"You know Indian's Bend?" "I don't know, I've never bent one."

[jadesfire]

I'm having a listy kind of day:

#1. I have now spent 2 days ordering books in languages I don't speak and some I don't even understand. Serbian is the hardest to spell, Romanian resembles Italian more than I had realised and a surprising number overall are in English. We've now ordered from 46 countries. Just over 60 to go...

#2. Because it's Friday and I abandoned common sense some time around Wednesday lunchtime, I've signed up for spn_summergen. Sign ups close tomorrow!

#3. You lot are no help at all when it comes to deciding what to write. Apparently I should start the NCIS one first, but only just. You're wonderfully enthusiastic, thanks, folks. It actually helps an embarrassing amount. This is a terribly against-the-grain thing to say in fic-writing circles (they're probably going to take away my pencil sharpener), but I do actually write for other people. Not for the comments (although I won't deny my utter delight in them), but because I hope the words I put down will entertain someone else as much as they did me. I don't write to order, but I do write to give pleasure to others as well as myself. The stuff I write just for myself? That stays under private lock. Anything public was written because I love to entertain, I love reading and I love the thought that what I wrote might just be the right story at the right time for somebody else. For me, it's like sending a postcard or letter or email to someone, except it's to a wider audience. This no doubt makes me an unbearable egotist, but that's just how I feel.

Anyway, my current deadlines are lining up nicely. Far enough apart that I'm not under too much pressure, close enough that I've got the drive to get them done:

22nd May - team_sga (yes, this is the pirate fic)
14th June - tardis_bigbang final draft
19th July - bau_bigbang first draft
1st August - spn_summergen (from a prompt that I'll get on 1st June)
16th August - bau_bigbang final draft

Looking at that, I won't be doing the SGA Big Bang this year unless there's a prompt that compells me to write. Given my current ambivalence to SGA, that's highly unlikely, plus I want to write my Bibula Harena sequel at last.

#4. We now have a confirmed artist for every story at tardis_bigbang. This makes me happier than I can say. *twirls*

#5. It's nearly the weekend! We have almost no plans, although I do hope to get most of the housework done tonight so that I can write most of tomorrow. This sounds like a good plan :D

How's everyone doing? Plans for the weekend? Something that I must/read see following the SPN and Criminal Minds episodes this week? Anyone for tea? *swirls pot*

[I'm still cross-posting to dreamwidth and have 4 invite codes if anyone wants/knows anyone who wants one. Friends of friends welcome :)]

Comments

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

I'm not signing up for the spn_gen thing (I'm not a fan of those sorts of prompt exchanges) but you know that I'll be more than happy to beta and help with whatever prompt you wind up getting, right?

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I like these sort of prompt exchanges, which is probably why I can't resist :)

Thanks!

[donutsweeper.livejournal.com]

oh- (randomly putting this here)I know you said in a recent post SGA wasn't really shiny anymore, but I just found this vid I thought you'd like Open Secrets of the Pegasus Galaxy (http://yevgenie.livejournal.com/52930.html) (although, it's a bit old, so maybe you've seen it).

[greyias.livejournal.com]

Tea sounds lovely! Don't mind if I do (except I seem to only have champagne and coffee icons. Whups.)

My weekend plans are a little hazy at this point. I haven't decided whether I should do the adult thing that consists of calling people asking for obscene amounts of money to buy a house, or the fun thing that consists of world building for fictional efforts.

#3 The beginning - We do it to torture you. And we only torture you out of love.

#3 the middle - but because I hope the words I put down will entertain someone else as much as they did me. I don't write to order, but I do write to give pleasure to others as well as myself. — I'm not sure I can really add to this, other than: "That's what I was trying to say!" back when. Except I think you might be a tiny bit more altruistic than me. I'm a complete glutton of a writer and write the stories I want to read that no one seems to write — but I really, really want others along for the ride.

#3 The end bit - I would love to see a sequel to Bibula Harena! Trying to see the boys reintegrate with their old lives would make an awesome story. As for the other bit... I think I might be there myself, after writing about 2000+ on three separate stories before throwing my arms up in frustration. It doesn't bode well for any Big Banging on my part.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

...what about calling the bank and asking for obscene amounts of money to build a fictional world? It might just work...

#3. The Beginning. Am I wearing my 'writing masochist' badge in public again? Damn.

#3. The Middle. I don't read that much, which is BAD of me, so I do generally write what I want or to fill in gaps that I see or to make my friends happy. I like making my friends happy, and this is how I like to do it. Writing stories is how I've *made* most of my LJ friends. This strikes me as a good thing. Writing isn't a compulsion for me, it's a way of connecting to people, of presenting an idea or image and going 'cool, huh?' I'll never write a great literary masterpiece but I'm having fun not doing it :)

#3. The End. Hee. There's a snippet under the poll that I wrote for pwcorgigirl. When I wrote the story, the timescale only hit me towards the end and I thought hard before making it as long as it was. That has consequences. Also, I wanted to know how it affected Ronon and Teyla, so yes, that one's definitely going to be written.

Most people were excited by closed canon at first, but for me, it makes it harder to keep my enthusiasm going. The prompts are going to have to be *really* good this year for it to work for me.

[greyias.livejournal.com]

...what about calling the bank and asking for obscene amounts of money to build a fictional world? It might just work...

Then I could live in the sky and swashbuckle. \o/

You're a genius!

#3 The Middle - I don't think there's anything wrong with making your friends happy, especially if it's something that makes you happy (rather than angsty, or frustrated) in the process. And meeting said friends through writing is a very good thing -- but I'm also a bit biased in that area *g*

I'll never write a great literary masterpiece but I'm having fun not doing it :)

Hee! I like your outlook on that. I try to keep a similar outlook on it... but I occasionally forget

#3 The End - Eee! Snippet! I'll check it out as a treat for myself for figuring out FedEx's stupid website... once I do that is.

The prompts are going to have to be *really* good this year for it to work for me.

Selfishly, I'll hope there's one that will pique your interest. So much so that it won't leave you alone and leaps into your head fully formed, in both color and shape. That way you have no choice but to write it. But that's because I'm selfish.

Of course, the prompts did nothing for me last year, ad I only joined because of peer pressure wonderful people. If I weren't having... issues, I think I might easily be able to write a sequel to See No Evil for at least one of the prompts this year. But yeah, issues.... Sadly, it's not related to enthusiasm/closed canon, but more character related (or how late-canon and I are in a tiff and refusing to find middle ground.)

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I try to keep a similar outlook on it... but I occasionally forget
I think it's especially hard when your/my forte isn't the fandom fashion. I'm never going to write a fandom classic, I'm probably never going to write something truly and properly wowing, but in the meantime, I'm going to make people happy. That's got to worth something.

*giggle* We'll see. Like you, I developed...issues...in S5 that I'm not over yet. If I write anything, it's going to be early season/AU, definitely. But I'd love to see a sequel to 'See No Evil' - I made my husband read it while we in Morocco, because I needed someone to talk to about it! Maybe there's group therapy we could go to or something...

[greyias.livejournal.com]

That's got to worth something.

It's worth a lot, IMO. I think it's obvious how much I adore the paperclip prompt story alone ;) As for wowing... "Rise Up and Fight" still sticks in my mind to this day, as something that was really able to express pure, raw emotion. FWIW.

Maybe there's group therapy we could go to or something...

Hee! Group therapy's probably not a bad idea. Give us a shoulder to cry on as we bemoan things that don't make sense to us. Of course, we might wind up passing notes during class session and get kicked out.

I'd love to write the sequel to See No Evil, though, muse willing. I've even got a good portion of the thing already plotted out in my head...! Stupid canon.

[crystalshard.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, I'm just having gigglefits because the Donna in your mood gif is moving in perfect time to 'Una Paloma Blanca', which is playing on Spotify right now.

Yay for artists and weekend!

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Donna has rhythm. *bops*

The wonderful relief of the weekend - I can't begin to tell you :)

[avon-09.livejournal.com]

I've signed up for the spn gen thing to see if I can write gen. My fic is moving towards that now.

Sleeping now is good *sneeze*.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh cool! If you need a hand staying on the Gen side of the force, you know where to come ;)

Sleep well!

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

Romanian is based on Latin - the Romans got that far, after all. I seem to recall it's Trajan's palace in the centre of Bucharest, though I could be wrong.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

I'd heard that, but it's weird seeing it in action ;) My mum's off to Bucharest soon, so I'll get her to take some pictures for me!

[smtfhw.livejournal.com]

Tell her not to miss the People's Palace...

And there are these (http://www.flickr.com/photos/smtfhw/sets/72157607138374705/) and these (http://www.flickr.com/photos/smtfhw/sets/72157600233101613/) if she wants to look at Bucharest in advance.

I'd also recommend the InYourPocket guide to Bucharest to be found here.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Frankly, I'll count myself lucky if she manages to find the hotel. My mother doesn't always travel very well, especially not on her own. *crosses fingers*

Thanks for the recommendations, though. She's doing some training of counsellors out there, so I'll tell her to tell them to take some time off and do some sight seeing!

Ta muchly :D

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on getting pleasure out of others enjoyment of one's writing. I view it rather like I approach theatre-- while any theatre-work I do is in part for my enjoyment, there is also a crucial component that is the audience. (And since I've spent most of my life thinking I couldn't write, hating writing, and loving reading, well, I'm still at the point where when even one person outside of my head reads something I've written and doesn't say 'it is pants', I'm over the moon.)

I'm thrilled that you're writing more SPN :) (I still have not gotten up the guts &/ time to watch any of the show-- I'd nearly talked myself up to it, with your encouragement, and then I read several well-done but creepy fics and now I'm scared again. I'm such a wuss. I'm certain eventually my curiosity will overcome but this week is not the time.)

And yay for the various other happy things in this post :)

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

I'm mildly interested in a DreamWidth code, but more for the novelty of it than any real thing, so if there are other claimants I happily stand out of their way.

[jadesfire2808.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, I think for me writing has a strong theatrical element to it. I love performing, but I'm not that good (I mean, I'm competent, but not *good* by my standards) so writing is an outlet for that urge.

Hee. The show is both more and less scary than the fic. Some episodes are TERRIFYING, some are hilarious, and some try to kill you with tension. They are often gory, though, so if you can't get through NCIS or ER (I can as long as I look away at the right moment), it's probably not for you. I can recommend some gentler/sillier episodes if you'd like?

And you're more than welcome to a code! I thought I had your email address but I can't find it - drop me a line on jadesfire2808[at]gmail.com (I have to submit an email to send you the code) and I'll pass it on :D

[fish-echo.livejournal.com]

They are often gory, though, so if you can't get through NCIS or ER (I can as long as I look away at the right moment),

I do that or have a sudden urge to go put the kettle on (or some such similar thing).

I can recommend some gentler/sillier episodes if you'd like?

That would be wonderful! I think at this point I've read enough fic that I probably have sufficient background for any episode.

I'm sending you my email address again-- you are right that you have it, but we've exchanged maybe three emails total, so they're overwhelmed by the comment notifications.

[mad-jaks.livejournal.com]

Romanian resembles Italian more than I had realised

And if, memory serves, apparently sounds quite like Latin...?

[hilsongirl.livejournal.com]

How do you manage to write for so many big_bangs? I am amazed at your productivity.

Hoefully, we'll have a wonderful first round of bau_bigbang and many more after that! I haven't found as much long fics in the cm fandom as seems to be in other fandoms such as House or Torchwood.