Ugh.

[valis2]

I have to write a new chapter. It has nearly gelled in my head. Unfortunately I am finding myself putting it off...probably because this one will be a little complicated, and I need to do it correctly. So I keep avoiding it because I don't want to get it wrong.

So instead I keep working on this weird "valis guide to writing better fanfiction", despite how insanely egotistical that entire concept is. *sigh* It should be called "Pitfalls of writing fanfic...check out the silly things I've done. Thank goodness none of them are posted anywhere." No one asked me for my opinion on how to write fanfic, after all, and there are so many better writers out there on the net that I am starting to feel vaguely idiotic for trying. I wrote it simply because I've been thinking about all of the mistakes I've made in writing, and I just thought I'd share, and then it grew into this mammoth entry. I'll probably post it anyway, just to get it out of my system.

Have a little piece of paper on my desk with some lovely little things I wrote to remind myself to include them later (about Lucius/Severus/Voldemort) and every time I see this piece of paper I think, ooh, can't wait to include this. But I have to write at least one chapter before I can shove this into the mix. And it's this chapter of doom that I have no desire to write today. But I want to write it.

*sigh*

A new reviewer on FicAlley wrote three reviews about tLS...two that say "What's a Sanguimagus??!!!" and one that says "Aaah, I get it, cool".

What always interests me about the people who say "What's a Sanguimagus" is that the answer is in the author's note to the very first chapter. *grin* Then again, how often do I read the author's notes exhaustively? Usually I dive in a bit to make sure there aren't any warning bells before I go back and look at the AN.

Am finally caught up on LJ...I read all of the flist entries when I returned, but hadn't caught up with all the Comm stuff. Now I'm done at last.

Okay, weird entry full of unrelated things...just had to get that out of my system, and waste more time instead of writing the next chapter.

Comments

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

If it is any comfort, I am queen of the procrastinators.

Recently, I was nominated as "Author of the Month" on the Whispers SS/HG archive (bugger all came of it as I expected to be honest) and then wasted a morning making up an interview (they feature your interview on the homepage, if you are voted the bestest). Rilla got it - and given the amount of fic (and range) she's done, she damn well deserved it.

Most of my essays, lj posts (and by cracky, lj is the best way to waste time I know of) are all excuses not to get to grips with the endgame of BYA.

Write out 100 times:

I must finish BYA...

I must finish BYA...

I must finish BYA...

And so on. I know exactly where you are coming from.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on the nomination! Very cool. A reviewer recently mentioned that they'd rec'd my fic on PottersKeys, though I couldn't find it. It's always nice when you get a bit of notice from people.

Most of my essays, lj posts (and by cracky, lj is the best way to waste time I know of) are all excuses not to get to grips with the endgame of BYA.

Glad to know that I'm not alone in this affliction.

I must finish tLS...

I must finish tLS...

I must finish tLS...

...so that I can finally start on the Giant Fantasy Novel of Doom.

[snapesforte.livejournal.com]

But I have to write at least one chapter before I can shove this into the mix. And it's this chapter of doom that I have no desire to write today. But I want to write it.

That often happens to me. It would be nice to have some sort of fast-forward device, a sort of fic-turner, where you can get past all the plot-points-that-must-be-included, and write the scenes-stuck-in-your-head. And they refuse to leave, don't they? I sometimes find that, I am about to fall asleep, or trying to anyway, and the scenes-that-are-yet-to-come are running around all over the place.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I always lie awake in bed thinking of Future Events...sometimes it takes me an hour or so to get to sleep. Once in a while I have to get up and actually write things down so I don't forget!

I have several scenes that I'm dying to write...I think they'll be so much fun...but I am bogged down. Right now I am in the fics "hellish week"...a week for which I had no plan, but several things to accomplish. Once this "week" is done I'll be able to get back on track with the outline, and write the really fun stuff that I want to write.

Oh, I would pay wonderful money for the fic-turner device...that would be great!

[mariannelee.livejournal.com]

I'm doing that right now with my current chapter. There is no other answer than to just get started. Do you write in order, from beginning to end? If so, try starting with the scene or moment that you see the most clearly, or that pleases you the most. Then build it from there. Take your time and just be open to it. The answer will come.

Marianne

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm trying, but it involves Hermione talking to Snape, and it is just awful. The second half will be much easier, but for now I'm slogging through, cursing and certain that it isn't very good. I'll be better later, with a little distance, and some rewriting.

I do write from beginning to end. I find that if I write sections in the middle I often waste time and words because something else occurs to me earlier on and I have to rearrange the later items for it.

Thanks for the advice. :)