Wednesday Writer’s Workspace Welcomes Lydia Kang
Filed Under : Wednesday Writer's Workspace by nutschell
Feb.29,2012Every Wednesday, I feature a writer/blogger and his/her workspace. My aim is to get to know fellow bloggers/writers better through their workspace and writing habits. I also wanted my bloggy friends to share some of their writing wisdom here.
Today, I am most eager to welcome fellow Write On member Lydia Kang. She’s the author of that super smart and very helpful blog—The World is My Oyster.
Welcome, Lydia!
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Tell us a little bit about yourself. What do you do for a living? What genre do you love to write? What are some of your hobbies or interests? Do you have a hidden talent?
Lydia Kang
Thanks for having me, Nutschell! I’m a part-time internal medicine doc by day and a writer. I love writing YA and have started writing MG lately. I play the piano, knit, crochet, love cooking and gardening, drawing. I used to sing in an a capella group in high school and college. Most people don’t know that!
On Workspace
1. Where do you do most of your writing?
I write everywhere. In coffeeshops across the city where I live; at my kitchen table; on the bed, on the floor…I’m quite mobile.
Lydia’s workspace
2. Where did you get your desk? How did you go about arranging your work area?
I do have a little mobile desk which helps for when I’m writing on a bed or floor. It’s from Levenger.
3. What are some important things on your desk? Are there specific things you need to have around you as you work?
Lately, it’s been eyedrops! I got LASIK surgery and staring at a screen makes my eyes dry. That and my notebook full of notes for whatever project I’m working on.
4. What do you love most about your workspace? Do you have any favorite objects on your desk, or things you use often?
For me, since I’m so mobile, it’s about my own mood. If I’m not in the mood to write, there’s nothing that the most inspiring writing space will do for me. I bring my writing environment with me internally.
When I’m at home, I’ve had this Writeratee (Writing Manatee) with me. A bloggy friend, Alz, made it for me. Isn’t he cute?
5. What’s your writing beverage? What do you love to drink while you’re writing?
Tea, tea, and more tea. Occasionally coffee if I can’t get really good tea.
On Writing
1. Who is your favorite author? Who inspired you to write?
I don’t have one favorite author, but many. Laura Ingalls Wilder, all the Brontes, and Jane Austen are some of them.
2. What’s your typical day as a writer like? Do you have any writing-related rituals or quirks?
I have to check all my email; my Facebook; my Twitter; visit a few blog posts, and get some caffeine into me before I can really start. I”m so distractable. I end up repeatedly doing all these things during a writing session.
3. Do you write everyday? How many hours a day do you spend writing? What are some of your worst writing distractions?
Hunger and internet are the worst distractions. I try to write almost every day. It can range from one hour to seven.
4. Why do you write?
I’ve always wanted to write a story that a reader could get completely lost in. That was and will always be my goal.
5. Any writing tips or techniques or words of wisdom you want to share with us? How about a favorite writing quote?
Good writing requires vision, revision, the willingness to see your own faults and surpass them, and the internal fire to keep you going.
Here’s one of my all time favorite quotes:
“Lock up your libraries if you like, but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind.”
–Virginia Woolf
6. Would you care to share a favorite picture of yourself?
Lydia’s favorite picture of her Halmoni (grandmother) and herself as a newborn
This is a picture of my Halmoni (Korean for “grandmother”) holding me as a newborn. I think I look like a worm, but this picture is not really about me. My Halmoni’s facial expression is too much for words. She’s since passed away, but that love will always be there.
Thank you Nutschell, for having me!
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Thanks, Lydia, for giving us a glimpse into your writing life.
Wednesday Writer’s Workspace is an ongoing series, and if you’re interested in being featured here, simply leave me a message in the comment box, and I’ll be sure to email you.
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I can totally relate to tea, Jane Austen and getting distracted! Great interview!
Awe, what a cute picture, Lydia. Love the workspace, too. I’m a huge tea drinker, too. It’s great to learn these things.
I’m more of a coffee, but will have tea if there is no good coffee.
I’m a mobile writer, too. Oh, LOVE that picture of you and your grandmother!
Love your workspace Lydia in the room with windows. I have a similar room that I work in in the nice weather. Now that I have a new computer, I’m mobile tool
Wow, love the work space, Lydia. I’m not mobile (unless I have to be). I’m happy being in my bedroom office with all my writing stuff.
Thanks so much for having me! Have a great Wednesday!
I love the photo of you and your grandmother!! How precious.
Seven hours of writing day? I’m in awe…
Learned something new today – halmoni. Thank you for sharing such a very special picture.
That writeratee is really cute! I love the picture, Lydia, of you and your grandmother. It’s lovely.
It’s such fun reading about the writing lives of others. It’s interesting how mobile you are, Lydia. And that photo of you and your Halmoni is so sweet. Her expression is priceless.
Thanks for this great series, Nutschell!
cool, two of my favourite bloggers in one place.
cheers,
mood
Awww hello Lydia, hello the Writing Nut!! Love how Lydia is so amazingly mobile with her writerly station! Awww best is the pic of her adorable Halmoni!! Wonderful pic, thanks for sharing! Take care
x
That photograph is adorable
Awww, Writeratee is adorable. This was a great interview. – I just finished a nice cup of hot chai myself!
Great interview! Nice to get to know Lydia.
What a great interview! Love the photos, too–sweet expression on your Halmoni, and cute Writeratee and photo of the lovely Lydia. Thanks, Nutschell!
Thanks for the very detailed questions & for doing this interview with Lydia, Nutschell! Loved getting so much insight.
Lydia – yay for Writeratee making another cameo! Thanks for sharing that lovely picture of you and your grandma. ALSO, now that I know you were a singer – does this mean epic karaoke if/when you ever come to the West Coast?
I love the photo of you and your halmoni. Beautiful emotion.
Oh my goodness. That photo is so sweet.
Great interview!
Your writing table has a beautiful view, Lydia!
I also had Lasik when about ten years ago. I still need to use eye drops in the winter so they aren’t too dry! (but other than that, Lasik was money well spent!)
Fun learning more about you, Lydia. Loved the baby photo of you and your grandmother.
Great post! I love how you introduced Lydia to us. She’s an amazing young woman! I wonder if all writers have a lap desk? I have one for when I’m not at my real desk.
Thanks for introducing Lydia to us, Anne!
I loved learning more about Lydia. What a great feature, Nutschell!
Great interview Nutschell and Lydia. I have been a blogging buddy of Lydia’s for some time now….and still I learned! I am a mobile writer and tea drinker too! What a beautiful photo!
So sweet to get to “meet” Lydia through this post.
I’ve started reading her blog this year but none of those posts got to me like this one.
Thank you for sharing your writer’s workspace with us.
This is a great idea and it was very interesting to get such a private view on Lydia’s writing-life.
This is an interesting post, Lydia. I enjoyed the photos also. Thanks for sharing your writing life with us.
That looks like a great workspace!
I love the photo of you with your Halmoni.
Hey Lydia!!!!!!!!!!! How awesome to read about you, pal. Loved seeing your Writeratee. He’s so precious. I enjoyed learning more about you Lydia! *waving to Lydia and Nutshell*
Loving the Writeatee . Alz said she was going to take over the world with manatees. I see she’s already taken over Lydia’s world
That is a darling picture of you with your grandmother. You do not look like worm. And the expression of love upon her face is quite priceless.
Thanks so much for sharing not only your work space but a bit into your personal space as well.
Nice to know more about you Lydia. Sometimes picture convey emotions where words can fail. Good luck with your upcoming book.
Thanks so much for sharing this interview with Lydia. It’s great to get to know her better. Love that picture of her and Halmoni!
Lydia is awesome. I LOVE that baby picture!
I love the expression on your Halmoni’s face. It says what words cannot. It was really fun learning more about you, Lydia, and finding this great blog is awesome too!
Yes, coffee and the ability to write almost anywhere are my criteria too!
Love the grandmother photo–so sweet.
Lydia did not tell how steady she could be while she claims she is mobile. Phoebe, her bay’s distractng activities on the table does not bend her focus one bit.
One who has same last name.
I think I’m going to really love this series. Love reading about other writers and seeing their workspace.
I love the workspace! Great interview, it is really nice to get a peek into other writers lives.
That is such a sweet pic!! And I was completely inspired by Laura Ingalls WIlder and Jane Austen too. Amazing women.
Great to learn more about Lydia. We all know she’s awesome!
Oh wow great blog interview. I can relate to a compulsion to blog and post whilst doing proper writing. The answer is disconnect from the internet LOL!
Great post and wonderful post. Lydia is awesome. And I’m envious of her work space!
Seven hours a day… *jaw drops* AMAZING!
… and the picture with your Halmoni is cute! Thanks for sharing this Lydia.