Intermission - Black Dragon realted stuff

[kriadydragon]

I feel so sorry for Black Dragon. Just when I finally reach the part I've been waiting for, the muses turn around, go "hey, what's that pretty shiny thing over there" and wander off. Poor, poor Black Dragon. Although this may be a good time to do those chapter overhauls.

Let this be a lesson - always outline stories before writing.

It will get done though, especially since I've finally reached what's supposed to be the good stuff. However, once it's done that'll probably be it - like a teaser - because I've decided to make it a published series after all. That means I'll be posting other stories here, where as I don't now because I don't want them getting confused with Black Dragon.

If I can get my laptop by next week, that might help. We have a small house and our computer is in the family room along with the TV. Plus it's the only computer we've got and I have to share. So though I have been dishing out a lot of short stories, the longer works tend to be a pain as I'm either distracted by incessantly babbling comercials or someone needs the computer. With a laptop I'll be able to hide in my room and whip out chapters for any given story faster.

Comments

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

Muses are so easily distracted by shiny stuff, aren't they. *pats you sympathetically*

[trublugem.livejournal.com]

I finished Black Dragon today. I printed it out double paged so I could relax and do some before bed reading. I read: "Say that after your first mission", then flip over to the next page and THERE WAS NO MORE! Only a blank page mocking me! I've really really REALLY enjoyed your story so far. So much that I was incredibly disappointed to not be able to continue reading the adventures of Jace and his crew. I hope you find your muse :D

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry to hear about your abandoned muses. That can be a real pain. An outline can definitely help to keep you focused. Sometimes I find that if there's a point in the story that you've been eager to write when you finally get there, it's like poof! Off goes the muse! A strange phenomenon – I wonder whether it's because you've placed so much anticipation, thinking about it that when it's finally time to write it down, it's all used up (the inspiration to write that is, as you've thought about it so much that it's no longer exciting). So perhaps if you feel the urge to write something or a scene just do so. That way, the muse won't abandon you. While I'm normally a consecutive writer, where I start at chap 1 to 2, etc, I'm finding that if there's a scene that calls me, I've been attempting to write it down rather than hold it off (even if it's just a rough outline as that way, I won't forget the idea – it can be a good trigger).
Alternatively, to kick start the muses, you may try writing something that you're not too happy with then leave it a while & come back later with fresh eyes. There was one scene that I had trouble with (it was the Snacks POV) – I had written the entire scene down, but didn't like it. I left it for a while, when I came back it later again, the muses reappeared and I scrapped what I had originally written and rewrote it again. Believe me it works. I also usually have a few written projects up my sleeve just to take a break from what I've been working on, so that can help too. Of course with original stories (that you want published) it takes more effort as you're not getting reviews to inspire you or get ideas from. But just stick at it, especially if you want it completed.

I'm sure that once you get your own computer, it will help a lot. I currently have a computer in my room and I've been getting up at odd hours in the morning just to complete Uncommon Alliance... but really, I find that it eats up too much of my time... which isn't really healthy for me in the long run. I've been losing lots of sleep in an attempt to complete the darn thing. The interesting thing is, I've received comments from a few people who tell me they will only review once the story is completed, while someone else commented that when reviewers get an ending, they often don't bother to provide a review for the last chapter (as they already got what they wanted). This last comment has made me a little concerned. I would hope that the first is true, for if the second were true, it certainly tells you more about people and the world in general, doesn't it? Also it wouldn't be much motivation for the writer to provide an ending so maybe that's why so many tales get abandoned on ff. The two conflicting viewpoints are interesting and both have merits in them. I'm almost at the end, so it'll be interesting to see which is true. It would be sad if the second were true... Oops, sorry, I diverted off topic there... hee!

Anyway, hope that you get your muses back soon. I'm sure they will eventually get fed up of the shiny stuff and come bouncing back to you again. Perhaps I should sent Snacks after them as he likes shiny stuff too. ;)
- Stargalaxy

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips. You mentioned tossing one version of a chapter and rewriting it - I plan on doing that to an entire story! A completed story, mind you, that's about five hundred pages long. But I'm actually excited about it since I know where I went wrong and what I need to do. I have a feeling it's going to be a lot shorter when I'm done.

On to the next topic. I understand holding back on reviewing a story until it's done as I do that myself sometimes. With some stories, you have no idea what you're getting into, especially if it's by new writer who hasn't grasped the concept of warnings or spellcheck (there was one story I read that ended up being slash, but I had not idea until the slash-parts popped up. Needless to say I was ticked.). With other stories, muses wander off and the tale is never completed.

Now, not reviewing the last chapter, that's just rude and retarded. I feel the final reviews to be the most important as they sumamrize the opinion of the entire story.

As for the muses, they'll wander back in, they always do.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Not to worry. I've been poking the muses with a sharp stick. Another part of the problem is that since this is kind of the moment I've been waiting for, I need to plan it out a little better, make it the best darn couple of chapters I can, and not a cheap knock off from Aliens.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Yes. I think I need to watch one of the Aliens movies. They make up part of the inspiration for this story.

[(Anonymous)]

Whoa... An entire story! Eep! That is a lot! But as you know what you need to fix and am happy to do it, that's good. Presumably, it's a plot thing and not having to recreate characters again? I'm sure the story will turn out better as a result of it though and all your hard work will pay off :) I think you mentioned the story being here? (Sorry, I haven't read it - don't think I'll have the time) But sounds like you received some good concrite for it...

As for you next point... yeah, warnings and spellcheck do help a lot in making a story better. I know when I'm in a hurry, I miss a heck of lot of stuff (missing words and such) so often like to spend time editing it as much as possible before a post but sometimes don't have time for it... I don't often read uncompleted fics (due to my busy schedule) – but I can certainly sympathise with your problem.

As for your last point, it's certainly very true, the review for the completed tale is the one that tells the writer whether they succeeded in satisfying the reader with the tale or not, because sometimes the end makes or breaks a tale. (ie: a hero can be killed off in the end! Now why do I get the feeling that if a writer did that (without giving warnings) they would be flooded with reviews by people screaming about it, more so than if it ended satisfactory? Is it because people are more inclined to complain than to say 'I enjoyed this?'. I remember getting one review where all I got was someone telling me about a spelling mistake, which was funny. While I was grateful for the correction, I did wonder what she thought about the rest of the chapter, and was kinda diappointed that she didn't mention anything else... Human beings are strange creatures indeed.. and we are part of them. LOL.
-Stargalaxy

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Actually, they're two separate stories. The one I'm posting here isn't even close to being five-hundred pages.

The reason I'm rewriting the big story is because I'm not happy with the writing style and I know I can do better than that, and there's a lot I want to either remove or shorten. Ah, the joy that is editing (not).

Ugh, I can't stand it when people point out spelling mistakes. I like helpful criticism but if all you're going to say is "you have a few spelling errors here and there..." then there's not point to saying anything at all. Even people who use betas and go over a chapter five times still end up with a few spelling errors. Heck, even published books have a few spelling errors. I like help but that's not being helpful.

[trublugem.livejournal.com]

I've just been having a look at your 'Stories in the Works' section of your profile on Fanfiction to net. They sound really intriguing! How's your muse going for those?

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Well, until I get my laptop I'm holding off on writing anything lengthy. I need to be able to write whenever I feel ready, which is kind of hard with our computer since I'm not the only one who needs to use it.

"Do Not Go Gentle" and "Synchronus Reality" are definitely going to be written (though Do Not Go Gentle is labeled as "iffy". I need to change that). Same with the Supernatural story. The Shep as a slave story I'm going to re-write as I've not been happy with it from the start. "Within" I started writing but put on hiatus (I need to outline it). "Raven" I need to take off as I've changed my mind about that one (got too complicated and needs to be reworked).