(no subject)
Oct. 6th, 2003 11:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
turpsI'm so behind in my online stuff it's not funny anymore. All of my sites desperately need updating, I've friends who I'm surprised even want to talk to me because I'm not writing back due to the ongoing mail/computer/ISP thing. I'm stalled on stories in all three of my fandoms. I'm writing drabbles and that's it. It feels like I'm taking one step forward and two steps back lately.
Until I get Blue hooked up again I can't update the sites as all the new stories are on him. All my stuff is here though, so that leaves a choice of either continuing the popslash or TS. I've made a decision that I'll get those done before starting anything new.
The popslash needs pulling apart and rebuilding extensively. It also needs extending. I've been thinking about the comments I got for it, and think I know where I went wrong. Just need to get my ass in gear and change things.
I've been thinking about The End too. Prompted by a discussion on Prospect L. I'm not sure if The End is a WIP or complete in parts. I'm feeling uncomfortable about my decision to post in chapters, I really should have done the whole story then posted when it was complete. It would have taken a long time but that would have been okay. I know why I did. I'm an impatient writer, I want things out there as soon as they're done. I'm slowly learning that you don't have to do that, that it's better to make things perfect then post. It's not an easy lesson and I still forget at times and post too soon but I am learning. You know anyone that thinks writing is easy is mistaken. I've gone from total joy to absolute misery in the time I've been writing. Luckily mostly it's on the positive side.
So I'm debating writing the full story now and just posting when it's complete. It's not like the story would be missed. That way I can get all the misery out of the way and go on to happier times. When Jim and Blair are living in their happy new camp, with happy survivors and having happy hot gay sex. Unlike now when everyone is on the verge of slitting their wrists with angst.
But now a meme gakked from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
castalie
A - Act your age – It depends. At times I do, others I'm more like 12 then 29.
B - Boyfriend - Nope. I do have a husband though.
C - Chore you hate – Ironing, hate it with a passion.
D - Dad's name - Robert
E - Essential wake up item – Coffee and some music.
F - Favorite actor – I like loads but on a purely shallow level Victor Webster.
G - Gold or silver - Silver.
H - Hometown - Houghton-Le-Spring.
I - Instruments you play – *snicker* Leaving Castalie's snigger because I'm smutty.
J - Job title – Stay at home mam.
K - Kids - one son
L - Living arrangements – With Corey and James.
M - Mom's name – Mary.
N - Number of people you've slept with – No comment.
O - Overnight hospital stays - Three.
P - Phobia - Bees, though it's not really a phobia, just a fear.
Q - Quote you like – I hate these questions. I can never think of one.
R - Religious affiliation - CoE officially but personally none.
S - Sibling – 1 sister and 1 brother.
T - Time you wake up? – 7 on weekdays. About 9 on weekends.
U - Unique habit - Does having to have vinegar on pizza count?
V - Vegetable you refuse to eat – Sprouts.
W - Worst habit – Procrastination
X - X-rays you've had – Let me think, uh : None.
Y - Yummy food you make – I do a mean chicken nugget. I'm not that good a cook.
Z - Zodiac Sign – Aquarius
Somehow I think my cold Chris mood icon will be getting a lot of use. I'm *freezing*
Until I get Blue hooked up again I can't update the sites as all the new stories are on him. All my stuff is here though, so that leaves a choice of either continuing the popslash or TS. I've made a decision that I'll get those done before starting anything new.
The popslash needs pulling apart and rebuilding extensively. It also needs extending. I've been thinking about the comments I got for it, and think I know where I went wrong. Just need to get my ass in gear and change things.
I've been thinking about The End too. Prompted by a discussion on Prospect L. I'm not sure if The End is a WIP or complete in parts. I'm feeling uncomfortable about my decision to post in chapters, I really should have done the whole story then posted when it was complete. It would have taken a long time but that would have been okay. I know why I did. I'm an impatient writer, I want things out there as soon as they're done. I'm slowly learning that you don't have to do that, that it's better to make things perfect then post. It's not an easy lesson and I still forget at times and post too soon but I am learning. You know anyone that thinks writing is easy is mistaken. I've gone from total joy to absolute misery in the time I've been writing. Luckily mostly it's on the positive side.
So I'm debating writing the full story now and just posting when it's complete. It's not like the story would be missed. That way I can get all the misery out of the way and go on to happier times. When Jim and Blair are living in their happy new camp, with happy survivors and having happy hot gay sex. Unlike now when everyone is on the verge of slitting their wrists with angst.
But now a meme gakked from
castalieA - Act your age – It depends. At times I do, others I'm more like 12 then 29.
B - Boyfriend - Nope. I do have a husband though.
C - Chore you hate – Ironing, hate it with a passion.
D - Dad's name - Robert
E - Essential wake up item – Coffee and some music.
F - Favorite actor – I like loads but on a purely shallow level Victor Webster.
G - Gold or silver - Silver.
H - Hometown - Houghton-Le-Spring.
I - Instruments you play – *snicker* Leaving Castalie's snigger because I'm smutty.
J - Job title – Stay at home mam.
K - Kids - one son
L - Living arrangements – With Corey and James.
M - Mom's name – Mary.
N - Number of people you've slept with – No comment.
O - Overnight hospital stays - Three.
P - Phobia - Bees, though it's not really a phobia, just a fear.
Q - Quote you like – I hate these questions. I can never think of one.
R - Religious affiliation - CoE officially but personally none.
S - Sibling – 1 sister and 1 brother.
T - Time you wake up? – 7 on weekdays. About 9 on weekends.
U - Unique habit - Does having to have vinegar on pizza count?
V - Vegetable you refuse to eat – Sprouts.
W - Worst habit – Procrastination
X - X-rays you've had – Let me think, uh : None.
Y - Yummy food you make – I do a mean chicken nugget. I'm not that good a cook.
Z - Zodiac Sign – Aquarius
Somehow I think my cold Chris mood icon will be getting a lot of use. I'm *freezing*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2003-10-06 04:34 am (UTC)This series is seriously making you sweat, doesn't it? It's funny, because I don't really see this story as a WIP. Each installment is a sorta stand alone. The whole series is like a journey, and when you go on a long journey, you have to do it in stages. You take a break, and you go one. I always saw your chapters like this. There's a plot inside those stories, and they have an ending of their own, even if it's an open ending. It's a WIP in the sense that the series isn't *finished* per se- granted, but it doesn't really have anything in common with those stories where it almost feels like they stopped in the middle of an important scene. Everything is wrapped in yours.
You'll do as you want, this is your story, but sometimes --no offense, sis, really-- it feels like you're being influenced by your readers or the reaction they get when reading your story. They know this is a *series*, and the whole point of a series is to have a long-coming ending. You have to wait for it, but in the meantime, you have perfectly coherent and complex installments.
This is rather long, and usually, I would have used a mail as opposed to a comment, but for now, the comments are still safer, that's why I'm saying this here.
{{Hugs}}
What Castalie said
Date: 2003-10-06 05:48 am (UTC)I agree with everything she said. Each chapter comes to an end, a resting place where the characters and readers can contemplate, then forge ahead on the new day.
I think the line between WIP and serial may be a bit difficult to determine sometimes, and I think it probably varies with the reader. But "the End" definitely falls on the "serial" side of the line.
And you haven't hidden that it's in serial form, labelling them up front "Chapter 1", "Chapter 2", etc. People who are skittish about WIPs don't have to read. That whole "self-responsibility" thing.
For example -- DawnC said upfront that her long story was a WIP, and I didn't read any of the postings on SA. I'll wait till it's complete on her site. Yours doesn't have the same feeling.
You know the end of "Gone With the Wind"? Long, long novel, finished and complete, that ends with the line, "Oh well. Tomorrow is another day." (Or something like that.) That's very similar to the end of Chapter One. *g* If it's good enough for Margaret Mitchell, it's good enough for you.
BTW -- I've finally written "Letter to Jim". If you can't find it on SA, I'll send it to you and/or Castalie. Just let me know (somehow).
StarWatcher
Re: What Castalie said
Date: 2003-10-06 05:58 am (UTC)Sometimes it takes other people to point things out to me that I don't see myself. I've been reading the thread at PL and thinking that I'm writing a WIP, but I'm glad it's not seen that way by you.
Castalie's right, I am too easily swayed. That's why I love that I have people willing to stand up and put me right, despite me being a pit of neurosis.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-06 10:26 am (UTC)I'm not saying series are bad (I hate WIPs so will leave that alone), because they're *not*. However, they're not *for me*. I'm just not prepared for the pressure that writing a series/serial brings. I always feel pressured to 'hurry and finish'. And I just can't do that anymore.
no subject
Date: 2003-10-06 11:03 am (UTC)I found that after the first two parts I was getting feedback asking where the next one was. It's flattering in one way, but when I'd just finished one part the last thing I wanted was to be badgered for when the next one was due. I felt like replying something like 'well give me time to write the thing'
As it is I started posting in chapters and can't really abandon that now. But I think in hindsight I should have written the whole thing then posted.
And I always value your opinions. I love hearing how other writers think.
Try this! :)
Date: 2003-10-06 07:48 pm (UTC)http://thelist.internet.com/countrycode/44.html
Also came up was:
gxn.net
enta.net
easynet.net
There were a lot more too, so check it out! Looks like you have lots of options besides btinternet, who need to be smacked.
Let me know if you got my huge email the other day, via LJ, okay? :)
Hang in there! :)
Jenny
The End
Date: 2003-10-12 07:00 am (UTC)I hate to burst your bubble, but I have to contradict you here. *g* It *is* missed, at least by me. :-)
The one and only reason I refuse to nudge you about it is because I consider it impolite to put pressure on an author. :-)
But if silence gives you the impression the next installments of "The End" aren't missed by someone I'll serously consider to change that attitude. *g*
In anonther entry you made a remark about getting feedback of "when is the next installment (of whatever story) coming?". Yes, I can see how you would react with thinking "man, give me a little *time*" but did you ever got the idea that this may be meant in a supporting manner and not as a whip to get you to write faster? *g*
To let you know that the next installment is craved?
For one who gives feedback, the various ways of asking for the next chapter is one way to say "I liked your story so much that I want to read more".
Yes, I agree, it can sound so very much "demanding" that such comments can annoy a writer, more than encourage him/her, but I guess in most cases it's meant to encourage, not to press. :-)
*Uhm* Did I mention that I'm the optimistic type? *g*
But really, if you get the next mail asking for more chapters on a story you wrote - just think of it as a way to say that the reader liked your work instead of interpreting it as a "write faster"-whip-cracking. *g*
At least that's much better for your nerves. ;-)
Pat
:-)
Re: The End
Date: 2003-10-12 07:30 am (UTC)Haven't seen you around here for a while!
Talking about feedback first. Castalie and I have an in joke about getting LoC's asking about sequels just as we post a story. I agree it is flattering, and if I'm honest when I LoC I'll say I'm looking forward to the next part if appropriate. So I may be annoying a writer myself *g* It's how it's phrased I guess. If someone says 'I'm looking forward to the next part.' That's incredibly flattering, but sometimes you get feedback saying something like 'I hope the next part is ready to post soon." and it's that wording that ticks me off a little. It takes time to write, be betaed then change things ready for posting.
I'm glad you'd miss the series. I never intended to give up writing it, just reading the talk at PL about how people thought WIP's are bad I was thinking about writing the whole thing and posting as a big story. But as you no doubt read I was told to stop listening to people and do what I thought was right. Which is what I needed to hear. It's great having friends that do the cheerleading thing, but you also need those that tell you when you're being an idiot, which is something I do on a regular basis *g*
So chapter 3 is 2 thirds done now. Now if I could only get in touch with people via e-mail to talk about the story I'd be fine.
Nice to see you back. You always make me think about what I say :)
The End and other things
Date: 2003-10-13 09:28 am (UTC)Yeah... well, sometimes RL has such an annoying way of taking over the interesting part of my life. *g*
>It's how it's phrased I guess.
No doubt about that. The sounds makes the music. *g*
>I never intended to give up writing it,
I'm glad to hear that. :-)
>Now if I could only get in touch with people via >e-mail to talk about the story I'd be fine.
I assume you mean your betas by that, right? Or would *any* person (like me *whistle*) fit the bill?
Just kidding. *g*
Pat
:-)
Re: The End and other things
Date: 2003-10-15 08:27 am (UTC)You mean that you let RL push cyber life out of the way! Tut tut. I'm disappointed! ;)
I assume you mean your betas by that, right? Or would *any* person (like me *whistle*) fit the bill?
You know something Pat? You'd be a perfect beta, because you're awesome at seeing plot holes etc. But I've seen your stance on beta reading on list so I won't ask *g*
What I will tell you is I've created a new LJ that I'm going to use for my WIP's. Primarily it's a back up in case I lose files again. But I'll also make it friends only so people can read as I write, adding any comments they'd like to make. It would only be the first draft in there, and my usual betas would get the story before it's posted but I figure it won't hurt to let people see.
Re: The End and other things
Date: 2003-10-15 09:47 am (UTC)But I would be very interested in your new LJ for the WIPs. Would you consider to let me in on that?
Pat
:-)
Re: The End and other things
Date: 2003-10-16 03:53 am (UTC)That's good, because the ones that I have kick ass, so I don't really need another *g*
Plus I honestly don't know why anyone would want to beta. The ones that do more than just read and say 'that's good' I mean. It's a hell of a lot of work for little reward. I could never say too often how much I appreciate my betas.
As soon as I finish my new LJ I'll friend you to it and you can take a look.