&quot;No, Not the Mind Probe!!?!&quot;

Heheh...yes, yes it does... ;D

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It's lovely, but now you've got me really worried.

1. Plotty 11 Fic
2. Sherlock fic
3. Fan art (VERY time consuminG!)

Where in all this is the Black Bore, eh?

*worries some more*

I mean, there's also got to be rl in there somewhere. Novels take a heck of a lot of time, and you know, I could be making icons and writing and doing frivolous things myself instead of commenting on the pieces you post. Nice as they are, if they're never going to end up completed, that's cruelty to dumb readers.

I mean, it is lovely and I'm impressed - couldn't do something like that to save my life. But I was worrying from the unexpected new WIP's appearance (just when you got one safely out of the way, too) and now you've got me wondering.

Also, is everything okay?

PS. I haven't been reading the Sherlock fic because of not managing to watch it, stupidly, but, I have to agree with LJ - 8000+ words. That IS two chapers, online. This is why you need a novel to let yourself go!!! :lol:

Edited Date: 2010-08-29 05:15 pm (UTC)

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No, you're right. You're dead right. I could go making up stupid excuses (the dog ate it, Miss!), but I don't really have any. A couple of weeks ago, I was getting nicely into the Bore again after a bit of time away from it, but these past two weeks...I find myself sitting down to write it and then finding other things to do instead. I know it's annoying that I've said so much about it and produced so little - I'm annoyed at myself!

Although I was pleased with myself for doing my little Eleven picture...and now I'm not any more... :(

Work is fine right now. Still nothing concrete about our longterm future, but they're in the process of transferring our contracts over to our new owners (the company's new owners, that is - who btw seem much better employers than our previous overlords ever were, although they would want us to think that at this stage, wouldn't they?)

But yeah, I liked Sherlock. I thought it was good. Tbh, most of that fic was written during slow spells in work last week... :D

I...don't know what to do now...

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Aw. I didn't mean to knock your pleasure in your piccy, but I was getting worried. Reassure me. Give me a total word count (or page count if you've been doing the rough draft long hand).

What worried me was that it was LONG fic, which surely ,i>has to be a distraction? And you'd just had a bit of a break, which you probably needed... and then. I don't know if I should confess this or not, but while I thought your Eleven fic was lovely, if you'd been anywhere near me, you'd have seen me glaring. I couldn't believe you'd do that. I really couldn't. I wondered if it was work, all these distracto things (although I completely understand the temptation to rewrite Arthur Conan Doyle!!!)

Thing is, fanfic can be a nice break - but short fanfic, or finishing of already existing WIPs to clear your brain, surely? Like those memes that were around, or a drabble - drabbles work like sharpening a pencil.

As to what to do, frame your nice piccy, and put it up where you can see it to remind you to write rubbish until you get through this block. You can edit it later. Besides, you seem incapable of writing rubbish.

Maybe it's just me, because I find myself incapble of working full time and managing to write anything properly, but I doubt even your capabilities to make a decent stab at a novel while working full time, doing whatever rl stuff needs doing, and writing long fan fic, and doing fan art.

I mean, you do seem to be a person of many talents, so maybe I'm only judging by my feeble standards, but you got me worried for a bit. You've already proved you can write anything you try in fanfic brilliantly, so don't waste those talents with us forever. (Or, if that's what you'd rather do, just say, and let's scrap the novel plan, and I'll throw bunnies at you instead. But I don't think that's what you want, is it?)

Anyway, it's never the end of the world. :lol: Just reassure me a bit here, okay. And whatever you do, don't start another long fic. ;-D If you must do fanfic, you should finish those singing Sontarans!!!

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Not counting the first-stab draft that I was working on in the beginning of the year, which is effectively dead because the story changed in my head and invalidated most of it, which was the cause of my first big break-up with the Bore... The new, revamped Bore (the current draft) is at 32,418 words as of now. So, about a third of the way, although not really because I can again see most of this version going out of the window in response to that thing with the Princess I was talking about...

So, it's not like I haven't done any...but it compares poorly to the volume of fanfic I've turned out in the same timeframe... :(

I think it's partly performance anxiety, if that's the right word. It sounds bad, but I can bang out a couple of thousand words of fanfic in an evening, give it a once-over for spelling mistakes etc and then post it online without a second glance (which I appreciate is not exactly best practice even for fanfic). With this thing, I find myself agonising over every other word and changing things every time I re-read them; it gets to the point where it doesn't feel like fun any more and I want to do other things.

The 11 fic, I wrote the first chapter and put it online in a moment of bravado without stopping to think about when I'd find time to do the rest of it...

The Sherlock thing was supposed to be one chapter, about 4,000 words or so, but...well, see the icon...

However, I know I have this tendency, which was why I made that post back in June or July reminding people to hassle me if they thought I wasn't being diligent. Which is why I'm sort of grateful for the above - I need it sometimes.

The singing Sontarans...thanks for reminding me about the singing Sontarans...

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30,000 - not bad.

I did wonder if it was something like that from what you said, but treat it the same way - just write. That's the important thing. You can edit and change and rewrite and do what you like afterwards, but there's no such thing as perfection in this imperfect world. Besides, you getting something you're prepared to send out isn't even the last step - then it goes to other people who have you rewriting even more, if they ever want it. :-D So it's not as if this is what's going to get printed. Shoot the anxiety! Write, write, write, and worry about whether it's good once you've written it, not before. You can always show it to someone and see what they think, but not if you've nothing to show.

You can bash out quality and quantity, so just have confidence in that and go for it. And stories do start getting to be like work at that sort of point.

Heh, you don't want to be the sort of writer who takes 10 years over each book - I don't think you've any need to be, the volume you can turn out. :-) (I was going to say, like Mortmain, but I Capture the Castle is probably not something you've read. But the father in it is a terribly clever modern novelist who wrote one great novel and then can't follow it up... until his two younger children lock him in the tower and force him to. Be glad I'm not anywhere near you, or I might try the same thing. :lol:)

But don't stress - there isn't any great hurry. But rl, being what it is, it always pays to take the opportunity while you have it than assume it'll always be there.

But WRITE! (Do you get the message here? Don't agonise over it until you have a proper full first draft. There's room for revisions, major or otherwise, and sequels or whatever, afterwards.)

I only say this because I did promise to nag.

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You did, and you're keeping the promise, so you should be proud, or something... But it is good advice. I shall endeavour to bash out some wordage then (I'll pretend it's fanfic or something, in case that helps!) and worry about it being, like, any good. I'll also try to fight the urge to change the story mid-stream and end up having to more-or-less start over...at least until I've finished the current version. As you say, doing that kind of thing is a good way to ensure that you never end up finishing it...

But yes, keep nagging! Please do!

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Yes. I waffle a lot. I meant to say, it was your implied note that you'd been rewriting the beginning a lot that worried me most. :-)

Here's more sensible, morning advice: it's the FIRST DRAFT. No one but you will ever see this. If writing it on the screen starts freaking you out, write it longhand (Because then you can play the trick on yourself 'I'm just going to type these words up la la la.') But you have a story in your head and the important thing is just to tell it. That's all that matters here and now.

So, note carefully waht changes you need to make, and then carry on from word 30,001 till you get to the end. Then comes the bit that really is tough work - editing it/completely rewriting it into a second draft! :lol:

But, seriously, your fanfic is so excellent, you could write a novel taht way and never have to worry. I mean, given the short existence of computers in writing, most authors did. And a book-length story is different to a short story, or a very short 'idea' type novel, where you actually might want to use that approach. But tell that story. You had me sold in Battlelines, and I know you can do it. I just hope you believe it, too.

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Well, I took your advice and bashed out 2,400+ words like a maniac today without stopping to think or look back or mess with it (haven't read UNIT today either - when you're on a roll, you're on a roll, you know how it is). You're right, I've got to get in the same frame of mind I was in with Battlelines or the Torchwood fic and just keep forging ahead without worrying about the consequences!! ;D

I am going to finish that rewrite of the first chapter and the new inserted chapter 2, because I know what I'm doing with them now, but that's it. Once they're done they're done for the time being and I'm moving on with the rest of it.

I will take some time this week or next to finish the Sherlock fic, because it won't take long. It's not an epic - only another chapter or two to bring it to a conclusion (although that will still make it about two or three times as long as the original Arthur Conan Doyle story it's based on...something wrong there somewhere...). Don't know about the 11 fic. It might end up like singing Sontarans, or I might use it as a distraction if/when I hit the next bump with the Bore.

Other than that and the inevitable Xmas fic (gotta have Xmas fic!),though, I have sworn on the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch not to start any more serious fanfic until I've made serious - SERIOUS - inroads into the remainder of the Bore (I'm aiming for 90,000-100,000 words in the completed first draft, simply because I read somewhere that's a good length for a modern fantasy novel). If I break this vow I'm expecting you to come down on me like the proverbial ton of bricks. If I can presume upon you like that... :)

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Well, there's me paid out for being interfering... :-( If I can't post my remaining chapters before I go away, that's your fault, too, now. Obviously, I meant drop everything else but still read UNIT fic. :lol:

Am I this bad? - you're making me feel like I've turned into the stern teacher or something... 8-o I expected you to finish the Sherlock fic, really. And that all sounds great. And I'll only say something if I gather there's been any unexpected return to the start, or any plotty fic. It's only the new long, plotty fic that worried me, on top of the whole ' I keep rewriting the start' thing. The story's the thing! ;-D

2,400? Pretty good, although I can raise on 8000 on that from when I was off the other week! ;-p Except your words are better... *sigh*

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Obviously! I'll try and get everything you've posted read and commented on by the time you get back from the wedding, anyway...

No, you're not that bad...you just made me think about priorities etc, which is a Good Thing, I assure you. So yeah, Sherlock and 11 will go on, but at a reduced priority, yes.

You were claiming 11,000 the other day, I thought! 8,000 is still mightily impressive, however. (Mind you, when I was writing that Two and the Spartans fic I did about 30,000 words in like a week or something, and was kind of impressed impressed with myself. Here's hoping I can hit that kind of groove with the Bore, because if I do I won't have to worry about DW fic distracting me... I can hope, can't I?! :D)

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I did write 11000 - I said I'd raise you 8000 on your 2400+! (=11000). I'm not sure I should admit that aloud, though, as it's not a sane fact. I printed out all the pages I'd written at the end of each day over that weekend - and there were nearly twenty A4 pages of Arial 9 so I went 8-o and did a word count just to check how insane I was. :-D

Well, The Spartans was brilliant, so, yes, write it like that!!!

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Well, I'm impressed, anyway! :D

Could bear a bit of a family resemblance to the Spartans too, when I get into the serious battling...

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It's probably my fault...

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Oh, I think JJ is responsible for himself...

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Too right. Or irresponsible for myself, sometimes...

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No, it's all my fault.

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Everything? :lol:

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Yep; the Black Bore not getting written, the flooding in Pakistan, World War One...you name it, I had a hand in it somewhere down the line...

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I think there's a name for thinking like that. :-D

But if there's a zombie apocalypse, I know that one's definitely you.

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:D

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But I've been, like, enticing you to write stuff. It's terribly naughty of me.

Edited Date: 2010-08-30 09:28 am (UTC)

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You're right - you did! It _is_ your fault!

(You know I kid...)XD

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Nice one.

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Thanks. :)

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I should get GIMP again. Need to practice my srs bsns digitul arfs.

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It's great...I'm a bit in love with it, which is sad really... ;D It doesn't half eat up the hours though, I have discovered...

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librarylover82.livejournal.com

This looks good!

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Thank you! :)

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clocketpatch

I think I've been a terrible role model (far less encouraging than lost anyways) enticing you to write Sherlock and plotty Eleven fic, heh. (What can I say? I'm a terrible selfish person LOL)

And your Eleven is very, VERY pretty (This is your first time using GIMP?!?! And his body has proper proportions and stuff!! AND FEZ!!)

But all that said - you're one of the best writers I've ever come across, published or not, and certainly one of the few people I've met who can make such a vast volume of writing so quickly. And I want you in hardback on my bookshelf.

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Yeah, I've decided I'm going to spread the blame about a bit - you bad, bad person! XD

It's my best effort after about two days of practicing with GIMP - I didn't save my first couple of embarrassing attempts. Somebody did once show me how to use Photoshop, although I've never actually used it by myself (have you seen how expensive it is??) I think years of fiddling obsessively with MS Paint was probably good training as well. I like the fact that it's a bit more like actual drawing/painting than Paint is, except computer-drawing is much more forgiving of mistakes than the real thing (undo! undo! :D). I suppose if you got one of those graphics tablets where you can draw normally and it comes up on the screen it would be The Business, but I dread to think how much they cost, considering I'd only be using it for doodling once in a while...

Aw. That's nice of you to say so. I'm going to finish the Sherlock and the Eleven, although it might take me a while, and I'm going to do a Xmas fic for Xmas, but other than that, I'm going to swear some sort of oath on holy relics to steer clear of starting any new fanfic until I've made real progress again with the Bore. Certainly no multi-chapter epics!

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clocketpatch

Oh noes! Blame flinging! *ducks and covers*

The price of Photoshop and tablets is just simply ridiculous. I'm kind of slightly concerned (read jealous, very very jealous) when I see people buying them just to doodle with. But much as I want one, I don't think I'd ever quite be able to justify it unless it were job related in some way (and what's the odds of that right?) But I do enjoy GIMP rather more than I should, especially the smudge tool... It's just sort of relaxing, smudging random actors faces into existence... er...

Anyway, I should say that reading all of these statements of resolve and what not have encouraged me to spend the last several hours plugging away at my own original fic. So thank you very muchy! I think this bunny finally got a direction and isn't sprinting into walls any more. :D

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Yeah! Gaaahh! *throws blame*

Yeah, I think I'd have to somehow embark upon a second career as a comic book artist or something to justify buying one of those (and I know I'm not that good - LOOK AT ELEVEN'S HANDS, FFS! XD) The smudge tool, on the other hand, is a thing of beauty...

Yeah, we could swear some proper medieval-type oath to finish our respective fics together or die trying or something like that...or possibly not, cause that wouldn be scary... XD

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clocketpatch

Aw, but you managed to get individual fingers and everything while using mouse. That's harder than I think anyone who hasn't tried it would give credit for. And his clothes are all nicely shadowed and the like. I think he's adorable (and square enough that you could shrink him down to icon size).

...wait, while I was complimenting I wasn't ducking. *looks up* *gets smacked in the face with blame*

Ooowww!!

I think it is severe oaths and encouragement time though. The time of the great pestering, or something. Until there is a pretty hard cover on my shelf anyways.

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It is really hard with the mouse... On Paint I used to draw a lot of spaceships and things, because you can do them with straight lines, circles etc not as much fiddly freehand...

I was reading something about Viking beserkers (it was research!) getting iron rings riveted around their necks and vowing not to remove them until they'd killed x number of enemies... Not that we want to go that far, actuallY...

Actually, all of this talk of slightly scary medievalism and you getting hit in the face with blame reminds me of a funny story (funny if you find medieval religion+ultraviolence funny) from the Crusades that I have GOT to steal for my story...

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stellastars

I love the Fan-Art -- it's very impressive for your first foray into using GIMP!

I'm always excited when I see more folks on my flist using GIMP. The cost of Photoshop annoys me, so I'm always pleased when the free/open-source alternative gets another person using it!

Not to be an enabler of further GIMP-usage, but there are a few GIMP user communities on LJ for sharing brushes and tips/tricks and such.

gimp_tutorial and

gimp_users seem to be the most active, but

gimpbrushes still has some nice resources. Just in case you're interested. ;-)

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