Fic Talk > General Discussion
2 Writing 2 Thread
nicksgal:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 09:21:48 PM ---I will actually probably pick Curtain Call. But that brings up another question: How do you pick your favorite of your own stories? Is it the one you consider to be your best work? Or the one you have the deepest connection to or strongest feelings about? Broken was my best work at the time I wrote it, but it's not anymore. It will always have a special place in my heart though.
--- End quote ---
Deepest connection to/strongest feelings about for sure! The juggernaut that is PBox just also happens to be that and my best work simultaneously, especially as time goes on and I won't leave it alone, lol. Me projecting my opinion on everyone else before hearing otherwise is probably why I figured you would pick Broken, haha. I will work harder to stop doing this.
That being said, that's probably also the reason I keep saying I think I'll try to go back and finish Gobosei, because of the connection and feelings. In my mind, writing is about love, not work. Once it feels like work, it's time to take a break. As long as it always feels like love, then keep on keepin' on.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 09:21:48 PM ---He has a very cute laugh! Did you see the video he shared of him reacting to old videos of himself? https://youtu.be/6QawjXmEeRU So cute!!!
--- End quote ---
I don't think I have! But I'm loving this premise and will watch it when we're not knee deep in Iron Chef, haha.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 09:21:48 PM ---It was a nice touch to remind us that they are demons and not human, thus their sense of smell is magnified.
--- End quote ---
Aw thanks. :) It was also fun thinking of Nick's horrified reaction that it was so pungent, since he's a reactor and all, haha. And then it evolved into a cute Nick & Kevin thing later on in the scene where Kevin said he'd teach him if he was interested, but they'd start with something that had fewer ingredients. :D
There's moments with those little touches, but there's also moments where I got too busy telling the story that I forgot to mention dumb things like "how can they change clothing quickly if they have wings," which I knew, but never explicitly said. So in the rewrite, I was like, I should probably specifically mention this when it comes up.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 09:21:48 PM ---In fairness, summaries are hard! I also try to keep mine intentionally vague, but interesting enough to click on. The difference between us and the "Sorry, I suck at summaries!" writers is that we put forth the effort to agonize over them and come up with something instead of writing that cop out. But yeah, at least they're self-aware LOL. Mine would also be "I suck at brevity" LOL.
--- End quote ---
I feel like everyone who posts here puts forth the effort to agonize and agonize over lots of things before we post: summaries, titles, whatever.
What's worse, self awareness/laziness or just not noticing? As I'm typing this, I realize that it's probably the people who just start posting the first chapter in the summary box.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 09:21:48 PM ---There are definitely some of us who do more revising before posting, but that doesn't seem to be the norm. Then again, I could just be underestimatin g most of the writers who aren't on here talking about writing all the time with us because I don't know what their process is like. I didn't used to do much revising beyond basic proofreading before posting. It's only in the last few years since I started hoarding chapters that I started revising more.
--- End quote ---
Or overestimating the amount of time we all spend agonizing over everything. ;) Just kidding! The limit does not exist! But you're right, it's probably better not to assume anything about other writers unless they specifically say so themselves (which I will do better about, as I mentioned at the beginning). I also didn't do much revising until I got to that point of wanting to edit the early parts of PBox 2.5 years in, but pre-completion.
We should have listened to Mare all those years. She was so wise. Being able to go back and fix things before it's out is the best thing that's ever happened to me. That and being less worried that you'll all catch up to me when I know that six month writer's blocks have been a legitimate reality for me in the past.
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 09:21:48 PM ---Mine had the same type of monitor, but it still had USB ports. No floppy drive though. It's about ten years old. That is why I prefer desktops to laptops for file storage, though, because they last a lot longer. I've never had a laptop make it more than a few years without having some kind of catastrophic hard drive failure, which is why I'm team Chromebook and Google Drive now. But it's nice to also have a real computer that I can install programs and store files on.
--- End quote ---
It was the computer I had in 2000! Ancient! I didn't do much internet things on it, since we never really had internet at my house, so I feel like it would probably still work if I could get it to turn on, at least to get files off of. The graphics were definitely going purple/green when I switched over to my laptop, though.
I think most of my laptops have made it about four years? Google drive was the best thing that could have happened to me. I like having the desk space to use without a computer if needed. When we eventually move, if I'm able to have my own office space, I think I might get more desk space to have a desktop computer, or at least have a computer up and space to use the desk without a computer.
nicksgal:
Since I've spent more time in my day looking up writing related things on my phone, I get more writing related articles and blog posts in my news section. It's a fun romp.
Here's one I thought worthy of sharing: "How Do You Keep a Novel Alive When It Keeps Trying To Die?"
This part at the end stuck out to me, mainly because I thought "Oh, hi Nick" when reading it (you know, just replace "weeks" with "years"): "If there was ever a time to write a main character with agency, who wants things and keeps trying to get those things no matter what, this is it. That's the kind of character who will keep your novel alive even when you haven't opened your laptop in weeks."
FrickingKaos:
--- Quote from: RokofAges75 on March 06, 2021, 10:21:50 AM ---I have also been trying and failing to come up with discussion topics, but I did find a list of ten questions every fic writer secretly wants to be asked. (https://wyseink.tumblr.com/post/164167799585/10-questions-every-fic-writer-secretly-wants-to-be). I think these are all meant to be answered about whatever story you answer for #1.
1. Of the fics you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?
Probably Finding Carter.
2. Which scene was your favorite to write in [title of fic]?
The chapter where Nick and Brian dressed in drag as Spice Girls after failing to complete the task during the fraternity rush. It's funny because I made Nick Baby and Brian Sporty and then years later on the 2018 cruise they dressed exactly the same Spice Girls I chose lol
3. Which part of [title] was hardest to write?
I think the car crash scene just because it was so abrupt and sad.
4. If you could change anything in [title], what would it be?
I don't think I'd change anything if we are being honest. Maybe I wouldn't have done such a drastic time jump at the end of the story, but it worked out well anyway.
5. Did you make an outline for [title]? Did you stick to it?
I never outline. I just let things roll. I do have a general idea of what I want to do and I wing it from there.
6. Which scenes did you cut, and which were added in [title]?
I didn't cut any scenes but the part where they go to Miami for spring break was an add in.
7. Who was your favorite character to write in [title]?
Nick of course. But this was my first story that I did in first person POV. I like to challenge myself.
8. Which came first, the title or the fic?
The title came after I wrote the first chapter. I wanted to do a play off of Finding Nemo. It also has a double meaning.
9. Which idea came to you first in [title]?
I always wanted to write a story about Nick being in college.
10. What are some facts readers may not know about [title]?
All of the Disney quotes are actual quotes from Disney movies
Each quote has to do with what happens in each chapter in some way. There's so many Disney references.
The two guys who hang out with Howie all the time, Brock and Gary are named after characters from Pokémon. Also, their fraternity of Phi Beta Kappa (Pikas) is another pokémon reference.
Nick wanting canned cranberry sauce is something I always throw in because it was a thing we had a discussion on here on the AC forum one time. So whenever I mention Christmas or Thanksgiving I make a joke about it.
Peter and Andrew, Nick's kids are named for Andy from Toy Story and Peter Pan. Peter is named because when Nick had his first son he realized it was time for him to grow up. Andrew because Andy in Toy Story grew up. Nick held onto the Disney things because he wasn't ready to grow up and move on from his parents death and at the end the children are kind of symbol of him letting go and maturing.
I made Brian very country in the story because I wanted him and Nick to be opposites, who later find out they have a lot in common.
--- End quote ---
RokofAges75:
1. Of the fics you’ve written, which is your favorite and why?
Like I said in my last post, I'd probably have to go with Curtain Call. It's the first novel I wrote that I've found I can read for my own entertainment and actually enjoy, instead of cringing over parts I wish I'd written differently or skimming over boring scenes. It's the kind of story I would love if someone else had written it, but I'm happy that I'm the one who did.
2. Which scene was your favorite to write in [title of fic]?
It's so hard to pick one favorite scene out of ninety chapters LOL. My favorite part of the story is the tour, which is like Chapters 25-50, and I loved writing just about every scene in that section - everything except actual concert performance scenes, which I hate writing but were a necessary evil in this one. I like this part of the story best because it's the perfect blend of hurt-comfort drama and cute comic relief. From a writing standpoint, if I had to narrow it down, I'd say my favorite of the hurt-comfort scenes was Chapter 42 because it was so dramatic and scary. My favorite of the cute, fluffy scenes to write was Chapter 36 because I based Cary's dad on my own dad, and it was fun to write him as a character and imagine myself bringing Nick Carter home to meet him.
3. Which part of [title] was hardest to write?
The last fifteen chapters were pretty brutal, but Chapter 88 in particular was tough... not only from an emotional perspective, but also because of the challenge of trying to realistically write a character's death in present tense from their own point of view. I'm really happy with how it turned out though.
4. If you could change anything in [title], what would it be?
I have never loved the American Idol storyline at the beginning - even when I was writing it, I didn't like it. It was just there as a plot device to facilitate Nick finding Cary without resorting to even cheesier teenybopper fanfic tropes like having him discover her at open-mic night at the bar or in the front row of one of his shows or something. It still feels kinda cheesy though, so if I could change anything, I would come up with a better but still believable scenario. The first five chapters definitely feel like the beginning of a teenybopper fanfic, which is why I posted them all at once and hoped readers who are like me would stick with it long enough to get hooked by how I ended Chapter 5. I don't know that I would have made it that far without knowing where it was going LOL.
5. Did you make an outline for [title]? Did you stick to it?
Yes, I had an outline, and yes, I stuck with it, although it evolved as it went.
6. Which scenes did you cut, and which were added in [title]?
I don't think I cut out any scenes I actually wrote, and I don't remember going back and adding in entire scenes. I didn't do that kind of revising with this story. I only held on to chapters for maybe a week or so before posting them, so I didn't really have time for that. I do know at one point I was planning for (spoiler) [spoiler]Nick to undergo more treatment toward the end because I have the research notes in my outline still, but I decided, as he did, that enough was enough.[/spoiler]
7. Who was your favorite character to write in [title]?
Nick was my favorite character to write about, but Cary was my favorite character to write as (since the story alternates between their points of view). Her parts were definitely easier to write because she was more relatable, and it was fun describing Nick from her perspective.
8. Which came first, the title or the fic?
The idea for the fic came first. Rose gave me the title during one of our late-night summer chats/brainstorming sessions. I was torn between calling it "The Show Must Go On" and "On With the Show" (as I listened to Queen's "The Show Must Go On" on repeat) and asked her opinion on which she liked better, and she answered C) None of the above and suggested "Curtain Call" instead, which was way less cheesy sounding. Thanks, Rose!
9. Which idea came to you first in [title]?
I came up with the basic premise after watching the movie "Funny People." It was always going to be about Nick taking another singer under his wing so she can help him hide a serious illness under the guise of being his opening act, so I guess that's the first idea I had. The next part in the planning process was figuring out what the illness was and creating the character of Cary.
10. What are some facts readers may not know about [title]?
Originally I was planning to write the whole story in Cary's point of view, which is why the first five chapters are all in hers. But once I got that far, I found myself really wanting to read Nick's perspective, so I decided to try writing some chapters from his point of view and see how it went. From there on, I started switching back and forth between their POVs. Early on in the story, it changes POVs every five chapters, then at some point starts switching every two, and then finally every chapter toward the end. I guess that's something else I would try to change if I could - just alternate POVs each chapters from the beginning and keep it consistent. Lesson learned for future stories written this way.
When I was still in the planning stages of this story, I had two versions outlined - one that took place during the This Is Us tour (more or less in the present, since I started writing it in July 2010 as that tour was going on) and one that took place two years earlier during the Unbreakable tour. I had a list of all the tour dates and cities for both tours, as well as other real events that happened in the Boys' lives, and I synced that up with the events I had planned for the story and the treatment schedule to see which would work better. TIU won. From there, I tried to include as much real life stuff as I could. I looked at soundcheck videos and forum threads for each show I wrote about so I could include some moments that really happened, like Nick forgetting the lyrics to Panic at one of the soundchecks and singing Shattered in his Michael McDonald voice at another. That was fun.
RokofAges75:
--- Quote from: nicksgal on March 06, 2021, 09:45:37 PM ---I guess that's one way to keep Howie interesting and in the story without falling back on winking. Maybe in my Nick is Brian's guardian angel story, Howie can be the villain, haha.
--- End quote ---
Yes! Nick is an angel, and Howie is a devil LOL.
--- Quote from: nicksgal on March 06, 2021, 09:45:37 PM ---It's a weird feeling, being twenty chapters out but knowing that it's coming to a close. I'm sure twenty chapters sounds like a lot, but anyone reading will see what I mean when it gets to the point I'm at now, it's kind of a turning point in the direction of the rest of the novel. :)
--- End quote ---
LOL When you write epically long stories, twenty chapters isn't that much. I can see how you would be at a turning point that gets you into the last phase of the story that far out. It's exciting to get close to the climactic part!
--- Quote from: nicksgal on March 06, 2021, 09:45:37 PM ---Anyway, knowing that, I thought, "Boy wouldn't it be fun if the last line of PNecklace was similar to that idea, where it worked together with the first line of the story, especially because of some of the deeper themes we've been exploring and PNecklace being that for the whole series." So I decided to lean into it hard. That thought may only make sense to Julie since she gets all my best vague spoilers in favor of list assistance since she's not actually reading along, haha. All that being said, the last word of PNecklace is "Nick."
--- End quote ---
LOL Of course it's "Nick!" Nick probably insisted upon it, right? I love that you came up with a last line that related back to the first line of the story. I love when stories parallel or bookend that way.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version