A Room of My Own: Steven Watson

 
Today we are featuring flash fiction writer and general good guy, Steven Watson (@ashviper on Twitter). Steven was actually one of the winners of the Fairy Ring Contest. He has a blog called Stuck In My Own Mind – be sure to check it out!

Q: Please describe your space, describing any features that make it extra special to you.
A: Extra geeky with all the books, comics, statues, figures, autographs, art, etc. Most of the stuff that makes me, well me. One day I hope to have an actually office where I can fix it to display stuff of the sort instead of all grouped together in one place.

Q: What is your favorite/most inspiring object in this room?

A: Everything is inspiring in its own way, but the most important thing to me here is the shelf which you can’t see the contents of in the picture. Within is a notebook (one you get your senior year in high school that I never actually filled out) filled with cards, notes, pictures, etc. All stuff I’ve accumulated from I believe as far back as my freshman year in high school.

If it/someone is of some importance to me or made an impact in my life there is a chance there is something about them there. And greeting cards, not many, just the ones that mean something. Back up disks of writings, pictures, etc. And several notes given to me over the years and any little item of importance to me and my past. One day I may take and actually scrapbook all the stuff together.

Q: What rituals do you go thru when you want to write in this space?

A: Music. It motivates me and I’ve found with my head phones on I’m able to block out any distractions when I go to write (well, except facebook/twitter, they still get in).

Q: Any other details you would like to share about your special room.

A: Nothing really special about it. It’s just me.:)

Thanks to Steven for sharing his Room with us. Want to share your Room? Email me at annabbps AT gmail.com with a photo and answer the above questions.

Keep an eye on this space for more writers/artists and their inspirational spaces!

See the spaces of other creatives in “A Room of My Own”!

* Daniel Swensen

* Angela Goff

* Angie Richmond

* Ruth Long

* Lillie McFerrin

Napping Blogger Award

I am a little slow to catch up on my kind mentions and awards, but this one is too cute to pass up.

BEHOLD: The Napping Blogger Award

I was not only nominated for the award by the creator, the awesome Donna B. McNicol (@donnabmcnicol), but also the ever kind Steven P. Watson (@ashviper). Thanks to you both for remembering me!

The rules for the Napping Blogger Award are easy:

  1. Link back to the one(s) who gave you the award.
  2. Tell us what you do to take time for YOU! That might be a hobby, a musical break, a favorite movie or show, sitting outside enjoying nature, or even taking a nap!
  3. Nominate five other bloggers – especially folks you think deserve a break from their routine.

Taking time for me is one of the things with which I struggle. I am so busy promoting contests and the artistic output of myself and others that I have to force myself to slow down. Many of my friends have heard me mumble, “…Sleep when I’m dead.” My bloodshot eyes at that moment may have foretold the zombie apocalypse.

Lately, to relax I have been arranging my new library, filling my desk drawers and dusting bookshelves and categorizing books. It may sound vexing, but it is my happy time.

I also love playing piano barefoot and have newly discovered the meditative joys of potting flowers (ha, please ignore my black thumb).

*scratches head*

Now I have to figure out 5 bloggers who need a break from their routine. I know so many deserving bloggers, but here are my five who work harder (or crazier) than most! Give yourself a break and enjoy your new Napping Blogger Award!

1) Angie Richmond

2) Daniel Swensen

3) Jo-Anne Teal

4) Afsaneh Khetrapal

5) Sophie Moss

    Kreativ Blogger Award

    I am catching up today on the kind mentions and nominations from my writing cohorts.

    Not to go on and on about Angie Richmond, but she also nominated me for a blogging award, the Kreativ Blogger award, as did the lovely Rachel Stanley (@2caHummingbird on Twitter) and Steven Watson (@ashviper on Twitter). You guys rock my stripey kneesocks, thank you!

    And now to go over the rules:

    1. Thank and link back to the person(s) that nominated you.
    2. Answer the ten questions.
    3. Share ten random thoughts/facts about yourself.
    4. Nominate seven worthy bloggers for the award.

    DRUM ROLL PLEASE!

    1. What is your favorite song?
    There are a small number of songs that elicit an immediate and emotional reaction when I listen to them and they are almost all on my blog playlist. The one I would add if I took the time is “Your Song” by Elton John.


    2. What is your favorite dessert?
    I’m partial to Oreo blizzards, but I really shouldn’t be eating any desserts…oh, if you insist!

    3. What ticks you off?
    Deliberate cruelty. Relentless negativity. Bigotry of any flavor. Any combination of the above.

    4. What do you do when you get upset?
    Take a bath. Something about sitting in water that is nuclear-hot calms me down.

    5. Which is your favorite pet? 
     My black and white shorthair cat, Ramses. He thinks he is a reincarnated Pharoah. Also, I have a slug named Hubert thanks to @cameronlawton, a tiny Pegasus colt named Horatio thanks to @afsaneh_dreams and a cigar-smoking, foul-mouthed fairy named Oscar.

    6. Which do you prefer, black or white?
    As seen above, black AND white both exist for a reason. That said, I have far more black clothes than white.

    7. What is your biggest fear? 
    Obscurity and anonymity. Appropriates fears for an actor/writer. Also, illness and suffering of those nearest and dearest.

    8. What is your attitude, mostly?
    Sunny side up. Like all artistic people, I do periodically suffer from sadness and self-doubt…but life is really too full of beauty to go around feeling sorry for yourself for too long.

    9. What is perfection?
    Something worth striving for, but not worth despairing over.

    10. What is your guilty pleasure?
    I can’t believe I am saying this online, but I actually secretly watch America’s Next Top Model. The girls are so silly and clueless, but I LOVE the elaborate photo shoots. It’s really rather embarrassing.

     10 Obscure Anna facts

    • I can read and write French far better than I speak it, though I’m definitely rusty nowadays. I spent the Spring Break of my junior year in college translating sections of an architectural treatise in Old French. #nerd
    • I am secretly shy. Anyone who knows me on Twitter would scoff, but it’s true.
    • I randomly break out into song. I blame a childhood full of musical theatre.
    • I almost never watch television. Exceptions include Game of Thrones and Downton Abbey.
    • I play piano barefoot.
    • Authors who influence me include J.R.R. Tolkien, Lewis Carroll and Agatha Christie. Contemporary inspiration includes Donna Tartt and Tana French.
    • My favorite color is blue. My least favorite color is pink.
    • I used to give ghost tours while living in St. Augustine, which was actually one of the goals I had when moving down there.
    • I think I lost my Luddite status when I acquired my iPhone.
    • I have to read. It’s uncontrollable. I will read cereal boxes and plane tickets and candy bar wrappers.

    Nominations:

    I think I shall follow the lead of the gracious Jo-Anne Teal, who gave me an Honorable Mention with this award as one of her favorite blogs, but ultimately nominated one person. My nomination is…

    MEG MCNULTY

    Meg’s blog, From Darcy to Dionysus, is an artsy nerd’s dream, a melange of flash fiction, superheroes, literary analysis and just plain beauty. I adore her and you will too. You can find her at @charitygirlblog on Twitter. #followorperish, y’all.