Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: Sakabelle on March 18, 2012, 09:19:02 PM
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That sounds like a dumb question, because obviously you kinda do, since you write them! lol
Anyway, I was just wondering if this happens to you guys too. Despite it being a very angsty story, I usually am in a pretty chipper mood when writing Running Up That Hill. Today I was cranky while writing the second half of a chapter I had started a few weeks ago. I felt it ended up coming out as very bitter, especially the last scene which I had previously planned out but nowhere near as dramatic as it came out. I feel like I have sort of changed the shape of the story and I'm not sure if this would have happened had I been in the normal mood I'm usually in when I write that story.
Has this ever happened to you guys before? Have you ever been in a bad (or good) mood that changed the way you normally write the story? Are you able to separate yourself from the characters enough that it doesn't matter?
Discuss!
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What a great question! :)
My mood definitely influences how I write at times. I typically work with a rough outline when I write and I have an idea of how I want different scenes to go, but my moods can affect my writing in the moment. If I'm writing an argument and I'm in a good mood, then I tend to have a nicer outcome and a resolution... If I'm in a bad mood, sometimes my characters have a completely unplanned fight. That being said, though, sometimes I turn to my writing as an escape - from personal drama or scholarly writing - and I try to use happy scenes to cheer myself up or angsty scenes to vent my feelings or goofy scenes to let loose.
It's really interesting to think about this! Writing is so personal for me and I think I put so much of myself into my stories, including my emotions. Thanks for bringing it up. :)
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First of all, I love your Titanic avy! I may have to copy you and put one of mine up too!
As for your question... yeah, I'm sure that's happened to me before. Sometimes I'm surprised at the dramatic turns my scenes take; characters start arguing when I didn't plan for them to argue and that sort of thing. Other times I expect a scene to be dramatic, and then the tension never does boil over. Maybe it does have something to do with the mood I'm in when I write; I'm not sure.
What used to happen to me - hopefully not so much anymore - is that I would influence my characters to do uncharacterist ic things for the sake of the storyline I wanted to happen, even if it didn't make sense anymore. Like... certain characters might break up with their boyfriends in completely out-of-character ways because I love a certain song, say Siberia, and don't like songfics, so I incorporate it into my current epic even if doesn't fit, thus ruining the integrity of the character I've spent two years developing. I learned my lesson and try not to let that sort of thing happen anymore. It can be hard to separate yourself from your characters, though.
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Thanks! You should definitely put up one of yours! I can't wait to see the movie in 3D :)
You guys both raised interesting points. I definitely do write as an escape at times, but I never truly noticed how much much mood influenced my characters until today. I also tend to have very rough outlines and flesh out the details as I go, but I do usually have a set tone I want for a chapter, and it came out very different than I had planned this time.
Julie, I can definitely relate to having characters do very out of character things. I have shoved things into stories that really don't belong just because I got an idea and decided I wanted to write about it. I also learned from that, and I try to stick to my original outline as much as possible now.
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I'm not sure whether my mood influences what I write as I don't tend to suffer from bad moods. I think I'm weird, lol.
I have written things into a story just because I liked an idea though.
Nice avys too, I love that film :)
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I usually can't write when I'm in a bad mood; I think that's why I don't have more stories of this happening LOL. Sometimes writing is good therapy, but usually if I'm in a bad mood, I can't focus enough to write, and the writer's block just makes me feel worse, so I've given up on trying LOL. And I write horribly depressing shit even when I'm in the best mood ever, so yeah, the tone of my stories usually don't reflect my mood in real life LOL.
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Generally, if I am in a mood of some kind, like Feeing sad, angry or anxious, I find it very hard to write anything so I tend to not write at all. I'm usually nice and calm when I write and I usually write first thing in the morning while my head is clear and before something bad happens to ruin to ruin the rest of my day lol
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I've come to enjoy writing first thing in the morning too. Used to be I only wrote late at night. Still do that, too, when I can. This is why I'm so unproductive during the school year, because I don't have time to write in the morning, and I can't stay up late to write, so I just don't write at all LOL. Can't wait for summer.
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I have one story that I am writing specifically when I am upset over certain topics, though the chapters don't really reflect what I am feeling, just writing that story is theraputic.
Sometimes when I am tired or hungry I do write my characters sleeping or eating, LOL but I'd like that think that is the only thing that seeps into my writing.
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I've also found I enjoy writing first thing in the morning, and I also tend to get my best work out of my weekend morning ritual. :)
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I think it's the other way around for me. My characters pretty much affect the way I write because I know what kind of people they are. Sometimes, I have to write things that upset me, only because I know that's how they would react in certain situations. Like right now, I'm pretty much immobilized and can't finish a chapter because I'm still in shock about how much of an asshat one of my characters is.
Is that weird? :D
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I think I influence my characters a bit, depending what I'm going through at the time. However I've noticed I write best either late at night or early in the morning. I always have trouble writing in the evening or afternoon.
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I find writing easier in the evening too. I'm too zombie-like in the morning to be able to focus on writing, lol.
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I usually do my writing at night, then reread it the next morning to make sure things are coherent and flow nicely... Lately, I've been writing whenever I can squeeze it in amongst work and school and everything, so I've been doing a lot of writing in the morning.
Going back to the mood and influencing characters topic, though, I find that I'm in the mood to write different types of stuff at different times of day, though... I think that's why I haven't written any spicy sex scenes lately! lol :) I'm just not inspired to write that sort of thing at mid-day!
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I think it's the other way around for me. My characters pretty much affect the way I write because I know what kind of people they are. Sometimes, I have to write things that upset me, only because I know that's how they would react in certain situations. Like right now, I'm pretty much immobilized and can't finish a chapter because I'm still in shock about how much of an asshat one of my characters is.
Is that weird? :D
Some characters I write affect my mood after I have written certain scenes because I get into "their" heads to write the scene.
I write mostly at work when I have to be at my computer to work, I open a word document and write some stuff as the day goes on. I used to write at home but have tried not to let being on teh computer consume me at home like it has in the past.
Tri, I wrote some of my steamiest sex scenes at work (the peach scene in CP) *whistles* That was awkward a bit, lol
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Tri, I wrote some of my steamiest sex scenes at work (the peach scene in CP) *whistles* That was awkward a bit, lol
8-) You are officially my hero! I would be blushing all day at work if I tried to do that! :)
I like writing at night myself, it's quieter and keeps me from watching TV for too long. :)
Does anyone here have a playlist for every story they write? I find that influences my writing too...and helps me get into my character's head and keep my mood on the same level as my story :)
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I've had a playlist for Chronos Project and way long ago I had one for More Than That. I have a list of songs that inspire me as I write in general. If I find a song really strikes a chord with a character or a scene I might replay that song over and over as I write.
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I've had a playlist for Chronos Project and way long ago I had one for More Than That. I have a list of songs that inspire me as I write in general. If I find a song really strikes a chord with a character or a scene I might replay that song over and over as I write.
I love that! I remember reading Chronos Project while playing some Nine Inch Nails and I thought that was the most appropriate background music ever. :) It was great for setting the mood :)
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Tri, I wrote some of my steamiest sex scenes at work (the peach scene in CP) *whistles* That was awkward a bit, lol
At work? Wow! Haha, something about a classroom full of kiddos keeps me from even THINKING about my stories at work... LOL it's a pain in the butt when I'm really motivated to write a story, though!
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I use music in the background of my writing a LOT. In Time Has a Way, I was so influenced by different songs that I chose to title every chapter with a lyric. :) I have a "writing playlist," but not really separate playlists for each story. I also have playlists for moods, so when I need to write something sexy or angsty or happy, I put them on and find my muse that way. MOST of the time it works out, haha...
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I also have playlists for moods, so when I need to write something sexy or angsty or happy, I put them on and find my muse that way. MOST of the time it works out, haha...
Haha! I know what you mean :) You cross your fingers and hope the music gets you to write something awesome.
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Lore, I used to write in work too, but the boss I have now is always hovering around and making it difficult :(
I've never had a playlist for writing, I don't usually listen to anything when I write as I'd get distracted and sing along, then forget what I was writing. But certain songs have inspired writing. Tri, I like that idea of a playlist for moods, I'll have to try it.
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At work? Wow! Haha, something about a classroom full of kiddos keeps me from even THINKING about my stories at work... LOL it's a pain in the butt when I'm really motivated to write a story, though!
Yah I don't have a classroom of kids to distract me from such thoughts. I stare at a computer screen and research numbers most of the day so my mind wanders... it's not ALL the time I go that direction. My mind wanders to all my stories as I sit here during the day. Being forced to be in front of a computer at a desk helps me focus on my stories, when I don't have to focus on work. *bad employee*
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I work in fast food and I also work the overnight, I seem to get ideas while I'm at work. It works out well that way. When I get home in the morning I write a bit. Seems my best time to be creative is early morning or late at night.
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Yah I don't have a classroom of kids to distract me from such thoughts. I stare at a computer screen and research numbers most of the day so my mind wanders... it's not ALL the time I go that direction. My mind wanders to all my stories as I sit here during the day. Being forced to be in front of a computer at a desk helps me focus on my stories, when I don't have to focus on work. *bad employee*
I'm also in front of a computer screen all day, and also a bad employee, LOL! When I'm not working, I'm reading fics in the corner of my screen so the boss can't see :)
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I think I definitely influence my characters. Karen can attest to this but when we used to write fic back in "the day" (aka high school... omg I'm old) the characters would be SO overwrought. It was just full of drama they would fight CONSTANTLY because we were overdramatic teenagers.
As I grew older and got smarter so have my characters and I find now they use a knowledge that they never would have before.
As far as emotionally I don't know if they do as much. If I'm in a shitty mood I just won't write. I usually have to be in a really positive mood to write. I also sit in complete silence because if I turn on music I'll end up listening to music not writing and I'm not a tv person.
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I can't write with anything else happening either. I need complete silence.
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(aka high school... omg I'm old)
oh please ... lol you are not old!
Speaking of fanfics in high school, the boys really first became big (in the US) while I was in high school and so Amanda (Murasaki) and I wrote what we called The Notebook. We would write in different color pens for each character and pass it back and forth. I'd have to write based off of what she wrote and vice versa... and yes DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA because of that high school mentality. that fanfic has been trashed as of, January I think I finally tossed it then.
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You guys are so brave to write at work! I wouldn't ever... not even on my lunch break lol I'd be terrified of the guys at my work catching me and I'd never, ever live it down!
I still have a binder full of my high school fanfics. It was very much the same as yours, Lore where my friend and I would trade back and forth and write. I don't think I'd ever have the heart to throw them out though. I'll just keep it in my BSB bin haha.
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I'm in the same boat as Tri as far as writing at work goes - I don't even have time to think about fanfics in the classroom, let alone attempt to read or write them! Once in awhile, one of the kids will say something that makes me think of something in a fanfic, and that is always good for a private laugh inside my head. Today one of the kids was reading a book about the state birds, and I heard him laughing with my student teacher about the state bird of Delaware... before she even said it out loud, I thought to myself, "I bet it's the blue hen." Sure enough... blue hen. Writing Broken gave me that little tidbit of random trivia; I never would have known that otherwise LOL.
But anyway, props to those of you who can write at work! I love my job, but sometimes I wish I had a job where I could do things like that LOL. My summer job in high school was like that, so I've had the experience of reading fanfic at work... just not in a long, long time!
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As far as music goes, I have a writing playlist of instrumental music - movie scores and classical stuff - that I used to listen to a lot and now just listen to once in awhile. It depends on the story I'm writing. Sometimes music helps me get in the mood for the really dramatic or romantic stuff, but lately, it just feels cheesy to me. I really built up my writing playlist when I was writing Broken and BMS, which are both pretty over-the-top and cheesy... and now I usually write in silence, and my stories are generally less cheesy. So I think there's a connection there for me. Also, I found I was ruining certain movies by listening to their scores over and over again when writing certain stories, and now I can't watch certain scenes in said movies without thinking about certain scenes in said stories, which is weird.
I sometimes do make playlists or folders of songs that fit certain stories, but I use them more for inspiration BEFORE writing than while writing, just to get me in the mood. I can't listen to any song with lyrics when writing, unless I'm just really inspired and on a roll, because I'll just sing along and not write - too distracting!
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I still have the notebooks of fanfics in my room that I wrote over ten years ago in high school. In fact the early drafts of my romance series, plus the original draft of Figured You Out is among them. (with random drawings in the margins) I look at them from time to time. It brings back awesome memories.
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You guys are so brave to write at work! I wouldn't ever... not even on my lunch break lol I'd be terrified of the guys at my work catching me and I'd never, ever live it down!
I still have a binder full of my high school fanfics. It was very much the same as yours, Lore where my friend and I would trade back and forth and write. I don't think I'd ever have the heart to throw them out though. I'll just keep it in my BSB bin haha.
It helps that behind me is a window and the person sitting next to me hasn't been here for 2 months and before that my boss sat next to me and didn't care as long as I got my work done. LOL. I certainly don't ignore work for writing but my work has slow times so I write to keep busy. I've been writing fanfics at work for ever.. lol. I worked at a credit union and wrote them between members at my window, I worked at a mortgage company and wrote them during slow points (though there weren't many there) and at my current job, Widow's Walk was written completely at work and many of my newer stories are written here with some written at home heh.
Asfar as my fanfics from high school. I tried not to throw them out but 14 years is a long time to hold on to something for memories sake. With cleaning the house with the intent of selling and moving I decided it was time to say goodbye.
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oh please ... lol you are not old!
Speaking of fanfics in high school, the boys really first became big (in the US) while I was in high school and so Amanda (Murasaki) and I wrote what we called The Notebook. We would write in different color pens for each character and pass it back and forth. I'd have to write based off of what she wrote and vice versa... and yes DRAMA DRAMA DRAMA because of that high school mentality. that fanfic has been trashed as of, January I think I finally tossed it then.
Omg... That brings back memories! I used to do the whole "pass a notebook" writing thing, too, back in the day. Then we went to passing a floppy disk back and forth every night, haha... One time we lost the floppy disk in school and we were SO worried that someone would figure out who wrote the story. Luckily, I don't think anyone ever found it. LOL
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I never thought to pass a floppy disk! that would have been fun, but the girl I wrote the stories with was my roommate for 3 years in college so I didn't have far to pass at that point, though I was writing and posting my own stuff and she wasn'twriting BSB fanfic anymore at that point. heh.
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I feel old! I wasn't even in school when I became a fan. I didn't even know what fanfic was until 2007-ish, lol
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At work? Wow! Haha, something about a classroom full of kiddos keeps me from even THINKING about my stories at work... LOL it's a pain in the butt when I'm really motivated to write a story, though!
What grade do you teach? I know when I taught kindergarten there was not a moment to think about anything....lo l
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What grade do you teach? I know when I taught kindergarten there was not a moment to think about anything....lo l
I'm all over the place, depending on the day. Haha. I'm a one-on-one tutor for a number of students from pre-K to 8th grade. I also sub and I'm observing/researching for my master's thesis right now, so I'm REALLY all over the place. I'm looking forward to May so I can graduate and get back to my "normal" routine. This week, I'm on spring break, so it's been a nice "catch up" week for me!
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I feel old! I wasn't even in school when I became a fan. I didn't even know what fanfic was until 2007-ish, lol
Haha, don't feel old! It makes me feel like I've been doing this forever... I only started posting online in 2007, but I've been writing since I was in middle school! Eesh... I don't even wanna tell you how many years THAT is. lol