Writing

[shapinglight]

Not that I'm doing any writing.

I spent a while this afternoon staring at the latest prompts on sb_fag_ends and having no ideas whatsoever, and that's how it's been since July. :(

I hope I can still produce a few ficlets here and there - maybe even one day finish the last remaining unfinished BtVS fic on my hard drive (a Spangel story that I started years ago for spring_spangel but wasn't able to complete in time, and because I had to write something else instead, ended up never finishing at all), but if not, it can't be helped.

And there is still something I can work on fic-wise, which is to revise a few more of my early stories so I can post them on A03.

Trouble is, though...



...this means I have to re-read them first.

I started on Vampire Winter today, and so far am finding it rather a painful experience. Back then (2006), I seem to have thought, why use one word when ten will do? Now it's the opposite. I'm trying not to cut too much, with the vague sense that, if I do, it will somehow end up being a different story altogether, but, boy it's hard!

Others in line for revision are Family Reunion, and Company in Hell. I don't think the latter will need that much work (at least, I hope not), but Family Reunion will need a lot!

Oh well. Better than doing no writing at all.

Comments

[tripleransom.livejournal.com]

It's always painful to re-read stories you wrote a while back, isn't it? You see so much room for improvement! I've found that the best cure for my dissatisfaction with my own stories is to read a bunch of random stories in the same fandom. Pretty soon, I'm thinking how good mine are. ;)

[shapinglight]

Heh!

I should try that.

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Revising and editing is still writing *nods*

[shapinglight]

Well, where what I was doing yesterday is concerned, it definitely is. So much stuff got cut.

[singedbylife.livejournal.com]

"Oh well. Better than doing no writing at all" are the keywords here. I'll gladly admit that I want you to write mostly for my own benefit. There is no doubt about the fact that you are one of the best writers, this fandom has produced (and that's saying a lot.) Any story from your hand is a story worth reading in my book.

[shapinglight]

Kind of you to say. Some of the early ones do need some tidying up, though.

I'm sure I remember my beta when I wrote Vampire Winter telling me there was too much pointless waffle in some of the scenes - especially near the beginning. At the time, I didn't agree, but looking at it now, she was right, of course.

It's odd. I don't seem to have started off too badly where waffle was concerned, but in the first couple of years I was writing fanfic I got worse.

Then I got better again.

[rebcake.livejournal.com]

I hate to argue with you, but Family Reunion is quite wonderful as is. Creepy as hell, yes, but nevertheless terrific.

I look forward to reading any new stories from you if and when you feel moved to write them, but in the meantime, enjoy yourself!

[shapinglight]

Thank you. :)

Where Family Reunion's concerned, despite what I said, I'm hoping not to have to do that much to it. I haven't re-read it for a long time and it may be better than I remember.

I do want to include a couple of (hopefully) non-intrusive paragraphs somewhere clarifying some things about Spike's relationships with Erroll and Ravinder.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

Sometimes that time spent rereading and reworking old fics is what it takes to kick the muse in the ass and get things going again.

[shapinglight]

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping. ;)

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

These stories couldn't be more perfect IMO.

[shapinglight]

That's very kind of you to say, and I am aware that in trying to tinker I may spoil the whole thing.

Can't cut as heavily as I would like, or I'll end up having to re-write huge chunks, which isn't my intention at all.

[chasingdemons.livejournal.com]

I am aware that in trying to tinker I may spoil the whole thing

I assume you felt passionately when you wrote them. Careful not to cut out the heart.

[shapinglight]

Yes, I'll try to tread lightly.

[sibilant.livejournal.com]

They're your stories, so feel free to tinker. I'm a bit of a 'more is more' type, so I'll keep my old saved versions and also read the new ones. Seems like a win-win to me!

[shapinglight]

That's certainly one way of looking at it. :)