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In my last post I mentioned how happy I was with getting some awesome comments on my last story. Now I deleted that part and added it back a few times, because what if people thought I was this egotistical big head?

But you know, I am proud and there's nothing wrong with that. So I'm standing here and saying I'm proud of the story, I think I wrote it well.

Now I want you to do the same. No need to dim your shine, it's just me, and I'm asking you to tell me about the story you're most proud of, with links so others can read it too if you're comfortable sharing. A paragraph that you wrote and think is amazing, and hey, copy pasting that here would be awesome. If you're not a writer, tell me about an icon you made that came out well, a graphic or a website you built. Tell me about the kick ass cards you make, that you've painted your walls at home and they look fab. The shelves you made out of breeze blocks and planks.

I want to know. So no hiding your light. Be proud.

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I love this icon to death, it was my first attempt at an animation, and it doesn't look like I created it in paint (but I did!).

As for stories, well, I'm proud of If You Play With Fire because it was my first slash and I still think the quality is good. Too bad I can't get anyone to read it.

It's hard to talk about feedback that makes us happy, that is extra special because it means we did an awesome job. It feels like bragging, even when it's only squeeing. I got a comment on my last story from someone I've fangirled since the beginning of time, who's never, ever commented on something I've written before, and I wanted to tell the whole world about it, but hi, kind of lame. Anyway. I get you.

I'm most proud of the Epic, no surprise there, and also last year's Dragon story and this year's MtYG story.

Also, I just started reading your new story and I'm not very far, but it's so, so good.

And we're doing it again next year!

Hmm. You know, maybe the word I was looking for wasn't awesome, but 'insane'.

You have such excellent ideas for this kind of post; I always really enjoy them. And there is definitely a nice middle-ground to be had between "i'm a terrible writer, boo hoo" and "i am the most popular writer in fandom" which we should all feel at ease in accessing.

For me I think it's brains go great with aquavit (http://boudicca.com/unaware/zombie.html): I was working in the magical realism genre, which I love; I got to set it in a little Norwegian town in Iowa that is one of my favourite places in the world; I employed the "Dear Reader" conceit for the first time; and I somehow managed to work in a Venn diagram!! It turned out so much better than I ever thought it would, because seriously, that description sounds like a hot mess. *g*

So give me details on what you're proud of in this bandslash story you posted! I'd like details, because it fascinates me what elements of their writing pleases people.

mmm... well I have two. I love Two Fish for One Trick and Photographs. I'm very proud of those stories, specially because it's very hard for me to write fics. so there you go.

can you share the link? :)

Sure. I probably should have included that originally *g* link (http://community.livejournal.com/fluffyfic/776.html)

Thanks, I'm going to read it!

This meme is so lovely. And I definitely agree that it's good to find that balance between "I suck" to "I am the best ever!" You've got every right to be proud of your story and I'm so happy you're getting lots of praise for it! I'm definitely gonna try to read it soon.

I think I'm most proud of Deep Greens And Blues (http://bubbleforest.livejournal.com/102024.html) because I fought tooth and nail to finish it and it took a year to get it right, but I'm so proud of some of the scenes in there and the story is so precious to me. Either that, or it's Look For the Angles (http://juppy.org/santa/stories.php?ForAuthorID=83&Year=2006) from SeSa 2006, because everything came together exactly the way I wanted it to, and I think the story's told pretty well.

I'm also proud of the graphics I made for MTYG. The layout was fun to make, and a lot of people ended up using the icons, which made me stupidly happy.

You should be proud. They're both good stories. I especially like Two Fish For One Trick. It came out so well, especially as you do find it hard to write.

It is hard to get that balance. Donna found the words I was looking for when she said that it feels like you're bragging if you say such and such is good. And it shouldn't. I mean, if you're not yelling you're the best writer who ever wrote, well there's no problem is saying, hey, I did something good. Of course it doesn't feel like that at the time.

I'm so going to read all these stories that have been linked. I think you can tell stories that have been loved. They have a shine of their own.

I so agree about your graphics too. They were used by so many people, and looked amazing!

I so agree with you. The challenges in the fandom are amazing. I love the variety of them, and the fact they produce such awesome stories.

Your dragon challenge always provides such amazing results. So many different stories all based on one prompt, or two the year after. That really is something to be proud of.

Or, maybe I'm most proud of Camp Sparkle.

Camp Sparkle. I hope you and Anna know how much people love Camp Sparkle. I know it must be so much hard work to organise, yet you do it, and do it well. You deserve to be proud.

You're both totally awesome!!

Those are fantastic choices.

The writing in your post-Apocalypse story is amazing. There are still certain scenes I can remember so clearly, and the tone of the story is just right.

Knowing your issues with challenges, I'm not surprised you picked the challenge stories too. Your choey zombie story, still made of win.

The way that everyone pulled together to make sure that SeSa didn't die just filled me with fannish love and pride.

Oh yes. That was so awesome to see!

It's a really lovely icon. You made the colours match nicely and it changes nice and smooth.

You need to advertise your stories more. Let people know they're there. I'll be checking out that link later :)

It feels like bragging

That's it exactly. It does feel like bragging, like look what I've done and I want applause. Which isn't true. I just want to squee about people getting what I wrote.

I would have wanted to tell the world about that comment too. I hope you emailed some friends at least, because I don't think it's lame.

Yes, yes and yes! All those choices are awesome.

You're a star for giving my story a try. Thank you :)

I suppose I need to work on that. Advertising has never been a strong point.

I loved Look For The Angles. SeSa 2006 was the first time I really looked at any BSB stories other than crossovers, and that was one of the stories which gave me more BSB love.

And your MTYG graphics were beautiful. Especially amazing when you made them on a timescale of WE NEED GRAPHICS NOW NOW NOW! (This year, we'll give you more notice :-)

Yay for being proud!

I have some stuff I'm proud of (ETA: these are all original stories I'm talking about, because it's what's closest to my heart), and the first NaNovel I managed to finish is definitely part of that. Here (http://disabilityqueen.com/library/nanowrimo/2004/going_home_by_ceci.htm) it is in all its raw glory (be warned, it hasn't been edited).

As far as favorite paragraphs go, I have so many favorites (with over 300 characters, that can happen to you)! I finally settled on one, though, from a story still in progress called Fighting for a Chance:

~*~
On a beautiful day which offered a cloudless sky and temperatures well in the 80s, most people were outside with as little clothes on as possible. Jamie Ristau, however, was not like most people and spent the day indoors in his bed; the air condition turned to max and headphones blaring out My Chemical Romance covering his ears.
~*~

*wanders off to try and write some more on her April Fools story*

It makes me happy you enjoy these kinds of posts. I really like to know what people think, and the best kind of way to get stories to enjoy is to sneakily ask for them *g*

And there is definitely a nice middle-ground to be had between "i'm a terrible writer, boo hoo" and "i am the most popular writer in fandom" which we should all feel at ease in accessing.

I agree. There's nothing attractive at thinking you're the best ever, or at saying you suck while posting anyway. But yeah, the middle ground is good.

Oh, story! And see, sneakily finding links to read.

I think what I'm most proud of is I wrote Gerard as having major depression ( which is canon ) and people have been commenting and saying how realistic the writing is. I was very much aware that depression is a serious illness and it would have been easy to get all over blown and woe is me, and from the reactions I've received. I didn't do that.

I'm also proud that people picked up concepts that I'd planned from the start. I wanted to have a link and contrast between the two groups. Mikey and Gee who are trapped in a decaying lifeless house, and the other three, who work for a gardening firm and are about light and life.

That people picked up on that. That pleased me so much. It's like, my words were enough to get a concept across, and that's so cool.

I'm lame, I know this.

Thank you so much. :) That makes me really happy, on both counts. (And hee, I totally didn't mind the short notice, working under pressure generally produces good things. :D)

See, I don't think I knew this even existed!

I have to admit that I'm very, very bad with rereading my own stuff. And I tend to hate everything I write, unless I leave it alone for months and months, then read it like, a year later. And then I wonder how the hell I managed to write it in the first place. Not a very nice process, but because of that I'm determined to say "I AM A GOOD WRITER" in this here comment today.

I love this untitled Letterboys ficlet (http://trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com/590998.html) that I wrote for

ephemera in

fic_requests. I hardly ever write them because I'm convinced that I won't meet my own standards for Letterboys, which is stupid, right? I tend to write very simply, and I love the slice-of-life stuff, which I like to think I do well. And I love the untitled AJ meets Mason for the first time ficlet (http://trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com/570536.html), because it was gen and I managed to pull it off. Other slice-of-life stuff I liked writing: untitled AJ/Kevin (http://trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com/273154.html), and 50 sentences of Letterboys (http://trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com/413064.html).

I also love Not In A Month Of Sundays (http://trumpeterofdoom.livejournal.com/588151.html), and I am so glad Mette made me write out of my comfort zone. There is only ONE mention of AJ in there, and he's not part of the pairing. I'm not so fond of my longer stories, but Hair of the Dog (http://www.juppy.org/santa/stories.php?ForAuthorID=53&Year=2005) is probably my most complete fic to date. I always end up rushing for Sesa, and while I love the plot of Theatre AU a lot ("") more, Hair of the Dog holds a special place in my heart.

Yes, I instantly emailed Ashley and Mary.

I'm giving your story a try because it's you, so how could I not?

That's not lame at all! I know I've looked back on fics where I attempted to write certain issues and just cringe now that I know better, so feeling validated when people who know whereof they speak tell you that you've done a good job makes complete sense.

concepts that I'd planned from the start

I admire writers who can say this sort of thing, because I can count the number of times I've actually done proper plotting or concepts on one hand. It would make my writing much tighter if I did, but I really struggle with it. How did you decide on the contrast between decay and light? Is it something suggested in canon, or an independent idea that appealed to you?

Also, did you do research? I know talking to

callmesandy, she always says that she has an ENTIRE BACKSTORY for every character no matter what she's writing. The thought of which work makes me want to curl up and weep, but I am fascinated that such a diligent and intensive process yields results for her! I lose interest if I have to do too much research.

And since I'm on a roll here with the nosy questions: did you do anything consciously to keep the story from getting melodramatic? I love hearing other writers' tips and tricks for achieving mood/atmosphere/genre and avoiding (like you mentioned in another comment) veering into badfic territory, heh.

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