November Writing and December Plans
Nov. 29th, 2022 11:51 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
osprey_archerDid not get much writing done this month. Feeling discouraged about writing in general, to be honest. I’ve been struggling to write (so many of this year’s writing posts are some variation on “didn’t get much writing done this month”!), and my royalties are considerably lower than last year, and it’s all very frustrating.
I have decided that for whatever reason I am simply not Ready to write Sleeping Beauty, so rather than continuing to bang my head against that wall, I’m going to set the project aside for at least a year, probably more, it seems optimistic to imagine that I’ll be able to stand the sight of it after a mere year has passed. I remind myself yet again that Ursula K. Le Guin had to sit on Tehanu for eighteen years before she was ready to write it. Eighteen years!
Have been noodling on a couple of projects but who knows if they will come to anything.
***
Anyway, in years past when I have been struggling to write, I have found prompt memes really helpful. (The Time-Traveling Popcorn Ball originally grew from a prompt meme.) So I thought I would post one!
Tell me a little about a winter story I haven't written, and I'll give you several sentences from that story.
Winter doesn't have to mean holiday (although it certainly can!). Think snow, icicles, hot beverages by toasty fires, sledding and sleigh rides and being trapped by blizzards and unfortunate incidents involving holly dryads.
I will write ficlets for most any fandom I've written before (Captain America, Queen's Thief, various Sutcliffs, American Girl... I haven't actually written a Biggles or Worrals fic before but I've been thinking about trying) or for my own books, or for a completely original story.
I have decided that for whatever reason I am simply not Ready to write Sleeping Beauty, so rather than continuing to bang my head against that wall, I’m going to set the project aside for at least a year, probably more, it seems optimistic to imagine that I’ll be able to stand the sight of it after a mere year has passed. I remind myself yet again that Ursula K. Le Guin had to sit on Tehanu for eighteen years before she was ready to write it. Eighteen years!
Have been noodling on a couple of projects but who knows if they will come to anything.
***
Anyway, in years past when I have been struggling to write, I have found prompt memes really helpful. (The Time-Traveling Popcorn Ball originally grew from a prompt meme.) So I thought I would post one!
Tell me a little about a winter story I haven't written, and I'll give you several sentences from that story.
Winter doesn't have to mean holiday (although it certainly can!). Think snow, icicles, hot beverages by toasty fires, sledding and sleigh rides and being trapped by blizzards and unfortunate incidents involving holly dryads.
I will write ficlets for most any fandom I've written before (Captain America, Queen's Thief, various Sutcliffs, American Girl... I haven't actually written a Biggles or Worrals fic before but I've been thinking about trying) or for my own books, or for a completely original story.
no subject
Date: 2022-11-30 02:16 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-11-30 02:17 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 06:42 pm (UTC)"If the United States and the Soviet Union had ever gotten it together to stop building nuclear warheads," Daniel returns, "the money saved could have solved world hunger instead."
Gennady smiles ruefully and shakes his head. They are walking down Fifth Avenue, past shop windows shining with candy-colored displays to entice the hordes of Christmas shoppers.
"Is this your way of saying you don't want a Christmas present?" Daniel asks.
Gennady lifts his shoulders. "What is there that I need?"
"Some new shirts," Daniel suggests. Gennady is apt to wear his clothes till they fall apart.
"Ah! And I'll buy you a decent coat," Gennady teases. "For once in your life you won't shiver through the wintertime."
"I'm not shivering," Daniel protests.
"You will be once the sun goes down," said Gennady. And as if in answer to his words, a chilly breeze whirls down the avenue, sending awnings flapping and pressing coats against knees.
"Yes," says Gennady, with a touch of relish in his tone. "I will have to buy you a proper coat. You will need it next year, when we go to Moscow."
"To Moscow!" Daniel stops on the sidewalk, and is nearly bowled over by the New York pedestrians.
"I left it to late for this year,' Gennady says, with a little shrug. "But next year - if you would like to come for the New Year. That is our Christmas, you know."
"I know." And in the cold street, Daniel feels warm all through. "I'd like that."
They walk on for a while. The sky is darkening, but the street is so bright with Christmas lights that it still feels almost like day. Cars honk in the streets.
"That's such a big gift," Daniel tells Gennady. "I don't know what to get you in return."
"Oh," says Gennady. He bumps his shoulder against Daniel's. "You can buy our tickets home."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 07:35 pm (UTC)Gennady criticizing capitalism! Daniel coming back with a critique of the whole system! Gennady burying an invitation to see his family during THE holiday in getting Daniel a new coat! Also lol, Gennady saying Daniel can buy the tickets. It's a good thing you're a charmer, Gennady.
no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 07:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 08:02 pm (UTC)Then pls imagine Daniel's heart melting as this is the first time Gennady had called New York "home."
no subject
Date: 2022-12-11 08:11 pm (UTC)