Writing Meme

[kat_lair]

Snaffled from pushkin666.

An excuse to talk about my writing?

 

What's the last thing you wrote?
The last fic I finished and posted was read the fine print later (Supernatural, Dean/Sam, very, very NC-17) which was a filthy, dark wincest ficlet written for pushkin666.

The last thing I wrote was a short chapter of mine and pushkin666’s ongoing Bandom Pete/Patrick email fic.

Was it any good?
Neither of those was my best writing but yeah, they were good. I don’t post things or otherwise let them out of my hands unless I’m at least somewhat happy with them.

What's the first thing you ever wrote that you still have?
Somewhere in my mum’s garage there’s a cardboard box with all my writing notebooks from primary and secondary school.

Write poetry?
Yes, sort of. They are more like lyrics that need music around them to be anything. Though my best friend is apparently working on that.

Angsty poetry?
Some of it’s angsty yeah.

Most fun character you ever wrote?
Honestly I cannot pick one. I tend to like writing characters that are either drunk, evil, insane, otherwise irreverent or all four. The Simm!Master from Doctor Who qualifies. I have several thousand words of very strange Doctor/Master fic in WIP status at the moment.

Other character that I have great deal of fun with is Ash as I’m writing him for anywhere_road; zany, smart and mouthy but with his heart in the right place.

Most annoying character you ever wrote?
… I sort of like all the characters I write.

Best plot you ever wrote?
I’m not a very “plotty” writer. As in, I tend to go for character studies and little vignettes and porn rather than stories with an over-arching plot. However, the plot razorxrosary and I are developing for anywhere_road (and you can only see it in glimpses) is awesome. To Cast A Hundred Stones, which is the WIP Doctor/Master fic, also has some interesting developments…


Coolest plot twist you ever wrote?
The one in every line is the second last, though there’s quite a bit of foreshadowing so I don’t think it’s much of surprise.


How often do you get writer's block?
Not often, I’m just a lazy writer plus don’t have as much time as I’d like.

How do you fix it?
I have a very short attention span when it comes to fics, which is why I have a gazillion of them on the go at the same time. I switch between fics every few hundred words to stop myself from getting bored.


Do you type or write by hand?
I prefer typing straight onto a computer. It lets me see the “large picture”, to figure out where in the fic a particular piece of writing goes. I don’t write linearly; lines and paragraphs don’t always fit one after each other and I need the flexibility of a word document where I can move things around easily to see where they should be.

I do always carry a notebook with me and I do write in it, but they are disjointed lines and snippets of text. Even for something as short as drabble I will end up fiddling with it once I go to type it up.

Do you save everything you write?
For most part.


Do you ever go back to an old idea long after you abandoned it?
See above how I have 30490023 ideas going on at the same time… And none of them are ever completely abandoned, even if I haven’t touched some of them over a year.


What's your favorite thing that you've written?
This is a nearly impossible thing to answer… I really like a lot of the fics I have in WIP status at the moment. The schmoopy clichéd Pete/Patrick ones I’m cowriting with pushkin666 are loads of fun.

Out of the posted fics Give Me Back The Berlin Wall (SPN, Dean/Sam, NC-17) and Moth (Firefly, Inara/River, PG-13) are the ones I’m most pleased about in terms of language. I also like the structure in Season For All Things (SGA, Gen, PG-13). Points Of Origin (SGA, mild Beckett/McKay, R) is not the best story I’ve written but it remains one of the most personal ones.

What's everyone else's favorite thing that you've written?
I haven’t got a clue, feel free to offer your opinions. Based simply on quantity of comments I think maybe sudden as a storm, sweet as summer hay (CWRPS, Jared/Jensen, NC-17) or Shades of Love (Supernatural, Dean/Sam, NC-17), neither of which are my best stuff but they are both very porny… CWRPS and SPN fandoms are so shallow *gg*

Do you ever show people your work?
Yes, I use betas for all of the longer stuff. virtualinsomnia quality controls SPN fic, razorxrosary does the same for the Bandom fics as well as obviously getting a say in anything to do with anywhere_road. Other regular betas are moth2fic and bloodrebel333. I also tend to run a lot of things by pushkin666 for a second opinion.

Who's your favorite constructive critic?
See above. I trust all of them to tell me when I get things wrong.

Did you ever write a novel?
Nope. I have an idea for an original novel which is sort of urban fantasy, but no time to pursue it now.

Have you ever written fantasy, sci-fi, or horror?
Not so much fantasy, but sci-fi and horror yes. See e.g. Crime (SGA, McKay/Zelenka, PG-13) or Teeth (Doctor Who, Doctor/Master, PG-13).

Ever written romance or teen angsty drama?
Oh yes on romance, e.g. Unfair (SGA, Beckett/McKay, NC-17) and Atlantis Santa (SGA, McKay/Zelenka, PG) are both pretty romantic. There will be some teenage drama in the future; one of the Bandom fics pushkin666 and I are writing features a jailbait!Patrick in all his angsty teen glory.

What's one genre you have never written, and probably never will?
Never say never, folks. You only end up eating your words.

How many writing projects are you working on right now?
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Next question please.

Do you want to write for a living?
That would be awesome. Provided I could decide what I was writing.

Have you ever written something for a magazine or newspaper?
Sort of.

Have you ever won an award for your writing?
No, but I’ve been nominated which was amazing.

Ever written something in script or play format?
In the sixth grade my best friend and I wrote a play about Santa Clause’s Wedding Anniversary that was performed at the school Christmas celebration. Does that count?

What is your favorite word?
Please. *wicked grin*

Do you ever write based on yourself?
Yes. Not in a “mah issues, let me show you them” sense, but as a writer you draw from your own experiences and emotions.

Which of your characters most resembles you?
They all do a little bit I guess.

Where do you get ideas for your characters?
From everywhere. As I currently write more fanfic than original, then canon is an obvious answer.

Do you ever write based on your dreams?
Yes, occasionally.

Do you prefer happy endings, sad endings, or cliff-hangers?
Happy endings when I read. Memorable endings when I write.

Have you ever written anything based on an artwork you've seen?
No.

Are you concerned with spelling and grammar as you write?
Yes, I’m pretty good with both.

Ever write something entirely in chatspeak?
Nope, but I’ve written things in email format.

Does music help you write?
Yes. I tend to put together little playlists for particular type of stories (like my “dirty, filthy porn” playlist) or even specific fics.

Are people surprised and confused when they find out you write well?
This sort of assumes that people think that I do write well… But I have no idea, to be honest.

Quote something you've written:
Because I’m a tease, these are both from WIPs. Very, very different in terms of theme and style.

To Cast A Hundred Stones – Doctor Who – Doctor/Master
    “Isomorphic coding,” the Doctor says from the wall. “A neat trick that. Hope you don’t mind I borrowed your idea.” His voice is thick with broken teeth, but there’s no emotion in it.
    “And what,” the Master stalks over and wraps his fists into the Doctor’s shirt, shaking him furiously, “makes you think I won’t just hack off your hands and use them to control the TARDIS?”
    The blood trickling down the Doctor’s face looks like it belongs there. “The fact that it would do you no good.” He twists and the chains clink faintly against each other, the sound like distant bells. “I’ve locked the controls onto my brainwave pattern. You can cut me to pieces all you want, but you’re still not going anywhere.” The Doctor leans in, just a little, and grins. It’s not a pretty expression. “This ship won’t fly unless I really, really want it to.”
    That may be true, but the Master still leaves him hanging there for the rest of the day.

Untitled – Bandom – Patrick/Pete
    Patrick gapes. “Pete… Pete actually told you he’s in love with me?”
    “Well, not in those exact words,” Andy admits. “There were metaphors. About icebergs. And empty streets going nowhere except right back where he started from. You know, the usual cryptic sighing emo-boy shit. Except, I think Pete forgets that around here everyone understands cryptic sighing emo-boy. Even the drummers.
    “And guitarists,” Joe adds. “It’s a survival skill. Much like heightened tolerance for getting your package grabbed by other dudes.” 
    “What it all means,” Andy continues, “is that Pete’s in love with you but after years of not getting anywhere he’s decided to give up and accept that you just don’t feel the same. I double-checked the translation with Ryan. And Gerard.”
    “Not Gabe?” Joe asks. 
    “Has Gabe ever had to write a song about unrequited love?”
    Joe nods thoughtfully. “Point.”

 

 

 

Comments

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

“Has Gabe ever had to write a song about unrequited love?”

The Basement changes everybody's mind! Eventually.

Is it wrong that I consider Gabe's Basement to be the Bandom equivalent of Prince Humperdinck's Pit of Death? "I've just sucked five years of your life away." Ahahaha. Ahem. I may need to lay off the coffee.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I'll be so disappointed, so disappointed, if Gabe doesn't actually have some sort of basement. In fact, I sort of want him to have a fully equipped dungeon room with chains and racks and whips. For... consensual fun. Um.

Are you shaking? If not, then you haven't had enough coffee yet.

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

What it probably actually has is a washer/dryer, an exercise bike from the early eighties, two bottles of Zima, a humane mousetrap, and a couch that he found in an alleyway. For consensual fun, it has one of those electric toning-belt machines.

I am not shaking, as it happens. More coffeeeeeee!

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

For consensual fun, it has one of those electric toning-belt machines. - ... I'm picturing this now. It's both disturbing and disturbingly hot. But, who is that with him, strapped to the same belt??

[snarkyrainbow.livejournal.com]

Is it wrong that I consider Gabe's Basement to be the Bandom equivalent of Prince Humperdinck's Pit of Death?

Okay, that just made me laugh way too loudly in this little office. Thanks for that.
=)

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

Heh. It's even funnier when I start recasting the entire thing in my head: Patrick as Buttercup? Pete as the Dread Pirate Roberts. Count Rugen Ryland! Obviously I do not like to stereotype Gabe as the evil one, but that is what you get for having a Basement and an unrepentantly amoral face, Gabe.

[snarkyrainbow.livejournal.com]

Spencer and Brendon are Valerie and Miracle Max.

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

Miracle Spence: Have fun stormin' New Jersey!
Brendon: Do you think it'll work?
Miracle Spence: It'd take a miracle.

(Ryan Ross as Inigo Montoya! He only takes the Dread Pirate Roberts job for the outfit!)

[snarkyrainbow.livejournal.com]

My name is Ryan Montoya. You kill my scarf. Prepare to die. Or at least hurt a little. I don't know what I'm doing with this sword yet.

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

JFezz: Pointy end goes in the other guy, Ryan.

Ryan Montoya: Stop trying to dictate my aesthetic, Jon! I am a unique snowfla- Ow, motherFUCKER!

JFezz: Told you.

[snarkyrainbow.livejournal.com]

OMG. This is totally the best thing ever and should be written immediately.

Who's Vizzini? This is the best thing I've imagined all day.

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

I don't know. I am conflictedOMG! I was thinking either Andy (for the firmly held but fatally flawed belief system - You fell victim to one of the classic blunders! Never trust a vegan anarchist who shills for Adidas!) or William Beckett (see above for aforementioned blameless character/amoral face conflict).

(Don't even get me started on my Wentz Wing idea where Pete uses his political science degree and his publicity skillz to become the American President. Patrick as Leo! Andy as Toby! Joe is a more hirsute Mrs Landingham!)

[snarkyrainbow.livejournal.com]

Wentz Wing? omg. I love you. I think I need to write a poem about how much I love you that includes something about me having your babies.

Also? I say Andy! William can be the priest. WUV TWUE WUV!

[elle-dritch.livejournal.com]

*is thoughtful* I do like a good poem. Unfortunately the only rhyme for babies that I can think of at the moment is rabies, and that does not end well for anyone. In the Wentz Wing, Frank is Danny and Gerard is CJ. Gerard illustrates the press briefings with tiny vampires and majorettes; Frank thinks this is ADORABLE. And then there is inappropriate sexual tension.

William can be the priest. WUV TWUE WUV!
Hah! Yes! Or the Butcher in just his stupid pink shorts standing at the head of the Church, intoning "Mawwiage! Mawwiage is what bwings us togevva today!"

[snarkyrainbow.livejournal.com]

The Butcher should be that heckling old lady from Buttercup's daymare. I'm sure he likes a good heckle.

You're writing this Wentz Wing right? Because. Well seriously. Yes? I might have made a very high pitched only dogs can hear sound just now.

[zeitheist.livejournal.com]

I started reading that snippet from To Cast a Hundred Stones and was all "... wait a second, I know this!". Oh, the joy of being one of your sounding boards! \o/

Also: this was really, really, really interesting. God knows I love other writers talking about their writing processes. Stfu, you are a good writer, you goof!

(The questions I've been meaning to ask: you say that all the characters you write resemble you a little bit, right? So, firstly, how does that work when you write characters who are quite opposite such as, say, Much and Robin, are there parts of you that you see in them both? My other question is: do you think you're initially attracted to characters due to these likenesses, or do you think that they're something you give them to strengthen your characterisation of them?)

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

Well I'm glad being my sounding board qualifies as a "joy" rather than "omg, she's whoring her fic at me again"

I like this sort of memes fascinating too, though it always feels a little masturbatory.

Good questions. I think it's more to do with the fact that there are parts of myself that I use for writing any character. Fanfic is about reinterpreting the text, and as such reshaping the characters into what could be, seeing things from a slightly different angle.

With opposite characters it is about seeing different parts of myself, or sort of possibilities of different parts of myself (if that makes sense), in them. With Much for example, I can write him as very in-charge, take-what-i-want of I can write him as self-sacrificing and self-deprecating, and I can relate to both, because there's a potential for and experience of both in me... Wow, does that make any sense?

I don't character's likeness to me has much to whether or not I'm attracted enough to write them. There are exceptions. E.g. I like Rodney McKay because of the whole strong academic background thing that I can relate to (even though mine is in "fluffy social sciences" that Rodney would scoff at) plus with him, like all SGA characters there's the "far from home" thing that resonates. toppy!Sam or toppy!Patrick appeal to me for probably obvious reasons.

However, in general I think it's more the case of adding something of myself to the characters. E.g. Ash is certainly coming more and more like I would like to be if I was half as cool... *gg*

[oikku.livejournal.com]

In the sixth grade my best friend and I wrote a play about Santa Clause’s Wedding Anniversary that was performed at the school Christmas celebration.


omg. :D i wrote a christmas school play in the 3rd grade with a friend. it was about santa's beard turning green on christmas eve, and i played mrs. santa. and that's about all i can remember, ha.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

See in our play Santa forgets about his wedding anniversary because it's on Christmas Eve. Then there's domestic drama. But a happy ending. Awwww...

[claudia-writes.livejournal.com]

Dud. You made me feel like wallowing so totally stealing this. Also, I love reading about other people's processes.

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

steal away! I too find the differences and similarities in other people's writing processes fascinating, so will be keeping an eye out.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I recognised the bit of To Cast A Hundred Stones, too!

I loved the Sudden Storm fic, and the SGA Santa one and the one where everything happened backwards (can't remember the name).

I haven't time to comment in depth so instead I'll save this and try to remember to do it myself when I get home. Nudge me.

And keep whoring your fics in my direction - it's heaven to get some really good grammar for a change!

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

To Cast A Hundred Stones is not abandoned... chapter 3 is 2/3 done and will be passed to you for beta once it's finished.

The one where evertyhing happend backwards was "every line is the second last", the SPN one.

You should totally do this meme, I find reading about other people's writing processes fascinating.

[dark-cygnet.livejournal.com]

Damn, and here i was hoping to see a snippet from YA. *sneef* Email me, missy! xoxoxo

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

omg, YA comes under that "haven't touched for ages but still not officially abandoned" heading... *hides*

I'm off to Finalnd for two weeks, will try to email you whilst there hun. And will send you a card too! *hugs tightly*