Daily Check-In Post: May 21, 2011

[jagnikjen]

Sorry for the late post--today was writers meeting day.

Anyway--tell us how your day has gone, writing wise:

Awesome!
Pretty good.
On schedule.
Okay.
Like crap.
I took the day off.

Share your word count if you've got one; your current research (whether surfing the Net or re-watching/rereading your fandom source); are you refreshing your well of creativity by reading, watching TV or seeing a movie; listening to music; or has real life taken a swipe at you?

Discussion questions:

Do you complete a story before you post it, or do you post chapter by chapter as you finish it? Why or why not?

When you read fic, do you prefer to read completed fics or do you take a chance on WIPs?

What things will make you stop reading a fic?

Comments

[jagnikjen]

As for me, today was okay, and I sorta took the day off. As I said I had my monthly writers meeting today. It was the annual what we call round table critique--where pre-published authors submit fifteen pages of a manuscript of choice and published authors read and critique those pages. I didn't submit anything and just went to socialize with whomever else didn't submit anything.

I generally finish a story before I post because I always worry I'd leave it unfinished forever. As an experiment, I started a multi-chaptered Robin Hood fic that I posted as I wrote. It was a fun and interesting endeavor that I learned a few things from. I had to force myself to finish it since because I am not a plotter, the story careened outta control. I was set for 12 to 15 chapters. I ended with 39. I had worked on it for a year and a half and by the end I was sick and tired of it. Though I do love it so.

Mostly when I read I prefer finished fics. Partly because I've been disappointed too often, but also because I'm a fast reader. Fast. And I'd rather plow through a story at my own pace than be at the author's mercy. Plus if it takes too long between chapters then I forget what happened previously.

I *do* take chances on WIPS if the author has a decent track record.

The thing that makes me hit the back button faster than anything is really poor spelling, grammar, or punctuation. Also a lot exposition (info dumps) up front generally bores me to tears and unless the premise is very interesting/compelling, I will stop reading.