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[shapinglight]

Hello again. :waves:

Resurfacing after my fab weekend at WriterconUK.



Had a really wonderful time, despite my fit of the whatever-it-wases on Friday, and despite doing something so monumentally stupid that I don't think I'll ever live it down (the gory details being that I contrived somehow or other to throw away my return rail ticket, and therefore had to buy another one for the return journey yesterday that cost me as much as my original ticket there and back. :(). That aside, it was great to see fandom friends again and to meet new people, some of whom I only knew on LJ, some of whom I didn't know at all. The talks were all interesting and inspiring, the OMWF singalong not nearly as nerve-wracking as I'd expected, and the food was pretty good too, especially the Thai food on Friday night.

I'm not sure the weekend will help me get over my block, but you never know. At least I learned some tricks that might help - and I found curiouswombat's talk yesterday about using photos (of real places, that is, not pics of naked Spike, though those are fine too) very inspiring. I'm back to wanting to get the Fanged Four onto the Flannan Islands in time to do away with the unfortunate lighthouse keepers. Not that there's much of a story in that, I suppose. As follows:

The Fanged Four arrive on the Flannan Islands, either because they're shipwrecked there, or by swimming (though it's hard to imagine Darla going for that).
They meet the lighthouse keepers and, there being no other food available on the islands, short of catching a few seals, CHOMP!
The End.

Ahem! Yes, well, maybe one day.

Anyway, it was all great fun, as I said, and I won a terrific prize in the raffle - brutti_ma_buoni has promised to write me a fic. I just have to think of a prompt. Hmm, maybe I should make her write the Flannan Islands story?



In conclusion, if you were thinking you quite fancied going to WriterconUK but didn't get around to it, do try and get there next year. It's really enjoyable, and nothing beats spending the weekend having fun with a bunch of like-minded people. You can read about what we got up to on the writerconuk LJ comm.

Also, many, many thanks to our hard-working committee, just_sue, thismaz and kitty_poker1, and best of luck to our new committee. Looking forward to seeing you all next year.

Comments

[kazzy-cee.livejournal.com]

Oh what a nuisance about your ticket!! I hope you don't find the original now!!!

It was fun!!

[quinara]

I love the idea of the Fanged Four in a lighthouse! Could they all keep Dru far enough away from the beacon??

[shapinglight]

I hope you don't find the original now!!!

Oh, I won't. I threw it into the bin in my hotel room on Friday night, thinking it was my outward journey ticket. In other words, I had what is known as a senior moment. :(

Other than that, it was lots of fun.

[shapinglight]

Could they all keep Dru far enough away from the beacon??

Imagines Dru as a giant moth. :)

[gillo]

There was a short programme on Radio 4 yesterday afternoon about Flannan Isle, both the poem and the incident that inspired it. You could use Listen Again for it?

It was lovely to see you again; I just wish I'd spent more time actually talking to you! Take care, now.

[shapinglight]

There was a short programme on Radio 4 yesterday afternoon about Flannan Isle, both the poem and the incident that inspired it. You could use Listen Again for it?

Yes, I just listened to it this afternoon. I'd heard the start of it on my way to visit my mum yesterday but couldn't wait to hear all of it.

Very interesting and atmospheric, though sadly I shan't be able to write a Fanged Four on the Flannan Isles story, it seems, because the incident happened in 1900, when Angelus had already become Angel.

Unless I have him following the other three around begging them not to kill people?

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Doh!

It's always good to see you though.

[shapinglight]

Doh!

You mean about the tickets? Yeah, it was one of those moments.

And it was good to see you too. Hope you're feeling less tired today?

[yourlibrarian]

Ahem! Yes, well, maybe one day.

Hee! Yes, as it stands it doesn't seem like the most novel moment in the lives of the FF, but there could also be a "then and now" aspect to it that could work to make the story a bit larger.

I had a fic idea this weekend also that I'd like to nudge Mike into writing.

Glad you had fun!

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling much more human now I've had a ton of sleep!

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

Hmm, maybe I should make her write the Flannan Islands story?

*trembles*

Maybe a haiku?

I found I'd lost my Oyster card when I got back to London, so you're not alone. Though admittedly I didn't consciously bin it!

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

Being familiar with those awkward senior moments, I sympathise powerfully.

It was so good to see you again! Here's hoping there's another excuse to meet before the next writerconuk.

Thanks for the thanks, and I can honestly say it was a pleasure collaborating with Sue and Maz. The fact that we all had such an excellent time is validation enough. :D

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Oh - I am so glad that you found the idea of photos useful.

And a heartfelt 'bugger!' for the train ticket - it sounds like the sort of thing I do.

[shapinglight]

:)

[shapinglight]

Yes, as it stands it doesn't seem like the most novel moment in the lives of the FF, but there could also be a "then and now" aspect to it that could work to make the story a bit larger.

True. I can't for the life of me see how or why they would go to the Flannan Isles in the first place, though. They lie north-west of the Outer Hebrides and there's nothing between them and Canada.

I had a fic idea this weekend also that I'd like to nudge Mike into writing.

Sounds intriguing. Does he write a lot of fic? Also, I haven't managed to catch up with my flist yet. I will try tomorrow, but it may be more like Wednesday.

[shapinglight]

Hmm, maybe I should make her write the Flannan Islands story?

*trembles*

Maybe a haiku?

It's all right. I didn't mean it. I'll think of something less problematic (for which read, impossible), I promise.

[shapinglight]

Being familiar with those awkward senior moments, I sympathise powerfully.

Thanks, Kitty. They're happening to me more and more and I don't like it at all!

Here's hoping there's another excuse to meet before the next Writerconuk.

I do hope so. Have you seen Kazzy's post? Also, I must nab one of her banners.

[shapinglight]

Oh - I am so glad that you found the idea of photos useful.

Very useful indeed, though not sure any fic will come of it.

As for my senior moment, I've never done anything quite that bad before, but I am definitely getting worse. :(

[yourlibrarian]

I can't for the life of me see how or why they would go to the Flannan Isles in the first place, though. They lie north-west of the Outer Hebrides and there's nothing between them and Canada.

Might be a good place for a hidden base?

Does he write a lot of fic?

Sadly, no, although he has started a variety of fic!

[kitty-poker1.livejournal.com]

They're happening to me more and more and I don't like it at all!

Nor me! A horrible reminder that we're not kids any more. Never mind. We've survived everything else and will cope with the occasional absence of sense and sensibility.

Have you seen Kazzy's post?

I have, and will be there barring unforeseen circumstances. Bless her for thinking of it!

Also, I must nab one of her banners.

Me too. Thanks for reminding me, Deb!

[danna7001.livejournal.com]

That sounds like so much fun! I would love to get together with a with a bunch of LJ friends and talk about fandom-related fiction/art. But alas, there is not a huge contingency (that I know of) here in the north woods. Next month I am going to Washington DC to meet up with acacia5. It will be the first time actually being in the same room. I am really looking forward to a good chat about... Spike. Hopefully her 13-year-old son won't be too bored. :)

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Unless I have him following the other three around begging them not to kill people?

Maybe he's stalking them because he can't look away, keeping his distance but not able to bear them completely out of sight, until they do something so horrible that he runs and never looks back. Maybe there is a shipwreck and Angel works tirelessly to save everyone (or as many people as he can), bringing them to a nearby deserted island, only for his vampire family to eventually kill them all.

Ooooh how awful that would be. I'm having a flashback to Lost now, only everyone dies from a vampire attack except Jack.

Have you ever had a dream where you work yourself to the bone, like say building something only to have it collapse and you keep on trying to build it over and over again? You could give Angel his first attempt at heroism here only to beat it out of him brutally and make him think he's no good at it--that's why he failed and everyone is dead.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Oh crap, Deb, I think I just wrote out an entire story set on the Flannan Isles in my head. It all amounts to torturing Angel, poor thing. I feel like I've stolen your idea (even if it's just in my head). :(

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

OMG, yes, forgetting/chucking out my tickets is the sort of thing I fear and dread doing. I am an obsessive ticket checker, all the way to the station. My sympathies.
It was a wonderful weekend and it was lovely to see you again.
And thank you for the thanks, but since it was such an enjoyable experience, working with kitty_poker1 and just_sue, it doesn't feel like a thing that requires thanks. I'll join you in wishing the new committee the best of luck, though, because I am already looking forward to next year.

[shapinglight]

A horrible reminder that we're not kids any more. Never mind. We've survived everything else and will cope with the occasional absence of sense and sensibility.

No other choice really. :)

[shapinglight]

Might be a good place for a hidden base?

Possibly, though only if you had a helicopter. The seas are very dangerous around the islands and there can be weeks on end when it's impossible to get ashore by boat.

[shapinglight]

I did think of the stalking angle, but I'd want to stick more closely to the original story, so there couldn't be a shipwreck involving lots of people.

And can't say I've had a dream exactly like the one you describe. Did have a nice one about hen harriers the other day, though.

[shapinglight]

No problem. :) Very unlikely I'll ever get around to writing this anyway.

[shapinglight]

I would love to get together with a with a bunch of LJ friends and talk about fandom-related fiction/art.

It is tremendous fun, Danna. I highly recommend it if at all possible. I hope you have a wonderful time with acacia5.

[shapinglight]

OMG, yes, forgetting/chucking out my tickets is the sort of thing I fear and dread doing. I am an obsessive ticket checker, all the way to the station. My sympathies.

I checked mine plenty of times. I'm even sure I checked the ones I threw away to make sure they were the outward journey tickets that I wouldn't need any more. And yet somehow I threw away the wrong ones. :(

It was great to see you too, Maz, and what a wonderful icon. Who made that?

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

what a wonderful icon. Who made that?
Thank you. I did. I made a whole load last year. hesadevil pointed me at befunky.com where you can cartoonise a picture.
I thought I'd put them all up on the com, but I can't see them now. Feel free to nab it if you like.

[shapinglight]

Thanks, Maz. I will, though maybe not a Merlin one.

[kidcyclone.livejournal.com]

How to Get Four Evil Vampires Onto a Remote Island to Massacre Lighthouse Keepers in 1900:

1. Angelus was never ensouled. Once you can wrap your head round this concept, your life becomes so much easier. Also, I am selfish and would love to see you write a fic wherein Angelus had never got the soul to begin with.

2. Dru had a vision, requiring them to be in the vicinity.

3. Their boat wrecked. It was probably Spike's fault. Or Angelus's own fault, but he would never admit it now would he? So, Spike's fault regardless.

4. They were forced to swim for the island, thus ensuring an annoyed Darla.

5. Four (or five, if they had a minion) wet, annoyed and hungry vampires + lighthouse keepers = hurrah!

I am glad you had a good time at Writercon and are feeling inspired! And I'm sorry about your ticket. :< I somehow managed to lose my school car park ticket the other day and had to pay for a whole day's worth of parking when I was only on campus for about an hour. *scowl*

[thismaz.livejournal.com]

*g* I think all the ones I made were Merlin ones.

[shapinglight]

I am glad you had a good time at Writercon and are feeling inspired! And I'm sorry about your ticket. :< I somehow managed to lose my school car park ticket the other day and had to pay for a whole day's worth of parking when I was only on campus for about an hour. *scowl*

:( It's so annoying, isn't it?

You make some very good suggestions about how this fic might work. However, I think, on reflection, that I should leave the actual incident of the missing lighthouse keepers on the Flannan Isles alone. I have this weird sort of reverence for people who do jobs like that, and man lifeboats, although I didn't grow up near the sea.

I might still do the story but set it at a fictional lighthouse somewhere the FF might be a little more likely to wash up.

[kseenaa.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you had a blast. :-) I am very happy to see this!

[shapinglight]

Hello. Yes, I did. And thank you. If you ever can, you should come along.