Pegasus143/Makplay (Mackie) nominated me for the Sunshine Blogger Award! What an honor! Pegasus writes MakPlays, which is filled with stories I love.
You can find my acceptance and my nominations on my Sunshine Blogger page.
Here are Makplays’ questions for her nominees:
- What’s the best part of writing SimLit for you?
I love that it’s a unique art form: it allows me to tease out themes and find ways to explore aspects of living that I might not uncover if I were writing straight fiction. I love that it encourages me to observe and to think: I spend a lot of time watching my Sims, noticing patterns, looking for surprises, and creating meaning. All these skills transfer to life, when I’m lucky, so I feel that through writing SimLit I’m better able to understand other people and the patterns and surprises of my life. - And the worst part?
For me, the worst part, which I often need to guard against, is when I become so immersed in the game or the story that I think about it all the time and feel removed from other aspects of my life. I’m happiest when I achieve balance, and when I am fully engaged with all the aspects of my life, including other hobbies, my two jobs, daily tasks, and relating with friends and those I share my life with. Right now, the romance with Sims 4 has worn off, so it’s no longer consuming to me, and while I greatly enjoy playing and writing Sims 3, it’s not overly engaging either. So I’m pretty happy with the balance I feel now. - How did you first find out about SimLit?
Back when I was playing The Sims 2, I used to love reading Candi and ephemeraltoast’s stories: I couldn’t believe how good they were and that they were available to us to read for free! We didn’t call in SimLit back then, but it was literature nonetheless! - What’s one part of your day that you always look forward to?
I love when I first step into the garden in the morning. - If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
Not a thing. I find something transformational in accepting life exactly as it is, and every foible of mine, every mistake, has been an opportunity for learning. - How did you find The Sims (insert the appropriate number here)?
I discovered The Sims 2 through their ad campaign that presented Simmers’ own movies. I loved one in particular, which showed a Sim throwing a stick for a dog, and soon an entire pack of dogs was chasing that stick through the desert. That ad campaign showed me that the game was flexible and open-ended. - What’s one thing that you would describe as beautiful?
I have to choose two because they’re related: middle C played on the D string of my cello, and the deep magenta of a petal on a cosmos flower. - Is there anything interesting about you that other people don’t know?
I never know what other people will find interesting–is that interesting? - What’s one thing that almost always motivates you?
I’m motivated by feelings: if I can feel that something will resonate within me and make my heart feel peaceful and full, then that will motivate me. - Favorite SimLit- or simming- related memory?
I love the excitement of reading the short stories each month for the Short Story contest. I love reading your stories, especially, Mackie, and I was so excited and proud when you and I received the “Dedicated Creativity” award for entering stories for each month for the first year! - What’s one thing that always makes you smile?
When I pull into the driveway of my home, and I see the line of boxwood along the walkway beneath the window, and the three mesquites shading the front yard, and blooming Mexican butterfly bush with sulfur butterflies hovering over it, I have to smile–I’m home!
