Seldom-Asked Questions, #3

Yay, questions!  Here are the first few; feel free to continue submitting them if you like. 

I was just curious to know if you saw Brokeback Mountain and what you thought about it?

Yes, I saw it at the theater.  I thought it was brilliant, but incredibly depressing.  The acting and direction were both superb--I had no idea Heath Ledger was so talented before that (although I am seriously hyped about seeing him as the Joker).  Like most sad movies, though, I can't watch it again--I bought a copy on DVD but I can't bring myself to go through the emotional agony. 

Have you ever toyed with writing fiction, why or why not and would it have a pagan/witch/vampire/insert other worldly being here theme?

I write fiction all the time, actually.  As I've mentioned, it's my first love.  Most of my fiction has some sort of otherworldy component to it--for several years I was up to my ears in vampire fanfic.  At the moment I have one story online, if anyone is interested in reading it; it's supposed to be the first of a series, but the same writer's block that has kept me from blogging much lately has kept me from working on that story too.  Here's a link.  Warning:  it's a romance about gay Elves.

I'm interested to know more about you as an author. How do you structure your work when writing a book?

I'm not good at structure.  I also don't write drafts.  Typically I make an outline for a book, then gather up notes and research if I need it.  Then I just start writing whichever chapter or section appeals to me.  I usually have an Excel spreadsheet that breaks down the chapters so I can keep an eye on word/page count and what all is finished or in progress.  (I am a to-do list addict, and I love checking things off.)  I edit as I write, which as I understand it is a bit unusual; I won't submit anything I don't think is near to perfect, which apparently works out well for my editors.

What is the difference in writing about Paganism and writing about other subjects?

The spelling?

Honestly, most everything I write is either about Paganism, or some aspect of my life that I feel weaves into it.  I write pretty much the same way regardless of subject--I try to be honest, and personal, and I leave out a remarkable number of curse words, believe it or not. 

What are you dancing to these days?

Let's see:  Tori Amos, From the Choirgirl Hotel; Govinda, O Earthly Gods;  Poe, Haunted; and Moby, Play.  Yes, all together, at times.

Do you ever wear a ponytail?

At the moment I don't have enough hair to wear a ponytail.  As much as I miss having long, "Witchy" hair, I find that shorter hair looks classier on me and is waaaaay easier to care for.  In fact, I need to get it cut again, as it has reached my shoulders...you know, I probably could pull it back if I wanted to.  Most of the time, to get it out of my face, I tie a bandana around my head.  I'm amassing quite the collection.

My question would be .... what was the first book you read on Wicca/Paganism?

Scott Cunningham's Wicca: a Guide for the Solitary Practitioner was the only book I had for the first year I was Wiccan.  Now I have about 200 Pagan-related books, but Scott still has a sweet, warm place in my heart, and I regret that he died the year before I became a Wiccan, so I won't get a chance to meet  him in person and thank him for writing the most important book I ever read.  Looking back at it now it's almost painfully simplistic, but that makes it perfect as someone's first book, provided that they are willing to continue to learn once they're through reading it.  I think it strikes to the heart of the Wicca I know and love, and I still recommend it to every beginner. 

Do you bake?

Wow, you must be new here.  Yes, I bake.  I bake a lot.  I bake the cupcakes that make the whole world sing.  I am a vegan baker, which is doubly fun because first people rave about how delish my goods are, and then they hear the word "vegan" and stare hard at the cookie as if expecting tofu to come spraying out of it.  Then their perception of vegan food is forever changed, and I get another Vegan Karma Point, which I may save up to buy my own soy milk maker, or trade in for some cheese on a pizza someday.

I have mentioned before a plan to start a second blog here that is devoted expressly to veganism, cooking, spirituality, and animal rights-related topics, which would also include stuff like recipes and food porn.  Most vegan blogs out there are either focused solely on food (which is great), or on politics and issues, very carefully skipping around the idea of spirituality as having anything to do with our food choices, lest they scare away the young punk vegans (who are by and large spearheading the movement, so I'm not knocking their efforts at all).  Ideally the new blog will combine the concept of Ahimsa, the path of Wicca, the love of good food, and the magic of the hearth and home.  But it's in development.

How did you picture your future ten years ago? How about twenty?

Ten years ago I was 20.  I was battling my first round of depression, in a relationship (and friendship) that was draining the lifeblood out of me, slowly dropping out of college.  I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life.  All I knew was that I wanted to write.  But really, at that point, I didn't see my future very well when I was twenty, because I was pretty sure I was going to kill myself long before I turned 30.  Obviously I changed my mind, or rather, God changed it for me. 

Twenty years ago I was ten.  I wanted to be Rainbow Brite when I grew up, or possibly Mokey Fraggle.  I was a quiet, imaginative girl who talked to imaginary people and dreamed up fantastic worlds of unicorns and dragons and beautiful Elves haunting the edges of the forests.  I wanted to be a writer.  Or possibly a unicorn.

Could I have imagined that I'd be where I am today?  Probably not.  Given everything that's happened and everything still changing, I'm really not sure where I am today.  I know that I am a writer (sort of nonpracticing these days, it seems), a priestess, a Witch; I know that I have wonderful friends and lovers and I adore my family; I know that I'm independent and my bills are paid, and I'm planning a trip to Europe this year or next to visit my darling Laurie.  I know that whatever confusion I'm going through now, the future is full of more possibility than I can even conceive of--and ten years ago, I wouldn't have been able to comprehend a future that was anything but sadness and loneliness.  This does, of course, leave me wondering how different my life will be when I turn 40 in ten years, if that much has changed between 20 and 30.  I can't decide whether the thought is terrifying or exhilarating...or both.

Comments

[Minxi]

Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

[R]

Do you have any daily spiritual practices? If so, what are they?

[Sheila]

What is your favorite vegan cookbook?
Have you seen Juno? thoughts?

[angela]

Thank you for answering the question about how you pictured your future. i didnt submit that question, or any questions (sorry)...im 23 going through depression and all i know that i want to be a writer someday. i look to your blog as a source of inspiration, i got a really warm feeling when i read that back in the day you were in the same spot as i am now. thanks :)

[Amy]

Do you share your personal blog with the "public"? I'd love to read more on other life subjects (like veganism) that you said you blog more about there.

[rakenfall]

How do you deal with the emotional drain that comes from always being the one that everyone turns to and the disappointment of being unable to have them recognise their own potential which is obvious to everyone but them? Do you ever give up the role of
"teacher", or do you sometimes just step out of God's way and let them suffer the karmic blast alone?

[R]

I read your short story and I have to tell you, it invigorated me and brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for that. If you wrote fiction and published it, I would buy it all.

[Willow]

Hello Dianne,
I have a question for you. I had a dream that a Cobra bit me on the cheek and I could feel it's venom travelling through my body. A gypsy woman gave me an antidote to drink and said that I would be fine. Now I am seeing snakes a lot. I saw four on a wildflower walk and now I have spotted one in my herb garden. I began talking to it and almost ran it over with my lawn mower the other day. Any thoughts. Symbolism. I am new to Wicca. I finally realized who I was after a trip to Salem, Mass. It was after that, when I started seeing them. Thanks, Willow.