The Real LJ Idol: "Going Backwards"

[halfshellvenus]

Going Backwards
real lj idol | week 30 (prompt 3) | 820 words
Appropriation.
Note: This story relates to a previous LJ Idol entry. If you haven't read the other story, I suggest doing so first.

x-x-x-x-x

Comments

[themysteriousg]

I really like your writing. I've only read a few pieces but they are very well crafted without being overwrought. Have you done longer form or submitted any short stories anywhere?

[halfshellvenus]

What a nice thing to say!

I've only recently begun writing original fiction, after seven years of fanfic (and before that, NO fiction at all). Some of the fanfic stories are longer by comparison, but thus far I am a short-form writer. My longest ones are only 5K-8K words, and by contrast, I excel at the 100-word drabble form. One might see that as a curse!

After writing about 20 very different stories for The Real LJ Idol, the previous one in this universe prompted several people to say that they thought the idea would make a good book. Once in a blue moon, people mention the possibility of writing a book, but to have three of them say that independently was a jolt. It really made me think about the idea!

So nothing so far on the professional level, but with the support of really wonderful readers on LJ I'm actually (for the first time) considering it. :)

[pixiebelle]

I'll be a 4th. You should make this idea into something bigger. Consider it. Go for it.

I loved this piece.

[halfshellvenus]

Thank you so much! Who would have thought that the thwarting of a hated prompt would open so much possibility?

[tsuki_no_bara]

the really creepy bit is at the end, the "i hate doing this but i have to because otherwise my family's dead", plus the keeping-your-head-down-and-going-along-to-get-along ("as long as i behave and do what the government tells me..."). interesting to see the prequel, i guess, to the first story.

[halfshellvenus]

the "i hate doing this but i have to because otherwise my family's dead"

Yes. The parts before, the government raids and killing of various people who either struggle too much-- or, later, know too much-- is frightening enough, but the idea of buying people's compliance with threats is worse.

In thinking of this as if it were part of a book, I'd actually want it to be interleaved into the middle. That first story shows what the "now" is, but there are questions like, "What happened to Dad and why won't Mom talk about it?", that we see some answers to in this story. He might be dead, or he might be caught like this man, trapped by wanting to keep his family safe.

[n3m3sis42]

I really like this universe and I'm glad you're revisiting it.

[halfshellvenus]

Thank you!

I'm so used to the "short-form" that I tend to think in terms of really establishing an idea and implying how far it extends... because that one story is going to be it.

It feels dumb to say this, but the idea that, "Wait! I could work in that universe and expand it from different angles" isn't really one that would have occurred to me on my own. I'm so glad other people suggested it!

Fascinating.

[ellakite]

In the words of Goethe:

"Where they start burning books, they will soon start burning people."

It has happened before. It can happen again.

Please follow up on this. I think you will do the concept justice.

Re: Fascinating.

[halfshellvenus]

Thank you-- what a nice thing to say!

The first story was written so unexpectedly, but as soon as my husband tossed out that filled-in version of SATED as an acronym, I knew that that was an idea I could really run with.

And make it seem scarily possible. :0

[whipchick]

The world fills me with revulsion - well-written!

[halfshellvenus]

Thank you!

You were one of the people who encouraged me to keep exploring the universe of that first story, so I appreciate your comments very much!