Like last month, I asked a bunch of writers to step up and try the Quick Fire Challenge: 10 questions off the top of my head, that they have to answer just as rapidly in 10 words or less. Twelve writers raised their hands, and six followed through… so far.. you know writers have a thing about deadlines, right?
Similar to the MAY challenge, these writers made their own rules for the interviews…. see for yourself.
10 questions to answer in 10 words, or less
Vanessa Blakeslee
1. I am your new agent, have told you that I have an editor in the line that will definitely buy, all you have to do is rewrite your entire novel in first person, (or third if it’s in first now). What do you say?
How soon do you need the revision?
2. You have been accepted to your dream writer’s retreat. Where is it and what will you do there?
The American Academy in Rome. Write new novel that year.
3. Money is no object. What would you do to promote your work?
Hire top NYC publicist, personal assistant, and cook/housekeeper.
4. Open your WIP and do a find search for these words: totally, bread, ass, so, pretty. List many times each appear, and how many words are in WIP at the moment you counted.
Totally=0; bread=1; so=15; pretty=1; 7400 words
5. If writers retired… where would you go and what three books would you bring?
Australia. Doug Glover’s Attack of the Copula Spiders. That’s it.
6. I’m taking you out, you can bring 2 famous authors or poets (living), who do you invite and where do we go?
Richard Russo and Margaret Atwood at a bistro in Montreal.
7. List ten things on or around your writing space.
Plate, candle, notecards, bookmark, Kleenex, mail, water, sunglasses, sandals, blanket
8. Write your life’s story—so far—in ten words.
Restaurants, writing, school, loneliness, travel, waitressing, depression, writing, bellydancing, love.
9. A famous band is writing a song about you, what’s it called and what style of music do they play?
“Cat Lands on Her Feet.” In French, by Vanessa Paradis.
10. Dogs, cats, or white-faced monkeys? List your animal/s, either real or imagined and their names.
Dogs: Rhett, Cleo, Sasha, Juno, Marqueza, Angel, Cocoa, Shaka and Zulu.
~Find out more about Vanessa here, here and here.
Kimmie Dee
1. I am your new agent, have told you that I have an editor in the line that will definitely buy, all you have to do is rewrite your entire novel in first person, (or third if it’s in first now). What do you say?
Do we have a contract?
2. You have been accepted to your dream writer’s retreat. Where is it and what will you do there?
Tanzania; write my ass off! Finish my play.
3. Money is no object. What would you do to promote your work?
Sleep with George Clooney.
4. Open your WIP and do a find search for these words: totally, bread, ass, so, pretty. List many times each appear, and how many words are in WIP at the moment you counted.
What’s a WIP?
5. If writers retired… where would you go and what three books would you bring?
Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, The Places You’ll Go!” Pat Conroy’s “Prince of Tides” Joan Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking.” Forgot to say where I’d go if I retired…I’m thinking Europe, Spain or Italy most likely.
6. I’m taking you out, you can bring 2 famous authors or poets (living), who do you invite and where do we go?
Joan Didion, Richard Price … my house, I cook, we eat and talk writing.
7. List ten things on or around your writing space.
Windows, pens, books, The Sunday NY Times, computer, dictionary, calculator, blank discs, cuppa tea.
8. Write your life’s story—so far—in ten words.
Unconventional 50 something, not giving a shit what anyone thinks.
9. A famous band is writing a song about you, what’s it called and what style of music do they play?
Doin’ Things Her Way, blues.
10. Dogs, cats, or white-faced monkeys? List your animal/s, either real or imagined and their names.
FloJo is my perfect, black rescue dog.
Ron Egatz
1. I am your new agent, have told you that I have an editor in the line that will definitely buy, all you have to do is rewrite your entire novel in first person, (or third if it’s in first now). What do you say?
How much are you paying and where do I sign?
2. You have been accepted to your dream writer’s retreat. Where is it and what will you do there?
Paris with Rilke. We take walks and talk. Just talk.
3. Money is no object. What would you do to promote your work?
Hire the same PR firms record labels use to promote… (Whoops. That’s ten words. Too bad I can’t name the artists.)
4. Open your WIP and do a find search for these words: totally, bread, ass, so, pretty. List many times each appear, and how many words are in WIP at the moment you counted.
Total words in current draft: 95,519
totally: 14 bread: 4 ass: 15 so: 117 pretty: 11
5. If writers retired… where would you go and what three books would you bring?
Paris. In Search of Lost Time, The Postal Confessions, Rilke’s Collected.
6. I’m taking you out, you can bring 2 famous authors or poets (living), who do you invite and where do we go?
Gore Vidal and Ron Carlson at Le Divellec, Paris, France.
7. List ten things on or around your writing space.
Pen, Macintosh, flashlight, Bose, knife, AirPort, photo, cat, puppy, Jenn.
8. Write your life’s story—so far—in ten words.
Only child. Story fan. Musician. Writer. Perpetual student. Husband. Wiser.
9. A famous band is writing a song about you, what’s it called and what style of music do they play?
Pop/Rock gem “Surmounting the Suburbs,” by Fountains of Wayne.
10. Dogs, cats, or white-faced monkeys? List your animal/s, either real or imagined and their names.
Frida, formerly Joan Baez’s niece’s cat, and Bijou, puggle puppy.
More of Ron: Over here and here and even here
Twitter: http://twitter.com/ronegatz
Chloe Smith
1. I am your new agent, have told you that I have an editor in the line that will definitely buy, all you have to do is rewrite your entire novel in first person, (or third if it’s in first now). What do you say?
Sure, if they publish it first the way it is!
2. You have been accepted to your dream writer’s retreat. Where is it and what will you do there?
Paris, ditch it, come back drunk and disheveled last day
3. Money is no object. What would you do to promote your work?
Have it directed/filmed by Sophia Coppola. People’d buy then!
4. Open your WIP and do a find search for these words: totally, bread, ass, so, pretty. List many times each appear, and how many words are in WIP at the moment you counted.
Totally 1, bread 0, ass 0, so 41 (OMFG!) pretty 3. Total wc 9,044
5. If writers retired… where would you go and what three books would you bring?
Kee Beach on Kauai. What I’m currently reading; Sailor & Lula, Barry Gifford, and the next 2 from my amazon wish list; The Shipping News, Annie Proulx, and The Crimson Petal and the White, Michael Faber.
6. I’m taking you out, you can bring 2 famous authors or poets (living), who do you invite and where do we go?
J. K. Rowling, I really learned to read from her work. Literally. My first “real” book was Harry Potter when I was 7, finished it when I was 8. Sorry not ten words but she did something BIG. Got kids (me) to read!!
E L James, because they are banning her books in libraries right now! EERRRGGGGHHHH!!!
We’d go to the French Laundry, ‘cause it’s in my HOMETOWN!
7. List ten things on or around your writing space.
Map of Paris subways, 4 Paris Metro tickets, (unused), empty tub of non fat yogurt, pile of magazines, pile of books (including a few copies of mine!), canon camera, synthetic chamois bike shorts (dirty! Gross!), messenger bag, cashmere scarf, my iPhone!
8. Write your life’s story—so far—in ten words.
Spoiled, blase, rebellious, unexpected unimaginable loss, found me, looking forward.
9. A famous band is writing a song about you, what’s it called and what style of music do they play?
blunt girl, dubstep!
10. Dogs, cats, or white-faced monkeys? List your animal/s, either real or imagined and their names.
Telepathic rainbow unicorn named Clancy who serves me, and a male panther who shapeshifts into my occasional lover but has no name.
Chloe writes! Books here and here. Blog here and here Her inspiration comes from her mom’s writing.
Peggy Glenn
1. I am your new agent, have told you that I have an editor in the line that will definitely buy, all you have to do is rewrite your entire novel in first person, (or third if it’s in first now). What do you say?
Sure, why not. Triple my advance. Ready in a month.
2. You have been accepted to your dream writer’s retreat. Where is it and what will you do there?
Martha’s Vineyard, September, massage therapist, lobster daily, hot grampa optional.
3. Money is no object. What would you do to promote your work?
Shut down every website until all typos are corrected. Honest!
4. Open your WIP and do a find search for these words: totally, bread, ass, so, pretty. List many times each appear, and how many words are in WIP at the moment you counted.
None, none, none, none, don’t know, don’t know, 29,241, phew!
5. If writers retired… where would you go and what three books would you bring?
Galway, Ireland – Grapes of Wrath, The Help (2) galley, my WIP.
6. I’m taking you out, you can bring 2 famous authors or poets (living), who do you invite and where do we go?
Maeve Binchy, Toni Morrison, catered meals, the house next door.
7. List ten things on or around your writing space.
Chargers, pens, mouse, circulating fan, fuzzy slippers, water jug, paper.
8. Write your life’s story—so far—in ten words.
Poor, more poor, less poor, not poor, rich – life currency.
9. A famous band is writing a song about you, what’s it called and what style of music do they play?
“She’s A Words Girl,” Broadway show tune, country style, upbeat.
10. Dogs, cats, or white-faced monkeys? List your animal/s, either real or imagined and their names.
Stuffed frogs, hundreds of them, they’re all named, “My Prince.”
Connect with Peggy here.
Vicky Cooper
1. I am your new agent, have told you that I have an editor in the line that will definitely buy, all you have to do is rewrite your entire novel in first person, (or third if it’s in first now). What do you say?
I’d ask for the money up front and run.
2. You have been accepted to your dream writer’s retreat. Where is it and what will you do there?
Dreams from the red pull out couch in Todi, Italy.
3. Money is no object. What would you do to promote your work?
Hamptons bonfire: wine-in-cups, skinny-dipping, lobster claws, butter.
4. Open your WIP and do a find search for these words: totally, bread, ass, so, pretty. List many times each appear, and how many words are in WIP at the moment you counted.
Totally: 0 Bread: 0 (Upset by this) Ass: 0 (REALLY upset by this) So: 3 Pretty: 1 Word Count: 2,096
5. If writers retired… where would you go and what three books would you bring?
Where they filmed Legends of The Fall: Heart Of Darkness, The Great Gatsby, Brave New World.
6. I’m taking you out, you can bring 2 famous authors or poets (living), who do you invite and where do we go?
Truman Capote, Joan Didion. Coney Island Aquarium after three dirty martinis.
7. List ten things on or around your writing space.
Morning coffee cup, windows, matches, thesaurus, pillow, Cetaphil, photograph of the Amagansett dunes, bath salt, loose change, deodorant.
8. Write your life’s story—so far—in ten words.
Instead I pour the milk.
9. A famous band is writing a song about you, what’s it called and what style of music do they play?
Bonnie Raitt: Angel from Long Island
10. Dogs, cats, or white-faced monkeys? List your animal/s, either real or imagined and their names.
Jackie, the littlest bug.
Check out Vicky’s awesome venture. www.thesecretwishbox.com