#ficness thoughts

[downwiththeficness]

Here's why I still post to Tumblr

In the last two weeks, my AO3 account has gotten at least a hundred hits for Shadow and Veil--which I'm happy about because there hasn't been very much traction over there for this story (I get it, the fandom for this character is niche).

Anyways

100 hits to the story in two weeks and not one kudo or comment. Not. One. I don't write for other people, I write for myself. But, its nice to get even a little bit of feedback once in a while to make me feel like I'm not shouting into the void.

I typically do all of my fandom reading over on AO3--I like the format. If I like a story, I'll almost always leave a comment or a kudo--I fail at that, sometimes, because I'm human. But, I try. I want other writers to feel seen and heard and that their writing sparks something in other people.

Which brings me to Tumblr.

Here, I at least get the occasional reblog and regular comments, I see you @littleone65 ! I get to read the tags on the reblogs and it feels like seeing my work all over again with fresh eyes. For years, I have posted weekly to this blog and, for years, there has been a reader or two that responds to my work. As a writer, that feels good. It encourages me to keep going.

I guess what I'm saying is what a lot of other writers are saying: encourage the writers you love hearing from. Tell them that you liked what they put out into the world. I'm willing to bet that even just a few words will make the day of anyone who has put their time and energy into a piece of art.

[downwiththeficness]

You know what's interesting about going back and reading my own stuff? I can tell when I learned a new skill or a new way to craft a story. I will go back several years and go, 'oh, that's when I figured out how to present character traits without actually saying it outright.' Or, 'oh, that's when I learned about how to create deeper conflict'. It kind of makes me feel proud that there is physical evidence of how I've learned and grown as an author.

[downwiththeficness]

I think it might be a little bit impossible for me to write a short fic. I'm outlining my next one (Title soon!) and I'm already at 34 chapters. Its not totally my fault. There's so much world building and foreshadowing that needs to take place before I can really dig into the meat of things.

Sometimes I wonder if readers really want that kind of thing. I know that there are times where I have been reading a story and felt the urge to skip ahead to get to 'the good stuff', but I usually have to go back a bit because I'll inevitably miss something that's pertinent to the plot.

Anyone else feel that way?

[downwiththeficness]

Feedback Needed!

So, I made the mistake(?) of watching Bullet Train and now I’m thinking of doing a fic with Tangerine. I know. I know. I’m late to the game. If you hadn’t figured out that, that is par for the course with me, go read The Guarantor. I was ten years late to True Blood fic writing and--I’m gonna toot my own horn, here--its a fantastic story.

Anyways

Before I go through the absolute mayhem of outlining the plot

Is there any interest at all for this character?

[downwiththeficness]

Ficness update, Frustration

Lord.

I have struggled the last few weeks with writing. I know where the story needs to go and I know roughly how I want to get there. But, man are the words not coming.

Yesterday, I deleted almost an entire chapter because it just wasn’t right. And now, I’m sitting here trying to start the chapter again and I just...can’t.

Don’t worry, dear readers, there are plenty of chapters for S&V ready to be posted. I don’t anticipate any kind of gap in my posting schedule.

I’m just feeling frustrated, as authors often do.

[downwiththeficness]

Y’all ever write a line...

and think to yourself, ‘well...I did not see that coming.”

This is that line:

Head turning, Horacio lifted a brow, “I didn’t ask you to. Threatening your husband while you soak the front of my jeans is now in my top five favorite fantasies. Open.”

For reference. This is from my draft of the 70s AU of A Need So Great.

[downwiththeficness]

Got about 5000 words under my belt over the last two days. The 70s AU of A Need So Great is reaching the first of two planned climaxes. I haven’t yet outlined the last few chapters, so where this fic ends is still a mystery to me--which is both frustrating and exciting.