What's this about?

Greetings! Below is a meme about writing I took part in a while back. Being me, I didn't know what one of those was. But I do get how to answer questions so I hope this gives you a little insight into my writing and I.

What is your name? Real or otherwise.

I'm Laura Alonso, but also Forest Bird. I read Ibsen in my teens and loved his quote: "A forest bird never wants a cage." It encompasses the need for freedom, to fly, to land wherever you want. And I've had that approach to life for a long time.

Describe your writing style in three words.

(Aspire to be...) Quirky. Handsome. Beguiling.

How long have you been writing online?

I started this blog in 2010, but I'd been posting stories and poems on other sites before then. It didn't feel right putting them up on other sites like and I realised I needed to stride out on my own. My first post on this blog explains why: http://birdoftheforest.blogspot.com/2010/09/time-to-put-pen-down-and-get-over-it.html

Which, if any, other writing challenges do you participate in?

I've been checking out and taking part in the 100-Word Challenge for Grown Ups over at Julia's Place for a while and recently entered the flash fiction competition at 99 Fiction.

I also entered the first chapter of my novel into a competition in 2012 with The Oxford Editors and it came second. Nice to know you're on the right track at least.

Describe one way in which you could improve your writing.

I won a competition on Limebird Writers in 2012 and part of the prize was an edit of 1000 words. It was a really interesting and valuable experience. So often we read our stuff and understand immediately; that's obvious, we wrote it. I think I often expect too much of my reader, those who doesn't reside in my mind. I have to give them more of a chance. And probably reduce my love of the semicolon.

What is the best writing advice you've been given?

Give more. Read more. Write more.

Who is your favourite author?

Vladimir Nabokov. Reading Lolita changed my life. Then reading Pale Fire changed it more. Then reading Lolita twice more made me want to do very bad things to be able to write like that. Then I read Ada or Ardor and went into total meltdown.

How do you make time to write?

These days, with a 14-month old son, it's hard. I am also now working two days a week and the rest is spent with him and the weekends as a family. This year (2015) I have found it especially hard to write and my focus has been writing to friends and family and keeping up that communication rather than here and for myself. I miss it. But the holidays are coming and I hope to be able to slot in more writing time for me. Sometimes the only way out of a situation is to write and that is what I am doing now with this post: http://birdoftheforest.blogspot.lu/2015/12/miscarriage.html

What blog post of yours should we read?

All of them?
OK, go here: http://birdoftheforest.blogspot.com/2012/09/where-do-we-go-really.html on why reading is travelling.
Go here http://birdoftheforest.blogspot.com/2013/07/learning-curve-1-birds-of-floating-world.html for a travel story.

Links
Check out 100WCGU at http://jfb57.wordpress.com/
Take part in the next 99 flash fiction competition at http://99fiction.net/
See what the Limebird Writers are up to at http://limebirdwriters.co.uk/
Have a look at what The Oxford Editors do at http://www.theoxfordeditors.co.uk/