I was so stunned, yet pleased, when I found out that there was such thing as a writing tag! I love book tags, of course, but didn’t know there were writing ones too! Thanks to Margaret @ Weird Zeal, I was able to discover the Never Have I Ever Writing Tag. I also found The Jane Austen July Tag at Margaret’s blog, it’s like she helps keep me in the loop, tag-wise. Check out her post here, it was so much fun to read!
The Long Voyage created this tag, kudos to them for being so creative 😄
Okay, let’s get started! *initiates giddy clapping*
Have I Ever…
…started a novel that I didn’t finish.
Ha! Plenty of times. I probably have around 30 unfinished drafts lurking somewhere, a few of them wondering why on earth I only slapped a title on them and neglected them ever since.
…written a story completely by hand.
I’ve done this several times as well. Before I had my own computer, I wrote a lot on yellow notepads. Got a lot of blue ink on my hands too. 😂
…changed tenses midway through a story.
Probably, when I was just starting out. I don’t remember, but I’m pretty sure I would switch between past and present tenses.
…not researched anything before starting a story.
Yep, that’s me. I’m not the type of writer who does a lot of planning and research before a book. I really just get right into it. With writing, it’s all about my emotions and gut. If I hold out on an idea too long, I may lose interest (this actually has never happened before, because I won’t let it).
…changed my protagonist’s name halfway through a draft.
In my current WIP, one of my characters underwent at least three name changes. But I’ve settled on a much more permanent name now.
…written a story in a month or less.
When I was younger and writing solely for fun, yes. I remember I once completed an entire story in a day. I could not stop clacking at the keyboard.
…fallen asleep while writing.
No, but I have written late into the night. Because I can’t help it. I’m telling you, the mood is everything when it comes to writing. Sometimes I can write for an entire day, other times only a few sentences before I’m like “Nope not today”.
…corrected someone’s grammar IRL/online?
Er…no. Most of the time, it’s just a typo or something.
…yelled in all caps at myself in the middle of my novel.
I don’t type messages to myself in my drafts, just because. But I have screamed at myself inside my head, I just don’t put it down.
…used “I’m writing” as an excuse.
Haha, definitely.
…used pop culture references in a story.
No…I suppose I could do it, but I just didn’t feel like it. Plus, my dialogue almost always advances the plot.
…written between the hours of 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.
No. I remember, though, after seeing the film Little Women (2019), I was so inspired that I did a little writing around 11pm. Way to prioritize, I know.
…drank an entire pot of coffee while writing.
I’m too young, so no. I don’t tend to eat or drink a lot while I write. I do listen to music, but it kind of just gets lost in the background. When I write, I write…if that makes sense.
…written down dreams to use in potential novels.
This actually happened once. I was on a train in China (this is years ago) and I had a dream about a very special, peculiar girl who was found in the snow. An amateur pilot found her and took care of her. No, it’s not romantic at all, the girl was chased out of her kingdom and the boy just became her friend. I never finished it, but I still remember!
…published an unedited story on the internet/blog/Wattpad.
Not yet!
…procrastinated homework because I wanted to write.
I think so, though I don’t do it too often. I remember after the first day of school, I wrote for the rest of the afternoon and into the evening…at least we didn’t have any homework!
…typed so long that my wrists hurt.
Yes, definitely!
…spilled a drink on my laptop while writing.
Thankfully, no.
…forgotten to save my work/draft.
Again, thankfully, no.
…finished a novel.
Several times! 😁
…laughed like an evil villain while writing a scene.
Not an evil villain, but a giggly girl convinced she did something genius. 😄
…cried while writing a scene.
My heartstrings were tugged and I got choked up…but I don’t really cry while writing (or reading)!
…created maps of my fictional worlds.
No, I’m unfortunately too lazy. I did do some sketching of Spacia and Ellie and Abby’s houses but that’s probably it.
…researched something odd for a novel.
For Spacia: The Fate of the Galaxies, I looked up if Harvard offered a house-scouting team. I do a lot of Google searches when writing, to check my facts and things like that, but it seems I often get nowhere with them 🤷♀️
I can’t tell you how much fun this was! I love sharing about my writing and writing process, and for that to be put into a tag…*sighs blissfully*.
If you want to do this tag, link back to this post when you finish because I’d love to see your answers!

This sounds like a fun tag! I relate to a lot of your answers especially the one about coffee. However, I tend to get caught up in research before writing something because I don’t like doing it in the middle of the process! Loved this post!
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It was so much fun to do! Haha yep — I think some kind of juice, soda, or even tea would be my go-to drink for now…we’ll see how that changes in 10+ years 😂 Ah, as I’ve advanced in my writing, the process spreads out over months honestly, so I don’t feel the pressure of researching in the middle…but it is nice to get all the technicalities out of the way and just write!! Thanks for commenting 😊
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I always correct grammar, it’s one of my pet peeves. I always procrastinate homework so I can write, them end up having to do it in morning lol. I loved reading this! It sounds so fun! 💜
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Haha sorry if I had any such mistakes in my post, there might have been a couple! Oh wow, doing homework in the morning sounds difficult! But sometimes, I do like to procrastinate…don’t we all 😂 thank you for your kind words!
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Amazing answers Eleanor!!
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Thank you Aanya!
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My pleasure! Stay safe!
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You too! 😀
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I love your responses to this! I’m glad you haven’t forgotten to save your work haha! I do it all the time and it’s the worst!
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Thank you! Ah, I have to remind myself to save my work every now and then — when you get caught up in the process, it’s easy to forget to save. Thanks for commenting!
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Though I loved this post, I think you should make your own tag featuring all the idiosyncrasies of writing. My sister is an unpublished (but nonetheless good) author who has all the weirdest thoughts or habits that she has while writing, so, I know there are a thing. I even have “weird writing moments” when I write my poetry. Haha! Great post, E! (You’ve finished SEVERAL novels??!!! You’re a lean, mean, writing machine!) xoxo
-Millay
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Thanks Millay, I appreciate your feedback. I actually may do a writing tag…hopefully sometime in the near future? 👀 I’m sure your sister is an amazing author, and you’re a wonderful poet! Aw thank you so much ☺️
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I’d love to see an original writing tag! I’ll keep be looking forward to it, hopefully! Aw, thanks, Eleanor! My sister is really great! Stay safe! xoxo
-Millay
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Thanks so much! You too!! ☺️
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Those beautiful writing moments! You will forever remember them. These moments will crystallize and become your creative gems! Way to go, Eleanor J.! 🥳🤓
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Thank you for such a wonderful comment Jenny, I agree completely!
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Ahaha so glad I could continue to provide you with some great tags 😀 Loved reading all your answers for this! I can relate to losing interest in an idea if I hold onto it for too long without writing it — it’s all about balancing planning with the excitement of a new idea, you know? And I’ve definitely giggled to myself when I think I’ve done something genius 😂
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Thank you for your kind words, Margaret! (Also for replying to my comments on your posts from a while ago 😉) Haha yep, it’s just like “Let’s get it on the page now!” Definitely, you phrased it well! I think we all have those giggly moments, they’re quite fun to have 😀
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Ooh reading this has made me want to return to writing full-length novels, Eleanor! It’s been… let’s see, seven years since I completed my last book! Since then I’ve written a few unfinished first drafts and several short stories. I thought I’d moved away from being a writer who pens books, but now I think I was just taking a long break.
This was such a fun tag!! I’d really like to do it as well, so I’ll go add it to my list of ones to do! 😄💜
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Oh I’m so glad to hear that Maggie! Yep, sometimes putting writing on the backburner can be helpful — when you return, it’s a big eye opener!! I’d LOVE to see you do this tag, will be eagerly searching my Reader…hee hee 😁 Sometimes, it just takes inspiration, I wish you long years of beautiful writing ahead!!!!!
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Most definitely! Breaks can obviously last longer than I’d initially believed, haha. Which is awesome news for my writing life! Yay! I’m gonna have so much fun with it 😄💖 Aw thank you!!
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That’s great! Writing is really about having fun and playing with your imagination!! 😀
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I’m so glad you enjoyed my tag. It’s been so fun to watch it travel all around the blogosphere because I genuinely had no idea it would become so popular. ❤
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Of course, I had so much fun doing it!! Thank YOU for creating such a lovely tag 😊
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Oh, of course. I’m just super happy that so many bloggers have found joy in it. ☺️
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