willow_25 | Entries tagged with writing

It's the 17th, and I'm still not done Christmas shopping, sending out cards, or writing my Noel of Spike fic. The company Christmas party is tonight, and it was snowing and raining this morning...You can imagine how much fun it was carrying my dress and laptop to work.

Still, I have declared today a Good Day, and this month a Good Month. I certainly can't complain about anything significant; my mother's health is good, by brother is safe at home, I have a roof over my head and have made a huge dent in my bills this year, and I actually love my job even with the crazy hours and stuff.

Thanks to the advice and encouragement of everyone who weighed in on the question of my father's gift. I decided in the end to get the USB record converter, and do the records for Dad if he has trouble. So, that was one more thing decided and done.

Also, I saw Hilary Clinton speak Monday night! She held an event to pay off her campaign debt, and it was a lot of fun, even if there wasn't a whole lot of new information. I kept expecting to hear her say something new and different, since she's now the appointee for Secretary of State rather than a Presidential candidate, but the closest thing was the fact that she'd been in Chicago that day.

On a secondary note, Bill spoke for a little bit, kind of as a filler between the host (America Fererra) and his wife's Q & A...And, that man is still hot. I have no idea what the attraction is, but every time I'm in a room with him I feel it. Fortunately, I have the good sense not to get too close...

Current Mood: content
Current Location: Work, natch

Merae and her Mom are both wicked sick (my Mom spoke to them on the phone last night, she says my sister in law sounds like a bullfrog). I'm not feeling too well, but it's pretty similar to how I felt during the hay fever incident so I'd had it all chalked up to that; and then I remembered the voter registering, nose piercing, Soy Crisp sharing, girl from PG County at the gas station meeting fun of last Saturday. So, I may have a real cold this time. Grr. I've disinfected my bosslady's office twice this week, because she will fake-murder me if she gets sick; she already has to take time off next week for medical stuff.

Should I do NaNoWriMo? I'd basically be working on the exact same novel I was working on last year; in a separate document to verify the word count. This book, it's never gonna be done. I think I was 19 when I started it...And to be fair, I lost a draft in the great computer crash of '05, but I remembered all of what was in that draft, and it was pretty easy to rewrite. Everything after that point has been a smidge more difficult, because I realized that as I matured, the focus of the book and the purpose each character served had changed. And I wasn't so much about the revision as I was thinking about the word count, so I had some serious work to do after November was over last year. Most of which I never did, since in December I had a complete meltdown, and in January I moved. The rest, you can probably intuit from the decreasing amount of LJ entries in 2008.

I seem to have developed the complete inability to process all the mail my bosses and I receive in one day. I need to figure out how to fix that. I'm almost wishing EVIL INTERN was back, so I could dump stuff on her.

Current Mood: contemplative

How do I introduce my writer to a baby?

The arrival of a baby can be a joyous experience for the entire family. However, most writers will need some extra attention during this special time. Writers can find it difficult when a new member enters the "writer's group," especially if the new member is perceived as being of higher status or as a drain on writing time and resources. Never leave the writer alone with the baby. Ever.

Source: www.mcsweeneys.net/2008/10/10zeltser.html

Current Mood: giggly

I not only managed to complete every work-type task that got thrown at me, I also started FAA-15.

I take it as a good sign, in that I'm actually motivated to get to work on it, and I have a clear (or at least pretty clear) path of progression that will get me to the end of my tale. The thing that kept me from starting this chapter a week ago was that I wasn't exactly sure which section needed to be written first to advance the plot. Once I figured that out, it was a piece of cake to jump in.

This chapter, I hope, will flow more smoothly than the last few since it's wrap up and mythology, and doesn't have so much battle choreograpy. I was struggling through the battle scenes; considering they went on for 3 chapters, it was not my happiest writing experience. I think I did them justice, but it was hard. Then again, one of the reasons I enjoy writing fic so much is the challenge.

So, barring unforseen weirdness, I'll have another chapter of something for you guys soon. Keep checking this space, and my page over at ff.net.

After seeing

velvetwhip's awesome responses to this meme, I decided it was time to throw my hat in the ring:

If you make up titles (and pairings!) for stories I didn't write, I will respond with details of those non-written stories. Just think of the possibilities! (I might even include snippets)

The fandoms you can draw from are: BTVS/AtS, X-Files, Harsh Realm, Torchwood, Pushing Dasies, Beauty & the Beast

I'd say be gentle with me, but what fun is that?

One of those round-robin stories. I'm sure people write them still, but it's been a while since I've seen one. So, I'm starting one. Think of it as a creative enterprise, or a meme, or whatever. But I'd like to see what happens to it, so here it goes!

The rules: Here is some fiction. Add to the fiction in comments, then post the whole thing to your LJ and get more comments. If you could link me to your post, I'd be obliged.

The story:

She woke up from her nap with a languid stretch, sprawling across the bed as she woke her muscles. Feeling refreshed and mobile, she blinked open her eyes and examined the room. It was darker than when she'd fallen asleep, and the room was only lit with a single candle. A dark shape filled the chair by the desk, though the person sitting there was obviously not paying any attention to the stacks of paper in front of them.
She sat up slowly, keeping her gaze fixed on the form across the room she still couldn't identify. It could have been one of any number of people; the room wasn't exactly private. Some were more likely than others, but the fact that a person had entered the room while she slept made her uneasy.

I'm sure there must be quality fic out there somewhere that I haven't read. I know there is; as a matter of fact there are stories I'm choosing not to start because I've been reading too many WIP's, and the plot lines are starting to blur together. Still, I feel a lack of fic. Is it just me, or is everyone working a little slow at the moment?

I include myself in the slowness. FAA-14 feels like I've been working on it forever (it has been about 4 months) and I'm still not sure how much longer it'll take me to finish it. I completed a short Christmas fic for Noel of Spike, and began another; but the second is currently a rare animal I am highly unfamiliar with (a Xander-narrated fic), and I'm not sure how it will turn out so I'm not committing to posting it. And I'm still checking back in with my NaNoWriMo text every once in a while, just to keep the momentum going and make sure it doesn't languish on my hard drive for so long it gets lost again.

So, enough of me rambling; I just wanted to say that I feel fic deprived. I'll go get back to work on making sure no one else feels that way. *hugs flist*

Current Mood: contemplative

I never realized this, I don't think, until I started trying to write from his point of view. I don't know how well I'm doing making it sound like Angel, because my understanding of Angel has evolved so much while I've been writing. Actually, I don't think I'm making much sense right now. LOL.

Yeah, so, Angel is stressing me out, and enlightening me at the same time. But, I still like David Boreanaz better as Booth.

I was working on 'Spiderwebs' last night, which is the sequel to 'Fade Away Again'. I'm glad that I was able to work on something, since I've been stalled for a while, but I really don't like how the story's going so far. Which is not a good, because the plan was to start posting as soon as FAA is finished. Provided, of course, FAA ever gets finished. It's become the never-ending story.

So, the Spiderwebs issues. I've been told that knowing why something is failing is a good step towards correcting the problem, so I'm just gonna write it out. Feel free to stop reading if you don't care about my issues.

1) There's some stuff after the battle in FAA, stuff not ready to be posted yet, that paves the way to the third story in the series (the one-shot, 'Hole in my Pocket' is the first, remember). In FAA there are a couple of characters who will get to be very important people to Willow, and by extension Buffy and Spike, later on. But because of the battle there's not a lot of room to develop those characters. So, I'm trying to work that development in early in 'Spiderwebs'. It's reading very awkwardly at the moment.

2) A backstory occurred to me after I'd already plotted the third and fourth stories. I think it'll work really well for a lot of readers, as it involves Angel a lot more. Angel was sort of persona non grata in this story previously. But, it messes up the flow of where I put X scene and when Y needs to happen.

3) Writing Dawn. I kinda suck at it, and it needs to be done here. At least I saved myself from writing her in first person this time; then I'd have to kill myself.

4) One of the main themes in this story, which carries it over to the next one: Spike has friends, a support system, and a whole life of his own. And I need to show that without being all heavy-handed "See, I'm SPIKE'S friend, not ANGEL'S friend, not BUFFY'S friend". And I don't know how great a job I'm doing with that. I feel like I'm doing too much telling, and not enough showing.

So, those are the points I need to work on, which are making 'Spiderwebs' a massive fail at the moment. But, I wrote something last night. That's a big yay!

Current Mood: confused

So, I'm better (even if my neck is still a little swollen), and failed to make it through happy hour last night without smoking, but redeemed myself by not smoking so far at work today. My general health is therefore improving; my concentration is still crap, though. Not sure if it's a depression issue, or an eye-ware issue, or a nicotine issue; I feel weird, but am having trouble finding the source of said weirdness.

So, I'm going to do a drabble call, hoping to get myself back on track. I'm sick of spending an hour a day staring at the page and a half of FAA 14 I have written and not knowing what to write next. It's annoying. My muse needs to wake the Hellmouth up. Hopefully I can manage to jolt her back into action with some new things to work on. And if not, at least you'll be amused by whatever I do come up with.

Here's the deal: Please comment with a fandom, situation, prompt, keyword, etc. I will write a drabble using what you send me. (And hopefully it won't turn into a novella like 'The Office Hellmouth' did. I swear, Sharon, I'll finish your story one day.) Please keep in mind, I'll take just about any fandom, but I don't do anime. If you don't specify a fandom, it'll most likely end up BtVS or X-Files.

Not a lot went on this weekend. I slept, medicated, drank lots of fluids, etc. Caught up on my TV, watched football, did laundry. Read a little bit of fic, including some oldies I hadn't seen in a while. Managed to post a couple of comments today. That's about it.

The swelling has gone down in my neck, for which I am grateful. I now have a phlegm issue, but I can swallow, so that's better. I even had some coffee today. For those of you who know me, that was 4 days without coffee, and 5 without a cigarette including today. I may just not go back to smoking, we'll see how it goes. If I do quit, it'll be weird because as several friends have been trying and trying to quit, I was just like, 'eh, I'll do that at some point, whatever'. Who knows, maybe this is 'some point'. Anyway, 5 days without my glorious stimulants, and although I did have a couple of mild fits of temper, I have yet to have any serious anxiety or to kill anyone in a fit of rage. This is good.

Once I'm not sick, and my stamina and concentration are back up, we'll have the true test: can I write like this?

Current Mood: cold

As all attempts to write recently have come to a screeching halt, I'm appeasing my guilt by re-posting some of my favorite LJ challenge drabbles & shorts at ff.net. That at least makes it look like I'm producing something.

Another new floater in the office today, and I had better luck explaining everything than I've had in quite a while. I have no clue why this happens, that I can do something wonderfully 8 times, then suck at it 4 times, then I'm good again once, maybe twice...It happens with lots of things. Even writing goes like that sometimes, where I write 4 or 5 pages and end up deleting the whole thing due to suck-dom.

In other news, hanging out w/

mymagritte tonight; should be a lot of fun, as I haven't seen anyone local other than

happynonoplace in more than a week now, and I miss everyone. Missed out on the tentative trip to visit Boston this weekend, but that's okay, now I can use that cash to replace the phone that went MIA on vacation. My poor, free, pink phone. Not that I was desperately in love with having a pink phone, but it made a cute contrast with my green iPod, once I got over the shame of owning a pink elecronic.

Anyway...I know I meant to say something else...Oh, yeah, so there are long drabbles/very short stories of mine in memories here, which will be migrating over to FF.net if you follow my stuff there. And I'm getting a social life again.

And I still have writer's block. Although, I did have a 'Scoobies on a Cruise' idea that was mildly amusing. We'll see if anything ever gets going on that. I've also had some thoughts on a new "What If" Book, about the way things would have gone if the Initiative had never come to Sunnydale, and another which I have written in my head but not on the computer yet, that I'm putting off because it's going to be so intense and emotionally painful to write. So, we'll see. I'd like to get back and finish FAA and start posting the sequel, but it's just not coming right now. It will, though. I will finish the fudger eventually. Pinky swear.

Current Mood: confused
Current Location: The Front Desk

Request for challenges: give me a topic, a character, a fandom, an element, a situation, a funny word...Whatever. I will attempt to write you a short fic/drabble. I don't really do anime, but I'm flexible on lots of other TV, movies, and books.

Bored, blocked...Help?

Current Mood: frustrated
Current Location: The Front Desk

It should have been a country song, the way things came together, how they ended. A happy, easy relationship free-falling into avoidance and arguments and eventual abandonment. But, neither of them was a song writer, so it just was. And life went on. And sometimes, life was better, and one of them could look back and say, "Good thing she's not in my life anymore, she'd just drag me down". And sometimes things were bad, really low, and one of them would say, "I wonder what she's doing now, maybe I should look her up?".

So, obviously I try to write as much as possible. Focusing on the stuff I've already started posting, because that's important, that I finish posting once I start. So, I'm posting two fics right now, and I thought 'hey, half the office is at the goodbye party we weren't supposed to have for evil boss, I'll just get some writing done. At which point I realize that both of the stories in question are on my home computer at the moment.

So, right now I'll work on other stuff. And post to LJ.

Next week is gonna be SO much fun!

Current Mood: creative
Current Location: The Front Desk

Is there anyone in Fade Away Again you really want me to kill off? I'm not taking suggestions or anything; I know already who lives and dies. I'm just wondering. Because, you know, once the battle heats up, people get desperate. And, I'm sure some of you are crossing your fingers for your favorite canon characters, begging 'take that new Slayer I don't like instead'. Or possibly 'I never liked him/her on the show, just get rid of them already'.

So, any thoughts?

Current Mood: curious
Current Location: Dark Room

Fade Away Again

Rating:G/PG-13
Fandom: Buffy/Angel
Summary: Sequel to “Hole in My Pocket” (posted here under FAA-Verse in Memories). How 'Not Fade Away' would have gone, in my world. Buffy gets involved in the W&H apocalypse, and changes the course of everyone's lives. Missing scenes and alternate ending for the Angel Season Five finale, 'Not Fade Away'. Hope you like!

Author's Note: Character names at heading indicate Point of View. Story title comes from a line in “Shimmer” by Fuel.

Disclaimer: I don’t own the characters portrayed on Buffy or Angel. Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy Productions do. More power to 'em. I make no profit from my endeavors. All original characters are my property (so there!)

( Buffy... )

Current Mood: mellow
Current Location: The Front Desk

Only one more completed chapter after this, so you may lack updates for longer than the usual week to 12 days before I post again. My only excuse is my obsession with completing FAA in a timely manner.

( Read me, baby... )

Current Mood: mellow
Current Location: Sunny Alcove

Sometime in the last couple of days the plumbing in our kitchen went crazy, the weeds on our patio got cut by a mystery gardner, and my room went from 'unpleasantly messy' to 'war zone'. I'm not real sure how any of that happened, because I've been off in my own little world.

I read this book called 'Prep', which really messed with my head, in that it got me thinking a lot about high school, and peer pressure, and teenage culture, and how we perceive those things as adults, and...Well, lots of things. It wasn't a life-changing experience or anything, and I haven't exactly been sobbing over it or working it into lots of conversations, but it took me over for several days, and left me emotionally drained.

I've really been unable to focus on polishing FAA 13 the way I intended to this week. The last time I posted to LJ, I really had to force myself, and it didn't really get better until today. SO, no writing, and no new fic before I leave on vacation. Sorry, to anyone who was interested in some good July 4th reading. I should be back on track by next Thursday when I come back to work, at the latest; I'm hoping Tuesday will be more like it.

In the meantime, I'll be without the computer all weekend, on my ROAD TRIP!! which I will update y'all on when I get back. I hope.

See you soon!

Current Mood: crazy
Current Location: The Front Desk

Writing: Yesterday was the 2nd anniversary of FAA, counting from the first posting date. I planned on having Chapter 13 posted on Sunday for an anniversary thing, but it still does not feel finished to me. Once it does, I'll probably post it here as I did with the last chapter, to get some feedback.

Household goodies: Since Friday I've managed to strew my life all the way across the house and not clean up a damn thing. I mowed the lawn, and installed the new hose, and picked up a few things from my bedroom floor (which I think has some type of fabric-magnet installed under the carpet, as all of my clothes eventually end up on it), and I even managed to do a couple of loads of laundry, so it's not like I was entirely un-productive. Mowing the lawn is going to be an issue unless I get back into lifting weights, though. My muscles are weak, and so get strained more quickly when I'm forced to do manual labor.

Oh, and we got a new dishwasher! It even works! It's all very exciting. I still need to sweep and mop before I leave for the road trip, since I didn't do it over the weekend. And I brought plants home from work last week, that need to go in the ground or into pots soon, before they die entirely.

Road Trip: T-minus 4 days, four hours until the James Marsters concert!!! Yeah, I'm a little excited. JM!! In person!! Singing, with his lips and his cheekbones!!! Also, Hershey Park on the way home, and then a stretch of days to just putter around until after the fireworks Wednesday, when I have to go back to work in the morning.

Current Mood: nerdy
Current Location: The Front Desk

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This Blog has no Title

Just Words and a Tune...

Entries tagged with writing

Ah, December...

Musings and Ponderings

This is why I should never have children. Ganked from cleolinda

Today at the office...

Another meme, naturally

You know what I haven't seen in a while?

I'm Feeling Fic Deprived

Angel is a Complicated Man

Writing Hell

Something to finish off my Friday

Quick Update

Writer's Block 1, Sarah 0

Drabbles!

Random free-form

Grrr, Argh

Just out of Authorly Curiosity

Story: Fade Away Again, Chapter 1

Story: What If, Book 1 (Ch 6 of ?)

The Days All Run Together (In Packs of 7)

Happy Tuesday!