Tuesday?

[jadesfire]

I could go into work today. My body decided this is a bad plan, so I'm currently hunting for painkillers and hot water bottles and not shaking my fist at the rain. It's worth mentioning that we've had quite a bit of rain. Not as much as some parts of the UK, but whatever falls upriver eventually comes down to us, so I'm watching the (rising) river levels somewhat anxiously.

Of course, there are benefits to the river as well. Last night, I fed 3 ducks from the living room window, who were shy at first but soon warmed up to me once they realised I had food. I only closed the window again because I didn't want the neighbourhood bat getting in. Having one in our honeymoon cottage was a close enough encounter for me.

This month, sgabigbang are letting writers promote their stories a bit more, with reviews and commentaries and suchlike. I had thought it was an either/or kind of thing, but since people seem to have combined multiple types, I'll probably do the same. So if anyone has any questions about Resonance, ask away! It's a pretty straightforward story, but the writing process was anything but straightforward, and I always enjoy thinking about these things in more depth.

I had more to say, but I had to break off halfway through posting in order to take major_jim and his shiny new laptop to work (not that I'm jealous or anything...) and I completely lost the thread. If anyone finds it, please send it back. I plan to spend today trying to get my artword story finished, which is going to be easier said than done - it should work, and I can't for the life of me figure out why it doesn't. My instinct is that I'm trying to explain too much, so if people want to drop into heretoutopia and beat me with the 'show don't tell' stick, I'd be most grateful. (fish_echo, you should be on the filter now!)

Have a good (and dry) day everybody!

Comments

So... how *do* you ask a complete stranger for a favour?

[starfirefic.livejournal.com]

Hi there

I'm not quite sure if there's an established etiquette around such situations, but I'm searching for a beta for a short fic in the SG1-verse; and unfeathered (who's been kind enough to beta a couple of Torchwood/DW fics for me in the past), said you were familiar with the fandom, that you were an amazing beta, and that she thought you might be able to look at this one for me.

Please feel free to say 'no' if you don't have the time or the inclination - I know this request is coming completely out of the blue. If you don't, though, I'm wondering if you can recommend somewhere else I might look? It looks as though sg1betas is fairly dead, and I've not seen anyone in any of the joint-fandom beta-communities who's listed themselves as wanting to beta SG1. I'm new to writing in (but not reading in) the fandom; and I'm surprised (given the sheer volume of SG1 fic out there) how difficult I'm finding it to find a beta - although I may just be looking in the wrong places.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks (and hope the need for painkillers and hot water bottles abates soon)


Starfire

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Feeding ducks from the window? Oh dear...

Re: So... how *do* you ask a complete stranger for a favour?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Don't worry! This is how most of us find our betas - I always think these things work better by word of mouth than off the comms. Depending on the fic, I might be able to help, although it'd take me a few days right now. I've been out of SG1 for years, and I only really know up to S7, although I've beta'd Due South fic without having seen an episode in 10 years, so it's not necessarily a barrier! What I can definitely give you is a sense of how the nuts and bolts of the writing works - you might want someone else to help you with characterisation of Cam and Vala (although again, I can have a good stab at it!)

Otherwise, appealing through flists is generally the best way - someone probably knows someone who knows SG1.

Why don't you drop me an email - jadesfire2808[at]gmail.com - and we'll take it from there :) Not a problem!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh dear? Is that not allowed? I thought it was hedgehogs you weren't supposed to feed bread to.

...Oh, I think I see what you mean. I'd be able to do that even if the river hadn't flooded - it's only about 1.5 metres from our flat at its lowest. I really must take some pictures for you guys...

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

That's okay then, I had this picture of a flooded street in mind just now, but if it's normal, it's an awesome thing to do ^^

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. It was definitely one of the selling points of the flat - I walked into the living room and said "I could feed the ducks from here" at which point major_jim knew we were going to take it...

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Rain here too, luckily no rivers nearby - hope your feet stay dry!

Am at work, well on LJ, but they don't know that, where I'll stay until 7 (maybe the rain will be finished by then).

I don't hit with sticks and you seem to know what your story needs, go with your instincts on that!

Get well soon

Wiebke

Re: So... how *do* you ask a complete stranger for a favour?

[starfirefic.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - I've just e-mailed you now.

*sends thread*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

(http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d57/mad_jaks/Random/?action=view&current=TheTHREAD.png)

And *hugs* and extra hot water bottles

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I plan to put on boots before going anywhere - it keeps lulling us into a false sense of security by easing off for a while, then absolutely chucking it down again.

Heh, sometimes I need to hit myself with a bit 'just write dammit' stick. That seems to be working - you're dead right about following instincts. I have some tentative hope again...

Thanks!

Re: *sends thread*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Wonderful, thank you! And I think it's working... *starts stitching* (I can't knit ;))

Thank you. I have these clever stick-on-heat-patch things that I am sure were invented just for me. Damn, I need them today.

*leans*

Re: *sends thread*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Stitching is *good* (Personally, I cannot crochet...)

Heat patch things are awesome *nods*

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'm wearing my biggest clunkiest shoes (I'm a size 10, they didn't have anything else when I bought them, but handy now)as I don't own boots.

I know about the just write stick, currently it's easier to transcribe all my TW/Jack/DW info on the computer (my handwriting is worse than a Doctor's) than write the story.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Those heat patches are awesome. I don't think I could have kept going to work without them when I had an ovarian tumor. Mmmmm constant heat! I hope you feel better soon.

Every time you talk about lots of rain I worry y'all will be washed away again! Though feeding the ducks always sounds lovely. :)

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

Heh! Seeing as I've just bought some SHINY thread and have a picture of it (it was MAJOR bargain - each should be worth £1.25 each, I got them at 30p each) I thought I'd share it with you... (apologies, I'm too lazy to look up the html coding)

http://pics.livejournal.com/with_apostrophe/pic/000az8pb

I have read "Resonance" and I enjoyed it VERY much (but where was abseiling Sheppard?). I think I will have to re-read it before I ask many questions (I read it on a PDA - not the best format) but here's a few to start off with:

1. You have a fair amount of Ancient in your story. Are the words and phrases Latin "straight up", or did you alter the language? If you did alter it, did you have any rules you followed, or did you go by instinct?

I want to ask something about Sheppard's mental connection with Atlantis, fanon and canon, and your own presentation of it (which I found to be very interesting as it is one found often in fanon, and yet you managed to make it circumstantial and therefore not contrary to canon) but I haven't figured out how to ask it.... I'll let you know when I do.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Are the words and phrases Latin "straight up", or did you alter the language? If you did alter it, did you have any rules you followed, or did you go by instinct?

That's one of the questions in my list, too! Um, the list I still haven't sent you, sorry. But consider it an item of interest!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The heat patches are magic of the best kind! I'm doing much better, thanks.

Feeding the ducks was awesome, as was the bat! It's tiny but I can't get a good look at it because it's so fast. Which is alarming, but cool :D

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ooh shiny!

And those are good questions, thanks. Abseiling Sheppard will appear in the story that I do for NaNo, if I do NaNo. I got carried away with world building and forget I needed little things like a plot or a point...

Do come back with more questions if you have them! I'll do my best to answer in a coherent form ;)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* I was going to email you about the review as well, but since I owe you TWO emails at the moment, I'll put it in there...

So... how *do* you ask a complete stranger for a favour?

[starfirefic.livejournal.com]

Hi there

I'm not quite sure if there's an established etiquette around such situations, but I'm searching for a beta for a short fic in the SG1-verse; and unfeathered (who's been kind enough to beta a couple of Torchwood/DW fics for me in the past), said you were familiar with the fandom, that you were an amazing beta, and that she thought you might be able to look at this one for me.

Please feel free to say 'no' if you don't have the time or the inclination - I know this request is coming completely out of the blue. If you don't, though, I'm wondering if you can recommend somewhere else I might look? It looks as though sg1betas is fairly dead, and I've not seen anyone in any of the joint-fandom beta-communities who's listed themselves as wanting to beta SG1. I'm new to writing in (but not reading in) the fandom; and I'm surprised (given the sheer volume of SG1 fic out there) how difficult I'm finding it to find a beta - although I may just be looking in the wrong places.

Any suggestions would be very much appreciated.

Thanks (and hope the need for painkillers and hot water bottles abates soon)


Starfire

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

Feeding ducks from the window? Oh dear...

Re: So... how *do* you ask a complete stranger for a favour?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Don't worry! This is how most of us find our betas - I always think these things work better by word of mouth than off the comms. Depending on the fic, I might be able to help, although it'd take me a few days right now. I've been out of SG1 for years, and I only really know up to S7, although I've beta'd Due South fic without having seen an episode in 10 years, so it's not necessarily a barrier! What I can definitely give you is a sense of how the nuts and bolts of the writing works - you might want someone else to help you with characterisation of Cam and Vala (although again, I can have a good stab at it!)

Otherwise, appealing through flists is generally the best way - someone probably knows someone who knows SG1.

Why don't you drop me an email - jadesfire2808[at]gmail.com - and we'll take it from there :) Not a problem!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh dear? Is that not allowed? I thought it was hedgehogs you weren't supposed to feed bread to.

...Oh, I think I see what you mean. I'd be able to do that even if the river hadn't flooded - it's only about 1.5 metres from our flat at its lowest. I really must take some pictures for you guys...

[dune-drd.livejournal.com]

That's okay then, I had this picture of a flooded street in mind just now, but if it's normal, it's an awesome thing to do ^^

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Hee. It was definitely one of the selling points of the flat - I walked into the living room and said "I could feed the ducks from here" at which point major_jim knew we were going to take it...

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Rain here too, luckily no rivers nearby - hope your feet stay dry!

Am at work, well on LJ, but they don't know that, where I'll stay until 7 (maybe the rain will be finished by then).

I don't hit with sticks and you seem to know what your story needs, go with your instincts on that!

Get well soon

Wiebke

Re: So... how *do* you ask a complete stranger for a favour?

[starfirefic.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - I've just e-mailed you now.

*sends thread*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

(http://s33.photobucket.com/albums/d57/mad_jaks/Random/?action=view&current=TheTHREAD.png)

And *hugs* and extra hot water bottles

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I plan to put on boots before going anywhere - it keeps lulling us into a false sense of security by easing off for a while, then absolutely chucking it down again.

Heh, sometimes I need to hit myself with a bit 'just write dammit' stick. That seems to be working - you're dead right about following instincts. I have some tentative hope again...

Thanks!

Re: *sends thread*

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*giggle* Wonderful, thank you! And I think it's working... *starts stitching* (I can't knit ;))

Thank you. I have these clever stick-on-heat-patch things that I am sure were invented just for me. Damn, I need them today.

*leans*

Re: *sends thread*

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Stitching is *good* (Personally, I cannot crochet...)

Heat patch things are awesome *nods*

[hab318princess.livejournal.com]

Yep, I'm wearing my biggest clunkiest shoes (I'm a size 10, they didn't have anything else when I bought them, but handy now)as I don't own boots.

I know about the just write stick, currently it's easier to transcribe all my TW/Jack/DW info on the computer (my handwriting is worse than a Doctor's) than write the story.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Those heat patches are awesome. I don't think I could have kept going to work without them when I had an ovarian tumor. Mmmmm constant heat! I hope you feel better soon.

Every time you talk about lots of rain I worry y'all will be washed away again! Though feeding the ducks always sounds lovely. :)

[with-apostrophe.livejournal.com]

Heh! Seeing as I've just bought some SHINY thread and have a picture of it (it was MAJOR bargain - each should be worth £1.25 each, I got them at 30p each) I thought I'd share it with you... (apologies, I'm too lazy to look up the html coding)

http://pics.livejournal.com/with_apostrophe/pic/000az8pb

I have read "Resonance" and I enjoyed it VERY much (but where was abseiling Sheppard?). I think I will have to re-read it before I ask many questions (I read it on a PDA - not the best format) but here's a few to start off with:

1. You have a fair amount of Ancient in your story. Are the words and phrases Latin "straight up", or did you alter the language? If you did alter it, did you have any rules you followed, or did you go by instinct?

I want to ask something about Sheppard's mental connection with Atlantis, fanon and canon, and your own presentation of it (which I found to be very interesting as it is one found often in fanon, and yet you managed to make it circumstantial and therefore not contrary to canon) but I haven't figured out how to ask it.... I'll let you know when I do.

[rustydog.livejournal.com]

Are the words and phrases Latin "straight up", or did you alter the language? If you did alter it, did you have any rules you followed, or did you go by instinct?

That's one of the questions in my list, too! Um, the list I still haven't sent you, sorry. But consider it an item of interest!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

The heat patches are magic of the best kind! I'm doing much better, thanks.

Feeding the ducks was awesome, as was the bat! It's tiny but I can't get a good look at it because it's so fast. Which is alarming, but cool :D

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Ooh shiny!

And those are good questions, thanks. Abseiling Sheppard will appear in the story that I do for NaNo, if I do NaNo. I got carried away with world building and forget I needed little things like a plot or a point...

Do come back with more questions if you have them! I'll do my best to answer in a coherent form ;)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

*grin* I was going to email you about the review as well, but since I owe you TWO emails at the moment, I'll put it in there...