Welcome to interview with the author, this time with one of the most recognized, talented and important writers in this forum: Laila.
Name: Laila
Age: 18
Birthday: 25th of June 1985
Location: Germany
Native language: German
Acquired languages: English and a bit of Spanish, Latin and French (in descending order)
Education: Striving for graduation
Profession: Pupil
Define yourself in 5 words
Alright, I'll try: Contradictive, Independant, Ambitious, Fluffy, Scarred.
Why Scarred?
Things happened in my past, which I sometimes still feel the marks from, scars...
How much time you have being writing stories?
Uh... hard to say, I remember that in primary school I already had best marks in writing fictional texts, that often brought me into trouble because I kept writing away from the given topic, if I didn't like it.
I also have been writing poetry from time to time, but really serious writing I actually started when I got my first computer, because I really really loose motivation fast looking at my own penmanship. I love the posibilities a pc offers you. So I guess about 5 years in total, increasedly since about 2 years.
How many fanfics have you done so far?
Let me count them... I guess about 8 or nine, and about the same number of Fan Fictional Shortstories
So are 16?
Wow, that sounds a lot, but yeah, that's about it.
Which was your 1st fan fiction?
I think it was one called "Totally away from home" about a girl who comes to New Zealand to spend a year there, working and learning the language after school.
How do you feel about your fics?
Very different actually... The very early ones "Totally away from home" and the dialogue based fic "All yours" I actually feel quite proud about, because well, english was really a foreign language for me back then, and despite all the mistakes and poor vocabulary, I am really happy I wrote them because it was how I got to start.
I never ended those two because they really were not popular. Then came two others, "To make them believe" and "The never ending story". The second, I never ended, to be honest because I lost inspiration for fantasy. "To make them believe" is the early version of the now posted "Compromised Integrity" and it was the first fic that actually got greater recognition. I was quite proud of it back then, but now I feel I ended it kinda clichee and anti-homosexual, so I decided to rewrite it. Reading it now, I keep laughing my as off about the aweful spelling and grammar.
Then there is of course Family Portrait, that really really did most for my writing abilities, so I am quite proud of it, but I didn't end it, mainly because I came to realize how offensive it actually is. I got to a point where I though if Elijah would ever read this (what I know he doesn't but still) he would hate me and think I'm sick! So, I really got insecure about the difficult topics I touched and quite disgusted by myself, thinking that IS sick, and these are existing, living persons I write about that deserve a little more respect! I can't really explain what happened but at the moment I feel really bad about it!
Another fic I wrote was the Wind of Change, the fic I probably feel best about, because it is the fic I think about for about three years, and it grew ever since. I decided to repost it now after half a year of writers block.
I also wrote a slashy thing (She is talking about the fics China in your Hands and Broken China), which was fun, and I am still proud how it worked out and about my ... hehe... courage. It was extremely much fun write actually, because I could completely loose myself. I didn't have such a highly quality aim to it, but in the end I am really surprised how it became
Do you have any fictions in your 1st language (german)?
I have written 3 or 4, only one of them finished, and also only one that didn't exist in english. But it's not so much fun, a ) because to let the lads speak german is just incredibly weird, b ) because I like expressing myself better in english and c ) it feels less like spoled time, because in the year I am writing english FF's now I have improved so much that i only get topgrades in english now.
Which one of your fics you feel more proud of?
That's easy, Wind of Change.
How did you get the idea for The Wind Of Change?
That's a tough one, actually I barely remember. It wasn't planned as a fanfiction originally, and that Elijah fitted the main character so well is mere chance (Well... or the fact that we are obviouly soulmates *winks*). The idea was to have fantasy story without a real evil source, like Sauron in Lord of the Rings, because I never believed that exists. So I wanted to have fantasy,with magic, but rather subtil one, conflicts that could also be history, and full characters with background and personality. That was the idea... and it extended to a huge mass of characters actually...
Do you identify with your characters?
Absolutely! Yes, especially the main girls. *grins* it is no mere chance that 8 out of ten are writers...
Do you enjoy writing?
Admittedly there has been a time I enjoyed it more...
About a month ago, I really wanted to stop because I began hating it, but I think it was mainly Family Portrait. Now I still have to kinda force me to do it, but then it really makes me happy, and I couldn't live without it. But it doesn't flow as easy as it used to at the moment... well my life doesn't so I guess I can go back to that when my life flows in ordered paths again.
How do you get rid of writer's block?
Um, force myself over it after a while I guess... sometimes so when nothing goes anymore I lie the story to rest for a week or two. I try to think up new twists to make it more interesting for me, or I get completely away from it by reading a good book.
What inspires you to write? and makes you lose inspiration
A lot of inspiration are dreams acually, sometimes I wake up with a story in my head that is so interesting that I just have to include something of it into an existing fic or start something.
Then real life stuff I want to work out, like "Stains of Blue" came from a date I had, without the sex of course, but that was what went through my head, if it had been Viggo, whom I had been with *grins*. Then there is music of course, especially Josh Groban actually.
Well and the Lads themselves, Elijah and Viggo mainly, whose radiance is really enough to bestow me with inspiration, fill me up and happy with it.
I lose inspiration, when I lose interest for my characters, and well when my life around me get's too tough... then I just feel guilty "spoiling" my time with writing and nothing works anymore. But my greater problem is actually demotivation, I am always inspried... but sometimes my motivation get's lost...
Are there specific genres that capture you?
To read I like history and good written fantasy (what is actually rare, even in published work), and some real life stories that have some, yes, some atmosphere in them, I can't explain. To write, I like to challenge everything actually. But Fantasy is something that I like, but keep having writers block at. I love parodies, but I don't like my own humor so that is difficult. Drama is something I think I'm quite good at, and I also enjoy it, if it has some fluffy moments. What I absolutely can't write is horror or action, I really suck at that *smile*
What do you think about joint fics? Are they good? Do you enjoy reading and writing them?
Well I have written one, and it was really not such a god experience because I have problems standing up for myself. I am really better on my own I think. But I have read a few really good ones, it really depends on the choice of a partner who fits you, and with whom you can communicate...
What do you think about Viggo? Why you admire him?
What fascinates me about Viggo is probably for one his incredible life style, that is so admirable. I once tried to express that in a poem, it is really inspiring, and kind of showing a different way to go. Then the more fluffy girly thing, is that I had a phase in my life, and I'm still in it when I got really really overwhelmed by independance and felt really lost and helpless, he really helped me a lot to get over that, because I could imagine him guiding me...
Tell us about your friends in this forum
I started writing as a newbie of course, at EWFN when it was still the most wonderful place in all the net, and when I look back now I still think it's incredible who many amazing friends I got here. It's amazing how girls, really alike me assemble here, whereas I can't seem to find any of them in "real life", I have my incredible great friends offline of course, but I think there are certain points of me they can't really get into, and there are totally familar to my friends here.
The closest I probably got to the moderating and admin crew here, well we cooked up teh idea together, and talk in convos so much.
With Dana and Sophie I even spent New Year in Holland, which was so awesome! I can't believe how lucky I am to found them! I love you girls!
Then there are Ursula, Peiyu, girls I adore you!
Kimi, whom I revell talking to, who inspire me a lot, and never cease to make me smile or even giggle madly in front of my screen, crazy little perv ;).
Janou and Kierra, also belong here, and many more.
Many people say, that the internet is something irreal and for people with no social skills, but that is so not true... I have found amazing people here, and I am incredibly grateful for that!
What are some great stories you personally recommend others to read from your fellow authors?
Ursula, Wendy and Kimi. Well that will be quite a predictable answer, there is Ursi, whose incredible talent is really widely known, so I think I don't have to get into that anymore, then there is Kimi, whose writing I totally adore. Wendy, incredible woman, with an amazing talent...
But there are so many more, who usually get less attention, like most of the work in the Book or Movie based/Original achivement section, I just can recomment all of you to go there more often!
And of course Aurora belongs here, whom I adore for her simple love stories, simple not in the sense of plain, but sometimes I get soooo sick of all the frustration and tragic love, then I love delving into her fluffy, snug love stories
Is there any specific thing you'd like to write about now?
Something I always wanted but never really dared delving into is an angle story about Elijah, I know it is corny and clichee, but I had some really interesting ideas. Something else is a sequel to the sadly, sadly ended TV series Buffy and include the lads into it. But both is stuff I probably will never realize.
As a writer, do you have something published?
I have a few poems published. And I am currently working on review techniques to review a play or something and send it to a few newspapers.
Tell us about your projects here in the forum, any upcoming fiction?
No, *smile* I have just recently started the short fiction "Stains of Blue" and also my other projects are rather young, so no, nothing new anytime soon.
Someone you'd like to write with
If anyone probably Kimi, though then again not because I'm so inferior. I don't think i will write a joint fic anytime soon, if not ever again.
Your favourite fiction here?
At the moment, if I have to pick one "Maybe I'm amazed" - and you know why if you read the chapter with me and Viggo *grins*, no seriously not only because of that!
Your favourite book and writer?
Difficult, very difficult I have so many. For example the five books by Jean M. Auel about ice-time ppl. There are incredible. Or also Harry Potter series, though I didn't like book 5 so much. Authors, for example Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or Tad Willians, Paul F. Wilson, Moira Coldecott... there are many like I said.
A Book: Robert Mawson - The lazarus Child, brilliant book, highly recommendable for everyone!
A Dream: Kissing Elijah - I even woke up with "his" taste, it was really amazing.
A place: Metropolis - our little movie theatre that shows movies in the original, meaning undubbed.
The name you'd like to have: I am quite content with my name
Favourite colour: Dark red and white
A Song: Vincent - Josh Groban
Your passion: Imagination
Your love: Writing
Your disappointment: Love
Favourite movie: Notting Hill, Lord of the Rings, Chocolat, City of God, Love Actually and many many more
Favourite food: My grannys pasta gratin
Collection: Movies, Poetry, Sayings, Music
Rebel?: Not really.
A fragrance: Deep Red - Hugo Boss, Flower - Kenzo
White lies?: Absolutely necessary sometimes!
The most important person in your life: My father, my brother and my best friend.
Secret formula for success: Faith in yourself and discipline. That is why I don't have success :lalala:
Inspiring moment: Depression.
Stories or Poems?: Don't make me decide!
You'd like to meet: Mahatma Ghandi (I know he's dead ok?), Nelson Mandela, Elijah Wood, Viggo Mortensen, Peter Jackson, Joan K. Rowling, Roger Mitchell, Prince William *grins*
Greatest fear: To loose my mind
You wish with all of your heart: To become a writer and be able to live from it.
The perfect guy: Handsome, but not conceited, educated, interested in culture, politics and history, genorous, well mannered, trustworthy, guiding and tender.
Ideal vacations: Stonehenge, Rome, India, NZ etc.
Best city to live: London or maybe New York
Writer in this forum that you admire, like...: Kim, Ursi, Wendy
God?: Yes absolutely, but no religion could capture it.
Do you believe in fate?: No, not at all, I believe in free will.
Your mission in this life: To achieve my dreams.
A nightmare: Floating towards danger without the chance to avoid it, loose controll of my own body.
Love is: Actually all around!
No seriously, the word love too often is used for egoistic motives, just like the world sex is too often used for masturbation - pleasing oneself.
War is: the proof of the failiour of humankind.
If you weren't a writer you'd like to be: A journalist or/and critic
An advice for writers: Write about what you know.
Thnaks to Laila for answering our questions, and we wish her all the success.