Some Near Misses and Writing Meta

[flaming_muse]

I've been talking a bit of Near Misses meta over on tumblr.

I'm putting it here beneath the cut for my LJ readers and my own desire for organization:

Comments

[pene]

To me one of the positives of Near Misses is that it is not a story of misunderstandings. You have created a situation/universe where two people need to shift their views on themselves and each other in order to come together. I thought about this while reading the story because so many romances are based on situations where if they'd only spoken all would be well. That becomes essential in keeping them apart before the (inevitable?) declarations and love. In life I have not found those to be a realistic impediments

[flaming_muse]

To me one of the positives of Near Misses is that it is not a story of misunderstandings. You have created a situation/universe where two people need to shift their views on themselves and each other in order to come together.

That is absolutely how I see it, though I'm aware not everyone does. But when I started thinking about the arc of the fic, part of what I wanted to show was how step by step both Kurt and Blaine have to change as they grow together/are changed by growing together and finding each other in this timeline, and how that's a process. It's not as simple as meeting; it takes a lot of conversations and a lot of time together. As you say, they could have been entirely honest in chapter three and would still never have been able to make it work then.

So thank you for seeing that and liking that. <3 <3 <3 It makes me very happy. <3 <3 <3

[idoltina]

It's interesting to me that you consider yourself to be a method writer, because I think I'm one too. I think our difference lies in the fact that you consider editing to be your friend; I do not.

[flaming_muse]

I don't necessarily enjoy the editing process, but it absolutely makes my writing better... or at least closer to what I have in my head/heart. I skip steps when I write a rough draft... no, that's not right. I condense when I write a first draft. All of the steps are there, but I don't always let them breathe enough to get the pacing and fullness of the emotion right. It still makes me bang my head on my desk when I see how much I've left out, though. I wish I could write everything perfectly the first time.

Do you edit? Is it something that you feel doesn't improve your writing, or do you just not enjoy the process? And I've been wondering if your Method writing process is part of the reason you've been struggling recently, because at least with me when I'm emotionally drained I find it very hard to write, and I know your life is quite draining at the moment.

[idoltina]

I do edit (and I have betas help me edit). I just loathe the process. I'm very... particular when I write. I usually prefer to have everything in my head before I write it down. I have to have dialogue and movements and mannerisms and facial expressions and tone -- literally quite everything -- in my head exactly the way I want it before I get it down in text.

Right now, my life isn't particularly emotionally draining? I mean, it's less draining than it was? My mom finished chemo and radiation last week. She's got a good lull of recovery time with only a few check-in appointments and a scan before they can even schedule surgery. She's down at my place for the week just to get out of her house for a while. Things are fairly calm and not quite so emotionally draining.

My issue mostly comes from just feeling like everything I write is lackluster and stilted. It's all in my head but it isn't at the same time, and it's acutely frustrating.

[flaming_muse]

Oh, thank you so much. <3 <3 <3

[nanny_doesit]

I am so glad that you put this here, because i was supremely bummed when I logged on tumblr this evening and saw I had missed out on a whole day of meta over Near Misses, it really is something I would have had no problem jumping in on (as I usually don't on tumblr because I'm not very known in the glee fandom and I feel like I'm intruding

[flaming_muse]

Let me assure you that I'm always happy to talk to you anywhere at any time about anything, but especially about my writing. Please, twist my arm, talk to me about the hundreds of thousands of words I've obsessed over. :D <3 <3 <3 But you're never intruding about anything; I promise!

And thank you so, so much for this ridiculously lovely comment. I can't make the font big enough to show you how large my smile is. :D

I love how much you get what I was trying to achieve in this fic. Love love love love love. They're supposed to feel like themselves only not quite, because a changed life path has changed them. Kurt's harder, Blaine's more confused, and they both come to realize how desperately they need each other, how much this relationship matters, even if both of them think they can't have a romantic relationship. I love that you can put that into words back at me, I love that you've come back to re-read the fic, and I love that you came here to comment. Thank you so much for every single word you wrote here. <3 <3 <3

[flaming_muse]

I'm delighted (and surprised) that people besides me think about this fic, but I'm always thrilled when y'all come and talk to me about it! :D :D :D

Thank you for that. :)