Yes, I talk the fuck out of my fic while writing them. To the point where my best betas say "yea just stfu and write, bitch". I think I do it to stall. *cough*
Fic that mauls you usually turns out to be some of the best. It's like, you know, rough sex.
It's this fic about Angel going nuts. It has a pretty lame premise. A really lame premise; this fic wouldn't happen on the show. But the ultimate point is to drive Angel gray, then dark, then darker, then completely mad, then get him out again on the other side. Which is possibly why it's taking so long. It was supposed to be a big B/A shipper fic, and it kind of is, and there's lots of B/A and schmoopy B/A and then schmoopy B/A porn and then really really unschmooopy B/A, but then suddenly there's Angel/Doyle too, and I don't know where that came from, and now I'm writing A/S, and IT JUST KEEPS GOING, it could be a fic in itself, Spike always steals the show. I don't know what happened.
It's possible I made this whole post in order to stall. When you talk is it just telling about what's going to happen, or are you more bouncing the ideas off your betas to see what they think?
A bit of both, depending. Like say, if Connor is in the fic, and I'm unsure about characterization of something I have planned, I'd ask Fod, who is happy to smack me if I do him wrong.
If it's something I'm really excited about, I just wanna talk about it, I'll do that too.
Man, I love fic where Angel fucks everyone. My oldest BtVS-verse heroine was named Maayan. She's long since gone off to other fandoms, but her entire raison d'etre was: To write stories wherein Angel is slashed with every guy I can come up with, yet still make the fic B/A. She did it.
Now that I think about it, it's possible that I don't talk about it because I don't want to get smacked. If I get smacked AFTER I write it, I'm okay, even pleased, because then I can just go fix it, and of course I want it to be good. But getting smacked while still caught up in the process would hurt my ickle feelings.
Man, I love fic where Angel fucks everyone.
Dude, well phrased. That's exactly what's happening. It's crazy.
To write stories wherein Angel is slashed with every guy I can come up with, yet still make the fic B/A.
Nice! I'd like to read some of that.
And thanks. It's nice to know people are interested.
Wait, you've already written 150,000 words? Or you think it's going to take 150,000 words to write the story? Because for the latter, I'd see how that might be crazy-making. I'm a shortpiece writer myself, and the idea of long fics intimidates the hell out of me. I'm working on something right now that's in the 10,000 range and just those five numbers makes me quake in my boots, so I'm having to approach it like each scene is a little ficlet.
If it's the former, I'd be patting myself on the back and bragging to everyone I knew. :) GO YOU WITH YOUR BAD SELF, I'd say.
So go, you. With your bad self. Either way.
I've learned to talk fics out from Kita. The talking, for me, fuels the planning fuels the thinking out fuels the squee fuels the desire to write. And talking it out can be a great way to articulate what's in your brain into words which then you can put to paper (or wp). But do what works for you. If keeping it all inside until it bursts on to the page works, then, hey! Awesome.
I've written 150,000 words, but it looks like it might take again that many to finish it. It just keeps taking so long to do the stuff I want to do.
I kind of naturally write long pieces. The short pieces I've done, I've agonized over every word, because each one is so important, you know? And then I still had to go back in and cut half the unnecessary words.
The thing about a longer piece is I don't approach it like that. The words themselves aren't so very important. They can fade into the background, as can the style, so that the ideas and events can be absorbed into the readers' minds in the least distracting way possible. They can and should, unless you're far more clever than me. For that reason, if I know something's going to be short, it can take me a day just to get a 100 words out. But if I'm starting the rough draft of a novel or something, I can belt out 10,000 words in a day if I'm really truly going at it (with nothing important going on).
keeping it all inside until it bursts on to the page worksGood way of
( ... )
I am glad that you are excited that I am doing a longer fic. I, myself, am outraged. Heeeeeeeee.
The thing about a longer piece is I don't approach it like that. The words themselves aren't so very important. They can fade into the background, as can the style, so that the ideas and events can be absorbed into the readers' minds in the least distracting way possible.
This is such a good point, and one that I had to learn the really, really hard way, so I wish that we'd talked about two weeks ago. See? Talking is good! Let's talk more about our fics! But yes, I realized at some point, I think, unfortunately, *after* I had pulled out all of my eyebrows in frustration, that I couldn't make every sentence a MASTERPIECE, every turn of phrase a WORK OF GENIUS, or this was going to take forever. Sometimes, Character A says something, you add an adverb after the quote, Character B says something snarky in reply, you add an adjective after the quote, and then they're kissing. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am.
I tend to think if I talk to other people (not betas or co-writers) about a fic than it's jinxed to never be finished. However, talking works really well for some people. I've worked with students who wrote terrible papers, expect if I transcribed as they told me what their paper was about.
I rarely do outlines. If I do, it's like one or two words describing the scenes. It really depends on the fic and the length of it.
I tend to think if I talk to other people (not betas or co-writers) about a fic than it's jinxed to never be finished.
I think that articulates my sentiments exactly.
If I do, it's like one or two words describing the scenes.
Yeah, that's as close as I usually get. If it's a long fic, I have titles for the scenes, as short as possible, and write them down, so I can figure out what's coming next.
Outlines I tend to do more when I'm in the middle of a fic, keeping track what info/developments I've already talked about and keeping track of threads that'll have to be tied up at the end. At times when I have a large chunk already done, I'll sketch out a quick outline to view that part in microcosm, and consider whether I want to shift around reveals or particular moments
( ... )
Yeah! When I think about outlines I think about saying what's coming next, but it seems to me it's really important to keep track of things you've already said. It's surprising how many little inconsistencies can flower in a longer fic.
I limit who I speak to, though, if only because some people make good listening ears/sounding boards
It's possible that the few people I've tried to talk to about my stuff weren't that great listeners. The thing is, I LOVE to listen. And when someone says they're having trouble with a story, in the past I've been like: OMG why didn't you tell me, maybe I can help you! But as for myself I never want to go to anybody!
and actual talk along the lines of "I want more now; hurry up, you update too slowly" really does make me freeze up a bit
I really love the, "this is great, can't wait to see where you're going!" and really hate the "where's the next part????" The former spurs me on to write more; the latter yeah, makes me freeze.
I outline nothing. My stories come from the ether and more often than not float aimlessly until I think they're over. (This can be frustrating: witness Fallen From Grace, which just got all tangled and horrible.) I'm better with short stuff...stuff that doesn't actually require plot.
Ahh, The Lake House sucked? I was thinking it might be the good cheese a la The Notebook.
My longer stories come from the ether and float aimlessly until I get about 30,000 words done, and then I'm always, "Okay, what's this about?" And it's around then I start planning the next dozen scenes, and have a vague idea in my head for where I want to go.
I liked the end result of FFG. WHatever you do, keep doing it :o)
I didn't see The Notebook. I like cheese, but I tend not to like a lot of these little romantic chick flicks like this, not because they're so very bad, but because I don't find the characters engaging. I just didn't really care, and was bored. I could see other people liking it though.
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Yes, I talk the fuck out of my fic while writing them. To the point where my best betas say "yea just stfu and write, bitch". I think I do it to stall. *cough*
Fic that mauls you usually turns out to be some of the best. It's like, you know, rough sex.
I am of no help.
OMG wtf are you writing???
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It's possible I made this whole post in order to stall. When you talk is it just telling about what's going to happen, or are you more bouncing the ideas off your betas to see what they think?
Reply
If it's something I'm really excited about, I just wanna talk about it, I'll do that too.
Man, I love fic where Angel fucks everyone. My oldest BtVS-verse heroine was named Maayan. She's long since gone off to other fandoms, but her entire raison d'etre was: To write stories wherein Angel is slashed with every guy I can come up with, yet still make the fic B/A. She did it.
So can you. I can't wait to read this fic.
Reply
Man, I love fic where Angel fucks everyone.
Dude, well phrased. That's exactly what's happening. It's crazy.
To write stories wherein Angel is slashed with every guy I can come up with, yet still make the fic B/A.
Nice! I'd like to read some of that.
And thanks. It's nice to know people are interested.
Reply
If it's the former, I'd be patting myself on the back and bragging to everyone I knew. :) GO YOU WITH YOUR BAD SELF, I'd say.
So go, you. With your bad self. Either way.
I've learned to talk fics out from Kita. The talking, for me, fuels the planning fuels the thinking out fuels the squee fuels the desire to write. And talking it out can be a great way to articulate what's in your brain into words which then you can put to paper (or wp). But do what works for you. If keeping it all inside until it bursts on to the page works, then, hey! Awesome.
Reply
I kind of naturally write long pieces. The short pieces I've done, I've agonized over every word, because each one is so important, you know? And then I still had to go back in and cut half the unnecessary words.
The thing about a longer piece is I don't approach it like that. The words themselves aren't so very important. They can fade into the background, as can the style, so that the ideas and events can be absorbed into the readers' minds in the least distracting way possible. They can and should, unless you're far more clever than me. For that reason, if I know something's going to be short, it can take me a day just to get a 100 words out. But if I'm starting the rough draft of a novel or something, I can belt out 10,000 words in a day if I'm really truly going at it (with nothing important going on).
keeping it all inside until it bursts on to the page worksGood way of ( ... )
Reply
The thing about a longer piece is I don't approach it like that. The words themselves aren't so very important. They can fade into the background, as can the style, so that the ideas and events can be absorbed into the readers' minds in the least distracting way possible.
This is such a good point, and one that I had to learn the really, really hard way, so I wish that we'd talked about two weeks ago. See? Talking is good! Let's talk more about our fics! But yes, I realized at some point, I think, unfortunately, *after* I had pulled out all of my eyebrows in frustration, that I couldn't make every sentence a MASTERPIECE, every turn of phrase a WORK OF GENIUS, or this was going to take forever. Sometimes, Character A says something, you add an adverb after the quote, Character B says something snarky in reply, you add an adjective after the quote, and then they're kissing. Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am.
fuels the desire to write. ( ... )
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I rarely do outlines. If I do, it's like one or two words describing the scenes. It really depends on the fic and the length of it.
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I think that articulates my sentiments exactly.
If I do, it's like one or two words describing the scenes.
Yeah, that's as close as I usually get. If it's a long fic, I have titles for the scenes, as short as possible, and write them down, so I can figure out what's coming next.
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Yeah! When I think about outlines I think about saying what's coming next, but it seems to me it's really important to keep track of things you've already said. It's surprising how many little inconsistencies can flower in a longer fic.
I limit who I speak to, though, if only because some people make good listening ears/sounding boards
It's possible that the few people I've tried to talk to about my stuff weren't that great listeners. The thing is, I LOVE to listen. And when someone says they're having trouble with a story, in the past I've been like: OMG why didn't you tell me, maybe I can help you! But as for myself I never want to go to anybody!
and actual talk along the lines of "I want more now; hurry up, you update too slowly" really does make me freeze up a bit
I really love the, "this is great, can't wait to see where you're going!" and really hate the "where's the next part????" The former spurs me on to write more; the latter yeah, makes me freeze.
Oh, and I also "talk about" ( ... )
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Ahh, The Lake House sucked? I was thinking it might be the good cheese a la The Notebook.
*smooch*
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I liked the end result of FFG. WHatever you do, keep doing it :o)
I didn't see The Notebook. I like cheese, but I tend not to like a lot of these little romantic chick flicks like this, not because they're so very bad, but because I don't find the characters engaging. I just didn't really care, and was bored. I could see other people liking it though.
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