20 Questions & A Prize

by Jane Devin on 03/19/2009

UPDATE: Congratulations to TRESHA, the winner of the $20 Amazon gift certificate. Thank you to everyone who participated!

I’m working on a project, and need your help. I’ll tell you what the project is after it’s done, but right now I’d like you all to put on your reporter hats and interview me.  I know it’s weird,  but there really is — well, maybe not a great reason — but a solid reason I’m asking.

I need at least twenty people to ask me a question, and you can ask anything. Be as simple or as creative, as earthy or existential, as silly or serious as you’d like.   If I get more than twenty questions, that’ s fine, too.  I’ll answer them all in my next post, even if there’s a hundred.  Unless, of course, no one asks anything.  That would be really embarrassing.

I’d also like to ask each of you a question in return — that’s not for any particular reason other than I think it would be fun — so let me know if you’re willing to answer by leaving a YES or NO at the bottom of your comment.

To make this worth your while, one commenter will be chosen at random to receive a $20 gift certificate from Amazon.com.

Post will close to comments and winner will be chosen Monday, March 23rd at 6:00 p.m.

Okay, on your mark. . .get set. . . GO!

{ 50 comments }

Steve Jacobi March 19, 2009 at 10:22 pm

Huge fan of food network so….your given zucchini, pineapples, dried dates, maple syrup, and polenta (corn mean). what would you make having to use all these ingredients? :-)

Carol Lynn March 19, 2009 at 10:28 pm

Why is it you, and other female writers, such as Annie Proulx and Amy Bloom, start out life as wives and mothers and then change their sexual orientation?

Suzanne March 19, 2009 at 10:30 pm

HI Jane,

Here’s a simple one.

Do you believe in God?

Yes, I will answer your question.

Carol Lynn March 19, 2009 at 10:32 pm

Sorry, I forgot this:

Yes, I will answer a question from you.

And a correction in grammar :-)

then change YOUR sexual orientation?

Ryan March 19, 2009 at 11:19 pm

Oh Jane, what are you up to now? That wasn’t my official question. So here is my official question at 1 AM on 2 hours sleep from the night before.

Will you just give me the $20 gift card?

I will come back tomorrow and ask you a real question.

Karen (Miscellaneous Mum) March 20, 2009 at 12:45 am

How is the you of 5, 10 years hence going to be different to the you of today?

Julia March 20, 2009 at 12:54 am

Here’s my question:
What do you wish people knew or understood about you that they do not?

Yes ask me what you will.

V-Grrrl March 20, 2009 at 2:08 am

What’s your ultimate dream/goal/fantasy as a writer–meaning what would your ideal writing life look like?

And yes, you can ask me a question.

Sandi Keene March 20, 2009 at 4:59 am

If you had to pick a single word to guide you through the next year, what would it be and why?
Yes, ask.

Jeff March 20, 2009 at 5:11 am

Here is my question:
Why are people turn over the control of their lives so easily to an unknown force?

Yes, i will answer your question.

caron March 20, 2009 at 5:34 am

miracle whip or mayonnaise?

yes.

peggi-jean March 20, 2009 at 6:20 am

Yes, I will answer your question.
What is your favourite curse word?

Loony March 20, 2009 at 6:29 am

When are you gonna come for Dinner and let me cook for you??? (dumplings tonight!)

Red or White…and whats your fav kinda wine??

YES!

Laura March 20, 2009 at 6:37 am

All that is left of the great artist is: A painting she has done of the cat and the cat itself. You must save one. Which will it be and why?

Ask me anything!

Tash March 20, 2009 at 6:50 am

What are the things that have made your heart soar to unfathomable heights never reached before?

LBJ March 20, 2009 at 7:52 am

Who was your biggest influence and why?

Yes, I’ll answer one!

Corina March 20, 2009 at 7:54 am

As a relatively new reader, I want to thank you for asking challenging questions, and inspiring me to start rocking the boat in my writing.

My question: We all have defining moments in our lives. Moments that shape us, our ideas, our writing, our outlook. Name one defining moment in your life and how it shaped you.

Yes, I will answer any question you pose to me. Thanks.

Kate McLaughlin March 20, 2009 at 8:12 am

Why do you write?
I know what rankles and activates you. What brings you: joy? peace? serenity?
Describe your ideal Friday night.
Ask away, Jane.

Theresa March 20, 2009 at 8:16 am

Hi Jane…

What really pisses you off… makes you so mad you could scream…?

Yes, I will answer any question you ask…

T

Chris March 20, 2009 at 9:36 am

These are some good questions! Do you have any true friendships with people who’s opinions regarding religion and politics strongly oppose yours? If you don’t, do you believe it’s possible?

I’ll answer a question. Just dumb it down, please.

Woodrow March 20, 2009 at 10:27 am

Why are you important?
Yes.

SusanS March 20, 2009 at 11:46 am

Do you lust after the new Mac airbook for just it’s beauty and style and wow factor and if so wouldn’t the new super slim dell be just as cool, or are there other internal differences about the macs you love?

And yes.

Jeanne March 20, 2009 at 2:10 pm

I am a total foodie…so I need to know…what one comfort food do you turn to when you are blue?

and, yes…ask away.

Tammie March 20, 2009 at 2:50 pm

If you could live anywhere in the world where would it be and why?

Yes, I will answer a question.

Elaine March 20, 2009 at 4:50 pm

I have three…

What is your favorite aphorism?

If you were given the choice to learn your date of death would you choose to know?

Have you ever seen the movie School of Rock?

Gimme a question! (or three) : )

Marcie March 20, 2009 at 5:28 pm

If you had no choice and could choose, which would you rather lose, your sight or your hearing and why?

yes

Ann Parker March 20, 2009 at 5:41 pm

If a person could read your tea leaves, and the tea leaves of others accurately without knowing you or them, how would you explain it?
Yes

Laurie March 20, 2009 at 6:21 pm

Yes,, I’m game for a question.

And for you: Pizza, steak, Mexican, or Chinese?

Laurie

debbie March 21, 2009 at 7:25 am

If you could live your life over, choosing the location, your profession, etc., what would you change and why?

palestar March 21, 2009 at 8:04 am

Have you ever been attacked by cyber bullies and how did you handle the situation?

Danielle March 21, 2009 at 8:14 am

Do you have regrets? What is one?

Do you believe that regrets have a valuable place in our life, or do they distract us from moving forward?

And yes, I’ll answer anything.
:)

Sharon March 21, 2009 at 8:38 am

When did you know you were a writer? Yes, I will answer your question.

palestar March 21, 2009 at 8:48 am

me again and yes i would answer any question you pose – thanks… ;)

T Fraser March 21, 2009 at 12:24 pm

Favourite character on Happy Days?
Ask away!

kris D. March 21, 2009 at 1:24 pm

if you could have one super power what would it be?

if you had one last thing to say to the world, what would it be?

where do you see yourself in 10 years?
;)

ask away

Lisa March 21, 2009 at 2:48 pm

How would your writing and life be different if the internet and blogging had never been invented? Would your writing be altered or take a different path?

Yes

Ryan March 21, 2009 at 3:30 pm

Did you know that I was so lazy that I open a new window which opens to my blog and I copy and paste my URL into your comment box thingy so I don’t have to type it ever. I hate myself for things like that :)

I can’t think of a question to ask. I just wanted to write you again. Is that okay?

Hope your weekend is super.

Pat March 21, 2009 at 4:57 pm

Do you have friends from your school years? Who would be the last person you would want to see before you died? If you could produce a TV show, what would be the premise? What is your motativational emotion? Do you feel trully accepted? What would be your perfect meal? Who would you share your perfect meal with? If you wanted to change your name, what would you change it to? If you could live in your perfect place, where would it be? What do you feel remains undone in your life? When you feel depressed, what do you do? What is the one inanimate thing you could not live without? If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy for yourself? What would be your perfect vacation? What would be your perfect job? Dog person, cat person? If you could have one super-power, what would it be? Good luck with your project.

Shelley March 21, 2009 at 7:46 pm

With all that we have at our fingertips in the late-20th and 21st century I think we are lucky to live in the time we do, especially for women, but we do have a long way to go. If you could pick a time period (of the past, of course) to have lived, when would it be and why?

And, fair is fair: you can ask me anything.

callie kimball March 21, 2009 at 8:41 pm

What do you think is the next step for feminism? Or is this as good as it gets in a patriarchy?

callie kimball March 21, 2009 at 8:42 pm

And yes.

Lucie March 21, 2009 at 10:37 pm

What is the one piece of advice, over all others, you would give to someone who wants to be a writer?

Yes.

Tre March 22, 2009 at 12:52 am

Why is the desk in the room of your own vision great and big and mahogany?

Of course you can ask me a question. :)

Here’s to your project…

And remember to play and giggle….much :)

nikki March 22, 2009 at 6:32 am

Do you fear death?

yes to a question

Doris Rose Macbean March 22, 2009 at 9:32 am

very interesting questions, I will look forward to your responses.
Okay. Do you possess enough rage to take a human life?
sure, ask away.

Melissa March 23, 2009 at 12:28 am

What is your Myers’s-Briggs Type (if you know it)? Mine is INFP, for example…

Sure, I’ll answer a question.

Jane Devin March 23, 2009 at 12:37 am

Melissa, I do not know it! I also answered the Meyers-Briggs question in a footnote that I have taken off temporarily as part of a layperson’s, hmmm — can’t tell you yet. I’ll restate the footnote when the next article is up. ;-)

You’re all in the drawing and those of you that asked for questions should have them, or they are on their way this morning.

I don’t need any more questions — unless there’s something you really want to know, in which case I’m happy to answer.

If you just want to enter the drawing, leave a comment from here on out. Thread will be close at 6 p.m. Monday, winner announced shortly thereafter.

Thank you to everyone who participated! I hope the next couple of articles will have made it worth your while.

Tamara March 23, 2009 at 1:03 am

Hmmm … well, I’m going to ask a question anyway, just because I want to! When you are feeling lost, and down, and depressed, and you don’t know what to do, and you can’t write, and it feels like everything is wrong everywhere in every dark depressing corner of your head … what do you read? What author do you pull off your shelf, knowing that it’s going to lift your soul? What can you read, over and over again, and just know that it’s going to inspire you, or at the very least make you laugh a little and realise that things aren’t that bad?

Jane Devin March 25, 2009 at 12:30 am

Thank you again to everyone who participated. You asked some very interesting questions….my answers coming up next!

Tash March 21, 2009 at 2:31 am

Oops, I forgot to say yes… YES!

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