Window with view of a park!
Favorite time to write?
Depends on the story. If it’s a summer book, during the day. If it’s a dark story, I like to write after dark.
Drink of choice while writing?
Iced Americano
When writing, do you listen to music or do you need complete silence?
Depends. I have to have silence if I’m working on something tricky, though I also have music lists for writing. If I’m into it, it doesn’t matter what is going on in audio, though. I’m stuck in the story.
What was your inspiration for your latest manuscript and where did you find it?
Summer.
What’s your most valuable writing tip?
Revise, revise, and then revise some more.
Revision… absolutely necessary but still the hardest part some days.
Hi Liana. Thanks for stopping by!
I wish I had view of a park to my left too. Oh well. I agree with you on revision. It seems I’m never done revising. Keep working on that getting published thing. It’s a long hard road…
The road to publishing really is long. I didn’t have a clue when I started. But I’m still in!
Glad you joined GUTGAA and good luck
Hi Rebecca! *waves*
So great to see you, as always.
Good luck with GUTGAA! I’m interested to hear about these foreign countries you’ve been to. I love to travel too. I’ve been to some of Europe, Canada and Mexico. But would love to make it to Australia one day.
Nice to meet you!
I haven’t made it to Australia. I’ve done most of Europe, as well as Egypt and Turkey (which is partially in Europe), Korea…. I’ve been to Canada and Mexico too. I want to make it to South America next. Thanks for stopping by!
I like your favorite time to write. I had forgotten that I like matching the mood I’m writing with my mood, but that’s a useful tip. Good luck with GUTGAA. You’ll have to teach me how you write on a treadmill.
Writing on a treadmill is really messy. I only recommend it in cases of extreme inspiration, even then you should slow down before writing.
I love your blog title! Great to meet you. I’m not surprised summer inspired a book…some inspires all sorts of awesome
Yes! I am definitely always finding awesome in summer!
Hey Liz, just dropping by to say hi, too! Have you found anything that you covered in Cultural Anthro to be useful when writing your stories, characters, or themes?
I find that the socio-cultural stuff can be great inspiration for concepts to use in dystopias and sci-fi…
Have a great GUTGAA!
John
I was told by a friend that I write about cults a lot. I really am fascinated by them and did an independent study in college on them. I would say the things I learned helped me loads with writing realistic situations.
I also think my anthropology schooling helps me understand the importance of needing a character to be substantial and have a background (even if it doesn’t all come out in the story) which guides their actions.
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Hi Liz!
A view of the park sounds awesome… makes me think I need to rearrange my office… I live in the middle of a field surrounded by forest… kind of like a park… but I can’t see out the window from my desk… then again, it might only be a distraction… I am very easily distracted.
Good luck!
Oooh, I would love the woods. I have a street separating me from the park, so I am way envying you. It’s not as distracting as I thought it would be. I really like to be able to stare off into space (think about what to write next) and have the green right there.
Hey again! I was tagged, so I tagged you in the GUTGAA Tag You’re It! Game. Go to my blog and see!
LOL! I’ve done the treadmill. Couldn’t run though, just walked fast. Nice meeting you too. Thanks for stopping by at my blog. Best wishes with GUTGAA! May you get something published soon!
I haven’t run while writing either. Well, maybe once, but it was really short.
I’m with you about revising, especially when you get to the point where you can see the story getting better. Thanks.
http://otherworlddiner.blogspot.com/2012/09/deana-barnharts-gearing-up-to-get-agent.html
It really is fun to watch your story improve. I kinda like revising.
Hey. I’ve never tried writing on the treadmill. Reading, yes. Writing no. If I could get something to hold my laptop up, that’d be cool. Unfortunately I don’t have anything like that.
Oh, I’ve seen those treadmill desks. I don’t have one. (Wouldn’t it be great to have one of those?) I have to use a pen and paper on the treadmill at the gym.
I’m sorry to be so late on the GUTGAA meet and greet. As always, life exploded into chaos when I thought things would calm down. Well, can’t be helped. BTW, I hate treadmils. I go walking in Mother Nature with my hubby which makes writing quite hard (although I did try)
I use the treadmill for training purposes. I’m trying to figure out if it’s physically possible for me to run a half marathon. Not there yet, but getting a little closer each time.
I love walking outside too. As for writing wherever. I know. Sometimes you just have to write something down, doesn’t matter where you are.
Nice to meet you through GUTGAA! It’s going to be fun the next few weeks! There are a ton of people signed up so it’s taking awhile to make my rounds to say hi:)
Oh, me too. It’s great to meet you. Thank you for stopping in!