2007 Writing Meme
Jan. 23rd, 2007 12:34 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
girlyswotSaw this and thought it might help me prioritise a bit.
And I stole this fromstmargarets
Favourite fic: The Squib. I really like these characters and this situation. And since it's 'next generation' I like the freedom of not worrying too much about canon.
Least favourite fic: My holiday drabble for the fluff thread. My Molly and Arthur feel so cliched I can't bear it.
Hardest to write: Harry Potter and the Spoils of Annwn. Why did I ever think that epic poetry was a good idea?!
Easiest to write: Marriage. This flowed so easily, without deadlines or threats and I loved writing it.
Greatest risk taken: Posting fic on the internet for other people to read for the first time ever.
Greatest risk not taken: Telling people in RL where they can find my fic.
Writing Challenge for 2007: To write something I'm proud enough of that I can link to it from my RL blog.
1. What are your fanfic writing goals for this year? Do you want to try a new ship, genre, rating or style? Tackle new characters?
I'm always wanting to try new styles and think about new characters. But my main goal is to become a master of plot. I just find it really hard to make things happen in a coherent way that does more than just narrate random unconnected events. I want to be able to tell stories that say something, stories that make me (and hopefully others) see the world a little differently or feel a little differently about things, or something. I feel like I'm not bad at characterization, dialogue or even description. But I'm hopeless at action, drama, suspense and the aforementioned plotting. So that's my goal. Oh, and maybe go back to some of my pre-HP fandoms as well.
2. Do you have any New Year's updating resolutions?
Not exactly. I'm updating my two WIP's fairly regularly. Time's Winged Chariot should be done with in the next two chapters which are basically written but need checking and then sending to my beta. For The Squib, see below.
3. Do you have original writing goals for the year?
Hmm. Not sure. Last year I did NaNoWriMo for the first time and I've edited, re-written and got the free published copy of which I am inordinately proud. But the plot fizzles out after about 6 chapters. I just think I need to get to be a better writer before I try my hand at original fiction again.
4. Which of your fics are you most looking forward to getting completed? Do you want them finished before DH comes out? Do you have stories planned out that you are yet to start?
I'd love to finish The Squib. I love writing it and I really enjoy my OC's in it. But I'm scared because they keep insisting on having proper plots and although I have a vague idea where this is ending I'm not absolutely certain how we're getting there. So I'm frightened it may never end, or it may end in a pathetic damp squib. I don't really mind about DH coming out since it's so far in the future that unless something utterly extraordinary happens (Voldemort wins, for instance, or Harry ends up with Hermione - ha ha) it won't matter too much either way.
I don't have stories planned out since that's not really how I work (see above on plot!) but I do have a couple of ideas for a fic exchange I'm doing and the fluff thread Valentine's Day challenge.
5. Any exclusive previews/extracts/hints of things to come that you’re prepared to reveal to your trusted f-list?
James and Lily get married. Hermione does more research. Luna goes hunting for mad non-existent things. That do?
6. Have you learnt anything in the last year of fan fic writing that you hope to continue to make a conscious effort to improve on this year?
So much I don't know where to begin. I think maybe the big thing has been realising that anything can be inspiration for any kind of story. Mundane things can be fluffy, scary things can be funny... I guess I feel I've learnt to be more free to experiment and less bound by genre, form or cliche.
7. What's your current burning fanfic desire(s)? (ie - 'Oh, I really must write a story where...’)
I'd love to write a Charlie-centric novel-length fic.
8. Which updates of other people's fics are you most looking forward to?
New Zealand Chronicles, of course. A Lost Generation. And I've recently been enjoying All's Well that Ends Well. Oh, and I hope Asking for Roses is going to be completed soon.
And in non-HP news, Term of Duty is a must read.
9. Do you have any plot-bunnies that you don't think you'll have time to write, but would love for someone on the f-list to try? Describe the bunny here, and see if you get a volunteer...
Can't think of any actual bunnies, but I do feel that the world always needs more Charlie Weasley.
10. For those who also do original work, do you find that with the seventh book coming out, you're willing to put that on the backburner since you know the window of fanfic opportunity is shrinking?
No. I really don't think the fanfic opportunity is shrinking. I've always been more interested in stories outside the canon time-frame/character focus anyway. I think there'll be lots of opportunity for really interesting post-war/post-Hogwarts fics as these teenagers start to work out how to live normally.
11. After DH comes out, do you think you'll still be as active in the fandom? If most of the important questions have been answered, will you still write fanfic?
Yes. See above. For me, fanfic has always been about imagining what comes after a novel ends. So with HP, the end of book 7 will be the beginning of fanfic for me.
12. If you are writing a WIP that contradicts DH once it is released, would you start writing according to the book 7 canon, or would you continue on with your original idea? Would you amend any previous fics if assumptions made have been proved false?
I wouldn't bother changing things.
13. If you're favourite character(s) dies, will you take it like a man/woman, cry like a baby, or dedicate your life to AU fics where the deed doesn't happen at all?
Who cares?! Honestly, they're NOT REAL PEOPLE!
14. After the seventh book is released, will you focus on "after the war" style fics, or "before the war" (eg: Harry still in school)?
See above. Although I'm also interested in pre-war (i.e. before Philosopher's Stone) fics.
15. If you stay active in fandom post book 7, will you continue to focus your stories on canon characters, or do you think you will be more willing to venture into the realm of original characters?
Already there!
16. Have you ever had to defend the idea behind something you've written from critical reviews? Has it impacted on any future projects?
Um, someone once pointed out that I'd messed up my dates in true JKR style. And another person pointed out that Wolfsbane potion wasn't invented when Remus was in school.
More recently, it's been pointed out that the premise of my WIP, The Squib, is not precisely canon-compliant (if in canon you include JKR's interviews). I have identical twins - one magical, one a Squib. But apparently JKR did once say that magic was genetic, in which case identical twins must have the same magical ability or none. To be honest, I don't care. IT'S NOT REAL. But a few people got hot and bothered about it.
17. Will you consider doing NaNoWriMo this year?
Maybe. It is bad timing in November. But there was a good sense of satisfaction in finishing. I'd like to do more prep so that I have a proper plan and plot and things if I'm going to bother. I don't want to just produce 50,000 words of waffle, since I already know I can do that.
I'm always wanting to try new styles and think about new characters. But my main goal is to become a master of plot. I just find it really hard to make things happen in a coherent way that does more than just narrate random unconnected events. I want to be able to tell stories that say something, stories that make me (and hopefully others) see the world a little differently or feel a little differently about things, or something. I feel like I'm not bad at characterization, dialogue or even description. But I'm hopeless at action, drama, suspense and the aforementioned plotting. So that's my goal. Oh, and maybe go back to some of my pre-HP fandoms as well.
2. Do you have any New Year's updating resolutions?
Not exactly. I'm updating my two WIP's fairly regularly. Time's Winged Chariot should be done with in the next two chapters which are basically written but need checking and then sending to my beta. For The Squib, see below.
3. Do you have original writing goals for the year?
Hmm. Not sure. Last year I did NaNoWriMo for the first time and I've edited, re-written and got the free published copy of which I am inordinately proud. But the plot fizzles out after about 6 chapters. I just think I need to get to be a better writer before I try my hand at original fiction again.
4. Which of your fics are you most looking forward to getting completed? Do you want them finished before DH comes out? Do you have stories planned out that you are yet to start?
I'd love to finish The Squib. I love writing it and I really enjoy my OC's in it. But I'm scared because they keep insisting on having proper plots and although I have a vague idea where this is ending I'm not absolutely certain how we're getting there. So I'm frightened it may never end, or it may end in a pathetic damp squib. I don't really mind about DH coming out since it's so far in the future that unless something utterly extraordinary happens (Voldemort wins, for instance, or Harry ends up with Hermione - ha ha) it won't matter too much either way.
I don't have stories planned out since that's not really how I work (see above on plot!) but I do have a couple of ideas for a fic exchange I'm doing and the fluff thread Valentine's Day challenge.
5. Any exclusive previews/extracts/hints of things to come that you’re prepared to reveal to your trusted f-list?
James and Lily get married. Hermione does more research. Luna goes hunting for mad non-existent things. That do?
6. Have you learnt anything in the last year of fan fic writing that you hope to continue to make a conscious effort to improve on this year?
So much I don't know where to begin. I think maybe the big thing has been realising that anything can be inspiration for any kind of story. Mundane things can be fluffy, scary things can be funny... I guess I feel I've learnt to be more free to experiment and less bound by genre, form or cliche.
7. What's your current burning fanfic desire(s)? (ie - 'Oh, I really must write a story where...’)
I'd love to write a Charlie-centric novel-length fic.
8. Which updates of other people's fics are you most looking forward to?
New Zealand Chronicles, of course. A Lost Generation. And I've recently been enjoying All's Well that Ends Well. Oh, and I hope Asking for Roses is going to be completed soon.
And in non-HP news, Term of Duty is a must read.
9. Do you have any plot-bunnies that you don't think you'll have time to write, but would love for someone on the f-list to try? Describe the bunny here, and see if you get a volunteer...
Can't think of any actual bunnies, but I do feel that the world always needs more Charlie Weasley.
10. For those who also do original work, do you find that with the seventh book coming out, you're willing to put that on the backburner since you know the window of fanfic opportunity is shrinking?
No. I really don't think the fanfic opportunity is shrinking. I've always been more interested in stories outside the canon time-frame/character focus anyway. I think there'll be lots of opportunity for really interesting post-war/post-Hogwarts fics as these teenagers start to work out how to live normally.
11. After DH comes out, do you think you'll still be as active in the fandom? If most of the important questions have been answered, will you still write fanfic?
Yes. See above. For me, fanfic has always been about imagining what comes after a novel ends. So with HP, the end of book 7 will be the beginning of fanfic for me.
12. If you are writing a WIP that contradicts DH once it is released, would you start writing according to the book 7 canon, or would you continue on with your original idea? Would you amend any previous fics if assumptions made have been proved false?
I wouldn't bother changing things.
13. If you're favourite character(s) dies, will you take it like a man/woman, cry like a baby, or dedicate your life to AU fics where the deed doesn't happen at all?
Who cares?! Honestly, they're NOT REAL PEOPLE!
14. After the seventh book is released, will you focus on "after the war" style fics, or "before the war" (eg: Harry still in school)?
See above. Although I'm also interested in pre-war (i.e. before Philosopher's Stone) fics.
15. If you stay active in fandom post book 7, will you continue to focus your stories on canon characters, or do you think you will be more willing to venture into the realm of original characters?
Already there!
16. Have you ever had to defend the idea behind something you've written from critical reviews? Has it impacted on any future projects?
Um, someone once pointed out that I'd messed up my dates in true JKR style. And another person pointed out that Wolfsbane potion wasn't invented when Remus was in school.
More recently, it's been pointed out that the premise of my WIP, The Squib, is not precisely canon-compliant (if in canon you include JKR's interviews). I have identical twins - one magical, one a Squib. But apparently JKR did once say that magic was genetic, in which case identical twins must have the same magical ability or none. To be honest, I don't care. IT'S NOT REAL. But a few people got hot and bothered about it.
17. Will you consider doing NaNoWriMo this year?
Maybe. It is bad timing in November. But there was a good sense of satisfaction in finishing. I'd like to do more prep so that I have a proper plan and plot and things if I'm going to bother. I don't want to just produce 50,000 words of waffle, since I already know I can do that.
And I stole this from
stmargaretsFavourite fic: The Squib. I really like these characters and this situation. And since it's 'next generation' I like the freedom of not worrying too much about canon.
Least favourite fic: My holiday drabble for the fluff thread. My Molly and Arthur feel so cliched I can't bear it.
Hardest to write: Harry Potter and the Spoils of Annwn. Why did I ever think that epic poetry was a good idea?!
Easiest to write: Marriage. This flowed so easily, without deadlines or threats and I loved writing it.
Greatest risk taken: Posting fic on the internet for other people to read for the first time ever.
Greatest risk not taken: Telling people in RL where they can find my fic.
Writing Challenge for 2007: To write something I'm proud enough of that I can link to it from my RL blog.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-24 01:48 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-24 02:16 am (UTC)Okay, okay, I think he's damn sexy. And so much fun to write about because he's hardly appeared at all in canon. Plus there's the dragons...
(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-24 06:16 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-01-24 02:12 pm (UTC)