Writing and whatnot
Jul. 22nd, 2010 07:58 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
errant_janeI should be writing, but I am to sleepy, so I decided to write about writing instead. I'm rather pants at being insightful about the writing process, but OH WELL. I did it anyway. I have been known to go great lengths to avoid doing things I actually need to do. And now it's almost bedtime! \o/
I stole this from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
amonitrate, I believe.
1. How often do you write and how do you feel about your output?
Ideally, I would write something daily. It doesn't usually work out that way, of course. Some weeks I'll write something every day, some weeks, I won't write at all. A lot depends on how shit work has been that week as much as anything else. (I hate my job)
2. Where does your inspiration come from? Where do you get your ideas?
Sometimes form conversations/emails/comments/posts, sometimes from the show. Sometimes I will be brushing my teeth and a bit of dialogue will pop into my head. That happens a lot actually. And "brushing my teeth" is not a placeholder here for mundane, everyday activities. It is specifically when I'm brushing my teeth. IDK. My brain.
Example: I wrote Though There's Nothing Left To Say because I was brushing my teeth and the line The first time Dean kisses Sam, he whispers, "This won't last forever." popped into my head.
3. What are the first things you write? Dialogue? Sex? Something else?
The first things I write is the beginning. Then I work through the middle to the end. When I have very specific ideas about how I want a certain scene to go, I still don't write it until I come to that scene in the story. Even with a story like When It's Done, I wrote that from beginning to end as is (vs. writing the scenes in chronological order and then rearranging them).
4. How have you improved this past six months/year?
Well, it has definitely improved. How specifically, I'm not sure. When I started writing again after my (3 year, crap!) hiatus, it was really, really difficult to get anything down. My flow is much better now, and I think my writing is a lot tighter than it was. Big Bang helped with that quite a bit, as I tried to be very contentious of it.
5. Why do you write?
It's fun! I really do enjoy storytelling, and I love being part of the creative community that fandom is. Before I started writing fic, I always told myself elaborate stories as I was falling asleep at night. When I found fandom they turned into fannish stories (vs. epic Mary Sue stories – Don't you judge me!). Then I was like, "Wait, I could totally write these down…" That was my junior year of college. I changed my major after that.
(Q: Would you say your life has been unduly influenced by fandom? A: No, I wouldn't say that at all! What an odd question. Why would you ask that?)
6. Do you go through highs and lows? What are the triggers?
Of course. Are there people who don't? Triggers are RL stress (moving, ack!), work, being tired. Or sometimes I'll go on a reading binge, and I have trouble reading and writing at the same time. (That is, reading fic at the same time I'm working on a story. Not as in, "I type the words on the screen but I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN!!!")
7. Do people in RL know you write slash/fic?
Well, I know fannies people IRL. Does that count? I've told a handful of RL people at some point or another about it, but as a general rule it isn't something I share with the class.
8. Where do you write?
Wherever my computer is. Most often on the couch. Sometimes in bed. Somewhere relatively comfortable if I can manage it. Less distractions that way. I don't do as well at a desk/table for whatever reason.
9. Does music help or hinder?
I am totally a sing-along girl with music, so I absolutely CANNOT have it playing while I'm trying to write. However, I will often make playlists to listen to when I'm not writing to brainstorm. I listened to the playlist I made for my BB every day at work for like four months. On my ipod I also have a Sam/Dean playlist and a S5 playlist. (I like musics?)
10. What are your props?
Sock puppes, two ears of corn and a dildo. What props? I totally don't understand this question. Ken dolls to see if that position is actually possible, perhaps? Jensen is much more flexible than Ken, as it turns out...
11. How seriously do you take your writing/ the writing process?
Well, as I rarely take myself seriously in general, not very? I mean, I suppose I have a process of sorts, but I don't know that I have a ~process~.
12. What are your strengths?
Dialogue is something I've always had an easier time with. It is often the first part of a story that comes to me. I actually do hear the conversations in my head. Inflection, etc. That's not weird, right?
13. What are your weaknesses?
Action and description. I think in words, phrases, dialogue, etc. I have a really difficult time visualizing things (this holds true for when I'm reading as well). So I have to make an effort to describe what's going on beyond the conversation and/or the character's thoughts/emotions. I'm really bad about anchoring a scene/story somewhere physical.
14. If you beta, what do you get out of it?
Like, if I beta someone else's story? I get to make demands on what I want to see, squee about specific parts I like in the body of the text and smite all the ellipses. And read the story before anyone else gets to.
15. What do you write?
Stories that I make up. Next question.
16. Which fic have you written that felt like bungee-jumping – you really had to feel the fear and jump?
Ummm, my BB, I guess? I had any number of freakouts about it ranging from valid concerns to a few fairly ludicrous ones. You should pity those who bore the brunt of my "episodes". (i.e.:rhythmsextion)
17. How do you feel about comments?
I love them more than can be textually rendered. I am always tickled beyond belief when someone likes something I've written. I can get horribly behind on responding to them, but I am truly gleeful and grateful for feedback. Otherwise I wouldn't post. I would just tell myself stories in my head. This holds especially true if it's something funny. I LOVE making people laugh. I really really do.
Hi, I'm an Aries! I am motivated by attention, positive feedback and/or being told I can't do something.
18. Do you give other writers feedback? Why/why not?
Not nearly as often as I should. I am quite often HORRIBLE at articulating why I enjoyed something, so I always feel at a loss in flaily glee when I've read a story I enjoy. And sometimes I'm a little intimidated. I'm MUCH better about it once I'm friends with someone. IDK, internet social anxiety?
19. What is the indicator for you that your fic was a success/worked?
For me or for other people? What an odd question. I guess if I get a few comments that are specifically about what I was trying to do with a story, I consider it a success.
As an example, there were several things I wanted to accomplish with my BB and I got at least a few comments on each of those points that made me feel as though I'd succeeded.
So, hm. Yeah, as far as that goes. On a personal level, the indicator that a story works is when I'm done writing it. If I've come to the end, I've told the story I wanted to tell, so I succeeded. GO ME! \o/
20. Do you write in the genre you like reading the most, ie crack, AU, angst etc?
Not necessarily. Well, hmm. Often, the stories I write fall under the "this is not getting written enough to satisfy me, therefore I shall have to do it myself!" category. As I am best suited to cater to my own tastes. So a lot of times the things I read are the things I can't or have no interest in writing. But that's not a hard and fast rule either. Clear as mud?
21. Do you write a straight through draft or is your first attempt bits and pieces?
I write straight through.
22. What is it about this fandom that is eating your brain?
SAMANDDEAN SAMANDDEAN SAMANDDEAN!! I love them! I love everything about them! They had me from the airing of the pilot and I still get that fluttery excited feeling of love Love LOVE when I think about them. And on the flip side, those Jared and Jensen dudes don't suck.
23. Is this your first time, or are you a serial monogomar with fandoms?
This is the first fandom I was in at the very beginning. Before that I lurked in Highlander and I wrote in Smallville for several years, but didn't join the fandom until the end of the first season. Supernatural had me at hello, and it's been my biggest love by far.
24. Do you do drabbles, comment fic, challenges with deadlines – and how do you get on with these?
Sometimes. Sometimes not. It all really depends on the challenge, my motivation, inspiration, the phase of the moon and whether or not my sock puppets are clean. I am capricious.
25. Anything else?
Nope, I'm good. How about you? Some tea and biscuits, perhaps?
Ahahhaha, I'll be impressed if anyone made it to the end of that.
I stole this from
amonitrate, I believe. 1. How often do you write and how do you feel about your output?
Ideally, I would write something daily. It doesn't usually work out that way, of course. Some weeks I'll write something every day, some weeks, I won't write at all. A lot depends on how shit work has been that week as much as anything else. (I hate my job)
2. Where does your inspiration come from? Where do you get your ideas?
Sometimes form conversations/emails/comments/posts, sometimes from the show. Sometimes I will be brushing my teeth and a bit of dialogue will pop into my head. That happens a lot actually. And "brushing my teeth" is not a placeholder here for mundane, everyday activities. It is specifically when I'm brushing my teeth. IDK. My brain.
Example: I wrote Though There's Nothing Left To Say because I was brushing my teeth and the line The first time Dean kisses Sam, he whispers, "This won't last forever." popped into my head.
3. What are the first things you write? Dialogue? Sex? Something else?
The first things I write is the beginning. Then I work through the middle to the end. When I have very specific ideas about how I want a certain scene to go, I still don't write it until I come to that scene in the story. Even with a story like When It's Done, I wrote that from beginning to end as is (vs. writing the scenes in chronological order and then rearranging them).
4. How have you improved this past six months/year?
Well, it has definitely improved. How specifically, I'm not sure. When I started writing again after my (3 year, crap!) hiatus, it was really, really difficult to get anything down. My flow is much better now, and I think my writing is a lot tighter than it was. Big Bang helped with that quite a bit, as I tried to be very contentious of it.
5. Why do you write?
It's fun! I really do enjoy storytelling, and I love being part of the creative community that fandom is. Before I started writing fic, I always told myself elaborate stories as I was falling asleep at night. When I found fandom they turned into fannish stories (vs. epic Mary Sue stories – Don't you judge me!). Then I was like, "Wait, I could totally write these down…" That was my junior year of college. I changed my major after that.
(Q: Would you say your life has been unduly influenced by fandom? A: No, I wouldn't say that at all! What an odd question. Why would you ask that?)
6. Do you go through highs and lows? What are the triggers?
Of course. Are there people who don't? Triggers are RL stress (moving, ack!), work, being tired. Or sometimes I'll go on a reading binge, and I have trouble reading and writing at the same time. (That is, reading fic at the same time I'm working on a story. Not as in, "I type the words on the screen but I DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN!!!")
7. Do people in RL know you write slash/fic?
Well, I know fannies people IRL. Does that count? I've told a handful of RL people at some point or another about it, but as a general rule it isn't something I share with the class.
8. Where do you write?
Wherever my computer is. Most often on the couch. Sometimes in bed. Somewhere relatively comfortable if I can manage it. Less distractions that way. I don't do as well at a desk/table for whatever reason.
9. Does music help or hinder?
I am totally a sing-along girl with music, so I absolutely CANNOT have it playing while I'm trying to write. However, I will often make playlists to listen to when I'm not writing to brainstorm. I listened to the playlist I made for my BB every day at work for like four months. On my ipod I also have a Sam/Dean playlist and a S5 playlist. (I like musics?)
10. What are your props?
Sock puppes, two ears of corn and a dildo. What props? I totally don't understand this question. Ken dolls to see if that position is actually possible, perhaps? Jensen is much more flexible than Ken, as it turns out...
11. How seriously do you take your writing/ the writing process?
Well, as I rarely take myself seriously in general, not very? I mean, I suppose I have a process of sorts, but I don't know that I have a ~process~.
12. What are your strengths?
Dialogue is something I've always had an easier time with. It is often the first part of a story that comes to me. I actually do hear the conversations in my head. Inflection, etc. That's not weird, right?
13. What are your weaknesses?
Action and description. I think in words, phrases, dialogue, etc. I have a really difficult time visualizing things (this holds true for when I'm reading as well). So I have to make an effort to describe what's going on beyond the conversation and/or the character's thoughts/emotions. I'm really bad about anchoring a scene/story somewhere physical.
14. If you beta, what do you get out of it?
Like, if I beta someone else's story? I get to make demands on what I want to see, squee about specific parts I like in the body of the text and smite all the ellipses. And read the story before anyone else gets to.
15. What do you write?
Stories that I make up. Next question.
16. Which fic have you written that felt like bungee-jumping – you really had to feel the fear and jump?
Ummm, my BB, I guess? I had any number of freakouts about it ranging from valid concerns to a few fairly ludicrous ones. You should pity those who bore the brunt of my "episodes". (i.e.:
rhythmsextion)17. How do you feel about comments?
I love them more than can be textually rendered. I am always tickled beyond belief when someone likes something I've written. I can get horribly behind on responding to them, but I am truly gleeful and grateful for feedback. Otherwise I wouldn't post. I would just tell myself stories in my head. This holds especially true if it's something funny. I LOVE making people laugh. I really really do.
Hi, I'm an Aries! I am motivated by attention, positive feedback and/or being told I can't do something.
18. Do you give other writers feedback? Why/why not?
Not nearly as often as I should. I am quite often HORRIBLE at articulating why I enjoyed something, so I always feel at a loss in flaily glee when I've read a story I enjoy. And sometimes I'm a little intimidated. I'm MUCH better about it once I'm friends with someone. IDK, internet social anxiety?
19. What is the indicator for you that your fic was a success/worked?
For me or for other people? What an odd question. I guess if I get a few comments that are specifically about what I was trying to do with a story, I consider it a success.
As an example, there were several things I wanted to accomplish with my BB and I got at least a few comments on each of those points that made me feel as though I'd succeeded.
So, hm. Yeah, as far as that goes. On a personal level, the indicator that a story works is when I'm done writing it. If I've come to the end, I've told the story I wanted to tell, so I succeeded. GO ME! \o/
20. Do you write in the genre you like reading the most, ie crack, AU, angst etc?
Not necessarily. Well, hmm. Often, the stories I write fall under the "this is not getting written enough to satisfy me, therefore I shall have to do it myself!" category. As I am best suited to cater to my own tastes. So a lot of times the things I read are the things I can't or have no interest in writing. But that's not a hard and fast rule either. Clear as mud?
21. Do you write a straight through draft or is your first attempt bits and pieces?
I write straight through.
22. What is it about this fandom that is eating your brain?
SAMANDDEAN SAMANDDEAN SAMANDDEAN!! I love them! I love everything about them! They had me from the airing of the pilot and I still get that fluttery excited feeling of love Love LOVE when I think about them. And on the flip side, those Jared and Jensen dudes don't suck.
23. Is this your first time, or are you a serial monogomar with fandoms?
This is the first fandom I was in at the very beginning. Before that I lurked in Highlander and I wrote in Smallville for several years, but didn't join the fandom until the end of the first season. Supernatural had me at hello, and it's been my biggest love by far.
24. Do you do drabbles, comment fic, challenges with deadlines – and how do you get on with these?
Sometimes. Sometimes not. It all really depends on the challenge, my motivation, inspiration, the phase of the moon and whether or not my sock puppets are clean. I am capricious.
25. Anything else?
Nope, I'm good. How about you? Some tea and biscuits, perhaps?
Ahahhaha, I'll be impressed if anyone made it to the end of that.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-23 01:22 am (UTC)But you used it! I applaud you. ♥
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-23 01:50 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-23 02:16 am (UTC)SAMANDDEAN SAMANDDEAN SAMANDDEAN!! I love them! I love everything about them! They had me from the airing of the pilot and I still get that fluttery excited feeling of love Love LOVE when I think about them. And on the flip side, those Jared and Jensen dudes don't suck.
That is the ONLY reason I write, although I haven't written anything new in a while. There is just something about those boys that just GET TO ME. IDEK. But this show and this fandom have taken over my life. It's sad in a sincerely happy sort of way. ;)
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-25 05:32 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-23 03:49 am (UTC)We're both pretty similar in our ~process~, which I found interesting if not completely surprising. HEE. Except I think I have an easier time with action stuff than I do with dialogue. GIVE ME YOUR DIALOGUE MOJO. I AM IN NEED.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-25 05:34 pm (UTC)I WILL TRADE YOU SOME DIALOGUE MOJO FOR SOME OF YOUR PORN MOJO? I feel like maybe we're going that way already?
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-25 07:11 pm (UTC)Dude. One day I will MAKE you believe that you write awesome porn. Maybe you just need to write MORE of it to come to terms with it...
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-25 05:43 pm (UTC)The thing is, like, I was a creative writing major in school and there really isn't a correct ~process~ aside from the one that works for you. You can have writing exercises out the wahoo, but it really comes down to your own personal thing. Which isn't to say it doesn't take a certain amount of discipline (Which I generally very much LACK), but I don't realy think there's a UR DOIN' IT WRONG.
Yes! I think for me it's a matter of, if I'm absorbed in someone else's world, I have a hard time focusing on my own. I do think there are probably some influence issues there as well.
See, that's completely fascinating to me! (And totally awesome!) I cannot visualize for crap! Definitely not when I'm writing. I mean, sometimes I will think about a certain scene and try and picture it over and over before I attempt to write it, but it's a definite challenge for me. My brain just doesn't work like that. (This carries over into, like, decorating and stuff too. I can look at something and think, "Oh, that's pretty" or "That looks good there" but I can't put it together myself, if that makes sense?)
Aww, well thank you for reading it!!
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-24 03:22 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-25 05:45 pm (UTC)That aside, there's always the chance that the way the story unfolds affects the scene I have in mind, so it might not end up playing out quite like I'd anticipated. It's far easier for me to write straight through.
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-24 04:38 pm (UTC)I would love some tea and biscuits, thank you! :>
Also, this:
Not nearly as often as I should. I am quite often HORRIBLE at articulating why I enjoyed something, so I always feel at a loss in flaily glee when I've read a story I enjoy. And sometimes I'm a little intimidated. I'm MUCH better about it once I'm friends with someone. IDK, internet social anxiety?
This is totally me, too. *facepalm*
(no subject)
Date: 2010-07-25 05:52 pm (UTC)Ahhhh, what is it about that? Like, I think part of it is that I'm worried my enthusiasm for something isn't enthusiastic enough? Or smart and insightful enough. Which is dumb because I figure most people enjoy being told that someone liked their work, so, argh. It's a constant project for me to COMMENT MORE.