Exams are looming and I'm spending most of my 'free' time trying not to freak out too much about the prospect of spending hours and hours in an exam hall multiple times. It almost goes without saying that I might not be posting as often as usual for the next few weeks - I do have a few drafts saved up but it's extracting myself from the world of studying and remembering to publish them which might be tricky! Anyway, here's a quick tag post in the meantime.

1. If someone wanted to really understand you, what would they read, watch, and listen to?

This is actually such a hard question, because it's not so much 'what are your favourite things to read, watch and listen to' but what represents you as a person. I'd say read The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, the Princess Diaries series by Meg Cabot, and Rookie Yearbook One; watch series 2 & 4 of Doctor Who and the film Clueless; listen to Lana Del Rey, Marina's Electra Heart and Emilie's Autumn's album Opheliac - no idea if that's at all representative of me but there you go.

2. Have you ever found a writer who thinks just like you? If so, who?

Not really. I've had moments where I've really connected to an author's way of writing and what they're saying, but nothing stands out to me now.

3. Do you like your name? Is there another name you think would fit you better?

I don't mind my name and I kind of love that it means 'wisdom' (ahahah). I just kind of wish I had a less common name because there are three other Sophies in my year alone, although I suppose I do have the advantage that no one will ever ask me how to pronounce my name. I really love the names Paige, Astrid and Elspeth, but I'm not sure any of those would particularly fit me better.

4. Do you think of yourself as a human being or a human doing? Do you identify yourself by the things you do?

Human doing, definitely, but I'm not sure if that's a good thing. I like being productive and getting things done, but I suppose I rarely stop to just 'be' (#deep). 

5. What musical artists have you most felt connected to over your lifetime?

This is kind of similar to question 1 so I guess Emilie Autumn, Lana Del Rey and Marina, but also MSMR and Nicole Dollanganger.

6. Are you an artist?

I wouldn't describe myself as an artist as such, because I immediately associate that word with the ability to draw, paint, sketch etc, and sadly my skills are limited with that kind of thing. What I do enjoy is more of the design-type stuff, like Polyvore sets and greetings cards, but I don't think that really makes me an artist.

7. Describe your ideal day.

I'd get up about 9am, make pancakes for breakfast, read a bit, go and meet my friends for lunch on town, go shopping, then go back to one of my friends' houses and just chill and chat for a while before making dinner, watching a movie and going to bed late. I've spent a lot of days like this is the holidays but it'll never get old.

8. Inside or outdoors?

Probably 70% inside, 30% outside.

9. Are you a musician?

Not at all, I can't play any instrument.

10. Five most influential books over your lifetime.

I think this question can be understood in two ways, like the five most influential books that have been published since you were born (i.e. since 1997 for me) or the five books that have influenced your life the most. I'm going to go with the latter and say Elsewhere by Gabrielle Zevin, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot, Life on the Refrigerator Door by Alice Kuipers, and Bloody Tower by Valerie Wilding. I might actually do a whole separate post on those five books because I could go on and on about them.

11. Which Harry Potter house would you be in?

Ravenclaw, without a doubt.

12. List the top five things you spend the most time doing, in order.

Being at school, sleeping, studying, interneting, reading.

13. Have you ever felt like you had a “mind-meld” with someone?

Literally all the time with my best friend, I actually laughed out loud when I saw this question because that's exactly what we call it!

14. Three songs that you connect with right now.

Emilie Autumn - Fight Like a Girl, Lana Del Rey - Flipside, Marina - Are You Satisfied? (I realise my musical taste is somewhat repetitive but I tend to latch onto an artist and obsessively listen to all their music on repeat until I know it inside out, by which point I feel an emotional attachment to a lot of it)

15. Pick one of your favourite quotes.