Let’s Connect: Writers Tag

On By K.M. Allan

This week I’m taking a creative break from my current draft, which has given me time to work on my blogs (my regular post will be up tomorrow) and to finally jump on board with the Writers Tag started by Lorraine Ambers and Ari Meghlen.

I’ve never participated in one of these before, but couldn’t resist after being tagged by both Lorraine and J.M. Williams. I was also promised an Oregon raindrop by Bryan from A Crack In The Pavement if I took part.

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The rules are simple:

  • Post the Tag and Image on your blog.
  • Thank whoever nominated you and link back to their blog.
  • Mention the creators of the award and link back to their blogs.
  • Nominate 6 bloggers and notify your nominees by commenting on their blog.

Let the questions begin…

Name one novel that inspired you to write.

And stumped by the very first question… There isn’t just one novel. Pretty much every book I read growing up inspired me to go from being a reader to a writer.

What’s your favorite genre to write and read?

YA speculative fiction. I like my books a little dark with some great twists that involve either magic, murder, or the supernatural (bonus points for combining all three).

Do you prefer to write stand-alone or series?

I’ve been working on a series for so long it’s hard to remember that stand-alone books even exist, so I’ll go with series.

Use 3 words to describe yourself.

Organized, optimistic, and delusional (usually for thinking I’m actually organized).

Reveal your WIP image that represents your MC or setting.

Dark Forest

How long did your first MS take to draft?

I wrote the very first draft in 2001 and just finished the latest draft (#19) this month. To be fair there were 6 years between then and now where I didn’t work on it, but it (and the other three books in the series) has taken up the better part of 17 years.

Who is your author idol?

Christopher Pike

Share a writing memory that made you determined to carry on.

I spent January of this year believing I had cancer. Thankfully surgery revealed the mass was endometriosis, but the health scare made me determined to finally finish my series and start submitting again. You never know when something could come out of the blue and change your life. That goes for both good and bad things.

Tell us something surprising or unique about yourself.

I’m an identical twin—which isn’t particularly unique as there is another person out there who is an exact genetic copy of me, but it does surprise most people. Also, contrary to what she says, I’m not the evil one.

Share the hardest part about being a writer and how you overcame it.

Is there any answer other than self-doubt? It’s the one thing that’ll take a writer down—but only if they let it.

What’s your favorite social media and why? Share your link.

Instagram, mainly because it was the first social media I started when I decided to get serious about writing. I’ve met some wonderful writers there, including my awesome beta readers. I also get to post pretty pictures: K.M. Allan_Writer

Share some uplifting wisdom in six words or less.

Start today. Don’t put it off.

Here are my nominations:

— K.M. Allan

23 thoughts on “Let’s Connect: Writers Tag”

  1. Lovely to read more about you, Kate! I’m so sorry you had such an awful scare earlier this year (I do remember you being unwell), that’s a terrible thing to go through, but I am so pleased you are recovered now.
    Also, as someone who has read two books from your series, that aesthetic picture gave me shivers! Can picture such dramatic scenes in that setting – amazing!
    🙂 xx

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks, Meelie. It was scary, and the operation I had was the hardest thing I’ve ever gone thorugh, but I’m very lucky it was such a fortunate outcome. I do have a chronic condition now, but it’s better than what the alternative could have been. I’m glad you like my picture. It’s actually a canvas print I have on the wall in my office. It’s always inspired me. To me, it feels very much like the dark forest in my series. xo

      Liked by 1 person

  2. Ruth Miranda

    I had a health scare while writing the final book on The Preternaturals Series that also made me realise how fast things can change, and how little time we actually have. It made me work too hard for the past couple of years, in this fear of not having enough time to finish my work, and the truth is, even though I did complete seven books in that space of time, I exhausted myself completely and opened up the door to self-doubt and lack of self belief. So now I’m at the crossroads and standing still in the middle of deciding whether to go forth or back to what my life was before I published my first novel, when I wrote for my sake alone.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Sorry to hear about your scare, Ruth. These things really do come out of nowhere. I get what you mean about feeling the need to rush, and it sucks that it led to you exhausting yourself. I think we should always be writing for ourselves. It’s no fun otherwise 😉.

      Liked by 1 person

  4. I’m so sorry about your health scare, thank god you’re ok, even though endometriosis is no picnic. It does put things into perspective, which is why I love your words of encouragement.
    Keep going Kate, the doubt will never defeat us! 😊

    Like

  5. Reblogged this on IdeasBecomeWords and commented:
    I’m honoured to have
    been nominated to
    take part in this blogging
    connectivity post 💫

    While I work out my
    answers and create a post
    of my own, let me
    introduce you to a
    follow writing blogger
    whom you may already
    follow but now can
    learn more about!

    Fantastic answers – and the
    twin thing? I bet there are
    oceans of possibilities for
    fictional threads with that!!

    Like

  6. I loved those answers, Kate. I, too, prefer series than stand alones, especially if they’re in the fantsy genre. Sometimes though, i do pick up a romantic suspense that is a stand alone.
    And you’re right, you never know when something will happen and change your life.

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Thanks again for tagging me! (I think I thanked you three times? But I gotta cover my bases lol) I laughed out loud at the three words that describe yourself. Also, I’m sorry you had that health scare, but it’s amazing how you used it to motivate you.

    Liked by 1 person

  8. First of all: How come your links worked and mine crashed? Teach me, kid. What did I do wrong???

    Most of all: I am so happy to hear that the cancer scare was only a scare. You are correct: You never know when something can come out of the blue and change your life and sometimes all it takes is a scare.

    I need to locate your sister and see who really is the evil one. Rumor has it, she’s the honest one. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    1. 🤣 I just used the linking tool (which I’m sure is called something else but I’m not technical). Maybe WordPress was having an off day when you tried to use it?

      Thank you. Me and you both. I’ll never forget sitting across from a doctor and being told I have cancer. I’ll also never forget taking the phone call on the way home from the hospital telling me it wasn’t. I’ve had lots of big life moments this year.

      I’m not sure where you’re hearing these rumors, but I think you’re being misinformed. Perhaps they were started by my sister? She is the evil one after all 😈.

      Liked by 1 person

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