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donutsweeper ([personal profile] donutsweeper) wrote2009-01-01 08:09 pm
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2008 Summary

Torchwood/Doctor Who (with Jack)/Jack stories 

Dying To Be A Hero
, Owen and Ianto debate over Jack's dead body, rated G, 255 words
Quantum Coffee, Jack and Tosh discuss the act of making coffee, rated G, Sequel to Schrödinger's Coffee. 100 words
Welcome Home, Jack is not welcomed home in the way he had expected, rated G, written for the Anti-Shipping war , 243 words
Nocturnal Musings, Someone watches Jack sleep, rated PG-13, written for the Anti-Shipping war, 345 words
Beautiful Brides, Jack compliments a bride, rated G, written for the comment fest, 100 words
Consequences, The fifth in 'The Old Man' universe, rated R, 1120 words
Love Nest, Twelfth in the powdered sugar crack!fic series. rated G, 100 words
Duty, Jack/Ianto implied, inspired by an icon, rated PG, 377 words 
Out of Time No More, Jack mourns, rated G, 200 words (written for jadesfire2808)
The More Things Change- One night Jack's wanderings aboard the TARDIS bring him face to face with a former traveler, Jamie, rated G, 1308
The Bride Wore Black, Jack learns hypervodkas and diplomatic missions don't mix, G, 274 words (writing meme prompt)
The Stray, Tosh wants the team to adopt a kitten, G, 100 words (with ART!)
Stagnation, spoilers for "Utopia", Jack can't see his scars, G, 100 words
Switching Our Positions, Jack/surprise, BDSM, this time Jack was in charge, NC-17, 200 words (writing meme prompt)
Jack and the Ultimate No Good Cracktastically Clichéd Very Bad Day, Jack/himself (sort of), crack warning, cliché warning, See if you can spot all 18 clichés, PG, 610 words (with ART!)
Pleasure and Pride, Jack takes pride in providing pleasure, R, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
Unwelcome Answers, Jack/Ianto implied, Owen and Gwen interrogate Jack, PG, 1529 words (written for the finish-a-thon)
A Stolen Moment, Surprise pairing, PWP, Two Torchwood teammates steal a moment together, NC-17,100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
The Windsor, Jack/Ianto, Jack has something to prove, PG, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
The Shirt, Jack/Ianto, sequel to The Windsor, PG, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
The Belt, Jack/Ianto, follows The Shirt, PG-13, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
The Trousers,Jack/Ianto, Fourth in the series, following The Belt, PG-13, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
The Trousers, Take Two, Jack/Ianto, Fifth in the series, following The Trousers. PG-13, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: kink)
A Minor Interlude, Jack meets Five and Turlough in 1920's Cardiff, PG, 2167 words (written for _medley_and mad_jaks)
A Hard Look At Time, Jack/Doctor, (final part to The Old Man Universe), rated R, 970 words
Ménage à Trois, Rhys/Owen/Jack,  R, 100 words (written for tw100 challenge: st:tng reverse fandom and written for mad_jaks)
Ménage à Trois Part Deux, Rhys/Owen/Jack, sequel to Ménage à Trois, rated NC-17, 100 words (Time Stamp Meme, written for sistercarrion)
A Minor Rendezvous, Jack/Turlough/Five implied, sequel to A Minor Interlude, rated PG, 175 words (Time Stamp Meme, written for _medley_)
The Pants, Jack/Ianto, 6th in The Clothing Series, rated PG-13, 100 words (Time Stamp Meme, written for mad_jaks)
To Dance With, Jack/Doctor, A letter from Jack makes its way to the Doctor after Jack has died, G, 268 (Written for the Dead Letter Challenge)
Alphabet Soup, The team has a certain pastime when it comes to tracking Jack's deaths, G, 640 words (birthday present for _medley_ )
Legends and Legacies, And old friend needs Jack’s help, G, 21907 words (tardis_bigbang)
The Electric Lime Invitation, Jack gets an invitation he can't refuse, G, 497 words (birthday present for rustydog)
It's Tradition, Gwen learns about the things we do in the name of tradition, G, 100 words (tw100 challenge: Life Before Torchwood)
Whistle While You Work, Jack/Ianto, Ianto's life after quitting Torchwood, R, 100 words (tw100 challenge: Life After Torchwood)
Learning to Whistle, Jack/Ianto, prequel to "Whistle while you work," How Ianto got his chains, R, 437 words
How the Doctor Got His Friend, AU, Doctor Bear meets Captain Bear, G, 574 words (written for wintercompanion AU challenge)
Finding One's Place, Jack/Nine, The Doctor helps Jack realize where he belongs, G, 868 words (written for becky_h's birthday)
The Clothing Series Finale, Jack/Ianto, 7th in series, Jack finally succeeds in undressing Ianto, PG-13, 100 words (written for mad_jaks)
A Lesson in Whistling, Jack/Ianto, Ianto's future when he quit Torchwood (3rd in series),  R, 559 words
Ship-Shape, Jack/Nine, Jack and Nine in the wardrobe room, PG, 150 words (taffimai's prompt)
Banana Cream Pie, Jack/Ten, food porn, PG, 100 words (kensieg's prompt)
Finding One's Place, Jack/Sarah Jane, Jack and Sarah Jane learn they have more in common then they'd thought, spoilers for DWx13, PG, 614 words (_medley_'s prompt)
Ways to Win an Argument, Jack/Owen, Jack's technique for winning, R, 100 words, (sistercarrion's prompt)
Ianto's Secret, Owen leans a secret Ianto had been trying to keep hidden, G, 258 words (rustydog's  prompt)
Quarantine, When the team is confined to the Hub, Jack knows how to spend the time, G, 373 words (joonscribble's prompt)
Failed Tactics, The Brigadier knows all of Jack's tricks, G, 100 words
Restitution, The Clothing Series Postscript, Jack/Ianto, 8th in series, Jack provides restitution, NC-17, 100 words (for mad_jaks' birthday)
Barrel of What? Andy's gotten into a spot of trouble and calls Gwen for help, rated G, 100 words (happyfest fic)
Rhythm and Blues- A bit of Torchwood in rhyme, rated G, 158 words (written for frajdrako)
Owen, The Mighty Hunter- Owen's tale of tale of derring-do, rated G, 795 words (written for jadesfire2808)
Of Blocks and Horses-Rhys has learned how to interpret the word "no," rated G, 187 words (happyfest fic)
Owen's Powdered Sugar Plans- 13th powdered sugar crack!fic, rated G, 100 words (written to celebrate my 100th drabble)
A Ticket on the Crazy Train- Sometimes Jack wondered if the inmates were running the asylum, rated G, 100 words (tw100 icon challenge)
WHEE!!!- Jack's in a bit of a bind when a circus ship arrives for an engagement a century early, rated G, 100 words (tw100 icon challenge)
Perpetuity- Vague Jack/Ianto, dark themes and bleak/depressing fic warning, An AU retelling of the last few minutes "End of Days" with a very different, and much sadder, ending for Jack, rated PG, 994 words (Written for karaokegal's "Come As You're Not" Halloween Party.
Promises Fulfilled, The Clothing Series Postscript Addendum- Jack/Ianto, Jack makes good his restitution, rated NC-17, 100 words (written for mad_jaks)
States of Being- Jack/Ianto, Owen has a certain way of dealing with Jack, rated NC-17, 100 words (tw100 spn reverse fandom challenge)
A Start- Jack/Nine, the Doctor was foolish to think he could resist, rated PG, 299 words (written for unfeathered's birthday)
Horrors Most Profound-  Owen made the coffee, rated G, 300 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Reacquainting Oneself- Jack makes a decision regarding Owen, rated G, 220 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Powdered Sugar Problems- 14th powdered sugar crack!fic, rated G, 100 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
The Case of the Plotting Squirrel- Murray will have his revenge, rated G, 200 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Games of Days Gone By- In the future, a piece of Torchwood Three is rediscovered (with accompanying art), rated G, 459 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Reaching Out- Either Owen or Jack was going to have to reach out if they didn't want to remain alone, rated PG, 243 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
So Then What Happened?- a Miss Maggie fic, The story of "The Empty Child" as told to a 5 year old by Jack, eventually, if she ever lets him finish, rated G, 925 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Inexorable Slide- Jack Harkness asks Lethbridge-Stewart for help with the Doctor, rated G, 869 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
The Menagerie-Things go a bit awry for Jack, Tosh, Owen and Gwen after a piece of alien technology is activated, rated G, 439 word (with art by rustydog!) (written for consci_fan_mo)

NCIS
Forced Forgiveness- DiNozzo is going to forgive Gibbs, no matter what, rated R, 200 words (written for slashthedrabble challenge: forgiven)
The Concussion Check, Gibbs takes care of a wounded DiNozzo, G, 573 words (written for chatona)
Black, White and Shades of Gray, Gibbs has his rules for a reason, G, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: white)
Tony's Masks, Masks are what we make of them, G, 300 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: crush)
The Letter, three (very) minor NCIS characters and their thoughts on the SWAK letter, G, 300 (3x100 word drabbles), ncis_flashfic minor characters challenge
Doubts, vague Ducky/Gibbs, Gibbs doubts himself, rated PG, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: surprises)
A Coffee and A Smile, Tony wasn't just hired because he smiled, rated G, 100 words (written for ncisdrabble100 challenge: surprises)
Borrowed Time, When Tony had the plague Gibbs ordered him to live, rated PG, 300 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: too late and my paliphrase challenge)
Smoky Confrontations, A fire leads to confrontations between Gibbs and Tony, G, 900, (ncisdrabble100 challenge: Fire)
The Chase, A chase goes awry, rated G, 300 words (written for mad_jaks)
Donut Delight, Tony finds a surprise on his desk, rated G, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: Heaven and Hell)
The Fine Art Of Negotiation, Tony and Abby have made a deal, G, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: alibi)
Tony and the Ponisaurus, Tony shows Gibbs an unexpected side of himself, G, 300 words (awanderingbard's prompt)
The Fine Art of Appeasement, Gibbs knows better than to face Abby empty handed, G, 200 words (mad_jaks' prompt)
The Favored Scar, Tony's special scar, G, 300 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: shot)
Decisions to Make, pre-series, Tony muses about his place at NCIS, G, 300 words (karababe_64's prompt)
Rising to the Challenge, Tony/Abby, When Abby proposes a bet Tony plans on winning it, PG, 400 (4x100), (ncisdrabble100 challenge: electric)
The Stakeout- Gibbs takes advantage of an opportunity to study DiNozzo, rated G, 200 words, (ncisdrabble100 challenge:profile)
Left Unsaid- Since Tony never spoke about it, Gibbs was willing to pretend he was unaware, rated G, 226 words (ncis_flashfic challenge: Altered States
The Hidden Observer- Jimmy discovers a witness to a crime, rated G, 200 words, (ncisdrabble100 challenge: witness)
One Thing Leads To Another- A moment between Gibbs and DiNozzo is overheard and misconstrued, rated G, 500 words, (ncisdrabble100 challenge:gossip)
The Widening Gyre- Tony was still capable of surprising Gibbs, rated G, 1123 words
I Said No!- Tony's bugging Abby, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: hundreds)
The Elevator Tattoo- Abby makes a good canvas, rated G, 300 words, (happyfest fic)
Living the Lie- It's not easy to maintain a cover, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: secrets)
Can't Catch Me- A suspect tries to get away, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: satisfaction)
Differing Techniques- Ducky realizes something about Gibbs and DiNozzo, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: chemistry)
Told You So- Tony was right and Kate was wrong..., rated G, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: bad idea)
House, Not Home- Gibbs's door is never locked, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: key)
The Temperature Check- Tim's worried about Tony, rated G, 300 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: kiss)
Determination- Gibbs won't fail again, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: duty)
Swirling Chasm- There's so much going on and Tony's not sure he can handle it all, rated G, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: deep)
Halloween Headaches- Tony never suspected one Goth could create such havoc, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: trick or treat)
Bert My Boy- Abby's on a quest, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: perfect)
Sacrificial Knight- Ducky muses over Jethro and Tony's actions, rated G, 200 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: break)
Sweet Revenge- Director Morrow appreciates Gibbs' tactics, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: shine)
Techniques and Tactics- Whether building a boat or building a team, Gibbs knew what he was doing, rated G, 100 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: smooth)
The Spirits Laughed- History could rewrite itself in the blink of an eye, rated G, 300 words (ncisdrabble100 challenge: spirit)

Doctor Who (non-Jack)
It's Only Castles Burning, The Doctor ponders the price paid to end the Time War, G,100 words (writing meme prompt + my paliphrase challenge)
Here's a Doctor, There's a Doctor, A room full of Doctors?, rated G, 1967 words
Mysteries to Ponder, Turlough was a bit of a mystery to the Doctor, G, 100 words, (dw100 challenge: miscreant)
Seven's Bear, There was a little bear on the TARDIS, G, 635 words (commentfic- also by mad_jaks and rustydog)
Morality Lessons, Doctor/Master, The Doctor tries to teach the Master an important lesson, G, 167 words (unfeathered's prompt)
Earth, Again, Turlough is less then thrilled about the TARDIS' latest stop, G, 100, (dw100 challenge: bananas)

Memory Is What You Make Of It- The Doctor reflects on former companions, rated G, 317 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Not the Same- When Turlough falls ill Tegan worries, the Doctor tries not to blame himself, rated G, 617 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

House
Clarity of Thought, dark themes, spoilers for the Tritter arc, Wilson makes a decision, PG, 596 words (written for my paliphrase challenge)

SGA
Being There, Ronon helps Sheppard realize there are some things friends don't let friends face alone, G, 580 words (smithy161's prompt and my paliphrase challenge)
Lightning Dances- Sheppard listens to Atlantis when she wants to talk, rated G, 274 words (happyfest fic)
Patches of Kindness- Teyla is touched by John's actions, rated G, 220 words (bringthehappy happyfest- also here)
Hidden Heroism- Sometimes strengths can turn into weaknesses, rated PG, 1847 words (sgahcchallenges fic exchange)
Rude Awakenings- Sheppard's a little mad when he wakes up, rated G, 446 words (LFWS round#1- also here)
More than Just The Mess Hall- Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference, rated G, 500 words (LFWS round #two- also here)
Sweet Serenade- Sometimes it's the little things that make a difference, rated G, 467 words (LFWS round three- also here)
The Things We Do For Our Teammates- Teyla's condition puts John in a little bit of a bind, rated G, 400 words (LFWS round#4- also here)
The Wait- Rodney chastises Ronon for saving him, rated G, 400 words (LFWS round #5- also here)

Original Fiction
The World Around Them- original fiction, There are things going on that few ever see, rated PG, 100 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Watching The World Around Them- original fiction continuation, There are things going on that few ever see, rated PG, 100 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

Supernatural
Unsaid- Sometimes the hunt itself is the least of Sam and Dean's problems, rated G, 543 words
Loyal To A Fault- Dean undergoes a transformation, rated PG, 4734 words
Deals and Directions - Dean is impatient, Sammy's getting frustrated, rated G, 422 words (written for spnflashfic, also here)
So Very Lost- Bobby finds something he wished he didn't, rated G, 318 words (written for found_fic_spn)


Crossovers

Multifandom

The Impartial Parrot, Torchwood + 20 other fandoms, There is a pub that spies gravitate to..., rated PG, 1293 words
The Big Event- (SGA, DW, TW, DS, NCIS+ Crossover) The Torchwood team plans an important celebration, rated G, 3001 words (written for my 200th story)
Rift Trips For Nothing And The Chicks For Free- (Loony Toons, Sesame Street, children's fables, and Torchwood) The plas is inundated by poultry, rated G, 100 words (tw100 amnesty: crossover)

Babylon 5
Ships That Pass- B5/Torchwood, A brief conversation between Jack and G'Kar, G, 514 words (written for consci_fan_mo)


Dark Angel
Loving Reminders, Dark Angel/Torchwood, Jack Harkness/Logan Cale, physical changes can be overcome, PG-13, 781 words (written for mad_jaks)

Discworld
Here Be Dragons, Discworld/TW, Jack knows a few things about dragons, rated G 274 words
When It All Went Out- Discworld/TW, the universe comes to an end and Jack's not sure what to do next, rated G, 273 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
Charlie on the Shoulder- Discworld/TW, Owen's a little disconcerted at the favor Tosh does for Lady Sybil., rated G, 295 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

Dresden Files
The Wizard, the Ghost, and the Alien Hunter, Dresden Files/Torchwood, sequel to The Wizard and the Alien Hunter, rated G, 283 words (Time Stamp Meme, written for aeron_lanart)
Indignities Suffered, Dresden Files/due South, Bob suffers a terrible indignity, G, 150 words, (aeron_lanart's prompt)
Calling In A Favor- Dresden Files/Torchwood, Jack knows just who to call when he has a magical problem, G, 455 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

due South
Old Friends and Unfamiliar Faces, due South/Torchwood, Jack/Fraser, Jack meets up with Ben at the Canadian Consulate.  Dief is happy to see him, but Ray's a little nervous, G, 1158 words (written for travels_in_time's birthday)

Forever Knight
Another Morgue, Another Town- Forever Knight/Torchwood, Nick recommends against Natalie doing an autopsy on Jack, rated G, 100 words (tw100 amnesty: crossover)

NCIS
The Autopsy Table, NCIS/Torchwood, Jack/Ducky implied, Jack& Ducky meet in the strangest of places, rated G, 172 words
An Atypical Investigation,NCIS/Torchwood, The NCIS team is surprised when a murder victim comes to life, G, 1831 words
Is As It Was- NCIS/Torchwood, Ducky tells Tony a story of days gone by and how he started working for a secret governmental agency... rated G, 2113 words (also here) (ncis_flashfic amnesty: crossover)

SGA
Sacrifices, SGA/TW, the team is captured off-world, PG, 1446 words (time stamp request for kensieg)
In Which Sheppard and His Team Make a Friend, SGA/Winnie-the-Pooh crossover (really), Sheppard and his team come across someone unexpected in the woods one day, G, 647 words
Flying The Friendly Skies- SGA/TW, Jack, John and a shared passion, rated G, 300 words (written for consci_fan_mo)
In Which Sheppard Tries To Explain- SGA/Winnie-the-Pooh (Sequel to In Which Sheppard and His Team Make a Friend) Sam thought the mission report was a little strange, rated G, 284 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

Supernatural
The Four Times Dean Was In Over His Head- Supernatural/Torchwood, Jack helps out Dean, rated G, 2364 words (the_dark_side 's birthday)
It's the Great Pumpkin, Dean Winchester!- Supernatural/Peanuts, Sometimes the hunt itself is the least of Sam and Dean's problems, rated G, 898 words (spnflashfic "when legends meet" challenge- also here)
A Helping Hand- Supernatural/Torchwood, When faced with massive, bizarre spiderwebs Dean calls an expert for help, rated G, 869 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

Wild Wild West
The Night Of The Significant Meeting- Doctor Who/Wild Wild West, The meeting of two great minds, rated G, 100 words (written for consci_fan_mo)

X-Files
Playing Around- X-Files/Torchwood, Jack has some fun with a certain FBI agent, rated G, 100 words, (tw100 challenge: crossovers)



Totals and stats:
49 drabbles (100 words), 90 ficlets (101-999 words), 15 full length (1k+, 1 of which was 20k+)  154 stories all together (for comparision, my total in 2007's 7 months of writing was 116 stories, with 69 drabbles)
66 Jack  noncrossover stories
38 NCIS
9 SGA
8 NonJack Doctor Who
25 crossovers
lowest word count- January- 1317 words
highest word count- June- 27530 words (included bigbang)
highest word count without bigbang- December- 11,837 words 
{For comparison- previous highs were September 2007 (with 7k 1st Miss Maggie and 2 Old!mans) and October 2007 (with 12k pants!verse plus an Old!man)} 

total word count in 2008 of 77653


Random other stuff:

DVD Commentaries of others' work:

jadesfire2808's The First Time (Torchwood)
blueraccoon's Corresponding Angles (NCIS)


DVD Commentaries of my own work:

Quarantine
I Said No!
Seven's Bear
The Widening Gyre
Charming the Pants off the Pashahads
The Impartial Parrot
The Hunter

Reading:

A voice post, a reading of my "Journey's End" story "Finding Your Place."

Art:

Torchwood Bulletin Board- an art collaboration with _medley_
Games of Days Gone By- accompanying the story, by me



Stories of mine that were remixed:
I Love A Man In Uniform by greenapple (a remix of Ship-Shape)  Doctor Who fandom
Where The Heart Is (The Guardian Angels remix) by sour_louise (a remix of House, not Home) NCIS fandom
Negotiating Results by nouveau_monday(a remix of The Fine Art of Appeasement) NCIS fandom
Shock by emerald_embers (a remix of Unsaid) Supernatural fandom
Good Company (The Greenhouse remix) by lilfluffykitten (a remix of Ianto's Secret) Torchwood fandom


I didn't do an overall list in 2007 since it was my first year (and everything was either Torchwood or related to Jack in some way), but I think looking at this story list it's incredibly obvious I work best under the pressure of a challenge or prompt of some kind.  134 things were written as presents, challenges, prompts, etc. while only 20 were 'just because' (and even some of those related back to conversations/urgings from various people).  I think I need to find more prompt/challenge communities.  Or beg my flist for help.

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 04:02 am (UTC)(link)
It's an average of about 6500 words a month and about 212 a day! That's really great. I'd say 212 a day sounds manageable if I hadn't had to put an unsustainable amount of energy into writing ten drabbles in two weeks.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
I think it's all a matter of getting the muse to get excited about something. I wrote a 4k spn story in a day and a half, last month, but didn't write anything for about a week this month. It's so random. Sometimes drabbles fly off the page and are perfect in an hour, othertimes it takes days and days and never quite comes out right

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 04:13 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, I think I know what you mean. Though I haven't thought of it much in terms of muses, with me - it's more whether my head is in the right place. I think I have phases that are a little manic, and at those times *everything* inspires me to write, and I can do several hundred words a day if I happen to have the right story and plan my time. But I *have* to write or my brain will go to pieces, or it feels like that. Other times, when my brain's in a more down phase, it doesn't matter how good a prompt or idea is, it's not going to happen.

Or is that what you mean by the muse?

Hey did you see on the Children in Time Awards, they categorize a ficlet as anything between 101 and 10,000 words? I almost choked on my tea. By that standard I am neeeeever going to write a full length fic. Heh.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
exactly if the muse/brain/head is being in right place etc... the words flow. Otherwise? No luck, no way, no how.

101-10,000?!?!? Oh dear. I'd have a grand total of 2 full length fics then. Even if it was over 5k I'd only have 3 or 4. I don't do LONG

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 04:24 am (UTC)(link)
Me either! In fact every time I get inspired to, no matter how much I love the story and enjoy writing it, I end up with something that just feels wrong. I'd like to work on that, actually. I think it might take some seriously heavy betaing though! Some people seem to *prefer* writing long long stories and churn them out more easily. I know it's a different way of thinking and planning.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 04:25 am (UTC)(link)
I just don't think I'd have the staying power. I like the instant gratification of reader feedback. And I hate writing in the detail needed for a high word count, I like broad strokes and letting the reader fill in the rest

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
I like broad strokes and letting the reader fill in the rest

There's a real art to that, and I think it's hard to change techniques to writing out more of the details.

I have trouble with staying power, too. By the time I get over 4000 words or so I'm exhausted and feeling like I just need to get the story out of my hair. Not to mention the insecurity. ::eyeroll::

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 05:55 am (UTC)(link)
Writing details (the real specific kind, like the color of the shirt and the specific way he stands and crosses his arms, and how the wall he's leaning against has a faded wallpapers reminiscent of the 60s, etc) it makes me antsy.

I don't think I've crossed 4k more than a handful of times. maybe 5 times out of 270 or so stories? Some people manage 20, 30, even 50k no problem (heck there are some SGA and SG1 authors who manage 100+ over and over again) I will never be one of those sort of writers

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
how the wall he's leaning against has a faded wallpapers reminiscent of the 60s, etc

I get the feeling I'm unusual among readers in that I love reading descriptive detail, so I do think stuff like that is nice, but only if it has a purpose in the story. If it's just there to up the word count or because the writer is distracted, it can be, well, distracting.

And yup, I can count my over 4k stories on one hand. Even if I include the one that was exactly 4k!

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
If there's a point to it, fine. I did descriptions like that in one scene of my bigbang, because I needed to show that there were no hiding places for Jack to discover. Too often though there's paragraph after paragraph of it and I wind up scrolling and scrolling trying to find where something happens.

exactly 4k? That's so cool!

[identity profile] rustydog.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 06:18 am (UTC)(link)
You're right, sometimes description has a narrative purpose. That's good! I don't even mind it if it's setting the tone for a scene - I'm an atmosphere whore. :) But yeah, we don't necessarily need to know the color of characters' clothes or whatever. I struggle with describing characters' posture and motions while they're speaking (and when they aren't) - it seems important when I'm seeing it in my head but then I always wonder if it's necessary. I admire writers who have a good feel for that.

[identity profile] donutsweeper.livejournal.com 2009-01-02 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
I do too! and tend to leave it out. that's when a good beta steps in and says 'errr- I have no idea what Jack's doing here' or whatever and makes me realize I need to give a little more info- standing up here, leaning on the desk there... whatever