Memage!

[osprey_archer]

Via goldjadeocean: Forty questions meme for fic writers.

Give me numbers, and I will answer your questions! (My traveling companion is ill - just a cold, nothing major - so it's going to be a quiet day, so please, please pick as many numbers as you want.)

Comments

[entwashian.livejournal.com]

9 & 10

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

9: The longer fics are almost always harder to write (although not always: both Felicity fics came to me pretty easily.) My longest Eagle fic, "The Threefold Tie," was like pulling teeth - I think because it's the only Eagle fic I wrote from Marcus's POV, and it just doesn't come as easily to me as the others.

10. This one is a close race, but I think the fic that I wrote the fastest is the last minute Yuletide treat I wrote last year for Brave, wherein Merida meets her sparkly Disney princess line redesign and they both recoil from each other in horror. Sparkly!Merida was so much fun to write!

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

14!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Anything of the "Never use adverbs" school of advice - advice that absolutely forbids a certain writing tool. I tend to think it's of more use propping up insecure writers (who can read other people's stuff and scoff at how it breaks the rules) than as actual writing advice, because as advice it's rather paralyzing. Look! An adverb! Kill it with fire!

Besides, advice like that is really dependent on the prevailing style. Eyes like gemstones are out of fashion now, and it's good to know in advance that there are readers who will dismiss your work out of hand if you describe your heroine's eyes as shimmering opals that change color with her feelings (shadowy sapphire for sadness, sparkling turquoise for joy, and of course shimmering amethyst when sympathy o'erflows her soul) - but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it if you really need to.

(I also answered "best writing advice" below.)

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

Besides, advice like that is really dependent on the prevailing style … it's good to know in advance that there are readers who will dismiss your work out of hand … but that doesn't mean you shouldn't do it if you really need to

Amen. I so agree--and also with your whole analysis of how those "never X" rules are used.

[littlerhymes]

13 and 17!

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Probably the best writing advice I've had is "write every day" - provided that you use it as an aspiration, rather than a cudgel to beat yourself up with if you ever miss a day. Because sometimes you will miss day! We all miss days. But all the days you do manage to write, even if it's just a paragraph, add up.

And for 17 - I almost always end up writing out of order. Very occasionally I will have a short fic that just flows out all in the proper order, which is a glorious and beautiful experience, but usually no. It's a blessing that I'm writing in the computer age when it's easy to cut and paste.

[asakiyume.livejournal.com]

I find it very interesting and heartening that you always end up writing out of order. I never do--I have a superstitious fear that it will end up meaning I don't finish the piece--and seeing that for some people (well: you, at least) it actually works out makes me think that sometimes maybe it would be worth a try.

And I agree with the "provided you use it as an aspiration rather than a cudgel" proviso on the writing advice. I am horrible at doing anything in a without-fail way, and yet, obviously, the more you write, the better.

[osprey-archer.livejournal.com]

Where would writers be without superstitious fears? Actually, I think your fear is not entirely without justification, because for a while I didn't finish things: I would end up with a conglomeration of scenes that didn't quite fit together, and for which I didn't have an ending, and then I'd just drop the whole thing in despair.

I've found it helps a lot if I know what the ending will be. It helps keeps me from going off too far on tangents.

[littlerhymes]

That is great advice and yeah, I've been most productive when I set aside time every day, or close to every day. (Keeping up the habit, however... L-O-L.)

I love hearing about process, and I'm also fascinated by those who write out of order as you do! That seems daunting to me but yeah, also kinda inspiring. :)