Fic Talk > Featured Story of the Month
Featured Story of the Month for April 2008 - Nothing Gold Can Stay by Maggie
MaggieW:
1) Tell us one thing about your story that no one else knows?
Well, this one might be kind of obvious, but the story was inspired by both "The Outsiders" and the musical "West Side Story".
2) How long did it take you to write this entire story?
Oh, gosh, I can't remember. Maybe Louise can, she's got a better memory than me. Not more than a year, I can say that with surety; maybe less even.
3) Give us a summary different from the one you have posted on AC, with a few more spoilers to make people tune in.
Well, considering the summary on AC doesn't give away much at all (LOL)
"Like any gang, the Garrison clan look out for each other. Life isn't easy for any of them, and the competition from the Alley Cats - the fights, expanding their territory - doesn't make it any better. But lines are crossed, and a loved one is violated and murdered. They won't take it sitting down."
4) If you could cast this story as a movie who would play the main roles and why?
Ooh, this one's going to take me a while, I think. Who's either a teenager, early adulthood, or can play a part in those age groups? Maybe Angelo Spizziri (Joel from "The Rookie" with Dennis Quaid) as Brian (I mean, seriously!! Get a good look at that kid and tell me he doesn't look like Brian at first glance!)... I don't know much about her since her graduation from Spy Kids, but maybe Alexa Vega as Brian's girl Precious. Maybe Ryan Phillipe as Jim (Lance). Ooh, Hayden Christensen might make a good Harry or Texas. Since I can't think of anyone else right off, I might leave the rest to the reader's imagination.
5) Have you ever thought of giving up on the story and if you did what made you continue to work on it?
No, I don't believe I ever thought about giving up on Nothing Gold. If I ever did, I just remembered how much I love The Outsiders and West Side Story and plowed through. Of course, Louise was a great help in bouncing off ideas as we worked together. And, I suppose, having split up the characters, sharing a couple, made it easier too.
6) What was your writing process? (Outline, make it up as you go along, the characters wrote it, I am Tonja and plagerized lol)
Well, I didn't have an official outline, but I did save our chats when we would discuss the story. There were definitely occasions that some of our characters wrote the story, I think.
7) Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
I have to pick just one?
8 ) You had to know this was coming, who was your least favorite?
Pah! Easy; Jason, leader of the Alley Cats. As for why, you'll have to discover for yourself just what he does to be my least favorite.
9) Are all the boys in this one? If not why did you choose to exclude them? Yes, all the boys are in it. So is, believe it or not, James Lance Bass! Brian is the only one allowed to call him "Jim," as you'll find out. And Brian's brother Harry's in it too.
10) If we like this story...then we'd love what story? (Could be by you or someone else) and obviously tell us why lol
Hmm... "Drowning" by BSB_Writer. You can feel Brian's despair, AJ's worry and guilt that he hadn't confronted Brian earlier. Louise's "Eclipse" and "Garden". If it hasn't already been done, "5 Backstreet Boys In Search of a Plot". I couldn't stop laughing for that one. Honey's "Welcome to My Heart" (which has probably already been done, I don't know). As for mine... "What You See is What You Get." It's a BSB/X-Men crossover, two subjects that I happen to enjoy. Some of it has gone through a couple of revisions and it's quite different from what I had envisioned in my head. But don't stories usually go that way?
MaggieW:
--- Quote from: DaniGiggles on April 07, 2008, 12:41:10 AM ---So I finished the story and I just have to say that it was wonderful. It's a fantastic story line, with amazing writing. I couldn't tell the different between either of your writing styles because it all flowed so well. It only took me two "sittings" to read this entire story (I read half earlier in the week and finished the other half last night) and I was disappointed when there wasn't anymore to read, though it ended perfectly.
I loved the whole gang concept and how with each individual character came a different back story, and I really liked how you guys switched off the chapters with a different point of view. I know I've said this before, but it was very Outsiders-esque and I LOVE that! The comaraderie that the characters had was fascinating. They were just one big family and it made the reader really appreciate them as people and feel connected to them in some way, as stupid as that may sound.
I loved every character. I loved the setting, the different story lines, the relationships, the heartache, the development. I just loved everything.
Wonderful story. I enjoyed every minute of it! Great job! Definitely deserved to be featured.
--- End quote ---
Really, you couldn't tell the difference? Well, I guess I'm not that surprised. Louise has given me immense help with writing since we first met.
Switching off characters and chapters made it easier for me, I think. If I'd tried to tackle this one on my own instead of asking Louise to collaborate with me, it might not have come out as quickly and as well as it did. Though - I must confess - I had to reread the story in order to help answer questions and comments, and I noticed a couple of slight mistakes which I am currently editing.
--- Quote ---They were just one big family and it made the reader really appreciate them as people and feel connected to them in some way, as stupid as that may sound.
--- End quote ---
That's not stupid. Isn't that one of many points of a good story, to connect to the characters in some way? And as I answered in the questionnaire, our story was inspired by The Outsiders and West Side Story.
I've occasionally thought of a sequel that would take place a few years down the road, but I have no idea what could possibly happen, so I've never done anything about it.
MaggieW:
--- Quote from: mare on April 06, 2008, 04:00:04 PM ---I'm here with a few Oprah questions for you. lol I was going to wait because I didn't want you to feel bogged down.
How did the two of you come to work together?
Where did you come up with the concept of this story?
--- End quote ---
Well, I'm just now noticing your Oprah questions, Mare. *Sorry*
With my poor memory, the answer to your first question would have to honestly be "I'm not sure." I remember we had met years ago on ff.net. At least I think it was through ff.net. (Let me think... my family was living in Perry Hall when Millenium came out, I think... then we moved to Rosedale during or after 2000 - that I remember because we were still there in '99 and in Rosedale when the Towers were attacked) So we've known each other for about eight years or so... (My gosh, has it really been that long?) As for how we started working together, I just can't remember. :( :( :( Ooh I wish she were online so I could ask her!!
And like I said, I wanted to do a story like The Outsiders and West Side Story. I think this was our first collab, too. (We've got another one that we haven't touched in about... oh... three years maybe.) In this story I've got AJ being older than Brian because, I think, it just seemed to fit. Well, either that or I just plain wanted to in order to add more Brian angst. ;) You know, I don't even remember how I/we ended up deciding on Precious' fate... I know that I wanted to have a rumble, but you need a good reason to call a council to decide on it. So maybe that's how I came up with what happened to Precious. (Yes, I'm leaving out what happens just in case there are those who read this before the story.) Portions of the story came as we wrote. Well, most of it was discussed in chat.
MaggieW:
*crickets chirp* So did I scare everybody off once I answered the questions? LOL
MonkeyAbu:
--- Quote from: MaggieW on April 14, 2008, 09:39:44 PM ---*crickets chirp* So did I scare everybody off once I answered the questions? LOL
--- End quote ---
Aw, I don't think you've scared everybody off. They're probably just busy enjoying your story! :) I know I haven't commented on the story yet, but I've got 7 1/2 more hours of my over night shift ahead of me, so I plan on getting some reading done. I can't wait to start reading it! ;D
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