I've been making up stories ever since I was young enough to be put down for a nap but old enough to not fall asleep. The first story I remember writing in my head was a sequel to The Little Mermaid. (Yes, I was that young!)

I have always built off of an already-existing universe, whether it be a movie, book, or photo that captured my attention and imagination. I guess that makes fanfics a perfect fit for me ;)

When I get really into a story, I can hear the characters in my head. I can hear them talk, I can see their movements, I can almost feel their reactions. Sometimes I even find myself accidentally responding like them in my day to day life, if they've really burrowed into my brain. That said, such moments of clarity and inspiration are not constant. I only wish they could be!

I can get stuck obsessing over grammar, spelling, and sentence length and structure. I end up careening back and forth between ignoring the storyline so I can find a single perfect adjective, and then trying to force myself to ignore the technical side of writing so I can get on with the story. It's one of my many shortcomings as an author. My sincere hope is that with experience, I'll be able to find a balance between the two.

I'm sure that my writing will improve with time... but until then, please be kind :)