I've been tagged

So the lovely Ro at Ro-Always Inspired tagged me to answer a bunch of questions and pass new ones on to other people. There's a lot of these flying around ahead of the Fourth Writers' Platform-Building Campaign, which I'm pleased to say I'm taking part in. Challenges start tomorrow - I wonder what's going to happen! I don't usually work to prompts, so this should be an opportunity to stretch myself a little bit.

Rules:

1. You must post the rules.
2. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and then create ten new questions to ask the people that you have tagged.

3. Tag eleven people and link to them on your post.

4. Let them know you've tagged them!

So here we go:

  1. What is your favorite genre to read?

I'm going to be a bit lame on this one and say I don't really have a favourite. I'll read most things if I like the look of them. At a push, I would say books with an emphasis on character (as opposed to plot or setting).

2. Why do you blog?

This is a question that I ask myself all the time! I think, like a lot of people, I started out with the intention of building up a profile for myself so that I might have some kudos when submitting to agents, and having an opportunity to talk about things that interest me. The latter still applies, but the former doesn't seem so important (I'm considering self-publishing). I'm amazed at the response I've had and now it's the relationships that interest me. There are things I hadn't thought about, such as the possibility of acquiring critique partners. It's such a giving, supportive community.

3. What is your favorite book from childhood?

It's hard to pick one. I would say anything that involves escaping into some sort of magical other world, so for example, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, Stig of the Dump, Narnia all stand out.

4. If given the opportunity, which author would you like to meet and why? They can be living or dead.

I've met Terry Pratchett twice (albeit only at signing tours), so I would say Roald Dahl. He just seems like such an entertaining, inspiring character.

5. What was the last book you read that you really loved? What makes it so special?

Room by Emma Donoghue, because it was so unusual and well done. I can't believe she managed to capture the voice of a five-year-old boy so authentically, in such an extreme situation. I've tried writing from the POV of a child and it's not easy to pull off.

6. How many books on average do you read in a month?

It's hard to say an average - sometimes it's very few, depending on the size of book and what else is going on. But so far this year I've averaged 3-4, so I'll try to stick with that!

7. Do you prefer reading e-books or actual books? Why?

There's benefits to both. I recently got a Kindle and I'm really enjoying it, especially as it's easy to read while doing something else (you don't have to hold it open with one hand). But I think ultimately, I prefer the experience of a real book.

8. In your opinion, what is the most overrated book of all time?

I'll get a lot of flak for this, but I've got to say Harry Potter! I read the first two about ten years ago, and to this day I still don't get it. I found the pace very plodding and I wasn't gripped by the perilous situations. Maybe I was the wrong age, but I don't know. I read many books to my stepson that I used to love and still enjoy them. Twilight needs a shout too - I managed the first one and a half while battling to keep my eyelids open. Sorry!

9. What genre do you refuse to read? Why?

I guess it would have to be what used to be called "chick lit". Generally, the characters and their dilemmas don't interest me in the slightest.

10. What is your favorite book to movie adaption?

The only one that jumps out where I know both the movie and book is The Time Traveller's Wife. Not as good as the book, but it was well done.

Here are my questions:

1. Who is your favourite character of all time and why?

2. When is your best time to write? Why?

3. What do you think is the most underrated book of all time?

4. How would you feel if a book of yours was adapted into a massively successful film that far outstripped the popularity of your book?

5. What is your favourite cartoon?

6. What do you do if you get stuck at any point while writing?

7. Toast, cereal or full-fat fry up in the morning?

8. Describe how you feel when you first give someone else a piece of your writing to read (even if only a spouse or friend).

9. If you were able to live anywhere in the world, where would it be?

10. What one thing would you most like to acheive by the end of this year?

Thanks again to Ro for tagging me and for her great questions! I was going to tag eleven people from the Campaign, but I'm struggling to find anyone who hasn't been hit at least once. So if anyone who reads this wants to pick up on it, you're more than welcome. Consider yourself tagged!

By the way, I don't know what happens with spacing when you create posts, and you might be seeing white space around this too. I'm a bit rushed so sorry if it looks a bit of a mess!