Friendspiration Friday: Christine Loria

Today I have the honor of introducing to you one of the original members of my Critique Group which started one year ago.  Unfortunately, she is also to be the first Critique Group member to "fly the coop" and leave us.  But in a nomadic place  like New York City we should be used to that and wish her loads of joy and adventure in her newest chapter!

 

I will miss her sweet comical stories and her straightforward, insightful feedback.  She has been an enormous asset to our group and I am always honored to have her read my work.

 

Please welcome Christine...

 

What do you do in real life?

I work for Pfizer in the Policy, External Affairs & Communications group but I'm getting ready to leave to travel the world with my husband...we will start by driving across the country on December 1st and then to Fiji on December 29th!

When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

I think it was probably when I was 7 or 8 when I started writing stories - I realized at that age that it was a lot of fun to use my imagination and make up characters. One of my stories, "Lewis" is what has been my inspiration all these years. 

How often to do you write? Where? What time of day?

Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of time to write - so it's usually about once/month - just in time for critique sessions! I'm so thankful for the critique group because it makes me dust off all the random ideas I write on post-its or my notebook. As far as time of day, it's usually at night after I get home from work. But I'm always thinking of new ideas and characters that I want to write about.

What was your favorite story/book as a child? and why?
My favorite story as a child was Mr. Poppers Penguins. I loved reading about all the crazy antics and the idea that penguins lived in someone's house!

What kind of stories do you like to write? Where do you get your inspiration? You can add if there is anythign you have had published and can highlight.
I like to write stories that make people laugh. I get inspiration from thinking about my childhood, my husband, and my nephew Branden. Branden and I play with his stuffed animals and the characters I create while playing with him become the characters I write about.

What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be an astronaut. Obviously that worked out!

If you could go back in time and tell your 8 year old self one thing, what would it be?
To keep all the stories I will write in my lifetime in one place so that they are easy to find to use them as inspiration.
 

What is the greatest piece of writing advice you have ever received?

I know this line is over-rated but "show, don't tell" really does help me write more vivid scenes.

 

Do YOU have a Friendspiration you would like to introduce us to on a future Friday? Please send an email to marciecolleen@gmail.com and we will make that happen.