Well,
kaethel tagged me. And I'm not sure I've ever been tagged for anything {g}. So I'm going to do this.
WRITER'S MEME: Sometimes it's ok to pimp yourself out. Post a list of the top five favorite fics you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most. Then tag five other people to do the same.
I'm not even sure I have five things posted online, but we'll see what I can come up with. Do wips count? In no particular order:
- Ordinary Lovers (Lois and Clark) - I got a review on FFnet for this story a few months ago that made my day: "Speaking of extraordinary: YOU are! Never, EVER have I seen such a mature, realistic treatment of sex in a fanfic. I am floored. I applaud." This is exactly what I was trying to accomplish, so the idea that someone felt I achieved it is really, really gratifying. And all from a little challenge from supertlc ;)
- All or Nothing (Lois and Clark) - I wrote this in about a week, during what was probably the hardest time of my life. I wanted to play with dialogue, examine Lois's feelings for Clark and his hurt and bitterness toward her after the S1 wedding. And I didn't want to wrap things up with a bow at the end; I didn't want to trivialize everything they'd gone through by implying that it could all be fixed in a ten page story. I was worried that my not-quite-happy ending wouldn't be well-received, but actually I got a lot of good feedback on this story.
- The Other Side (Star Wars, Luke/Mara) - I still don't like the ending of this, but there are some passages in the beginning and the middle that I'm extremely proud of. It's pure romantic fluff and goes completely against everything I said in Ordinary Lovers {g}.
- Parallels (Aida) - This piece has virtually no audience whatsoever, since there isn't much of an Aida fandom. But I had to write it, for me. Aida ends on such a weird, hopeful note, and I was really interested to know how the next scene played out. What might that be like, to meet someone and to know them on a deep, instinctive level that you can't explain? To have this connection under the surface, this almost-remembered, passionate and desperate relationship... Maybe because it has no audience, I've never been sure it's really finished. But I spent a lot of time and a lot of research getting it to where it is now, and there are parts of it I really love.
- Finding Noplace (Lois and Clark) - This story isn't anywhere near finished yet, but there's a trailer for it here. I'm inordinately proud of the idea, of the atmosphere and the tone of it, but it's such a dark story and it comes out of a dark place in my life that I haven't gotten very far writing it. But eventually I will, and I hope I'll be proud of it.
And an Honorary Mention, to borrow a page from Paul's book:
- In Dreams (Lois and Clark) - I feel like any list of my stories perforce has to include ID, but I'm not feeling particularly well-disposed to it at the moment. I reread some of it last week and cringed a little. But it is still the longest thing I've ever finished and it was a tremendous learning experience for me. It taught me that I was indeed capable of finishing things, of starting a long project and completing it. It also taught me to never, ever, post as I go again ;) And it was very well received within the fandom-- so well received that I'm always a little intimidated by the prospect of trying to live up to my reputation!
I'm not going to tag anyone, but if anyone wants to play, consider yourself tagged ;) In the meantime, it's bedtime for me!