Absolute Chaos Discussion Boards
Fic Talk => Featured Story of the Month => Topic started by: mare on June 01, 2013, 06:21:52 AM
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Happy June and summer everyone!
This month's featured author is our very own mod extraordinaire, Julilly and the story she chose to feature is 30 Days.
So, if you've already read it, feel free to drop in and tell us what you thought and ask any questions you might have. If you haven't read it yet, now would be the time lol
Here is the link:
http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=11011
Happy Reading!
:)
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And some more questions to get you started!
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) What made you come up with the concept of this one?
5) Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
6) You had to know this was coming, who was your least favorite?
7) Are all the boys in this one? If not why did you choose to exclude them?
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I'm stuck on my phone right now but as soon as I am home tomorrow I will fill out the questionnaire! :)
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Just popping in this thread to say I loved this story! It was refreshing to read a story that wasn't about the beginning or end of a relationship, but a couple taking a new step in an already established relationship. Nick and Peggy were such real, relateable characters (though not always likeable, which I think added to their realism) and I think anyone who enjoys Nick-centric fiction would definitely like this one!
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Alrighty, here goes!
1) Tell us one thing about your story that no one else knows?
I didn't intend to like this story when I first started writing it. It was meant to be a writing exercise to help get my creative juices flowing so that I could continue to write on something else. It's not my typical fare and I went into it thinking it would just be something quick and easy to write but I ended up really enjoying it!
2) How long did it take you to write this entire story?
As with all of my stories, it took me way too long, but it was definitely faster than some of the projects I've worked on in the past. I started writing 30 Days in February 2012 and finished it in the fall. I had the story completed and edited before I posted it on AC.
3) Give us a summary different from the one you have posted on AC, with a few more spoilers to make people tune in.
In order to put an end to a long-distance relationship spanning more than a year, a couple decides to skip living in the same state and go straight to living in the same house. (Hijinks ensue LOL)
4) What made you come up with the concept of this one?
In the story Nick references reading an article about couples who go through an adjustment phase during the first couple weeks of living together - how they learn things about one another they never anticipated. I actually read that article in a magazine and thought it would make for an interesting concept.
5) Who was your favorite character in this story and why?
Hmm. There's really only two main characters and a small supporting cast so I don't know if one character stands out as my favourite. If I had to pick though, I would pick Marilyn - the sister - because I was able to relate to some of the things I put her through.
6) You had to know this was coming, who was your least favorite?
Obviously, the answer is the villain - Dustin. He's kind of a douchebag and not terribly likable.
7) Are all the boys in this one? If not why did you choose to exclude them?
Nope, just Nick. This was actually a bit of a stretch for me in that this story isn't AU. I made Nick a Backstreet Boy, which I rarely ever do. I didn't have a purpose or reason for all of the other guys to be in it because it wasn't a band-focused story. They would have just been pointless cameos for the sake of getting them in there and that's just not my thing. :)
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Just popping in this thread to say I loved this story! It was refreshing to read a story that wasn't about the beginning or end of a relationship, but a couple taking a new step in an already established relationship. Nick and Peggy were such real, relateable characters (though not always likeable, which I think added to their realism) and I think anyone who enjoys Nick-centric fiction would definitely like this one!
Thanks Steph, I appreciate that! Your feedback during the writing process was invaluable. I probably wouldn't have finished it without it!
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Behold, the promised confetti and congratulation s for finishing a story within a year! (per this tweet: https://twitter.com/julilly/status/342635121955975168)
I think we all know what this occasion calls for...... THATS RIGHT.....
DANCING BROCCOLI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:broccoli:
hahaha... and... :patpat:
Seriously though, I gotta read the story! I book marked it on my Nook.
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Hahaha thank you for delivering. Seriously though, the previous one took me four years so that's a victory in my books LOL
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I love this story, but I've still got a few chapters to read so I will have to get on with them this month :)
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So I guess an obviously good question to ask you would be, why does it take you so long to finish a story?
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Oh wow I wish I knew the answer to that one. Surprisingly, I don't have a ton of free time so while I always have ideas, and even complete rundowns of what I want to happen in my head, I don't always have time to sit and write it out. Then when I do have time, sitting in front of my computer is the last thing I want to do. Hence, the never ending writing process.
This story was actually largely written while I was at work lol I hated my job last year so I would do as little as possible, which left me with a whole bunch of spare time at 5 a.m. that I could open up Google docs and power through a chapter. You'd think I'd be writing now since I'm not working but I'm not really feeling it....yet!
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Most of your stories tend to be AU, what do enjoy about that particular genre over the others and is there one genre you haven't written in yet but would like to try?
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I really enjoy writing AU because I feel like there's more freedom to let my imagination run wild and do whatever I want. I can definitely be challenging to use real-person characters and put them in unusual situations without diminishing their true personality, but that's part of what I like about it. I enjoy that I can show a different side to someone while not veering too far out of character.
I think in the umpteen number of years I've been writing I've tried just about everything. I don't know if there's a genre I haven't at least tried, even if I wasn't successful. I've never really done humour or horror, but I don't think I'd have the passion for it lol
I will say this - as far as characters go, I've always used Nick as my main character. I'd like to try and write one of the other boys solo some day. I might get to know them a bit better. :P
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Kevin! LOL ;)
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Yeah... I don't think I'm that good of a writer. I was thinking more like AJ. LOL
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Mare, I was about to say this to you in a text but since its about this story I figured I would add it here. The novelette you posted yesterday was everything I had hoped to achieve with this story. I was trying to write outside my comfort zone by writing something real. Sometimes real life is stranger than fiction, sometimes it's painfully dull but ultimately it's human, it's flawed, it's ... real.
I wasn't totally convinced I accomplished that with this story. Once I read your story yesterday I realized I was way far off. Maybe it was the length - though I always intended this to be 30 chapters, one month and all, but I think you just captured a picture of life really well, far better than I feel I was able to do with this.
I wanted this story to have natural dialogue (people are crass, and make rude jokes and talk about bodily functions without it always having to be a serious, for the purpose of the plot, conversation) and give a more realistic picture of a relationship than many romances ultimately do. Looking back though, I don't think I was quite there. Something to work on perhaps? :P
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Aww, well first of all, thanks again for the compliments. You know I haven't read this story, but I have a feeling you probably did a much better job than you think you did. I am sure you are your worst critic and if anyone can write something real, it's you. I love your dialogue in general because it is very real as are your killer descriptions.
I think as a whole, people get too caught up in chapter length and not the actual volume and end up with too much space and not enough substance. That's why I labeled mine beginning, middle and end. I really think as long as you have the essential elements there, you could get by with three chapters lol or okay, sometimes a little more than that but once you hit the key points, move on. No need to keep going. I think you are pretty good with getting to the point. At least in the stories I have read. Although, romance does seem to be a breed all on its own.
Clever idea to do one chapter a day. I bet that would be hard to keep finding new and interesting things to say to fill 30 entire days.
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It was ... Some days ended up being too long and others too short so I ended up having to scrap the day-by-day idea and just go for the symbolism of 30 LOL
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okay so since worked blocked me and I continually forgot to log on when I got home I am going to post now. I loved this story though Julilly you know my opinion of Patty! LOL I did enjoy the story and the journey it went on but in my head they never stayed together after the story ended. LOL :)
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okay so since worked blocked me and I continually forgot to log on when I got home I am going to post now. I loved this story though Julilly you know my opinion of Patty! LOL I did enjoy the story and the journey it went on but in my head they never stayed together after the story ended. LOL :)
LOL omg I love that you made your own ending. Maybe I should have made an alternate "bad news bears" ending.
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Yes please. I would read that ending :)