2011 will be my year of writing -- I hope

[slumber]

Random Writing Babble

I was reading an old application for a game -- think June 2008, almost exactly three years ago -- and realized that a phrase I used to describe my character's appearance back then is almost exactly the phrasing I used to describe a character in a fic I wrote this year. Granted, I was thinking of the same man while I was writing both, but the semi-self-plagiarization probably means I'm a little too used to using the same turns of phrases or something.

Blergh.

Read a couple of posts recently about POV and epithets too, things I'm not normally aware of when I write, and yep. I've been very recently guilty of them.

Double and triple blergh.

Glompfest Beta?

Due to alaana_fair's not-so-subtle pimping, PLUS the availability of an awesome prompt that I just couldn't say no to, I signed up for Glompfest. Which is funny, because I actually checked, and I have a total of two Harry/Draco fics in my archives, ahahaha. Also, don't look, because I'm not proud of either of them.

Anyway. Almost a third of the way through, and I was wondering if anyone on the flist would like to beta? It will probably be under 5,000 words. I hope.

Het Big Bang Tips and Beta?

I signed up for het_bigbang with a Slytherin-based plot in mind. It's 25k minimum, due September 20th or something close to that date, and I'm not allowing myself to start it until Glompfest gets done. I know 25K is peanuts to some of you (and you have my eternal admiration), but I've never written anything over 10,000 words. So. I need some help? Possibly a beta who will help point out plot holes, iron out loopholes and what-have-you, and then proofread along the way, if someone has the time. And if you've participated in a big bang before...

What generally works best in terms of outlining/planning so you know you'll reach 25K? How do you determine whether or not you have enough of a plot to make the minimum, but not too much that it goes way over? (I don't want to be unable to finish it, since deadlines seem to be my only motivation for writing things.)

General words of wisdom? Advice? Writing habits that really help and writing habits that really don't?

Thanks. ♥

Comments

[acidpop25.livejournal.com]

I've never done a 25k-minimum bang (the ones I've written in have had minimums in the 10k-20k range), but my best advice is to get started early. Procrastinating long fics is the worst thing you can do to yourself. I generally tried to write about 1k a day, more if I was in a good writing groove. That usually meant I'd finish ahead of schedule, which gave me and my beta plenty of time to work on tightening the fic up, doing any needed re-writes, ect. After all, they're a big project for the beta, too.

I am the wrong person to ask about outlining and planning, though, since I do neither. I'd probably be able to beta for you if you like, but could I maybe get a little more by way of specifics about what you're planning before making that call? There are some characters I'm useless with.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Really? You were one of the flisters I had in mind, and I could've sworn you've written longer! Uhhhh how early is early? :| Because I swear, I'll get started on it as soon as this one other fic is done, but I just couldn't pass up the chance to sign up for something that'll help push me into actually writing a plot that's sort of been simmering for a while.

The goal right now is to start the big bang on June 1, and assuming I write an average of 1500 to 2000 words a week (1K a day? AHAHAHAHA wuuuuut-- I mean that's my good day, though generally I've only managed to spare an hour on weekdays) AND the fic stays close to the 25K target then the complete version can be sent to the beta by the first week of September? :| Though because this is a longer fic, I feel like it might be more effective to work with a beta who can be around more or less from the beginning, and chip in with feedback as the story gets written.

As for your offer to beta (assuming it's something you would be able to work with): I would love that! It's Slytherin-centric, and I'm planning on Draco/Astoria, Theodore/Tracey, Blaise/Pansy. Post-war, some Harry Potter involved, Theodore's brothel will probably make an appearance again. I'm leaning towards turning it into a murder mystery, though I haven't quite ironed that out yet. Let me know if that's your cuppa. :)

[acidpop25.livejournal.com]

Well mine might've turned out longer, I don't recall, but the minimums weren't that high.But starting in June for a September deadline should be plenty of time. That's the beauty of big bangs, they have a long writing period.

Ha well, everyone works differently re. pacing? But basically I always start out most inspired by my idea early on, so I spit out as many words as possible as fast as possible. That way when my pace inevitably slows down I already have a good portion written. YOUR MILEAGE MAY VARY. My personal writing techniques are generally considered weird and ill-advised at best.

Having a beta in on the process early on definitely helps– that way you don't wind up with awful gaping plotholes in like your first 2k that fuck up everything else later on. That's essentially what I did for my inception_bang fic; I checked in with one beta every 5k or so, and then had the completed thing read over both by her and another beta who was coming to the whole thing fresh.

It sounds like something I'd dig, you know how I love seeing Theo in fic, so I'd be willing to beta for you. I don't have anything else on my plate at the moment, so hopefully I can keep the turnaround time pretty quick.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

And I'm hoping I've also given myself enough time--like, a reasonable enough timeframe--that maybe I might be able to go over it and probably finish faster too.

Haha, I don't know what mine is. Scene by scene, I guess, but I don't really get into a groove until later on, I don't know. The beginning seems to always be the hardest. Different strokes!

And yayyyyyy! :) I like your idea of two betas--one that's there from the beginning, and another that looks at the completed version fresh. I think having someone working with you from the start is going to be really helpful with a long fic, but both of you will naturally have a bias that a totally new person won't have. I might not get started on this until June, but if anything changes with your schedule just let me know; otherwise, I'm stoked! :D

[slumber.livejournal.com]

(Oops--I missed the important part: Thank you!)

[acidpop25.livejournal.com]

Sure thing! Just let me know when you have something for me to look at. :)

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Hey hey, I wanted to volley some ideas around but I'm not sure I have your email address. :| Could you email me when you get the chance? My Gmail's slumber[dot]dreams. :) Thanks!

[perculious.livejournal.com]

I will beta the short one!

Also, as someone who's won Nanowrimo five times and wrote a 64,000-word fic last year, I can be available for cheerleading and encouragement! But I'm not sure if I really have any tips besides "write a whole lot" and "seriously, seriously, plan first". I've never actually done the second one but every single time I've wished I did. :(

[slumber.livejournal.com]

YAY! *tackles* Thanks :D Ummmm it might not be under 5000 words now. :| But it's almost done so it won't be longer than 10k? IDK I'll let you know what the final word count is and then you can tell me if you'll still be able to do it?

Ungh, I am so jealous of you. And haha thanks! :D

[perculious.livejournal.com]

That's fine! :D

Also! Before I started the Fic That Ate My Life last year, although I HAD done Nanowrimo, I had never before written a fic that was over 8000 words. And it was fine! So just, you know... write a lot.

[slumber.livejournal.com]

Awesome! Urgh, now I just have to finish it. :|

I think with under three months to write and a legit outline, I can probably do it? Most of the stuff I've been writing now have been getting surprisingly long and so I don't think it's a completely horrible stretch of the imagination to hope that I could write something 2.5x longer. Getting the plot figured out is probably my biggest concern right now, because the more I put it off the less time I have to write it, haha.

Wait, idgi. Did you write many different fics for Nano to get to 50k before you did that 64K fic?

[perculious.livejournal.com]

Yes, do it! :D

I wrote all original stuff for Nano. I'd never written long fanfic before.