WIP challenge day 8: check in, please!

[littlebutfierce]

Moving into the second week of this month's challenge! How are things going?

Poll #7228 WIP challenge, day 8!

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 9

View Respondents

The fic! How is it today?

View Answers

I love it!
0 (0.0%)

I hate it!
0 (0.0%)

I don't want to think about it
3 (37.5%)

It's... okay
5 (62.5%)

How many words have you written today?

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0-249
5 (55.6%)

250-499
1 (11.1%)

500-749
2 (22.2%)

750-999
1 (11.1%)

1000 or more
0 (0.0%)

What's your biggest challenge today with the fic?

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For today's discussion topic, we return to the fanfic flamingo.


[Background — a six piece pie style colour split in three shades of pink. Foreground — the long neck and face of a pink flamingo.

Top text: Tell friends you’ll finish that kink fill over the weekend

Bottom text: Sunday evening: One sentence written.]

Does accountability work for you? That can mean promising a friend you'll write something for them, signing up for a challenge, or simply telling everyone on your reading list on Dreamwidth that you're definitely going to finish the next chapter this week. Does it motivate you to keep going, whether through fear of public humiliation if you don't do it, inspiration, knowing someone will ask if you don't do it? Or does this give you writer's block?

I'm guessing most people who've signed up for the WIP challenge find accountability useful in at least one respect (since they've signed up & stated fic goals for the month) -- but are there other times it doesn't work so well for you?

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

I think accountability helps me sometimes -- I really hate doing something last-minute, so for the two challenges I've done so far (Yuletide & the Oofuri year-end fic exchange) I've actually finished my fics early (2 weeks early, in the case of YT!). On the other hand, it was difficult to get started w/my first help_japan fic (though once I found my feet I really liked the challenge of finalizing the story -- which I ended up being v. proud of). & I'm still struggling w/my 2nd one. That might be partly b/c there is no set deadline (although obviously I finish fics that aren't part of a challenge/don't have any other deadline at all!). My poetry_fiction fic has been malingering for months, partly b/c (I think) of the long amnesty period -- this is a valuable piece of information for me as far as my fic habits!

Occasionally, on anon kink memes, I'll do that thing where people comment & say, "I'm working on a fill for this! Hopefully it will only take me a few more days." Because then I do feel accountable -- I've had a few people promise to fill my prompts & then not do it, & it made me sad (though I know there are zillions of reasons why this could happen).

The last few months of this challenge in this comm I've only partially fulfilled my goals. I don't mind, though, b/c I've generally had other ficcish things happen instead: I may not have finished fic X, but I wrote a thousand words on it & finished 2 other fics I didn't even consider at the time of signups.

[linaewen]

I haven't actually written anything today in the fic line -- though I might have a go this evening to see if I can get into working on the next challenge for the month. I'm working on all the stuff I ignored earlier in the week while trying to finish Fic A!

That flamingo is talking about me today. :-D Sometimes making promises helps, and sometimes it's what breaks me. More often then not, a busy life combines with a flat idea for a promised fic/chapter, and then it's a no go. However, lately it has really been helpful to be consistently public with commitments and goals. I'm still busy, but by committing to monthly challenges like this, I've managed to get my "fic brain" back, and that will no doubt help with all those promises I made to my friends (last year) that the chapter they wanted is on its way. ;-)

[littlebutfierce]

I'm so glad this challenge has been helping you!! & that your friends may now be getting the chapter they've been waiting for. :)

[lexicalcrow]

Just over 500 words, but I think I've finished filling in gaps for the moment and I can move on. Finally, I can leave the 1960s and move on a decade. XD /has too much to write about.

I like a bit of accountability, but I think it works better when you've got people on your flist who care about your writing and badger you into getting it done. When you're in many fandoms of one, it's not so effective. :P This might be why I'm doing so many big bangs and bingo cards and whatnot in lieu of other sorts of deadlines.

[littlebutfierce]

500 words, yay! Especially since you're able to move onto a new section.

&... yeah, I hear you about the small fandoms thing. Some small fandom folks seem good at pulling in their friends, heh. I'm not always so good at it (well, sometimes I don't even try: it takes energy I don't have sometimes to be enthusiastic-out-loud about stuff!). I agree, externally-set challenges like bingo cards can be really useful in the absence of friendly peer pressure from one's circle.

[lexicalcrow]

Yes, it's very nice! I feel like I'm actually progressing, instead of just revising. :D And I got two fics planned out during work today, so I'm feeling very productive. :D

Yeah, I've tried to get my friends interested in my tiny obscure old bands, but no takers. I suck at this. XD So yes. Bingo cards and whatnot. Which at least gives me a community, even if we're not all from the same fandom. Very glad I found this comm too. I like having to report in every day like I'd do during NaNoWriMo. That is one of the things I miss about NaNo. I wish I had time to do all the other NaNo-based challenges, but uni often gets in the way. Oh well.

[littlebutfierce]

Oooh, yay for planning out 2 fics during work! Yay for being able to do anything ficcish while at work, even. :)

I'm glad the comm structure is helpful!

[jagnikjen]

I say I can write today, but I really can. My challenge fic is stored in GoogleDocs so I do have access to it, though I left my thumb drive with all my other fic in my computer at my office. :)

But I don't want to mess with it.

I'm going to read instead. I found another comm with lots of HP fic, so I'm going to peruse it--AFTER I watch the Harry and Ginny kiss from DH a couple of times. :)

As for accountability--yes, it helps me so much. But I'm actually good when I want to be about writing even without accountability--or when I am accountable only unto myself.

[littlebutfierce]

Sometimes deliberately saying you'll take a day off from writing is totally the best thing you can do. :) Enjoy the reading!!

& yaaaaay for being accountable to yourself & having that work--I think that's something a lot of us (self included!) wish we could be better at.

[xpaperplanex]

Nothing written yet today, but I stopped procrastinating and actually worked on the dolls I'm making for a charity auction, so I don't feel bad. I think I'll open up word and at least look at a file for an hour or so.

As for accountability, my ability to handle responsibility is not so great. I can worry myself into depression if I don't get things done on time, so with fic, at least, I don't like being accountable. I may write faster if I've got a deadline, but it's far too stressful for me.

[littlebutfierce]

I find just looking at a file for a story, even if I don't have time/brain to do anything else, can sometimes still be helpful! It reminds me (usually) that I'm still excited about writing the story & keeping on struggling w/it.

There's definitely a fine line between helpful pressure/accountability & when it becomes damaging -- & it's good to figure out where that place is (cuz obviously it will be different for different people). That's great that you know how to treat yourself when writing!!

& good luck w/the dolls!

[xpaperplanex]

Yep, even just reading over a scene that I liked can help me think of something I wanted to add or where it might go next.

I learned a long time ago that avoiding optional deadlines is the best option for me. I love writing fic because it's a great stress-reliever; I don't want to ruin that!

Thanks! They're adorkable so far. :D

[littlebutfierce]

Oh yeah, keeping the fun in the fic writing is crucial. There was that question in last week's check-in posts about whether you would choose to be a successful original fic writer if it meant giving up fic, &... I don't think I would! Because I write fic largely for fun, & being A Writer would change that.

[snowynight]

I find accountability helps me sometimes too. If there's a deadline like Yuletide and Remix, I'll finish them sooner than the deadline. However, I don't do so well with bigbang. Perhaps because I easily lose momentum in a long writing period. I also can't have too much pressure. It will make me want to avoid the fic.

I write more of my kink bingo fic and achieved 5K in three days. I guess achievement system is more productive for writing.

[littlebutfierce]

Perhaps because I easily lose momentum in a long writing period.

Me too! I think. At least, I think the long amnesty period of poetry_fiction is working against my motivation. :/

5k in three days is fantastic!!!

[kunenk]

Deadlines and accountability definitely help me. Not always long before the deadline, but it's still something to aim for.

[littlebutfierce]

Yeah, I like having something to aim for, too. Otherwise it can be difficult for me to stop procrastinating sometimes & just start writing!

[curuchamion]

I am... avoiding my story. It's about 90-95% done - I just need to do one more blast of massive rewriting (I think Bra'tac's been going too easy on Sam, he's a tough teacher) and make up a couple of alien words. But it's not due till August 1, so I'm stalling. XP

Oddly, I don't do well with outside accountability. (The main thing I like the WIP challenge here for is giving me someplace to brag about progress after I make it, lol.) If I'm going around telling people before I write that I'm going to finish something, odds are I'm not actually motivated to do the writing.

(If I know both the prompt and the deadline before I commit, I can handle accountability - see MaNoWriMo, ahem - but getting a prompt after I've committed to write something, as with Yuletide or a fandom auction, throws me completely for a loop. As does trying to set a deadline for a WIP. It's best if someone else sets the deadline for me, which is why MaNo worked out...)

[littlebutfierce]

Having a story almost completely done that's not due for nearly another 2 months is awesome! Plus, if you avoid your story for a bit, you've got time to take a break & come back to it w/fresh eyes... which can only help w/editing.

Having someone to brag to about progress is useful, I agree!!!

[lacygrey]

I didn't think this applied to me when I first saw it - Ive never attempted a meme fill. But, looking at my fics, I realise that nearly all of them were written for or because of a challenge. Perhaps its something I need. Perhaps I should go look for one now.

[littlebutfierce]

I guess memes & challenges are similar in some ways! Though memes are probably less formalized. I like comment fic memes b/c they seem to lend themselves to drabbles or ficlets pretty easily. I mean, of course you can write more for comment fic (& I have), but it feels okay to just write something short, y'know? & then you have the satisfaction of having finished a story (plus I do appreciate shortfic, kind of a lot: I love seeing lost moments, hidden scenes).

I hope you're able to find a new challenge or meme that grabs you!