I’d like to welcome Belinda Betker to the blog for #WriterWednesday.
Favorite thing to do when you have free time: I’m a life-long voracious reader, and I often read up to five or six books at a time. I particularly read poetry, memoirs, and novels that have been recommended by friends. I also love word puzzle magazines, especially when I need to think things through about my own writing. I love walking with my wife and dog in a 300-acre forest close to city limits. I love spending time with friends, family, and the groups I volunteer with.
The thing you’ll always move to the bottom of your to do list: Washing floors and walls.
Things you need when you’re in your writing cave: I keep a good supply on hand of my favourite style of journal – 6”x8”, soft cover, with ruled lines and built-in ribbon page marker. My favourite pen is a Uni-ball JetStream, blue ink. Beyond that, I need my PC, good lighting, and good music when I write and edit.
Things that distract you from writing: Necessary housework; or an invitation out for tea, a meal, a good movie, or a great concert.
Favorite snacks: Flavoured potato chips, especially dill pickle, or sour cream & onion.
Things that make you want to gag: Bananas – the texture is horrible, but I can tolerate them when they’re baked into cakes or a loaf.
Something you’re really good at: I excel at procrastination!
Something you’re really bad at: Tackling tasks and chores that should be done that I really don’t want to do.
Something you wanted to be when you were a kid: I thought I’d be an early-grades elementary school teacher.
Something you do that you never dreamed you’d do: I never dreamed I’d have a proverbial ‘room of one’s own’ to write in, and that I’d become a published poet.
Something you wish you could do: Sky diving, parasailing, ziplining, etc. – anything where I could safely experience free-falling or moving quicky through the air.
Something you wish you’d never learned to do: Housework – I really dislike housework!
Things to say to an author: I absolutely love your book, & this is why (& then be specific.)
Things to say to an author if you want to be fictionally killed off in their next book: I don’t like your writing style or what you write about.
Favorite places you’ve been: Australia – everywhere there I’ve already been to, and I’d go anywhere there I haven’t been yet. I’ve also enjoyed all the major Canadian cities I’ve visited, as well as numerous smaller cities, towns, and national/provincial/regional parks.
Places you never want to go to again: Anywhere I’ve been has been interesting enough to be worth the experience.
Favorite things to do: Write and read haiku, poems, and memoirs; people-watch anywhere and anytime; spend time with my favourite people; walk and play with our dog; attend literary events, concerts, and non-mainstream films; travel; spend time in nature; eat great food; and find some joy in every day.
Things you’d run through a fire or eat bugs to get out of doing: I don’t like doing housework, but I do it because I really like a clean home.
Most embarrassing moment: Realizing that someone I thought liked me really didn’t.
Proudest moment: My first book launch, and seeing all the people that attended from all different areas and times of my life.
The nicest thing a reader said to you: “I love your book, and I especially love your poem Why a Parade.
The craziest thing a reader said to you: “What did you eat for breakfast today, and why?”
The most exciting thing about your writing life: How much fun it is to write, edit and get published.
The one thing you wish you could do over in your writing life: Start writing seriously much earlier in life.
