The Inkpot Interview With @michelle.gent

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She is someone who I have been following for a long time here on steemit, @michelle.gent never fails to deliver a good story

She is currently writing a series here on Steemit called Cruel and Unusual, you can view it on her blog, below is the first part of her interview

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Ogochukwu: What is your name and where do you come from?

Michelle: I use my real name on steemit – Michelle Gent – and I live in Nottinghamshire in the UK (Robin Hood County).

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Ogochukwu: How did you learn about Steemit

Michelle: Mark Morris Jr shared a link on Facebook and I took a look… the rest, as they say, is history.

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Ogochukwu: Does writing energize or exhaust you?

Michelle: While I’m writing, it seems like I don’t have to stop to take breaks, eat, drink… I suppose I’m energised while I’m writing… afterwards, though…

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Ogochukwu: Does a big ego help or hurt writers?

Michelle: I think it can hurt a writer’s quality. Some writers I’ve met actually believe their writing is perfect and needs no re-read, no editing, no proofreading. Usually, they’re wrong.

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Ogochukwu: What is your writing Kryptonite?

Michelle: First-person perspective.

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Ogochukwu: Have you ever gotten reader’s block?

Michelle: Oh I can always find something to read

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Ogochukwu: Do you ever consider writing under a pseudonym?

Michelle: Yes.

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Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I deliver what I want. I’m a writer, not an employee.

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Ogochukwu: Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly?

Michelle: Oh anyone can be a writer, it just depends upon what they want to write.

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Ogochukwu: What other authors are you friends with on steemit/outside steemit, and how do they help you become a better writer?

Michelle: There’s a whole community of writers out there, I have friends in real-life and online that are writers and the encouragement, feedback and sometimes critique helps enormously.

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Ogochukwu: What does literary success look like to you?

Michelle: It looks very much like my steemit account right now. People reading my stories, engaging and commenting, and enjoying my work.

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Ogochukwu: Do you view writing as a kind of spiritual practice?

Michelle: Erm… no.

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Ogochukwu: Have you read anything that made you think differently about creative writing?

Yes, I once read a review on my first novel and it made me think about giving up. I didn’t even look at my book for a year.

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What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

I’d love to be able to give up this crippling self-doubt.

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The second part of this interview will be posted on Wednesday

Thanks for reading

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