Annual Writing Self-Evaluation
*All answers should be about works published in 2017.(That’s ok! First time I ever wrote for public consumption was in May!!)
Tagged by these beauties, Jess @sfjessii & Nan @nanf1c! OK! My therapeutic thirteen questions start.....NOW! XX
1. List of works published this year:
Driving Him Insane
Love, Spoken And Unspoken
More Precious Than Gold (The Lightwood-Banes)
Selling ‘The Dream!’
Your Full Attention
Breakfast Is Served
‘Twas The Morning After Christmas
Santa’s Little Helper
Alec’s Birthday Wish
2. Work you are most proud of (and why): Whilst having the courage to post DHI gave me a sense of pride, I feel my biggest accomplishment was MPTG, purely because I needed to thread a handful of relationships together and make a realistic family out of them, who happened to be enjoying a make-believe moment! My most detailed fic, imo!
3. Work you are least proud of (and why): My laughably fastidious approach to writing won’t allow me to post anything I’m unhappy with, so I’m actually proud of them all, but running out of time to incorporate ALL the ideas I wanted included in some would be my only regret!
4. A favourite excerpt of your writing: Lord this sounds positively narcissistic! But if push came to shove, I would have to say the introduction of Max and Rafe in MPTG....
Five year old Max tugged at his impossibly large hand, cupping little fingers to his cherubic mouth as their new recruit knelt down dutifully to listen. ‘He’s not Papa, he’s Captain Cat Eyes and he wants our gold!’ Blue eyes shone with glee as hazel ones looked suitably afraid. ‘What should we do?’ he asked fearfully, as Rafe threw his arms around them both to form a huddle. With authority belying his tender age of seven, his eldest replied, ‘We have to take him prisoner!’ looking over his shoulder at what used to be the living room.
5. Share or describe a favourite comment you received: While close friends’ comments are truly touching, it’s the ones from people you don’t expect that surprise you in THE BEST way, especially when they tell you how and why it’s memorable for them...
SmudleyKAM (Having read MPTG) This was simply adorable. That elaborate pirate-world setup is 1000% something Magnus would do with their kids, and it's so very endearing. I can totally understand why Alec would melt with contentment and love the moment he stepped foot in the loft and realized what was going on. The details in this were gorgeous. You've written the kids so realistically and heartwarming. Oh, and all that love and lust and banter between Alec and Magnus at the end just slayed me. But, wow, the most surprising part of the fic was the little mystery of the lullaby and the reveal, the memory it triggered, just socked me so hard in the feels I'll be remembering this fic for *ages*. Thank you so much for sharing this with us!
6. A time when writing was really, really hard: Anytime I write the first page or so of a fic that gets unavoidably interrupted, and I have to try and recapture the momentum that fuelled it in the first place.
7. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you: Oh this is easy, it’s BIS! Ever diligent in my prep, I’d noted each step of my roleplay scenario only for said scenario to jump headfirst out of the window as soon as Alec clapped eyes on Magnus in his ‘Welcome to the Prince of Hell’s Kitchen’ apron!
8. How did you grow as a writer this year: I learned to play to my apparent strengths - humour and the physicality of a character!
9. How do you hope to grow next year: I will challenge myself to write fics that differ from what is expected of me!
10. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc): Without doubt, it’s Britt! I have a small but special group of supporters that say the loveliest things about my humble efforts but it’s @blj2007 that listens to any ideas I have, gives me honest feedback, grits her teeth when I have a meltdown and is my champion cheerleader! So blame HER! ;-))
11. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year: The only two very ‘ME’ things that spring to mind are the love of poetry in LSAU and Disney’s Aladdin being a favourite film in ABW!
12. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers: If that line you’ve been so excited to use no longer fits the story you were creating, bank it for another time, don’t waste it! ;-)
13. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: I’m going to fling myself into the sun and finally write that musically-themed Malec multi-mini-chaptered story based on Britt’s favourite songs, but not before I sign, seal and deliver all my current wips into the public domain!
Tag writers whose answers you’d like to read: @blj2007, @menckenschrestomethy, @intangibel, @imawriteriwrite, @the-burning-tiger, @lemonoclefox