TBTL Chapter 3 Posted
Just a bit ago, I took yet another step down the path to madness---or is it to glory?---and posted the third chapter of "Torn Between Two Lovers" at MM.org.
I hadn't been back there since last night's stressful posting run, but that was okay. I kind of didn't want to see any comments there or the hit count until I was closer to being able to finish it out. Frankly, I'd hoped to post both chapters 3 and 4 this evening, but that last massive chunk is giving me fits. It is, of course, my first major lemon in a very long time and I don't want to rush to post and then regret it later.
So, here's the info for the 6,000+ words that were just added:
Chapter 3: Caught in the Act
Once more in the present, Ken gives in to temptation and decides to relieve both his boredom and his sexual tension in the back of the shop. Concerned for his young lover despite his suspicions about Aya’s involvement, Yohji decides to check up on Ken and is greeted by an intoxicating sight.
{deep sigh}
Gods, I hope that series of scenes works as well as it seemed to as I edited it today.
But that thought brings something else to mind, and that is my feelings about the steps necessary for me to share my muses' visions with you. So, if you'll indulge me for a moment, let me share them with you.
When it comes to creating fanfiction, I'd rather just write than do any of the other things that makes it worth reading. With a cup of hot Earl Grey decaf by my side, an appropriate anime OST in the player, and a scented candle to help me focus my thoughts, I spend hours lost in alternate worlds. {{Um, the scents of the moment are lavender for "Weiss Kreuz" and pine for "Saiyuki". Don't ask me how they ended up that way, it's too embarrassing, okay?}} Anyway, I especially enjoy imagining the dialogue, all of which is spoken by the seiyuu that I love so much. Choreographing fight scenes is sheer bliss and doing the same for romantic moments is almost as much fun. Yes, this is easily my favorite part of the process.
Once the glorious joy of creation is complete, I prefer to let it sit for awhile. Eventually, I go back and edit. Ugh. That's hard work. Every little detail is scrutinized and occasionally discussed with weisshund who has an uncanny way of helping me clarify my thoughts. Over and over my imaginary red pen sweeps away misspellings, homophone errors, continuity glitches, etc, until even my muses get fed up and declare it to be sufficient.
Last but not least of the active portions of the process, is the posting. Blech. Here's where it gets really tough sometimes. Chapter titles, summaries, teasers, ratings, the online equivalent of paperwork. Not fun, but necessary if my friends want to share my imaginary worlds with me.
Then comes the single worse part. The waiting. The long slow hours of wondering what anyone thought of the latest creation. The hideous creeping dread that maybe this will be the time that I am discovered to be the talentless phony my inner child fears me to be. The slow wait for hit counts or comments or whatever that all seem more visceral than they really are. Yeah. That's the part I hate the most.
But then, like a rainbow after a shower, the happier times return since nice folks like many of you are do take the time to feed my muses the positive feedback ambrosia that they crave. Then it's time for dancing around and being happy again. And what do you know? That time has already arrived!
{just to prove his point, the llama dances a little, rather badly, actually, then sighs and adds}
So there you have it. My weird view of how I do what I do that not only keeps me sane when things at the DHoC get stressful but also that gives me the greatest joy since being a dad. Strange set of priorities, ne, minna? {tentative smile}
Getting back on topic, the final chapter of this first book of the Realizations Arc will go public after it gets another coat of polish. Stay tuned for your regularly scheduled updates.
Oh, and after the entire story wraps up, I'll address any questions that might pop up in comments over there right here on my journal. That way things hopefully won't hang over my head like they have in the past.
Tomorrow afternoon and evening will be spent in Morehead City as I escort my mom to an important doctor's appointment.
By the time that's done---I expect it to take forever like usual---I'll be staying to cook her a healthy meal since she skimps when I'm not there. Maybe I'll swing past my favorite fishmonger's place and get some scallops and/or shrimp. I haven't done some of those recently. Hmmm... those plus angel hair pasta, fresh veggies, and a light, lemony sauce might be good especially if I still have some capers to top it off with. Oh, and a salad. A nice big one, full of crunchy romaine ought to be perfect along with some bread, and so forth. Yeah, that oughta work.
Tonight's eye candy is a lovely and all too fitting image of Ken by cearney. Yes, his soul truly is in chains at the beginning of the new arc. I wonder if Yohji or Aya can break them for him?
I hadn't been back there since last night's stressful posting run, but that was okay. I kind of didn't want to see any comments there or the hit count until I was closer to being able to finish it out. Frankly, I'd hoped to post both chapters 3 and 4 this evening, but that last massive chunk is giving me fits. It is, of course, my first major lemon in a very long time and I don't want to rush to post and then regret it later.
So, here's the info for the 6,000+ words that were just added:
Chapter 3: Caught in the Act
Once more in the present, Ken gives in to temptation and decides to relieve both his boredom and his sexual tension in the back of the shop. Concerned for his young lover despite his suspicions about Aya’s involvement, Yohji decides to check up on Ken and is greeted by an intoxicating sight.
{deep sigh}
Gods, I hope that series of scenes works as well as it seemed to as I edited it today.
But that thought brings something else to mind, and that is my feelings about the steps necessary for me to share my muses' visions with you. So, if you'll indulge me for a moment, let me share them with you.
When it comes to creating fanfiction, I'd rather just write than do any of the other things that makes it worth reading. With a cup of hot Earl Grey decaf by my side, an appropriate anime OST in the player, and a scented candle to help me focus my thoughts, I spend hours lost in alternate worlds. {{Um, the scents of the moment are lavender for "Weiss Kreuz" and pine for "Saiyuki". Don't ask me how they ended up that way, it's too embarrassing, okay?}} Anyway, I especially enjoy imagining the dialogue, all of which is spoken by the seiyuu that I love so much. Choreographing fight scenes is sheer bliss and doing the same for romantic moments is almost as much fun. Yes, this is easily my favorite part of the process.
Once the glorious joy of creation is complete, I prefer to let it sit for awhile. Eventually, I go back and edit. Ugh. That's hard work. Every little detail is scrutinized and occasionally discussed with weisshund who has an uncanny way of helping me clarify my thoughts. Over and over my imaginary red pen sweeps away misspellings, homophone errors, continuity glitches, etc, until even my muses get fed up and declare it to be sufficient.
Last but not least of the active portions of the process, is the posting. Blech. Here's where it gets really tough sometimes. Chapter titles, summaries, teasers, ratings, the online equivalent of paperwork. Not fun, but necessary if my friends want to share my imaginary worlds with me.
Then comes the single worse part. The waiting. The long slow hours of wondering what anyone thought of the latest creation. The hideous creeping dread that maybe this will be the time that I am discovered to be the talentless phony my inner child fears me to be. The slow wait for hit counts or comments or whatever that all seem more visceral than they really are. Yeah. That's the part I hate the most.
But then, like a rainbow after a shower, the happier times return since nice folks like many of you are do take the time to feed my muses the positive feedback ambrosia that they crave. Then it's time for dancing around and being happy again. And what do you know? That time has already arrived!
{just to prove his point, the llama dances a little, rather badly, actually, then sighs and adds}
So there you have it. My weird view of how I do what I do that not only keeps me sane when things at the DHoC get stressful but also that gives me the greatest joy since being a dad. Strange set of priorities, ne, minna? {tentative smile}
Getting back on topic, the final chapter of this first book of the Realizations Arc will go public after it gets another coat of polish. Stay tuned for your regularly scheduled updates.
Oh, and after the entire story wraps up, I'll address any questions that might pop up in comments over there right here on my journal. That way things hopefully won't hang over my head like they have in the past.
Tomorrow afternoon and evening will be spent in Morehead City as I escort my mom to an important doctor's appointment.
By the time that's done---I expect it to take forever like usual---I'll be staying to cook her a healthy meal since she skimps when I'm not there. Maybe I'll swing past my favorite fishmonger's place and get some scallops and/or shrimp. I haven't done some of those recently. Hmmm... those plus angel hair pasta, fresh veggies, and a light, lemony sauce might be good especially if I still have some capers to top it off with. Oh, and a salad. A nice big one, full of crunchy romaine ought to be perfect along with some bread, and so forth. Yeah, that oughta work.
Tonight's eye candy is a lovely and all too fitting image of Ken by cearney. Yes, his soul truly is in chains at the beginning of the new arc. I wonder if Yohji or Aya can break them for him?