fannish update

[green]

My writing output is kaput. Even if I manage to write something, it's not really postable or salvageable. I think I'll just keep calling them writing exercises. Yesterday I wrote about 500 words of Zhao Yunlan [redacted for spoilerish reasons] (Because apparently, this is how I roll.) The main idea will probably make its way into a fic at some point but the writing itself is just... words.

I've only written 7k this month. But I think it's down to me needing to get to know how to write these new characters, so it doesn't come as easily as, say, characters I've spent years with. I can't just bang out 15k word fics at this point like I'm used to. But I'll get there. I just need to keep working at it.

The vampire!ZYL fic needs a lot of editing but it's getting there. Maybe I'll be able to finish it up and edit and have it up in a week or two. For now, eh. We'll see what happens.

I'm happy to gush and cheerlead for others, though.

I put a couple of pictures up in the Guardian wiki, which I am SO excited about. The only wiki I've ever contributed to before is Fanlore, and only a few things there if I include my own page. I look forward to contributing what I can to the Guardian wiki, though. I love fan projects, and at least a wiki doesn't require me to make a big commitment - I can do what I can when I can, and that's all I have to do.

I've seen 8 episodes of Detective L now and I'm just so happy with it. It's such fun fluff.

I need to work on my thingy for the Guardian exchange. I'm not happy with it so far, but I'll get there.

OH and before I forget, because no_detective's Weilan playlist got under my skin, I made an edit. It's here on Tumblr -- spoilers for ep 38-39 of Guardian.






...if it helps yours beat

Comments

[lynndyre]

Honestly as a shorter fic writer your wordcount sounds super impressive! I hope the words start to gel the way you want.

[green]

Thank you! I genuinely hope so too.

♥

[trobadora]

If it's any comfort, you're doing MUCH better than me with the writing! I haven't really managed anything more than alibi sentences in months. :(

(I want to write Guardian fic so badly. But I can't get my brain to cooperate at all.)

[green]

Ugh, it's hard when the words don't come. Mine are coming but in dribs and drabs. It's not at all what I'm used to. I love Guardian and want to be writing LONG! INVOLVED! FIC! for it but ughhh it's difficult.

*hugs*

[trobadora]

I love Guardian and want to be writing LONG! INVOLVED! FIC! for it

Right? I want to be writing ALL THE FIC. But the moment I try, all I seem to manage is staring blanlky at a blank page. It sucks.

*hugs back* I hope the words will start flowing properly for you soon!

[green]

For you too! And if I figure out the secret, I will let you in on it.

[trobadora]

♥ ♥ ♥

[goddess47]

Needing to learn a new tone for a new fandom is what keeps me from spreading out too far... it's both daunting and scary to try to write in a fandom you've never written in before... and then I worry that I'm making everyone sound alike and only the details separates the storied.

So writing shorter fic is a good start, it lets you do targeted pieces and you can focus on characterizations easier if you're not writing long, involved fic.

That's my encouragement to tell you that you're doing okay... when you have a better handle on writing those characters, those longer stories will flow easier!

[green]

*hugs* Thank you, I definitely need the encouragement!

[extrapenguin]

The thing I've usually found helpful re: characterization is that especially for non-POV characters (i.e. everyone in Guardian, frex), there is a range of characterizations that do not contradict canon evidence. You don't have to pick the same one the rest of fandom does, and you can change according to the story you want to tell as well. (For instance, there's a very popular set of characterizations for Shen Wei that are heavily novel-based but which I find borderline OOC for the drama, that sort of thing.) Would embracing that vastness and writing multiple ficlets with maximally divergent takes on the characters help?

[green]

Would embracing that vastness and writing multiple ficlets with maximally divergent takes on the characters help?

Probably not. I like to get to know and understand a character first before I start playing with the different ways I can write them. I need solid ground and then twist from there. If I start twisting from the beginning, I'll just get confused. :\

[extrapenguin]

In that case, write a meta post. *g* They seem to be popular and have helped at least some people grasp the characters better.

[green]

Ugh I am TERRIBLE with meta. The closest I come is squee and feels and keysmashing and !!!! all over the place. Writing coherent meta that has an actual point to it is outside my skillset.

[extrapenguin]

Um. Get into a pointless argument on characterization with a stranger over the internet? :P Or do something that actually works.

[green]

Haha that is definitely not for me. I run from conflict and it makes me cry. :P

I'm just gonna keep plugging away at the small fics and see what happens. I'll get where I want to be eventually. :D