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larryhammerFive interview questions from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
lucy_anne, belatedly answered:
1) A piece you did for a goof i[s] so successful that upon meeting Joanne Rowlings, she leaves the room to eat her own liver with a side of jealously. You finally can leave your day job to persue writing full time, but only if you continue to write books in this series. Do you decide to write to continue the series? Why or why not? Does you answer change if you feel like writing these books is not a creative exercise, but simply writing for a paycheck? Does your answer change if your legacy will be forever tied up in this series?
If it was written on a goof, it's probably fun to work on; I quit to write full-time, even if it turns into another form of day-job. After all, I'm currently writing full-time, just for my employer instead of my publisher. The challenge, as now, is finding time for what I want to write. The answer holds for all cases.
2) One of your partner's Girl Scouts is pulled from her home by Child Protection Services, and has requested that she be fostered in your home. What goes into making your decision whether or not to keep the child? Does the fact that the child is a behavior problem effect your decision? Does the fact that your partner is not fond of the child effect your decision?
The decision is based resources (space, emotional strength, who's in the household, and so on) and joint willingness (either of us can veto it). Behavior problems get factored into the resources (are we up for it?) and dislike into the willingness.
3. After battling with intense pain off and on for a year, you are finally diagnosed as having a chronic illness. There is a treatment for the illness, but anecdotal evidence on the Internet indicates that one of the side effects is a deep, unshakeable depression. Do you persue the treatment? Why or why not? Does your answer change if you find the illness prevents you from being able to write? Why or why not? Does your answer change if you are fighting to keep your job? Why or why not?
Deep chronic pain would drive me to almost any treatment, even if it creates mental pain while relieving physical pain. If it's the only option, I'd probably take the treatment and simultaneously start treatment for depression -- or I like to think so, but there's a good chance I'd not be thinking straight then (or with the same bends, if you prefer). Writing doesn't enter: pain trumps it. I'm unclear what's being asked in the last part -- meaning, fighting to keep it before or after treatments, or both?
4. Your father has a stroke, and your mother does not have the strength to care for him. Since your partner works out of your house, your mother asks for you to take care of your father, so that she can avoid putting him in assisted living care. What do you decide to do? Why? Does this answer change if your partner's father needed care? Why?
I've been thinking about this for a few years, as the only child of parents with chronic health issues. The decision depends on a couple factors, including whether they're willing to move down here, whether we'd need to move in or just to the area, whether homecare could be hired, whether I'd still need a day-job (which would probably mean in ALBQ or telecommuting). But if I'm really needed, I'd ask my partner if she's willing to move.
I'm having a lot of trouble conceiving my partner being willing to be primary caregiver for her father, and so being asked to move. For everyone's sanity, a caregiver would almost certainly be hired.
5. How do you think your partner would answer the four above questions?
1. It'll depend more on how much of a chore churning out sequels is. 2. I suspect her answer will be similar. 3. I don't know, but I suspect interference with writing would carry more weight. 4. I kinda answered that already.
If you want me to ask you five questions, ask in comments. I'll try not to make them multiparters.
---L.
lucy_anne, belatedly answered:1) A piece you did for a goof i[s] so successful that upon meeting Joanne Rowlings, she leaves the room to eat her own liver with a side of jealously. You finally can leave your day job to persue writing full time, but only if you continue to write books in this series. Do you decide to write to continue the series? Why or why not? Does you answer change if you feel like writing these books is not a creative exercise, but simply writing for a paycheck? Does your answer change if your legacy will be forever tied up in this series?
If it was written on a goof, it's probably fun to work on; I quit to write full-time, even if it turns into another form of day-job. After all, I'm currently writing full-time, just for my employer instead of my publisher. The challenge, as now, is finding time for what I want to write. The answer holds for all cases.
2) One of your partner's Girl Scouts is pulled from her home by Child Protection Services, and has requested that she be fostered in your home. What goes into making your decision whether or not to keep the child? Does the fact that the child is a behavior problem effect your decision? Does the fact that your partner is not fond of the child effect your decision?
The decision is based resources (space, emotional strength, who's in the household, and so on) and joint willingness (either of us can veto it). Behavior problems get factored into the resources (are we up for it?) and dislike into the willingness.
3. After battling with intense pain off and on for a year, you are finally diagnosed as having a chronic illness. There is a treatment for the illness, but anecdotal evidence on the Internet indicates that one of the side effects is a deep, unshakeable depression. Do you persue the treatment? Why or why not? Does your answer change if you find the illness prevents you from being able to write? Why or why not? Does your answer change if you are fighting to keep your job? Why or why not?
Deep chronic pain would drive me to almost any treatment, even if it creates mental pain while relieving physical pain. If it's the only option, I'd probably take the treatment and simultaneously start treatment for depression -- or I like to think so, but there's a good chance I'd not be thinking straight then (or with the same bends, if you prefer). Writing doesn't enter: pain trumps it. I'm unclear what's being asked in the last part -- meaning, fighting to keep it before or after treatments, or both?
4. Your father has a stroke, and your mother does not have the strength to care for him. Since your partner works out of your house, your mother asks for you to take care of your father, so that she can avoid putting him in assisted living care. What do you decide to do? Why? Does this answer change if your partner's father needed care? Why?
I've been thinking about this for a few years, as the only child of parents with chronic health issues. The decision depends on a couple factors, including whether they're willing to move down here, whether we'd need to move in or just to the area, whether homecare could be hired, whether I'd still need a day-job (which would probably mean in ALBQ or telecommuting). But if I'm really needed, I'd ask my partner if she's willing to move.
I'm having a lot of trouble conceiving my partner being willing to be primary caregiver for her father, and so being asked to move. For everyone's sanity, a caregiver would almost certainly be hired.
5. How do you think your partner would answer the four above questions?
1. It'll depend more on how much of a chore churning out sequels is. 2. I suspect her answer will be similar. 3. I don't know, but I suspect interference with writing would carry more weight. 4. I kinda answered that already.
If you want me to ask you five questions, ask in comments. I'll try not to make them multiparters.
---L.
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no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 05:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 02:30 pm (UTC)2. What about DC are most people seemingly indifferent to but you go ga-ga over?
3. If you could reverse one decision you've made, would you do so if it meant not being where you are now?
4. Do you ever go to class reunions?
5. If you had the power to compell people to answer five questions in turn, who would you use it on?
---L.
no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 03:38 pm (UTC)The Washington Nationals.
2. What about DC are most people seemingly indifferent to but you go ga-ga over?
The wide availability of foreign movies. The E Street Theater is a recent multiplex that specializes in foreign and independent films—the sort of movie most multiplexes don't show at all. The Avalon and the AFI Silver Theater also tend to show very interesting films, and of course there are several film festivals, often with themes such as the Silverdocs festival or the Jewish Film Festival.
3. If you could reverse one decision you've made, would you do so if it meant not being where you are now?
Probably not. Erase who I am, in favor of becoming someone else? Not tempting.
If I could think of a decision I'd made that had badly hurt someone else, I might answer differently. Then there's a moral obligation. But I'm reasonably happy with how my life has turned out, and I'll stick with it.
4. Do you ever go to class reunions?
I went to a Clarion reunion, and in two weeks I'm flying to Hungary for a Budapest Semesters in Mathematics (http://www.renyi.hu/bsm/) reunion. I've never been to a high school or a college reunion, though. I'd rather not mingle with large crowds of people I don't know and can't remember.
5. If you had the power to compell people to answer five questions in turn, who would you use it on?
George W. Bush, Karl Rove, Jeb Bush, Ken Blackwell, Karen Hughes, and various other Republican officials I'm convinced have committed felonies for the purpose of stealing elections. I want to take my country back.
no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 03:55 pm (UTC)---L.
no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 04:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 09:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 10:21 pm (UTC)1. e or φ?
2. How many digits of π can you recite?
5. How do you reconcile the an omnipotent God with the existence of suffering? (Show your work.)
4. If you had the power to compel people to answer five questions in turn, who would you use it on?
---L.
no subject
Date: 25 May 2005 10:37 pm (UTC)To my shame, only six.
4. If you had the power to compel people to answer five questions in turn, who would you use it on?
Am I compelling them to answer truthfully? If so, George Bush, with any number of other world leaders lined up behind him.
If not, not sure I'd bother.
3. Pythagorean triples or prime triplets?
Pythagorean triples. Because right triangles rock.
1. e or φ?
φ
5. How do you reconcile the an omnipotent God with the existence of suffering? (Show your work.)
Mostly by not assuming an omnipotent God.
Also by figuring, no matter what omnipotent beings are or are not out there, doing something about suffering--especially the human-caused variety--is our lookout, not God's.