Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => Featured Story of the Month => Topic started by: mare on March 01, 2009, 06:20:53 AM
-
Hello and Happy March!
I am pleased to announce that your next featured selection is Unsuspecting Sunday Afternoon by DaniGiggles.
This is a favorite among many of you on AC so I thought it deserved a month of its own. Feel free to leave your comments and questions in this thread for Dani. I'm sure she will appreciate it! :)
It's a Brian story where he's having second thoughts about marrying Leighanne. Of course meeting Nick's new girlfriend doesn't help. Enjoy!
Happy reading!!
http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=8728&warning=4
-
1) Tell us one thing about your story that no one else knows?
2) How long did it take you to write this entire story?
3) Give us a summary different from the one you have posted on AC, with a few more spoilers to make people tune in.
4) If you could cast this story as a movie who would play the main roles and why?
5) Have you ever thought of giving up on the story and if you did what made you continue to work on it?
6) What was your writing process? (Outline, make it up as you go along, the characters wrote it, I am Tonja and plagerized lol)
7) Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
8 ) You had to know this was coming, who was your least favorite?
9) Are all the boys in this one? If not why did you choose to exclude them?
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
-
I was so excited when I saw Dani was featured on the main page. This is one of my absolute favorite stories! I will be back with questions, but I just wanted to pop in and say congrats to Dani!
-
Congrats Dani!
-
*dances with joy*
Yaaay Dani! Even though I'm a Nick girl, this is definitely my favourite story on AC. So I'd be interested to know how you came up with and developed the idea.
-
Aww, YAY Dani! You have no idea how long this has been on my need to read list. I've heard such fantastic things about it. I was excited to see it featured because now I will have extra motivation to check it out. Congrats Dani!
-
Congratulation s! This is a wonderful story!
-
Oh my gosh! I was super, super shocked to see my story on the main page this month. Did a complete double take. THANK YOU! This just made my month lol :)
Thanks to everyone for the congrats! I appreciate it immensely. :)
I have to scamper off to work unfortunately (blaaaaaah), but I'll fill out the survey when I get home!
Yaaaaaaay!
-
Congrats Dani!
I haven't read this story yet, but it's been recommended to me and I will read it soon. ;)
-
Congrats Dani, I've not read it yet but will do :)
-
Thank you guys!
I finally got around to these questions, soooo here we go!
1) Tell us one thing about your story that no one else knows?
I originally didn't intend for the story to be this long, and subsequently, I didn't expect to take this long to finish it lol. Honestly. I started it on a whim from some stupid little daydream I had and it just kept progressing into this emotional roller coaster, and I realized to do the characters and the story justice, I had to go more in depth with them to get all angles of the situation. I didn't want any character to be hated, though it is easy to considering the circumstances. I want people to feel what the characters are feeling.
2) How long did it take you to write this entire story?
I started writing it in December '07, so it's been well over a year. I swear I'll finish it before summer! *shakes fist at writers block* I swear!
3) Give us a summary different from the one you have posted on AC, with a few more spoilers to make people tune in.
Brian and Leighanne are planning their wedding, but Brian is having second thoughts - he's unhappy with how things are progressing with his ever changing Leighanne. Nick gets a new girlfriend, a dancer named Leslie, who he meets at rehearsals for the BSB's upcoming tour for Unbreakable. Brian meets her and is immediately drawn to her, as she is just as equally drawn to him (though she deeply cares for Nick). They resist each other for awhile, but their feelings become too much, and on an unsuspecting Sunday afternoon, they give in to each other by betraying their significant others in the worst way imaginable. The pain, heartache, and drama that follows is never ending! It's a unique love story.
4) If you could cast this story as a movie who would play the main roles and why?
Jeez, this is such a hard question lol Really, it is. Uh, Leslie would be Rachel McAdams most definitely. Brian would probably have to be played by Jake Gyllenhaal perhaps? Paul Walker for Nick and Scarlett Johannsen for Leighanne.
5) Have you ever thought of giving up on the story and if you did what made you continue to work on it?
I never give up on a story. Never have, and never will. Time nowadays seems nonexistant for me so it's hard to get the motivation to write, but I'm bound and determined to finish it. I love this story to pieces, and I've put so much time and thought into it that it would be a terrible waste to just leave it as is.
6) What was your writing process? (Outline, make it up as you go along, the characters wrote it, I am Tonja and plagerized lol)
I've tried outlining and it doesn't work for me lol I wish. I just make stories up as I go along, though I have big scenes in my head I want to happen. Just getting there in a reasonable and interesting manner is the problem. It seems to work out for me well enough lol
7) Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
Probably Brian because what he does with Leslie goes completely against how any of us perceive him to be. He's not the typical Brian that is found in fanfics or in real life for that matter. He goes against his religion and his morals for this woman he barely knows anything about. He betrays his fiancee, his best friend, and his bandmates all for this uncontrollable feeling he has. It's intriguing and it's sooooo much fun to write!
8 ) You had to know this was coming, who was your least favorite?
I hate to say it, but Leighanne. I never intended to make her a villian in any way, and I still don't think I made her one completely (I think her character is very sad, and I feel bad for her), but her desperation to keep Brian around is unsettling. She goes to great lengths to get him to fall back in love with her, and when it doesn't go exactly how she wants it to, she hurts him the only way she knows how.
9) Are all the boys in this one? If not why did you choose to exclude them?
Yes, all of them are in this one. Some of them are in it more than others. Kevin and Howie get the shaft a bit lol Kevin cause he's not in the group, so he can only make an appearance occasionally, and Howie because I favored AJ as the counsler for the main characters over him.
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
If you like angsty romance stories that are original, check out Imaginary by me. It's a Nick fic. I only have a few chapters up, but I'm really excited about it. I have wonderful, sad, lovely plans for it *rubs hands evilly*
Otherwise! Definitely read:
A Little Taste of Sin by MellzBellz (my fellow adultery writer ;)
Casual by Cabybakes
Left and Leaving by Sakabelle
These three stories definitely have angst and romance! And the authors are wonderful, amazing writers.
-
First, thank you for the Casual shout out, so sweet of you...
One of my favorite things about this story is that you put Brian in a role that we don't usually see him in, typically he is type cast in FF to be some angelic, goody-two-shoes. One of the most unique things about USSA is that Brian is fighting an inner battle because of his decision...the re is betrayal, adultery, all of these things we don't usually associate with him. Was it difficult to write Brian in this way?
I know in my own experience in writing, fans do not like it when Nick is wronged in anyway by ANYONE...in USSA, Nick was wronged not only by a girl, but by Brian as well. In many ways, the ULTIMATE betrayal. And, he was blindsided by the whole thing. Did you worry about reader reaction to this plot? Is it this something you took into consideration when writing this?
I am so happy you were chosen as the feature...hope fully this will light a fire under you to update! I want more!
Hugs,
Darby
-
^ I was just going to ask the first question Darby just asked you lol Drats!
But i'll also ask you what made you choose Brian?
-
Thanks Dani for recommending Left and Leaving :)
Anyway, I have a question for you (and it's a little spoilerific so those of you who plan to read might want to skip this post)
I'm wondering what made you decide to do what you did with regards to AJ. The fact that he caught them, and yet kept his mouth shut was very interesting to me because it basically made him (as you said) in a position to be a counselor for the characters. Did you have a reason for picking him, and was that whole part planned from the beginning or did you just kind of wing it?
I also noticed that your story is very musical, in that you use a lot of songs and the like to express a certain feeling and mood for a scene. I really like this aspect of it, and have downloaded pretty much everything you mentioned in the story. You've done a great job in creating the atmosphere with all the songs you chose!
-
Of COURSE I gave you a shoutout Darby! Your story is awesome, and there are tons of people that obviously think the same thing lol :) Thank you for your comments, they made me smile :)
And honestly, it wasn't too hard to write Brian in this way. I knew it would be different and I didn't know how people would react to it because he's normally portrayed as angelic like you said. Even the most innocent of people make mistakes, and I thought it would be interesting to take this so called "mistake" to the extreme lol. I've written enough fanfics over the years that it was easy to keep Brian Brian, while changing his actions so drastically.
Reader reaction was DEFINITELY a worry. Like you said, Nick fans hate it when he's wronged, and the fact that it was by his girlfriend and Brian just made the situation ten times worse. But though it was a worry, I didn't let it change my plans for the plot in anyway. But it did have an affect on my writing style. I wanted the reader to not judge Brian and Leslie soley on the surface of their actions, I wanted them to see the feelings and heartache behind them too, because this isn't just your standard adultery story. There's more to it than the physical, which Brian and Leslie clearly see down the line. So I went more in depth in the emotions than I orginally thought I was going to, and surprisingly, I've gotten more support for Brian and Leslie than I thought there would be. Granted, I have a few die hard Nick fans that absolutely hate their guts and want absolutely no happiness for them, but what can ya do? lol I tried, and I can't say that I don't see where they're coming from, cause I do. It's just surprising to see that I don't get much reaction from the adultery aspect than I do with hurting Nick, it's interesting lol.
Thanks for the awesome questions Darby!
Yay for Mare! Lovely Oprah :)
Brian's my fav BSB member, and in the past years he has always been the subject of my stories, so it was automatic for me to pick him. But at the same time, I knew this type of story wouldn't be as effective if I had chosen AJ for example. And I couldn't pick Nick cause not many people would care if he stole Brian's girlfriend, or Howie or AJ's. Brian seemed the best choice in terms of shock value and as a good ol' writing challenge.
-
Steeeeeeph! Oh how I love thee! Left and Leaving is a fantastic story, just like all of your stories are. I wanted to just flat out say "Read all of Sakabelle's stories" but I figured I'd pick one that was the most angsty and sad. I appreciate your friendship and your views so much. You are my first and most loyal faithful reader. You've been with me since nearly the beginning of UAS, and I love you dearly! I'm happy you've stuck with me for this long lol :)
Question time!
I knew that I had to find some sort of counsler for the two, just cause Brian and Leslie needed to be reminded of the fact that they're little world wasn't completely closed off. Their actions could and were affecting the people around them. I picked AJ because out of everyone, I figured he'd understand where they were coming from before anyone else because he just seems like an open guy. And he's definitely quirky. I thought he could keep a level head by staying objective, but trying to help push them in the right direction too. His part in the story was definitely planned. I wanted Brian and Leslie to get caught, and I knew I wanted it to be AJ (cause of the counsler thing) but from then on I winged it.
And I'm so happy you mentioned the musical/quote aspect of this story! That makes me SO SO SO happy! And the fact that you see that it sets the mood for that particular scene/chapter just thrills me to no end, because that's what I try and do. Kinda like for a movie or TV show. I figured it heightens what I'm trying to get across. Music inspires me to write (I mean hell, I friggen based the whole story on the piano piece Leslie plays in UAS). I know you love Almost Lover, I just didn't know it branched further than that. Thanks Steph!! You've made my day :)
Thanks so much for the question and the comments! ;D
-
First off - congrats for being featured this month!
I have read this! (two in a row now lol) So I can actually comment :)
Why did you make Leslie an employee? Why not just a tag-along?
-
Thanks Julilly! :)
I made Leslie an employee because it gave her a better justification for being on the tour. I wanted her and Nick's relationship to be very new, and I thought it would be super unrealistic for her to drop her whole life to go on a world tour with her new boyfriend. Plus, I figured making her a dancer was a great catalyst for Brian's developing feelings. It was through dancing with each other that Brian and Leslie really started feeling chemistry. So yeah!
Thank you for the lovely question my dear! ;D
-
How long did it take you to find the perfect lyrics to go with every chapter or did you have the lyrics in mind and then wrote a chapter around them?
-
Thanks for the question Mare! Sorry it's taken me so long to respond. I've been super sick, and now I just have the most annoying nagging cough in the world, but I'm alive!
It doesn't take me long to find lyrics for each chapter. I listen to music constantly, and normally I'm inspired to write by certain songs that come on through shuffle, though sometimes I do have certain songs in mind that just fit the scene I'm trying to work at. It's mainly random lol. Definitely puts me in the right mindset to write emotional scenes and whatnot.
:)
-
Sorry to hear you haven't been feeling well. *sends you some chicken soup with Nick in an apron* lol
At any point while you've been writing this story, have you changed your mind about where you'd like it to go?
Do you see yourself writing a sequel when this one is over with? And how much more of the story is there to be written?
-
lol I wouldn't be able to concentrate on eating the soup if Nick brought it to me in an apron, but BONUS! Thanks Mare :) :)
I have definitely changed my mind on where I want it to go. Just with the ending mainly. I've had a couple endings in my head and I just wasn't sure which one I wanted. I've noticed with all the stories I've ever written, I've had a hard time with endings, but I know where I want this one to go, it's just getting the motivation to write it is all lol. I've been working on the next chapter, so hopefully I'll crank more out soon.
I don't have any plans for a sequel once this one is over and I think it'll be better that way. Plus, this plot is so intense on an emotional level that I wouldn't even know where to go with another story with the same characters. And I'm almost done with the story! I'm nearing the end, slowly but surely. Maybe 6 or so more chapters. I'm excited! It's always a great feeling when you finish a piece of work. Very satisfying :)
Thanks for all your great questions Oprah Mare!
-
Can't go wrong with Nick in an apron. I think that motto needs to be printed on tee-shirts. lol
Another question for you as your month winds down. If there was only one scene in your entire story that you could produce on a stage, which one would you pick and why?
I lied, I actually have two questions for you lol
Was there any point in this story that actually drove you to tears as you were writing it?
-
Thanks for all your questions Mare! I appreciate it :)
The scene I'd want to see produced on stage would probably have to be the end scene in the Chapter 'Our Story Stops Here Sweetheart' where Brian goes to Leslie and tells her that they can't be together, but won't tell her why. It's the first emotional scene I wrote for the story and for me, it's the most memorable, because it truly starts Brian and Leslie on their heartbreak rollercoaster.
And honestly, I have never been driven to tears while writing any of the chapters. Sure, I get in a state of mind to write something super sad, but I've never teared up, so when I see that my readers cry during certain scenes, it's really flattering cause I didn't know it would generate that big of a reaction. Makes me feel like I'm doing a good job and that I'm accomplishing what I want to accomplish, which is for my readers to connect to the characters.
-
No problem Dani. I hope you've enjoyed your month. If anyone else has any questions for Dani or comments, now would be the time!
:)