Just wanted to let you know that you are absolutely insane. Nearing kooky but not quite, because with the clarity you write surely you’re either an absolutely insane Pulitzer Prize winning madwoman or just so so so very smart with a knack for the crazy. Your wording, your characterization, your settings..it’s all just so gobsmacking, it makes me want to crack your skull open just so I get to see the tiny little people in your brain working while using a lense so I get to see it all very upclose. Again, insane, cannot stress how much “hold me closer, tiny dancer” has changed me as a person, eveyttime I read it again there’s something new I notice in it and god….thast such an exciting incredible and equally incredulous thing to happen, just so so so amazing. If you allow me to ask, why is it that every chapter is a lyric by Elton John? (Not that I don’t love it, because every time I read it I try to guess from which song the chapters title is from!!!). Again, absolutely adore you and your writing (and I just saw you wrote for operation mincemeat??? Omfg I’m going to go insane)
Okay I have a fever rn so apologies if this is not as eloquent as it should be! But I cannot tell you how much this message meant to me. I've been having some complicated feelings related to writing lately, and this was such beautiful validation that I really needed right now.
First off, apologies for the delay on the next chapter of hold me closer! I'm trying to get the last three chapters done by the end of the year, so stay tuned. As you mentioned I did get very into OM, and I've learned that if you're suddenly inspired that hard you should chase it, even if it does mean putting some stuff on the backburner.
Also that is a GREAT question and the answer is that it's basically just a bit that I'm doing for myself. When I got the idea for a ballet AU I was like "well obviously it has to be titled 'hold me closer, tiny dancer'." Then when I was outlining the chapters I was like "well if there's a scene at an MMA match then obviously it has to be titled 'saturday night's alright for fighting'." Then when I was trying to think of the first chapter title of a story about a ballet dancer scrabbling to regain her former glory I was like "don't let the sun go down on me." At that point it was just kind of funny and weird and I just decided to let it (crocodile) rock. Lemme tell you though, it has been tricky to keep it up for fourteen chapters lol.
Anyway, thank you again for this kind ask, you really made my day!