Aw, shucks. These tags are gonna make me blush

Welcome, welcome, one and all to another award post! This one brought to us, once again, by the always above average, Average Joe Reviews! Thanks, bud! Keep up the Awesome! Teeechnically he tagged the site as a whole, but he tagged one of my articles and I’ve got nothing else to do today, so why not? Now, then. Let’s see, here…

• Display the logo.
• Thank the blogger that nominated you and share a link to their blog.
• Answer the questions of the one who nominated you.
• Nominated 7-10 bloggers.
• Ask them 7 questions.

Weeeell, he didn’t seem to ask any questions himself, so I’ll just answer the ones he did.

Question 1. What is your favorite type of post to write?

 

I’ve kind of answered this before, but my favorite kinds of posts to write are the editorials. I like writing those longer think-pieces because it gives me the opportunity to work out my brain a little. I also find those to be the more interesting things to read. Reviews are all fine and dandy, and can be really entertaining, but I like using what we cover to make some kind of greater point. If nothing else, it helps me learn more about my own thought process.

When I’m watching something, I don’t often think about the more nuanced details. That comes later. Usually, it’s after I’ve seen it two or three times. Unfortunately, I only watch a show once before reviewing it. I don’t really have the time to watch each show repeatedly before I crank out a Weekly Anime Redux, every week. But the editorials come from either topics I think about on my own time or things that people have given me an idea for. And since they’re not time sensitive, I can actually put more thought into them.

Question 2. What are two posts from this year that you feel most proud of?

Now, I know what I just said about Editorials. But I gotta give a shout to our Anime TKO’s first culling.

Not because I’m excited about it, though I am, but because I love any of the articles we end up writing together. Obviously, EvilBob and I have something of a schtick. Suffice it to say, he’s not an idiot, and I’m not (that much of a) raging arse. We’re playing characters, here. But it’s a ton of fun writing those articles because they’re just so much fun to make. Even if it’s just us being silly for a few hours while we throw them together.

And on another front, I’d say I’m really proud of our E3 coverage on Bulletoon, this year.

Not so much that I’m proud of my own hand in it. Though it was extremely personally rewarding to get it done, considering how much work actually went into it. But I’m also proud of our actresses, who trucked through all that extra voice work for us like champs and turned out something awesome.

Question 3. What is your favorite feel-good narrative? (This can be from books, anime, video games, etc.)

Well, if I went with anime, then it’s very probably either Yuru Yuri because it’s just cute, funny, and laidback or Kobayashi-san Chi no Maid Dragon. Because while it’s also cute and funny, it’s genuinely heartwarming on many levels and manages a really sweet story about optimism and positivity. Something I think is becoming increasingly rare in a time where the false equivalency of “Intelligent = Cynical” seems to spread like wildfire. That being said, it does this without dismissing the complications and hardships of life. Instead, using them to reinforce its positive message. As for other stuff, my favorite movie of all time is The Iron Giant. And while it has a fairly intense climax, I do consider it a feel-good narrative.

Question 4. If you could conquer any fear at this moment, what would it be?

I dunno. Failure? It’s a rather generic answer, yeah. But so many things we don’t do because we’re afraid to mess up or afraid it won’t go the way we want. As many things as I don’t do because I’m lazy, I think about twice as many things I avoid doing because I don’t want to risk the negative repercussions. This, of course, isn’t a good way to get anywhere. So I work on it.

Question 5. What are two traits that you feel you do well as a blogger? (For example, writing good synopses, creating graphics, telling jokes, etc.)

I don’t really know? The dictionary definition of a blog is basically just “a regularly updated website or writings in a conversational style.” In that regard, what traits really define being a “good blogger”? I’ve always written in a conversational style. In fact, my 9th grade English teacher specifically told me I needed to stop doing that because it was bleeding into my academics. But it just kinda fits with how I like to write. I suppose that could be part of the appeal. I write in a way that’s very free-form, which could be viewed as accessible, while still trying to maintain an analytical edge, as to not sound like a robot, but still get across the idea that I know what I’m talking about. It could also be my style of humor. Or styles, rather. It’s usually very smarmy and reactionary. Though I think that comes across the most in Bulletoon or out tag-team articles.

Question 6. Do you have a blogging pet peeve? If so, what is it?

Not really? Well… kinda. I mean, I have several pet peeves. Several. But I can’t think of any that are specific to bloggers. Though, again, I find that defining one’s habits as “blogger-centric” is a bit nebulous. As a general rule, I guess I find it annoying when people are exclusively negative, overly defensive, or needlessly vindictive. Like when over half of what they write is either complaining, obsessively defending every single thing they like from the perspective of “this thing I love is being attacked, and I’m sick of it!”, or dumping on people who happen to disagree with them. It’s bothersome, to say the least. Having grievances and being passionate about stuff is perfectly fine. It just kinda irks me when it consumes too much of what you do on whatever the platform may be. And it makes you seem kind of unapproachable, in the event that someone interested in talking to you does, in fact, disagree on something.

Question 7. What inspires you to blog?

Eheh…

Kidding. I mean, I’m not gonna lie. There’s always that nagging desire for some form of validation or approval. But it’s to be expected, in a way. I’m an entertainer, by nature. Of course I’m gonna want people to like what I do. It’s a good feeling. But I think the actual impetus for doing this as a blog is just because it lets me figure myself out. I’ve said it before, but I really have no idea how my own head works, most of the time. And I am terrible at articulating myself, more often than not. Which is ironic, I suppose, for a writer. But that’s the catch. I’m a fiction writer. I write fantastical epics and intriguing sci-fi. The characters I create are better at speaking my own mind than I am. Making stories helps me figure things out. And experiencing other stories helps me make better ones, myself. The site basically gives me an excuse to encounter more stories and see what they’re doing. In understanding that, I can make maximize the people who like what I do and get figure more out about myself. Win-Win, really.

Nominations

Hm. Let’s go with…

Keiko
Scott
Xenodude
tcrow
Irina
Karandi
Lethargic Ramblings

 Question Time

Now for the hard part. Feel free to skip any of these, by the way.

1. Do you have any writing habits on your blog that bug you and you try to stop doing?
2. Is there any particular type of character arc that really appeals to you? (i.e Redemption Arc? Revenge Arc? Romance Arc? Be The Very Best, Like No One Ever Was? etc.)
3. What’s a character that you like despite normally being a type of character you really don’t care for?
4. What’s a story you revisit often, just to relax?
5. What’s a series you think had potential but could’ve used a little more time in the oven?
6. Is there anything you’ve always wanted to do with your blog that you couldn’t/can’t, for whatever reason?
7. How’s your year been, so far? Good, I hope ^_^

Aaand that’s it! Thanks, again, for the nomination. And thanks as always for reading. Keep up the Awesome!

-Voyager