Writing Meme (or: my navel-gazing, let me show you it)

[jadesfire]

I was at a funeral this morning, so my desire to write chirpy, happy posts about the perils of moving house and the annoyingness of not having broadband at home has somewhat diminished.

But I need to do something positive, so have a meme, nicked off kristen999

List one, three, or five of your favorite stories that you have written and why they are your favorite.

Members of this author's flist: list one, three, or five of your favorite stories by this author and why they are your favorite. Then copy this meme and post it on your own journal for the same.

All links taken from my complete list of stories, which is mostly up to date...



The Wandering Years II: Las Vegas (or: Viva!)
Torchwood (The Sic Transit Tempus ficverse)
Summary: What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas...and Jack's going to wish that it would.
I have two things that I absolutely love to include in my writing. Hitting characters with big sticks, literally (crystalshard, bless her, bought me a small Colosseum from Rome because of my arena addiction), and telepathy. While I was writing The Wandering Years, I decided that each story would take a sci-fi trope and play with it, and this one was telepathy's turn. What I wasn't expecting was that I'd end up with my most emotionally intense story so far, that Hywel would launch himself as a fully-fledged OC and that it would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship with miss_zedem.

Yours, Mine and His
House
Summary: Every story has three sides. Yours, mine and the facts. Foster M. Russell. There's always more than one way of looking at things.
Writing Housefic was where I think I really learned to write. The House guys were incredibly knowledgeable, critical and encouraging, all of which I needed. Other people always have my best ideas for stories, and this one was perspi's. Writing 3 points of view on the same evening nearly broke my brain (the logistics were a nightmare) but it meant I could build on details, and show things that weren't obvious the first time through. It was a labour of love and worth every minute.

Bibula Harena
Stargate: Atlantis
Summary: This is all there is, the stick in his hand, the knife in his belt, the crowd roaring around him, and the man he has to kill.
With SGA stories, I have a tendency to write in short, intense bursts, and the bulk of this story was laid down in one day while my husband helped his parents lay carpet in the next room. I kept frantically texting Z, first when I hit 8K, then 12K, then when I realised that I had a real monster on my hands. But writing action is hard, and I really think I nailed it here.

The Broken Places
Torchwood/Doctor Who
Summary: Jack's home. Whether he likes it or not.
Jack, post-Last of the Time Lords. While I think the central scene of Moonrise is the most emotionally intense scene I've ever written, as a story, this one was a whole lot harder. I like to have my characters bounce off someone else, or I like to have an outside perspective on them. Trying to write Jack, on his own, just...being...was hard. Z and Chrys really pushed me on this one, and they were right, as usual, about everything.

A Few Quiet Drinks
Discworld/Torchwood Crossover.
Summary: Two men meet in a bar...
Technically, this is a series, but they do sort of interlock, so I'm putting them all down as a favourite. The first story, Myfanwy and Fish, has what I think is my best one-liner, ever, in it, and I was really pleased with the way I managed to push the tone from silly to serious, and I think catch some of the Pratchett voice. One of my problems as a writer is that I'm a complete sponge for style, but in this case, it gave me an advantage. And Nanny Ogg singing the hedgehog song just never gets old...


I feel the need to add that we don't have broadband at home right now, but I'll reply to comments as quickly as I can. I'm not ignoring you - I'm just having internet withdrawal symptoms!

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

no way I could pick just 5, seriously. Anything with Hugh and Marion (especially Marion) just HAS to be mentioned (especially, absolutely especially, Waiting, Promise and Jack, the Weevil and Me) but there's also your touching Jack returns after the year that wasn't pieces and, oh I can't forget the SGA ones (but I beta-ed those, so I'm biased) oh, and Undead, which might just be the first crossover I ever read and I still love, and

well, I'm shutting up now

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Bless you. I still have a fondness for 'Undead' although I think it would be VERY different if I wrote it now. Every so often, I'm tempted to tinker with it, but I think it's good to keep to remind myself what I've learnt and what hasn't changed.

*grin* Marion has a significant role in "The Watching Years" so hopefully there'll be some more for your list!

Thanks!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Marion has a significant role in "The Watching Years" so hopefully there'll be some more for your list!

really? YAY!!!!!!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* I haven't written it yet, but yes, really.

Also, did you speed your elephant up? I swear it's bouncing faster than usual...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

hmmm, he does look a bit faster. He must have gotten into the donuts!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Mine is definitely quicker too.

Good grief, a bunny on crack is dangerous. An elephant on donuts?

Terrifying. Especially if they're the alien kind...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that would be BAD. Very bad. who knows the trouble they could get into?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh good grief.

---

"Jack?"

"Uh-huh?"

"You know those donuts?"

"I told Owen to get rid of them."

"Yeah."

Finally looking up, Jack squinted at Ianto. "Please tell me he got rid of them."

"Wish I could."

"Where?"

Ianto cleared his throat. "You know the Pachydrelians we've been holding until the mother ship comes by for them?"

Jack's head made a surprisingly loud thump as it hit the desk. "I'm going to kill him," he said, voice only slightly muffled by last month's expenses.

"Not if I get there first."

"How bad?"

"Well, there have only been seventeen calls to the police so far." Ianto kept talking as Jack dragged himself out of his chair and headed to the coat rack. "But it's amazing how much damage a high, sex-crazed elephantine alien can do."

"No kidding." Pulling on his coat, Jack strode towards the door. "Bring the camo nets, a barrel of retcon and enough tranqs to take down a charging elephant."

"Four charging elephants. Got it."

"And tell Owen that if I don't see him out there with a tranquiliser gun in five minutes, he's going to be on Weevil clean-up for the rest of his short life."

---

Over to you ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*cackles* can't breathe, seriously can't breathe

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*passes oxygen* Breathe, woman!

So. What happens next, hmmm?

*beams*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

They didn't bring enough retcon. In fact Jack wasn't sure there was enough retcon for a situation like this. Tosh was trying to spin a story about escaped circus elephants but this time the local media wasn't buying it. Especially after the 'situation' in the carpark. That poor bus was never going to be the same ever again. And the van? Well, best not to even think of that. At least the drivers got out okay, well, in one piece at least. Although Jack wouldn't be surprised if neither of them ever got behind the wheel again.

Jack liked to think Owen learned his lesson though. He'd be in a body cast for a few weeks, but there was no way he'd be able to forget his up close and personal look at the effect those donuts could have on various species.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*snorfle* Poor Owen! That would certainly make an impact...

*VBG*

[szm.livejournal.com]

A Few Quiet Drinks Torchwood/Discworld crossover
Because I love Torchwood and I love Discworld and you do both really well.

For the Love of Cheese
Come on it's Jack/cheese! That is the special type of genius it really is. Also I love it because it's fandom having a laugh at itself, and there should be more of that.

Truth or Dare
I love the characterisations of Jack and Ianto in this. I love that Jack is hesitant to ask Ianto for a serious truth. Not because he thinks Ianto won't answer truthfully but because he thinks he will and the others won't be able to cope. It's a great season one story, it would be interesting to see what would happen if they played now...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Jack/cheese...yeah...miss_zedem has a lot to answer for. And how on earth can we take a fandom seriously when they have a pet dinosaur. Honestly. ;)

I'm intrigued that you chose Truth or Dare. That was my first ever TW fic, was how I met crystalshard and while it's quite different to how I write now, I think it's still very 'me'.

Thanks - most interesting :D

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

no way I could pick just 5, seriously. Anything with Hugh and Marion (especially Marion) just HAS to be mentioned (especially, absolutely especially, Waiting, Promise and Jack, the Weevil and Me) but there's also your touching Jack returns after the year that wasn't pieces and, oh I can't forget the SGA ones (but I beta-ed those, so I'm biased) oh, and Undead, which might just be the first crossover I ever read and I still love, and

well, I'm shutting up now

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Bless you. I still have a fondness for 'Undead' although I think it would be VERY different if I wrote it now. Every so often, I'm tempted to tinker with it, but I think it's good to keep to remind myself what I've learnt and what hasn't changed.

*grin* Marion has a significant role in "The Watching Years" so hopefully there'll be some more for your list!

Thanks!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

Marion has a significant role in "The Watching Years" so hopefully there'll be some more for your list!

really? YAY!!!!!!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* I haven't written it yet, but yes, really.

Also, did you speed your elephant up? I swear it's bouncing faster than usual...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

hmmm, he does look a bit faster. He must have gotten into the donuts!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Mine is definitely quicker too.

Good grief, a bunny on crack is dangerous. An elephant on donuts?

Terrifying. Especially if they're the alien kind...

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

that would be BAD. Very bad. who knows the trouble they could get into?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh good grief.

---

"Jack?"

"Uh-huh?"

"You know those donuts?"

"I told Owen to get rid of them."

"Yeah."

Finally looking up, Jack squinted at Ianto. "Please tell me he got rid of them."

"Wish I could."

"Where?"

Ianto cleared his throat. "You know the Pachydrelians we've been holding until the mother ship comes by for them?"

Jack's head made a surprisingly loud thump as it hit the desk. "I'm going to kill him," he said, voice only slightly muffled by last month's expenses.

"Not if I get there first."

"How bad?"

"Well, there have only been seventeen calls to the police so far." Ianto kept talking as Jack dragged himself out of his chair and headed to the coat rack. "But it's amazing how much damage a high, sex-crazed elephantine alien can do."

"No kidding." Pulling on his coat, Jack strode towards the door. "Bring the camo nets, a barrel of retcon and enough tranqs to take down a charging elephant."

"Four charging elephants. Got it."

"And tell Owen that if I don't see him out there with a tranquiliser gun in five minutes, he's going to be on Weevil clean-up for the rest of his short life."

---

Over to you ;)

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

*cackles* can't breathe, seriously can't breathe

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*passes oxygen* Breathe, woman!

So. What happens next, hmmm?

*beams*

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

They didn't bring enough retcon. In fact Jack wasn't sure there was enough retcon for a situation like this. Tosh was trying to spin a story about escaped circus elephants but this time the local media wasn't buying it. Especially after the 'situation' in the carpark. That poor bus was never going to be the same ever again. And the van? Well, best not to even think of that. At least the drivers got out okay, well, in one piece at least. Although Jack wouldn't be surprised if neither of them ever got behind the wheel again.

Jack liked to think Owen learned his lesson though. He'd be in a body cast for a few weeks, but there was no way he'd be able to forget his up close and personal look at the effect those donuts could have on various species.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*snorfle* Poor Owen! That would certainly make an impact...

*VBG*

[szm.livejournal.com]

A Few Quiet Drinks Torchwood/Discworld crossover
Because I love Torchwood and I love Discworld and you do both really well.

For the Love of Cheese
Come on it's Jack/cheese! That is the special type of genius it really is. Also I love it because it's fandom having a laugh at itself, and there should be more of that.

Truth or Dare
I love the characterisations of Jack and Ianto in this. I love that Jack is hesitant to ask Ianto for a serious truth. Not because he thinks Ianto won't answer truthfully but because he thinks he will and the others won't be able to cope. It's a great season one story, it would be interesting to see what would happen if they played now...

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Jack/cheese...yeah...miss_zedem has a lot to answer for. And how on earth can we take a fandom seriously when they have a pet dinosaur. Honestly. ;)

I'm intrigued that you chose Truth or Dare. That was my first ever TW fic, was how I met crystalshard and while it's quite different to how I write now, I think it's still very 'me'.

Thanks - most interesting :D