rthstewart: (Default)
rthstewart ([personal profile] rthstewart) wrote2010-12-03 08:16 pm

Working working

 

With the Dawn Treader screening, two screenings of Harry Potter, a trip by plane to see the Narnia exhibit in Huntsville, Alabama, the American Thanksgiving holiday, the Dawn Treader official release next week, and injuries (it's all fine, just a bite, a cut, and some doctor visits) it's been busy.

I had really hoped to fill the space by officially posting on AO3 and ff.net the two stories I did for the Narnia fic exchange, but the reveals haven't been made.  So, I'm peck pecking away on Chapter 4 of AW, which is going slowly -- 5,000 words of blather.  I'd not planned to do the chapter at all.  But, some readers thought AW was moving too fast, so I'm slowing it down a little with some additional conversations that did not have to happen here, but could.  These include too many points of view for a single chapter, but there's no remedy for that.  It's a hallmark of the story and the alternative is many smaller chapters and fewer point of view characters and I'm not inclined to either. 

So, we have Digory's point of view: 
“Bacchus!” Polly exclaimed.  “How marvelous!  Did you ever meet him?  Or his maenads?”

Before Digory could express his ardent desire for an immediate change of subject, Peter came to the rescue with a look that was sympathetic but not apologetic.  “Perhaps, Polly, you should ask Susan or Lucy to tell you of it?”

Edmund flashback with Morgan:
Morgan dusted off her hands and settled again next to him.  Edmund did not know what to say; she had never missed an opportunity for beetle racing in five years.  Obviously, the Morgan he knew had been replaced by an imposter.

That possibility was eliminated, however, when she blurted out, as only Morgan could do, without preliminaries or explanation, “How long have you been doing it?”

Then, Edmund and Lucy, in the Museum. 
“When we were on The Dawn Treader, at first, I wanted to return to Narnia,” Lucy said.  “But, now I’m glad we didn’t, because we would be going back, instead of forward.  We would have missed the adventures waiting for us in the East.  Does that make sense?”

 And then, I think a bit of Polly point of view where she yells at Richard.  I've also wondered about squeezing in some of Asim and Col. Clark (who we meet again), in (really) Chapter 5, Change of Heart. 

If I add Asim then the only point of view characters not represented in these backward/forward looking chapters are Richard and Mary, and I think that's OK -- though I could squeeze Mary in after Edmund's flashback and so we have her introduction to Lucy and Edmund from her point of view rather than Edmund's.  Got that?  I think that's one POV too many.  Or not?

I've given up trying to do any other challenges, fic exchanges and the like to concentrate on this.  But, maybe I should so something holiday like?  A meme or something?  Would there be any interest in that?  If so, what?

 


autumnia: Central Park (Default)

[personal profile] autumnia 2010-12-04 01:56 am (UTC)(link)
Oh so lovely tidbits you've posted here, rth. I'm most amused by the Bacchus one, and the Harold/Morgan comes in close second.

As for Richard and Mary, I think it'd be fine if you leave them out. We did get Mary in the last chapter (though with Eustace) and had quite a bit of Richard in the one before that.

And I'm always interested in memes and that sort of thing, so that's a Yes vote from here! :-) I don't think I'll be doing a holiday fic, though I had been thinking about some ideas for it. And a meme might be easier to play with for the holidays.
ext_418583: (Default)

[identity profile] rthstewart.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 04:55 am (UTC)(link)
Well, as you will see, I put in Mary, but left out Richard, except by reference. Thanks so much! It helped me get through the rough patch!
autumnia: Central Park (Default)

[personal profile] autumnia 2010-12-07 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm so looking forward to reading Chapter 4... but I'm going to try and be good and not look at it until I can get a little real work done.

I love updates: there's yours, and Cofax's, and I think I'll be posting Not-Chapter 2 of the Not-Last Battle AU in a bit.
cofax7: climbing on an abbey wall  (Default)

[personal profile] cofax7 2010-12-04 02:00 am (UTC)(link)
But, some readers thought AW was moving too fast

... it's your story, though. One of the advantages of fanfiction is that we don't have to write to the audience: the only person we have to please is ourselves. And I can pretty much guarantee that for every reader who said they thought it was moving too fast, there were just as many who thought the pace was slow, and twice as many as either who didn't have an opinion on the pacing.

That's MHO, anyway. By this point I would trust your own instincts: you know where the story is going and what it needs better than anyone outside.

ext_418583: (Default)

[identity profile] rthstewart.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
Ahh, trusting my instincts. I am fabulously bad about that. All this time, all these miles, ALL THOSE WORDS, and I remain deeply meh about my own work. I don't really write what I want -- or not completely. But, it's up and thank you for the kind words!!
cofax7: climbing on an abbey wall  (Default)

[personal profile] cofax7 2010-12-07 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
I don't really write what I want -- or not completely.

I read these words but I DO NOT UNDERSTAND THEM.

One of the reasons I prefer to write fanfiction is that I can write whatever I want to and ignore the audience/reader. If they like it, fine. If they don't, also fine (although fb would be nice). Nobody can make me do anything I don't want to! \o/

But we all write for different reasons and so forth. Your beagle may vary.

[identity profile] amine-eyes.livejournal.com 2010-12-04 06:46 am (UTC)(link)
Are you happy with the chapter? Then do that :D

I second[livejournal.com profile] cofax7 on this, though it's brilliant that we get to see more of your wonderful world, if it feels like it works for you, then do that :) It means we get story, and you're happy, and those who wish the story to do something other than what they want could always write their own - beauty of fanfic :)

I know I'm doing a holiday fic (at some point), but if it means a bit of AW before Christmas ... oh I can't decide!

And also, lucky bugger on getting to see Dawn Treader! *grumbles goodnaturedly* :D
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[identity profile] rthstewart.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
I don't really write what I want you see. I write what I think a certain group of readers want to read. And therein lies the problem. But thank you for your thoughts and support! the next chapter is up!
cofax7: climbing on an abbey wall  (Default)

[personal profile] cofax7 2010-12-07 05:04 am (UTC)(link)
See, here's the thing: if I only wrote what I thought a certain group of readers wanted to read, I wouldn't be writing Carpetbaggers at all, because there was no indication anywhere in the fandom that what I wanted to read was what other people wanted to read. But that's why I started writing it, because I couldn't find what I wanted--and it turned out there was an audience for it after all.

I'm frequently surprised by the readership for stories I write only for myself.

Just... something to consider.
ext_418583: (Default)

[identity profile] rthstewart.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 05:12 am (UTC)(link)
I am well aware that if you can't please everyone, of course. And having delved for a while into pro fic (and franchise work at that, so there were many masters), I won't go back to it for the reasons you enumerated -- you have the freedom in fan fic to do what you wish.

The fact is, I am, and remain pretty insecure about all this, even after 15+ years at it. I am, as mentioned, just fabulously bad at understanding what readers want/expect/like. And I'm so very, very grateful to those who have found the stories. As much as I enjoy the creative outlet, I really value the framework for relationships that fan fic provides -- the community of readers, writers, and such.

So, thanks so much. I appreciate you reading and checking in and I shall be getting caught up on Carpetbaggers soon!

[identity profile] min023.livejournal.com 2010-12-04 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
As I've said previously, I consider the pacing just fine as it is, although I suppose that idea that Richard needs a good spanking did come from me, albeit somewhat indirectly. So, yes, I echo the others when they say 'go ahead and do what you want to'. Last year's Christmas fic was gorgeous though, but I still want to know what is happening in AW, too. Not much help for this quarter, is it? Tell you what, you decide what you want to do, and I'll come and play (helpful, no?)

Oh, and amine? Just cause the movie is out, doesn't necessarily mean we get to see it any faster. It opened here last Thursday, but I have a junior schooler who really, really wants to see it (along the lines of 'pleeeaaaase, Mum'). We have our long summer break coming up in two weeks, so must wait until that starts, because there's too much end of year stuff happening until then :-(
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[identity profile] rthstewart.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 05:00 am (UTC)(link)
Well, I compromised, as you will read, with regard to Richard. Mary gets about 25% of the chapter from her POV and Digory and Edmund get the rest. And yes, the return of Morgan. I have gotten better about doing what I want to do -- I think the recent chapters have shown a greater freedom in that regard. I don't' dance around the adult themes as I used to.

[identity profile] amine-eyes.livejournal.com 2010-12-07 11:43 am (UTC)(link)
Ah very true - RL interferes with fandom life far too much I find :)

[identity profile] andi-horton.livejournal.com 2010-12-14 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
I see all these author alerts from you and others and I imagine, in my most fevered moments, a world in which I have time to read all of them, never mind write things of my own . . . setting aside for the moment my existing holiday plans to shun my houseguest in favour of catching up on all my fic reading over the break (jk, [livejournal.com profile] intrikate88, jk-- sort of) I would love something holiday-y! What sort of meme did you --or anybody else-- have in mind?