That's Ok Timeless, you know I'm happy to read any fanfic any time.

Mara wrote:That's Ok Timeless, you know I'm happy to read any fanfic any time.

Aww, thank you.

Okay, I've posted some of the new pages. I have other pieces, but they won't make much sense on their own, so I'm holding off on them for now. No idea when I'll have more pieces, but these should keep you busy for awhile.

In Custody: A Life on Mars/New Avengers crossover fic.

That's great! I'm always happy to read something, even if it's nowhere near finished. I'll definitely read it tomorrow or the day after

Philippa wrote:That's great! I'm always happy to read something, even if it's nowhere near finished. I'll definitely read it tomorrow or the day after

I actually wrote a few scenes yesterday (though they're not posted yet). I need to work on other stuff today, but maybe I'll be able to hit it again later. See how posting things motivates me? Although more Monkey Island came out yesterday, so I might get distracted. Hope you enjoy what I've put up, anyway.

Favourite line:
“Oh, bloody brilliant. I’ve got a murder investigation on me hands, and MI-Fairy sends up double-oh seven and eight and Pussy Galore. Thanks ever so much.”

Philippa wrote:Favourite line:
“Oh, bloody brilliant. I’ve got a murder investigation on me hands, and MI-Fairy sends up double-oh seven and eight and Pussy Galore. Thanks ever so much.”

Ha, ha, that line's old, but I think that's the best I'm ever going to get Gene. I'm proud of that line, I'll admit. If only I could come up with half a dozen more.

That's what I find hardest, too, when writing Gene. He has to have a few brilliant one-liners every now and then..

Philippa wrote:That's what I find hardest, too, when writing Gene. He has to have a few brilliant one-liners every now and then..

Matthew Graham has trouble, too. He said that so many of Gene's most notable one-liners weren't meant to garner the attention they did, but they just became popular. "I'm 'avin' 'oops" is the main one. He said "Fire up the Quattro" was much more "manufactured." I'm trying, though. I can't remember how much I posted now, but I ought to add a little, don't you think?

Posted a little bit more of "In Custody." Highlighted it for easy location. This is all rough, remember. Purdey throws down a wager.

Fabulous! *off to read*


Edit:
Poor Ray, if only he'd known better, he would never have taken her up on that drinking contest. Even if you hadn't posted that scene already, we still would've known it would end badly for Ray

Philippa wrote:Fabulous! *off to read*


Edit:
Poor Ray, if only he'd known better, he would never have taken her up on that drinking contest. Even if you hadn't posted that scene already, we still would've known it would end badly for Ray

Well, I wrote that scene out in full, now, so you can see what happens a little bit better. Either way, it doesn't end well for Ray, but he'll get his revenge, sort of, later on.

Haha, yes. Never close a deal with Purdey, she'll always win. She's a smart one, isn't she? I think this was my favorite Custody bit so far, I had a good laugh!

Mara wrote:Haha, yes. Never close a deal with Purdey, she'll always win. She's a smart one, isn't she? I think this was my favorite Custody bit so far, I had a good laugh!

I should post the rest of the scene, yes? So you can see what happens?

Timeless A-Peel wrote:

Mara wrote:Haha, yes. Never close a deal with Purdey, she'll always win. She's a smart one, isn't she? I think this was my favorite Custody bit so far, I had a good laugh!

I should post the rest of the scene, yes? So you can see what happens?

You know what I'm gonna say right? Yes!

Not only smart, but she can hold her drink better than most men

And yes please post them

Philippa wrote:Not only smart, but she can hold her drink better than most men

And yes please post them

Purdey makes Purdkas. Ray never had a hope.

Right, most of my new pages are up now. I have to get writing again.

Just out of curiousity, how much, on average, would you say you write in one go? And does it just flow out at moments like that, or do you really have to force yourself to sit down and write sometimes?

Philippa wrote:Just out of curiousity, how much, on average, would you say you write in one go? And does it just flow out at moments like that, or do you really have to force yourself to sit down and write sometimes?

Depends on a lot of things: how inspired I am, how tired, how much time I have, whether I've gotten sick of the fic yet (you have no idea what a slog it was to finish "Brazil.") Lately, because I've been sick, and my writing always suffers when I do, I've been sort of forcing myself to bash scenes out so that I don't leave the fic sitting for too long to the point that it becomes difficult to get back into it again. So yes, particularly lately, I've had to force myself. A lot. Those pages I just posted came only with a great deal of pushing myself to get it down. But when I have a scene or a story I'm super jazzed about writing, one that I'm really in the mood to do, then it does flow. I have to be feeling really good, though, and have the time to just let myself go crazy. A lot of my shorts are like that--I write them all in one sitting while the idea's still fresh and exciting, and they do just flow. Some of the scenes in fics like "The Question" were like that too. But there is a lot of "get things done" writing to be done, too--you will not be excited about every scene in a fic, particularly a long one. You have to remember that when I post stuff in places like here, and "Vignettes," I've often had it written for at least a few days. I tend to stockpile and then post a little as I go. All of my ff.net fics are posted when I've already finished the whole fic, and all it needs is editing.

How much do I write, on average? Well, when I'm actually committed to writing, and not being interrupted with other things, or not just scribbling a scene down so I don't forget it, I probably write about 3-5 pages a session. These aren't always equivalent in size, though. A scene that has a lot of dialogue will fill pages up pretty fast, whereas if I do a descriptive passage, that'll take longer and I'll get less done. But 3-5 sounds about right. I did five and a half of a new fic yesterday. But I'm seriously not feeling very "in the groove" lately, again, because I've been ill (and it takes me awhile to get over things). I've also been doing a lot of daytime writing lately, and I find this doesn't produce my best fic--I do better in teh evening for some reason, when I'm a little sleepy. I tend to relax and write things I might be too self-conscious to do otherwise. Those are when I have my real flow sessions. I feel like I'm sort of in a waking dream. I can see the scene play out in my head and I just sort of take it down, and when I "wake up," there it is. Those are the best flow times.

Wow, that was practically an essay there and then
I'm glad it's not just me struggling with getting things done, even though the story sort of exists in your head.
And I agree about the writing during the day vs. night. It works a lot better for me to write at night as well, preferably when it's way past midnight (don't ask me why )
I think 3-5 pages is an nice average to have.

Oh and have you ever participated in the NaNoWriMo contest? It just seems very 'you'. I believe Chris is participating in it this year.

Philippa wrote:Wow, that was practically an essay there and then
I'm glad it's not just me struggling with getting things done, even though the story sort of exists in your head.
And I agree about the writing during the day vs. night. It works a lot better for me to write at night as well, preferably when it's way past midnight (don't ask me why )
I think 3-5 pages is an nice average to have.

Oh and have you ever participated in the NaNoWriMo contest? It just seems very 'you'. I believe Chris is participating in it this year.

Yeah, if only I spent as much time writing fic as I do posts. I'm wordy, what can I say? This is why my fics take so long.

Sometimes the problem is that the story exists in your head, because it's so easy for you to imagine it, and why would you write it if you could play it so easily? This is why I like timelines, because you can break the fic down into manageable chunks. What I'll do is aim for a scene a night. Doesn't matter if it's long or short, just one scene. If you do that long enough you'll get it done. I did that with "Brazil," I'm doing it with "In Custody," and I'll do it with "Anew" as soon as I sort out the plot a bit better. One of my favourite writers, Meg Cabot, refers to this as "eating elephant ass," because if you tried to eat a whole elephant at once, it'd be a bit overwhelming, but if you do it in pieces, it's not so intimidating (don't ask me where she got this analogy from. ) You don't even have to do the scenes in order. You can see from "In Custody" that a typical WIP is all over the place. Pick a scene you're excited about, then do it, repeat the process, and you'll get there. But I like evenings because they let you relax into your fic. You don't put pressure on yourself and just flow.

I've never done Nanowrimo, no, although Khell does every year. Mostly because I'm always in school and just don't have the time, but also because that's too much "pressure" trying to finish a fic in a month. Plus it has to be a new story, and I ahave all these WIP's that I want to get done. But I admire those that are brave enough to try it. I write because I have ideas that make me excited, and also because I started this arc project and I want to see if I can finish it. Any more pressure, and I think my brain would explode.

I was wondering..would you 2 be interested in me posting my fic here, in the same way Timeless is posting 'In Custody' at the moment? It's just that I wouldn't mind some feedback while I'm writing it, and I've written a fair bit so far.
It is Ashes to Ashes, but it is safe for you to read Maartje, as it is post-series, and so far I haven't referred to any events that took place during the series.
So let me know

Philippa wrote:I was wondering..would you 2 be interested in me posting my fic here, in the same way Timeless is posting 'In Custody' at the moment? It's just that I wouldn't mind some feedback while I'm writing it, and I've written a fair bit so far.
It is Ashes to Ashes, but it is safe for you to read Maartje, as it is post-series, and so far I haven't referred to any events that took place during the series.
So let me know

Sure! Many, many of my arc fics were posted piece by piece as I wrote them and read by a beta, who'd give me feedback as I went. Even if I didn't agree with some critiques, it would always make me think about my fic and the motivations I'd ascribed to the characters. Toss it in the "other fanfiction" thread or open up a new one in Daily Life and we'll see what we can do.

I've just posted the link in the "other fanfiction" thread. I'm very curious to hear what you think. Of course you've already read part of it, Timeless, but a lot has been added since then, and I've also taken your beta suggestions into consideration

I've read your fic, Philippa, and I promise I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Until then, I've updated "In Custody" with a couple of new scenes, still out of order. But they have a little more Sam and Annie in them this time. I've been thinking more on the main plotstream, so I'm hoping if I really work on it I can make real progress, and then go back to the arc full-time. Decisions, decisions.