Someone asked where else I can be found, in case this place goes, ahem, t!ts up. I’m on Instagram, probably too much, and it’s not really what I want in a social medium, but I’m also aspiringpolymath over there. I have a twitter, but don’t do much with it these days. I’m endemictoearth over there.
I don’t like facebook and do as little as possible over there, so it’s not worth mentioning. In the same vein, I think I signed up for a dreamwidth account but have never used it, so . . .
I have a goodreads account, where you can judge me for reading too many Regency romance Christmas anthologies. (It really is too. many.)
I’ll mention my AO3 (endemictoearth) but most of the people who care about it probably already know about it.
But they’re going to have to shut this place down around me. And if I find another place, I’ll update this post.
endemictoearth reblogged your photoset “halsteadsass: I was just thinkin’"
Jesus, missus. Those tags! I LOVE your idea about Archie being the catalyst for this. It just makes SO MUCH SENSE. I’m immersed in this bit at the moment as well you know, and I love that after all this time, there are still new things to be found and thought and felt. You’ve certainly given me lots to think about. God, I love our show.
In response to your response As threatened, it’s long and rambly and of no interest to any outside of the two of us. At least I hope you find it interesting. Either way, it’s going under a cut.
There are too many ‘I’s’ and not nearly enough ‘you’s’ in this and for that, I apologise. I’ve asked some extra questions and highlighted them, just in case you want to skip the waffle.
I love the line from the WIP. I can only suspect who this is describing and I don’t think I’ve ever seen that particular physical ‘attribute’ applied or addressed so directly to this character before and I applaud you for it.
I was going to reword question 18 before I included it but forgot to in my haste and greed. To me, the word ‘abandoned’ feels like an accusation, like a pointed finger, an added pressure. I think it’s thrown around by people without thinking of the implications it carries. I don’t think it’s a word that someone who writes would apply to themselves regarding work that they’re stuck on.
I know from posts that you’ve written, you don’t take writing lightly, and maybe I’m taking it too seriously but the amount of time and thought and words put into something with any kind of feeling or intention can’t truly be abandoned, can it?
They’re not buildings or burned out cars or shopping trolleys or puppies that no longer have purpose, they’re stories and sometimes things need to rest and simmer and what’s most needed is a little time and distance for a twist in perspective to come along so the way becomes clear. Having said all that, I have a number of ‘resting’ pieces myself which at times, can test the resolve and jangle the nerves. (Also, speaking as an avid recycler myself, I can recommend rehousing those good lines as an option. ;) )
You have me curious as to which pieces you are most proud of. Please feel free to share if the spirit moves you. ;)
Like you, I keep ideas close to my chest and for the same reason you give. It’s the struggle I tend to get vocal about when I need to vent. You don’t blather at all, you’re demure and contained and I love the fact you always encourage everyone to write it.
I like the sound of your WIP. I don’t think I’ve seen that premise before and I’m looking forward to your take on it.
Your collaboration was hugely successful and deeply, deeply loved. It was a massive undertaking when it was going to be written by two of you, especially when you consider the amount of research that must have gone into the time period and the photography aspect, and then after a certain point the onus was entirely on you. That’s a big ask for anyone and you did a fab job.
Collaborations are great. Collaborations are magical. Talking about writing, the germ of an idea, the discussions, the planning, the shared head canons and the initial excitement are all cracking. It is by far my most favourite bit. It’s the actual writing of it that’s sucks.
My one and only active writing collaboration was in a previous fandom and while it eventually worked out, it was a very long and stressful year of our lives. Differences in work patterns and processes, the waxing and waning of enthusiasms and fear of failure made it hard and sucked a lot of the joy out of it and a lot of that was down to me, I think. My brilliant partner had to drag me over the line and I didn’t write anything for a very long time after it was finished.
I think that may be why I enjoy beta-ing so much. I can have all those fabulous things and not have to do any of the heavy lifting.
I can give 110%, cheerfully and enthusiastically. Grammar, punctuation, structure, story line, character, cheerleading, handholding, sounding board, whatever’s needed, before, during and after, and at the end of it, I’m prouder than your mother at your school nativity play. For me there’s nothing better.
If by writing partner you mean someone who will step in and finish all my unfinished stuff, then I’ve got plenty of ideas. *laughs hysterically*
I’m equal parts thrilled, honoured and daunted by the idea of collaborating with you, even if you are only joking but honestly, I’m an albatross. I’d only hold you back. Oh, but the chats we could have. *sigh*
I concur with everything you said about the ‘spurring’. Motivation to continue is a killer, or should I say, the lack of motivation. I swing between wanting to finish for personal satisfaction and ‘why bother?’ it’s all been said, which leads (me) to obscure ideas about peripheral characters that no one wants to read about. I know people don’t want to hear it, but fandom’s on the wane so it sometimes feels like a useless endeavour, though for all my complaining, it hasn’t stopped me completely. I should probably learn to knit.
I did want to ask you what your experience was writing in a new fandom. Did the newness of it invigorate the process for you, make the experience more exciting? Did you feel less pressure because it was a new fandom and people would have no expectations of you?
Also, as part of that, do you think that with the (well earned) reputation you have for a high standard of writing, there is a certain expectation of yourself you carry and an expectation the reader has of you? Do you think it has an impact on your writing in this fandom in the form of undue pressure and which do you think is harder to contend with; your expectations or the reader’s?
Okay, that was pretty full-on. I imagine it feels like you’ve just be door-stopped. I’m sorry. Pretend I took a couple of breaths in between each question and if I’ve been too intrusive, please feel free to tell me to piss off.
Thank you so much for being up for listening to me go about this stuff. I appreciate you indulging me.
Rules: We’re snooping on your playlist. Set your entire music library on shuffle and report the first 10 songs that pop up. Then choose 10 victims.
I already did one of these but I figured being tagged by the very lovely @endemictoearth gave me the chance to maybe land on some tunes that might make me look cooler than the last lot did. I think it just makes me look old.
Never Tear Us Apart - INXS
Gossamer Thread - David Gray
Miami - Counting Crows
Waiting on a Friend - The Rolling Stones
These Days - Powderfinger (do you know about the Finger? They’re gone now but you should still have a listen. Soooo good.)
Here Comes the Night - Van Morrison
Money (Live) - Pink Floyd
Exchange - Massive Attack
Forever in my Life - Prince
Something I Can Never Have - Nine Inch Nails
No tags, no pack drill but do come and play if you’re feeling it. Let me see when you’re done though. xo
Do This: List all the things you’re currently working on in as much or as little detail as you’d like, then tag some friends to see what they’re working on. This can be writing, arts, gifsets, whatever.
I was tagged by that most dynamic of duos, @endemictoearth and @bitchy-broken, both beautiful and talented in equal measure. Thank you lovely Shawna, thank you lovely Dawn. xo
My WIP:-
No Ghost Can Shake You - the now ancient post-series 3 drunk phone call from Finn to Rae in her first term at Uni. I actually posted a snippet - some of you may remember Daisy - because I was convinced I would never finish it. Every now and then, I take it out and look at it. It’s not going to be what I wanted it to be, but I could maybe stitch it together and send it out into the world one day.
From the Ground Up - it’s the Archie-at-the-sexy-party thing that was suggested to my ‘scientific friend’ a couple of weeks back. I’m not sure if I’ve just shot my load completely on the whole sexy party thing, but while I have a couple of different ideas on how it could go, none of them are proving particularly fruitful.
Wonderland - Finn contemplating his love. There’s some stuff in there I quite like but I think it’s just too similar to The Only God I’ll Ever Need. I may end up using it for spare parts.
Neighbour - an observational fic from the POV of the lady in flat No. 3. Not much more than an exercise piece this one, really. Rest assured, it will never see the light of day.
Nameless Archie and Chloe piece - this could be an interesting one or just more of the same. This is where the bus porn - remember that? - ended up.
Nameless Angsty Post-series 3 Finn thing - what it says on the tin. Though, no one likes series three fics, do they? We suffered enough.
Nameless Angsty Series 1 Rae thing - before they get together, obviously.
This is just a sample. It feels like I’ve got hundreds of these things. Nameless orphans, collections of paragraphs that don’t end up going anywhere, though I’m bound to pick their bones at some point, so some of them may yet live. I’m all about recycling.
You know the deal, I’m not one for tagging but if you feel the urge to share your WIP’s, have at it and please tag me so I can see. Please and thank you. xo
endemictoearth mentioned madfatty in a post “shotgun - an mmfd fanfic #26”
madfatty : The first file on…
You make me blush, Shawna. I can’t thank you enough for your help with this one, your insights and suggestions were a godsend to getting this finished but even better than that was getting to talk (and laugh!) with you. You’re on speed-dial now, so you best believe missus you will be approached to work more of your magic. xo (excellent gif usage may I say)
I completely missed this loveliness, then @girl-looking-out-window liked the post and I went back to check on it and there it was. You know what I was saying about how people have always been kind, this is what I’m talking about. Your last line means everything because you get it and that means I didn’t fuck it up entirely. Thank you and thank you to the five other wonderful people who took a chance on Bethany and me. xo
