Wow.

[valis2]

Lots of LJ to catch up on, I see. I may have to put off reading everything...I have a few new chapters to write, and I'll be leaving again in a week for another show!

I'll write a little AZ summary tomorrow...with pics, no less! I took a few just for you guys.

The Thought of Joy

During the trip I thought of an idea.

I am thinking of starting a community. An odd little community of joy, where squid poems would wander free.

barda thought that "quirkyhpshorts" would be a nice community name...she picked it out of the short list I put together. So what would this community do?

Well, I would love a community for off-the-wall short fics. Fics that are interesting, offbeat, unusual. Fics with unusual concepts, interesting pairings, and wonderfully unique themes.

A few ideas:

Unusual challenges every week or so. First line challenges, concept challenges, offbeat and eclectic themes.

"Characterkus". Haikus told in the viewpoint of a single character. A Ginnyku about being the only girl among the Weasley kids. A Hermioneku about house-elves.

Drabbles from an unusual vantage point.

The only problem? I'm only home eight months of the year. I would need a competent, committed co-moderator to help. I am very involved with things online when I'm here, but when I'm gone, there is no net access. So I cannot do this community without a dedicated, lovely co-organizer. I really really want to have a lovely space for quirky fics, offbeat drabbles, and squid poetry, but I can't do it alone.

-----------

And on a writing note: I can't wait to start writing the new chapters---I took some time during the trip to start re-reading tLS, and I came to the realization that it is an interesting fic, and I'm glad I started writing it. Despite some difficulties in the beginning, I think that there is an overall shape and tone to the fic, and I'm excited to finish it.

Comments

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

Welcome home!

The community sounds like a lot of nifty fun!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think it would be just a nice, oddball place to put some of the crazier thoughts down. You know, like thoughts about penguins...

[ms-hecubus.livejournal.com]

They're in it with the house elves.

[deepforestowl.livejournal.com]

squee! you are back! Welcome back!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

:) I totally spaced when I sent you the card...I was supposed to put my cell phone number at the bottom so that we might be able to meet up as I drove through Chicago! Unfortunately I had to run and I sealed it and put it in the mailbox without remembering to do that. *sigh* Next time we'll get it all sorted out.

[deepforestowl.livejournal.com]

lol It is ok. I did get your card and I was going to respond right away, but then I was like, wait...I only have her home address when she gets this, it will be way late! oh well, it is not like you are never coming through Chicago again!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'll be driving through on Friday, as a matter of fact, and driving back the following Wednesday. I'll e-mail you my cell, and maybe we can get together on Weds...the 30th? I think.

[deepforestowl.livejournal.com]

wend would work if it were for dinner. That would be march 2. 28 days hath february. lol I work at Harper until about 4ish. thoughts?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm so vapid in the mornings. I keep thinking Feb is done and we're into March.

I would most likely be driving through Chicago around 2, though I could delay a little. It would be best if we met somewhere near a freeway, such as 294 or 94, so that I could get right back on.

Only problem is if I get on the freeway during rush hour then I spend a lot of time stuck in traffic.

[deepforestowl.livejournal.com]

hmm...then perhaps some other time. I will still be in class when you are driving though. perhaps next time? I know the feeling about rush hour and no one likes being stuck in that! no worries...one day we shall meet!

[zoepaleologa.livejournal.com]

Welcome back. That's an interesting community idea.

I keep wanting to issue the Popacatapetl challenge - which is simply use the word in a fic, without it involving a trip there, and without it just being inserted meaninglessly.

OK - my mother dropped me on my head when I was an adult baby.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

That is precisely the sort of challenges I'd love to have. I'm so hoping to get it together, but I can't do it now, I'm leaving next week. I think when I return I have a weekend of peace and tranquility, and a whole month here, and then I'll have time to really sit down and hash it all out.

[avus.livejournal.com]

Can you tell me the only piece of music in which Popacatapetl is used in the text?

*evil grin*

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

Can't wait for a new chapter of TLS! The community sounds interesting too. Unfortunately I can't personally volunteer to be your co-organiser as I don't always have a lot of time to spend on-line and with new baby on the way I don't want to commit myself to anything at the moment! I do hope you'll manage to get it up and running though and if you do, I will definitely check it out.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

The new chapters will be pretty important. They're what I've been waiting to write this entire time.

I nearly posted them before I left, but it would have been a rush job. I'm so glad I waited...there is so much more that I'm going to add to them! I can't wait to get them out there.

Y'know, now that I've re-read everything, I realize that I'm grateful to those who spent the time reading it...it does seem very, very long and it is really taking forever to get them together. But I do so love the "slow-burn" form of romance...

[aramintasnape.livejournal.com]

I like long stories! And yours has so much detail and so much going on that it doesn't matter that they haven't got together yet. With some stories I admit I'm just waiting for the lemons, but with TLS there are a lot of other things I'm waiting for besides that! Do you know approximately how many chapters your story will be in the end?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

How bizarre---I didn't get an email about this comment.

When I started thinking about this story I only had one scene and the barest glimpse of character. By the time I started transcribing the outline I ended up with ten pages of events. The outline is now up to seventeen pages. I'm on page thirteen or fourteen already, but the last few pages are quite detailed for an outline and the ratio of written pages/outline will be markedly less.

I also have the ending to work out. Strangely enough I never had an ending until recently.

While I was in AZ I looked over the outline carefully and discovered a ginormous mistake in timing that I have to correct. It means I will have to jettison one whole plot point, but it wasn't a strong bit of plot and I think it will make everything more cohesive.

There are so many threads to tie up. Lots of questions to answer. My original estimate was 80 chapters; I think that it might go to 85.

I'm so glad that there are people actually reading it. I know that I might not, when faced with the daunting prospect of 100,000+ words.

I'm going to try to get 62 finished today after I finish updating the outline and fixing my giant mistake. :)

[dark-cygnet.livejournal.com]

Welcome back, fellow Acolyte. The Alanists have missed you!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have missed you all so much! I had to go for twenty-eight days with only a single glance at His Pudgeness, when there was a preview for PoA on cable. Other than that...a sad, Pudgeless existence.

[avus.livejournal.com]

I think, at least for a bit, I'll stick to the higher forms of poetry -- the limerick.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*grins* Don't you mean Squid Limericks?

[avus.livejournal.com]

That, too. I find the limerick befits my temperament, my mentality and my muse.