I normally don’t do memes, but I’ve been tagged by Charlotte, so I readily comply ! It’s really difficult to assess one’s strengths objectively for such a subjective activity, but come on, not even 5 nice things to say? Alright, I’ll empty out my pockets and stop being shy… 

1. I can build up suspense – especially in the opening scenes. I think that’s the least I want to achieve: make sure someone is interested enough to turn the pages. 

2. I can create believable characters, even if they’re quite different from me. I have no problem to put myself in a fictive person’s shoes and see the world through his fictive eyes, may he be male, old, born in 181O or Chinese… but I’ve never really tried for extreme characters (and I’m not sure I would enjoy being in the head of a killer) 

3. (you may not realize it, but this exercise is getting really tough…) I love creating a whole world that works, full of lively, tell-tale details. (If I’m allowed a weak point here:) I’m not good at science fiction and inventing worlds from scratch, but give me a century and a social milieu to navigate within, and I’ll  happily do some research about the common means of transportation in  North China in 1926 or whether people in 1855 England used soap at home. 

4. (Still 2 more items to go… horrible!) I love plotting (ok, it doesn’t mean that I’m good at it, but it still gives me hope). I can plot anywhere, especially when I’m supposed to do something else. I love the “what if?” feeling, and I like to make the link between the scenes consistent and yet surprising. Which is to say that I like to decide everything by myself? (an item that Mr. Smithereens personally wouldn’t put under the “writing strength” category at all) 

5. (the last of this challenge… how come I’ve been staring at the blank page for 20mn now?) I’m good at conveying emotions while keeping a very blank or deadpan voice. I’m not so good at lyric, pouring-your-heart-out paragraphs, even though I can do it if needed, but my strength lies in more subdued atmospheres, when people have pent-up or conflicting  emotions. 

Whew, this was hard. I doubt I’ll tag anyone on this subject, but if you feel like challenging yourself…