writing without a notebook
Feb. 16th, 2017 10:26 pmso I’m on the bus going to work. So on the bus, you can go away with the fairies and imagine a story. Not a currently-being-written story, because it's awfully frustrating when you go down an idea you really want to record but you don't have a notebook. So I make up stories on the spot, indulgent, fun, fluffy, fics, an’ watch.
Presumably, I must look a little goaßgschau.
So Little toddler Merlin bumps into a Companion (a Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar Companion). And he’s like, Ooooh Horsie. The Companion, we’ll call him Dav, is indulging cute little Merlin, letting him stroke his nose. And then Merlin *looks* (because he’s Merlin), and goes Not-Horsie, which catches the Companion’s attention.
Merlin’s *looking* at Dav, the Not-horsie made of many people. There’s a string of people shapes like cut out silhouettes stacked up behind each other – if you get what I mean. They’re glowing.
No, goes Dav, not many people.
Merlin can’t encapsulate it, he’s three but they’re silhouettes from the same light. One silhouette at the fore – Dav. The same light different forms.
Like water, Merlin thinks. Water in the lake. Water falling from the sky. Water evaporating into the air. It’s all water. Letting Dav see how his magic touches the cycle of rain as it changes.
Dav goes “*&^%$% &^)( ^%”£~@ I need to talk to your, mam. Gaius!!!!!” Gaius is his herald. The King’s Own Herald for King Uther Pendragon, who is a bit of a bastard, because he is, but not an intolerantly hateful way as in the TV series, because he’s a herald. He’s not the best Herald in the world, but he has a really punitive firestarting gift, which is useful (at times), but zero telepathy and can’t talk to his long suffering companion. Luckily, he’s also got Gaius as his conscience.
Gaius is visiting his sister Hunith and nephew Merlin. And he’s like *&^^& MAGE GIFT? NO ()*@~#6&%<>
Dav’s going No seriously, I’m really surprised that he hasn’t warped reality since as far as he is concerned anything is possible, ‘cos he’s three.
“Shit,” goes Gaius, “because this is really serious, we have to talk him to Haven, and get him under the shields of a Herald Mage.” The only people who can possibly foster a powerful mage child such as Merlin are Reincarnated Vanyel Ashkevron and Stefen. I possibly cackled inwardly when this popped up.
So, Yes! Merlin’s going to Haven. Where there is, of course, a bullying, micromanaging Prince Arthur, who is unlikely to become a Herald because he’s a bullying, micromanaging tool. Unless he changes….
Then my bus stop came up.
The end.
Heh hehe
Presumably, I must look a little goaßgschau.
So Little toddler Merlin bumps into a Companion (a Mercedes Lackey’s Valdemar Companion). And he’s like, Ooooh Horsie. The Companion, we’ll call him Dav, is indulging cute little Merlin, letting him stroke his nose. And then Merlin *looks* (because he’s Merlin), and goes Not-Horsie, which catches the Companion’s attention.
Merlin’s *looking* at Dav, the Not-horsie made of many people. There’s a string of people shapes like cut out silhouettes stacked up behind each other – if you get what I mean. They’re glowing.
No, goes Dav, not many people.
Merlin can’t encapsulate it, he’s three but they’re silhouettes from the same light. One silhouette at the fore – Dav. The same light different forms.
Like water, Merlin thinks. Water in the lake. Water falling from the sky. Water evaporating into the air. It’s all water. Letting Dav see how his magic touches the cycle of rain as it changes.
Dav goes “*&^%$% &^)( ^%”£~@ I need to talk to your, mam. Gaius!!!!!” Gaius is his herald. The King’s Own Herald for King Uther Pendragon, who is a bit of a bastard, because he is, but not an intolerantly hateful way as in the TV series, because he’s a herald. He’s not the best Herald in the world, but he has a really punitive firestarting gift, which is useful (at times), but zero telepathy and can’t talk to his long suffering companion. Luckily, he’s also got Gaius as his conscience.
Gaius is visiting his sister Hunith and nephew Merlin. And he’s like *&^^& MAGE GIFT? NO ()*@~#6&%<>
Dav’s going No seriously, I’m really surprised that he hasn’t warped reality since as far as he is concerned anything is possible, ‘cos he’s three.
“Shit,” goes Gaius, “because this is really serious, we have to talk him to Haven, and get him under the shields of a Herald Mage.” The only people who can possibly foster a powerful mage child such as Merlin are Reincarnated Vanyel Ashkevron and Stefen. I possibly cackled inwardly when this popped up.
So, Yes! Merlin’s going to Haven. Where there is, of course, a bullying, micromanaging Prince Arthur, who is unlikely to become a Herald because he’s a bullying, micromanaging tool. Unless he changes….
Then my bus stop came up.
The end.
Heh hehe
question meme thing
Sep. 14th, 2016 07:54 amI snaffled this from
sholio, it looks interesting. Basically, pick a question or two, and leave it in the comments.
1. How did you come up with the title to [insert fic]?
2. Any of your stories inspired by personal experience?
3. What character do you identify with most?
4. Is there a song or a playlist to associate with [insert fic]?
5. If you wrote a sequel to [insert fic], what would it be about?
6. Care to share a favorite hurt/comfort fic?
7. Care to share a favorite crack fic?
8. How would you describe your style?
9. Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (reading or writing)?
10. Write or describe an alternative ending to [insert fic].
11. What's the angstiest idea you've ever come up with?
12. What's the weirdest AU you've ever come up with?
13. Got any premises on the back burner that you'd care to share?
14. Is there a fic you wish someone else would write (or finish) for you?
15. How do you begin a story--with the plot, or the characters?
16. Are you what George R. R. Martin would call an "architect" or a "gardener"? (How much do you plan in advance, versus letting the story unfold as you go?)
17. Do you have any discarded scenes/storylines/projects?
18. Are there any writers (fanfic or otherwise) you consider an influence?
19. Any fandom tropes you can't resist?
20. Any fandom tropes you can't stand?
21. A pairing you might like to write for, but haven't tried yet.
22. A secondary (or underrated) character you want to see more of in fic?
23. Do you like more general prompts, or more specific ones?
24. A character you enjoy making suffer.
25. A character you want to protect.
26. Major character death--do you ever write/read it? Is there a character whose death you can't tolerate?
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
1. How did you come up with the title to [insert fic]?
2. Any of your stories inspired by personal experience?
3. What character do you identify with most?
4. Is there a song or a playlist to associate with [insert fic]?
5. If you wrote a sequel to [insert fic], what would it be about?
6. Care to share a favorite hurt/comfort fic?
7. Care to share a favorite crack fic?
8. How would you describe your style?
9. Do you have a guilty pleasure in fic (reading or writing)?
10. Write or describe an alternative ending to [insert fic].
11. What's the angstiest idea you've ever come up with?
12. What's the weirdest AU you've ever come up with?
13. Got any premises on the back burner that you'd care to share?
14. Is there a fic you wish someone else would write (or finish) for you?
15. How do you begin a story--with the plot, or the characters?
16. Are you what George R. R. Martin would call an "architect" or a "gardener"? (How much do you plan in advance, versus letting the story unfold as you go?)
17. Do you have any discarded scenes/storylines/projects?
18. Are there any writers (fanfic or otherwise) you consider an influence?
19. Any fandom tropes you can't resist?
20. Any fandom tropes you can't stand?
21. A pairing you might like to write for, but haven't tried yet.
22. A secondary (or underrated) character you want to see more of in fic?
23. Do you like more general prompts, or more specific ones?
24. A character you enjoy making suffer.
25. A character you want to protect.
26. Major character death--do you ever write/read it? Is there a character whose death you can't tolerate?
the title of this post
Apr. 29th, 2016 09:54 amhttp://timepetalsprompts.tumblr.com/post/141927700332/how-to-win-over-a-writer-aka-how-to-get-a-fanfic
The advice reads well, a fic writer can get lovely feedback, which makes their day and inspires them to write.
But the intent and phrasing -- the goal in the title is to manipulate someone into doing something for you.
The advice reads well, a fic writer can get lovely feedback, which makes their day and inspires them to write.
But the intent and phrasing -- the goal in the title is to manipulate someone into doing something for you.
fic writing processes
Aug. 28th, 2015 06:58 pmSo as folk who read this journal know I write stuff in long hand sometimes (http://jimandblair.livejournal.com/175243.html) and then type it into the wip Word.doc. I’m currently working on the next story in the ‘Uhane series – yes, I know, I was supposedly finished with it.
Today, I had the opportunity to pull out my notebook and pen some text. I also went back and read some of the previous scribbles.
Interestingly, whilst I had written some earlier text, I had forgot to transcribe it into the Word.doc. And in the meantime, I had (previously) revisited that part of the story in my Word.doc. Does that make sense?
Compare and contrast? FYI, Danny’s suffering from hypothermia
( two separate paragraphs of the same thing. )
Today, I had the opportunity to pull out my notebook and pen some text. I also went back and read some of the previous scribbles.
Interestingly, whilst I had written some earlier text, I had forgot to transcribe it into the Word.doc. And in the meantime, I had (previously) revisited that part of the story in my Word.doc. Does that make sense?
Compare and contrast? FYI, Danny’s suffering from hypothermia
( two separate paragraphs of the same thing. )
Seven Lines Meme
Jun. 9th, 2015 06:35 pmMy mate
springwoof tagged for the 7 lines meme. If you haven't seen this on your list yet: if you're tagged, you are supposed to go to page 7 (or page 77 in a longer work) of your WIP and then select 7 lines to post. Then you tag 7 other people and spread the hilarity.
Apparently, generally, sort of… most people playing haven't stuck strictly to 7 lines. I’ve chosen 7 paragraphs, so to speak
( h50-TS fusion page 7. )
And because I have an evil streak; here’s seven paragraphs from page 37
( h50-TS fusion page 37. )
Hmmm, who to tag. No pressure, if you don’t feel like playing, please feel free not too.
kristen999,
laylalawlor,
fluterbev
simplyn2deep
imaginary_iby
lavvyan
aries_taurus
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Apparently, generally, sort of… most people playing haven't stuck strictly to 7 lines. I’ve chosen 7 paragraphs, so to speak
( h50-TS fusion page 7. )
And because I have an evil streak; here’s seven paragraphs from page 37
( h50-TS fusion page 37. )
Hmmm, who to tag. No pressure, if you don’t feel like playing, please feel free not too.
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
Writing methods: plotting ?
Apr. 12th, 2015 05:19 pmA question: detailed outlines versus making it up as you go along?
I’m totally the latter.
If I had a detailed outline, I wouldn't need to write the fic, cos there would be nothing to explore. The story's in my head, but if I dwell on it in its entirety, I wouldn't write it. I've never written down outlines/skeletons. I have brief notes/collections of lines/'remember this, doofus!'. There are some really distinct 3D scenes that I look forward to writing e.g. Evolution Wins
I liken it to I know the destination, but the route is... kinda... that way, probably. And that's the way that we're going, and the DESTINATION is there.
Oh, and we need a spaceship?!?
I've had lots of fic in my head that blossomed in their entirety. There was supernatural/highlander crossover that was about people in one the supernatural little townships who were incredibly long lived because they had captured an immortal and had basically tapped and drank his blood. The immortals that they harvested didn't last forever because they believed eating brains was also important -- brain feast for the win, so they always had an eye out for another immortal. Methos came to the town to investigate Duncan's disappearance. Same time as Dean and Sam popped by. The villagers were, of course, going insane à la the Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Sam and Dead think that Methos is a hunter, and he's like oh fuck, hunters, but hey I'm going to have some fun with this -- and they can do all the legwork.
good fic -- haven't written a word of it. Don't need to.
I’m totally the latter.
If I had a detailed outline, I wouldn't need to write the fic, cos there would be nothing to explore. The story's in my head, but if I dwell on it in its entirety, I wouldn't write it. I've never written down outlines/skeletons. I have brief notes/collections of lines/'remember this, doofus!'. There are some really distinct 3D scenes that I look forward to writing e.g. Evolution Wins
I liken it to I know the destination, but the route is... kinda... that way, probably. And that's the way that we're going, and the DESTINATION is there.
Oh, and we need a spaceship?!?
I've had lots of fic in my head that blossomed in their entirety. There was supernatural/highlander crossover that was about people in one the supernatural little townships who were incredibly long lived because they had captured an immortal and had basically tapped and drank his blood. The immortals that they harvested didn't last forever because they believed eating brains was also important -- brain feast for the win, so they always had an eye out for another immortal. Methos came to the town to investigate Duncan's disappearance. Same time as Dean and Sam popped by. The villagers were, of course, going insane à la the Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease. Sam and Dead think that Methos is a hunter, and he's like oh fuck, hunters, but hey I'm going to have some fun with this -- and they can do all the legwork.
good fic -- haven't written a word of it. Don't need to.
figment.com for writers?
Jan. 6th, 2015 06:04 pmA mate's asked me if figment.com is suitable for a 14 year old story writer to explore, write and play in?
I've rooted around a little, and it's seems pretty generic, with a content policy which appears to be suitable for a 14 year old. And the platform sells itself for young adult writers. However, I'm not entirely sure if writing on Figment makes the content "Figment Content" i.e. Figment.com owns the IP.
Anyone know anything good or bad about Figment.com which isn't in the FAQs?
ta
I've rooted around a little, and it's seems pretty generic, with a content policy which appears to be suitable for a 14 year old. And the platform sells itself for young adult writers. However, I'm not entirely sure if writing on Figment makes the content "Figment Content" i.e. Figment.com owns the IP.
Anyone know anything good or bad about Figment.com which isn't in the FAQs?
ta
Writing The Co-operative
Jul. 13th, 2013 09:39 amSo I was interested to track how writing changed from preliminary concept to posting. So I changed the colour of a section of text, and when it was edited/modified as I worked on The Co-operative, I made a record of the change(s). I don’t know if other peeps are interested but this is how a section of text from chapter 68 evolved over time.
First thoughts: normally not on a computer – scribbles on whatever is to hand, from back of post-its to old recipes.
[how long is this going to last] [not long, I guess, it wasn’t forecasted so I figure it’s a small storm cell] grey windows[relatively small stromcell, it will run out of gas]
( more. )
First thoughts: normally not on a computer – scribbles on whatever is to hand, from back of post-its to old recipes.
[how long is this going to last] [not long, I guess, it wasn’t forecasted so I figure it’s a small storm cell] grey windows[relatively small stromcell, it will run out of gas]
( more. )
(no subject)
Sep. 9th, 2007 06:17 pmI’ve been musing on this topic a wee bit as of late. Brits writing Americans and Americans writing Brits, we can a soupçon of Canadian to the mix.
( snipped for pondering. )
( snipped for pondering. )