Strawberry's Field (SF): Give us your particulars: hobbies, what you are/what you want to be, your fanfiction, websites etc.
Tara: I'm not sure if this was part of the questions or not! I start school
tomrrow...yippie *sigh*. Um, well, I've been a fan of Broadway since I was 3
years old, and I have *counts* twelve Broadway musicals completely memorized
(never seen em on broadway either) and about 20 more all the music
memorized. All the tap dancing in Anything Goes memorized (only for a year)
and all the dancing in Annie memorized since age 5 (the entire thing since
5-*another sigh* ah, my dream to be Annie on Broadway...
Um, I'm in drama club, I love acting...all my friends think I am super
melodramatic! I also love singing...still have that comman dream to be
famous, but getting nowhere since I can't play any insterments nor write my
own music *dramatic sigh*
I do lots of volunteer work, a lot with drug boards and health centers.
But of course, my major thing is that I am a dreamer and a writer. I live in
a fantasy world, haha! So expect some strange things!
SF: What do you think about the online Beatles fan fiction world?
Tara: I was incredbly excited when I stumbled across Katy's "Our Generation". I thought "Whoohoo! Beatles stuff!" I knew people wrote it online cause one of my friends read Hanson fan fiction all the time. I am really glad we can all share our talents and most of all our love for the Beatles!
SF: How do you feel about Beatles fan fiction in general?
Tara: I don't think I have read a fic I didn't like...unless I wrote it myself!!! I don't look at the quality of writing to judge the fiction itself. Each fiction has it's own originality, and I am so glad they do!
SF: Does age matter in writing fan fiction in your personal opinion?
Tara: HECK NO!!! There is no way age could matter! When I find out a certain writer is such and such age, the only shock that derives from it is if I had talked to them and they seemed a different age that way, but NOT in their writing style! It shouldn't make a difference!!!
SF: What are the most hackneyed plots to your mind?
Tara: I don't really see any OVERUSED plots. I mean, the romance thing is too general. Girl loves Paul, Paul leaves girl..so what? I mean, they're all different! They're all great! And if there IS one that is overused, I haven't seen it because we all write differently!
SF: What advice can you give to new authors?
Tara: Don't write the way you think you're expected to write! And don't spend hours perfecting something if it doesn't make you happy. I can give you an example. For about 4 months, I wanted to just KILL "Dream is Over" because I wasn't happy with it. I would spend so much time trying to make it sound good so everyone would like it, then I would delete the chapter anyway. Eventually, I said to heck with it and realized that as long as I like it, it doesn't matter. So write up to YOUR standards, and always make sure you're having fun with it!
SF: How do you create? What inspires you?
Tara: Music. And not just Beatles or solo Beatles. All kinds of music. Sometimes I hear a line and go "wow, what a great chapter title or great title altogether" sometimes I build around a title. Sometimes i go with a mood I am in. I tend to base characters on people I know. Whether one character is based on a mix of several diff people I know, or one, or even myself, I always find that easier. Another thing that inspires me is the fact that I am a HOPELESS romantic, and I could sit for hours and imagine these romantic scenes happening to me. *sigh*
SF: Tell us about your writing style.
Tara: I don't really have a style. I can be funny at times, but I think my most obvious style is that I write seriously with a twist of humor. I probably picked it up from Alayne. But I don't really have a style.
SF: Favorite fan fics (not your own)?
Tara: Well, this question always gets me, and it will probably clash on the interview I did with Patricia, but if I could only pick a few, that would be too hard. The ones that are coming to my mind first off are "A Flower for a Beatle" which is probably my all time favorite. "Unexpected in Time", "Our Generation", "Beatleranma 1/2", "Dharma", "Mirror Image" (wish she would update!!!) "Don't Cry Tonight" and Emma and I's favorite to read together "Whodunit?" by the legendary Ate and Fab. I mean, there are a TON more that I could read over and over again!!! But those were the ones that jumped into my head!
SF: What's on your mind? Let us know! Where do you stand on---anything?
Tara: At the moment, school is tomorrow! Yikes! I just got back from Emma's house, she dyed my hair and styled it. I hope we have lunch together. I am just terrfied of school this year. oh, and I need to do some typing up of my newest fan fiction! hahah
SF: What is your definition of the meaning of life?
Tara: My definition to the meaning of life? Woah! Hard question! However, I have been asked this before. I don't believe I have ever really answered though. I really have no idea what the meaning is. I don't even know if there IS a meaning, or whatever you would call it. So I can't really answer that question! Sorry!!!
SF: The inevitable question: favorite Beatle and why?
Tara: Well, most people know my favorite is George. I think he has this special way of entering my heart, not only with his words and music, but with the way he displays himself. I like his confidence, and I follow him though his music and words. I think they are beautiful. Each song he has written has found a way to mean SOMETHING to me, and even symbolize some things in my very own life.
SF: Is there anything else you'd like to say?
Tara: Yes. That's to you. I believe you are one of the most talented authors out
there. Your website is fab and you're so sweet! I feel really honored that
you wanted to interview ME of all people! Thanks!