Keeping the Head Above Water

[scribble_myname]

This entry is part 37 of 37 in the series 365 Challenge
It's been a while since I started the 365 Challenge, wherein I write a piece of fiction or poetry for each day of the year. You will note on the challenge page that longer works of fiction/poetry count as multiple pieces. This was to preserve my sanity and keep life realistic.

Then I got a job

Comments

[pygmymuse]

Catching up is good. You'll be very proud and accomplished when you finish all 365. :)

So what is this new novel about? Why is it something you shouldn't do?

As for me... I seem to be willing to reread everything I've written except the story I need to edit to publish. I have a new serial I'm developing, part two of F & W is working for a change but will need a part three (eek!) and I am considering a crossover story just for my own amusement/to take the pressure off the other stories. That's as illicit as my projects are at present.

[scribble_myname]

Thank you. I'm really looking forward to succeeding at this challenge.

So what is this new novel about? Why is it something you shouldn't do?

Because it's AU and experimental and AU. Snippet's from the novel in question. Inspiration is from "Normal written in coffee grounds." :headdesk:

Taking the pressure off makes such a difference. I think that's why I was re-abyssing stories recently. The pressure of a box kills my fiction. Badly.

[pygmymuse]

So the AU thing is the issue, not necessarily the experimental part? Is it because you're putting the characters in another universe when the universe was already related to the other one?

I admit, I didn't get much out of Normal in Coffee Grounds when I read it, so it might be good to see more of it fleshed out in prose. Still, I read the snippet trying to understand where you might take it, but it wasn't enough to get much sense of it. I had to ask what it was about because I'm still wondering what you'd do with it, where it would lead because it's short and could potentially go a lot of ways after where you left off.

Yeah, pressure... It was making it hard for me to finish the stuff I had started. I am trying not to put too much on for the stuff I'm doing now, just keeping momentum as I can and having fun again and not trying to worry too much about what others think (serials can lead to bad habits, I think) and just doing something silly, even.

[scribble_myname]

Nope. Both. I'm mucking with canon and I'm writing from I to you. Seriously. And it did occur to me, you might not realize it was an interlined poem. I used punctuation/capitalization to signal it, but the lines flush left can be read before the lines flush right in each stanza. They're written separately. I read it both ways myself.

It's Justus/Rachelle, and as far as what it's about, the best I can say is Justus/Rachelle. Sorry.

I hope you do just start having fun again and maybe instead of posting, publish? That might help remove some of the bad habits as well.

[in_the_blue]

Illicit projects, ha. Every time I start to work on this ficathon thing I owe in a couple weeks I get ideas for something new. My biggest pull are the characters in my original 'verse, they're all still on my mind so I know they're not done yet. One of these days another story will fall off my fingers onto the page, then I'll really be screwed.

Looks like my use of first-person POV rubbed off on you. DJ says "don't look at me."

Still waiting to hear back regarding the last story I sold. Waiting on the editor. I might have to check soon.

[scribble_myname]

It was totally Denny. And Normal written in coffee grounds. I wasn't a match for the two combined.

I write first POV often enough (my first novel was first), but not this first/second business. That's the experimental part. It's a whole lot easier and faster to write it third, but this story, no. I want it first/second and it's driving me bonkers.

And as long as you let me read any new story, I'll be happy.

Hoping all goes well with the story!

[in_the_blue]

Yes, Denny would like to remind you that he spent ten years of his life as a barista and hasn't lost any of those chops, thank you very much.

I am a big fan of first person POV when the voice is unique enough, strong enough, and compelling enough. You're right, third is faster and easier, but there's usually less of an emotional component to it (of necessity) because we're one step removed from the character(s) in question. When you want to get that right-from-the-chest zing, there's nothing like first person.

[scribble_myname]

I haven't forgotten, Denny. Your story was truly the instigator for a lot of this-and for the fact that my muse won't take no for an answer.