Meet 1811 is a blog series where we interview our members. Today we hear from Browen, our (always hilarious) voice of reason…and sarcasm.
Describe “romance” in one word.
Trying: verb (used without object), tried, try·ing. to make an attempt or effort; strive. adjective; extremely annoying, difficult, or the like; straining one’s patience and goodwill to the limit.
Tell me about the first story you remember writing.
It was a project in the third grade and the first time I was asked to write in English. It had a young warrior girl who liked to fence defeating an evil knight with a sword that was definitely a rip-off of Nightmare’s sword from Soul Calibur II. It all ended quite bloody and my mother suggested I change the battle to a magical duel. To this day I still don’t know if she was concerned about me, or what my teacher may have thought about it. In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have been playing Soul Calibur II at such a young age but what can I say, I love cool swords.
What is your favourite romance story?
I don’t have a favourite romance story but my favourite Romantic story is an urban legend about the time Percy Shelley, concerned for Lord Byron’s safety, went to Europe and found him drunk, dehydrated, and sleep deprived in a ditch. In response to a letter Percy sent back to England, John Keats wrote to tell Percy that he should’ve left Byron in the ditch to die.
How does a story begin?
With an idea.
Does being part of a writing collective affect the way you approach writing?
No, but I get a deadline so I finish things, that’s been good for me. Also, I have the added benefit of a few extra sets of eyes editing my work. Writing is rewriting but that’s extremely difficult when you never really like what you’ve written in the first place. Sometimes, having a group of people tell you when what you’ve written is good is just as important as criticism.
What’s your method for overcoming the challenges of being a writer, like writer’s block or imposter syndrome?
I don’t. I just accept the struggle and sometimes that means not writing at all. I’m my biggest WIP (Work in Progress).
How do you balance writing with the rest of your life?
I am open to suggestions if you have an answer.
In your opinion, what fictional couple should be together but isn’t?
Any fictional couple in the world is together if you can make a convincing enough argument.
How do you fit writing into your life right now?
I don’t and I never have. It’s one of my greatest failures. I literally only write in my head. Getting it down on paper is difficult. Telling other people about the worlds and narratives in my head counts though, right? No? Oops.
Tell me about a piece of writing you’re currently working on.
I’m working on a very art-heavy historical novel where everybody you care about dies at the end.
Are you a wine person or a cheese person?
I’m a whine person but a nice cheese will certainly give me less to complain about.
Is there anything else you want to add?
Memento Mori.
The Eighteen-Eleven Collective 