April WIP challenge GO GO GO!

[littlebutfierce]

Day 1 of the April challenge!

Do folks want to talk a little bit about what they're working on? Maybe post a snippet (if there is anything to post at this point!)?

I also want to encourage folks to get in touch with others directly (via the signup post), or by doing a new post, if they're looking for a beta or extra butt-kicking or someone to do word wars w/, etc. I'd be interested to hear any ideas on how we can make the challenge more interactive for people who'd like that--I'd be especially interested if ideas came along w/offers of help in implementing them where needed, natch. ;)

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

The first fic I'm going to try to write this month is a K-On! fic for help_japan. It'll be about Mugi, the one main character I haven't written yet, so this will be a fun challenge! (I do like Mugi a lot, which helps.) I rattled out 820 words doing 750 Words, but as per usual, most of those words will be unusable. Still, the brain is working!

I've also got a fic for help_japan to work on; I haven't confirmed this yet w/the bidder, but I suspect it will be Natsume Yuujinchou. Which I am totally excited about too!

[insertcode11]

Oooh! Sounds interesting! Though I'm not familiar with those fandoms! D: Is it anime? I'm only familiar with the stuff that became mainstream in the U.S.! (NOT that I watched the dub versions *shudders* I would get interested in something on TV and then look up the fan subtitled versions online. Once I get a job I'm definitely going to have to invest in the One Piece franchise since I watched/read WAY too much of it online for free... >.>)

Er. Anyway. It sounds good! I also offered at help_japan (*sigh* I'm new to Dreamwidth and I haven't looked up the html yet and my old computer just might die on me if I open another window to look it up! XD) and my bidder won like 30K of fic from me! LOL! I'll be starting that after big bang.

Anyway. Congrats on your help_japan fics and I know you can do them!!! *\o/*

(Sorry. I'm rather long-winded.)

[dbskyler]

Two help_japan fics, wow, good for you! Glad to hear that you've got one started already! Well done!

[insertcode11]

So. I'm working on a big bang fic for spn_j2_bigbang over on lj. I'm... about halfway done and me and my betas have put SO MUCH work into it I just really HAVE to get the rough draft done by the deadline! *SRS BIZNESS FACE*

Anyway. It's Supernatural RPS, J2, and it's AU. Meeting the minimum word count wasn't the problem as I've written about 130K so far, but I would really like to get finished!

Yeah. I know it sounds impossible. But I joined up here hoping that a daily check in would keep me motivated and writing the most I can write each day, yanno? :)

Hmmm. As for more interactive. Idk, man. It'd be cool to have, like, daily or every other day contests to see who gets the most written. Or I guess every week. But, lol! What would be the incentive? Maybe not such a good idea. I shall ponder it! /o/

[lacerta]

Hey, fellow spn_j2_bigbang writer, I am blown away by your word count. That is impressive.

[littlebutfierce]

I am SUPER IMPRESSED w/your word count & also you being halfway there!

I don't think it sounds impossible--if you've gotten this far, why not all the way? (Though I appreciate as a non-longfic writer myself, anything above 10k is impressive to me ^^;;; )

I like the idea of contests but I can't think of prizes either, ha. DW points, except I don't have the money to drop on any; cool icons/banners except I can't design them... ahahaha. If someone comes along willing to help out w/either of those (or something else) we could definitely consider it though!

[terajk]

Yesterday I wrote 269 words of my story for Remix Redux. This is awesome, since I've never written a remix before. Then I went and wrote 1000 words of something else entirely for yuri_challenge. I still don't know how this happened. It's a Puella Magi Madoka Magica fic called "Rewind." Warnings: violence, major character death, reference to vomit.

At Yuri Challenge

At AO3.

(The fun thing about writing for an anime fandom for me is I get to write to the theme music, which is extremely helpful).

All in all, an epic writing day for me.

[littlebutfierce]

That's totally exciting about your remix! I am also especially impressed b/c, yeah, I've never done a remix & I kind of feel like I don't really get the concept? Or, I understand how other people do it (& would be hella flattered if someone remixed something I wrote), but it feels sadly beyond me to do it myself (sad, cuz it sounds fun!).

& heeeeee good point about writing to the music for anime--I have never tried that. No, wait, lie, I wrote some K-On! stuff listening to some of their music, although slightly different as there's so much of it (b/c the show is about a band) that, er, has words & stuff? I mean it's not like writing to BGM, which I think would also be an interesting thing for me to try!

& yay for your Madoka fic! (I keep going back & forth on the series--I haven't gotten v. far & I would like to be inside the squee that many people have for it! I think I need to give it another chance.)

[charamei]

I have written, um... four lines in three days XD In my defense, I spent two of those days feeling absolutely grotty, and I've done a good 500 more words of the novel today as well. And I should have finally finished this new scene I'm adding in and be back to splicing this weekend.

The fic I'm writing is the same thing I've been writing for two and a half years (!) and has been the victim of so many unfortunate circumstances at this point that it really deserves a medal just for sticking around in my head. It's a Doctor Who fic of about 20,000 words; I'm currently editing the last chapter. I'd love to post a sample, but I'm scared of jinxing it again. Hopefully be done for 3W4DW!

I'm really not sure about boosting interactivity. I feel like I should point out that I've never been able to find the chat room for writing sessions; at this point, every link to the instructions to find it just seems to take you to another link, and then I have to struggle with IRC, which I hate. But the truth is, I wouldn't use the chatroom regularly anyway. Still, it might be a problem other people are having.

I think the groups helped a bit, but the daily check-ins are handy too, and it's a bit redundant to have both :/ So, I don't know.

ETA: Aha! No samples, but here: have some Sims from 2009. They are peripherally related :p

[dbskyler]

Oooh, I'm excited to hear you're on the last chapter! I've been looking forward to reading this!

Those Sims are awfully cute . . .

[littlebutfierce]

Oh, being sick absolutely saps my will to write, so you have a good excuse!

& I don't think I'd have the tenacity to keep working on a fic for that long, so yay for you! Seriously, I tend to give up pretty quickly. ;) Plus, well, I am always impressed by longfic writers, so double on the being-impressed here. ;)

The chat rooms are via IM, not IRC (er. I should point out I never use IRC & rarely use any kind of chat, period, so for all I know they could be compatible/interconnected ^^;;;). Though I take your point about needing clearer instructions--I am wary of doing it b/c (as has been made obvious, eek) I am not the savviest person w/chat stuff myself. Also, it's, er, another in a long list of things I probably should do for this comm. -_-;;

I think the check-ins help (or... at least, they help me, even when I'm not doing them myself), but I wonder if people might also like a smaller group of people to check-in w/or throw snippets at or whatever. They seemed to be kind of onerous for people to keep up w/, though, & if you end up in a group w/other people who drop the challenge or end up w/extenuating life circumstances then you're a bit adrift. :/ Maybe we could keep it in mind to try again in the future, though. I dunno.

[dbskyler]

I'll be working on a fic for help_japan. I've never written this fandom before (Man from U.N.C.L.E.), so the first step is to pull out my videotapes and do some marathon re-watching sessions. I'll do at least one re-watch over the weekend, but I may need to do more next week before I feel ready to start writing.

As for increasing interactivity, how about some polls? For example, people could check off their progress (on track, ahead of schedule, behind schedule); what they did today (write, research, edit, procrastinate); and/or how many words they wrote (e.g., less than 100, 101-499, 500-999, 1000-4999, 5000+). Might that kind of thing help us all feel like we're in this together?

[raletha]

I like your poll idea!

Good luck with the writing. (And of course enjoy your re-watch!). ^_^

[insertcode11]

Oooh! Pole idea would be fun!!!

Good luck on your fic! *\o/*

[littlebutfierce]

Oooh, exciting! I think a charity fic would be an exciting time to try a new fandom to write. Or, I suppose it could be terrifying too, but... being nudged out of one's fic comfort zone (if someone has one--I definitely do) for a good cause might be just the nudge needed?

Also it's always nice to have a legitimate reason to marathon old favorites again!

The poll idea is intriguing! Were you thinking on a daily basis? The only thing is, only people w/paid accounts can post polls (& I won't be able to keep up w/posting them daily--hence me asking people to help w/doing the check-in posts). Still, we could probably have them sometimes, at least!

[elf]

I am awfully behind on writing. I just got a happy nudge from someone, so I plan on doing better for April.

Have a fic for a fest that I've started (and have the important part done--the fanmix!) that I need to focus on. And am telling myself I can't play with Junetide until I get at least substantial progress on this fic.

[littlebutfierce]

Yay for happy nudges!! & also getting the inspirational fanmix set up! \o/ I got all excited to play w/doing that more after the music post here, & I still haven't. ^^;;;

Oooh, the carrot of Junetide! Hopefully it will be effective.

[littlebutfierce]

Wow, you'll be busy indeed! But that all sounds like it'll be a lot of fun--so hopefully more fun, less stress??

(I hate having to finish fics for deadlines at the last minute, too. I finished my Yuletide story 2 weeks in advance, ahahaha. Though that was partly b/c I was afraid AO3 would collapse under the weight of everyone uploading near the deadline.)

Trying both of your ideas for hardmode sounds like a good way to go--probably one of them will present itself quickly as the one you should go w/!

[raletha]

I'm writing a Trowa/Quatre Gundam Wing story that started out as an attempt at filling a 30_lemons prompt but has run away with me and developed a plot to overshadow the porn. Today I wrote down the rough beat list that I'd worked out in my head. I think it is easily going to be longer than my goal of 5,000 words.

Here's a snippet from the rough drafty first section:

"Is this seat taken?" comes a soft voice from behind my newspaper.

"No," I reply and continue reading.

But instead of the sound of the chair being dragged to another table, there follows the rustle of a jacket coming off, the clink of ceramic upon my table, the exhalation of a breath, and the sound of a body settling in the chair opposite me.

I fold the top of the paper down and glare at whomever has the temerity to impose himself on my morning.

"Hi," says the young man. He smiles at me.

I just continue glaring at him, hoping I won't have to actually speak to ask him to leave. He looks like some kind of student or starving artist type. His charcoal sweater is baggy and pilled; the frames of his glasses several seasons out of date; and his chin in need of a shave. His shaggy auburn hair hangs in his face, nearly obscuring one of his eyes. His eyes hold my attention: they're a lovely shade of green.

"I thought you might like something to eat," he says, "to go with your coffee." My gaze goes to his hand, which pushes a plate toward me, atop which is a blueberry-streusel muffin. His fingers are long and slender; his fingernails clean and neat..

I make no move to accept the muffin.

He lets out a soft laugh. "You don't recognise me, do you?"

[insertcode11]

GUNDAM WING! *tackles you* I haven't read a Gundam Wing fic in forever. *wipes away the tears of nostalgia*

And, oooh! The snippet sounds so good! :) Nice job! You can do it! :D

[linaewen]

I'm still working on the same tales I've been working on for two challenges now, but no matter! Progress is happening. The one that has my attention at the moment because it has a deadline is a story for a Lord of the Rings Big Bang challenge. It deals with characters in an AU sort of way, and it's going well, though the sheer length of it is a bit daunting, what with the deadline and all. But I've got 3,500 good words done, and lots of great outline and half-written conversations and exciting plans, so I think it will go well.

Another tale I'm wanting to work on is also LotR -- a seemingly never-ending multi-chapter story that I started years ago, and which has been moving along at a slower and slower pace. But it's not abandoned, just suffering from neglect. Again, it's AU, and I definitely want to add at least one chapter this month, if nothing else. I even have one half-written but can't seem to add to it. So that's also on the list for April.

The story I want to complete this month (because I think it will only have a few more chapters) is about as far from LotR as you can get -- it's a tale from the Major anime/manga fandom, and it's just fun to write! I have to make progress on it soon, because I haven't even got to writing Goro yet, and he's my favorite character. ;-) Though I have to say, second-favorite Toshi is fun to write.

That said, I didn't write one single word today. I did carry my notes about with me in my bag, though -- does that count? ;-)

[linaewen]

I have posted some of the written chapters for my Major fic over at AO3, if anyone wants to have a look.

Dreaming New Dreams

I probably should have made a goal this month to simply post more chapters that are already written. That would have been an easy way to feel like I accomplished something! :-D

[snowynight]

I have to finish my Marvel AU fic for scifibigbang, and I have a help_japan to work on. I've not confirmed with the bidder either, but it's probably Marvel fic.

If the progress of these are good, I may possibly start on another bigbang.

[littlebutfierce]

Given how much you generally manage to write in a month, I have faith that you'll be able to meet both of your goals! & if you decide to start another big bang, I bet that will churn along nicely too. \o/

[in_lighter_ink]

Yay! New month, new start... especially as my writing and I both fell off the face of the planet for the last bit of March.

But we're working on being back now, with some shiny new things to play with as well as the same couple of things I've been working on for the last few challenges.

Snippet, snippet... I think the closest thing to readable is from what I'm (still!) working on for poetry_fiction: a BBC-Sherlock dark!fic, established John/Lestrade, wherein John shoots a suspect in front of Lestrade. Lestrade's life had been in danger, but he's still confronted with having witnessed someone he knows and loves kill in cold blood and, since he chose not to arrest John for it, his own status as an irredeemably bent cop. Drives him a bit mad.

"Lestrade. You've been, I dunno... off. Enough that people are worried. I'm worried. What's wrong?"

An extra layer of weariness settles into Lestrade's bones, even while defiance sparks under his skin. "Christ. Can I at least get in the door before the interrogation starts?" He regrets the words as soon as they're out of his mouth, doesn't need to look at John's face to know that it's hardened into hurt determination. "Fuck," he apologizes with eyes shut tight, hand pulling at his hair, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean that."

"Yeah. Things like that could be why people are worried. Just a guess." John's voice is tight, syllables clipped.

"Yeah." He forces his eyes open, makes himself look John full in the face. There's a muscle jumping in John's jaw, holding back words Lestrade doesn't want to guess at. He can't look for long, and his head drops down under the weight of the past few weeks. He wants to confess it all, scream out his guilt and his frustration on John's capable shoulders. "Yeah," he chokes out around the words he won't say.

"Jesus, Greg. What's going on?"

Lestrade pulls himself together. Too close. "Really, it's nothing. Not sleeping well lately, that's all. Haven't had a Systematised Transformational Penmanship: The Modern Policeperson's Friend briefing in a while. Appalling, really. How d'they expect us to catch up on sleep?" He manages to grin, even winks, despite the headache that's started to pound away at his temples. He grits his teeth against it.

The joke falls flat, and Lestrade knows it: John's lips are still set in a hard line.

[littlebutfierce]

Yeah, if I ever manage to finish my poetry_fiction story, I will be so relieved. o_O

I am not familiar w/Sherlock stuff (in general or BBC-specific), but your snippet sounds v. promising! I like the way the dialogue flows, & how what each of them is thinking/feeling comes out more in their physical actions (Lestrade especially, obviously) than in what they're (not) saying.

[lola_mento]

I've started something! Right now I don't care too much about little details like coherency and that, I'm just relieved to know my fanfic muse didn't desert me after all.

[littlebutfierce]

Yay for starting!!! It's impossible to edit if there are no words on the page, y'know? I definitely start fics that way: writing writing writing just to get the words out, & screw checking details or anything like that straightaway. Once I manage to coax the words out, then I can go back & edit. I dunno if you've ever tried 750 Words, but that's how I use it (on the days when I write fic in there, which isn't all the time).

[lacygrey]

I've done about 500w on my remix these last couple of days. Its still in the 'euphoric scrawl' stage on paper and I know I'll have a huge editing job with it.

I want to keep the total below 8K (manageable in one reading size) but there is a temptation to 'wander on'. I was very luck with my remix matching: lot of ideas in her work. Now I just have to try not to get lost.

[littlebutfierce]

Yay! I love the 'euphoric scrawl' stage (v. accurate name for it!). Better to get all the words out & edit, edit, edit down later, rather than stifle yourself trying to make everything close to perfect as you start, y'know?

[lacerta]

I'm writing my spn_j2_bigbang and need to finish the rough draft by the end of the month. On the one hand, I'm really excited about it because AU! In space! Aliens! On the other hand, I'm really starting to worry about whether I can churn out enough words per day, not to even talk about the quality of those words. All I've done the last couple of days, though, is play around with the outline of another big bang because clearly, I've got my priorities in order.

[littlebutfierce]

Heeeeee space alien AU!! Sounds totally fun.

Re: quality of words--at least it's just a rough draft that's due at the end of the month, right? So more about the words/reaching the end of the plot than polishing, at least!

Hopefully some writing sessions over the month will help? (I didn't have the brain to think about setting one up this week & I don't think I have the brain to do one today, alas...)