Let's whip those WIPS

[sharpiesgal]

I'm suppose to say something inspirational concerning those stories that are languishing on all of our hard drives, but the only thing I can come up with is we can kick their asses into shape and get them published

Comments

[agdhani]

what are the effects? Could they affect his behavior and make him act out of character? Almost kill him despite what she's doing to save him? Whatever she's doing, could someone/something interfere in her efforts, putting him at risk? Maybe taking her so that he has to risk himself and his failing health to contribute to saving her? (not that Natasha can't save herself but...maybe she's incapacitated somehow?)

I think I've got my scene swaps reintegrated into the story, so now I have to edit/revise/tidy them up to make sure they fit seamlessly.

As for my other WIPs...I'll have to get back to you on those.

[sharpiesgal]

Thanks for the ideas.

Yay. Now the fun part comes, right?

I'll be waiting.

[agdhani]

dunno if its helpful...but when I get stuck, I'm prone to getting out some paper (dunno why it works best on paper for me rather than a blank word/text document) and start jotting down 'what if' scenarios. If I have an ending in mind, or know what a following scene has to be or is supposed to be, I follow the dots between 'what if this happens' and 'how does that affect the end/what's next'. Free-Association I guess.

Trying to do that in my head creates a loop that I never get past one or two scenarios. Seeing them on paper clears the idea from the head to let me follow others until I settle on one that fits or excites me.

[sharpiesgal]

Sounds like a good idea. I might try it since I do have a tendency to get stuck when I stare too long at a blank screen.

[ext_4084645]

I don't tend to outline stories very often, but lately when I'm stuck I've found it helps me to write out what I'm trying to get at with the fic.

I don't necessarily do it in outline form - more like freewriting out the details - what's the story about, what has happened so far and why, what are the motivations of the characters. Then I write a bit about where it might all end - maybe there's a clear ending in my head or maybe not. If not, I'll write about multiple ways it could end - sometimes the best surprises come from that part. :)

I find it helps me get some clarity, and once I know where I am and where I'm going the roadblock clears a little. I might still have to just bash out words until it starts to come together, but it gives me somewhere to start doing that.

Hope it helps!

[asphaltcowgrrl]

I'm the same way but I have found that doing exactly this helps. OneNote is wonderful for this kind of thing, actually. And, for me, it keeps me from forgetting the things I want to happen later while I'm working on what's happening now.

[ext_4084645]

omg...seriously. There have been more than a few times I thought through a way to make progress on a story and figured 'I'll remember it later, how could I forget....' but of course I do.

[asphaltcowgrrl]

Right? And then there are times when the things you forget are major plot points and you (or me, anyway) sit, staring at the page wondering, WTF was I going with this? Hah.

...but then I forget which kid I'm talking to on a regular basis and I only have two. One's small and blonde and the other is tall and brunette. :D

[asphaltcowgrrl]

Tony is a handful and he's lucky Pepper hasn't smothered him in his sleep, honestly.

As for where to take this, I don't have anything to add that hasn't already been mentioned. If you have another scene later on that you know will happen or you at least want to happen, skip ahead to that part. Normally, I'm a very linear writer but sometimes I have to jump forward in order to get it all done. I do kinda think it would be fun to have Natasha go all black-eyed demon on Tony, even if just to scare him into behaving. :D

I'm stuck on two right now. One is the cocktail dress fic that I started what? Last year? And the other is where Zayne takes a trip home to um, *talk* to his parents about *things*. I have an idea of where I want to go with the second, but the first is up in the air. Yay.

[sharpiesgal]

Yes, he does need to be smothered in his sleep, and I'm getting a dirty look for agreeing to that...lol

I think I know where I'm going with that scene, so we'll see what I can come up with on Friday.

Cocktail dress fic? I don't remember that, but somehow I think it involves my favorite trio. I'd like to see the one where Zayne goes home to explain is current relationship with Andy and Jay.

[asphaltcowgrrl]

As much as I love Tony, he knows how to push EVERYONE'S buttons.

Awesome, can't wait to hear where it goes.

It started with this one (although no one ended up in a dress) and evolved into this one. And yeah, of course it involves those three! I mean, I've already written an entire series of cross dressing Wes fics, I had to harass someone else eventually.

Score, because that's actually the one that's been giving me the most ideas lately. :D

[sharpiesgal]

Yes, he does have that talent.

I reread the fics and I now remember the last one. Still in need of details...lol

Oh dear, poor Zayne's parents.