WIP Challenge - Check In, Day 6 - Thursday

[the_rck]

Poll #14929

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 7

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Today I

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planned
0 (0.0%)

researched
3 (42.9%)

wrote
4 (57.1%)

sent to beta
1 (14.3%)

edited
3 (42.9%)

posted
2 (28.6%)

rested
1 (14.3%)

did something else
2 (28.6%)

The way I feel about that is

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Mean: 6.71 Median: 7 Std. Dev 2.60

Terrible 1		0 (0.0%)
2		0 (0.0%)
3		1 (14.3%)
4		1 (14.3%)
5		1 (14.3%)
6		0 (0.0%)
7		1 (14.3%)
8		1 (14.3%)
9		0 (0.0%)
Wonderful 10		2 (28.6%)

What's the longest thing you've ever written? What did you like or dislike about writing at that length?

My longest work is my WIP, Rheotaxis. That's about 190,000 words (23 chapters) right now. I like that this length lets me follow multiple characters and plot threads and to really explore the setting and characters in depth. I don't like the fact that I have trouble keeping track of all the details that I've made up. I have to take notes or I lose information.

Comments

[merryghoul]

The longest thing I ever wrote was an original piece of fiction at around 17,000 words. I tend to keep my works short so they're not filled with flowery language and overuses of certain words, but I also haven't come up with an idea I can execute to be novel-length in span, either.

[ladygriddlebone]

The longest story I have currently is my WIP, A Divine Conspiracy. It's around 230,000 words right now (some of which is not yet posted), and will probably pass 300,000 before it's done. Probably my biggest issue with the story is I did not intend for it to be nearly that long, but the plot grew pretty organically on its own and this is where I've ended up. I'm also not looking forward to the major overhaul/edit it's going to need once everything is posted.

On the other hand, I am really in love with the story as I see the final, finished form of it. And I'm proud of having written something this long and involved, and actually being able to see it through to the end. It's not done yet, but it will be before the year is over, and I'm very happy about that.

[lilly_c]

The longest things I've written are If You Asked, a Killer Instinct fic that was 19,500+ words when it was finally finished, it took me over a year to write and Twice Unjust, a Taggart case fic that was 17,600+ words when I finished it.

The good thing about writing longer pieces are that you can explore more than in shorter pieces. The bad thing is keeping track of all the plot elements and character developments so that it all ties together and makes sense.

[hamimi_fk]

My longest fic is 'NYCstuck' a Homestuck WIP currently at 70,570 words over 77 chapters. I don't know how long it will be when it's actually done, word-wise, but I am currently projecting there to be over 250 chapters (it's a highschool AU/slice of life piece with frequent shift of POV between 16 characters (only 13 have been introduced so far, the pacing on this fic is a little ridic, I'll admit) - one POV per chapter, at different hours of the day), plus there are supplementary fics I have planned and geeze, so many words await me in my future! xD But it'll be likely be my largest contribution to fandom ever (even afterward *she says with a tinge of uncertainty*). It's so much fun to write though so I don't mind all the work! =D

Granted, I've written hundreds of stories over the last 10 years but until three years ago, they were all fairly on the short side, never more than 5,000 words (my average was probably 1,500 and less tbh). But I've learned there's so much story to tell if I just applied myself to building it up and it's so much fun that I kick myself for not doing it sooner! xp

[annotated_em]

Longest fic I've written/finished was a thing for Ladies' Big Bang a few years back. Came in around 90 thousand words.

I don't really think much about length? I figure the neat thing about fanfic is that the story can take as much or little space as it needs. The only time I get annoyed about writing longer fic is when I'm bogged down in the middle third, where all the boring interstitial stuff is happening. Can't skip it, because it connects the first act with the final act, but sometimes it's really no fun to write.

[linaewen]

I had an unexpectedly full and tiring day, so I haven't done any writing today. I'm also slightly sick, so that is lending itself to feeling lazy.

My longest thing is a current WIP called Lords of Gondor. It's currently at 135,000 words which comes to 52 chapters. I have absolutely no idea how much longer it will get, either. There's lots of story to tell yet, though I may have reached the half way point.

I love being able to deal with many different characters and plot threads, and to look at settings and events from multiple points of view. One reason I'm so keen on outlines is it's the only way to keep track of things with this huge of an undertaking. The most difficult thing about it is getting out of the writing habit and trying to figure out where everyone is after being away from the story for awhile. That's the problem I'm currently facing.