Yuletide angst

[rachelmanija]

Without revealing any revealing details, how are you all doing on your Yuletide stories?

Being in bed all day yesterday gave me the opportunity to both catch up on Spooks S7 through ep 7 (OMGWTFBBQ!!!!) and work on my Yuletide story.

GOOD: Have a fair amount written that I don't hate. Story definitely fulfills some of my recipient's requests.

BAD: Worried that certain inherent elements in the story I chose will bore readers and possibly be disliked by my recipient. Other inherent elements require a TON more writing to do. Somewhat obscure source plus story requiring familiarity with canon may ensure a lack of general readership.

Comments

[wisdomeagle]

I have reabsorbed less than half my source and written exactly one paragraph. :(

[sophia-helix.livejournal.com]

Ummm... I still have it in my brain? I swear it will be good once I start writing it and I have enough of a concept to get started and vague enough ideas that I'll be able to generate the instant creativity I need to actually write the story, but I have to do it. Sigh.

[angevin2.livejournal.com]

GOOD: Have written more than 1000 words. Some of them are even quite enjoyable. Format of story means there is no plot and this means I don't have to deal with making the plot believable.

BAD: Lack of plot means story could be dragged out infinitely. Has yet to include only character specified in recipient's request (though she said she was flexible on this). Much of the humor requires knowledge not only of the source material but of its context and author that I'm not sure recipient (or anyone else) will have. Am considering annotating fic.

[magicnoire.livejournal.com]

THE GOOD: I have a rough draft.

THE BAD: I still need to revise it.

THE UGLY: I might need to toss out everything and start again.

Sigh.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

I did that! It was okay. My new story was much better.

Your mileage may vary!

[nestra.livejournal.com]

I'm moderately happy with the progress of my yuletide story. It's close enough to done that I'm not panicked yet. On the other hand, I'm a little worried about whether it will make my recipient very happy. I think she'll like it, but I'd really like it if she *really* liked it.

[sienamystic.livejournal.com]

Good: I have about 1400 words written, featuring the right characters and in the timeframe requested by the recipient. The Bad: There isn't much plot in those 1400 words. My beta and I spent a while discussing ideas, and hashed out a ton of interesting directions for the story to go - none of which I think I have the time or skill to actually carry out. The even more Bad: my recipient is a really good writer in the fandom, so I'm especially anxious about producing something sub-par.

[oyceter]

GOOD: Have actual story idea!

BAD: In the middle of finals, still re-refreshing self with canon, must actually write.

UGLY: Banking on 13-hour plane ride, and also, despite finals and not having story #1 written, have taken on pinch hit and am still refreshing self with that canon.

CONCLUSION: AIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

In terms of beta-ing: 3 betas done, waiting for 3 more, have finally finished 7 volume manga I needed to read for another.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

I uploaded today. I think the source is pretty well known in fannish circles, so there might be readership, and I don't loathe the story with every fiber of my being anymore, but I am not sure it's actually any good. Sigh.

[the_rck]

I have a draft, but large chunks are in the wrong voice or point of view for where they actually belong.

I've compared the current work to sculpting corn syrup or wrestling the tar baby.

[woodburner.livejournal.com]

I. I have a few paragraphs. Which may or may not get used.

SOB.

[mscongeniality.livejournal.com]

I've got, maybe, 200 words down. I won't be so much as looking at my story until after I submit my term paper tomorrow, though. Then, I expect to need to do another refresh of the canon and come up with a conclusion for my 'vague direction' of a story.

[telophase.livejournal.com]

GOOD: Have about 3/4 of the story written, incorporating lots of elements from the source.

BAD: Assume recipient will read and say "Ah. A much inferior paint-by-number version."

WORSE: Am torturing self by thinking "Rachel wrote a whole original story while suffering Martian Death Flu! Surely one ought to be able to write a simple 1/4 of a story while suffering the Martian Death Flu's less virulent younger brother!"

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I was aided by the deadline occuring during the Death Flu.

[panjianlien.livejournal.com]

I haven't been able to touch the pinch hit in days because of Sick.

I am getting a little nervous. But OTOH at least I am not inflicting a fever dream typed with dubious accuracy upon my recipient?

[rilina.livejournal.com]

Re: Spooks - I know!

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Ros is now one of my favorite female characters of all time.

[rilina.livejournal.com]

Ros is all sorts of awesome.

[akamarykate.livejournal.com]

I think my story is ready to go to beta.

I am far too tired and emotionally fried tonight to read it over and confirm this, though, so I'm waiting until I've had a sleep to do so.

[lady-ganesh.livejournal.com]

Main story is at beta! I FEEL REALLY DAMN GOOD ABOUT THIS. Am attempting a stocking stuffer as a bonus but might not get there.

[chomiji]

I have written about a page! And now that I actually have a couple of hours in which I could be writing, my brain is too thoroughly fried by having hosted the annual tabletop RPG group party ... not to mention the mess in the kitchen and dining room.

[ionescribens.livejournal.com]

Whoa, Spooks gets good again?

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

I actually thought all the seasons but 6 were very good, so your mileage may vary.

[ellen-fremedon.livejournal.com]

...I have an idea? Maybe? And I've reabsorbed most of my source without thinking of a better one.

[rushthatspeaks.livejournal.com]

GOOD: Some of it is written.

GOOD: I found myself able to do interesting/subversive things with canon that mean I am having a lot of fun.

GOOD: Unlike previous years, my selection of fandom this year means that the story will be read by everyone and their grandmother.

BAD: Unlike previous years, my selection of fandom this year means that the story will be read by everyone and their grandmother AAAAAGGGHHH

BAD: Recipient is almost certainly going to hate it, because I am fairly sure the interesting/subversive things I found to write about it are completely not what she signed on for.

IN CONCLUSION: AAAAAGGGHHH

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

Uploaded over a week ago. Fandom choice probably means no one but the recipient will read it and I am totally okay with that. Desperately hoping for a pinch hit, but doubt I'm going to snag one.

[genarti]

GOOD: Like my story idea! Have lots of notes! Know the general structure and where it's going; about the only major part still to work out is how to do the end, and I have some ideas there!

BAD: I am terribly behind on the actual, uh, writing. Which is kind of a key part.

Tonight was going to be Marathon Night, but I'm too braindead. I think tonight will be an early bedtime night instead, and tomorrow will have marathoning.