Writing meme

[dimity_blue]

Stolen without shame from sallymn.

Pick a number, any number, and I'll answer it...

1. Which is your favorite of the fics you've written for X fandom? (you can choose, one or more)
2. Favorite piece overall?
3. Which was the hardest to write, in terms of plot?
4. Which has the most "you" in it, however you'd define that?
5. What is an image/set of images that you're particularly proud of?
6. Idea that you always wanted to write but could never make work?
7. Least favorite plot point/chapter/moment?
8. Favorite plot point/chapter/moment?
9. Favorite character to write?
10. Favorite line or lines of dialogue that you've written
11. If I'm showing off just one of your pieces to someone, which one should it be?
12. What WIPs do you have going now? Are you excited about them?
13. Are there any things that might have happened in any of your stories, but you changed them at the last minute? (So-and-so dies, they don't actually kiss, main character has long extended ballet-based dream sequence, etc.)
14. Would you want to write canon for any of your fandoms (like be hired by showrunner to do an episode)? Which one?
15. Does font matter to you when you're writing a draft?
16. 3 favorite comments ever received on fanfic.
17. Any mean comments? How'd you deal with it? Who laid the smackdown?
18. If you could go back and revise one of your older stories, which would it be?
19. Do you make up scenes at work/on the bus/at the gym? Who are the characters that pop up the most? Do you write them down?
20. Go nuts, and talk about writing.

Comments

[scherwood]

16. 3 favorite comments ever received on fanfic.

[leesa_perrie]

6. Idea that you always wanted to write but could never make work?

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Ooh! Number 20 please!

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

#2, please.

[thisbluespirit]

10!

[aerianya.livejournal.com]

#5 please.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

On my Sentinel fic 'A Man of Action', from Skinz.
At some point I realized that I was smiling and couldn't stop, which made me smile even more and laugh at myself! What joy! You seem to have captured Jim's inner voice so well and with such mirth, and putting it in story-telling format made it seem like he was sharing a secret with me personally, which filled me with merriment! How clever, thanks so much for sharing your gift!

Re-reading the story, I could see how it had come across to her (?), and it really made me smile that it had given her such joy.

On my Sherlock fic 'If You Want to Know the Time', from Niennatelrunya.
You know, after the last story, I went and got a copy of "Perverting the Course of Justice." That's how much I appreciate your stories. :)

Two of my stories were based on anecdotes from the book. The fact that she went out and got the book because of my stories was just delightful.

On my Sherlock fic 'Not Today', from Scherwood.
hey, I'm crying for real over here.. *sniff*
this is the reason why I cried when I saw the episode, not because I thought Sherlock would die, but because I knew John would feel like this... and Sherlock would do anything to keep John safe.

You still hold that title, my dear. *so much love*

*hugs*

[debris_k.livejournal.com]

#9 Favorite character to write?

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

A District 9 fanfic. It's a film, presented as a documentary, about aliens living in a ghetto near Johannesburg, IIRC. The main character, Wikus, is infected with the aliens' bio-mechanical fuel and it turns him into an alien. The company he worked for took part in treating the aliens very badly, including experimentation on them, and Wikus ends up in the lab with his father in law agreeing that dissecting him is a good idea. Wikus escapes, and helps Christopher, one of the aliens, to get back to the alien ship in order to go get help from the aliens' planet. Wikus is left behind in the ghetto, facing a 3 year wait for Christopher to return. Wikus's body changes fully into an alien one, though Christopher has promised to help return him to human once he gets back.

In the fic, I wanted to explore what it meant to Wikus to be separated from his wife (whom he adored), and forced to live as an alien. Previously, he'd helped destroy the aliens' eggs - thereby killing their young before they hatched. I think he'd come to realise how horrific his actions were now he was on the other side of things. I don't think it'd be an easy fic to write, and I ran out of energy for it. Maybe I can get back to it at some point.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

20. Go nuts, and talk about writing.

Hmm, this one's probably going to be long.

First of all, I love writing. I don't think my writing as 'me' is particularly interesting - I feel I come off as very earnest - but writing as a character is a huge amount of fun, and far more interesting, IMO.

I think it's important for writers to keep on working at their craft, to improve themselves as much as possible. I don't know whether I'll ever get to the stage of being fully satisfied with my own writing - re-reading, I always find parts that I wish I'd written differently - but it's a journey and I'm bound to view my past writing differently than my present. Obviously, I'm not aware of any actual mistakes I make until I've learned that particular grammar rule.

I love using a character's POV simply because of the perceptions and misconceptions that creep in because of the character's biases and, possibly, limited knowledge. As the author you (supposedly!) know what's actually going on, while the character in question might be unaware of xyz.

I realised that I have a tendency to keep it short - to put as much story as I can into as few words as possible. I also realised I started doing that because some people talk so fricking much and never actually get anywhere, and they include far, far too much detail, and it's all really frustrating to listen to. Basically, I don't want to bore my readers.

As a writer, I think my job is to communicate as clearly as possible - to get my ideas, my paper characters (my OCs, if we're talking about fanfic), into my reader's head and persuade them to believe that these non-existent people are real, are breathing, are living and hoping and dreaming, just like we all are. If I can't do that, I've failed as a writer.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

2. Favorite piece overall?

That's usually the one I've just finished writing. :oD

However, a few longstanding favourites:

Not Today, a Sherlock fic about John's struggle against ending his own life. This one was personal. I've been there, and could so easily see John being there too. It was difficult to write, but I was pleased with the end product, even though it was hard dragging those feelings out.

Relativity, a Sherlock fic about Mycroft being Molly Weasley's 'second cousin who's an accountant' as mentioned by Ron in the first Harry Potter book. I loved the idea of Mycroft (and Sherlock) being so closely related to the Weasleys, and John's absolute delight at seeing Molly Weasley - short, redhaired, jumper wearing Molly - hugging Mycroft. It just absolutely tickles me.

Starting Over, a Sherlock fic about Sherlock and John being kids and being brothers. I loved writing it. I loved rescuing John in the fic from his horrible homelife and seeing him have so much fun with Sherlock.

This one isn't finished yet, but I think it'll be another forever favourite: a Sherlock fic about Sherlock being a cat, and Greg Lestrade is the 'lucky' guy who is adopted by Sherlock. Greg ends up living at 221b, and Sherlock brings home a small grey tabby stray (John).

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

10. Favorite line or lines of dialogue that you've written

Mycroft's lines in "I Didn't Catch the Name". It's a Sherlock fic, a missing scene for "A Scandal in Belgravia", where Mycroft goes to the hospital to visit Nielson, the US operative who was thrown out of the window.

Then he smiled politely. "Mr. Neilson, I believe."

"You have the advantage of me," Neilson replied flatly. If the guy was going to dance around the bush, he'd be needing painkillers before the end.

"Yes, I do, don't I?" the man agreed, an affable tone in his voice.

Neilson took another look at the guy, wondering if he'd missed something. "So you are?"

"Pleased to meet you."

Then:
As he moved to the door, Neilson forced himself to speak. "I didn't catch the name."

The man smiled. "No, you didn't, did you? Good day, Mr. Neilson." And the door closed quietly behind him.

It's just Mycroft being so polite and so unsettling. I was really pleased with how the dialogue turned out.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

5. What is an image/set of images that you're particularly proud of?

The Cascade Missile Crisis advent calendar story. It turned into a story all on its own, and I was so pleased with how it turned out.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

The Sentinel - Blair. I love his optimism, his instinct to help, and the way he keeps on going, no matter what.

Stargate: Atlantis - Rodney. He'd probably be awful to deal with in real life, but he's a lot of fun to write.

Sherlock - possibly John, possibly Mycroft, maybe Greg. I love their different perspectives, and their (mostly) endless patience with Sherlock. :oD

[scherwood]

Thank you for that wonderful comment. :')

[scherwood]

p.s. it's still true you know.. you're one of the best writers I have ever read.. just so you know. <3 *sending much love*

[leesa_perrie]

Sounds interesting, though yes, also a hard fic to write. Maybe one day.

And I really should add District 9 to my list of films to watch.

[pattrose.livejournal.com]

It's great that you have favorites. Some peope are never satisfied with their own work. I'm glad to see that you are. Hugs. :)

[thisbluespirit]

Ha, that is particularly great! :-)

[snailbones.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm endlessly nosy fascinated by why writers write *g*

I didn't realise the reason why you tend to write 'short' stories - it certainly works brilliantly. I've often felt that while you're not in a hurry to get there, you're making every word count. And there's also a feeling of warmth and fun with your writing - you say you love doing it, and it shows!

And interesting too, about always trying to improve, and seeing it as a journey. It's lovely how relaxed you are about your own learning process, rather than beating yourself up for not being absolutely perfect right from day one.

Lots of nice things for me to go and ponder about - thank you again! ♥

[debris_k.livejournal.com]

That's very cool, thanks for replying! :)

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Thank you. *hugs Sara so tightly she squeaks*

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

It's a good film, though I found it hard to watch. Make sure you have the subtitles on so you can understand what the aliens are saying. I didn't realise there was that option and it played without subtitles for me.

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I didn't used to be relaxed about it. I used to strain every nerve trying to get my stories as perfect as possible. Now I just try to have fun with it all. :oD

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Patt. *hugs* I enjoy re-reading my stories - usually, anyway. I often find bits I'd like to tweak though. :oD

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

I really like writing Mycroft. He's so polite...on the surface. :oD

[dimity-blue.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. Thanks for asking. :oD