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Fic Talk => General Discussion => Topic started by: RokofAges75 on December 15, 2020, 08:11:11 PM

Title: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 15, 2020, 08:11:11 PM
I thought it would be nice to have a new thread to talk about writing in (fanfic or otherwise).  We can use this like the previous question threads, where people post questions to discuss, or just to talk about whatever comes up.

Since I know we have writers here who have come back to AC after long absences or writing slumps and others who aren't really writing fanfic these days, my first question is how has your writing changed over the years?

Personally, I write a lot slower than I used to.  I blame social media.  I get distracted a lot more easily than I used to in the days before Twitter LOL.  On the plus side, I have learned to hang on to chapter for awhile instead of posting them right away, which means I end up revising a lot more than I ever used to.  I'm also able to stick to a regular, weekly updating schedule instead of posting so sporadically.  Genre-wise, I find myself writing more bromantic drama and horror these days and less romance than I used to.  I may never write a het romance again.  It's hard now that all five of the guys are married.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 16, 2020, 05:07:46 PM
I have been trying to get back into writing. I actually had word opened for about twenty minutes, hoping I’d find some words in my brain, but nothing happened. Hopefully if I do that everyday, eventually something will happen.

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 16, 2020, 09:31:48 PM
I'm so happy to hear that!!  Keep doing that every day.  Eventually, something will come.  I have done the "force myself to sit down and write SOMETHING every day" routine, and it really does work.  Some days I literally only write one word just to say I've written something, but you never know when that one word will be the spark that ignites an explosion of inspiration.  Getting started is usually the hardest part for me.

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 16, 2020, 10:05:01 PM
I have been trying to get back into writing. I actually had word opened for about twenty minutes, hoping I’d find some words in my brain, but nothing happened. Hopefully if I do that everyday, eventually something will happen.



Yay, Mare, I'm happy to hear that! I'm sending you lots of good writing vibes!

I'm so happy to hear that!!  Keep doing that every day.  Eventually, something will come.  I have done the "force myself to sit down and write SOMETHING every day" routine, and it really does work.  Some days I literally only write one word just to say I've written something, but you never know when that one word will be the spark that ignites an explosion of inspiration.  Getting started is usually the hardest part for me.



I agree with this completely. Getting started was always what got me. Especially when I tried to plan too hard. Just writing and making myself write every day for Nano was what really got me into it again (other than my little buddy popping up). And not just writing every day, but celebrating any tiny piece of that writing from the big days to the really small days. I'm even celebrating and counting my editing words as words and effort these days (because editing is just as time consuming as writing). Hopefully Julie and I celebrating your effort helps you celebrate your effort.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 16, 2020, 10:28:39 PM
I thought it would be nice to have a new thread to talk about writing in (fanfic or otherwise).  We can use this like the previous question threads, where people post questions to discuss, or just to talk about whatever comes up.

Since I know we have writers here who have come back to AC after long absences or writing slumps and others who aren't really writing fanfic these days, my first question is how has your writing changed over the years?

Personally, I write a lot slower than I used to.  I blame social media.  I get distracted a lot more easily than I used to in the days before Twitter LOL.  On the plus side, I have learned to hang on to chapter for awhile instead of posting them right away, which means I end up revising a lot more than I ever used to.  I'm also able to stick to a regular, weekly updating schedule instead of posting so sporadically.  Genre-wise, I find myself writing more bromantic drama and horror these days and less romance than I used to.  I may never write a het romance again.  It's hard now that all five of the guys are married.

I wanted to respond to this too, but had to be excited for Mare first, haha.

I have some little author chats planned for my updates thread where I am planning on talking about this, but I'm happy to share here as well. I think it's like everyone on the Masked Singer says, "Being on the show brings me back to my love of performing when I was little." There was a long time where I had nothing creative in me at all. Whether that was BSB fanfics or some original stories, one of which has been popping around in my head since 2003! Over the years, I've had tiny bits where I try, but this is the first time something stuck. And then I think committing to writing every day kept it going. I hit one day in the middle of NaNo where I had no ideas on how to do the next chapter other than "there's going to be a Nick/Howie moment." I thought about writing nothing, but I decided to pop into PBox and do some editing instead (since the goal was just to write something, I figured editing counted). And then after editing for an evening, I did come up with what to do for the next chapter and I got an intro and then the rest spilled out over the next two days (though I had to take a major research break for part of it and that was both time consuming and heavy content-wise).

I think my biggest change has been holding on to things too and editing them. I looked back at some Author notes on PBox and was like: "PBox... this 3,000+ words/chapter juggernaut was on a Wednesday/Saturday update schedule every week?! How?!" No wonder I got burned out... My new schedule now is to make sure that anything I'm planning on posting in a week is completely written by the Sunday before I'm planning on posting it, then I don't look at it again until Tuesday and then I edit. So this week, I polished up PBox's ch. 11-20 and realized on Sunday that I hadn't even done a red pen edit on ch. 20 yet, so I had to finish it on Sunday.  Then I looked through the others for a cursory edit and finally looked at it again yesterday. Tracking editing words is the worst because it will literally be the difference between "does" and "did" and I have to move that little "does" into a different document to count it. I have a whole other document that's just a jumble of "I I I he he does can is is is what the way he smiled don't not" etcetera. It's a nightmare, haha. But, I am excited to be able to post consistently for at least 24 weeks in a row! Once a week updating is awesome (though slightly nightmareish right now because of the added PBox editing).

I think I still like my same genres, AUs for life! But I agree with you on the romance thing, Julie. I think it's one thing to write about the Boys, but I've always hated involving their families in my writing because they're... "cursory celebrities" is the phrase I think I'm looking for... Like their wives just married a guy? And their kids just happened to be born? They didn't ask to be in a fanfic. I think I put Leighanne and Baylee in one story, a one-shot Halloween story I never finished, just because I needed some reason for Nick to be trick or treating in the beginning, but I definitely hated doing it. I think a romance for me would depend on the story. I think the only two old ideas/stories I'll ever possibly finish would be the PBox series and maybe Gobosei... But those ones have been floating around in my head for so long that at this point, they're all just characters to me and kind of separated from the Boys in my head (but not enough in story that I could "file off the serial numbers" and try to publish any of it, unfortunately). Any of the newer ideas I've had all fall into the "let's be nostalgic for when you didn't have to mention real life significant others" or "out and about where you could have a plot with only a cursory mention of their families if even necessary." 100% team Bromance.

Also, Julie, remember when you were like "I don't think I could write anything but romance?" Horror is pretty different, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 17, 2020, 09:30:04 AM
Thanks guys!

I have it opened right now. I just am completely uninspired. I don't know what I even feel like writing. A story or my memoir? No idea. We shall see what happens. Of course I'm going to end up streaming the Mandalorian instead. lol



Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 17, 2020, 06:54:41 PM
Thanks guys!

I have it opened right now. I just am completely uninspired. I don't know what I even feel like writing. A story or my memoir? No idea. We shall see what happens. Of course I'm going to end up streaming the Mandalorian instead. lol

Yay! I think there's a writing prompt I saw somewhere if you're stuck and finding yourself distracted by a song, tv show, movie, or book to write down words or lines that resonate with you. Worth trying?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 17, 2020, 06:57:37 PM
Tracking editing words is the worst because it will literally be the difference between "does" and "did" and I have to move that little "does" into a different document to count it. I have a whole other document that's just a jumble of "I I I he he does can is is is what the way he smiled don't not" etcetera. It's a nightmare, haha.

I was feeling like this made up, but similar jumble wasn't doing this document justice, so here's yesterday's version of the document before I delete them and start over today, ha.

"You don’t sound sure… weird came unfurled and winced us even though he said he doesn’t want to wish for anything can is He frowned. if you sleep right I don’t my companions has I don’t does can we Brian and Kevin are you well thrust a blue glow spilling from his hands, the"

Such a nightmare... Constantly full of red lines. Yes, google docs, I know this doesn't make sense.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 18, 2020, 06:01:30 PM
Yay! I think there's a writing prompt I saw somewhere if you're stuck and finding yourself distracted by a song, tv show, movie, or book to write down words or lines that resonate with you. Worth trying?

Maybe? I didn’t even open word today lol
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 18, 2020, 06:15:39 PM
Baby steps! I believe in you!  :)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 18, 2020, 06:57:27 PM
Thanks!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on December 19, 2020, 04:26:24 AM
I have been trying to get back into writing. I actually had word opened for about twenty minutes, hoping I’d find some words in my brain, but nothing happened. Hopefully if I do that everyday, eventually something will happen.



YAY!

I'll pop in again to say something with more depth later LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 19, 2020, 10:40:02 AM
Also, Julie, remember when you were like "I don't think I could write anything but romance?" Horror is pretty different, haha.

LOL I don't know if I ever said that because I never thought of myself as a romance writer, really; it was just a subplot in most of my stories.  I've always been all about the drama.  I still write a lot of medical drama, but I have definitely branched out over the years.  The last real romance I wrote was a slash novel, which is another genre I never thought I'd write.

Thanks guys!

I have it opened right now. I just am completely uninspired. I don't know what I even feel like writing. A story or my memoir? No idea. We shall see what happens. Of course I'm going to end up streaming the Mandalorian instead. lol

I give you permission to watch The Mandalorian.  So good!!!  I was openly weeping over the end of the season finale last night.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 19, 2020, 10:58:15 AM
I haven’t watched that episode yet, but most likely will today. I want a Grogu
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 19, 2020, 02:49:22 PM
LOL I don't know if I ever said that because I never thought of myself as a romance writer, really; it was just a subplot in most of my stories.  I've always been all about the drama.  I still write a lot of medical drama, but I have definitely branched out over the years.  The last real romance I wrote was a slash novel, which is another genre I never thought I'd write.

You're right, I mispoke! I think any time you talked about it, it was less "I write this" and more "I don't think I could write x." I think drama still lends itself to many other genres though, so you can be dramatic anywhere. ;)

I think it's worth it dabble in lots of different things, you never know what will be interesting!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 19, 2020, 02:50:05 PM
I haven’t watched that episode yet, but most likely will today. I want a Grogu

I think i saw an article online somewhere that you can get a virtual one in your house?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 23, 2020, 09:11:49 AM
Just wanted to say I wrote a paragraph on what looks like it might be the start of a story. No idea if my lead is even male or female or what genre it is, although it seems to be leaning more to suspense maybe? So yay me!

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 23, 2020, 10:06:15 AM
Yay you!!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 23, 2020, 04:42:45 PM
Yay! That's great!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 23, 2020, 04:47:07 PM
Here's some new writing questions for this week:

Let's reflect! Look back on your writing, is there something you wrote that you wish you hadn't? Is there something you never finished, but wished you had? Is there a genre you've always wanted to try?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Carter-Orange on December 24, 2020, 06:53:35 AM
Just wanted to say I wrote a paragraph on what looks like it might be the start of a story. No idea if my lead is even male or female or what genre it is, although it seems to be leaning more to suspense maybe? So yay me!



Yay Mare!

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 26, 2020, 05:20:58 PM
Let's reflect! Look back on your writing, is there something you wrote that you wish you hadn't? Is there something you never finished, but wished you had? Is there a genre you've always wanted to try?

Great questions.  I don't really regret writing anything.  I figure even the embarrassingly bad stories I wrote in my early days helped make me into the writer I am today.  Every story was a learning experience, even if they only taught me what NOT to do.  That's why I keep them all online.  I did a series of retrospective blogs for my site's 20th anniversary earlier this year, and it was fun to look back on some of those old stories and see how much better my writing has gotten over the years.

The story I still wish I would finish someday is Guilty Roads.  I started it over ten years ago, then got derailed by the idea for Curtain Call a month later and never quite got back into a groove with it.  I still open it from time to time, usually between projects, but it's been a long time since I've actually written anything for it.  I just keep hoping that one of these times I'll get a rush of inspiration and get going on it again.

I've tried every genre I can think of off the top of my head, but I would love to write more in the suspense/mystery/thriller realm.  I shied away from that type of story for a long time after basically abandoning Guilty Roads, but I finally wrote another suspense novel last year and actually finished it and felt good about it, so that has given me some more confidence to tackle another one in the future with the right idea.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 27, 2020, 06:17:53 PM
I did a series of retrospective blogs for my site's 20th anniversary earlier this year, and it was fun to look back on some of those old stories and see how much better my writing has gotten over the years.

Woah, twenty years! Crazy! It's weird thinking about how long it's been if most of us started in the late 90's/early 00's. A retrospective sounds like a fun way to celebrate!

The story I still wish I would finish someday is Guilty Roads.  I started it over ten years ago, then got derailed by the idea for Curtain Call a month later and never quite got back into a groove with it.  I still open it from time to time, usually between projects, but it's been a long time since I've actually written anything for it.  I just keep hoping that one of these times I'll get a rush of inspiration and get going on it again.

I've tried every genre I can think of off the top of my head, but I would love to write more in the suspense/mystery/thriller realm.  I shied away from that type of story for a long time after basically abandoning Guilty Roads, but I finally wrote another suspense novel last year and actually finished it and felt good about it, so that has given me some more confidence to tackle another one in the future with the right idea.

I always hated when I was working on something and another idea popped up. I think I abandoned so many personal projects in the way back times because of that, and then got especially distracted by collaborations because the socializing aspect seemed more fun than focusing on writing, haha.

I think like we've all been saying, even opening and trying is worthwhile. So I'll send you some good vibes for Guilty Roads or your next suspense/thriller/mystery project.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 27, 2020, 06:27:00 PM
Here's some new writing questions for this week:

Let's reflect! Look back on your writing, is there something you wrote that you wish you hadn't? Is there something you never finished, but wished you had? Is there a genre you've always wanted to try?

I'm in the same boat, I don't know that I regret anything. I often looked to writing to work through things that were jumbled up in my head. But when I preemptively rescued some stuff from AC just in case, I read over a few of them and cringed a lot and thought, "Well, glad I didn't finish that story." I think there was only one where I thought, "Would it be worth it to revisit this?"

Things I haven't finished that I wish I had... Definitely some original fiction, but BSB fic-wise... Probably just Gobosei or that Halloween story I started one year. And the whole PBox series, obviously, because here we are. I think I've written in most genres over the years for something except for maybe sci fi? Coming up with new technology seems like a project I don't want to tackle. Since you mentioned it, I'm not very good at mysteries/thrillers, ha. I used to worry about being pigeonholed if I didn't do a lot of different things, but at this point in my life with most things, I'm like "Yup that's me. Do with that what you will!"

Also, not writing related, but the little birthday bar at the bottom is crazy. Hopefully you all enjoyed it reminding you I'm old like a ghost over the years, haha. It's weird being 33 today, it doesn't even feel like a birthday, it just feels like another random Sunday. (Aw, there's a little cake in my profile today. Cute!)

One more not writing related. Hope y'all had happy and healthy holidays!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 28, 2020, 12:06:28 AM
Happy birthday!  I know, birthdays become less and less exciting each year LOL.  This year has been especially weird.  My birthday was on Easter, but it felt just like another random Sunday too, since my family didn't get together because of the pandemic.  I hope you had a good day, all things considered!

I always hated when I was working on something and another idea popped up. I think I abandoned so many personal projects in the way back times because of that, and then got especially distracted by collaborations because the socializing aspect seemed more fun than focusing on writing, haha.

LOL So true.  I try to limit myself to working on one project at a time these days for exactly that reason, but it's hard when I get one of those rare, lightning-in-a-bottle bursts of inspiration for a different idea.  Hoarding chapters instead of posting them right away helps.  The last few stories I've written, I waited until I was at least ten chapters in and things were going well to start posting anything, and that has worked out well for me.  Usually by that point in the story, I'm committed to it, and even if I take a break from it, I'll come back to it and finish it eventually.

I used to worry about being pigeonholed if I didn't do a lot of different things, but at this point in my life with most things, I'm like "Yup that's me. Do with that what you will!"

Absolutely.  While I think it's great to try different genres, most famous novelists are known for writing certain types of stories.  There's nothing wrong with sticking with what you write best and enjoy writing most.  Embrace it!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 28, 2020, 06:48:52 PM
Happy birthday!  I know, birthdays become less and less exciting each year LOL.  This year has been especially weird.  My birthday was on Easter, but it felt just like another random Sunday too, since my family didn't get together because of the pandemic.  I hope you had a good day, all things considered!

Thanks! It's a weird year to celebrate anything for sure, especially when you're doing it alone (or in very little immediate household groups). I mostly watched Friends, edited, and ate sushi, so again, more like a random Sunday, ha.

I try to limit myself to working on one project at a time these days for exactly that reason, but it's hard when I get one of those rare, lightning-in-a-bottle bursts of inspiration for a different idea.  Hoarding chapters instead of posting them right away helps.

I'm trying to do two at once right now (if editing counts as writing a story), but I figure it's fine because they're all in the same universe, so it's like looking back on an earlier part of the same story to double check something. Had to push it aside for the holiday story idea though, since it had a strict deadline to be relevant and it kept creeping in on me. I love hoarding chapters! It's really comforting knowing that I could take a break if I wanted to (maybe not six months yet, but at least through May). If there was one thing I wish I could go back and tell myself, that would be it. Write, hoard, then edit, then post, and repeat.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 29, 2020, 12:40:33 PM
If there was one thing I wish I could go back and tell myself, that would be it. Write, hoard, then edit, then post, and repeat.

Yes!  It does take willpower though.  It's hard to hang on to those chapters, especially at the beginning when everything is new and exciting and you're dying to share it with the world.  It gets easier once you can finally start posting something, even if it's something you wrote a long time ago.

The ability to go back and really edit is awesome.  I used to only proofread chapters once or twice before posting, mainly just to catch and fix typos (which I still would end up missing), but now I read chapters many times and make bigger changes before they go online, and I think my stories are better for it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 29, 2020, 04:30:24 PM
It's hard to hang on to those chapters, especially at the beginning when everything is new and exciting and you're dying to share it with the world.

Yes, excited word vomit, ignore all consequences! Editing is for suckers! (I'm kidding.)

I used to only proofread chapters once or twice before posting, mainly just to catch and fix typos (which I still would end up missing)

So, I relate to this in a hilariously painful way. When I was popping through my PBox editing, I found one instance where I'd accidentally written "aroused" when I clearly meant "roused" and laughed so hard for such a long time about how I could have made that mistake, how awkwardly hilarious it made the whole sentence, and that I somehow went over it initially (since I did proofread before posting even in the excited word vomit days) and still missed it. Then I cringed, because that's just been hanging out there for however many years making it hilariously awkward. I ended up changing that section into something that had neither of those words, but it still makes me laugh really hard thinking about it now.  Oops!

I do miss that excitement sometimes though, especially when everyone was equally excited and we all fed off each other. But better writing is probably better in the long run.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 29, 2020, 08:37:30 PM
LOL!  I have made mistakes like that before too.  Many years ago, a kind reader pointed out that I used used the word "erotically" when I probably meant "erratically," and she was right.  Never made that mistake again!

I reread some of my old stories when I was writing those blogs for my site, and OMG, so many typos, even in the better ones.  One of my early quarantine projects was going back through the posted versions of my more recent stories and fixing the ones I found.  I don't usually edit stuff that's already online, but I will to fix typos and other little mistakes like that.

I also miss those days when we were all writing at the same time and fed off each other.  That helped keep me motivated.  I have to motivate myself these days LOL.  I do appreciate the few AC regulars that are still around and still read and write, or at least don't mind talking about reading and writing.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 29, 2020, 10:04:26 PM
Hahaha! I'm laughing so hard, I'm so glad I'm not the only one. I wish someone had told me, because it was in one of the earlier chapters that I hadn't edited way back when, so it's been there a loooong time.

So many typos! And they're not even typos where the letters are close together, they're more like "my brain went faster than my fingers and I filled in the right word every time I read it to proofread." These days, I almost always edit three times and sometimes even run it through text to voice to check phrasing if I want it to hit a certain way. But then you have the issue of it not knowing how to pronounce some things or pause correctly, so I've definitely done odd spellings or weird punctuation to have it read correctly. That must have been a lot to just go through to edit typos! Were there any that you wanted to really overhaul after going through the effort of typo fixing?

Well, once I'm done with this edit overhaul, I will be writing again, so I would be happy to do weekly motivation with you. Might be a good thread.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 30, 2020, 12:36:00 AM
Yep, same with the typos!  I leave out words or double up on words a lot too, and of course spell check doesn't catch that kind of stuff.  Like you said, my brain fills in the right words most of the time because it knows what I meant, especially if it's something I just wrote.  I'm more likely to catch those mistakes when I proofread it multiple times with fresh eyes, weeks or months later.

The text to voice is a good idea.  I've never thought of doing it that way.  Knowing me, I would probably just end up laughing at it and forget to listen for awkward phrasing because it sounds so awkward anyway LOL.

Yeah, the editing took a while, but I only did it with the stories I think are good to begin with, so it was worth it to make them even better.  I didn't waste my time on the really old ones cause they would need a lot more work than fixing typos.

Honestly, just having people here who wanna talk fanfic is motivating to me.  I've missed this!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 30, 2020, 09:29:13 PM
I found a double "and" today, so I feel you. I also found an instance where I'd written "erratically" and laughed so hard that I had to take a break, because I kept imagining the sentence saying "erotically".

I don't like the pre-loaded ones that word or google docs use for the same reason you mentioned, but I found a site where you can choose different voices/accents and it's not as bad, there's just a time limit per day on some of the "premium voices". It's called Natural Reader (http://naturalreaders.com).

Even PBox which I adore has been an undertaking to edit! After all this I'm like "Maybe I should find a way to file off the serial numbers and make it original fiction!" But then I'm like, would I like it as much then? Who knows!

I have several years of talking about writing to catch up on, so I will be your motivation muse! This has kept me going for sure. I think for the most part (minus Howie, AJ, and Brian's gifts they received) I chunked out my holiday story over two days because I wanted to post it and have other people enjoy it (of course I did not post it after those two days, hoarding!).

There's a question for everyone this week: What's most motivating for you? How do you keep the motivation going? What do you do when the motivation wanes (any particular rituals)? What does your inspiration station look like? (e.g., desk, location in your home, not your home at all, etcetera)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 30, 2020, 10:55:13 PM
Reading is usually good motivation for me, whether it's books by published authors, other fanfics, or even my own fanfics.  When I haven't written in awhile or am stuck/unmotivated, I start by rereading some of my story to get back into it.  That usually helps to some extent because it reminds me what I liked about it in the first place and makes me want to continue it.  Reading stuff by other authors is motivating because it makes me want to write better and create the same kind of experience for readers that I have when I'm reading something good.

Of course, comments from readers are also hugely motivating!  I don't write strictly for the feedback, but it feels like a reward for the time I put it into when I'm finally able to post something and it gets a response.  Feedback is our form of payment for creating and posting free entertainment LOL.

I have a whole room in my house dedicated to my hobbies.  I call it my Room of Random Things because it's where I keep my collection of literal weird, random things and most of my pop culture memorabilia, but it's also my writing/BSB sanctuary.  Here's a picture: https://twitter.com/RokofAges75/status/1081711811358089216/photo/1  I write up there a lot, but I also go through phases where I write in other rooms of my house.  Lately I've been writing in my living room so I can enjoy the Christmas tree and lights, or my bed because it's warm LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 30, 2020, 11:07:06 PM
I have a whole room in my house dedicated to my hobbies.  I call it my Room of Random Things because it's where I keep my collection of literal weird, random things and most of my pop culture memorabilia, but it's also my writing/BSB sanctuary.  Here's a picture: https://twitter.com/RokofAges75/status/1081711811358089216/photo/1  I write up there a lot, but I also go through phases where I write in other rooms of my house.  Lately I've been writing in my living room so I can enjoy the Christmas tree and lights, or my bed because it's warm LOL.

I love that! It looks nice and cozy! I've been trying to write in our living room this week to enjoy our Christmas tree and Bubbles the Holiday Narwhal, but it's really distracting for me with the TV and the kitchen nearby. I have to declutter my desk before I'd feel like I could post a picture of it, haha. Perhaps tomorrow!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 30, 2020, 11:12:09 PM
Thanks!  Bubbles the Holiday Narwhal! LOL, love it!  My writing room is currently cluttered with storage boxes for my Christmas decor, which is another reason I'm writing downstairs until all that's put away.  I get distracted by the clutter.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 30, 2020, 11:15:45 PM
It's one of those Target "Wondershop" light up wire lawn ornaments, but it is too precious to go outside. That's under our stairs right now. My husband hates it, he also gets distracted by clutter, whereas I've always been a "Let me find that thing for you, I know exactly which organized pile of junk it's in" type person. It's why I'm fine writing in our office that has piles of things I'm trying to konmari (that "does this make you happy" organization method), but he works from home on our kitchen bar counter.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 30, 2020, 11:20:34 PM
I love those!  I wanted to get the T-Rex they had a few years ago, but it was sold out.  The narwhal is super cute!

I watched one episode of that Marie Kondo show on Netflix a couple years ago, hoping it would help motivate me to reorganize, but the problem I have with her philosophy is that everything in my house brings me joy, or I wouldn't have bought it LOL.  I do probably have too much stuff, but everything has its place.  When I really need motivation to clean or declutter, I watch Hoarders instead LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 30, 2020, 11:37:32 PM
I saw they were having a sale on them last year when we were at the airport to fly home and my grandmother got sick right before we left, so I was having kind of a bad day and decided I really needed it. So we landed and I dragged my husband to Target to buy it. I think I may have sobbed in the parking lot if they had been sold out. There was a penguin several years ago that I liked but never bought, and I think of it regretfully some times...

The book explains the whole thing better than the show. I think it works for me because I project so many feelings on to things probably due in part to the whole #growinguppoor thing, so I realized I've hung on to things for the reason that "someone bought this for me, so I have to keep it!" but I never look at them or use them or anything. I'm pretty sure I have every single thing I've ever owned at our house except for maybe pages I pulled out of Tiger Beat and Bop back in ye olden times. It was nice getting rid of old clothing that didn't make me happy anymore, I got rid of several books that made me feel ho-hum even just looking at them on the shelf, and I'm about halfway through paper. I had phone bills from 2005! Why do I need that? I'm dreading getting to "sentimental," but after going through everything else I own, maybe I'll be better at it. Plus I found some old, but great things like the frame Sarah made me when we did Maremas.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 30, 2020, 11:58:14 PM
I do think it's easier to purge and organize once you get started.  I spent my spring break doing that a couple years ago, one room/closet at a time, and it was really satisfying.  I didn't even intend to do the whole house, but after seeing how happy it made me to organize one closet, I wanted to do another one, and then I just got on a roll.  I definitely need to go through my bookshelves and get rid of some more books because I'm running out of space again.  I hate to get rid of things that I bought with my own money or that were gifts from people I care about, but if I'm never going to read/use something again, and it's just sitting around taking up space and collecting dust, it needs to go.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 12:12:07 AM
I find going by room/closet hard because I'll later find that I have the same type of stuff in a different place and I'd rather look at it all at once than have to refocus on "personal toiletries" after I thought I moved on to a guest bathroom or something.

I got rid of a dictionary. That was a proud moment. "I don't need you in 2020, who cares if you were probably very expensive back in the day!" I've been trying very hard to separate my feelings for the thing from my feelings for the person. But the nice thing is if it's joyful, then the philosophy is "keep it without qualms!" so I've put some things I forgot about in more prominent places in our house to enjoy them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 12:23:24 AM
This derailed from writing a little. I feel like Mare will pop in some time in the next week and tell us that this has nothing to do with writing.

Back on writing, I just left myself a comment where I highlighted an edit and wrote "Castles are distracting, come back to this after you've researched/loved/enjoyed castles on your own time!" I've done nothing productive over the past couple days because of this.

What are everyone else's rabbit holes? Either in general or a particularly memorable one from the past?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on December 31, 2020, 11:06:19 AM
I just popped in to say, even though I don’t have much of anything to contribute to these conversations, I have enjoyed reading them lol Happy New Year!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 31, 2020, 12:46:48 PM
Happy New Year!  I always appreciate you adding your two cents, Mare.

What are everyone else's rabbit holes? Either in general or a particularly memorable one from the past?

I definitely go down the rabbit hole of YouTube a lot.  I discovered some cool YouTube channels with ambiance music that I like to write to, but a lot of the time, I'll pull up YouTube to play one of those videos and promptly get distracted by one of the recommended videos on the main page, which then sucks me right down a rabbit hole.  I was looking up a lot of morbid stuff for a story I wrote last year and discovered a channel called "Ask a Mortician," which is oddly funny and fascinating. 


Ask a Mortifican: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCi5iiEyLwSLvlqnMi02u5gQ

Ambient Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfR8HhkbpDAwvYxrecNg4Mg

Epic Worlds: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxlt4MvYjbfVjF6c9ofGm9Q
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 02:28:12 PM
I just popped in to say, even though I don’t have much of anything to contribute to these conversations, I have enjoyed reading them lol Happy New Year!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 02:40:05 PM
I was looking up a lot of morbid stuff for a story I wrote last year and discovered a channel called "Ask a Mortician," which is oddly funny and fascinating.

I stumbled on that a few years ago after I saw her TED Talk "The Corpses that Changed My Life," which I thought, I should watch this because what a weird thing to call a TED talk. And you're right, oddly funny and fascinating is exactly how I would describe it.

Overly Sarcastic Productions (https://youtube.com/c/OverlySarcasticProductionsChannel) is always really distracting for me. They retell history, classics, and do trope talks. It's all good and funny. I think my favorite was the retell of Paradise Lost, I've laughed every time I've watched it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 03:09:15 PM
There's a question for everyone this week: What's most motivating for you? How do you keep the motivation going? What do you do when the motivation wanes (any particular rituals)? What does your inspiration station look like? (e.g., desk, location in your home, not your home at all, etcetera)

Chatting here again has been pretty motivating, but I also haven't written a new chapter this month so we'll see how that goes. I'm trying to monster edit these last few days of winter break since the beginning of the new semester is always a little stressful and it's taken four days on average to edit PBox, then let it sit, then do a "quick" (still takes about half an hour per chapter) re-edit before posting. On keeping the motivation going, I honestly don't know. Right now it all seems exciting and great, but I also know that I've started so many things over the years (BSB fanfics or original fiction) that have sat unfinished, so I don't know if it's a lack of motivation or just being spent or what. The decade of nothing aside, of course... I think one day during NaNo, I hit a wall and decided to edit something instead and then figured out what to do next a couple hours later. I guess these days, I've been doodling if I'm not writing, so if you follow my update thread and like my doodles, have I got a million tiny Nick doodles for you all.

Click here for my "Inspiration Station" (https://i.ibb.co/VYrFf78/20201231-131046.jpg)! Bless this mess (be grateful I didn't do a larger pan shot because it is... not pretty, as mentioned). I had to rearrange a couple things because there's a photo of my first class and some telling things that are first name/last name up there normally. I also figured our best man and possibly my husband did not want to be displayed on the interwebs, so I covered them with a magnet. I also purchased those BSB funko pops and haven't figured out where to put them yet...

What are everyone else's rabbit holes? Either in general or a particularly memorable one from the past?

As I mentioned, right now it's castles, but in general I'm a sucker for interesting academia. I'll be researching on the internet and they'll list book sources or academic articles and I will read online if I can or get them from the library. And then it will be days later and I'll be knee deep in looking at something about... I don't know... deforestation and I'll stop and be like, "Wait, wasn't I researching furniture?" A book I've borrowed from the library, read and reread many times is called "The Complete Gods and Goddesses of Ancient Egypt." I finally broke down a few years ago and just bought it. I've often joked that I decided to teach because Egyptology is not very profitable, if that's any indication of how much I love ancient Egypt.

I think the binges I've gone on so far in my little editing and writing adventure have been: castles, furniture in the Muromachi period/Ming dynasty/etcetera, clothing (mostly outerwear) of the Muromachi period/Ming dynasty/etcetera, caves, Eastern wedding traditions, and a couple others that I don't think I can mention because they'd be pretty big spoilers, but one of them took days from my life in October. All good and worth it, but days... And then I re-rabbit holed when I was actually writing the chapter in question.

TV Tropes is also a time suck for me, especially if I stumble on one that has an "Analysis" page.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 31, 2020, 03:58:12 PM
I stumbled on that a few years ago after I saw her TED Talk "The Corpses that Changed My Life," which I thought, I should watch this because what a weird thing to call a TED talk. And you're right, oddly funny and fascinating is exactly how I would describe it.

Overly Sarcastic Productions (https://youtube.com/c/OverlySarcasticProductionsChannel) is always really distracting for me. They retell history, classics, and do trope talks. It's all good and funny. I think my favorite was the retell of Paradise Lost, I've laughed every time I've watched it.

Yeah, she is hilarious!  I share her morbid sense of humor and respect what she does for a living.  I could not handle the smells LOL.

I will have to check that channel out!  Sounds like something I would like.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on December 31, 2020, 04:02:09 PM
Love your inspiration station and the cute doodles!

Ancient Egypt is definitely one of the coolest eras of history.  I love that stuff too.

And TV Tropes!  Yes!  I've been sucked down the rabbit hole of that site too.  Wikipedia is also notorious for wasting tons of my time (but is it really a waste when I learn so much from it? LOL).
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 04:23:15 PM
I could not handle the smells LOL.

YES! Anything with other people's bodies, really. I would be the worst doctor. But then I sit over here writing "Blood! Blood! Blood! Let's talk about how it smells!" I think I compared Nick to steak once and couldn't think of anything better to say, so I left it, haha.

Love your inspiration station and the cute doodles!

Ancient Egypt is definitely one of the coolest eras of history.  I love that stuff too.

And TV Tropes!  Yes!  I've been sucked down the rabbit hole of that site too.  Wikipedia is also notorious for wasting tons of my time (but is it really a waste when I learn so much from it? LOL).

Thanks! We're PBoxin' right now, but there's a whole stack of them under the magnet.

I've been working on an original fiction forever, almost 20 years now, that's heavily based in Egyptian mythology, but then Rick Riordian moved on from Greek Mythology and I've been wrestling with diversity in it for a while now... So that's where it's at...

Is learning ever a waste of time? Inconvenient perhaps, but all knowledge is good knowledge! I just really like tropes in general, so I'll reread the same pages over and over again. It's so silly.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on December 31, 2020, 07:32:10 PM
Well, I got distracted by reading old posts on this forum! I'm sitting on the couch now trying to write to the ambient sounds of college basketball... Since inspiration station was super unproductive.. .
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 01, 2021, 01:00:51 AM
LOL I've definitely spent hours going down the nostalgia rabbit hole of reading old threads here.  It's fun though.

YES! Anything with other people's bodies, really. I would be the worst doctor. But then I sit over here writing "Blood! Blood! Blood! Let's talk about how it smells!" I think I compared Nick to steak once and couldn't think of anything better to say, so I left it, haha.

LOL!  Yeah, same...  I think I would have gone into healthcare in some capacity if I wasn't a teacher, but I honestly don't know that I have the stomach to be a doctor or nurse (especially nurse).  It's not the sight of blood and gore that would bother me; it would be the smells.  I have a pretty sensitive gag reflex when it comes to bad smells.  I have to hold my breath in public restrooms sometimes to avoid gagging so hard it brings tears to my eyes, so I'm not sure how I would do dealing with the various disgusting odors the human body can create.  But then some days I watch Dr. Pimple Popper and think I missed my calling and should have become a dermatologist, cause her job looks so satisfying LOL.  Gross, but satisfying.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 01, 2021, 10:27:01 AM
Does anyone have any writing-related resolutions this year?

I'm not a resolution person, but I did make a resolution to write every day in both 2017 and 2018.  That worked out well for me in 2017 and not at all in 2018.  I don't think I bothered with it the last two years, but 2019 and 2020 were both great writing years for me.  So this year, I will just say I want to keep writing regularly.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 01, 2021, 01:04:10 PM
LOL I've definitely spent hours going down the nostalgia rabbit hole of reading old threads here.  It's fun though.

I think it was the first version of this type of thread back when we were all starting to get to know each other and it went on for pages... I spent half the time saying "so insightful, everyone here is a true master of their craft", then probably a quarter of it saying "our inside jokes just ran rampant, yeesh," then the other quarter saying "I sounded so stupid, omg."

LOL!  Yeah, same...  I think I would have gone into healthcare in some capacity if I wasn't a teacher, but I honestly don't know that I have the stomach to be a doctor or nurse (especially nurse).  It's not the sight of blood and gore that would bother me; it would be the smells.  I have a pretty sensitive gag reflex when it comes to bad smells.  I have to hold my breath in public restrooms sometimes to avoid gagging so hard it brings tears to my eyes, so I'm not sure how I would do dealing with the various disgusting odors the human body can create.  But then some days I watch Dr. Pimple Popper and think I missed my calling and should have become a dermatologist, cause her job looks so satisfying LOL.  Gross, but satisfying.

You know, I used to also and then once I started teaching Pre-K, I was like "I can handle anything! Every bodily fluid you all have!" so maybe now I could be a health care professional. My best friend is a wonderful nurse, and we're constantly telling each other "you're amazing, but I could never do what you do." She's really held me up during all this and vice versa.

Do dermatologists have as many weird smells comparatively? If not, maybe you did miss your calling! I have no idea what I would have done if I didn't end up teaching. I think I was really lost until I figured that out. On winter break right now though, stay at home wife/professional volunteer seems like a pretty cushy gig, but I feel like I would get bored within a month.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 01, 2021, 01:23:16 PM
Does anyone have any writing-related resolutions this year?

I'm not a resolution person, but I did make a resolution to write every day in both 2017 and 2018.  That worked out well for me in 2017 and not at all in 2018.  I don't think I bothered with it the last two years, but 2019 and 2020 were both great writing years for me.  So this year, I will just say I want to keep writing regularly.

Oh man, I am not a resolution person at all. I used to blog right after I graduated college as everyone did in the new 10's. I eventually stopped doing it because I would try to post something every day (gee, sounds familiar) and the only things I really had fun posting were when I told old stories about things that had happened to me that were a mix of memoir and a mix of "this is a scene from a novel" (see: lost, missed writing). But, one post I had fun doing every year was something I called "X Things Before X" where the "X" was however old I would be on my next birthday. I figured, since my birthday was so close to the new year anyway and I was terrible at keeping resolutions, I would just make a list of things I thought would be fun to do before my next birthday. And it ran the gambit from "try skiing" to "watch Titanic X more times so you'll have spent a month of your life watching it" to "visit four new states," etcetera. And it actually motivated me to try to do some things on the days I felt listless or actively seek out adventures. It got harder to come up with things as the years went on (I don't think I could come up with 34 things now for this year), but I still did it for a few years even after I ultimately stopped blogging (no one read it anyway, so no real loss when I was no longer enjoying it).

Writing goals this year? I'm not sure that I could commit to writing something 365 days in a row, 30 was fun, but I just don't think I could keep up the pace. Though if we're counting editing (which I have been), I'm up to 61 in a row now, so maybe I could? If I really tried... But I feel like that's a lot to commit to right now. Especially after only really editing for a month.

I think my writing goals are:
1. Finish this massive editing project that is PBox a decade later.
2. Maybe finish writing PNecklace this year. Only 28 chapters to go and 32 pages of interesting tidbits to put in the right spots! Which feels like another 4-7 chapters based on what they're about... Seems doable? Especially since I have updates covered through May, so it feels less stressful than posting a thing I had then having nothing until I write the next one.

I could probably do another month of writing every day some time this summer (the hustle and bustle of November is fun, but kind of an odd time of year), so if anyone else was interested in doing a "Camp NaNo" type thing together, I think they do it in April and July? I'd be happy to organize if that's up anyone else's alley.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 01, 2021, 03:45:42 PM
I think it was the first version of this type of thread back when we were all starting to get to know each other and it went on for pages... I spent half the time saying "so insightful, everyone here is a true master of their craft", then probably a quarter of it saying "our inside jokes just ran rampant, yeesh," then the other quarter saying "I sounded so stupid, omg."

You know, I used to also and then once I started teaching Pre-K, I was like "I can handle anything! Every bodily fluid you all have!" so maybe now I could be a health care professional. My best friend is a wonderful nurse, and we're constantly telling each other "you're amazing, but I could never do what you do." She's really held me up during all this and vice versa.

Do dermatologists have as many weird smells comparatively? If not, maybe you did miss your calling! I have no idea what I would have done if I didn't end up teaching. I think I was really lost until I figured that out. On winter break right now though, stay at home wife/professional volunteer seems like a pretty cushy gig, but I feel like I would get bored within a month.

LOL I know, sometimes I cringe at those old threads where we hijacked the topics with side conversations and think how obnoxious we all were, myself included.  I may still be obnoxious, but I'd like to think I'm less so now that I'm older LOL.

That is true - teaching children builds up your tolerance to puke, snot, blood, and other bodily fluids.  Especially in Pre-K, I'm sure!  I have had students have "accidents" at school, but it's not as common in 4th grade as I'm sure it is in preschool.

I'm sure dermatologists get their fair share of bad smells.  There's a lot of pus on Dr. Pimple Popper, and that can't smell great.  I bet healthcare workers get desensitized pretty quickly though.  God bless them for the work they do, especially this past year!  I think I made the right choice with teaching.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 01, 2021, 03:54:17 PM
LOL I know, sometimes I cringe at those old threads where we hijacked the topics with side conversations and think how obnoxious we all were, myself included.  I may still be obnoxious, but I'd like to think I'm less so now that I'm older LOL.

Like no wonder cliques came up so often back then. Maybe that's why Mare used to tell us stop and move discussions so often and said nothing when this turned into "a how I organize and declutter my stuff" discussion. And poor Rose, I once hijacked one of her update threads to have such a dumb "argument" with her that we could have just kept having privately over YIM instead.

I have had students have "accidents" at school, but it's not as common in 4th grade as I'm sure it is in preschool.

I'm sure dermatologists get their fair share of bad smells.  There's a lot of pus on Dr. Pimple Popper, and that can't smell great.  I bet healthcare workers get desensitized pretty quickly though.  God bless them for the work they do, especially this past year!  I think I made the right choice with teaching.

Teaching grade school this year, I think I've had one accident all semester, not one a day! Very grateful!

And that's true, especially if it's infected. God bless them indeed, and all essential workers. Essential workers are the backbone of our society for sure and I hope they get the recognition they deserve from now on. I agree, definitely made the correct choice hanging out with my small friends.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 01, 2021, 03:57:08 PM
Writing goals this year? I'm not sure that I could commit to writing something 365 days in a row, 30 was fun, but I just don't think I could keep up the pace. Though if we're counting editing (which I have been), I'm up to 61 in a row now, so maybe I could? If I really tried... But I feel like that's a lot to commit to right now. Especially after only really editing for a month.

I think my writing goals are:
1. Finish this massive editing project that is PBox a decade later.
2. Maybe finish writing PNecklace this year. Only 28 chapters to go and 32 pages of interesting tidbits to put in the right spots! Which feels like another 4-7 chapters based on what they're about... Seems doable? Especially since I have updates covered through May, so it feels less stressful than posting a thing I had then having nothing until I write the next one.

I could probably do another month of writing every day some time this summer (the hustle and bustle of November is fun, but kind of an odd time of year), so if anyone else was interested in doing a "Camp NaNo" type thing together, I think they do it in April and July? I'd be happy to organize if that's up anyone else's alley.

Those are good goals.  If you count editing (which I agree is an important part of writing), even just opening a story up every day and doing something with it, whether that be adding on or just editing one word, seems doable.

I've always kind of wanted to do NaNoWriMo, but November is not a good month for me either.  Between parent-teacher conferences and getting ready for the holidays, I get busy and don't have as much time to devote to writing. Summer would be a much better time for that for us teachers. I would definitely be interested in doing something like that in July.  Reminds me of the summer reading challenges we used to do around here.  I miss those!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 01, 2021, 04:54:07 PM
Editing always turns into a massive undertaking for me. Like the new chapter I posted this week, after I'd edited it I'd ended up changing or adding about 600 words. I don't think I could just do one word in a day, haha. I've definitely decided that editing is a major part of my routine now, though I'm looking forward to when it's just the PNecklace chapter of the week edit. I should have done 5 chapters a week for PBox, but 10 weeks seemed like a long time to edit before posting a new story.

I was honestly surprised that I completed it this year because it was a lot of very precise time management for those same reasons (although I guess my conferences were way less involved this year than last year, though I did do a school-wide literacy training at that time so... still time consuming). Let's chat about Camp Nano in May then! I tried it once and the nice thing is that you can set your own goals and it doesn't have to be the 50,000 words necessarily. I'll set it up when the time comes. Maybe there's a way to conjoin it with a reading challenge.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 01, 2021, 06:56:57 PM
My only goal right now is to finish If I Knew Then, which I've been working on for about two years. I don't know how long it's going to be but it's going to be a long story. So far that's my only focus right at the moment.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 01, 2021, 07:10:16 PM
You've got this!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 01, 2021, 08:29:24 PM
That's a great goal!  I'm happy you've stuck with it all this time.  It's probably my favorite story you've written, along with Figured You Out.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 01, 2021, 08:50:38 PM
Ugh, this is my hourly break to look at something besides a wall of green text. I am determined to finish this edit in the next few days!  Don't mind me, just venting... Carry on all.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 02, 2021, 05:09:25 AM
I don’t break up convos that go off track anymore because there’s really no reason to. If we still had a lot of people coming on and you veered, it would be different, but since that’s no longer the case, it’s fine with me. It’s just nice to see people chatting about fanfic and anything again.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 11:24:33 AM
I don’t break up convos that go off track anymore because there’s really no reason to. If we still had a lot of people coming on and you veered, it would be different, but since that’s no longer the case, it’s fine with me. It’s just nice to see people chatting about fanfic and anything again.

Sorry if it felt like you were Team Mom wrangling the children and slapping them with large banners back then. Haha. ;)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 11:29:35 AM
Ugh, this is my hourly break to look at something besides a wall of green text. I am determined to finish this edit in the next few days!  Don't mind me, just venting... Carry on all.

Back to writing questions! Let's turn this vent into a question.

So what do you do if you're feeling motivated to write and/or edit, but your brain is just spent on staring at your computer or red/green walls of edits. Do you keep going because you're feeling inspired? Do you take a short recess then come back? In general when you're inspired to write, do you keep going as long as inspiration strikes or do you set yourself time limits? Has that changed at all since quarantining and stay at home orders have happened (increased or decreased)?

On the reverse, if you're in an "open/stare/close" mood, how long do you stare before you close? Do you leave it on in the background while you do something else or is a permanent close for the day? How many times a day would you open a document?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 12:42:00 PM
So I like to poke and see what the guests are doing and I ended up down the rabbit hole that was the "Realistic vs. Entertaining" debate and laughed so hard I cried. I was so sad when I remembered that photobucket closed and I couldn't see Mare and Julie's "My Sexy Humpbacks" mock ups anymore and then that it devolved into a weird fetish conversation and ultimately the April Fool's Challenge that year. I missed this.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 03:46:01 PM
So I like to poke and see what the guests are doing and I ended up down the rabbit hole that was the "Realistic vs. Entertaining" debate and laughed so hard I cried. I was so sad when I remembered that photobucket closed and I couldn't see Mare and Julie's "My Sexy Humpbacks" mock ups anymore and then that it devolved into a weird fetish conversation and ultimately the April Fool's Challenge that year. I missed this.

LMAO I will need to look up that thread because I don't remember what led up to me making that, but I totally still have it!  I'm a file hoarder and probably have most of the stupid pictures I posted on Photobucket.  You never know when you're going to want to see something again...

(http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/sexyhumpbacks.png)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 04:05:08 PM
Back to writing questions! Let's turn this vent into a question.

So what do you do if you're feeling motivated to write and/or edit, but your brain is just spent on staring at your computer or red/green walls of edits. Do you keep going because you're feeling inspired? Do you take a short recess then come back? In general when you're inspired to write, do you keep going as long as inspiration strikes or do you set yourself time limits? Has that changed at all since quarantining and stay at home orders have happened (increased or decreased)?

On the reverse, if you're in an "open/stare/close" mood, how long do you stare before you close? Do you leave it on in the background while you do something else or is a permanent close for the day? How many times a day would you open a document?

If I'm really inspired and the words keep coming, I'll keep writing until my eyes cross... and then I'll turn on voice typing so I can close my eyes and dictate to the computer if I have to LOL.  Unless I have to be somewhere, I don't force myself to stop.  But when I hit my wall and start staring at the screen for more than a few minutes without actually typing anything or realize I've spent the last hour refreshing Twitter instead of writing, that's when I know it's time to take a break.  I don't have a set amount of time I'll give it, but I can usually just tell when I'm not going to be productive and continuing to sit at the computer is just wasting my time.  Depending on how late in the day that happens, I may try to come back to it later, but I usually don't have much luck if I was productive earlier in the day.  I call it my little fanfic bubble - when I'm in my bubble, I can focus for hours, but once that bubble bursts, it's hard to blow it back up later.  I used to do my best writing late at night, but the last couple years, I've had better luck writing first thing in the morning, before I get distracted by anything else.  I guess that means I'm getting old LOL.

I tend to leave my current project open all the time.  How many times a day I pull it up depends on what day it is and what else I have going on that day.  On a Saturday like today, where I have nowhere to be, I'll try to work on it multiple times throughout the day.  I already wrote awhile this morning, then took a break to shower and eat and update my site, but I'll be back at it later.  I'm trying to get as much written as I can before I go back to work next Wed and my bubble bursts again LOL.

I have probably spent more time writing this past year than in the previous few because of the pandemic.  It's given me the perfect excuse to stay home and write to my heart's content without guilt.  I'm not being antisocial; I'm being safe! LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 04:20:52 PM
Okay, I looked up that thread, and WOW, does that not capture the early days of this forum perfectly?!  We started out with a fanfic-related discussion question, and within two pages, we got distracted making fun of some teenybopper fanfic, Refresh, LD, Fergie, and JT.  Then the inevitable 00Carter hijacking began, and that's as far as I got LOL.  Here it is if anyone else wants to read it: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,454.0.html

I wish I could remember what plot point of By My Side inspired the original question because I'm sure there was a personal reason for me starting that thread LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 04:31:12 PM
I also cringed at us hating on "mature fans" in that thread because most of us are now in that age bracket. Ha! Of course, ol' Cookie Fondler from LD could have died of old age by now, who knows LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 04:37:52 PM
LMAO I will need to look up that thread because I don't remember what led up to me making that, but I totally still have it!  I'm a file hoarder and probably have most of the stupid pictures I posted on Photobucket.  You never know when you're going to want to see something again...

I'm laughing so hard that I'm sobbing! Mare, please still have the camel!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 04:46:16 PM
Okay, I looked up that thread, and WOW, does that not capture the early days of this forum perfectly?!  We started out with a fanfic-related discussion question, and within two pages, we got distracted making fun of some teenybopper fanfic, Refresh, LD, Fergie, and JT.  Then the inevitable 00Carter hijacking began, and that's as far as I got LOL.  Here it is if anyone else wants to read it: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,454.0.html

I wish I could remember what plot point of By My Side inspired the original question because I'm sure there was a personal reason for me starting that thread LOL.

It does, that's exactly what we were all like until the wee hours of the morning! I also ended up down the rabbit hole of the first "who wants to write 00Carter" thread. So funny. I miss being so young. I read the whole thing and then was like, "Okay! Time to focus on your next chapter edit!"

Was it the leg choppage? I think it may have been the leg choppage.

I also cringed at us hating on "mature fans" in that thread because most of us are now in that age bracket. Ha! Of course, ol' Cookie Fondler from LD could have died of old age by now, who knows LOL.

I felt a little bad and really embarrassed rereading that bit, especially once it veered back into "mature" fans and fanfic since I toyed with a sex scene in my interesting tidbits, but that thread kind of hit the nail in the coffin for me once the time for that chapter comes, I think. I can't be both graphically violent and sexually explicit and the actual sex isn't the important part of that bit anyway. Fade to black exists for a reason, you know? And being graphically violent is more fun.

I still stand by my opinion that someone three times a ten-year-old's age shouldn't push them for closer access to a celebrity though.

I think as we're "mature" now, we just need to make sure we're not pretending we're 15 any more. Though life at 15 was way easier!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 04:50:54 PM
I'm laughing so hard that I'm sobbing! Mare, please still have the camel!

I looked at it again, LMAO!

I don't think I can be productive anymore today now and edit a serious AJ chapter. Poor AJ.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 04:54:56 PM
Here it is if anyone else wants to read it: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,454.0.html

I just creeped on the guests again and most of them are reading this! I'm dying!

Dear guests: I'm sorry I sounded so dumb sometimes.

Also, that thread is a gem even if it's only aged okay. New thread: Top Ten Must Read Nostalgia Posts on the Forum.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 05:06:49 PM
It does, that's exactly what we were all like until the wee hours of the morning! I also ended up down the rabbit hole of the first "who wants to write 00Carter" thread. So funny. I miss being so young. I read the whole thing and then was like, "Okay! Time to focus on your next chapter edit!"

Was it the leg choppage? I think it may have been the leg choppage.

I felt a little bad and really embarrassed rereading that bit, especially once it veered back into "mature" fans and fanfic since I toyed with a sex scene in my interesting tidbits, but that thread kind of hit the nail in the coffin for me once the time for that chapter comes, I think. I can't be both graphically violent and sexually explicit and the actual sex isn't the important part of that bit anyway. Fade to black exists for a reason, you know? And being graphically violent is more fun.

I still stand by my opinion that someone three times a ten-year-old's age shouldn't push them for closer access to a celebrity though.

I think as we're "mature" now, we just need to make sure we're not pretending we're 15 any more. Though life at 15 was way easier!

It wasn't the leg choppage because I did that in 2003.  I looked back to see what chapters I was posting around that time and still can't pinpoint it, but I'm guessing it had something to do with Nick & Claire relationship drama, the car accident I was planning for the end, or possibly the sequel I considered writing for a short time, which was really ridiculous.  And the poll was tied, so I guess I never got my answer LOL.

I think we had our reasons for making fun of the "mature fans."  Some of the ones on LiveDaily really were obnoxious, from what I remember.  And pushing other fans, especially fans a third your age, is never acceptable.  I'm sure there was also some jealousy on our part because most of us had yet to meet the Boys and may have still been at the mercy of our parents to provide money or transportation to go to shows LOL.  I won't deny, it's fun to be a "mature fan" who can travel out of state to go to shows and pay to meet the Boys if they're so inclined.

I don't really agree with the sex scene stuff anymore though.  A married woman writing graphic sex scenes about herself with a Backstreet Boy still seems a bit weird to me, but there's nothing wrong with writing sex scenes about fictional characters if it fits the story.  You can absolutely be both graphically violent and sexually explicit.  If you want to write it, go for it and don't hold back!  You can always edit and cut some out later if it feels like too much.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 05:08:19 PM
I just creeped on the guests again and most of them are reading this! I'm dying!

Dear guests: I'm sorry I sounded so dumb sometimes.

Also, that thread is a gem even if it's only aged okay. New thread: Top Ten Must Read Nostalgia Posts on the Forum.

I think most of the "guests" are spambots, but that is a fun way to find random old threads.

Yes!  You definitely need to start that thread!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 05:10:00 PM
If I'm really inspired and the words keep coming, I'll keep writing until my eyes cross... and then I'll turn on voice typing so I can close my eyes and dictate to the computer if I have to LOL.  Unless I have to be somewhere, I don't force myself to stop.  But when I hit my wall and start staring at the screen for more than a few minutes without actually typing anything or realize I've spent the last hour refreshing Twitter instead of writing, that's when I know it's time to take a break.  I don't have a set amount of time I'll give it, but I can usually just tell when I'm not going to be productive and continuing to sit at the computer is just wasting my time.  Depending on how late in the day that happens, I may try to come back to it later, but I usually don't have much luck if I was productive earlier in the day.  I call it my little fanfic bubble - when I'm in my bubble, I can focus for hours, but once that bubble bursts, it's hard to blow it back up later.  I used to do my best writing late at night, but the last couple years, I've had better luck writing first thing in the morning, before I get distracted by anything else.  I guess that means I'm getting old LOL.

I was that way during NaNo, and honestly, I think stay at home was the only reason I finished it (plus a slightly different job this year). Normally November is knee deep into football season for me and I'm a champion tailgater, so most of my weekends are awash. Whereas this year, they were my catch up on writing days. And a slightly different job meant my assessment cycle is a little more lax than typical and lighter conference load, which meant I worked from home after work less and could spend my evenings doing whatever I wanted. Except I was useless at writing on Wednesdays because of Masked Singer. *shrug*

I took more breaks today away from the computer to do household chores, and I think I'm feeling a little better about staring at the computer now (unless I keep looking at the Sexy Humpbacks for Greenpeace, haha). I'm just in the middle of the chunk of chapters that are "there's a battle, but I'd also like to have philosophical discussions with you about life and death, light and darkness, good and evil, the meaning of existence, etcetera" so it's taking twice as long to edit compared to those earlier chapters that were more "Brian and Nick make dumb jokes at each other while they plot along."

On a Saturday like today, where I have nowhere to be, I'll try to work on it multiple times throughout the day.  I already wrote awhile this morning, then took a break to shower and eat and update my site, but I'll be back at it later.  I'm trying to get as much written as I can before I go back to work next Wed and my bubble bursts again LOL.

I have probably spent more time writing this past year than in the previous few because of the pandemic.  It's given me the perfect excuse to stay home and write to my heart's content without guilt.  I'm not being antisocial; I'm being safe! LOL

Are we having the same day today? Because this is me today (minus the website updating). I'm really jealous that you have until Wednesday! I am definitely not going to be able to finish my editing plans this break like I wanted and will likely only get 5 chapters of the edit up this week, but I'm trying my best.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 05:18:42 PM
LOL This forum is distracting when it's active, but I love it!

We must be having the same day today!  Getting 5 chapters posted this week sounds good to me.  It'll feel so good when you finally finish this project.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 05:23:54 PM
It wasn't the leg choppage because I did that in 2003.  I looked back to see what chapters I was posting around that time and still can't pinpoint it, but I'm guessing it had something to do with Nick & Claire relationship drama, the car accident I was planning for the end, or possibly the sequel I considered writing for a short time, which was really ridiculous.  And the poll was tied, so I guess I never got my answer LOL.

When I mentioned car crash, you seemed particularly ishy, so it was probably that? OMG, a third Broken/BMS? How would you have kept the upward momentum going with the drama?! I think the poll being tied means that we all appreciated entertaining realism, so maybe not drama just to have drama so much as drama that felt like it fit the story and kept it going in a realistic way.

I'm sure there was also some jealousy on our part because most of us had yet to meet the Boys and may have still been at the mercy of our parents to provide money or transportation to go to shows LOL.  I won't deny, it's fun to be a "mature fan" who can travel out of state to go to shows and pay to meet the Boys if they're so inclined.

I still haven't met them yet because of that money thing. Now that I've been able to save more (thanks COVID?), it's on my soon list. But like at this point, I feel like I would just say "Thanks for helping me get through 2020."  I only did the Vegas trip. If they ever do the cruise again, that's something I would like to splurge for or go to another country when they happen to be in town? Hawaii wouldn't be a bad move either.

I don't really agree with the sex scene stuff anymore though.  A married woman writing graphic sex scenes about herself with a Backstreet Boy still seems a bit weird to me, but there's nothing wrong with writing sex scenes about fictional characters if it fits the story.  You can absolutely be both graphically violent and sexually explicit.  If you want to write it, go for it and don't hold back!  You can always edit and cut some out later if it feels like too much.

That's true. And I suppose none of us have done self inserts in a while and that was what made it especially creepy. Maybe I'll tinker with it when I get there and see if it ends up being worth it to bother in full compared to the tiny snippets. Haven't really done one before, so from a writing perspective, it may be good to try!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 05:24:28 PM
I think most of the "guests" are spambots, but that is a fun way to find random old threads.

Yes!  You definitely need to start that thread!

Well, these spambots have good nostalgic taste. I am on it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 02, 2021, 05:40:56 PM
I have no idea what camel thing you are talking about but I’m going to have to say I most likely do not have it anymore. If it’s not on the site, then it’s gone lol

I never go back and read old threads lol maybe I should.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 05:41:30 PM
LOL This forum is distracting when it's active, but I love it!

We must be having the same day today!  Getting 5 chapters posted this week sounds good to me.  It'll feel so good when you finally finish this project.

I wrote up a little Author Talk for my thread for posting with an upcoming update and I believe one of the phrases I used was "I think I spent more time here being a 'supreme time waster' than I did writing much of anything." I have a decade to catch up on, so I'm just posting away and getting it all out, haha.

Yay, day twins!

I was looking at my vent from yesterday when I saw that Mare had posted and I thought (other than that it was a good writing question when rephrased): Yes, I wanted to do 10-chapter chunks and yes I wanted to edit, but this is supposed to be a labor of love and not a labor of frustration. If it's frustrating, I should just do what still feels enjoyable rather than trying to pound through it for the sake of sticking to whatever schedule I set for myself. The chapters will still be there next week and it's all already up anyway, especially here and the overall plot is what you need to understand PNecklace anyway, though the edits do make it a lot cleaner. I'm not wholly committed to AO3 in the same way, so they can wait, I suppose (I did enjoy getting a kudos, though). The edits are mostly slight tone tweaks, adjusting dialogue to better fit some call backs or call forwards (that I know about but y'all reading along do not... yet), and changing dialogue tags to body language instead, especially at this point in the story. The first thirty definitely had more hack and rewrite portions.

Though in one I edited today, I found a little flashback where I tried to give a more detailed twist on a scene that already happened. All well and good, except that it was from AJ's perspective and included things Nick was thinking. How would AJ know that?! He's not a mind reader! Darn you freshman me focusing on Nick in a chapter he's not even it! But, I realized that I'd called back to it in a PNecklace chapter from Nick's perspective, so I still needed it that way with edits too, plus whatever changes I needed to include from editing the original scene. Oof, editing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 05:43:25 PM
I have no idea what camel thing you are talking about but I’m going to have to say I most likely do not have it anymore. If it’s not on the site, then it’s gone lol

I never go back and read old threads lol maybe I should.

It was Fergie riding camel Justin Timberlake through the desert for their collaboration "My Sexy Hump Backs."

Some of the things we say are really insightful, good advice, or good fanfic and/or writing discussions. Then some of them are "My Sexy Hump Backs."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 05:48:19 PM
When I mentioned car crash, you seemed particularly ishy, so it was probably that? OMG, a third Broken/BMS? How would you have kept the upward momentum going with the drama?! I think the poll being tied means that we all appreciated entertaining realism, so maybe not drama just to have drama so much as drama that felt like it fit the story and kept it going in a realistic way.

Yeah, it probably was the car crash then.

LOL Yeah, I still have an outline somewhere for a third Broken/BMS story that will never be written.  From what I remember, the storyline involved Claire's ex Jamie and his mom kidnapping her twins, which I think was an idea given to me by a reader.  Then there was a subplot about Nick needing a lung transplant or something because his remaining lung-and-a-half were so badly scarred from cancer and BOOP.  I knew I had run out of cancer stuff to write about, but I had to get that medical drama in somewhere LOL.  It was really bad.  I spent a couple days writing an outline for it and making banners before coming to the conclusion that it was way too ridiculous and would only ruin a series I was really proud of.  I've basically cut myself off from writing sequels anymore, unless it's for my silly pandaskunk series.

I still haven't met them yet because of that money thing. Now that I've been able to save more (thanks COVID?), it's on my soon list. But like at this point, I feel like I would just say "Thanks for helping me get through 2020."  I only did the Vegas trip. If they ever do the cruise again, that's something I would like to splurge for or go to another country when they happen to be in town? Hawaii wouldn't be a bad move either.

Yes!  You should definitely save up for a VIP and a future BSB cruise.  What my little 2007 self did not know at that time is that I would finally meet them for the first time the following summer - by paying for a VIP with my newly-earned adult salary, of course LOL.  It used to be more affordable during the Unbreakable, TIU, and IAWLT tours - still expensive, but like half the price it is now.  Still worth it to cross off an item on your bucket list though!

I went on the 2011, 2013, and 2014 cruises, and they were a lot of fun.  Then they started making them longer and moving them to May, which didn't work well with work.  I hope they do more someday.  I would totally go on another one.  That's how I met most of the AC people I've met in real life.  Hawaii sounds great too!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 05:59:50 PM
Yeah, it probably was the car crash then.

LOL Yeah, I still have an outline somewhere for a third Broken/BMS story that will never be written.  From what I remember, the storyline involved Claire's ex Jamie and his mom kidnapping her twins, which I think was an idea given to me by a reader.  Then there was a subplot about Nick needing a lung transplant or something because his remaining lung-and-a-half were so badly scarred from cancer and BOOP.  I knew I had run out of cancer stuff to write about, but I had to get that medical drama in somewhere LOL.  It was really bad.  I spent a couple days writing an outline for it and making banners before coming to the conclusion that it was way too ridiculous and would only ruin a series I was really proud of.  I've basically cut myself off from writing sequels anymore, unless it's for my silly pandaskunk series.

I can see why you started that thread then! Poor Nick. First cancer, then a lung transplant. Kid can't catch a break.

I think a series is hard to do unless it all comes up at once and you realize that trying to cram it all in one story would be a monstrous undertaking. And especially if you had moved on to other things at that point. I loved that went all the way to making banners for it before writing. That's dedication.

Yes!  You should definitely save up for a VIP and a future BSB cruise.  What my little 2007 self did not know at that time is that I would finally meet them for the first time the following summer - by paying for a VIP with my newly-earned adult salary, of course LOL.  It used to be more affordable during the Unbreakable, TIU, and IAWLT tours - still expensive, but like half the price it is now.  Still worth it to cross off an item on your bucket list though!

I went on the 2011, 2013, and 2014 cruises, and they were a lot of fun.  Then they started making them longer and moving them to May, which didn't work well with work.  I hope they do more someday.  I would totally go on another one.  That's how I met most of the AC people I've met in real life.  Hawaii sounds great too!

Oh man, missed out on so much! If anyone is interested in cruising or Hawaii or kidnapping Rose in Vegas, holler at your girl? Not sure I could convince my husband it was worth his time, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 02, 2021, 06:13:34 PM
LOL Making a banner is still often a part of my early story-planning process.  I can't start a story without at least a working title, and once I've got a title I like and some time to play around with graphics, I inevitably end up making a banner.  I love making banners!  (Sorry, Mare LOL.)

Absolutely, when things get back to normal and they start announcing new events, we'll have to plan a meet-up!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 02, 2021, 06:39:34 PM
Yup, even though lots of things have changed, my hatred of banners is still there lol
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 06:56:49 PM
LOL Making a banner is still often a part of my early story-planning process.  I can't start a story without at least a working title, and once I've got a title I like and some time to play around with graphics, I inevitably end up making a banner.  I love making banners!  (Sorry, Mare LOL.)

Absolutely, when things get back to normal and they start announcing new events, we'll have to plan a meet-up!

See, I usually start planning a story and then stress over a title once it's time to post it. I think the only titles that came fairly quickly was "Pandora's Box" and then "Pandora's Necklace." Other than that, I have to shop around a story for a while.

I was never very good at making banners, so I think I often went without or in the case of PBox et all, have decided to continue using the same 200 x 200 banner someone made for PBox back when that was the largest banner AC allowed. I always wondered why Mare didn't make that rule come back.

That would be fun! I'm down once I have a vaccine!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 02, 2021, 06:57:54 PM
Yup, even though lots of things have changed, my hatred of banners is still there lol

You wouldn't be the same without it, so I'm glad it's still persisting. :)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 01:21:37 PM
Here's a question for today as I keep going through my AJ chapter and have distracted myself with a minor edit now that feels like it has major implications later...

Where do you fall on the planning scale? Do you have everything planned before you write a single word? (planning) Do you just start writing and let the muses takes you? (pantsing) Are you some combination of the two? (plantsing)

If you're writing away perfectly contentedly and a great idea pops up for far down the line, what do you do to keep it at bay? Would you drop everything to write it? If you have an outline, do you ever go back and change it or are you very rigid about it? Same with characters?

What do you finalize first? Characters or plot?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 02:36:30 PM
I'm definitely a planner.  I don't plan out every detail in advance, but I do typically outline or at least put a summary of the general plot - beginning, middle, and end - on paper before I start writing the actual story.  How detailed my outline gets depends on the story.

The one I'm writing now, The Road to Bethlehem, is a pretty straightforwar d series of events that take place over just a few days, so its outline is short.  It's mainly just a summary of the events and some research notes on the setting.  I haven't planned it out chapter by chapter; I've just been writing it one scene at a time, always thinking ahead to what will happen next and which guy I will focus on, since I'm trying to keep it balanced between all five boys' perspectives.

With stories that have more intricate plots or time-sensitive details to keep track of, I tend to keep a more detailed outline.  For example, Secrets of the Heart had two separate but interwoven storylines that took place months apart and were told out of order, so I did outline that one chapter by chapter to help me figure out the best order to tell it in.  Curtain Call had a detailed timeline for an outline because I was working in real life events from the This Is Us tour with fictional events and had to keep track of when everything happened.

I do change my outlines as I get new ideas, but I don't usually change the basic plot points I planned out at the beginning.  It's more just adding details that fill in the gaps to help get me from the beginning to the middle to the end.  If I get a great idea for far down the line, I'll write it down in my outline so I don't forget, but I don't write actual scenes out of order.

My ideas tend to be plot-based, so I focus on the plot first.  Then I work on any fictional characters I'll need.  I usually already know which Boy(s) the story will be about based on the plot.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 03:24:31 PM
I'm team plantser over here. I'll usually have a vague idea of things that I write down, major answers to major ideas basically and then I just write. I think I have more fun pantsing because unexpected things often happen, but when I know that something is going to be major down the line or will keep coming up, I go hardcore planner: maps, character charts, outlines on everything from plot to character growth arcs to tropes that appear in different parts of the story, whole documents of research references. I usually have the beginning down, end is kind of vague, middle gets kind of squiggly, then I usually figure out the end for sure around chapter 15? That sounds about right. I learned with PBox the first time that it's better for me to settle into a story before fully deciding the end, because sometimes someone annoying will tell you that they're not interested in the story ending that way and have other ideas for their journey... (*cough* Nick *cough* Still love you!)

Curtain Call had a detailed timeline for an outline because I was working in real life events from the This Is Us tour with fictional events and had to keep track of when everything happened.

I've never written an "on tour" story for the sheer fear that being really dedicated to the real timeline gives me. I'd rather be vague about it.

I made a major change in my outline today after reading about Gypsydoodle and the chips, haha. I was laughing along and then went, "OMG! This is way better! Get this lightening out of your head and on paper!" Then hurriedly and excitedly wrote it all down. I used to go chapter by chapter, but these days I've found it's more motivating for me if I write what's interesting to me and then fill in the gaps, even if it's just a little dialogue exchange that comes later than where I'm at.

As time goes, I find that initially my plots tend to react to the characters more than the characters react to the plots, so the direction I've gone now is "where are these characters at in their growth and what does the plot need to do for them to get from A to B?" Then go back and get them reacting to the events of the plot.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 03:28:52 PM
The one I'm writing now, The Road to Bethlehem, is a pretty straightforwar d series of events that take place over just a few days, so its outline is short.  It's mainly just a summary of the events and some research notes on the setting.  I haven't planned it out chapter by chapter; I've just been writing it one scene at a time, always thinking ahead to what will happen next and which guy I will focus on, since I'm trying to keep it balanced between all five boys' perspectives.

With stories that have more intricate plots or time-sensitive details to keep track of, I tend to keep a more detailed outline.  For example, Secrets of the Heart had two separate but interwoven storylines that took place months apart and were told out of order, so I did outline that one chapter by chapter to help me figure out the best order to tell it in.

Do you find it hard to keep perspectives balanced? And do they tend to lean toward anyone in particular in any of your writing?

And that sounds like a tough, but fun challenge for Secrets of the Heart! Like This Is Us (the show, not the album)!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 03:50:06 PM
I've never written an "on tour" story for the sheer fear that being really dedicated to the real timeline gives me. I'd rather be vague about it.

It definitely required a lot of research, but it was a fun challenge for that story to see how much I could make my fictional storyline fit with real events.  I wouldn't want to do that all the time though.


As time goes, I find that initially my plots tend to react to the characters more than the characters react to the plots, so the direction I've gone now is "where are these characters at in their growth and what does the plot need to do for them to get from A to B?" Then go back and get them reacting to the events of the plot.

That is probably a good way to plan.  Sometimes I wish my stories were more character-driven.  I tend to either gently guide my characters in the direction I want them to go or hurl obstacles at them until they're forced to go that way LOL.  They don't usually get to decide.


Do you find it hard to keep perspectives balanced? And do they tend to lean toward anyone in particular in any of your writing?

And that sounds like a tough, but fun challenge for Secrets of the Heart! Like This Is Us (the show, not the album)!

I definitely tend to focus most on Nick and Brian.  I've written stories where I alternate between different characters' point of view in a set way, or like in Song for the Undead, we made sure each character got a chapter within each ten-chapter arc, but in Bethlehem, I've just been trying to decide which perspective works best for each particular scene.  So it's not perfectly balanced, but each boy has had his moment in the spotlight.

Aww, This Is Us.  Yeah, Secrets was a little like the pilot of that show, where you don't realize the storylines are taking place in totally different time periods or how they'll connect until the end.  It was a hard story to write, but I'm happy with how it turned out.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 04:02:52 PM
That is probably a good way to plan.  Sometimes I wish my stories were more character-driven.  I tend to either gently guide my characters in the direction I want them to go or hurl obstacles at them until they're forced to go that way LOL.  They don't usually get to decide.

My life is basically Nick telling me what he wants to do and over time I have learned that he will never shut up about it, so I just go with it at this point, haha. At least PBox Nick is that way regardless of the obstacles I throw at him, persistent little guy that he is. I think I trend character-based way now more than I did in the past because the only stories I've ever committed to finishing and/or finished were the ones that ended up being more about the characters than the plot. Ones where I was like "This plot is good!" are pretty much abandoned forever. Sorry everyone who liked anything I wrote that wasn't PBox, possibly Gobosei, and some original fiction you've never seen. If you want to know what was going to happen, I can probably summarize. I have long ago lost anything that had to do with any of them if they're not those two, so summary is what you'll get.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 04:06:24 PM
It definitely required a lot of research, but it was a fun challenge for that story to see how much I could make my fictional storyline fit with real events.  I wouldn't want to do that all the time though.

Aww, This Is Us.  Yeah, Secrets was a little like the pilot of that show, where you don't realize the storylines are taking place in totally different time periods or how they'll connect until the end.  It was a hard story to write, but I'm happy with how it turned out.

It seems like you've run the gambit on challenging yourself with your writing (which I feel like I already knew, but I'm channeling Mare in the Featured Story threads apparently). What was your favorite challenge to yourself? What was your least favorite? Is there something you haven't tried yet that you wanted to try?

Obviously all questions are open to everyone even though I addressed this one at Julie in particular.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 06:07:09 PM
This isn't a question, but Julie you've destroyed me. I can't write or read "erratically" anymore without laughing so hard and I apparently like to use it with a decent amount of regularity from chapter to chapter.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 06:50:17 PM
Aw, a guest is reading my old PBox thread. Hey guest, go read my new update thread instead if you're interested in PBox. It has fun behind the scenes tidbits. Or this thread is good too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 07:39:21 PM
My life is basically Nick telling me what he wants to do and over time I have learned that he will never shut up about it, so I just go with it at this point, haha. At least PBox Nick is that way regardless of the obstacles I throw at him, persistent little guy that he is. I think I trend character-based way now more than I did in the past because the only stories I've ever committed to finishing and/or finished were the ones that ended up being more about the characters than the plot. Ones where I was like "This plot is good!" are pretty much abandoned forever. Sorry everyone who liked anything I wrote that wasn't PBox, possibly Gobosei, and some original fiction you've never seen. If you want to know what was going to happen, I can probably summarize. I have long ago lost anything that had to do with any of them if they're not those two, so summary is what you'll get.

That makes sense.  It's easier to stick with stories where you're really invested in the characters, which may not always be the case with a plot-driven story.


It seems like you've run the gambit on challenging yourself with your writing (which I feel like I already knew, but I'm channeling Mare in the Featured Story threads apparently). What was your favorite challenge to yourself? What was your least favorite? Is there something you haven't tried yet that you wanted to try?

Obviously all questions are open to everyone even though I addressed this one at Julie in particular.

Aw, thanks!  My favorite was probably seeing if I could write a BSB slash and take it seriously.  I started with a short story and had fun with it, so I expanded it into an 80-chapter novel.  It helped me understand the appeal of slash and made me more open-minded to reading it.

I'm not sure that I have a least favorite.  Something I probably should try at some point is writing an original fiction.  It's been a long time since I've written anything that wasn't BSB fanfic.  It's a comfortable niche to write in because it comes with already created "characters" and a built-in audience of readers, but there's no respect in writing fanfic (especially real person fanfic) outside of the fandom it's for.  Maybe someday I'll get an idea for an original novel and branch out.  But in the meantime, I'm content to keep writing BSB fic.

What about you?  Same questions, back at ya!


This isn't a question, but Julie you've destroyed me. I can't write or read "erratically" anymore with laughing so hard and I apparently like to use it with a decent amount of regularity from chapter to chapter.

It is a great word!  Once you realize it has a much different meaning from "erotically" LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 08:06:08 PM
That makes sense.  It's easier to stick with stories where you're really invested in the characters, which may not always be the case with a plot-driven story.

I feel like it's that way when I'm reading something too. I'll care a lot more about it if I'm invested in the characters.

Aw, thanks!  My favorite was probably seeing if I could write a BSB slash and take it seriously.  I started with a short story and had fun with it, so I expanded it into an 80-chapter novel.  It helped me understand the appeal of slash and made me more open-minded to reading it.

Woah! 80 chapters? I think I'm most impressed by the fact that you turned a short story into a novel! If I go into something to write a short story, even if it was fun, I wrap it up in a bow and call it a day.

Something I probably should try at some point is writing an original fiction.

I know you always have projects lined up, but since you still enjoy fanfic a worthwhile exercise might be to take a more AU story you've written where it's not as heavily wrapped up in "these are for sure the Backstreet Boys" (which I have questions to ask people about this, but it's probably a topic for a different time so I don't derail myself) and try to change the more BSB aspects of it. I know Mare did this with one of her stories... The one with the tree on the cover and they're all brothers and the sister died? The title is escaping me right now. And I think Rose did it once as well, or started to anyway. Then it would still be kind of BSB-esque but you could toy around with character building more.

TIt is a great word!  Once you realize it has a much different meaning from "erotically" LOL.

Oh I mean I use it a lot because it's a great word! But all I think of now is "erotically." I was reading a snippet in my snippets document where the exact line is: “They all said when I’m not calm, my powers will probably be erratic.” And I cracked up so hard because in my head it's definitely: “They all said when I’m not calm, my powers will probably be erotic.” Which the implications of are just hilarious! (especially in context) Maybe now that this is out there somewhere, it will be less funny as time goes on... Probably not!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 08:25:59 PM
What about you?  Same questions, back at ya!

I poked around for a second while I pondered this instead of staring at this reply box.

I think I've tried just about everything at one point or another just to try it out with varying degrees of success, especially in the post PBox days where I would push fantasy anything as far away as possible just from being exhausted mentally. I've mostly enjoyed this editing adventure. It's been fun to go back to something and try to make it better.  What else... Slash was an interesting adventure. I'd read any of them as long as the story was good (I'm not really into pwp for any pairings), but I don't think I would try writing another one. I don't know. Those ones come top of mind as things I either didn't really do in the past or said I would never try.

I'm having a tough time thinking of a least favorite since I think there's value in trying anything different in your writing. I guess a very long time ago, I tried writing a fanfic that was basically "the history of the Backstreet Boys, but a fanfic" and I hated keeping track of real life events in detail, so I stopped writing it. So maybe that? And thank goodness I did, because otherwise I would still be writing it?

I guess writing a full sex scene is the only thing I haven't done yet as I mentioned earlier, so I guess that's my challenge to myself this year. Whether that version will be the one that ends up in the story is up in the air though.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 08:26:39 PM
Woah! 80 chapters? I think I'm most impressed by the fact that you turned a short story into a novel! If I go into something to write a short story, even if it was fun, I wrap it up in a bow and call it a day.

Yep!  I had an idea going in to the short story for how it could become this whole other thing, but I decided to write it as a standalone story first and see how it went before committing to a whole novel.  The short story ended up just being the back story for the premise of the novel.

I know you always have projects lined up, but since you still enjoy fanfic a worthwhile exercise might be to take a more AU story you've written where it's not as heavily wrapped up in "these are for sure the Backstreet Boys" (which I have questions to ask people about this, but it's probably a topic for a different time so I don't derail myself) and try to change the more BSB aspects of it. I know Mare did this with one of her stories... The one with the tree on the cover and they're all brothers and the sister died? The title is escaping me right now. And I think Rose did it once as well, or started to anyway. Then it would still be kind of BSB-esque but you could toy around with character building more.

This is basically what I did with Secrets of the Heart, which is an AU.  I started that story around the time I was thinking of trying rewrite Broken as an original YA novel, which never happened.  I wrote Secrets in a way that it would be easy to make it work as an OF if I changed the characters' names.  Brian and AJ are the main characters, but they don't know each other.  Brian is a high school music teacher, and AJ runs a record shop, so there's still the music element there, but nothing boybandy about it.  The other three are in it in very minor roles - I think Kevin is still Brian's cousin, Nick has a small part as a substitute teacher at Brian's school, and Howie is AJ's friend who works in his shop.  Although I tried to make Brian and AJ still keep a lot of their same personality traits, I don't think they would be recognizable to a reader who didn't know this was a BSB fanfic if I changed their names.  They each have a fictional significant other who also play an important role in the story.  I know it would still need a ton of editing if I ever tried to get it published, which is not my plan at this point in time, but I do think that's a good way to bridge the gap between fanfic and original fiction.

Mel's Tree is Mare's novel you're thinking of!

Oh I mean I use it a lot because it's a great word! But all I think of now is "erotically." I was reading a snippet in my snippets document where the exact line is: “They all said when I’m not calm, my powers will probably be erratic.” And I cracked up so hard because in my head it's definitely: “They all said when I’m not calm, my powers will probably be erotic.” Which the implications of are just hilarious! (especially in context) Maybe now that this is out there somewhere, it will be less funny as time goes on... Probably not!

If that was Nick's line, I could see him having erotic powers LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 08:41:31 PM
Yep!  I had an idea going in to the short story for how it could become this whole other thing, but I decided to write it as a standalone story first and see how it went before committing to a whole novel.  The short story ended up just being the back story for the premise of the novel.

That's fun, I love it! What a fun little extra to have for your website.

This is basically what I did with Secrets of the Heart, which is an AU.  I started that story around the time I was thinking of trying rewrite Broken as an original YA novel, which never happened.  I wrote Secrets in a way that it would be easy to make it work as an OF if I changed the characters' names. I know it would still need a ton of editing if I ever tried to get it published, which is not my plan at this point in time, but I do think that's a good way to bridge the gap between fanfic and original fiction.

Before I keep going, can leg choppage be in a YA novel? What pushes it out of YA rating?

Now, back on topic! That story sounds interesting based on this description. Will add it to my peruse list. See the names/descriptions bit has been something I've been tossing around in my head. Because it seems to me that you could keep a name if you changed the description (but not both and probably Brian over AJ) or you could keep a description over a name, but probably only one, maybe two of them. If you have this story where there's five main characters (less so with this one since the other three sound like more minor additions) and they look like BSB and seem like BSB and especially if they were in a band together, but they weren't BSB in the story... I feel like the Boys could take that as defamation of character at the very least, and possibly escalate all the way up to copyright infringement. Which seems just not that worth it. But then how do you un-BSB it enough but not too much that it's an entirely different story? Ugh. A Pandora's Box I wasn't ready to open (pun intended).

Mel's Tree is Mare's novel you're thinking of!

If that was Nick's line, I could see him having erotic powers LOL.

Thank you, yes! I thought Tree was in the title.

Hahahaha. You know, I can't say because spoilers, but I think plenty of people assumed actual Nick did over the years.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 08:42:47 PM
I poked around for a second while I pondered this instead of staring at this reply box.

I think I've tried just about everything at one point or another just to try it out with varying degrees of success, especially in the post PBox days where I would push fantasy anything as far away as possible just from being exhausted mentally. I've mostly enjoyed this editing adventure. It's been fun to go back to something and try to make it better.  What else... Slash was an interesting adventure. I'd read any of them as long as the story was good (I'm not really into pwp for any pairings), but I don't think I would try writing another one. I don't know. Those ones come top of mind as things I either didn't really do in the past or said I would never try.

I'm having a tough time thinking of a least favorite since I think there's value in trying anything different in your writing. I guess a very long time ago, I tried writing a fanfic that was basically "the history of the Backstreet Boys, but a fanfic" and I hated keeping track of real life events in detail, so I stopped writing it. So maybe that? And thank goodness I did, because otherwise I would still be writing it?

I guess writing a full sex scene is the only thing I haven't done yet as I mentioned earlier, so I guess that's my challenge to myself this year. Whether that version will be the one that ends up in the story is up in the air though.

Kudos to you for this editing adventure you've embarked on!  The only time I've gone back to a story that was already posted online and drastically revised it (more actual rewriting than just fixing typos and other tiny mistakes) was with Code Blue, and that was a terrible experience.  I may have made the story a bit better, but it also killed my inspiration for it, which never really recovered.  The fact that it was a collaboration probably made it harder to keep the momentum going, but I vowed I would never do that again with a fanfic.  It would be different if I was trying to get a manuscript published, as I know there's a ton of significant editing required with that.

I feel the same way about writing slash.  It was fun because it was something different for me, but I feel like I put everything I had into that one.  It would take a really good (and much different) idea for me to write another.

I also agree that there's value in trying anything new, even if it doesn't pan out.  Experimenting helps us grow and gives us more experience to draw on in the future.  A history of BSB fanfic sounds cool, but I could see how that would get overwhelming!

Good luck with your sex scene!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 08:56:33 PM
Before I keep going, can leg choppage be in a YA novel? What pushes it out of YA rating?

Sure!  It wasn't like "Saw" leg choppage LOL; he lost his leg to bone cancer.  Nothing inappropriate about that.  Actually, Lurlene McDaniel, who was my favorite YA author as a tween, published a novel during that same time period when I was thinking of rewriting Broken about a swimmer who had his leg amputated due to cancer and later committed suicide.  Broken at least had a happy ending LOL.

Editing to add I also read a fantastic YA novel last year that I almost forgot about called "The Running Dream" that was about a track star who loses her leg after a car accident and learns to run again with a prosthesis.  It took me right back to researching for Broken.  But yeah, choppage can and has been done in YA fiction.

Now, back on topic! That story sounds interesting based on this description. Will add it to my peruse list. See the names/descriptions bit has been something I've been tossing around in my head. Because it seems to me that you could keep a name if you changed the description (but not both and probably Brian over AJ) or you could keep a description over a name, but probably only one, maybe two of them. If you have this story where there's five main characters (less so with this one since the other three sound like more minor additions) and they look like BSB and seem like BSB and especially if they were in a band together, but they weren't BSB in the story... I feel like the Boys could take that as defamation of character at the very least, and possibly escalate all the way up to copyright infringement. Which seems just not that worth it. But then how do you un-BSB it enough but not too much that it's an entirely different story? Ugh. A Pandora's Box I wasn't ready to open (pun intended).

I think you could keep the characters in a band if you changed the names.  A boyband might still be too obvious, but a rock band or something would be less recognizable.  Personality traits and even physical descriptions would be less obvious, especially to readers who weren't BSB fans and didn't know it was originally written as a fanfic.  I think it'd be much easier to de-Backstreetize a story that doesn't revolve around them being famous and touring and stuff, so a fantasy might be more doable.  Is that what you're hoping to do with PBox?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 08:59:13 PM
Kudos to you for this editing adventure you've embarked on!  The only time I've gone back to a story that was already posted online and drastically revised it (more actual rewriting than just fixing typos and other tiny mistakes) was with Code Blue, and that was a terrible experience.  I may have made the story a bit better, but it also killed my inspiration for it, which never really recovered.  The fact that it was a collaboration probably made it harder to keep the momentum going, but I vowed I would never do that again with a fanfic.  It would be different if I was trying to get a manuscript published, as I know there's a ton of significant editing required with that.

I've actually had the most fun when I hacked and slashed or wrote new things that I glossed over originally. It's the tiny editing that's killing me slowly because what's there is essentially what I wanted to say, but I want to say it better, cleaner, and more exciting than I did initially.

I think it would be hard to edit a collaboration all by yourself even if it's already been written for a while. It loses the feel of a collaboration at that point (the different perspectives and ideas), that would likely also improve the edit.

If I remember correctly, when you're publishing, something like 80% of what you write ends up being editing. At that point, you're more edits than original. I think there's an author (though can't remember who at this point) that said they write every novel twice. First they write it, then they erase the entire thing and rewrite it from memory. And then they edit that version. Though it might be chapter by chapter, not necessarily writing the whole novel and then rewriting it because that sounds like an exercise in torture.

I've never done that. Could be interesting for a shorter story, but not something I'd want to commit to for PNecklace or something like that!

I also agree that there's value in trying anything new, even if it doesn't pan out.  Experimenting helps us grow and gives us more experience to draw on in the future.  A history of BSB fanfic sounds cool, but I could see how that would get overwhelming!

Good luck with your sex scene!

That's me. Great at ideas, terrible at execution! Anybody wants them, take them.

Thanks! I will do my best to not laugh the whole time and not make it terrible. No promises.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 03, 2021, 09:00:31 PM
 
See, I'm doing this right now for If I Knew Then. I've written about them on tour before. In Weird World. But this is the first time I've ever followed an actual timeline because most of the time I don't have outlines of what I want to happen in my story. With this one I'm using a real timeline of actual events and it's helping a little bit, but I just have to fill in the rest with dialogue and whatnot. I feel like the timeline has helped tremendously to make the story more realistic. I have a general idea of what I'd like to happen. It's just getting there lol.




It definitely required a lot of research, but it was a fun challenge for that story to see how much I could make my fictional storyline fit with real events.  I wouldn't want to do that all the time though.


That is probably a good way to plan.  Sometimes I wish my stories were more character-driven.  I tend to either gently guide my characters in the direction I want them to go or hurl obstacles at them until they're forced to go that way LOL.  They don't usually get to decide.


I definitely tend to focus most on Nick and Brian.  I've written stories where I alternate between different characters' point of view in a set way, or like in Song for the Undead, we made sure each character got a chapter within each ten-chapter arc, but in Bethlehem, I've just been trying to decide which perspective works best for each particular scene.  So it's not perfectly balanced, but each boy has had his moment in the spotlight.

Aww, This Is Us.  Yeah, Secrets was a little like the pilot of that show, where you don't realize the storylines are taking place in totally different time periods or how they'll connect until the end.  It was a hard story to write, but I'm happy with how it turned out.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 09:15:57 PM
I think it would be hard to edit a collaboration all by yourself even if it's already been written for a while. It loses the feel of a collaboration at that point (the different perspectives and ideas), that would likely also improve the edit.

Yeah, it was a disaster.  I talked my original co-writer into revising it because I thought we could make it so much better than the original version, but she bailed on me shortly after we started.  So I recruited more co-writers to help me finish, and we basically wasted all our motivation on rewriting what was already there and then ran out of steam before we got around to continuing the story from that point.  This was my first time learning that huge collaborations don't last long, a lesson I would learn again with 00Carter LOL.  It might work out better if I was trying to revise one of my own stories by myself, but I just don't have the motivation.  If I ever did, it would be with one of my very old stories that had a good idea but poor execution.  I don't think I would ever try it with something like Broken that has flaws, but was well-liked by readers.  It would feel too much like George Lucas constantly going back and changing the original Star Wars trilogy.  Just leave it alone!  (I am not comparing Broken to Star Wars by any means. That is just the first example that came to mind of a writer taking something that people liked and messing with it much later.)

What I've found myself sort of unintentionall y doing instead is taking ideas from my very old stories and writing new stories that take that basic idea and twist it into something totally different.  That has been more fun for me because I can explore some of the same topics that interested me back then, but write about them with more depth and maturity than I could have as a teenager.

If I remember correctly, when you're publishing, something like 80% of what you write ends up being editing. At that point, you're more edits than original. I think there's an author (though can't remember who at this point) that said they write every novel twice. First they write it, then they erase the entire thing and rewrite it from memory. And then they edit that version. Though it might be chapter by chapter, not necessarily writing the whole novel and then rewriting it because that sounds like an exercise in torture.

That whole thing sounds like an exercise in torture to me! LOL  This is why I will never publish a novel unless I self-publish it because I can never see myself committing to that level of editing.

Mare, how much editing did you have to do with Mel's Tree, and what was that like?

Thanks! I will do my best to not laugh the whole time and not make it terrible. No promises.

I have written several sex scenes, and I think I laughed through every one.  Especially the slashy ones!  So much giggling.  And they're probably all terrible!  But I tried LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 09:19:43 PM
Sure!  It wasn't like "Saw" leg choppage LOL; he lost his leg to bone cancer.  Nothing inappropriate about that.  Actually, Lurlene McDaniel, who was my favorite YA author as a tween, published a novel during that same time period when I was thinking of rewriting Broken about a swimmer who had his leg amputated due to cancer and later committed suicide.  Broken at least had a happy ending LOL.

Editing to add I also read a fantastic YA novel last year that I almost forgot about called "The Running Dream" that was about a track star who loses her leg after a car accident and learns to run again with a prosthesis.  It took me right back to researching for Broken.  But yeah, choppage can and has been done in YA fiction.

I guess I always want to remember it as "Saw" leg choppage, even though I know it's not. OMG, poor Nick if he had the cancer, then the leg choppage, then the car accident, then the lung transplant, and then committed suicide. I'm laughing, but it feels so mean!

I remember hearing that one was good! I always love a good YA novel even as an adult.

I think you could keep the characters in a band if you changed the names.  A boyband might still be too obvious, but a rock band or something would be less recognizable.  Personality traits and even physical descriptions would be less obvious, especially to readers who weren't BSB fans and didn't know it was originally written as a fanfic.  I think it'd be much easier to de-Backstreetize a story that doesn't revolve around them being famous and touring and stuff, so a fantasy might be more doable.  Is that what you're hoping to do with PBox?

I've toyed with it as it's spent more and more time in my head/heart, but especially after Nick came running back to gnaw at my brain and as I've been editing. Without giving too much away on my future plot plans, a lot of the entire story (PBox et al. if you will) and its central themes revolve around them actually being boy bands even though most of it's set in a fantastical world. Like PBox was actually about the idea [spoiler ahead, skip it if you care about being spoiled and don't want to know! If you don't care, go ahead and look at it.] [spoiler]"why does the media treat boy bands like 'your time is up and now you're locked up like monsters and no one really remembers you' even when that boy band says 'hey, as long as there's music, there's value in all music, even after it's forgotten'."[/spoiler] I give away a lot about PBox, but I feel like that might a spoiler more than who lives and dies at this point. And I know it's not your thing, so have all the spoils! That and a lot of the beginning has some suspicious seeming similarities with a manga that one of my friends handed me after I let them read some of PBox saying "I think you'll like this." And at the time I was like "Oh no!" and then "Oh well, it's a fanfic and I can always just say the truth, that I hadn't read it at the time." But if I did try to publish it, I would definitely have to overhaul some aspects of the beginning a lot for that reason. That and minimizing all the song imagery would be a hassle!

But as I've said, toyed. And I definitely thought about asking how it went for anyone who's done it. But again, I didn't want to derail my progress at this time and I also can't imagine Nick as anyone other than Nick and a "Nickolas" is a dead giveaway (versus a Nicholas). Also my poor husband would be so confused why my published novel has his name for the main character, not even considering Nick Carter... But I think if I did, I'd go for his appearance over name, since as I said both simultaneously seems suspect.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 09:23:15 PM
See, I'm doing this right now for If I Knew Then. I've written about them on tour before. In Weird World. But this is the first time I've ever followed an actual timeline because most of the time I don't have outlines of what I want to happen in my story. With this one I'm using a real timeline of actual events and it's helping a little bit, but I just have to fill in the rest with dialogue and whatnot. I feel like the timeline has helped tremendously to make the story more realistic. I have a general idea of what I'd like to happen. It's just getting there lol.

I love it!  I've always enjoyed realistic fanfics that incorporate a lot of real life BSB events, and this one being such a throwback to 1998 makes it really fun to read.  I know stories that aren't set in a specific time period can seem more timeless, but I love the nostalgia of reading a story set in the past.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 09:27:03 PM

See, I'm doing this right now for If I Knew Then. I've written about them on tour before. In Weird World. But this is the first time I've ever followed an actual timeline because most of the time I don't have outlines of what I want to happen in my story. With this one I'm using a real timeline of actual events and it's helping a little bit, but I just have to fill in the rest with dialogue and whatnot. I feel like the timeline has helped tremendously to make the story more realistic. I have a general idea of what I'd like to happen. It's just getting there lol.

I see that you might be a pantser, circling back to a previous question. I think different things work for different people! So if it helps you, then I think it's worthwile.

Also, welcome to the thread Tracy! Good to see someone joining besides just Julie and I catching up on several years of discussion about writing. And the occasional Mare pop in.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 09:33:55 PM
I guess I always want to remember it as "Saw" leg choppage, even though I know it's not. OMG, poor Nick if he had the cancer, then the leg choppage, then the car accident, then the lung transplant, and then committed suicide. I'm laughing, but it feels so mean!

I remember hearing that one was good! I always love a good YA novel even as an adult.

That may be because of my avatar. ;)

LOL That sounds more like something from 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter... which, if you haven't come across yet, is a round robin Rose started back in 2011 that could always use new contributors. ;)  http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10669  We're still 930 deaths short of our goal!

Yeah, The Running Dream was a great read!

That and a lot of the beginning has some suspicious seeming similarities with a manga that one of my friends handed me after I let them read some of PBox saying "I think you'll like this." And at the time I was like "Oh no!" and then "Oh well, it's a fanfic and I can always just say the truth, that I hadn't read it at the time." But if I did try to publish it, I would definitely have to overhaul some aspects of the beginning a lot for that reason. That and minimizing all the song imagery would be a hassle!

But as I've said, toyed. And I definitely thought about asking how it went for anyone who's done it. But again, I didn't want to derail my progress at this time and I also can't imagine Nick as anyone other than Nick and a "Nickolas" is a dead giveaway (versus a Nicholas). Also my poor husband would be so confused why my published novel has his name for the main character, not even considering Nick Carter... But I think if I did, I'd go for his appearance over name, since as I said both simultaneously seems suspect.

I just read a thread on Reddit the other day about that - the OP was worried his/her idea was too similar to other books/movies/whatever.  The basic advice that other posters gave was that no idea is truly original, and we all (published authors included) draw inspiration from other sources.  It's only plagiarism if you directly copy one source.  If you write something that is sort of similar to several other things combined, no problem!  That was reassuring to me because I am definitely inspired by what I read and watch.  But if you never even read that manga before writing PBox, then you definitely didn't copy anything.  You and that author just had a similar idea, and that's okay.

I don't think Nickolas is a dead giveaway, unless the other characters are named Brian, AJ, Howie, and Kevin.  Carter is not the only one who spells his name with a K instead of an H.  Also, I love that you married a Nick!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 09:38:01 PM
Yeah, it was a disaster.  I talked my original co-writer into revising it because I thought we could make it so much better than the original version, but she bailed on me shortly after we started.  So I recruited more co-writers to help me finish, and we basically wasted all our motivation on rewriting what was already there and then ran out of steam before we got around to continuing the story from that point.  This was my first time learning that huge collaborations don't last long, a lesson I would learn again with 00Carter LOL.

Was that back in the original days of Code Blue or more recently? Oh 00Carter. You always made me laugh. Wish I could go back to 2008 and write some more of that again.

I don't think I would ever try it with something like Broken that has flaws, but was well-liked by readers.  It would feel too much like George Lucas constantly going back and changing the original Star Wars trilogy.  Just leave it alone!  (I am not comparing Broken to Star Wars by any means. That is just the first example that came to mind of a writer taking something that people liked and messing with it much later.)

Go ahead and compare Broken to Star Wars, haha! That was my fear with PBox, but I feel like I haven't messed with it too much in a bad way? Maybe I have. Yo Tracy, you read the original PBox and said it was a favorite, have I messed with it in a bad way? I'm asking and I don't know if I'll care if the answer is "yes." I think it's especially weird that he continues to mess with them when he's not even writing or directing any of it anymore. I think I'd mind less if he was as heavily involved with it as he was with the original trilogy. Confession time, Attack of the Clones was so bad, I have seen none of them since.

What I've found myself sort of unintentionall y doing instead is taking ideas from my very old stories and writing new stories that take that basic idea and twist it into something totally different.  That has been more fun for me because I can explore some of the same topics that interested me back then, but write about them with more depth and maturity than I could have as a teenager.

That whole thing sounds like an exercise in torture to me! LOL  This is why I will never publish a novel unless I self-publish it because I can never see myself committing to that level of editing.

I have written several sex scenes, and I think I laughed through every one.  Especially the slashy ones!  So much giggling.  And they're probably all terrible!  But I tried LOL.

I think that's a great way to do it because there's always more than one was to tell a similar story.

I think self publishing versus publishing house publishing would depend on the story for me. I honestly don't know if I'd want to put the effort into self publishing? All the other product distribution type things that go into that sound like the headache to me.

You tried! Maybe I'll laugh about it without regrets then!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 09:39:37 PM
I love the nostalgia of reading a story set in the past.

Same! Especially for BSB fanfics. Take me back to the time when we all thought they lived in the same house in Florida together a la Big Brother.

OMG, hilarious story idea. Big Brother, but it's only the Backstreet Boys. You could call it Backstreet Brothers, haha. Someone must have done that already.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 09:51:48 PM
That may be because of my avatar. ;)

LOL That sounds more like something from 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter... which, if you haven't come across yet, is a round robin Rose started back in 2011 that could always use new contributors. ;)  http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10669  We're still 930 deaths short of our goal!

You know, I think that has something to do with it and the fact that someone once said you were "she likes to chop people" instead of just "she writes Broken/BMS," haha. So in my head, it's always more intense chopping, even though, again, I know it's not.

I love that it's called "1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter" and there's only 70 of them. At this point, might "100 Ways" be more achievable? haha Is a way included that I've done that isn't there already? Because coming up with a whole new way sounds like a challenge...

I just read a thread on Reddit the other day about that - the OP was worried his/her idea was too similar to other books/movies/whatever.  The basic advice that other posters gave was that no idea is truly original, and we all (published authors included) draw inspiration from other sources.  It's only plagiarism if you directly copy one source.  If you write something that is sort of similar to several other things combined, no problem!  That was reassuring to me because I am definitely inspired by what I read and watch.  But if you never even read that manga before writing PBox, then you definitely didn't copy anything.  You and that author just had a similar idea, and that's okay.

I don't think Nickolas is a dead giveaway, unless the other characters are named Brian, AJ, Howie, and Kevin.  Carter is not the only one who spells his name with a K instead of an H.  Also, I love that you married a Nick!

You're right on that which was part of my "oh well" with it at the time, like Star Wars is basically samurais in space. I think publishing though, there's too many similarities that I would feel bad doing that to one of my favorite manga artists, and worse yet on the whole copyright infringement biz. Poor PBox, I'd feel so sad if I got sued over it, especially having read it now and knowing that it has the potential to be an issue.

Yeah, but a blond haired blue eyed Nickolas in a boy band would be a dead giveaway, I think, even without running around with AJ, Brian, Kevin, and Howie. Especially if he had luscious locks of 90's hair.

My MOH said at my bridal shower, "The universe works in mysterious ways. If you really wanted to marry Nick Carter, you should have stopped being on a first name basis with him and been more specific." haha
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 10:09:04 PM
Was that back in the original days of Code Blue or more recently? Oh 00Carter. You always made me laugh. Wish I could go back to 2008 and write some more of that again.

It was a long time ago.  Code Blue's original run was like 2002-2003.  Then I went on to write Broken and got better at writing medical drama, so when I came back to Code Blue, I was like, "Oh, we can totally improve this."  I think the big rewrite started in 2006, and the story was last updated in 2007.

I miss 00Carter too.  That one has never been officially discontinued.  The last episode we posted was a Christmas one in 2012, which I think ended up being written by just Rose, Lore, and me because everyone else had bailed by then.  We have two more episodes started, but I think it just got to a point where we got frustrated with it and let it fizzle out as we moved on to other projects.  But I have such fond memories of the good old days with that story.

I think it's especially weird that he continues to mess with with when he's not even writing or directing any of it anymore. I think I'd mind less if he was as heavily involved with it as he was with the original trilogy. Confession time, Attack of the Clones was so bad, I have seen none of them since.

I hope he's not still messing with them, but he made a bunch of changes after the prequel series came out that a lot of people hated.  For example, at the end of Return of the Jedi (which is my favorite SW movie), Darth Vader does a really cheesy "No... noooo!" as he turns on the Emperor to save Luke.  It's so cringe-worthy and ruins an otherwise great moment.  They also replaced the original Ewok "yub nub" song at the end with instrumental music and added scenes of people celebrating around the galaxy, which is not necessarily bad, but I miss the Ewok song.  And then when Luke sees Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Anakin as Force Ghosts at the end as he's burning his dad's body, it's now Hayden Christensen instead of the old Anakin.  That is the change I mind the least because at least then Anakin is recognizable.

The only SW movie I really can't stand is The Phantom Menace.  Between annoying Jar Jar Binks and the bad acting of young Anakin, it's hard to watch.  Attack of the Clones has terrible, cheesy dialogue, but I found it entertaining.  I actually love Revenge of the Sith; that is the best of the prequel trilogy by far.  I liked the sequel trilogy too, but the originals will always be the best.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 10:10:34 PM
Same! Especially for BSB fanfics. Take me back to the time when we all thought they lived in the same house in Florida together a la Big Brother.

OMG, hilarious story idea. Big Brother, but it's only the Backstreet Boys. You could call it Backstreet Brothers, haha. Someone must have done that already.

Yes!  I don't know how closely you followed them in 2012, but do you know they rented a house in London and lived together for a month that summer to write for IAWLT?  It was so fanfic of them! LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 10:14:52 PM
You know, I think that has something to do with it and the fact that someone once said you were "she likes to chop people" instead of just "she writes Broken/BMS," haha. So in my head, it's always more intense chopping, even though, again, I know it's not.

I think the avy came after that horror challenge story I wrote in like 2008 where they all lost limbs or heads.  That was definitely more Saw level choppage, and that's what gave me the title of Choppage Queen.

My MOH said at my bridal shower, "The universe works in mysterious ways. If you really wanted to marry Nick Carter, you should have stopped being on a first name basis with him and been more specific." haha

LOL!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 10:18:18 PM
It was a long time ago. I think the big rewrite started in 2006, and the story was last updated in 2007.

I miss 00Carter too.  That one has never been officially discontinued.  The last episode we posted was a Christmas one in 2012. But I have such fond memories of the good old days with that story.

I would say I was surprised Rose roped you into 00Carter (other than her being so convincing, so I'm not) because didn't it start right around that time? I'm sure the collaboration-based frustration would have been high.

Four to five years? That's a pretty good run for a collaboration. I guess the nice thing about either of those are that they're only vaguely episode to episode plot so if the urge to jump back in ever struck, it wouldn't be too hard. I say that not knowing how many chapters 00Carter ended up with.

I hope he's not still messing with them, but he made a bunch of changes after the prequel series came out that a lot of people hated.  I liked the sequel trilogy too, but the originals will always be the best.

Didn't he add a bunch of weird CGI to the originals too? I always liked Return of the Jedi.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 10:23:41 PM
Yes!  I don't know how closely you followed them in 2012, but do you know they rented a house in London and lived together for a month that summer to write for IAWLT?  It was so fanfic of them! LOL

I did not follow them that close in 2012 because I was at a point of trying to separate the Boys from being active in the fandom and it was a bit hard to reconcile, so we took a tiny break from each other until the album came out. But, I think I remember them saying that in the documentary? I know I knew it from somewhere because I for sure tiny squeed when I found that out whenever that was.

I wonder how many other things they've done that are more fanfic of them?

I think the avy came after that horror challenge story I wrote in like 2008 where they all lost limbs or heads.  That was definitely more Saw level choppage, and that's what gave me the title of Choppage Queen.

You had to live up to your reputation eventually and amoeba Nick needed to exist! Chop all their body parts.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 10:40:49 PM
I feel like the timeline has helped tremendously to make the story more realistic.

This is only slightly related to this, but I wanted to mention it. At some point when I was poking around this past month, I stumbled on your thread about wanting help on colleges and fraternities, but didn't reply because it was old and you've probably either long finished or long abandoned the story in question. Just wanted to say that I would have loved to have helped you and if you (or anybody) ever needs research help with anything I have first hand experience with, I'm happy to help and let you pick my brain. I saw my name get mentioned a few times and I kind of wish they'd reached out on your behalf. I probably would have helped back then too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 10:41:36 PM
I would say I was surprised Rose roped you into 00Carter (other than her being so convincing, so I'm not) because didn't it start right around that time? I'm sure the collaboration-based frustration would have been high.

Four to five years? That's a pretty good run for a collaboration. I guess the nice thing about either of those are that they're only vaguely episode to episode plot so if the urge to jump back in ever struck, it wouldn't be too hard. I say that not knowing how many chapters 00Carter ended up with.

Didn't he add a bunch of weird CGI to the originals too? I always liked Return of the Jedi.

LOL It took a bit of convincing for Rose to rope me into 00Carter.  Originally I was just like, "Ooh, I'll help make graphics and a Flash animation, but I don't want to write."  But that was more about the genre than the fact that it was a collaboration.  Rose was one of the people who joined the Code Blue rewrite project, so I kinda owed her.  Plus, it hadn't totally fallen apart yet at that point.

Yeah, technically it ran for five years, but not consecutively because I wrote Broken during that period and then started BMS and was pretty much obsessed with those stories.  I'm not sure what made me want to come back to Code Blue in the middle of BMS.

That is the nice thing about 00Carter - even if we never update it again, it at least has some closure because all the existing episodes are complete.

Yeah, there's a CGI Jabba in A New Hope now, and they replaced the original singer and song in Jabba's palace in RotJ with an annoying CGI alien singer and song.  I'm sure there are more examples, but those are the ones that stand out to me.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 10:44:23 PM
This is only slightly related to this, but I wanted to mention it. At some point when I was poking around this past month, I stumbled on your thread about wanting help on colleges and fraternities, but didn't reply because it was old and you've probably either long finished or long abandoned the story in question. Just wanted to say that I would have loved to have helped you and if you (or anybody) ever needs research help with anything I have first hand experience with, I'm happy to help and let you pick my brain. I saw my name get mentioned a few times and I kind of wish they'd reached out on your behalf. I probably would have helped back then too.

Tracy did finish that story, and it was really cute!  http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10986
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 10:47:20 PM
LOL It took a bit of convincing for Rose to rope me into 00Carter.  Originally I was just like, "Ooh, I'll help make graphics and a Flash animation, but I don't want to write."  But that was more of the genre than the fact that it was a collaboration.  Rose was one of the people who joined the Code Blue rewrite project, so I kinda owed her.  Plus, it hadn't totally fallen apart yet at that point.

Yeah, technically it ran for five years, but not consecutively because I wrote Broken during that period and then started BMS and was pretty much obsessed with those stories.  I'm not sure what made me want to come back to Code Blue in the middle of BMS.

That is the nice thing about 00Carter - even if we never update it again, it at least has some closure because all the existing episodes are complete.

Yeah, there's a CGI Jabba in A New Hope now, and they replaced the original singer and song in Jabba's palace in RotJ with an annoying CGI alien singer and song.  I'm sure there are more examples, but those are the ones that stand out to me.

Was there more convincing that I did not see, because I remember her pulling all her tricks out of her box! haha I loved your flash animations. I wish I could still see them. I don't know if it's a flash thing or a my computer thing, but they didn't work for me yesterday when I tried clicking.

What medical shenanigans were you on that point that Code Blue also included?

And if someone really wanted 00Carter to continue, they would just need to write a new episode. A fanfic for a fanfic, ha!

I hate pointless CGI. I don't think it made it better. I think I read/heard a joke about it once that "All the characters now have a digital twinkle added to their eye!" or something and I laughed so hard.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 10:48:23 PM
Tracy did finish that story, and it was really cute!  http://absolutechaos.net/viewstory.php?sid=10986

Oh, good to know! Glad it's done!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 10:53:20 PM
Was there more convincing that I did not see, because I remember her pulling all her tricks out of her box! haha I loved your flash animations. I wish I could still see them. I don't know if it's a flash thing or a my computer thing, but they didn't work for me yesterday when I tried clicking.

What medical shenanigans were you on that point that Code Blue also included?

And if someone really wanted 00Carter to continue, they would just need to write a new episode. A fanfic for a fanfic, ha!

I hate pointless CGI. I don't think it made it better. I think I read/heard a joke about it once that "All the characters now have a digital twinkle added to their eye!" or something and I laughed so hard.

Oh, I think she pretty much had me talked into it after a couple days of us brainstorming on here.

I was able to get two of the three flash animations from the post where we were voting on them to play.  The third link didn't work anymore, so I must have taken that one down.  You may have to enable Flash depending on what browser you used.  It's no longer supported, so browsers don't like it, but I can still play them on Chrome if I enable it.  The one that we kept is still on our website: http://www.dreamers-sanctuary.com/00carter/  I think we added on to it and turned it into a video file in 2008.  I spent a lot of time making crap on Windows Movie Maker that summer LOL.

As for BMS, I have no idea, but it may have been a lack of medical shenanigans in that particular part of the story that drove me back to Code Blue LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 10:57:41 PM
Oh, I think she pretty much had me talked into it after a couple days of us brainstorming on here.

I was able to get two of the three flash animations from the post where we were voting on them to play.  The third link didn't work anymore, so I must have taken that one down.  You may have to enable Flash depending on what browser you used.  It's no longer supported, so browsers don't like it, but I can still play them on Chrome if I enable it.  The one that we kept is still on our website: http://www.dreamers-sanctuary.com/00carter/  I think we added on to it and turned it into a video file in 2008.  I spent a lot of time making crap on Windows Movie Maker that summer LOL.

As for BMS, I have no idea, but it may have been a lack of medical shenanigans in that particular part of the story that drove me back to Code Blue LOL.

You couldn't go to all that effort to make flash animations and then not participate. Oh yeah, that's what my browser said "no flash." I remember you did. "Yeah he looks all suave until he crashes the car." haha.

Okay, so a lack of what shenanigans would drive you back to 00Carter or 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 11:02:42 PM
You couldn't go to all that effort to make flash animations and then not participate. Oh yeah, that's what my browser said "no flash." I remember you did. "Yeah he looks all suave until he crashes the car." haha.

Okay, so a lack of what shenanigans would drive you back to 00Carter or 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter?

OMG, the part where the colors just start rotating, that is classic 2008 WMM.

I love that most of it is just The Call video. It's like those "This Movie edited for different genres" videos on YouTube.

Aw, I miss you 00Carter. You were very fun.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 11:06:17 PM
You couldn't go to all that effort to make flash animations and then not participate. Oh yeah, that's what my browser said "no flash." I remember you did. "Yeah he looks all suave until he crashes the car." haha.

Okay, so a lack of what shenanigans would drive you back to 00Carter or 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter?

Oh, it would take no shenanigans whatsoever to bring me back to either story.  1000 Ways is my go to when I'm between stories, haven't written in awhile, and need something dumb to get me writing again.  It's all just separate one-shots tied together by the basic premise that Nick has to die in every one, usually in some ridiculous way, so that one can go on forever.  And I would come back to 00Carter any time others were willing to come back too.  Rose and I have talked about it, but haven't acted on it yet.  She's more into blogging than fanfic these days, and I've been wrapped up in writing other stories.  But I definitely don't consider it discontinued, not from my end.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 11:09:49 PM
OMG, the part where the colors just start rotating, that is classic 2008 WMM.

I love that most of it is just The Call video. It's like those "This Movie edited for different genres" videos on YouTube.

Aw, I miss you 00Carter. You were very fun.

LOL I know!!  I had to put that filter on because otherwise the combined clips of The Call and whatever Timberlake video I used had such different color schemes that they didn't look cohesive at all, so that made it look more like they went together.  I probably should have just used grayscale instead, but I thought that crazy rainbow effect was cool LOL.

The Call really was a perfect video for that.  It's the only really action movie type of music video they had.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 03, 2021, 11:24:56 PM
And I would come back to 00Carter any time others were willing to come back too.  Rose and I have talked about it, but haven't acted on it yet.  She's more into blogging than fanfic these days, and I've been wrapped up in writing other stories.  But I definitely don't consider it discontinued, not from my end.

This is probably heavily influenced by the nostalgia, but I would say it's a possibility on my end if it began with a live read/react-a-thon. Editing to add: And with the right contribution parameters

LOL I know!! I probably should have just used grayscale instead, but I thought that crazy rainbow effect was cool LOL.

The Call really was a perfect video for that.  It's the only really action movie type of music video they had.

No grayscale would be too serious for 00Carter. It's perfect.

Am I misremembering STMH's video? The vampires all along one? That could have worked too. If only Nick had jumped from building's like Justin. It would have been perfect.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 03, 2021, 11:37:13 PM
This is probably heavily influenced by the nostalgia, but I would say it's a possibility on my end if it began with a live read/react-a-thon. Editing to add: And with the right contribution parameters

No grayscale would be too serious for 00Carter. It's perfect.

Am I misremembering STMH's video? The vampires all along one? That could have worked too. If only Nick had jumped from building's like Justin. It would have been perfect.

Yeah, I would definitely need to do some rereading too to get back into it.  A live reading/react-a-thon sounds fun either way!  We'd have to get Rose in on that too.

STMH didn't exist yet!  But yes, it could have.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 04, 2021, 12:07:40 AM
Yes, I did read the original Pandora's Box ages ago. I absolutely love that story so very much. I haven't read it since you have updated it with the new stuff, I must do a reread. I haven't read any fic other than Julie's in a while. Although today I'm rereading The Apartment, a classic fic by Mare cause I needed something nostalgic and fun to read.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 04, 2021, 12:09:53 AM
Oh 00Carter was a huge favorite of mine too. I need to reread that I e as well. I should make a list. Lol. Someone today was asking me on Twitter for some fanfiction recommendation s. I sent her a bunch.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 12:11:00 AM
Yeah, I would definitely need to do some rereading too to get back into it.  A live reading/react-a-thon sounds fun either way!  We'd have to get Rose in on that too.

STMH didn't exist yet!  But yes, it could have.

I see that our ability to see into the future had dwindled over time, haha. And/or my ability to connect the past with dates.

I'm thinking end of March or June would work out with my school schedule. If we did Camp NaNo in July, wouldn't want to plan too much that interrupts anyone's project for that.

Of course Rose would need to be involved. I'm mostly trying to say her name or allude to her as much as possible to summon her. And everyone else too. Like Biggie Smalls.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 12:13:16 AM
Oh 00Carter was a huge favorite of mine too. I need to reread that I e as well. I should make a list. Lol. Someone today was asking me on Twitter for some fanfiction recommendation s. I sent her a bunch.

Thank you for being our only loyal reader!  :bighug:
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 12:14:30 AM
I see that our ability to see into the future had dwindled over time, haha. And/or my ability to connect the past with dates.

I'm thinking end of March or June would work out with my school schedule. If we did Camp NaNo in July, wouldn't want to plan too much that interrupts anyone's project for that.

Of course Rose would need to be involved. I'm mostly trying to say her name or allude to her as much as possible to summon her. And everyone else too. Like Biggie Smalls.

Summer would be the perfect time for a 00Carter revival!

I tweeted Rose that we were talking about 00Carter here.  She just said she's going to pop in.  It'll probably take her some time to catch up on all our chatter!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 12:28:36 AM
Yes, I did read the original Pandora's Box ages ago. I absolutely love that story so very much. I haven't read it since you have updated it with the new stuff, I must do a reread.

At this point, I would say if you remember the plot of PBox enough for PNecklace to be fully enjoyable without you going "huh?" then don't reread it until I've finished editing it. I'd hate for you to schedule a reread, get sucked in, and crash into the unedited chapters, then have to schedule a second reread at some point. Especially since I know you'd like to reread. If I knew other people were rereading it, I would tell them the same thing. Although I've noticed its little hit counter went up 1,000 since I came back and PNecklace is almost at 100, so that's fun.

Oh 00Carter was a huge favorite of mine too. I need to reread that I e as well. I should make a list. Lol. Someone today was asking me on Twitter for some fanfiction recommendation s. I sent her a bunch.

When you finish that list, post it in The Reading Thread for me, thanks. :)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 12:30:08 AM
Thank you for being our only loyal reader!  :bighug:

I echo this. Yes, thank you. It's good to know readers are still out there too and especially ones who read on top of writing. I'm being a halfer right now, sorry y'all.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 12:32:59 AM
Summer would be the perfect time for a 00Carter revival!

I tweeted Rose that we were talking about 00Carter here.  She just said she's going to pop in.  It'll probably take her some time to catch up on all our chatter!

I'm basing it on the fact that I know your schedule is about the same as mine, haha.

Oh man, if only I could still be an insomniac like in the old days. Alas, trying to get back to a semi-regular sleeping schedule for work.

Also, y'all and Twitter, am I missing out? I try to avoid social media as much as possible and enjoy my twitter from "these are funny tweets" lists.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 12:42:42 AM
I'm @RokofAges75, Rose is @ForeverRebel, Tracy is @FrickingKaos, and Mare is @bitybella if you have a Twitter and want to follow us.  Twitter is really the only social media I still post on; I mostly just lurk everywhere else.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 12:46:20 AM
You would be the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth people I ever followed, haha. Of all the social medias, I'm probably team Instagram.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 09:27:31 AM
You know, I think that has something to do with it and the fact that someone once said you were "she likes to chop people" instead of just "she writes Broken/BMS," haha. So in my head, it's always more intense chopping, even though, again, I know it's not.

I love that it's called "1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter" and there's only 70 of them. At this point, might "100 Ways" be more achievable? haha Is a way included that I've done that isn't there already? Because coming up with a whole new way sounds like a challenge...

You're right on that which was part of my "oh well" with it at the time, like Star Wars is basically samurais in space. I think publishing though, there's too many similarities that I would feel bad doing that to one of my favorite manga artists, and worse yet on the whole copyright infringement biz. Poor PBox, I'd feel so sad if I got sued over it, especially having read it now and knowing that it has the potential to be an issue.

Yeah, but a blond haired blue eyed Nickolas in a boy band would be a dead giveaway, I think, even without running around with AJ, Brian, Kevin, and Howie. Especially if he had luscious locks of 90's hair.

My MOH said at my bridal shower, "The universe works in mysterious ways. If you really wanted to marry Nick Carter, you should have stopped being on a first name basis with him and been more specific." haha

LMAO so I mean as much as we torture Nick, it was inevitable I ended up thinking we should create a story where he dies in every chapter.

God I love rereading these 00Carter memories. That story isn't perfect but I'm still proud of how we made a LOT of random off the wall ideas come together and make sense LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 09:30:45 AM
Oh, it would take no shenanigans whatsoever to bring me back to either story.  1000 Ways is my go to when I'm between stories, haven't written in awhile, and need something dumb to get me writing again.  It's all just separate one-shots tied together by the basic premise that Nick has to die in every one, usually in some ridiculous way, so that one can go on forever.  And I would come back to 00Carter any time others were willing to come back too.  Rose and I have talked about it, but haven't acted on it yet.  She's more into blogging than fanfic these days, and I've been wrapped up in writing other stories.  But I definitely don't consider it discontinued, not from my end.

In my heart 00Carter has never died.

Honestly...I've opened the notes more than once last year. But I didn't want to write it alone LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 09:32:07 AM
You would be the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth people I ever followed, haha. Of all the social medias, I'm probably team Instagram.

Team Twitter forever but I do have an IG, it's zombierainbowr ose.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 09:33:58 AM
Yeah, it was a disaster.  I talked my original co-writer into revising it because I thought we could make it so much better than the original version, but she bailed on me shortly after we started.  So I recruited more co-writers to help me finish, and we basically wasted all our motivation on rewriting what was already there and then ran out of steam before we got around to continuing the story from that point.  This was my first time learning that huge collaborations don't last long, a lesson I would learn again with 00Carter LOL.  It might work out better if I was trying to revise one of my own stories by myself, but I just don't have the motivation.  If I ever did, it would be with one of my very old stories that had a good idea but poor execution.  I don't think I would ever try it with something like Broken that has flaws, but was well-liked by readers.  It would feel too much like George Lucas constantly going back and changing the original Star Wars trilogy.  Just leave it alone!  (I am not comparing Broken to Star Wars by any means. That is just the first example that came to mind of a writer taking something that people liked and messing with it much later.)

What I've found myself sort of unintentionall y doing instead is taking ideas from my very old stories and writing new stories that take that basic idea and twist it into something totally different.  That has been more fun for me because I can explore some of the same topics that interested me back then, but write about them with more depth and maturity than I could have as a teenager.

That whole thing sounds like an exercise in torture to me! LOL  This is why I will never publish a novel unless I self-publish it because I can never see myself committing to that level of editing.

Mare, how much editing did you have to do with Mel's Tree, and what was that like?

I have written several sex scenes, and I think I laughed through every one.  Especially the slashy ones!  So much giggling.  And they're probably all terrible!  But I tried LOL.

You know, Code Blue originally got us talking and writing together even though we didn't fully come together till 00Carter so even though it didn't have the best of endings, I'm happy with it LOL. I miss collaborating, honestly. It kept me in check and made it easier to not lose inspiration.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 09:37:32 AM
I have like six posts in a row and do not care LOL. I sleep on a different schedule then everyone as always haha. I planned on writing today and tomorrow. What? No idea. Could be fic, could be blogging, but this thread makes me want to go look at my 00Carter notes again. It's funny cause I did a fan's BSB podcast episode and she asked about me and fanfic, and I made sure to mention 00Carter cause it's seriously one of my favorite ideas. We all encouraged each other's crazy with it, and I do love crazy LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 12:16:58 PM
In my heart 00Carter has never died.

Honestly...I've opened the notes more than once last year. But I didn't want to write it alone LOL.

I'm here for it!  I know we've kinda talked about it but didn't jump right back on board, but I'm in.  It's never died for me either.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 12:18:21 PM
You know, Code Blue originally got us talking and writing together even though we didn't fully come together till 00Carter so even though it didn't have the best of endings, I'm happy with it LOL. I miss collaborating, honestly. It kept me in check and made it easier to not lose inspiration.

I still have fond memories of Code Blue too.  I don't have any inspiration to try to revive it, but it was a fun story while it lasted.  And yes, I made some great friends from it!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 12:19:43 PM
I have like six posts in a row and do not care LOL. I sleep on a different schedule then everyone as always haha. I planned on writing today and tomorrow. What? No idea. Could be fic, could be blogging, but this thread makes me want to go look at my 00Carter notes again. It's funny cause I did a fan's BSB podcast episode and she asked about me and fanfic, and I made sure to mention 00Carter cause it's seriously one of my favorite ideas. We all encouraged each other's crazy with it, and I do love crazy LOL.

Sounds like you were the early bird this time around!  Weird!  I went to bed at 3 a.m, didn't fall asleep until after 4, and slept till 11:30 LOL.  It's gonna be rough going back to work on Wednesday, but whatever.

I caught the 00Carter mention and loved it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 03:23:11 PM
LMAO so I mean as much as we torture Nick, it was inevitable I ended up thinking we should create a story where he dies in every chapter.

God I love rereading these 00Carter memories. That story isn't perfect but I'm still proud of how we made a LOT of random off the wall ideas come together and make sense LOL.

Inevitable indeed. I'm surprised it took so long to be honest!

Same. That's why I said, I may be inclined to do it again if we all live read/reacted together (because what better way to get going again while I catch up/remember details) and with the right contribution parameters because:

I miss collaborating, honestly. It kept me in check and made it easier to not lose inspiration.

is not something I can claim in good conscience. But, I did enjoy it when I had the inspiration for contributing. And I have missed the teamwork aspect. So I could see myself being able to commit to an episode a month? Maybe two in certain months? And I would feel better if we hoarded for a second and then posted. That way if life happens, there's still things to post.

But again, this is all details that could be discussed at a later date.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 03:25:13 PM
Sounds like you were the early bird this time around!  Weird!  I went to bed at 3 a.m, didn't fall asleep until after 4, and slept till 11:30 LOL.  It's gonna be rough going back to work on Wednesday, but whatever.

I caught the 00Carter mention and loved it.

That was me at the same exact times as you, but MTN timezone version (so an hour ahead). Except I had to be up at 6am no matter what. Did we have the same weekend, Julie? Haha It was rough going back today.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 03:45:23 PM
While I'm thinking about this... Camp NaNo Writing group... Should it be named "The Backstreet Project" or something related to AC?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 07:44:06 PM
I'm here for it!  I know we've kinda talked about it but didn't jump right back on board, but I'm in.  It's never died for me either.

Yes please! I love my Secret Agent Nick. He was fun.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:01:21 PM
Now that we're at eleven pages, I thought it might be nice to have a post with a summary of the questions so far so that anyone else can jump in without having to read through Julie and I back and forthing at each other to find the questions, though I enjoyed every second of this thread and it's worth the read if you want to see other thoughts on them.

1. How has your writing changed over the years?

2. Is there something you wrote that you wish you hadn't? Is there something you never finished, but wished you had? Is there a genre you've always wanted to try?

3. What's most motivating for you? How do you keep the motivation going? What do you do when the motivation wanes (any particular rituals)? What does your inspiration station look like? (e.g., desk, location in your home, not your home at all, etcetera)

4. What are everyone else's rabbit holes? Either in general or a particularly memorable one from the past?

5. Does anyone have any writing-related resolutions this year?

6. So what do you do if you're feeling motivated to write and/or edit, but your brain is just spent on staring at your computer or red/green walls of edits. Do you keep going because you're feeling inspired? Do you take a short recess then come back? In general when you're inspired to write, do you keep going as long as inspiration strikes or do you set yourself time limits? Has that changed at all since quarantining and stay at home orders have happened (increased or decreased)?

7. On the reverse, if you're in an "open/stare/close" mood, how long do you stare before you close? Do you leave it on in the background while you do something else or is a permanent close for the day? How many times a day would you open a document?

8. Where do you fall on the planning scale? Do you have everything planned before you write a single word? (planning) Do you just start writing and let the muses takes you? (pantsing) Are you some combination of the two? (plantsing)

9. If you're writing away perfectly contentedly and a great idea pops up for far down the line, what do you do to keep it at bay? Would you drop everything to write it? If you have an outline, do you ever go back and change it or are you very rigid about it? Same with characters?

10. What do you finalize first? Characters or plot?

Questions asked in the context of a conversation that can be answered by all:

1. Do you find it hard to keep perspectives balanced? And do they tend to lean toward anyone in particular in any of your writing?

2. It seems like you've run the gambit on challenging yourself with your writing. What was your favorite challenge to yourself? What was your least favorite? Is there something you haven't tried yet that you wanted to try?

3. Can leg choppage be in a YA novel? What pushes it out of YA rating?

4. How do you un-BSB [a fanfic] enough [to publish without getting sued] but not too much that it's an entirely different story?

5. I wonder how many other things [The Boys have] done that are more fanfic of them? eg. renting the house in London while working on IAWLT.

Off-topic Questions:

1. Y'all and Twitter, am I missing out?

2. Camp NaNo Writing group... Should it be named "The Backstreet Project" or something related to AC?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:01:26 PM
So I could see myself being able to commit to an episode a month? Maybe two in certain months? And I would feel better if we hoarded for a second and then posted. That way if life happens, there's still things to post.

But again, this is all details that could be discussed at a later date.

LOL Considering we were averaging an episode a year for the last few years we updated it, an episode a month seems ambitious.  I'm okay starting slow and seeing what we can accomplish.  I definitely agree with hoarding at first too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:03:03 PM
3. Can leg choppage be in a YA novel? What pushes it out of YA rating?

I love that you included this one in your list! LMAO
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:03:44 PM
While I'm thinking about this... Camp NaNo Writing group... Should it be named "The Backstreet Project" or something related to AC?

Sure, either!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:05:30 PM
LOL Considering we were averaging an episode a year for the last few years we updated it, an episode a month seems ambitious.  I'm okay starting slow and seeing what we can accomplish.  I definitely agree with hoarding at first too.

I can't remember how long they were, maybe that was ambitious of me! I take it back, let's commit to at least one episode and see how it goes?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:08:31 PM
I love that you included this one in your list! LMAO

It's open-ended enough to be debated and gives everyone jumping to the end a reason to go back and read the rest. How did they end up discussing where leg choppage falls in age bracket writing?

Sure, either!

Maybe I'm overthinking this. Perhaps "The Absolutely Chaotic Backstreet Project" is the happy medium. I just love a good reference joke, as I've mentioned.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:13:21 PM
A question for today!

Yesterday, I got inspired on a lot of different things while writing an AJ focused chapter. I don't want to say it's because AJ is boring so I was thinking about other things, because back in the before times when I was initially writing PBox, he helped put demons powers into perspective for me (which you can read about on Wednesday).

All that being said, are any of the Boys your muse? Do any of them in particular lead you to new and great ideas? What kinds of ideas? (generalizing is fine!)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:26:04 PM
I can't remember how long they were, maybe that was ambitious of me! I take it back, let's commit to at least one episode and see how it goes?

They got a lot longer over time as our ideas got more elaborate.  My writing speed has also gotten a lot slower LOL.  But the biggest reason for the long delays between episodes was just waiting for people to finish their parts.  With three committed, hopefully inspired writers, that should go faster.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:29:57 PM
They got a lot longer over time as our ideas got more elaborate.  My writing speed has also gotten a lot slower LOL.  But the biggest reason for the long delays between episodes was just waiting for people to finish their parts.  With three committed, hopefully inspired writers, that should go faster.

I also write slower, especially with you all distracting me, haha. I feel like there used to be a lot of parts per episode, so I guess my concern would be parts per person out of total scenes in an episode. But, like I said, without rereading it first, I think I'm getting ahead of myself.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:36:47 PM
All that being said, are any of the Boys your muse? Do any of them in particular lead you to new and great ideas? What kinds of ideas? (generalizing is fine!)

I would not call any of the Boys my muse, per se, but I seem to come up with the most ideas (or maybe just the best ideas) about Nick.  So I guess there is something about him that inspires me.  There's a lot to explore with Nick, when you look at how he grew up and how he's turned out.  Even though he's straightened himself out in real life, he still seems to attract more trouble and drama than the other guys, so it's easy to imagine him in fictional situations that would be less believable for most of the other boys to be involved in.  For example, I have a couple of ideas that were inspired by the sexual abuse allegations Melissa Schuman made against him.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:44:16 PM
I also write slower, especially with you all distracting me, haha. I feel like there used to be a lot of parts per episode, so I guess my concern would be parts per person out of total scenes in an episode. But, like I said, without rereading it first, I think I'm getting ahead of myself.

Yeah, I think we just need to go into it without any big expectations and the understanding that we're all adults with real life responsibiliti es and other projects that we also want to make time for.  I think what allowed Rose and me to finally finish Song for the Undead, even though it took us like 7 years, was that we were more patient with each other than we were with 00Carter.  We started off strong with Undead, but then real life got in the way for both of us, and we slowed down.  We both wrote other stories in the meantime, but we kept coming back to Undead with the understanding that we were going to finish it eventually.  If we have the same mindset for 00Carter, I think it will help.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:49:50 PM
Yeah, I think we just need to go into it without any big expectations and the understanding that we're all adults with real life responsibiliti es and other projects that we also want to make time for.  I think what allowed Rose and me to finally finish Song for the Undead, even though it took us like 7 years, was that we were more patient with each other than we were with 00Carter.  We started off strong with Undead, but then real life got in the way for both of us, and we slowed down.  We both wrote other stories in the meantime, but we kept coming back to Undead with the understanding that we were going to finish it eventually.  If we have the same mindset for 00Carter, I think it will help.

I'd support that mindset! Especially if life threw any wrenches our way! Fun and not frustrating.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 08:55:02 PM
I would not call any of the Boys my muse, per se, but I seem to come up with the most ideas (or maybe just the best ideas) about Nick.  So I guess there is something about him that inspires me.  There's a lot to explore with Nick, when you look at how he grew up and how he's turned out.  Even though he's straightened himself out in real life, he still seems to attract more trouble and drama than the other guys, so it's easy to imagine him in fictional situations that would be less believable for most of the other boys to be involved in.  For example, I have a couple of ideas that were inspired by the sexual abuse allegations Melissa Schuman made against him.

I think that goes back to "Nick has main character vibes." Now I just want a fanfic where Howie gets into Nick shenaningans. And oof... that was a hard thing for me to wrap my head around.

I've found that any time I focus on AJ it opens a lot of ideas for me in whatever story I'm working on, though they might not necessarily be about AJ. So he's an inspirational muse. Nick's picky, stubborn, and pushy -- he gets the job done, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 08:59:33 PM
Personally, I think a big part of my problem the first time around was that I didn't have another novel in the works when 00Carter was at its height.  So it was all I had, fanfic-wise, and I was really into it, and it was frustrating for me to have to wait on other people to be able to write my parts for it.  I think if I have a side project to work on, even if it's not something I'm posting, that will help me chill out more this time around LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:04:30 PM
I think that goes back to "Nick has main character vibes." Now I just want a fanfic where Howie gets into Nick shenaningans. And oof... that was a hard thing for me to wrap my head around.

I've found that any time I focus on AJ it opens a lot of ideas for me in whatever story I'm working on, though they might not necessarily be about AJ. So he's an inspirational muse. Nick's picky, stubborn, and pushy -- he gets the job done, haha.

LOL Other than in 00Carter, I can't see Howie as a bad boy, but that would be a fun challenge.

I really like writing AJ as a supporting character, but I struggle to come up with ideas with him as the main character.  I've been wanting to write an A-Rok story (not a slash, just a bromantic story about Brian and AJ's friendship because I love the two of them together), but I was having a hard time coming up with an idea I really liked.  I ended up just turning part of one of the ideas I did have into a subplot in Road to Bethlehem.

LOL Did anyone else read "he gets the job done" like the immigrants line in Hamilton?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:11:22 PM
Personally, I think a big part of my problem the first time around was that I didn't have another novel in the works when 00Carter was at its height.  So it was all I had, fanfic-wise, and I was really into it, and it was frustrating for me to have to wait on other people to be able to write my parts for it.  I think if I have a side project to work on, even if it's not something I'm posting, that will help me chill out more this time around LOL.

Surely I was working on PBox then. Or "working" on PBox as the case often was.

Waiting for other people would definitely be frustrating if it was all you were working on. I get that.

Do you have a project lined up for after Bethlehem already or not yet? Where in the story would you say you are in the writing process (beginning, middle, or end)?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:15:09 PM
I'm almost done with Bethlehem, so there's a part of me that's ready to jump back into 00Carter right now, before I get sucked into another story.  The other part of me is like, "No, wait until summer when you'll have more time."  I guess that makes me willing to go along with whatever you guys think!  I do have a start to another novel that I could work on next, or I have other ideas outlined that I could try to start.  I haven't really decided yet.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:24:38 PM
LOL Other than in 00Carter, I can't see Howie as a bad boy, but that would be a fun challenge.

I really like writing AJ as a supporting character, but I struggle to come up with ideas with him as the main character.  I've been wanting to write an A-Rok story (not a slash, just a bromantic story about Brian and AJ's friendship because I love the two of them together), but I was having a hard time coming up with an idea I really liked.  I ended up just turning part of one of the ideas I did have into a subplot in Road to Bethlehem.

LOL Did anyone else read "he gets the job done" like the immigrants line in Hamilton?

I find it hard to believe that Sass D has not had a single Nick-level shenanigan in his life.

As you know, I lean more Kevin and Brian if it's not Nick, then recently it's been team Howie, but when I get the right vibe for AJ, I love him a lot. I struggle with him more than the others, I think. And maybe more than I did with Howie in my early fanfic career (because he wasn't there at all).

I accidentally Hamilton all the time! Like last week's update, there was this line in the chapter:

“I won't pretend to know the challenges we’ll face, but I’m here.” She took another step toward him and reached out her hand, “And I’m not afraid, so you shouldn't be either.”

But this was this line before I edited it:

"I don't pretend to know the challenges we’ll face, but I’m here.” She stepped around the pallet and reached out her hand, “And I’m not afraid, so you shouldn't be either.”

And started here, so oops:

“I don't pretend to know the challenges we’ll face, but I’m not afraid.”
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:27:39 PM
LOL!  I regularly wake up with random Hamilton songs stuck in my head, so I get how you could unknowingly write in Hamilton lyrics.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:27:48 PM
I'm almost done with Bethlehem, so there's a part of me that's ready to jump back into 00Carter right now, before I get sucked into another story.  The other part of me is like, "No, wait until summer when you'll have more time."  I guess that makes me willing to go along with whatever you guys think!  I do have a start to another novel that I could work on next, or I have other ideas outlined that I could try to start.  I haven't really decided yet.

I could definitely do a reread earlier than a jump in. I think end of May would be perfect for me for starting unless the reread let to something really concrete/electric. I'd leave the reread deciding to Rose, because I could do it most any weekend after I finish my PBox edit, but not sure if she prefers certain days over others.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:29:04 PM
I'm gonna quote your last 00Carter post in the 00Carter thread I bumped and reply there so we can stop hijacking this thread. :)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:31:25 PM
LOL!  I regularly wake up with random Hamilton songs stuck in my head, so I get how you could unknowingly write in Hamilton lyrics.

I know it got "canceled" this year, but I love it so much. When it came to town the first time, we weren't high enough in the queue to buy them initially, but our theatre company was very hardcore about reclaiming scalped tickets, so I just refreshed every day until we found two together on a day we could go. It was worth the ~$300 dollars/ticket. We did get them this time for a much more reasonable price, but then 2020. ha
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:32:27 PM
I'm gonna quote your last 00Carter post in the 00Carter thread I bumped and reply there so we can stop hijacking this thread. :)

Considering we're on a Hamiltangent, I don't think that will ever happen, but yes, 00Cater can probably be transitioned out.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:33:38 PM
I know it got "canceled" this year, but I love it so much. When it came to town the first time, we weren't high enough in the queue to buy them initially, but our theatre company was very hardcore about reclaiming scalped tickets, so I just refreshed every day until we found two together on a day we could go. It was worth the ~$300 dollars/ticket. We did get them this time for a much more reasonable price, but then 2020. ha

It's so good!  I didn't see it until it came to Disney+ this summer, and now I'm obsessed.  I can't wait until live theater comes back so I can hopefully go see it somewhere.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:36:36 PM
LOL Here's the Hamilton/writing connection to get us back on topic:  Lin-Manuel Miranda is an absolute genius!  I discovered my grandparents had a copy of the Alexander Hamilton biography that inspired him, so I borrowed it and have been slowly (very slowly) reading it bit by bit (it's incredibly long).  It's fascinating to see the connections to the musical and think that a biography like that could have inspired such a cool musical.

So here's a related question for everyone:  What has been the weirdest or most random/obscure/unexpected source of inspiration for one of your story ideas?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:41:48 PM
It's so good!  I didn't see it until it came to Disney+ this summer, and now I'm obsessed.  I can't wait until live theater comes back so I can hopefully go see it somewhere.

Do! I haven't seen the Disney+ version, but live theatre is a spectacle.  My bff and I have season tickets to the broadway shows that roll through here and we've seen many great ones that we wouldn't have originally bought tickets for, so it's been fun. Although, the one we had scheduled in March was Spongebob the Musical and we were both dreading it, so... But then April was Mean Girls! Still sad about that. Is Hamilton still in residency in Chicago?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:44:16 PM
LOL Here's the Hamilton/writing connection to get us back on topic:  Lin-Manuel Miranda is an absolute genius!  I discovered my grandparents had a copy of the Alexander Hamilton biography that inspired him, so I borrowed it and have been slowly (very slowly) reading it bit by bit (it's incredibly long).  It's fascinating to see the connections to the musical and think that a biography like that could have inspired such a cool musical.

So here's a related question for everyone:  What has been the weirdest or most random/obscure/unexpected source of inspiration for one of your story ideas?

Ooh... I love it.

LMM is a national treasure. In the Heights is also great!

Hmmm... I can't think of one right now. Dreams happen to me most often. I can't think of a time something tangible inspired a whole story, but different bits and pieces of them... Hmm...

I have to think and come back to this one. You?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 09:50:29 PM
Do! I haven't seen the Disney+ version, but live theatre is a spectacle.  My bff and I have season tickets to the broadway shows that roll through here and we've seen many great ones that we wouldn't have originally bought tickets for, so it's been fun. Although, the one we had scheduled in March was Spongebob the Musical and we were both dreading it, so... But then April was Mean Girls! Still sad about that. Is Hamilton still in residency in Chicago?

You definitely need to watch the Disney+ version if you can!  I love that it allows you to see close-ups of the actors' faces so you can see their facial expressions better than you would in a theater, depending on your seats.

I think Hamilton was in Chicago before the pandemic, but not sure if it's still going to be or not.  That would be the best place for me to see it short of going to NYC, but if it's not, hopefully I can catch the touring version at some point.

How did you like Mean Girls?  I haven't seen the musical, but heard it was good.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 09:54:26 PM
You definitely need to watch the Disney+ version if you can!  I love that it allows you to see close-ups of the actors' faces so you can see their facial expressions better than you would in a theater, depending on your seats.

I think Hamilton was in Chicago before the pandemic, but not sure if it's still going to be or not.  That would be the best place for me to see it short of going to NYC, but if it's not, hopefully I can catch the touring version at some point.

How did you like Mean Girls?  I haven't seen the musical, but heard it was good.

Our seats were only about ten rows back, so we had a pretty good view. But yes, I've heard the close ups of the OG Broadway cast are phenomenal.

The movie is awesome. The show was postponed unfortunately. I really want to see the Heathers musical too.

Ones I saw that were great were Come From Away, Margaritaville, the Donna Summers musical... I'm blanking on some others. Obviously Les Mis, Hamilton, Phantom, I liked Legally Blonde a lot (but it's not for everyone), The Book of Mormon, etcetera.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 10:01:29 PM
Hmmm... I can't think of one right now. Dreams happen to me most often. I can't think of a time something tangible inspired a whole story, but different bits and pieces of them... Hmm...

I have to think and come back to this one. You?

Hm...  One of the saddest stories I've ever written was directly inspired by an Adam Sandler/Seth Rogen movie, which seems kind of unexpected.

I guess probably my weirdest example is that I got the premise for one of my novels from remembering a clip from a medical fetish porn I accidentally came across on YouTube while researching for another story.  Rule #34 of the internet!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 10:05:30 PM
Our seats were only about ten rows back, so we had a pretty good view. But yes, I've heard the close ups of the OG Broadway cast are phenomenal.

The movie is awesome. The show was postponed unfortunately. I really want to see the Heathers musical too.

Gotcha!  I hope they bring back Mean Girls so you can go see it.  I love the movie.

The only "downside" to having Hamilton on Disney+ is that I will inevitably be slightly disappointed it's not the original Broadway cast when I see a live version of it.  That was hard for me with Book of Mormon too.  I never saw it on Broadway, but I had every word of the original Broadway cast recording before I ever saw it live with a different cast in Chicago.  I've seen it a number of times now, and it's always phenomenal, but the original cast is still the best.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 10:21:24 PM
Gotcha!  I hope they bring back Mean Girls so you can go see it.  I love the movie.

The only "downside" to having Hamilton on Disney+ is that I will inevitably be slightly disappointed it's not the original Broadway cast when I see a live version of it.  That was hard for me with Book of Mormon too.  I never saw it on Broadway, but I had every word of the original Broadway cast recording before I ever saw it live with a different cast in Chicago.  I've seen it a number of times now, and it's always phenomenal, but the original cast is still the best.

Book of Mormon is the only show I've ever seen on Broadway (and long after the original cast was gone), so even if I love the OCR, I know full well that it's never going to be quite the same seeing a touring production. I think it would be different actually seeing it with the original cast (even a recorded version) before seeing another one rather than just listening to the album. The tour actors are still awesome. One of them was originally from here too, so that was neat. He was the driver behind the "Youth and Broadway" program they put on for that show. Les Mis is one that always sticks out to me on this. Of course no one else is Val Jean except Colm Wilkinson, but the other Val Jeans have still been awesome.

Seeing a show in its "home theatre" is unreal though!

Also, not sure why I missed mentioning Dear Evan Hansen before, because that one was also amazing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 10:22:31 PM
Hm...  One of the saddest stories I've ever written was directly inspired by an Adam Sandler/Seth Rogen movie, which seems kind of unexpected.

I guess probably my weirdest example is that I got the premise for one of my novels from remembering a clip from a medical fetish porn I accidentally came across on YouTube while researching for another story.  Rule #34 of the internet!

Which movie?

Omg, which stories might be the better question!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 10:28:37 PM
Which movie?

Omg, which stories might be the better question!

My story Curtain Call was inspired by the movie Funny People.  A Heart That Isn't Mine was inspired by YouTube LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 10:44:32 PM
My story Curtain Call was inspired by the movie Funny People.  A Heart That Isn't Mine was inspired by YouTube LOL.

Ah, those were both during my hiatus, yes?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 10:47:53 PM
Ah, those were both during my hiatus, yes?

Yeah, 2010-2011 and 2019, respectively.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 10:56:04 PM
I love when inspiration comes randomly. There's just something great about milling over something minute and then lighting strikes. It's funny that one was a rule #34, though.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 11:01:04 PM
Yeah, I had that lightning strike of inspiration with both of those stories, and they're both stories I finished in a reasonable amount of time and am happy with the result.  I wish I had those bursts of pure inspiration more often!  I don't have as good of luck staying inspired with story ideas that I force, compared to the ones that come naturally.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 04, 2021, 11:01:50 PM
1. How has your writing changed over the years?

I'd say I've gotten stronger in getting in a character's mindset and more descriptive. When I do write, I think more about what I'm trying to convey and I plot ahead so everything connects.

2. Is there something you wrote that you wish you hadn't? Is there something you never finished, but wished you had? Is there a genre you've always wanted to try?

Not really, most of my unfinished stories I am actually working on even if it's slower than I used to be.

3. What's most motivating for you? How do you keep the motivation going? What do you do when the motivation wanes (any particular rituals)? What does your inspiration station look like? (e.g., desk, location in your home, not your home at all, etcetera)

My desk is my happy place. It's surrounded by VIP pics, pics with friends, a pinboard with random BSB things, and signed posters. When inspiration wanes I try not to force it because by forcing it I get more frustrated.

4. What are everyone else's rabbit holes? Either in general or a particularly memorable one from the past?

YouTube. It's death by black hole.

5. Does anyone have any writing-related resolutions this year?

To be more focused on fic writing. I started blogging for fun back in 2015 and talk about the music and it definitely pushed me away from fic. Cause it blew up into something I never expected. But fiction is my true love writing wise and my first love so I want to balance it better.

6. So what do you do if you're feeling motivated to write and/or edit, but your brain is just spent on staring at your computer or red/green walls of edits. Do you keep going because you're feeling inspired? Do you take a short recess then come back? In general when you're inspired to write, do you keep going as long as inspiration strikes or do you set yourself time limits? Has that changed at all since quarantining and stay at home orders have happened (increased or decreased)?

I keep going as long as inspiration strikes. If I hit a wall I take a break cause forcing it for me never helps.

7. On the reverse, if you're in an "open/stare/close" mood, how long do you stare before you close? Do you leave it on in the background while you do something else or is a permanent close for the day? How many times a day would you open a document?

I open documents a LOT lol.

8. Where do you fall on the planning scale? Do you have everything planned before you write a single word? (planning) Do you just start writing and let the muses takes you? (pantsing) Are you some combination of the two? (plantsing)

I used to just start writing, now I usually have lots of notes or an outline before I even start.

9. If you're writing away perfectly contentedly and a great idea pops up for far down the line, what do you do to keep it at bay? Would you drop everything to write it? If you have an outline, do you ever go back and change it or are you very rigid about it? Same with characters?

I'm flexible about my outlines. Characters change and I let them go where the story leads them. When I'm inspired, I go with it.

10. What do you finalize first? Characters or plot?

Usually plot. But I never change the characters to fit the plot.

Questions asked in the context of a conversation that can be answered by all:

1. Do you find it hard to keep perspectives balanced? And do they tend to lean toward anyone in particular in any of your writing?

Nick. I live in his head LOL.

2. It seems like you've run the gambit on challenging yourself with your writing. What was your favorite challenge to yourself? What was your least favorite? Is there something you haven't tried yet that you wanted to try?

My favorite challenge to myself was my Remember Me This Way story. I'd never done a full angst on my own before that one and I realized I loved writing it and I was good at it lol. My least favorite challenge was trying to do romance. I did it to see if I could and I did alright but it's not something I'd try again.

3. Can leg choppage be in a YA novel? What pushes it out of YA rating?

LMAO this is great.

4. How do you un-BSB [a fanfic] enough [to publish without getting sued] but not too much that it's an entirely different story?

I think certain stories can do this. Maybe change a few names, it's easier to do with AU but I can think of a few ways to do this with non-AU fics as well. You just have to be more general with the BSB references.

5. I wonder how many other things [The Boys have] done that are more fanfic of them? eg. renting the house in London while working on IAWLT.

I'd love to know this.

Off-topic Questions:

1. Y'all and Twitter, am I missing out?

Yes lol.

2. Camp NaNo Writing group... Should it be named "The Backstreet Project" or something related to AC?

I like both ideas.
 

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 11:04:15 PM
Yeah, I had that lightning strike of inspiration with both of those stories, and they're both stories I finished in a reasonable amount of time and am happy with the result.  I wish I had those bursts of pure inspiration more often!  I don't have as good of luck staying inspired with story ideas that I force, compared to the ones that come naturally.

I had a couple on Sunday, so I think just being here pulling them out of me, but they're more for plot points than whole stories.

Except my joke fics I keep posting. The only one that seeped into my conscious was the "fanfic as The Neverending Story" one and only because I attached it to a character. See? Characters will get me every time.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 11:06:41 PM
My favorite challenge to myself was my Remember Me This Way story. I'd never done a full angst on my own before that one and I realized I loved writing it and I was good at it lol. My least favorite challenge was trying to do romance. I did it to see if I could and I did alright but it's not something I'd try again.

2010, the summer of sadness!  That was one of my favorite fanfic summers ever, when we were all writing super angsty dramas.

You know, I used to write romance a lot as a subplot, but I think my romance days may be over.   The last real romance I wrote was my slash LOL.  It's harder now that all the boys are married.  I'm more into the platonic bromance these days.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 11:12:47 PM
I knew putting just the questions in a post would be helpful for people!

3. What's most motivating for you? How do you keep the motivation going? What do you do when the motivation wanes (any particular rituals)? What does your inspiration station look like? (e.g., desk, location in your home, not your home at all, etcetera)

My desk is my happy place. It's surrounded by VIP pics, pics with friends, a pinboard with random BSB things, and signed posters. When inspiration wanes I try not to force it because by forcing it I get more frustrated.

I like that all of us have a desk-based happy place. Though Julie wins with her inspiration room.

I enjoyed all your answers!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 04, 2021, 11:13:29 PM
2010, the summer of sadness!

My summer 2010 was pretty sad too, but for different reasons than fanfic. Maybe it was vibe going around?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 04, 2021, 11:17:30 PM
Aww!  Must have been.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:10:01 AM
2010, the summer of sadness!  That was one of my favorite fanfic summers ever, when we were all writing super angsty dramas.

You know, I used to write romance a lot as a subplot, but I think my romance days may be over.   The last real romance I wrote was my slash LOL.  It's harder now that all the boys are married.  I'm more into the platonic bromance these days.

That really was a great summer LOL. So much angst.

Totally get that. You basically have to kill off a wife which I'm not opposed to but still.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:10:36 AM
I knew putting just the questions in a post would be helpful for people!

I like that all of us have a desk-based happy place. Though Julie wins with her inspiration room.

I enjoyed all your answers!

I have seen her Room of Random Things and it's so glorious lmao. I like to try and add to it when I can.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:12:15 AM
That really was a great summer LOL. So much angst.

Totally get that. You basically have to kill off a wife which I'm not opposed to but still.

Yeah, and killing off wives is not as fun as killing off Backstreet Boys.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 01:14:42 AM
That really was a great summer LOL. So much angst.

Totally get that. You basically have to kill off a wife which I'm not opposed to but still.

Or never write anything set in the present. Or you know, divorce exists?

Like it always goes to killing, but divorce?

Yeah, and killing off wives is not as fun as killing off Backstreet Boys.

Only murder what you love, obviously.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:15:52 AM
Or never write anything set in the present. Or you know, divorce exists?

Like it always goes to killing, but divorce?

Only murder what you love, obviously.

That's true. You know, this is going to seem wrong but if written right I'd find a Brian fic believable where he left Leighanne given...this year.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:19:17 AM
I have seen her Room of Random Things and it's so glorious lmao. I like to try and add to it when I can.

Yep, we've both added to each other's!  Actually I've probably given you more stuff for your zombie bathroom than your inspiration station.  What year did I make you the Drums doll?  Has Dee seen that?

Drums doll in box: http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/drumsdollbox.jpg

Drums and MJ: http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/drumsmjice1.jpg

Drums and Broken Nick doll: http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/drumsbrokennickdolls.jpg
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:21:49 AM
That's true. You know, this is going to seem wrong but if written right I'd find a Brian fic believable where he left Leighanne given...this year.

LOL Now there's a romance I could get behind.  I've had a story idea for several years that starts with Brian waking up to find her brutally murdered... and that was conceived before I knew about all her bullshit on Facebook.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:23:45 AM
Or never write anything set in the present. Or you know, divorce exists?

Like it always goes to killing, but divorce?

Only murder what you love, obviously.

Obviously!  Yeah, I guess break-ups and divorces work too.  Or writing in the past or AU.  There are definitely ways around it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:28:59 AM
Yep, we've both added to each other's!  Actually I've probably given you more stuff for your zombie bathroom than your inspiration station.  What year did I make you the Drums doll?  Has Dee seen that?

Drums doll in box: http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/drumsdollbox.jpg

Drums and MJ: http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/drumsmjice1.jpg

Drums and Broken Nick doll: http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/drumsbrokennickdolls.jpg

Funny enough EVERY time I take photos of my desk I get a question about that lmao. He's always there, watching me. Luckily Ninja Nick is there to keep him in check. The brain candle lives on my desk too LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:29:22 AM
LOL Now there's a romance I could get behind.  I've had a story idea for several years that starts with Brian waking up to find her brutally murdered... and that was conceived before I knew about all her bullshit on Facebook.

Honestly I'd read that in a heartbeat LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:31:17 AM
Honestly I'd read that in a heartbeat LOL

LOL Thanks!  It would be sort of a supernatural horror story.  It may be a contender for my next solo project if I don't come up with anything better.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:35:16 AM
Funny enough EVERY time I take photos of my desk I get a question about that lmao. He's always there, watching me. Luckily Ninja Nick is there to keep him in check. The brain candle lives on my desk too LOL.

I saw someone ask about him on Twitter the other day!  I was happy to see him so prominently displayed after all these years LOL.

Speaking of Drums and MJ, I have my music on shuffle, and a TaTu song just came on, which always makes me think of Ice Ice Baby.  The best part is it's an mp3 I probably downloaded from Limewire back in the day, and it has the AIM door opening and door closing sound effects in it at one point.  I always forget until it comes up and I do a double take, and then I remember and laugh.  Oh AIM and Yahoo Messenger, how I miss you.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:39:41 AM
I saw someone ask about him on Twitter the other day!  I was happy to see him so prominently displayed after all these years LOL.

Speaking of Drums and MJ, I have my music on shuffle, and a TaTu song just came on, which always makes me think of Ice Ice Baby.  The best part is it's an mp3 I probably downloaded from Limewire back in the day, and it has the AIM door opening and door closing sound effects in it at one point.  I always forget until it comes up and I do a double take, and then I remember and laugh.  Oh AIM and Yahoo Messenger, how I miss you.

He legitimately still makes me laugh. My desk is so random between him, the turtle, my penguin, the wax figures, and Ninja Nick. OMG TaTu will forever make me think of Ice Ice Baby. That episode was hilarious and so off the wall. 00Carter was basically me living my dream in including every music reference we possibly could LOL. I have story notes open (and focus failing if anyone can't tell) for three stories, one of them being 00Carter and dude, the next episode was our Mr. Body Beautiful one LOL. I'm even sadder now we never finished it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 05, 2021, 01:42:08 AM
My one random in the middle of the night jump in and jump back out post. Dee, you have to watch Hamilton on Disney +. It’s required watching for anyone with eyes and ears. I wish I could afford to see it on Broadway (or anywhere) live but we’re so fortunate that the original cast gave us that gift. When I lived closer to NYC, especially when I was a kid in the Bronx, I went to many shows on Broadway. I saw Les Miz on Broadway three times! The last Broadway show I saw was Chicago when Kevin was in it.

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 01:46:48 AM
LOL hi Mare!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:49:12 AM
My one random in the middle of the night jump in and jump back out post. Dee, you have to watch Hamilton on Disney +. It’s required watching for anyone with eyes and ears. I wish I could afford to see it on Broadway (or anywhere) live but we’re so fortunate that the original cast gave us that gift. When I lived closer to NYC, especially when I was a kid in the Bronx, I went to many shows on Broadway. I saw Les Miz on Broadway three times! The last Broadway show I saw was Chicago when Kevin was in it.

I hope they start doing that with more musicals!  It would be cool if they had decent quality recordings of old ones they could start releasing too.  I would love one of Book of Mormon or Wicked.  I have a bootleg video of the full Book of Mormon with the original cast when they were still in previews, but the quality is nowhere near Hamilton.  It's watchable, but it's basically like watching someone's concert videos.  Still, it's the only way I ever got to see the original cast, so I appreciate it.

The only shows I've seen on actual Broadway were The Lion King and Equus (when Daniel Radcliffe was in it).  Lion King was fantastic, of course.  Equus was good, but weird... I'm glad I went, but a part of me wished I had gone to see The Little Mermaid instead LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 02:16:14 AM
I hope they start doing that with more musicals!  It would be cool if they had decent quality recordings of old ones they could start releasing too.  I would love one of Book of Mormon or Wicked.  I have a bootleg video of the full Book of Mormon with the original cast when they were still in previews, but the quality is nowhere near Hamilton.  It's watchable, but it's basically like watching someone's concert videos.  Still, it's the only way I ever got to see the original cast, so I appreciate it.

The only shows I've seen on actual Broadway were The Lion King and Equus (when Daniel Radcliffe was in it).  Lion King was fantastic, of course.  Equus was good, but weird... I'm glad I went, but a part of me wished I had gone to see The Little Mermaid instead LOL.

That previewed here and I wasn't able to go and I'm still bitter about it. So you can bet that when Frozen previewed here, I went.

My one random in the middle of the night jump in and jump back out post. Dee, you have to watch Hamilton on Disney +. It’s required watching for anyone with eyes and ears. I wish I could afford to see it on Broadway (or anywhere) live but we’re so fortunate that the original cast gave us that gift. When I lived closer to NYC, especially when I was a kid in the Bronx, I went to many shows on Broadway. I saw Les Miz on Broadway three times! The last Broadway show I saw was Chicago when Kevin was in it.



Disney + is the one subscription service I don't have! But yes, it's on the list once I can see people indoors because my bff does have it.

I bet Kevin was great in Chicago. Would have liked to see that.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 02:30:40 AM
OMG Disney+ is the one I honestly feel like is my money best spent LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 02:39:01 AM
Spotify is mine.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 05, 2021, 07:19:07 AM
I have way too many streaming services but honestly the one I use the most is probably HBO Max and Disney. Spotify too. I use Spotify to help me write. Does anyone else use music or anything like that for writing inspiration?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 12:01:01 PM
I use Spotify to help me write. Does anyone else use music or anything like that for writing inspiration?

I do!  I mostly write to instrumental music, as music with lyrics distracts me unless I'm really inspired.  I have a playlist of instrumental songs I've downloaded over the years, mostly movie scores and classical pieces.  I also have different playlists on Amazon Music and YouTube.  Lately YouTube has been my go to.  I found some cool channels with ambiance music from movies.  Ambient World is my favorite.

What kind of music do you listen to on Spotify?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 05, 2021, 01:08:27 PM
I hope they start doing that with more musicals!  It would be cool if they had decent quality recordings of old ones they could start releasing too.  I would love one of Book of Mormon or Wicked.  I have a bootleg video of the full Book of Mormon with the original cast when they were still in previews, but the quality is nowhere near Hamilton.  It's watchable, but it's basically like watching someone's concert videos.  Still, it's the only way I ever got to see the original cast, so I appreciate it.

The only shows I've seen on actual Broadway were The Lion King and Equus (when Daniel Radcliffe was in it).  Lion King was fantastic, of course.  Equus was good, but weird... I'm glad I went, but a part of me wished I had gone to see The Little Mermaid instead LOL.

Rent was also a great movie where they used most of the original cast. It’s one of my all time favorite musicals and I was thrilled when they made it into a movie. I saw the original cast on Broadway and loved it. The Fox adaption didn’t do it justice. I wish I had seen The Book of Mormon. I’ve seen a taped illegally version of Wicked from Broadway but the quality wasn’t great. They are making that into a movie but without the originals. Still looking forward to it though!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 05, 2021, 01:09:29 PM
That previewed here and I wasn't able to go and I'm still bitter about it. So you can bet that when Frozen previewed here, I went.

Disney + is the one subscription service I don't have! But yes, it's on the list once I can see people indoors because my bff does have it.

I bet Kevin was great in Chicago. Would have liked to see that.

He was awesome! Even though someone threw up on my jacket lol
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 05, 2021, 01:10:57 PM
OMG Disney+ is the one I honestly feel like is my money best spent LOL.

Disney+ is money well spent. I watch that and HBOMAX all the time!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 01:30:39 PM
Rent was also a great movie where they used most of the original cast. It’s one of my all time favorite musicals and I was thrilled when they made it into a movie. I saw the original cast on Broadway and loved it. The Fox adaption didn’t do it justice. I wish I had seen The Book of Mormon. I’ve seen a taped illegally version of Wicked from Broadway but the quality wasn’t great. They are making that into a movie but without the originals. Still looking forward to it though!

I never liked the network TV adapted ones, though I for sure watched the Grease live one for Aaron Tviet. Not Julianne Hough though, she's the worst.

MTV broadcasted Legally Blonde once upon a time and I believe it was up on you tube at one point, so the quality is fairly good.

As far as movies of the musicals go, the 2007 Hairspray holds up to the Ricki Lake version, I think.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 01:32:31 PM
He was awesome! Even though someone threw up on my jacket lol

NO! I'll go back and give them an earful.

Disney+ is money well spent. I watch that and HBOMAX all the time!

Xfinity just added HBO Max in the apps section, and I have definitely been avoiding it so I don't rebinge Friends or Bug Bang Theory. I'm trying so hard to at least be sort of productive.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 01:40:33 PM
Does anyone else use music or anything like that for writing inspiration?

I do!  I mostly write to instrumental music, as music with lyrics distracts me unless I'm really inspired.

I always listen to BSB when writing fanfic, because it puts me in a BSB mood. Over the years, it's become more and more "soundtrack to your life," so I can tune into the feeling without focusing on the lyrics as much. I've definitely used certain feeling beats for certain chapters. Ch. 14's fight was mostly written to the ambient sounds of DWYB on repeat over and over. Though certain songs definitely qualify as distractions when they pop up on shuffle. QPG, IAWLT, GAB, ALAYLM, Backstreet's Back come top of mind. Chances is always a distraction, but I walked down the aisle to it, so it's for multiple reasons (good song, wedding memories, feelings about my husband, feelings about the Boys, etcetera).

In ye olden days, I used to listen to NSYNC when writing Renee/NSYNC focused chapters, but haven't in the edit yet because the last day I edited chapters focused on them was my birthday and I just didn't want to listen to NSYNC on my birthday, ha. Might try it again for their next chunk though. See how far it gets...

I haven't tried any ambient moods playlists yet! If it's original fiction, I typically work in silence or the ambience of background TV noise.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 01:59:08 PM
I never liked the network TV adapted ones, though I for sure watched the Grease live one for Aaron Tviet. Not Julianne Hough though, she's the worst.

MTV broadcasted Legally Blonde once up on a time and I believe it was up on you tube at one point, so the quality is fairly good.

As far as movies of the musicals go, the 2007 Hairspray holds up to the Ricki Lake version, I think.

I've watched just about all the live TV musicals they've done in the last few years, and the only one I thought was really good was Jesus Christ Superstar with John Legend.  I ended up buying the music from that, and I like it better than the original Broadway cast recording because it sounds more modern.

As far as movie versions of musicals go, my favorite is probably Grease.  But I've actually never seen Grease live on stage, unless you count the TV one they did with Vanessa Hudgens a few years ago.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 02:46:13 PM
He was awesome! Even though someone threw up on my jacket lol

You have the worst luck!  I'm glad you got to see Kevin in Chicago though.  I wish I could have seen that!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 02:47:51 PM
Chances is always a distraction, but I walked down the aisle to it, so it's for multiple reasons (good song, wedding memories, feelings about my husband, feelings about the Boys, etcetera).

That is so cute!!  I love that.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 05, 2021, 03:19:27 PM
I agree about Jesus Christ Superstar. I have skipped pretty much all the other NBC live musicals. I watched Peter Pan but wasn’t really impressed. I think I’m the only person on the planet that’s not a huge fan of Grease. Maybe it’s ptsd from not even getting into the chorus of it in my high school production because my drama teacher thought I was too fat to be a lead or any of the dancing. lol what a jerk he was.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 03:53:21 PM
Aww, that's terrible! :(
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 05:15:02 PM
I've watched just about all the live TV musicals they've done in the last few years, and the only one I thought was really good was Jesus Christ Superstar with John Legend.  I ended up buying the music from that, and I like it better than the original Broadway cast recording because it sounds more modern.

As far as movie versions of musicals go, my favorite is probably Grease.  But I've actually never seen Grease live on stage, unless you count the TV one they did with Vanessa Hudgens a few years ago.

Yo, that's because Jesus Christ Superstar slaps. My family was very into musicals when I was a child, like I have distinct memories of listening to "Red and Black" on our record player. The first live musical I ever went to was the touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar and it was mesmerizing. The second was Fiddler on the Roof... and I hated it so much. Now I know that it's great, heartfelt, and clever, but Andrew Lloyd Webber definitely has all other musical geniuses beat in the spectacle department. That's probably why his are consistently popular years and years after their release.

I love Grease too. And the sequel, but for different reasons than the original. Mainly, the songs are great in a cheesy way.

OMG, speaking of Andrew Lloyd Webber, the Cats Movie. I went to one of the "chat along" showings at Alamo Drafthouse with some friends, all clad in cat ears because we loved the musical (and one friend loved the movie for the hilarity of it all). The people in front of us were so mad at us because we were just singing along, clapping for our favorite cats and they said "Don't clap at this movie." (because it's terrible was the implication more than noise, because they were also chatting during it.) And we basically told them, "Hate if you want, we're going to enjoy. We all came to the audible react-along version for a reason. If you wanted to only have your opinion heard out loud, then you should I have been that guy in a regular screening."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 05:21:11 PM
That is so cute!!  I love that.

It was very serendipitous that it came out during our engagement because I fell in love the minute I heard it, since we'd always said some similar things about our being able to meet. That and it just slaps. Had we gotten married before it came out, I would have still chosen a BSB song, and likely ALAYLM, AIHTG, or maybe SPTH... but the timing was perfect! What are the chances BSB knew I needed a song like that in my life right then? haha. They've been there for me through most of my life, so I don't think I could imagine picking anything else, to be honest.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 05:25:47 PM
I agree about Jesus Christ Superstar. I have skipped pretty much all the other NBC live musicals. I watched Peter Pan but wasn’t really impressed. I think I’m the only person on the planet that’s not a huge fan of Grease. Maybe it’s ptsd from not even getting into the chorus of it in my high school production because my drama teacher thought I was too fat to be a lead or any of the dancing. lol what a jerk he was.

Ugh, I hate people like that, but especially people who have jobs in helping professions (e.g., teachers, counselors, etcetera). Like in no way should you let your biases affect your students!

You're my shining star, Mare. (but not in the same exact way as the BSB song, just want you to know... I'll see myself out.)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 05:41:36 PM
OMG, now my inspiration station is complete with my cup of morning coffee. My inlaws were asking my husband what I wanted for Christmas and he said "a private Backstreet Boys performance" as this was deep in the Masked Singer season at the time. I just received this today (https://ibb.co/KjrGFQh and https://ibb.co/7Vg0250)! Their hair and the jackets! This pleases me very nostalgically. I for sure had this picture on my wall and loved it even though their style game was not on point.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 07:31:15 PM
Love the mug!  So cute!

The timing of Chances worked out perfectly!  It was the same for me; it came out a days before my grandpa passed away, so it was the only bright spot in an otherwise really bad week.  Thank you, Boys.

So did you like the Cats movie?  I have never seen Cats (movie or stage production), but the trailer was creepy LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 08:11:53 PM
Love the mug!  So cute!

The timing of Chances worked out perfectly!  It was the same for me; it came out a days before my grandpa passed away, so it was the only bright spot in an otherwise really bad week.  Thank you, Boys.

So did you like the Cats movie?  I have never seen Cats (movie or stage production), but the trailer was creepy LOL.

I laughed when I opened it, which was probably not the intention. But still all smiles.

Sorry for your loss. :( The Boys know how to time those bright spots for sure.

It was bad in a good way? Definitely worse than the musical, but I think that's because it tried to take itself so seriously. Half the joy of the musical is its narm charm. The only numbers where it felt like everyone in it was enjoying themselves were "Skimbleshanks: the Railway Cat" and "Mr. Mistoffelees" (which come right after each other and not until the end of the second act). If the rest of the movie had been like that, then it would have been fine. And the CGI was just creepy (CGI cockroaches with CGI people heads being eaten by Rebel Wilson with a CGI cat body), but I've already mentioned how much I hate weird CGI, so I'll leave it at that. Seriously though, the costumes and makeup from the stage show would have been fine! I also hated that the character Taylor Swift played is in the musical more, but is just this one weird showstopper number for her in the movie that paints her as a baddie when the cat in the musical is just a regular member of the jellicle cat company who happens to narrate that song (unlike "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer" who are in cahoots with Macavity and just get turned into fanboy/fangirl side characters in the movie). And they cut the most narm charm song from the first act ("The Awefull Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles") and I think keeping it in would have kept the feel of the musical consistent. The Oscar bait song was only okay, which is not what you want in the movie version of a musical. (Though I felt the same way about "Suddenly" in Les Mis, but for different reasons. The music for that is unreal, because all the characters have these "theme" music pieces that are very simple, but then you realize they have to be simple to all come together into the layered perfection of "One Day More," and then on top of that, they all get dark reprise versions in the Second Act. So "Suddenly" just feels out of place in this interwoven web of music.)

All that said, it is still funny, though not in the way it's supposed to be. So if you're into Sharknado type things, it's worth watching while wearing cat ears. But maybe only after you've (re)watched the PBS concert version or something unless the original sticks out in your mind.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 08:50:05 PM
Oh, I was reading an article earlier this evening during the Heisman Ceremony "7 Writing Lessons Learned in 2020" by K.M. Weiland (https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/7-writing-lessons-learned-in-2020/). It really resonated with me. Anyone learn any lessons this year that stick out? I found myself nodding along with most of it. Inspiration was probably the big one for me. Like once I gave into the smallest inspiration, I suddenly went from writing 0 words a year (ho hum emails do not count, obviously) to writing thousands in a few months. I also think that keeping my writing as my little project for a few months really helped rebolster my confidence that I actually had a story to tell and not just some things to get out of my head.

I also really appreciated that she said "The fact that [being willing not to write] scares the spit out of me tells me it's probably exactly the right step forward." I think not writing and coming back has given me an appreciation for it that I didn't used to have when it was just "something I always did."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 05, 2021, 09:25:03 PM
I love musicals. A year ago next month, I got to see Beetlejuice on Broadway literally right before Covid shut everything down. I was five rows from the stage, center orchestra. Amazing seats. That show is so good. I loved it.. Only other Broadway show I got to see was Anastasia during its previews on Broadway. I'm very fortunate that I can just jump on a train and go. I miss it. Unfortunately it's still shut down.

As for Julie's question about Spotify. I have a 900 song playlist that I just listen to nightly. It's got everything from punk music to Broadway show tunes on it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 09:42:59 PM
Only other Broadway show I got to see was Anastasia during its previews on Broadway.

I loved Anastasia! Like, don't get me wrong, I love me some half dead Raputin and the singing bugs ("Doom her!"), but I adored the added creepiness of the second suitor and the Bolsheviks. The history nerd in me was obsessed.

A year ago next month, I got to see Beetlejuice on Broadway literally right before Covid shut everything down.

The last thing I did was go to Miami and it was unreal coming back and then, poof. Covid. What a weird world.  ;D (I'll keep making song puns as long as y'all don't notice, ha)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 05, 2021, 10:24:52 PM
I was so sad they cut out Rasputin and Bartok from the play. It was really good even with the changes but In The Dark Of The Night is like one of my favorite scenes from that whole movie
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 10:28:30 PM
Same, for the bugs. I also always liked Once Upon A December when the paintings came to life. Love Don Bluth.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 10:29:21 PM
Oh, I was reading an article earlier this evening during the Heisman Ceremony "7 Writing Lessons Learned in 2020" by K.M. Weiland. It really resonated with me. Anyone learn any lessons this year that stick out? I found myself nodding along with most of it. Inspiration was probably the big one for me. Like once I gave into the smallest inspiration, I suddenly went from writing 0 words a year (ho hum emails do not count, obviously) to writing thousands in a few months. I also think that keeping my writing as my little project for a few months really helped rebolster my confidence that I actually had a story to tell and not just some things to get out of my head.

Thanks for the recommendation!  I looked up the article and enjoyed reading it.  Here's a link if anyone else wants to read it:  https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/7-writing-lessons-learned-in-2020/

The lessons of hers that I related most to when looking back at 2020 were the first two, "Don't be so serious" and "Remember why you're here."  I spent the first part of last year finishing up a series of 20 blogs that looked back on the last 20 years of my fanfic writing for my site's anniversary.  I reread some of my old stories, not through a writer's or editor's lens, but simply through a reader's lens, and that was really fun.  It definitely reminded me why I still enjoy writing fanfic and how much I've grown as a writer over the years.

As for not being so serious, I wrote three stories last year, and they were all fun in their own way.  I started the year finishing The Year Without a Pandaskunk, which was pure silliness.  Then I moved on to finally finishing the BSB/ER crossover I've been working on sporadically since like 2012.  That one was much more serious in terms of subject matter, but still fun for me because of how much I love ER and medical drama.  And then I started The Road to Bethlehem, which has also been fun because it's a genre of story I haven't written in a long time.  Sometimes I get bogged down in what's realistic or not, and I shoot down my own ideas because "that's not believable" or "that would never happen in real life."  I didn't do that with this story.  I figured, in a story set in 2020, anything can happen, and I went with what I wanted to write, focusing more on making it entertaining than making it believable.

I also like what she had to say about giving yourself permission to NOT write and how writing can include a lot of other things besides actually adding sentences to your story.  That makes me feel better about my day today.  I wanted to be productive on my last day of break before my bubble bursts, but I only wrote three sentences of my story.  I wasn't feeling it, so instead of trying to force it, I opened my outline for that Brian story I mentioned last night and added to that.  And I'm okay with that.  If and when I try to write that story, the hour or so I spent on planning it will pay off.

I also really appreciated that she said "The fact that [being willing not to write] scares the spit out of me tells me it's probably exactly the right step forward." I think not writing and coming back has given me an appreciation for it that I didn't used to have when it was just "something I always did."

I feel this way too.  I went through a rough patch in 2015-2016 when I was finishing my master's program and struggling to find the time and energy to write fanfic.  I had a novel in the works that I had started posting in 2014, and I constantly felt guilty about not updating it more often.  I did eventually finish it in 2017, but after that, I struggled to settle in to another writing project.  I posted next to nothing in 2018.  But toward the end of that year, I finally got going on another novel, which I worked on consistently in 2019 until it was done, and that brought back my love of writing fiction.  Not being able to write (first because of school, then because of a lack of focus/inspiration) definitely made me appreciate it more when I was finally able to do it again.  I've been writing pretty consistently ever since and have finished four stories in that time, which is really good for me.

The last thing that came to mind with what I've learned is to be more concise.  Those four stories I've finished in the last two years range in length from 10-50 chapters, nothing like the four 80-200 chapter epics I wrote prior to my little break.  Part of that is just the nature of the plots, taking place over a matter of days or weeks instead of months or years, but I'd like to think I've also learned to be less wordy and better at pacing my plots so that every scene moves the story forward and there's no pointless fluff or filler.  And I'm sure hanging on to chapters longer and editing more before I post them helps too.

That was a long post, ironically LOL, but I enjoyed the article and question.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 10:33:26 PM
I love musicals. A year ago next month, I got to see Beetlejuice on Broadway literally right before Covid shut everything down. I was five rows from the stage, center orchestra. Amazing seats. That show is so good. I loved it.. Only other Broadway show I got to see was Anastasia during its previews on Broadway. I'm very fortunate that I can just jump on a train and go. I miss it. Unfortunately it's still shut down.

As for Julie's question about Spotify. I have a 900 song playlist that I just listen to nightly. It's got everything from punk music to Broadway show tunes on it.

I'm glad you got to go to Beetlejuice before it shut down!

Ah, I've got one of those playlists too of basically all my music that's not BSB (they get their own playlist) or my instrumental writing music.  I've been listening to that a lot lately as I chat on here and not write, but it doesn't usually work well for me for actual writing.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 10:36:02 PM
While we're on the topic of musicals, they make a lot of musicals about artists and/or based around songs in an artist's catalog (I believe the official term is "jukebox musicals"). I mentioned Summer: the Donna Summer Musical and Escape to Margaritaville, but there's also Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, etcetera.

Do you think the Boys would ever sign off on a biopic musical with their songs? If they did, would you see it? Or, do you think they would ever sign off on a musical with their songs as the plot? If they did, would you see it? Also what would be the plot of that musical?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 10:37:00 PM
Thanks for the recommendation!  I looked up the article and enjoyed reading it.  Here's a link if anyone else wants to read it:  https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/7-writing-lessons-learned-in-2020/

I suck, I copied the link into my editing word count document to link it and forgot to include it. Thanks for going to that effort because I suck! I fixed it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 10:38:38 PM
The last thing I did was go to Miami and it was unreal coming back and then, poof. Covid. What a weird world.  ;D (I'll keep making song puns as long as y'all don't notice, ha)

Covid is definitely going to make us appreciate things like live music and traveling and even eating inside a restaurant when this is all over.  I saw The Book of Mormon at the end of January at my local theater.  I had already seen it three times in Chicago, but I couldn't not see it again when it was so close.  I'm really glad I got those tickets because that turned out to be the last live show I saw before Covid hit.  I'm also glad I took a vacation to LA in June 2019 to see the Boys' exhibit at the Grammy Museum because I did not get to go anywhere this summer.

It's definitely a weird world... don't you know it? ;)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 10:42:36 PM
While we're on the topic of musicals, they make a lot of musicals about artists and/or based around songs in an artist's catalog (I believe the official term is "jukebox musicals"). I mentioned Summer: the Donna Summer Musical and Escape to Margaritaville, but there's also Mamma Mia, Jersey Boys, Rock of Ages, etcetera.

Do you think the Boys would ever sign off on a biopic musical with their songs? If they did, would you see it? Or, do you think they would ever sign off on a musical with their songs as the plot? If they did, would you see it? Also what would be the plot of that musical?

I could definitely see the Boys agreeing to something like that down the road, and I would absolutely go see it!  I could see it being semi-autobiographical, something about five young guys who are brought together as a manufactured boyband and, over time, bond as brothers and become a real boy(band).  They could work in some of their real life drama - lawsuits, health problems, substance abuse, relationship drama, etc.  Maybe they should write it themselves.  Howie wrote a musical, Kevin's been in one on Broadway, and Nick's written a screenplay - they could totally write a musical together!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 10:51:50 PM
Sometimes I get bogged down in what's realistic or not, and I shoot down my own ideas because "that's not believable" or "that would never happen in real life."  I didn't do that with this story.  I figured, in a story set in 2020, anything can happen, and I went with what I wanted to write, focusing more on making it entertaining than making it believable.

I figured anything could happen after murder hornets made it over from Japan. I was right. Unless they get abducted by aliens at the end? But also, maybe?

I feel this way too.  I went through a rough patch in 2015-2016 when I was finishing my master's program and struggling to find the time and energy to write fanfic.  I had a novel in the works that I had started posting in 2014, and I constantly felt guilty about not updating it more often.  I did eventually finish it in 2017, but after that, I struggled to settle in to another writing project.  I posted next to nothing in 2018.  But toward the end of that year, I finally got going on another novel, which I worked on consistently in 2019 until it was done, and that brought back my love of writing fiction.  Not being able to write (first because of school, then because of a lack of focus/inspiration) definitely made me appreciate it more when I was finally able to do it again.  I've been writing pretty consistently ever since and have finished four stories in that time, which is really good for me.

I think the guilt really compounds it when you're already feeling busy, listless, and stumped. I've worked very hard over the years to either stop letting myself feel guilt for things (e.g., taking a mental health day) or use that guilt as a catalyst for action (e.g, I'm in the wrong, so I should do something about it).

A kudos to you for finishing four stories in 2019-2020, that's like two a year!

Those four stories I've finished in the last two years range in length from 10-50 chapters, nothing like the four 80-200 chapter epics I wrote prior to my little break.

I was always impressed that you could write 200 chapters of one story and they weren't even really "this is 1,000 words and this is 3,000 words and here's a 500 word chapter." Going over 50 gives me hives. I'd rather write an entire new story unless it needed like ten more chapters to conclude satisfyingly.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 10:55:50 PM
Covid is definitely going to make us appreciate things like live music and traveling and even eating inside a restaurant when this is all over.  I saw The Book of Mormon at the end of January at my local theater.  I had already seen it three times in Chicago, but I couldn't not see it again when it was so close.  I'm really glad I got those tickets because that turned out to be the last live show I saw before Covid hit.  I'm also glad I took a vacation to LA in June 2019 to see the Boys' exhibit at the Grammy Museum because I did not get to go anywhere this summer.

It's definitely a weird world... don't you know it? ;)

Haha. I see you, now I can't do it anymore.

I did not get to LA to see the grammy museum exhibit and I wish I did. I was very busy/poor the summer of 2019 though, what with planning a wedding, getting married, and going on a honeymoon. I saw a concert in February as well and forgot it happened this past year. I had a conversation with the husband that was like, "Oh concerts! I think BSB was the last one!" And he said, "We literally saw Randy Houser four months ago." Time is odd. What will the first restaurant I go to feel like? Will I be able to see the Boys in August? So many questions...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 10:59:26 PM
I could definitely see the Boys agreeing to something like that down the road, and I would absolutely go see it!  I could see it being semi-autobiographical, something about five young guys who are brought together as a manufactured boyband and, over time, bond as brothers and become a real boy(band).  They could work in some of their real life drama - lawsuits, health problems, substance abuse, relationship drama, etc.  Maybe they should write it themselves.  Howie wrote a musical, Kevin's been in one on Broadway, and Nick's written a screenplay - they could totally write a musical together!

I would love it if they wrote and produced it themselves, even if the cast wasn't them. I hope it would do previews in Florida for the nostalgia (even though the big preview places are LA/Denver/Chicago, I think). I think autobiographic al would be interesting being an "insider," but I wonder how it would play to a wider audience. I feel like Jersey Boys is pretty universally loved.

and become a real boy(band)

I approve of this subtle joke.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:03:27 PM
I figured anything could happen after murder hornets made it over from Japan. I was right. Unless they get abducted by aliens at the end? But also, maybe?

LOL That was my thinking too.  Everything that happens in Bethlehem is technically possible.  It's just not probable that it would all happen to one group of people over the course of a couple of days.  But after seeing how much shit 2020 had thrown our way by May when I got the idea for this story, I just decided, "Screw it, it's 2020!" and went with it.


I think the guilt really compounds it when you're already feeling busy, listless, and stumped. I've worked very hard over the years to either stop letting myself feel guilt for things (e.g., taking a mental health day) or use that guilt as a catalyst for action (e.g, I'm in the wrong, so I should do something about it).

A kudos to you for finishing four stories in 2019-2020, that's like two a year!

I was always impressed that you could write 200 chapters of one story and they weren't even really "this is 1,000 words and this is 3,000 words and here's a 500 word chapter." Going over 50 gives me hives. I'd rather write an entire new story unless it needed like ten more chapters to conclude satisfyingly.

Yeah, for sure.  And the fact that I had been critical of other writers in the past for disappearing or taking months or years to update made me feel that much guiltier for basically doing the same thing.  It never got to the point where I felt like quitting fanfic, but I definitely took a little hiatus without intending to.

Looking back, I have no idea how I managed to be as productive as I was in high school and college.  I guess I had fewer other real life/adult responsibiliti es outside of school, so I found time for fanfic.  But working full time while taking master's classes was rough, especially the ones that required a lot of academic writing.  I had nothing left for fanfic during those semesters.

The thought of writing 200 chapters of anything is overwhelming to me now, but I've never been more into a story than I was with Broken and BMS, and I guess that's how I was able to get to that point.  I loved writing those stories.  And I had no idea when I started them that they would end up that long LOL.  Which goes back to what I said about learning to be more concise and lose the fluff, because there was a lot of filler and purple prose in that series.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:07:17 PM
Haha. I see you, now I can't do it anymore.

I did not get to LA to see the grammy museum exhibit and I wish I did. I was very busy/poor the summer of 2019 though, what with planning a wedding, getting married, and going on a honeymoon. I saw a concert in February as well and forgot it happened this past year. I had a conversation with the husband that was like, "Oh concerts! I think BSB was the last one!" And he said, "We literally saw Randy Houser four months ago." Time is odd. What will the first restaurant I go to feel like? Will I be able to see the Boys in August? So many questions...

LOL I know, I almost forgot about Book of Mormon last year too.  January 2020 seems like way longer than one year ago.  Like another lifetime.

The Grammy Museum was great!  I had never been to California or even seen the Pacific Ocean before, so it was a bucket list moment for me to get to do that.

I so hope we get to see the Boys this summer.  Please, please, please...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:16:57 PM
LOL That was my thinking too.  Everything that happens in Bethlehem is technically possible.  It's just not probable that it would all happen to one group of people over the course of a couple of days.  But after seeing how much shit 2020 had thrown our way by May when I got the idea for this story, I just decided, "Screw it, it's 2020!" and went with it.

Unless the setting is like a weirdness anomaly magnet (like Gravity Falls if anyone else appreciates a well written children's show, haha), then all bets are off just based on location.

Also I see you saying that, but if Nick can be rule #34 of the Backstreet Boys, then collectively the Boys can be "if it could happen, it will happen." Is that a rule on the internet?

Yeah, for sure.  And the fact that I had been critical of other writers in the past for disappearing or taking months or years to update made me feel that much guiltier for basically doing the same thing.  It never got to the point where I felt like quitting fanfic, but I definitely took a little hiatus without intending to.

Looking back, I have no idea how I managed to be as productive as I was in high school and college.  I guess I had fewer other real life/adult responsibiliti es outside of school, so I found time for fanfic.  But working full time while taking master's classes was rough, especially the ones that required a lot of academic writing.  I had nothing left for fanfic during those semesters.

The thought of writing 200 chapters of anything is overwhelming to me now, but I've never been more into a story than I was with Broken and BMS, and I guess that's how I was able to get to that point.  I loved writing those stories.  And I had no idea when I started them that they would end up that long LOL.  Which goes back to what I said about learning to be more concise and lose the fluff, because there was a lot of filler and purple prose in that series.

In one of my volunteer groups, our motto has been "Creativity and Flexibility" this year, and I think that's a perfect motto to stretch into the rest of my life, especially when you're looking at other people. Like everyone has lots of things going on that they might not even talk about, you know? If nothing else, I hope everyone comes out of all this a little kinder to each other.

I know that answer for me! Often at the expense of my grades, oops. I threw myself into my teaching program though and got a 4.0, so you just gotta prioritize what's really important. College age me was like "Friends? Yay!" and then writing in my free time. And academia is its own beast for sure.

Sometimes I find myself adding fluff, but only if it focuses on character development. Like I would write a million chapters of "they argue, but at the end of the day, they're a true family by choice" if it seemed like one of those scenes fit in there. I'm feeling a little bad about the beginning of PNecklace because they don't really physically go lots of places like they did in PBox, but the character(s) are growing and changing a lot! So, who knows?

There's another question for everyone. What's THE story for you that you've written? Are you defined by it and how have you felt about that?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:21:06 PM
LOL I know, I almost forgot about Book of Mormon last year too.  January 2020 seems like way longer than one year ago.  Like another lifetime.

The Grammy Museum was great!  I had never been to California or even seen the Pacific Ocean before, so it was a bucket list moment for me to get to do that.

I so hope we get to see the Boys this summer.  Please, please, please...

I've been calling it the before times with my husband, especially since we went to Miami, came back for two days and I got the weirdest headache and high fever, got tested for COVID, had to wait for the results and that was when they were taking weeks. It came back negative, but then I walked back into the world as an essential worker at the end of March and it was... drastically different instead of gradually different.

Oh man, California is for sure my home away from home, so I'm glad you were able to experience it! I think next on my list would be Alaska, New Orleans, Nashville, Mexico, Japan, and France. Maybe Australia, though I'm a little afraid of getting killed by the flora and fauna.

If we all loudly hope and wish together, it will happen.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:24:53 PM
In terms of music being inspiring, I absolutely have a playlist of songs that I have for every story I ever write. Basically I make soundtracks for my stories. Sometimes it's the melody, other times it's the lyrics. I noticed I have an Eminem tendency with my angst stories LOL.

THE story I've written? Probably Remember Me This Way. It was my most popular though I think Song For The Undead has gome to define me too but I'm okay with both. I've written and finished other stories but those showcase in many ways both sides of me and so it's not a bad thing.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:27:03 PM
In terms of music being inspiring, I absolutely have a playlist of songs that I have for every story I ever write. Basically I make soundtracks for my stories. Sometimes it's the melody, other times it's the lyrics. I noticed I have an Eminem tendency with my angst stories LOL.

THE story I've written? Probably Remember Me This Way. It was my most popular though I think Song For The Undead has gome to define me too but I'm okay with both. I've written and finished other stories but those showcase in many ways both sides of me and so it's not a bad thing.

Eminem is pretty angsty for sharing initials with a candy!

Okay, RMTW it's on my to read list, I swear.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:27:45 PM
New Orleans is definitely on my bucket list of places to go.

I love California. I'm originally from there, I have so much of my family there, it's my second home. I'm definitely glad I did so much last year. I went to I think 5 BSB shows just in April for the last month of the residency. Did AJ's bowling event, did Nick's mini show, the LA trip with Julie and later on went to Chicago for DNA. The last live show I saw was actually Zombie Burlesque with one of my coworkers back in February and I'm so glad I did.

When it's safe for things again, honestly I'm going balls to the wall. You only live once lol.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:28:23 PM
Why is a guest printing my old PBox update thread? There is little in there that is interesting outside of "Please read this" every three to six months.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:28:42 PM
Eminem is pretty angsty for sharing initials with a candy!

Okay, RMTW it's on my to read list, I swear.

Just keep in mind I wrote it in 2010-2012 so, Kevin wasn't back yet lol.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:29:48 PM
New Orleans is definitely on my bucket list of places to go.

I love California. I'm originally from there, I have so much of my family there, it's my second home. I'm definitely glad I did so much last year. I went to I think 5 BSB shows just in April for the last month of the residency. Did AJ's bowling event, did Nick's mini show, the LA trip with Julie and later on went to Chicago for DNA. The last live show I saw was actually Zombie Burlesque with one of my coworkers back in February and I'm so glad I did.

When it's safe for things again, honestly I'm going balls to the wall. You only live once lol.

Same and yes.

OMG, a Zombie Burlesque show? I feel like I need more details on this!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:30:51 PM
Just keep in mind I wrote it in 2010-2012 so, Kevin wasn't back yet lol.

I love me some Nick&Kevin, but it's cool, won't turn me off of it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:31:06 PM
Unless the setting is like a weirdness anomaly magnet (like Gravity Falls if anyone else appreciates a well written children's show, haha), then all bets are off just based on location.

Also I see you saying that, but if Nick can be rule #34 of the Backstreet Boys, then collectively the Boys can be "if it could happen, it will happen." Is that a rule on the internet?

LOL I dunno, but it should be!  Maybe it can be Rule #35.

In one of my volunteer groups, our motto has been "Creativity and Flexibility" this year, and I think that's a perfect motto to stretch into the rest of my life, especially when you're looking at other people. Like everyone has lots of things going on that they might not even talk about, you know? If nothing else, I hope everyone comes out of all this a little kinder to each other.

That's a great motto!  For teaching as well as writing and just existing in general.  We've all had to be creative and flexible in the last year just to adjust to how much life changed in such a short time.  I hope people will be kinder to each other this year too.  Not to get political, but I've never seen our country so divided.  I hope having a different leader will eventually help make the United States more united.

Sometimes I find myself adding fluff, but only if it focuses on character development. Like I would write a million chapters of "they argue, but at the end of the day, they're a true family by choice" if it seemed like one of those scenes fit in there. I'm feeling a little bad about the beginning of PNecklace because they don't really physically go lots of places like they did in PBox, but the character(s) are growing and changing a lot! So, who knows?

I do think character-driven stories need more scenes that could be considered "fluff" in a plot-driven story.  That stuff does help with character and relationship development.  All of my super long stories included romance; I wrote more fluff in my romances because it helped develop the characters' relationship.

There's another question for everyone. What's THE story for you that you've written? Are you defined by it and how have you felt about that?

I think it's either Broken or Curtain Call, which are similar stories in some respects.  Broken was the first "popular" story I wrote, in terms of how much feedback I got compared to what I had gotten for previous stories, and a lot of my online friendships started with that story.  But Curtain Call has the best stats of all my stories on AC, in terms of reviews and favorites.  I'm perfectly okay with being defined by either because they both represent who I am as a writer and what I like to write.  Curtain Call is the better of the two, so if I had to pick which one I'd rather be known for, I'd go with that one, but I will always have a soft spot for Broken.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:37:21 PM
THE story I've written? Probably Remember Me This Way. It was my most popular though I think Song For The Undead has gome to define me too but I'm okay with both. I've written and finished other stories but those showcase in many ways both sides of me and so it's not a bad thing.

I would agree with both of those.  As far as solo stories go, definitely RMTW!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:38:21 PM
Why is a guest printing my old PBox update thread? There is little in there that is interesting outside of "Please read this" every three to six months.

I have seen "guests" supposedly printing random threads too.  It's just spambots.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:38:59 PM
LOL I dunno, but it should be!  Maybe it can be Rule #35.

Do we have a list of the BSB fanfic rules, because it feels like we need to start one.

Not to get political, but I've never seen our country so divided.  I hope having a different leader will eventually help make the United States more united.

Same. I want to go back to a time when I could go weeks without thinking about a President.

I do think character-driven stories need more scenes that could be considered "fluff" in a plot-driven story.  That stuff does help with character and relationship development.  All of my super long stories included romance; I wrote more fluff in my romances because it helped develop the characters' relationship.

It's probably only bad if you let the fluff, smut, side stuff, etcetera overrun the plot. Then at that point, why are you writing a story and not just "one shots from xyz universe."

I can't say for sure since I'm only sort of familiar with half of them, but I enjoy that you both can't decide on one. It shows you're deep and multi-faceted.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:39:15 PM
Same and yes.

OMG, a Zombie Burlesque show? I feel like I need more details on this!

It's at Planet Hollywood and absolutely hilarious. I wanted to go with Julie but each time she was in town basically we already were going to see BSB or our free nights there wasn't a show. It's a goal to see it again with her eventually. Highly recommend going, it was like 45 I think on GroupOn.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:39:24 PM
Same and yes.

OMG, a Zombie Burlesque show? I feel like I need more details on this!

If we ever do a Vegas meetup, we must see the zombie burlesque show!  I've been out there 4 times now and still haven't seen it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:39:38 PM
I have seen "guests" supposedly printing random threads too.  It's just spambots.

I honestly didn't know you could print any of the threads. Spambots are so silly.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:40:55 PM
Do we have a list of the BSB fanfic rules, because it feels like we need to start one.

We definitely do!  That should be its own thread.  (And I will have to save that for another night because I really do need to go to bed LOL.)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:41:11 PM
It's at Planet Hollywood and absolutely hilarious. I wanted to go with Julie but each time she was in town basically we already were going to see BSB or our free nights there wasn't a show. It's a goal to see it again with her eventually. Highly recommend going, it was like 45 I think on GroupOn.

If we ever do a Vegas meetup, we must see the zombie burlesque show!  I've been out there 4 times now and still haven't seen it.

I saw Thunder From Down Under. It's not quite the same, I imagine. And $45? That's pretty good for a show in Vegas!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:41:54 PM
If we ever do a Vegas meetup, we must see the zombie burlesque show!  I've been out there 4 times now and still haven't seen it.

It's legitimately tragic LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:42:22 PM
We definitely do!  That should be its own thread.  (And I will have to save that for another night because I really do need to go to bed LOL.)

20 minutes, tick tick.

Always on it. Someday, I will catch up to your 17,000 posts?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:42:56 PM
I saw Thunder From Down Under. It's not quite the same, I imagine. And $45? That's pretty good for a show in Vegas!

Not at all haha. But it's absolutely great. And they have fun drinks.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:43:04 PM
LOL I know, I know!  I just brushed my teeth, so I'm getting there.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:43:22 PM
LOL I know, I know!  I just brushed my teeth, so I'm getting there.

The struggles of adulting.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:43:32 PM
Not at all haha. But it's absolutely great. And they have fun drinks.

Ooh, zombie drinks!  Post-pandemic, I'm so there!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:44:52 PM
The struggles of adulting.

LOL I'm about as bad as my students who show up to school tired because they were up all night playing video games or watching YouTube on their school-issued Chromebooks.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:44:58 PM
Ooh, zombie drinks!  Post-pandemic, I'm so there!

No better way to celebrate surviving a world pandemic! LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:45:26 PM
LOL I'm about as bad as my students who show up to school tired because they were up all night playing video games or watching YouTube on their school-issued Chromebooks.

LMAO YouTube is the black hole no matter how old someone is.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:46:22 PM
Not at all haha. But it's absolutely great. And they have fun drinks.

Ooh, zombie drinks!  Post-pandemic, I'm so there!

I love themed drinks. I went to a bar that touted itself as "the only indoor hurricane" and they had themed diabetes inducing drinks called "Shark Bites" that had tiny branded plastic sharks in them with an extra shot of red something that looked like blood. When you tipped it over, blood blood blood! Also the little plastic sharks looked like they were screaming, so that's fun. I saved mine. And felt so sick afterwards from all the sugar.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:47:22 PM
I love themed drinks. I went to a bar that touted itself as "the only indoor hurricane" and they had themed diabetes inducing drinks called "Shark Bites" that had tiny branded plastic sharks in them with an extra shot of red something that looked like blood. When you tipped it over, blood blood blood! Also the little plastic sharks looked like they were screaming, so that's fun. I saved mine. And felt so sick afterwards from all the sugar.

Dude, that sounds freaking awesome LOL.

We used to have a zombie apocalypse bar here called The End that was done up like a bunker but it closed down before I could go. I was heartbroken.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:47:27 PM
LOL I'm about as bad as my students who show up to school tired because they were up all night playing video games or watching YouTube on their school-issued Chromebooks.

OMG, if I have to hear second graders talking about Among Us one more time, I will go get murdered in that game.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:47:50 PM
We have a program at school called GoGuardian that I can use to see their screens when they're logged into their school Chromebooks, even if they're at home.  It's hilarious to pull it up and see what they're looking at it when they're supposed to be doing their schoolwork.  Almost always, if they're not on task, they're watching YouTube.  I watched one kid go down a rabbit hole of Baby Yoda clips, which is understandable LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:48:20 PM
OMG, if I have to hear second graders talking about Among Us one more time, I will go get murdered in that game.

My teenaged cashiers were impressed when I caught an Among Us reference. I have Nick to thank for that lmao.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:48:40 PM
Dude, that sounds freaking awesome LOL.

We used to have a zombie apocalypse bar here called The End that was done up like a bunker but it closed down before I could go. I was heartbroken.

The "indoor hurricane" was underwhelming.

I saw that on Bar Rescue! That was a good episode.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:48:58 PM
We have a program at school called GoGuardian that I can use to see their screens when they're logged into their school Chromebooks, even if they're at home.  It's hilarious to pull it up and see what they're looking at it when they're supposed to be doing their schoolwork.  Almost always, if they're not on task, they're watching YouTube.  I watched one kid go down a rabbit hole of Baby Yoda clips, which is understandable LOL.

LMFAO I mean okay no one can get mad about Baby Yoda holes.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 05, 2021, 11:49:10 PM
I play Among Us all the time lol it's sad I'm so addicted to it and it's Nick's fault.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:49:47 PM
The "indoor hurricane" was underwhelming.

I saw that on Bar Rescue! That was a good episode.

My dad loves Bar Rescue LOL. One bar on there that is literally like five minutes from my apartment is Bacon Bar and OMG they have the best damn food LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 05, 2021, 11:50:01 PM
I love themed drinks. I went to a bar that touted itself as "the only indoor hurricane" and they had themed diabetes inducing drinks called "Shark Bites" that had tiny branded plastic sharks in them with an extra shot of red something that looked like blood. When you tipped it over, blood blood blood! Also the little plastic sharks looked like they were screaming, so that's fun. I saved mine. And felt so sick afterwards from all the sugar.

That's awesome!!  I would definitely need to have one of those.


OMG, if I have to hear second graders talking about Among Us one more time, I will go get murdered in that game.

OMG, mine too.  I have played it a few times, and I don't get the obsession.  Maybe because I'm not very good at it? LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:50:23 PM
We have a program at school called GoGuardian that I can use to see their screens when they're logged into their school Chromebooks, even if they're at home.  It's hilarious to pull it up and see what they're looking at it when they're supposed to be doing their schoolwork.  Almost always, if they're not on task, they're watching YouTube.  I watched one kid go down a rabbit hole of Baby Yoda clips, which is understandable LOL.

I've caught them in action so many times and they're always surprised and I'm like "I have several years of doing things I'm not supposed to on you, I know what it looks like."

My teenaged cashiers were impressed when I caught an Among Us reference. I have Nick to thank for that lmao.

It's literally the card game Mafia. I can see why it would be popular, but also I want to kick a door every time they says "She's so sus."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:52:05 PM
My dad loves Bar Rescue LOL. One bar on there that is literally like five minutes from my apartment is Bacon Bar and OMG they have the best damn food LOL.

One of the episodes they filmed here, I accidentally walked between the camera and the owner begging people to go into his bar, but I didn't give the "everyone ignores this place" vibe they were going for because I said, "I have to go to work, sorry!" so I wasn't on TV. :(
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:54:04 PM
That's awesome!!  I would definitely need to have one of those.


OMG, mine too.  I have played it a few times, and I don't get the obsession.  Maybe because I'm not very good at it? LOL

I'd play the card game version, Mafia, any time anyone asked, but yeah, don't get it. And I have to keep telling myself that we had our fads and they have theirs. Remember neopets? My poor jubjub named "Nick," I haven't fed him in years, oh noes...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 05, 2021, 11:54:45 PM
One of the episodes they filmed here, I accidentally walked between the camera and the owner begging people to go into his bar, but I didn't give the "everyone ignores this place" vibe they were going for because I said, "I have to go to work, sorry!" so I wasn't on TV. :(

Awww, shame on them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 05, 2021, 11:57:12 PM
Alas, I will never be a tv star. I binged that show for so many years and then it just started getting bad, so I stopped...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 06, 2021, 05:01:11 PM
I'd play the card game version, Mafia, any time anyone asked, but yeah, don't get it. And I have to keep telling myself that we had our fads and they have theirs. Remember neopets? My poor jubjub named "Nick," I haven't fed him in years, oh noes...

Very true.  We were banned from bringing out Tamogotchis and Beanie Babies to school in the same year.  My poor 6th grade teachers LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 06, 2021, 07:35:04 PM
Same, but third/fourthish. Now all my beanie babies collect dust... I'm sure I have all my nanaos and tamagotchis somewhere... I'm about to ban some LOL Surprise dolls because it's been so dramatic.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 06, 2021, 08:23:41 PM
Oh, my niece loves those. I think they're ugly. I hope she doesn't bring them to school LOL. She's in first grade.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 06, 2021, 08:36:31 PM
It's that whole era of when they wanted to give everything huge eyes. Like how they changed Littlest Pet Shops and they were so weird looking with their bug eyes or new beanie babies. Why not just regular barbies? I hate those bratz dolls too: the stupid spoiled whores of the the 10 inch doll world.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 06, 2021, 08:38:27 PM
Yes!!  Littlest Pet Shop used to be so cute when we were kids.  Bratz dolls are the worst.  Barbies are still the best, especially now that they have all the different body types and skin tones.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 06, 2021, 09:01:01 PM
Yes! That was the one good thing the more modern dolls had at least was a greater variety of skin tones and different things all the dolls could do. I was very glad when barbie started releasing different types of Barbies in the "career barbie" sets. Though, I think Barbie was the first to expand to different body types.

But then I'm like, are all these toys weird? Do I just think they're weird because they're updates of toys I liked as a kid? Did my mom think modern barbies were weird compared to the two that existed when she was a kid (blonde or brunette harsh face barbie)? Ugh, any kids I have will either adore or hate boy bands won't they? No in between...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 07, 2021, 12:26:13 AM
So some writing questions for today! We've kind of discussed aspects of them, but I thought it would be fun to hear about everyone's process! I promise ahead of time that this is not meant to be a shameless plug, I just figured it would be easier to quote myself than rewrite it.

Over in my updates thread, I've been taking some time to post that there's updates (which, if you lived through any of my hiatuses when I was actually writing things, woah, consistent updates!), but also doing some "fireside chat" type things that are basically this thread, but PBox/PNecklace specific background info and thoughts that pop into my head as I edit/write. This week, I posted a small novel about the writing and planning process (please find some excerpts below as it very specifically focused on one tiny aspect of world building, rather than details on my overall process):

I have a novel about my novel entitled "Demon Powers and Plantsing" below (linked above). Enjoy!

An excerpt: Pantsing is more fun, but I've found the more epic you're envisioning a story, especially if it has complicated non-real world elements (like magic), the more you have to plan and world build. Like any weird and minute detail in the world, you'd better have an answer. Go ahead, in the replies, ask me anything and if it's not likely to be a spoiler, I'll answer it. I consider this space half an update thread and half an intimate fireside chat with your gal anyway, so interact with me as much as you want.

A second excerpt: If you haven't yet noticed, if I take the time to doodle something for a story, it has my full investment.

So the planning questions are as follows:

1. When an idea strikes, what's the first thing you do?

2. Are there any things you consider integral to your planning process? For example, Julie mentioned earlier in the thread that she often makes a banner when she's in the planning stages.

3. If you use outlines, how faithful are you to outlines? How detailed are your outlines? If you write first and plan later, how do you keep track of your ideas? Anyone go between the two?

4. What's the easiest part of planning? The hardest?

5. How far into the planning process do you know that an idea is definitely something you'll finish writing? Or the opposite, when can you tell if it should be scrapped?

6. Are there any clear signs to you that you're fully invested in an idea, either early or late?

7. Do you have a specific point where you decide you'll post something or do you just post everything you write?

Feel free to add others, but these are the questions I thought of off the top of my head!

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 07, 2021, 05:55:57 PM
First of all, kudos to you for the time and effort you put into world-building.  As someone who mostly writes realistic fiction, that is not something I have much experience with, and it sounds daunting.

I love the process questions!

1. When an idea strikes, what's the first thing you do?
I think about it until it's coherent enough to write down.  Then I start an outline, which is usually just a Google Doc with a synopsis of the idea in the beginning.  Putting it into words helps me make sure it makes sense and I'll remember it later, since I sometimes sit on ideas for years before starting to write them.

2. Are there any things you consider integral to your planning process? Julie mentioned earlier in the thread that she always makes a banner when she's in the planning stages.
I have to have at least an acceptable working title before I can start writing the story.  If any of the important characters are original, I have to know their names and some basic information about them.  I don't always make a banner, but sometimes it does help motivate me.

3. If you use outlines, how faithful are you to outlines? How detailed are your outlines? If you write first and plan later, how do you keep track of your ideas? Anyone go between the two?
I am pretty faithful to sticking to the general plot I've planned out, but the specifics of how to get from Point A to Point B to Point C sometimes change.  How detailed my outlines are depend on how complicated the plot is and how much research is required.  My most detailed outlines have been for medical dramas and stories with multiple intertwining storylines to keep track of.  In those types of stories, my outlines tend to take on the form of timelines with events tied to specific dates, whereas a story like the one I'm writing now (Bethlehem) is more just a sequence of events written in order.

4. What's the easiest part of planning? The hardest?
My ideas tend to be plot-driven, so I think the hardest part for me is figuring out the characters' motivation for acting in certain ways.  Why would he/she do this?  How can I get them to this point?  Or, on the flip side, if I already have certain characters in mind (like, I want to write a bromantic A-Rok story), creating a plot for those characters.  (What will happen in my bromantic A-Rok story?)  I also seem to spend a lot of time thinking about titles and character names.  Oddly enough, I think the easier part or the part I enjoy the most is researching, as I figure out the setting and fill in details of the plot.

5. How far into the planning process do you know that an idea is definitely something you'll finish writing? Or the opposite, when can you tell if it should be scrapped?
I don't know until I start writing it.  Even then, there have been stories I've started that went well in the beginning, and then I hit a wall with them.  If I can get about a third of the way through and it's going well, then I'm pretty confident I'll finish it.  Up until that point, who knows.  I don't usually scrap ideas unless I realize the premise is flawed and unfixable, or I get a similar but better idea.  Otherwise they just stay in my idea folder for future reference because I never know when I'll get a burst of inspiration and come back to them.

6. Are there any clear signs to you that you're fully invested in an idea, either early or late?
I know I'm invested when I can't stop thinking about the story and when I care about the characters and what happens to them.

7. Do you have a specific point where you decide you'll post something or do you just post everything you write?
These days I typically wait till I have around 10 chapters written to start posting.  By that point in the story, I have a better sense of how it's going and how likely I am to continue it.  It also allows me to post a chapter a week and stay far enough ahead that I'm not as likely to catch up to myself and run out of chapters to post.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 07, 2021, 06:41:03 PM
First of all, kudos to you for the time and effort you put into world-building.  As someone who mostly writes realistic fiction, that is not something I have much experience with, and it sounds daunting.

I love the process questions!

Some of it's really fun and some of it's pretty bleh. It's definitely time consuming. I always have trouble with maps and building layouts, so I wish I knew autocad or something like that, because I think being able to virtually poke at it in 3D would help me more than staring at squiggles on a piece of paper. There's a tiny bit of world building involved in realistic fiction, but it's more scrutinizing google maps for your settings (there are no beaches in Orlando, for instance) or making sure something can happen realistically in your story, like how long does it take Nick to get to Kevin's house in LA if he's laying on the couch in his house in Vegas when they discuss it? (it's not five minutes). I hope no one does those two things anymore, ha.

I thought you might! After posting my diatribe, I figured that maybe everyone else would enjoy a deep dive of their own!

1. When an idea strikes, what's the first thing you do?
I think about it until it's coherent enough to write down.

since I sometimes sit on ideas for years before starting to write them.

If an idea is not coherent enough to write down yet, how do you keep track of it? Do you have a mental list or do you have a physical document called "my writing ideas" or equivalent? Does every idea you have get to the outline stage?

2. Are there any things you consider integral to your planning process? Julie mentioned earlier in the thread that she always makes a banner when she's in the planning stages.
I don't always make a banner, but sometimes it does help motivate me.

You know I love hyperbole. I switched "always" to "often" in the original post.

4. What's the easiest part of planning? The hardest?
My ideas tend to be plot-driven, so I think the hardest part for me is figuring out the characters' motivation for acting in certain ways.  Why would he/she do this?  How can I get them to this point?

Oddly enough, I think the easier part or the part I enjoy the most is researching, as I figure out the setting and fill in details of the plot.

Throw things at them until they break? Do you have any sort of planning notes that help keep track of characters and their motivations throughout a story?

I have a question I have been dying to ask (but it seemed oddly specific in a general "questions thread) ever since I had to find the word "sternoclavicul ar" to really explain the size and placement of something. Medical research, how daunting is that? Do you look for accredited sources? How do you keep track of it all? Do you have this ever expanding document of medical jargon? Are youtube videos helpful? Do you get first person accounts? Write a novel about this for me, basically, because I'm intrigued.

5. How far into the planning process do you know that an idea is definitely something you'll finish writing? Or the opposite, when can you tell if it should be scrapped?
I don't know until I start writing it.  Even then, there have been stories I've started that went well in the beginning, and then I hit a wall with them.  If I can get about a third of the way through and it's going well, then I'm pretty confident I'll finish it.

Otherwise they just stay in my idea folder for future reference because I never know when I'll get a burst of inspiration and come back to them.

Have you ever posted a story that you didn't finish? Not recently with your backlog of course, but in the past? I'm notorious for it, but I was wracking my brain trying to think of one for you and can't.

How often do those bursts of inspiration happen?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 07, 2021, 07:30:56 PM
I like to write mine after someone else answers because I am selfish and want to read what other people have to say more than I want to talk about my ideas, haha. Also it was really time for me to go to bed last night, but this was in my brain after my update process.

1. When an idea strikes, what's the first thing you do?

I usually make a list of major questions I have about the idea (e.g. "Why x?" "What happens if z?" "Why is Character B w?") and ideas on the overall theme. After that, I decide what types of characters need to be in the story, what their motivations might be, and how those motivations might change over time. Then I probably just start writing. In the past I would try to start at the beginning, but just writing what's interesting has actually been pretty helpful to me, because then I get to the heart of why I like the idea right away and then I can figure out how to build to the point earlier on than if I started writing from chapter one, page one, paragraph one, word one.

2. Are there any things you consider integral to your planning process? For example, Julie mentioned earlier in the thread that she often makes a banner when she's in the planning stages.

Characters and character arcs. I usually care more about the characters than the plot anyway, so I figure if they're solid, they can move the plot along pretty effortlessly on my part. Since I like to start writing and then plan along the way, I guess world building typically becomes integral to me (since it's a big part of my niche in fantasy land), but in the beginning, it's never really about that. I do have documents that talk about details like topography, timelines, legends, likely aspects of language, etcetera. Though I'm not full on Tolkien over here making up languages. I'm 100% Team "English for Your Convenience and Mine."

3. If you use outlines, how faithful are you to outlines? How detailed are your outlines? If you write first and plan later, how do you keep track of your ideas? Anyone go between the two?

I'm the worst at outlines. I don't like to use them, probably because mine are never very detailed. I think I said it once, but Kevin's first fighting chapter in PBox was definitely "Kevin's healing power is awesome as an attack. There are plants." and I only had that after I decided that Howie, Kevin, and AJ were each going to get a chapter to show off their skills. Which is... not much of an outline? The last chapter I left on for PNecklace literally has a comment on the Chapter marker that says: "X and Z hang out. Z and B have an important conversation about _____." And I only have that because part of it's already written and these scenes almost ended up in the previous chapter until what happened in the previous chapter was more interesting for longer than I thought it would take to tell that part. I definitely have pages of notes in google keep where I scribble down random things I think of, but it's only coherent for me. I think everyone else would look at it and wonder why I felt the need to write that down. Half of them read like me spitballing to myself, complete with things like "Omg, what if Nick forgot about their secret santa exchange, that would be hilarious!" or "(Hahaha, remember Sam Goody? So funny.)" It's like collaborating on the forum, but with myself.

4. What's the easiest part of planning? The hardest?

I like writing more than planning, but even if you take a "write first, plan later" approach, you still have to plan at some point as the story grows. I think characters are the easiest just because they're the part of a story I enjoy the most. If a story has a mediocre plot, but awesome characters, I can still usually get behind it. If the characters are only okay, the plot has to be really amazing for me. If they're both kind of crummy, I might hate read it while drinking haterade depending on who forced me to do so or how far I've gotten into a story when I realize it's not getting any better. The hardest is probably world building, but it can also be fun too. I love falling into a research time suck because I just love learning more about things I enjoy or learning new things. I guess, getting out of those time sucks might be the hardest part for me. That and knowing that anything I world build, I always know more than my readers, so anyone reading my stuff could see a snippet of something, but I have this whole other aspect of it that I have to plan and research and finalize because there can't be any plot holes. It's... a lot... but fun!

5. How far into the planning process do you know that an idea is definitely something you'll finish writing? Or the opposite, when can you tell if it should be scrapped?

In the past, I was pretty notorious for posting any old thing I wrote down, so I guess I never really know. It gets scrapped when I stop writing it? I think if I can clearly visualize the end, that's a point in its favor to get finished. This is the curse of pantsing, I suppose, I don't always know the end when I start writing. I usually get an end down by... chapter twenty? That sounds about right.

6. Are there any clear signs to you that you're fully invested in an idea, either early or late?

I've mentioned many times, including in the novel about my novel and the initial question post, that I'm a doodler. If I doodle a character, I will finish that story eventually. Like I have pages of old class notes where I doodled tiny, persistent PBox Nick. If I'm thinking about it enough to doodle it, it's basically permeated my brain. Hence why I can come back after a long hiatus and write a sequel.

7. Do you have a specific point where you decide you'll post something or do you just post everything you write?

I used to just post everything I ever wrote, but I think my plan from now on is that I need to be about 15-20 chapters ahead of the update because I think that will hold me more accountable and allow me to post more consistently than I had in the past.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 07, 2021, 09:54:07 PM
Some of it's really fun and some of it's pretty bleh. It's definitely time consuming. I always have trouble with maps and building layouts, so I wish I knew autocad or something like that, because I think being able to virtually poke at it in 3D would help me more than staring at squiggles on a piece of paper. There's a tiny bit of world building involved in realistic fiction, but it's more scrutinizing google maps for your settings (there are no beaches in Orlando, for instance) or making sure something can happen realistically in your story, like how long does it take Nick to get to Kevin's house in LA if he's laying on the couch in his house in Vegas when they discuss it? (it's not five minutes). I hope no one does those two things anymore, ha.

Yes, absolutely, but looking something up is a lot different from making something up.  Making it up requires much more creativity.  I can see where making a map would be helpful.  I still have a printed map of MacDill Air Force Base shoved in a drawer from when we were writing Undead; I referred to that a lot.

LOL I can forgive teenyboppers for their ignorance back in the day, but now that here are so many resources at our fingertips to quickly fact check something, there's no excuse for making those mistakes except being too lazy to look it up.

If an idea is not coherent enough to write down yet, how do you keep track of it? Do you have a mental list or do you have a physical document called "my writing ideas" or equivalent? Does every idea you have get to the outline stage?

It just kinda lives in my head until it becomes a fully formed idea or goes away, I guess LOL.  The other day when Nick was tweeting about signing up for some biomedical/genetics symposium, I jokingly tweeted, "I feel like I should write a fanfic about Nick going to med school" because he always shows such enthusiasm and interest in medical innovations.  And then I thought, "Hey, there could actually be a story idea in that."  But that's about as far as it went, so I didn't write anything down there.  If I have enough to write more than a sentence about an idea, I'll start a doc for it, which eventually turns into an outline if it sounds like something I would actually be interested in writing.  I have a folder for them on Google Drive.

Do you have any sort of planning notes that help keep track of characters and their motivations throughout a story?

I kinda just work it into my outline, usually in the synopsis, if the motivation seems complex enough that I need to keep track of it.  "Brian is feeling this way, so he does such and such because..."  Otherwise I just think about it until it's clear in my head.  With that kind of stuff, it's a lot like lesson planning - I can take time to write it all down, but once I do, I don't usually look at it when it's time to apply it because it's in my head.  But writing it down does come in handy for those times when I step away from an idea and come back to it after months or years and need a reminder of what I was thinking LOL.

I have a question I have been dying to ask (but it seemed oddly specific in a general "questions thread) ever since I had to find the word "sternoclavicul ar" to really explain the size and placement of something. Medical research, how daunting is that? Do you look for accredited sources? How do you keep track of it all? Do you have this ever expanding document of medical jargon? Are youtube videos helpful? Do you get first person accounts? Write a novel about this for me, basically, because I'm intrigued.

I actually love doing medical research.  I find it interesting, and it's a fun challenge to see how in-depth I can get and how much medical jargon I can decipher LOL.  My favorite website for that is Medscape (emedicine.meds cape.com) because it's catered toward professionals and has really detailed information on just about any condition, procedure, drug, etc.  I have to google words to fully comprehend it sometimes, but it has helped me out a lot over the years.  I also end up reading a lot of studies from medical journals.  YouTube videos are also helpful for describing procedures or getting personal accounts.  I've used blogs for the personal experience piece too.  I keep track of it all with bookmarks.  I have subfolders upon subfolders of bookmarks, divided by story and topic within that story.  Sometimes I take notes or copy/paste info into my outlines too.

I found a really cool tool not too long ago that lets you view 3D, interactive anatomy of the entire human body.  You can zoom in, peel back layers, rotate the body in any direction, etc.  If you ever need to get a better understanding of anatomy for the purpose of writing an injury or something, it could come in handy.  It's also just cool to play with if you like that kind of stuff.  https://www.biodigital.com/  You have to click on Individuals and then use your Google account, but it's free.

Have you ever posted a story that you didn't finish? Not recently with your backlog of course, but in the past? I'm notorious for it, but I was wracking my brain trying to think of one for you and can't.

How often do those bursts of inspiration happen?

Yeah, I have a few unfinished ones.  In the last ten years, there have only been two - a Nick/Kevin suspense/drama called Guilty Roads and a BSB/Harry Potter crossover called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Backstreet Boy.  Guilty Roads started out strong, and then I got derailed about a month into it by another story idea that demanded to be written (Curtain Call) and never quite got back into my groove.  I haven't completely given up on it yet, but it's been years since I've actually written anything for it either.  The Harry Potter story was more of a side project, and then Cursed Child kinda ruined it for me.

I don't usually get bursts of inspiration for other stories when I'm in the process of working on one, unless it's a brand new idea, but I try to keep several ideas on hand so I have some options already outlined when I finish a story.  Half the time I end up getting a new idea and don't write any of the old ones, but having too many ideas is better than not having any.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 07, 2021, 10:06:26 PM
In the past I would try to start at the beginning, but just writing what's interesting has actually been pretty helpful to me, because then I get to the heart of why I like the idea right away and then I can figure out how to build to the point earlier on than if I started writing from chapter one, page one, paragraph one, word one.

That is a cool idea to write the middle first and then build back up to that point.  Do you ever have a hard time going back and writing the beginning, which may not be as interesting as the heart of the story?

I'm the worst at outlines. I don't like to use them, probably because mine are never very detailed. I think I said it once, but Kevin's first fighting chapter in PBox was definitely "Kevin's healing power is awesome as an attack. There are plants." and I only had that after I decided that Howie, Kevin, and AJ were each going to get a chapter to show off their skills. Which is... not much of an outline? The last chapter I left on for PNecklace literally has a comment on the Chapter marker that says: "X and Z hang out. Z and B have an important conversation about _____." And I only have that because part of it's already written and these scenes almost ended up in the previous chapter until what happened in the previous chapter was more interesting for longer than I thought it would take to tell that part. I definitely have pages of notes in google keep where I scribble down random things I think of, but it's only coherent for me. I think everyone else would look at it and wonder why I felt the need to write that down. Half of them read like me spitballing to myself, complete with things like "Omg, what if Nick forgot about their secret santa exchange, that would be hilarious!" or "(Hahaha, remember Sam Goody? So funny.)" It's like collaborating on the forum, but with myself.

There's no right or wrong way to do an outline.  It can be whatever you make it.  Mine all look different depending on what I feel I need to write down for the story.  Some of mine have definitely sounded like yours with lots of questions and ideas that aren't set in stone yet ("What if this happened?"), and I have put little jokes in for myself too LOL.  When I was writing Broken and BMS way back in the day, I had little notebook I kept in my nightstand and would jot barely legible notes in it, sometimes when I was half asleep.  No one else would be able to decipher most of it, but it made sense to me.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 07, 2021, 10:34:06 PM
Yes, absolutely, but looking something up is a lot different from making something up.  Making it up requires much more creativity.  I can see where making a map would be helpful.  I still have a printed map of MacDill Air Force Base shoved in a drawer from when we were writing Undead; I referred to that a lot.

LOL I can forgive teenyboppers for their ignorance back in the day, but now that there are so many resources at our fingertips to quickly fact check something, there's no excuse for making those mistakes except being too lazy to look it up.

I've been there! It's pretty base-ic? (I'll see myself out...)

I'm just trying to catch up on the state of BSB fanfic basically. It seems unlikely that these things are still going on because time... but figured it was worth it to check.

It just kinda lives in my head until it becomes a fully formed idea or goes away, I guess LOL.  The other day when Nick was tweeting about signing up for some biomedical/genetics symposium, I jokingly tweeted, "I feel like I should write a fanfic about Nick going to med school" because he always shows such enthusiasm and interest in medical innovations.  And then I thought, "Hey, there could actually be a story idea in that."  But that's about as far as it went, so I didn't write anything down there.  If I have enough to write more than a sentence about an idea, I'll start a doc for it, which eventually turns into an outline if it sounds like something I would actually be interested in writing.  I have a folder for them on Google Drive.

How often do they "just go away?"

What a nerd, signing up for a symposium, just kidding! I am also a nerd who loves symposiums. See, and my first thought to you quoting this was "Please call it 'Dougie! Carter, MD'." (I will see myself out again.)

How many docs are in the folder right now?

With that kind of stuff, it's a lot like lesson planning - I can take time to write it all down, but once I do, I don't usually look at it when it's time to apply it because it's in my head.  But writing it down does come in handy for those times when I step away from an idea and come back to it after months or years and need a reminder of what I was thinking LOL.

Off topic, but that's why I hate writing down lesson plans when I actually have to do it, because them being "in there" is good enough for me to execute.

How long does it typically take you to go back to an idea? I feel like PNecklace has in some form been jumbled in my head for the past decade, but I'm doing it now like that author who writes a chapter, deletes, and then rewrites from memory because I have long ago lost any written record of what it was early on post-PBox. I'm so appreciative of the Google suite.

I actually love doing medical research.  I find it interesting, and it's a fun challenge to see how in-depth I can get and how much medical jargon I can decipher LOL.

I found a really cool tool not too long ago that lets you view 3D, interactive anatomy of the entire human body.  You can zoom in, peel back layers, rotate the body in any direction, etc.  If you ever need to get a better understanding of anatomy for the purpose of writing an injury or something, it could come in handy.  It's also just cool to play with if you like that kind of stuff.

I knew you did! Which was why I wanted to learn more about your experience with it and what you do with it once you've gotten what you need. How much of that medical jargon and in-depth research ends up in your works? Or is it like your version of world building where you know twice as much to avoid plot holes.

That sounds fascinating and I will definitely check it out, but I for sure gagged at it being described as "peel back layers," though I'm sure that's exactly what it is.

Yeah, I have a few unfinished ones.  In the last ten years, there have only been two - a Nick/Kevin suspense/drama called Guilty Roads and a BSB/Harry Potter crossover called Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Backstreet Boy.

I don't usually get bursts of inspiration for other stories when I'm in the process of working on one, unless it's a brand new idea, but I try to keep several ideas on hand so I have some options already outlined when I finish a story.  Half the time I end up getting a new idea and don't write any of the old ones, but having too many ideas is better than not having any.

Those demanding stories are the worst, so pushy. I hope you are eventually able to get back to Guilty Roads. Did you ever write HP fanfic outside of that crossover? I'm not very versed in HP (which seems odd given all this), but can you just tell me what houses the Boys were in? I'm just curious if we have similar opinions.

Do any of your current options feel like "What's next after Bethelehem"? Or do you feel like a new idea will strike?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 07, 2021, 10:51:15 PM
That is a cool idea to write the middle first and then build back up to that point.  Do you ever have a hard time going back and writing the beginning, which may not be as interesting as the heart of the story?

Being away from writing so long, I just decided that rather than waiting to write the parts I wanted to write, I just started writing what seemed most interesting to see if I would stick with it. It's definitely been more interesting to me and fun to weave in those tidbits in the right places. The first bit of anything I wrote was actually some tiny parts in last week's chapter then I think part of what ended up being the "10th chapter" because I was ready for a dramatic reveal after many years. It feels like I might have placed it too early in the story, but knowing Nick had to get from where he was in PBox to there and then all the way over here through the course of the story, it just felt like it needed to happen sooner rather than being dragged out for drama. Unless I decide to add another chapter in there over the course of the edit? Probably not?

I didn't this time, but it's the first story I've tried it on that didn't already have a beginning completely written. And I definitely had bits and pieces of the beginning from 2015ish, so it wasn't going in completely blind or anything. I think it's harder to say for a sequel than a brand new story too, because it technically already had a beginning that was written -- that's PBox. Ask me again the next time I have a totally new and different story, basically, haha.

There's no right or wrong way to do an outline.  It can be whatever you make it.  Mine all look different depending on what I feel I need to write down for the story.  Some of mine have definitely sounded like yours with lots of questions and ideas that aren't set in stone yet ("What if this happened?"), and I have put little jokes in for myself too LOL.  When I was writing Broken and BMS way back in the day, I had little notebook I kept in my nightstand and would jot barely legible notes in it, sometimes when I was half asleep.  No one else would be able to decipher most of it, but it made sense to me.

That's fair, I've just found my one sentence outlines to be very unhelpful if I come back to them from some time away. I guess questions are the way I lean if I'm not sure because that's what I start off doing when I have a story anyway, asking and answering major questions. I'm glad you write yourself jokes too. They're fun to go back to after you pop away from it for a minute. I always laugh at them the next time I read them.

That's why I love google keep. I definitely have a receipt paper from one of the restaurants I worked at that has some vague scribbles of part of Gobosei on it from right after IAWLT came out on my inspiration station. Keep is nice because I always have my phone on me, so I can start a little document whenever the mood strikes. I love that you kept a notebook for them. Do you still have it?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 06:21:31 PM
Being away from writing so long, I just decided that rather than waiting to write the parts I wanted to write, I just started writing what seemed most interesting to see if I would stick with it. It's definitely been more interesting to me and fun to weave in those tidbits in the right places. The first bit of anything I wrote was actually some tiny parts in last week's chapter then I think part of what ended up being the "10th chapter" because I was ready for a dramatic reveal after many years. It feels like I might have placed it too early in the story, but knowing Nick had to get from where he was in PBox to there and then all the way over here through the course of the story, it just felt like it needed to happen sooner rather than being dragged out for drama. Unless I decide to add another chapter in there over the course of the edit? Probably not?

I didn't this time, but it's the first story I've tried it on that didn't already have a beginning completely written. And I definitely had bits and pieces of the beginning from 2015ish, so it wasn't going in completely blind or anything. I think it's harder to say for a sequel than a brand new story too, because it technically already had a beginning that was written -- that's PBox. Ask me again the next time I have a totally new and different story, basically, haha.

I can see how it would be easier to start somewhere in the middle when it's a sequel and you already have the characters and world established.  I do think it would be harder to do that with a brand new story, but you'll have to try it and let us know how it goes.  That being said, I can also see how it might make it easier to complete a story if you write the middle and end first and then just have to go back to the beginning and fill in the gaps to finish it.  That might make it feel like the hard part is over - unless you're someone who struggles most with beginnings.  For me, getting started is often the hardest part, so I don't know if that theory would hold LOL.

Here's a question for everyone:  What do you usually have the hardest time writing - the beginning, the middle, or the end?  How about the easiest?


That's why I love google keep. I definitely have a receipt paper from one of the restaurants I worked at that has some vague scribbles of part of Gobosei on it from right after IAWLT came out on my inspiration station. Keep is nice because I always have my phone on me, so I can start a little document whenever the mood strikes. I love that you kept a notebook for them. Do you still have it?

I haven't used Google Keep before; I'll have to look into that!

Yep, I do still have my Broken notebook.  I'm kind of a low-key hoarder who keeps anything nostalgic LOL.

Anyone else have any writing-related mementos they hang on to?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 08, 2021, 07:34:02 PM
I have notebooks upon notebooks of stuff that I wrote in high school, including what would eventually be my Nick and Amanda series. I also have the notebook I started drafting If I Knew Then and Take Me Home in. Lots of notes. I have a notebook where I was writing down stuff for when I wrote Finding Carter too. I kept all of it and once in a while I like to go through them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 07:35:13 PM
How often do they "just go away?"

What a nerd, signing up for a symposium, just kidding! I am also a nerd who loves symposiums. See, and my first thought to you quoting this was "Please call it 'Dougie! Carter, MD'." (I will see myself out again.)

How many docs are in the folder right now?

Do any of your current options feel like "What's next after Bethelehem"? Or do you feel like a new idea will strike?

I dunno... I'm not sure they actually do go away, but that may be because the ones worth remembering eventually get written down.  I have eleven ideas/outlines on Google, and I found nineteen more on my hard drive that I never uploaded to Google because I don't see myself actually writing them... yet I haven't deleted them either.  Of the ones on Google, there are five or six I could see myself attempting to write at some point.  I've thought for three years now that my next project would be a Kevin/Nick drama called "My Brother's Keeper" that I've already written 3 or 4 chapters of, but other ideas keep getting in its way.  If I don't go back to that one after Bethlehem, I'm leaning toward one of my horror/suspense ideas.  Or maybe I'll just take a break until it's time to get going on 00Carter again.  Or maybe I'll get a brand new idea.  Who knows!  I'm not gonna worry about it until I actually finish Bethlehem.

Dying at "Dougie! Carter, M.D."  :D  There is something to be said for a good, funny title.  I've held on to an idea for years about Brian being possessed, but there are two versions of the idea.  One is a serious horror story, and the other is a comedy I would call "The Devil Wears Wylee." LOL  The serious version would make a better story, but damn if I don't love that title LOL.  Maybe I can work it into a future pandaskunk story instead.

How long does it typically take you to go back to an idea? I feel like PNecklace has in some form been jumbled in my head for the past decade, but I'm doing it now like that author who writes a chapter, deletes, and then rewrites from memory because I have long ago lost any written record of what it was early on post-PBox. I'm so appreciative of the Google suite.

I love how you can recover old versions of a file in Google.  It's fun to see how stories and ideas evolve over time.  The thought of deleting a chapter and rewriting it from memory gives me anxiety though LOL.  Do you save a copy of the original so you can refer back to it after or while you rewrite?

It seems like the stories I've been most successful with (a.k.a. the ones I actually finish) are based on newer ideas, not old ones.  I think the longest I've hung on to an idea before writing it is about six years.  I got the original idea for Guilty Roads around 2004, and I started writing it in 2010.  But although I got far enough to post it, I still haven't finished it, so I'm not sure I'd call that successful.  Another one with a big time gap was the ER crossover I finished last year, Heroic Measures.  I wrote the first two chapters of that story in 2012, finished two more in 2018, and wrote the rest in 2020.  It took me 8 years to write a ten-chapter novella LOL, but at least I did finally finish it, so I consider that one a success.

Has anyone else had luck resurrecting really old ideas or unfinished stories?

I knew you did! Which was why I wanted to learn more about your experience with it and what you do with it once you've gotten what you need. How much of that medical jargon and in-depth research ends up in your works? Or is it like your version of world building where you know twice as much to avoid plot holes.

That sounds fascinating and I will definitely check it out, but I for sure gagged at it being described as "peel back layers," though I'm sure that's exactly what it is.

Yeah, I guess it is like my own version of world building.  I don't include everything I learn in my stories because I don't want them to read like a medical journal LOL.  I've found that doctor characters are good for taking the jargon and info I feel the other characters and readers need to understand and breaking it down into laymen's terms. Usually those are just minor characters, but my last two medical dramas had main characters who were doctors or nurses, so when I was writing from their perspective, I did include more jargon and detailed medical info, which was fun.  

LOL!  Don't worry, it's not gory.  It's more like a interactive 3D CGI diagram, not real photos or anything.

Did you ever write HP fanfic outside of that crossover? I'm not very versed in HP (which seems odd given all this), but can you just tell me what houses the Boys were in? I'm just curious if we have similar opinions.

I started a HP fanfic once back in like 2003, but I didn't get past the first few chapters.  I love Harry Potter; it's my number two fandom after BSB, but I've just never gotten into fanfic for any other fandom, reading or writing.  In my crossover, the Boys are Muggles (non-magic), so they're not sorted into Houses.  But if I were the Sorting Hat, I would probably put Brian and Nick in Gryffindor, Howie and AJ in Hufflepuff, and Kevin in Ravenclaw.  Although Nick's nerdy science posts make me think he might actually be more of a Ravenclaw too.  As Dumbledore once said, "You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon."  Where do you think they would go?  (Anyone can weigh in on this.)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 07:39:58 PM
I have notebooks upon notebooks of stuff that I wrote in high school, including what would eventually be my Nick and Amanda series. I also have the notebook I started drafting If I Knew Then and Take Me Home in. Lots of notes. I have a notebook where I was writing down stuff for when I wrote Finding Carter too. I kept all of it and once in a while I like to go through them.

Do you use a different notebook for each story?

I rarely write by hand, but I have several random old notebooks with just a few pages of fanfic ideas or scenes written in them.  If I were smarter, I would have gotten myself one nice notebook and put everything in there, instead of all over the place in used Five Star notebooks leftover from high school and college LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 08:06:44 PM
I can see how it would be easier to start somewhere in the middle when it's a sequel and you already have the characters and world established.  I do think it would be harder to do that with a brand new story, but you'll have to try it and let us know how it goes.  That being said, I can also see how it might make it easier to complete a story if you write the middle and end first and then just have to go back to the beginning and fill in the gaps to finish it.  That might make it feel like the hard part is over - unless you're someone who struggles most with beginnings.  For me, getting started is often the hardest part, so I don't know if that theory would hold LOL.

Here's a question for everyone:  What do you usually have the hardest time writing - the beginning, the middle, or the end?  How about the easiest?

When I have a new idea, I will let you know! Could be never. Could be next week.

I started so many things over the years, so I would say middles are alright if I get to them. It's the between the beginning and middle I often find hard, but then if I can't get at least halfway-ish through the story, then I'll never figure out an end. We'll see if this way is easier overall, because it's definitely been easier to fill in gaps between already written scenes than it was going in order.

Yep, I do still have my Broken notebook.  I'm kind of a low-key hoarder who keeps anything nostalgic LOL.

Anyone else have any writing-related mementos they hang on to?

Next time you go on purging binge, don't purge it! Save it forever and put it in a Julie museum!

I'd say my doodles? I used to physically print out my stories back when I had my ancient desktop. I bet I have a very old version of PBox on a floppy disk somewhere, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 08:10:28 PM
I have notebooks upon notebooks of stuff that I wrote in high school, including what would eventually be my Nick and Amanda series. I also have the notebook I started drafting If I Knew Then and Take Me Home in. Lots of notes. I have a notebook where I was writing down stuff for when I wrote Finding Carter too. I kept all of it and once in a while I like to go through them.

Do you use a different notebook for each story?

I rarely write by hand, but I have several random old notebooks with just a few pages of fanfic ideas or scenes written in them.  If I were smarter, I would have gotten myself one nice notebook and put everything in there, instead of all over the place in used Five Star notebooks leftover from high school and college LOL.

I love that you guys kept notebooks! My hand hurts if I write by hand too long and I can definitely type faster than I can write and my brain sometimes goes a mile a minute, so typing is my preference (thank goodness for technology). I know I have part of PBox ch. 23 written on a piece of notebook paper somewhere and I found the tiniest part of zombies in my art binder last night.

Just rip them out, put them in page protectors, and transfer into a binder... Or at least, next time you want a time consuming project, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 08:34:13 PM
Next time you go on purging binge, don't purge it! Save it forever and put it in a Julie museum!

It has moved with me from my parents' house to my first apartment to my own house, so it's safe to say I will not be purging it.  Though I do have this fear of dying and my family finding things like that when they go through my stuff and being like "WTF?" LOL.  At least that notebook is mostly just random notes that would seem incoherent out of context of knowing what it was for.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 08:42:08 PM
I have eleven ideas/outlines on Google, and I found nineteen more on my hard drive that I never uploaded to Google because I don't see myself actually writing them... yet I haven't deleted them either.  Of the ones on Google, there are five or six I could see myself attempting to write at some point.  I've thought for three years now that my next project would be a Kevin/Nick drama called "My Brother's Keeper" that I've already written 3 or 4 chapters of, but other ideas keep getting in its way.  If I don't go back to that one after Bethlehem, I'm leaning toward one of my horror/suspense ideas.  Or maybe I'll just take a break until it's time to get going on 00Carter again.  Or maybe I'll get a brand new idea.  Who knows!  I'm not gonna worry about it until I actually finish Bethlehem.

Dying at "Dougie! Carter, M.D."  :D  There is something to be said for a good, funny title.  I've held on to an idea for years about Brian being possessed, but there are two versions of the idea.  One is a serious horror story, and the other is a comedy I would call "The Devil Wears Wylee." LOL  The serious version would make a better story, but damn if I don't love that title LOL.  Maybe I can work it into a future pandaskunk story instead.

Wow, thirty ideas and the possibility to write 1/5 of them! That's prolific. I was just curious how far in advance you started seriously considering your next project, don't turn into me. Finish Bethlehem first.

I'm here to make great jokes whenever. I wish more of my storied lent themselves to funny titles, because I'll put anything in a story that makes me laugh. Write both versions? See what happens. I find straight comedies are much harder to write than anything with dramatic elements.

I love how you can Do you save a copy of the original so you can refer back to it after or while you rewrite?

That's why I write almost exclusively in google docs, because I can go back if I need to. The only original I have of anything is whatever version of PBox I saved forever ago when my computer originally died (maybe that should have been the sign I would eventually come back to it). When I edit, I always use the "suggest changes" format so that I can see what I originally wrote while I'm changing it.

I think the longest I've hung on to an idea before writing it is about six years.  I got the original idea for Guilty Roads around 2004, and I started writing it in 2010.  But although I got far enough to post it, I still haven't finished it, so I'm not sure I'd call that successful.  Another one with a big time gap was the ER crossover I finished last year, Heroic Measures.  I wrote the first two chapters of that story in 2012, finished two more in 2018, and wrote the rest in 2020.  It took me 8 years to write a ten-chapter novella LOL, but at least I did finally finish it, so I consider that one a success.

Has anyone else had luck resurrecting really old ideas or unfinished stories?

I'm impressed that's only happened twice recently! Was your Masters' program what stopped the Heroic Measures train?

Usually those are just minor characters, but my last two medical dramas had main characters who were doctors or nurses, so when I was writing from their perspective, I did include more jargon and detailed medical info, which was fun.  

LOL!  Don't worry, it's not gory.  It's more like a interactive 3D CGI diagram, not real photos or anything.

I like when I get to include nerdy details, it's like: see look at all these things I planned and researched that you get a tiny snippet into!

I was just imagining it as "Now to get inside this model, we click on the skin and it flips open agonizingly slowly so the next layer under is revealed piece by piece." Like eating a banana, haha.

but I've just never gotten into fanfic for any other fandom, reading or writing.  In my crossover, the Boys are Muggles (non-magic), so they're not sorted into Houses.  But if I were the Sorting Hat, I would probably put Brian and Nick in Gryffindor, Howie and AJ in Hufflepuff, and Kevin in Ravenclaw.  Although Nick's nerdy science posts make me think he might actually be more of a Ravenclaw too.  As Dumbledore once said, "You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon."  Where do you think they would go?  (Anyone can weigh in on this.)

I did a couple other fandoms, but nothing near to the variety I tried for BSB fanfics. What do you think it is about the Boys that stuck with you so much over other fandoms?

I mean, I guess it would by pretty Sueish for them to be 30-year-old Hogwarts students, haha. Nick clearly gets to be in all the houses because of his main character vibes! 90's Nick I would have for sure put in Hufflepuff, but I think you're probably right. None of them really strike me as too Slytherin, that's for the Justin  Timberlakes of the world, obviously.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 08:44:56 PM
It has moved with me from my parents' house to my first apartment to my own house, so it's safe to say I will not be purging it.  Though I do have this fear of dying and my family finding things like that when they go through my stuff and being like "WTF?" LOL.  At least that notebook is mostly just random notes that would seem incoherent out of context of knowing what it was for.

Good! Is it up in your inspiration room?

Just put a sticky note in the front cover of what you'd like done with it. Morbidly enough, I've thought of what to do with things like all my BSB stuff after I'm gone, and I think the logical thing would be to say "All this BSB stuff brought me so much joy over the years, so if you think having it will bring you joy, keep it. If you don't think it will, get rid of it." Solve the problem, you know?

What's the most random note you ever wrote about and/or for a story?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 08, 2021, 08:47:15 PM
I had notebooks with more than one story in them. Notebooks that I just never finished using. So it's like a stack of them.



Do you use a different notebook for each story?

I rarely write by hand, but I have several random old notebooks with just a few pages of fanfic ideas or scenes written in them.  If I were smarter, I would have gotten myself one nice notebook and put everything in there, instead of all over the place in used Five Star notebooks leftover from high school and college LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 08:49:14 PM
I had notebooks with more than one story in them. Notebooks that I just never finished using. So it's like a stack of them.

I would always repurposed old notebooks from school. I have probably 20 notebooks that have various amounts of things in them. Some are probably old stories or doodles! I'll have to look?

Challenge for everyone: Go find some old physical writing thing you saved that's worth sharing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 09:22:22 PM
Wow, thirty ideas and the possibility to write 1/5 of them! That's prolific. I was just curious how far in advance you started seriously considering your next project, don't turn into me. Finish Bethlehem first.

I'm here to make great jokes whenever. I wish more of my storied lent themselves to funny titles, because I'll put anything in a story that makes me laugh. Write both versions? See what happens. I find straight comedies are much harder to write than anything with dramatic elements.

I used to try to plan ahead more, but inevitably I would lose interest in the would-be next story by the time I finished the current one or come up with a completely different idea, so now I don't bother.  I write ideas down, and if I'm really inspired, I'll even start a draft, but I don't commit to anything until I see where my head is when I'm actually ready to dive in to a new project.  Usually I spend a few days/weeks/months jumping around between different stories in my effort to figure out what I want to write, which is frustrating, but probably a necessary part of the process for me.  That's why the 00Carter revival might be perfect timing for me, because I'm a couple chapters away from finishing Bethlehem and not currently tied down to anything else.

That's why I write almost exclusively in google docs, because I can go back if I need to. The only original I have of anything is whatever version of PBox I saved forever ago when I my computer originally died (maybe that should I been the sign I would eventually come back to it). When I edit, I always use the "suggest changes" format so that I can see what I originally wrote while I'm changing it.

That's a good idea.  I don't usually edit at the level you are, as in rewriting a lot of it; it's usually more just changing a few words here and there, which I do right in editing mode.  I did completely dissect a chapter of Bethlehem and edit it back together to pace it differently, and for that I just created a separate document and pasted it back into the original story when I was happy with it.

I love Google Docs.  I started using it for my master's classes and finally made the switch for fanfic in the middle of writing Sick as My Secrets, probably around 2015-2016.  The fact that it automatically saves, and I can access my stories from any device without using a flash drive sold me.  I got a new desktop computer for Christmas that only has a trial version of Office, and I don't know that I'll even bother trying to install my old Office on it.

I'm impressed that's only happened twice recently! Was your Masters' program what stopped the Heroic Measures train?

Nah, Heroic Measures was always just more of a side project that I opened when I was between novels.  I finally found myself without a novel in progress during quarantine in the spring and decided it was the perfect time to try to finish it.  Thanks, Rona!

I like when I get to include nerdy details, it's like: see look at all these things I planned and researched that you get a tiny snippet into!

I was just imagining it as "Now to get inside this model, we click on the skin and it flips open agonizingly slowly so the next layer under is revealed piece by piece." Like eating a banana, haha.

Yes!!  I totally get your fireside author chats because it's fun to reveal the behind-the-scenes stuff that readers don't get to see.

LOL Basically!  Though it's more like the peel just fades away as you zoom in to the inside of the banana.

I did a couple other fandoms, but nothing near to the variety I tried for BSB fanfics. What do you think it is about the Boys that stuck with you so much over other fandoms?

I mean, I guess it would by pretty Sueish for them to be 30-year-old Hogwarts students, haha. Nick clearly gets to be in all the houses because of his main character vibes! 90's Nick I would have for sure put in Hufflepuff, but I think you're probably right. None of them really strike me as too Slytherin, that's for the Justin  Timberlakes of the world, obviously.

I guess it's a reflection of how much I love the Boys as people.  I like a lot of music, but I've never cared so much about other artists on a personal level.  And while I love the characters in Harry Potter and other fictional universes I'm a fan of, it's not the same because they're not real.

My story takes place in 1999, but they're still too old to be Hogwarts students.  I could see Nick as a Hufflepuff too.  None of them struck me as Slytherins either, and I almost said the same thing about Justin Timberlake! LMAO.  Slytherins are known for being ambitious and power-hungry (which is why all the villains come from Slytherin), which fits Timberlake ditching NSYNC to go solo.  The Boys are loyal to each other.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 09:47:06 PM
Usually I spend a few days/weeks/months jumping around between different stories in my effort to figure out what I want to write, which is frustrating, but probably a necessary part of the process for me.  That's why the 00Carter revival might be perfect timing for me, because I'm a couple chapters away from finishing Bethlehem and not currently tied down to anything else.

How do you like jumping around stories? Is it doing multiple things at once that's frustrating or not having the clear idea for the next project? I know you're pretty focused on tackling one thing at a time.

I don't usually edit at the level you are, as in rewriting a lot of it; it's usually more just changing a few words here and there, which I do right in editing mode.  I did completely dissect a chapter of Bethlehem and edit it back together to pace it differently, and for that I just created a separate document and pasted it back into the original story when I was happy with it.

I love Google Docs.  I started using it for my master's classes and finally made the switch for fanfic in the middle of writing Sick as My Secrets, probably around 2015-2016.  The fact that it automatically saves, and I can access my stories from any device without using a flash drive sold me.

It's been a project for sure! I don't know that I'll ever edit quite to this level again! (I say that and a PNecklace chapter update is still around 600 different words when everything's said and done).

I've done that too if it's almost a complete rewrite of a section, it's easier to pop it out for a second than it is to change in the document. I wish there was the option to edit multiple times at once and track it with different colors, but going to the effort of sharing a document with myself just to overwrite an edit seems a little extra.

My tablet has office, but it's tiny and has a tiny attached keyboard, so I don't write on it as often since getting a regular laptop again. Bigger is better than only staring at tiny screens. Though I sometimes make fun of my husband for switching from the little internet on his phone to the same thing but bigger on his computer when he's reading ESPN articles/tracking scores of games, haha. My work switched over to google suite only and that's kind of sold me on it. I don't think I'll ever go back to office.

Nah, Heroic Measures was always just more of a side project that I opened when I was between novels.  I finally found myself without a novel in progress during quarantine in the spring and decided it was the perfect time to try to finish it.  Thanks, Rona!

Yes!!  I totally get your fireside author chats because it's fun to reveal the behind-the-scenes stuff that readers don't get to see.

LOL Basically!  Though it's more like the peel just fades away as you zoom in to the inside of the banana.

Did you find it nice or frustrating to have a "between projects" story? Covid also turned into a productive writing thing for me, nothing finished yet, but we'll see! Anyone else have a writing-related silver lining from Covid?

I've really enjoyed writing them. I think my only concern is "what's the statue of limits on spoilers? Because it's been bopping around my head for what, fifteen years now? So to me, it's all old news. I don't know if anyone's enjoying my ramblings or not, haha. It's weird having a post where you basically talk to yourself.

Fades away is fine. That would not be squicky at all, haha.

I guess it's a reflection of how much I love the Boys as people.

My story takes place in 1999, but they're still too old to be Hogwarts students.  I could see Nick as a Hufflepuff too.  None of them struck me as Slytherins either, and I almost said the same thing about Justin Timberlake! LMAO.  Slytherins are known for being ambitious and power-hungry (which is why all the villains come from Slytherin), which fits Timberlake ditching NSYNC to go solo.  The Boys are loyal to each other.

Yes, I loved the music, but then the more interviews I saw, I just started caring about them personally. Like I was really concerned for Nick for a couple days when I saw him retweet Lauren saying he did great on Masked Singer and his response was "Everything I do is for my little family." And I was like, are they okay? Why wouldn't you say "our little family" when retweeting your wife? Then I snapped myself out of it, because I was like, "Why are you worrying about this?!" But then I read his GQ "how I stay healthy" interview yesterday and he said something like "she's very motivating for me" and I was like, "phew, don't have to worry about that anymore."

Haha, yeah, ambitious and power hungry is Justin to a tee. That's for sure how I wrote him in PBox. Are no Slytherins loyal to each other? That seems so crummy to be excited to get in a house and find out that no one is your friend for you, just your use to them. But then if they're all in Slytherin, do they care? A philosophical discussion on house sorting.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 10:17:41 PM
Good! Is it up in your inspiration room?

Just put a sticky note in the front cover of what you'd like done with it. Morbidly enough, I've thought of what to do with things like all my BSB stuff after I'm gone, and I think the logical thing would be to say "All this BSB stuff brought me so much joy over the years, so if you think having it will bring you joy, keep it. If you don't think it will, get rid of it." Solve the problem, you know?

What's the most random note you ever wrote about and/or for a story?

Yep!  LOL You just inspired me to go upstairs and get it to look through it, and now I am simultaneously cracking up and cringing.  

Here are some of my favorite finds:

- the page where I jotted an idea for an April Fool's prank for my site, and then underneath it, I randomly wrote and underlined the word "infection."  I guess that was me trying to get back on topic with Broken notes LOL.

- "Nick & Claire adopt kid w/ cancer; watch it die. (girl)"
Sadistic!  That must have been an idea for future Nick & Claire.  I did eventually have them watch a kid with cancer die, and they also adopted a kid, but it wasn't the same kid - and neither were girls.

- "Cannibalism?  Plane crash, Donner party deal?"
LOL That was not for Broken, but was apparently a story idea I had once and never pursued.

- "Call Grandma about tutoring!"
Apparently this was also my memo pad in 2003 LOL.

Then it goes into BMS planning, and I have a page with this idea:
"J[amie] & C[laire] go running together or play soccer or something?  Nick gets jealous, determined to learn to run again.  He does teach himself, but he overdoes it & gets an ulcer, which takes him out of commission for weeks - possible bad infection, faces risk of losing more of leg?"
And then I crossed out the last part and wrote "BAD!" and below that, "Cellulitis."  That actually did end up in the story.

- "Testing out my cool new pen... it's the sparkly turquoise one... #1 at Target!"

My favorite page:
- "12/21/04  3:42 a.m.  Best idea ever!!! (from a dream too!)  Paris killed in freak amusement park accident. Intoxicated? Didn't keep her safety belt on? Tried to flash ride operator? Scrambler at small town carnival - filming Simple Life 4 (or 5?)"
I totally included that in BMS too LMAO.

My first reference to the ill-fated third story I mentioned the other day:
- "Lung transplant... mwahaha"
And then I crossed that out and wrote "BAD!" again LOL.

Then there's a page that I first looked at with horror because it looks like I was trying to draw swastikas, but I realized it was actually my early attempts at designing a FANS logo for 00Carter, which was based on a swastika.

So there's some insight into my mind circa 2003-2006.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 10:25:56 PM
I would always repurposed old notebooks from school. I have probably 20 notebooks that have various amounts of things in them. Some are probably old stories or doodles! I'll have to look?

Challenge for everyone: Go find some old physical writing thing you saved that's worth sharing!

I posted pictures of a few pages from my notebooks back in October when I was cleaning and found them.  https://twitter.com/RokofAges75/status/1317632126418882561

Also, I realized I dabble in doodling and world-building too.  Here is a very elaborate blueprint I made of the nursing home where Cary, my female lead in Curtain Call, works. LMAO
 http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/courtyard.jpg
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 10:35:25 PM
Yep!  LOL You just inspired me to go upstairs and get it to look through it, and now I am simultaneously cracking up and cringing.

The nostalgia continues! I love when I find old things like this because they always make me happy. Like I was going through my old French stuff from high school and found this caterpillar saying hello (https://i.ibb.co/C0GZGgs/Salutchenille.jpg). I also found a labeled magazine collage from when we were learning body parts that had Leo's head!

Here are some of my favorite finds:

So there's some insight into my mind circa 2003-2006.

I loved all of them. Those are amazing! I especially like you crossing things out and writing BAD instead, the written evil laugh to lung cancer, the random note about calling your grandma, that a Paris dying scene was labeled "Best idea ever!!!" (that's it, you'll never have another good idea again), and the random note about your turquoise pen from Target (it's a curse, I'll go in there for one thing and spend $100... what have I done?)

I need to quote/comment on these though:

Here are some of my favorite finds:

- the page where I jotted an idea for an April Fool's prank for my site, and then underneath it, I randomly wrote and underlined the word "infection."  I guess that was me trying to get back on topic with Broken notes LOL.

- "Cannibalism?  Plane crash, Donner party deal?"
LOL That was not for Broken, but was apparently a story idea I had once and never pursued.

Then there's a page that I first looked at with horror because it looks like I was trying to draw swastikas, but I realized it was actually my early attempts at designing a FANS logo for 00Carter, which was based on a swastika.

An infection on April Fools? Oh noes!

I get it, the Backstreet Party. Who would get eaten first? Who would be the first to consider eating people? You know what they say, "have a friend for lunch"! (the actual motto of a restaurant from my college, the Alfred Packer Grill)

I'm cringing that it was based on a swastika. Poor Dr. Rough.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 10:39:24 PM
I posted pictures of a few pages from my notebooks back in October when I was cleaning and found them.  https://twitter.com/RokofAges75/status/1317632126418882561

Also, I realized I dabble in doodling and world-building too.  Here is a very elaborate blueprint I made of the nursing home where Cary, my female lead in Curtain Call, works. LMAO
 http://dreamers-sanctuary.com/courtyard.jpg

Yay! Stuff like this is so fun! I'd post more PBox doodles, but I'm trying to save them for a future chat in my thread. I found one where Nick looks pretty creepy from before I settled on them being more "cute monster" types.

But where's the west wing? Too political for you?  ;D It's very elaborate. Turn that into a 3D model, stat!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 10:47:29 PM
How do you like jumping around stories? Is it doing multiple things at once that's frustrating or not having the clear idea for the next project? I know you're pretty focused on tackling one thing at a time.

I hate it because I feel like I never really get anywhere with any of them.  I'm more productive when I can pick one and stick with it.  The frustrating part is not being inspired or focused enough to settle down and commit to one.

My work switched over to google suite only and that's kind of sold me on it. I don't think I'll ever go back to office.

Same!

Did you find it nice or frustrating to have a "between projects" story? Covid also turned into a productive writing thing for me, nothing finished yet, but we'll see! Anyone else have a writing-related silver lining from Covid?

Actually, that was okay.  It was nice having something already in progress that I could come back to between projects or when I was stuck on my other story.  I was smart with Heroic Measures and didn't post any of it online until this past summer when I was close enough to the end to know I was going to finish it.  My Harry Potter crossover was also a side project, but I made the mistake of starting to post that one when it was going particularly well, and now I feel guilty for having another unfinished story online.

Road to Bethlehem has also been a nice little COVID gift for me.  It takes place in the summer of 2020 and starts with the Boys renting a cabin in the mountains to quarantine together and work on the Christmas album they keep talking about but have yet to bless us with.  So thanks, COVID and Nick, for inspiring that idea!

I've really enjoyed writing them. I think my only concern is "what's the statue of limits on spoilers? Because it's been bopping around my head for what, fifteen years now? So to me, it's all old news. I don't know if anyone's enjoying my ramblings or not, haha. It's weird having a post where you basically talk to yourself.

I felt the same way with the blogs I did for my site last year, like I was just rambling to myself.  But it was still fun, and once in a while I would get a comment from someone who had read.  I must admit, I have not been reading those posts of yours because I haven't read PBox in its entirety.  I think I may have read part of it back in the day, but I don't remember many details.  But I'm sure people who have or will read it will enjoy the posts!  I love author's notes and behind the scenes stuff.

Yes, I loved the music, but then the more interviews I saw, I just started caring about them personally. Like I was really concerned for Nick for a couple days when I saw him retweet Lauren saying he did great on Masked Singer and his response was "Everything I do is for my little family." And I was like, are they okay? Why wouldn't you say "our little family" when retweeting your wife? Then I snapped myself out of it, because I was like, "Why are you worrying about this?!" But then I read his GQ "how I stay healthy" interview yesterday and he said something like "she's very motivating for me" and I was like, "phew, don't have to worry about that anymore."

Haha, yeah, ambitious and power hungry is Justin to a tee. That's for sure how I wrote him in PBox. Are no Slytherins loyal to each other? That seems so crummy to be excited to get in a house and find out that no one is your friend for you, just your use to them. But then if they're all in Slytherin, do they care? A philosophical discussion on house sorting.

Aww, I think Nick and Lauren are good.  I'm sure he didn't mean it that way.

There are loyal Slytherins, but they're more likely to betray each other if a better opportunity comes their way or to save their own skin.  Most of Voldemort's minions (former Slytherins) abandoned him and acted like they had never been on his side after he lost his power the first time.  Hm, sounds similar to what's happening among Trump's Cabinet and Republican senators this week...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 10:48:22 PM
Stumbled on this thread Kelly started way back!

We haven't talked about writing a whole lot lately, so I thought I'd ask you what you feel you are good at and where you think you could improve.

Anyone want to take a stab at these again? If you posted in the original thread, do you still feel the same as you did then? On a side note, not sure how I missed this one last time, I love stuff like this (clearly).
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 10:57:00 PM
I hate it because I feel like I never really get anywhere with any of them.  I'm more productive when I can pick one and stick with it.  The frustrating part is not being inspired or focused enough to settle down and commit to one.

I always felt that way when I had ideas for other projects and distracted myself. I've tried to be really cognizant this time around by only focusing on one thing and not getting too distracted.

Actually, that was okay.  It was nice having something already in progress that I could come back to between projects or when I was stuck on my other story.  I was smart with Heroic Measures and didn't post any of it online until this past summer when I was close enough to the end to know I was going to finish it.  My Harry Potter crossover was also a side project, but I made the mistake of starting to post that one when it was going particularly well, and now I feel guilty for having another unfinished story online.

Road to Bethlehem has also been a nice little COVID gift for me.  It takes place in the summer of 2020 and starts with the Boys renting a cabin in the mountains to quarantine together and work on the Christmas album they keep talking about but have yet to bless us with.  So thanks, COVID and Nick, for inspiring that idea!

Maybe between projects is your time for crossovers? Go write "Dougie! Carter, MD" then. Or like you said, maybe getting back into 00Carter is that project for this time.

I felt the same way with the blogs I did for my site last year, like I was just rambling to myself.  But it was still fun, and once in a while I would get a comment from someone who had read.  I must admit, I have not been reading those posts of yours because I haven't read PBox in its entirety.  I think I may have read part of it back in the day, but I don't remember many details.  But I'm sure people who have or will read it will enjoy the posts!  I love author's notes and behind the scenes stuff.

I know PBox isn't your thing and it's quite slow here, so I figured I would probably be rambling to myself. I love that type of stuff too.

Aww, I think Nick and Lauren are good.  I'm sure he didn't mean it that way.

There are loyal Slytherins, but they're more likely to betray each other if a better opportunity comes their way or to save their own skin.  Most of Voldemort's minions (former Slytherins) abandoned him and acted like they had never been on his side after he lost his power the first time.  Hm, sounds similar to what's happening among Trump's Cabinet and Republican senators this week...

You know, I just needed something stupid to worry about, I think.

So topical! I think people who gravitate to people only for power are like that though. Once they don't have the power, they jump ship.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 11:01:59 PM
The nostalgia continues! I love when I find old things like this because they always make me happy. Like I was going through my old French stuff from high school and found this caterpillar saying hello (https://i.ibb.co/C0GZGgs/Salutchenille.jpg). I also found a labeled magazine collage from when we were learning body parts that had Leo's head!

I loved all of them. Those are amazing! I especially like you crossing things out and writing BAD instead, the written evil laugh to lung cancer, the random note about calling your grandma, that a Paris dying scene was labeled "Best idea ever!!!" (that's it, you'll never have another good idea again), and the random note about your turquoise pen from Target (it's a curse, I'll go in there for one thing and spend $100... what have I done?)

I need to quote/comment on these though:

An infection on April Fools? Oh noes!

I get it, the Backstreet Party. Who would get eaten first? Who would be the first to consider eating people? You know what they say, "have a friend for lunch"! (the actual motto of a restaurant from my college, the Alfred Packer Grill)

I'm cringing that it was based on a swastika. Poor Dr. Rough.

Aww, I love your caterpillar!  And Leo's head! LOL

Oh Target... so true.  That was the start of my obsession with the dollar spot.

Oh noes!!

Someday I must visit the Alferd Packer Grill.  Have you ever seen "Cannibal: The Musical"?  It's a musical Trey Parker and Matt Stone made in college about Alferd Packer.  It's not the greatest piece of cinema in the world, but it is funny.  I have it on DVD, and the best part is their drunk commentary, which is even funnier than the movie itself.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 11:11:31 PM
Aww, I love your caterpillar!  And Leo's head! LOL

Oh Target... so true.  That was the start of my obsession with the dollar spot.

Oh noes!!

Someday I must visit the Alferd Packer Grill.  Have you ever seen "Cannibal: The Musical"?  It's a musical Trey Parker and Matt Stone made in college about Alferd Packer.  It's not the greatest piece of cinema in the world, but it is funny.  I have it on DVD, and the best part is their drunk commentary, which is even funnier than the movie itself.

Alright, I fixed it so I could post it (too many identifying details in the original): Labeled Leo (https://i.ibb.co/Qn8Z3tV/20210108-220510.jpg)

I love the dollar spot. I could easily spend $100 in that section alone.

Oh man, I can't think of the last time I actually typed (let alone said) "Oh noes" and now I come back here and it's just a hilarious part of my vocabulary again.

I'll have you for lunch any time you'd like! I haven't seen that, surprisingly! But I probably should, I can't think of thing they've released that wasn't hilarious. I love DVD commentary too. It is usually better than the actual movie.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 11:39:37 PM
Ooh, that's a nice picture of Leo!

LOL I haven't posted "Oh noes!" in forever either.  High time we brought it back.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 08, 2021, 11:45:50 PM
Y'all bring it out of me. I also saw in the "Bingo 2" thread that I promised you some word egg laying chickens with prosthetic limbs, so if you never saw that, let me get on that in the next week or so.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 11:57:56 PM
Stumbled on this thread Kelly started way back!

Anyone want to take a stab at these again? If you posted in the original thread, do you still feel the same as you did then? On a side note, not sure how I missed this one last time, I love stuff like this (clearly).

I'm surprised that thread only went one page.  I read my post, and I feel like I have made improvement in the areas where I thought I was weak in 2008.  One was creativity.  While I know I'm still not the most creative writer, I have definitely broadened my horizons and come up with some stuff I'm pretty proud of.  00Carter was great for bringing out my creative side and challenging me to write in different genres than what I was used to.  I think the challenges I've written for here and my pandaskunk stories were pretty creative too (if parody counts as being creative).  Apparently I still associate creativity with fantasy and sci-fi - kudos to those of you who regularly write in those genres.

The other weakness I said was a balance between being too wordy and not detailed enough.  I was still in a bit of a purple prose phase in 2008, but I think I have found that balance now.  My writing is still detailed, but not as flowery as it was back in the Broken/BMS era.  Writing a couple novels in first person point of view instead of third really helped me reign that in.

I don't know if this is a new weakness to add or not, but one thing that has changed about my writing since 2008 is how much slower I am now LOL.  I used to average a page/500 words an hour, and now I can hours "writing" and only have 1000 words to show for it.  I think part of this is that I overthink things and edit too much as I write instead of just doing a quick draft and going back to edit later like I know a lot of professional writers do.  The upside of this is that I don't have to do as much editing later because I'm usually happy with the first draft, but the downside is that I feel less productive.  I also blame social media.  Twitter is very distracting LOL.  So is this forum lately, but I love it!

I still feel good about the strengths I mentioned then - grammar, research, and dialogue.  None of that has changed.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 08, 2021, 11:59:28 PM
Y'all bring it out of me. I also saw in the "Bingo 2" thread that I promised you some word egg laying chickens with prosthetic limbs, so if you never saw that, let me get on that in the next week or so.

LMAO!  I don't remember seeing those, but I would love some!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 12:09:15 AM
LMAO!  I don't remember seeing those, but I would love some!

Done. They'll come your way soon!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 12:28:46 AM
00Carter was great for bringing out my creative side and challenging me to write in different genres than what I was used to.  I think the challenges I've written for here and my pandaskunk stories were pretty creative too (if parody counts as being creative).  Apparently I still associate creativity with fantasy and sci-fi - kudos to those of you who regularly write in those genres.

Creativity is in all things! Even coming up with a new twist on something that's been done before is creative! Fantasy/Sci-Fi takes a lot of creativity, but it also takes a lot of research, which is something you're great at! I'll nudge you when I talk about my big research hole from October that was to finalize something creative in my author talks (end of March). I think you'll enjoy that one.

Writing a couple novels in first person point of view instead of third really helped me reign that in.

I don't know if this is a new weakness to add or not, but one thing that has changed about my writing since 2008 is how much slower I am now LOL.  I used to average a page/500 words an hour, and now I can hours "writing" and only have 1000 words to show for it.  I think part of this is that I overthink things and edit too much as I write instead of just doing a quick draft and going back to edit later like I know a lot of professional writers do.  The upside of this is that I don't have to do as much editing later because I'm usually happy with the first draft, but the downside is that I feel less productive.  I also blame social media.  Twitter is very distracting LOL.  So is this forum lately, but I love it!

I still feel good about the strengths I mentioned then - grammar, research, and dialogue.  None of that has changed.

Oh, our purple prose phases. I found a couple "eyes as orbs" and I was like, what was wrong with just calling them "eyes"? How did calling them "orbs" make it anymore descriptive?

I write so much slower too unless I have a major burst of creativity about something. Knowing that I will go back and do a deep edit, I've been cognizant about just getting words out and trying not to get hung up on "the right word(s)."

I was a little sad once you started school again this week and if I happened to pop over at a 2pm or something, it was still the same as the last time I checked it. I gotta know that this is more of an evening thing now. Maybe we should all make a "shh, I'm writing thread" or something to be slightly more productive, haha.

I'd agree with your strengths for sure!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 12:48:37 AM
Thank you!

Yeah, we're back to evenings.  But at least it's the weekend, so I'll be around more the next two days!  I just need to have more willpower when it comes to staying focused on my writing.  If I'm really determined to not get distracted, I will hide my bookmarks bar or turn off wi-fi so it takes an extra step to get to Twitter, the forum, or anywhere else.  That does help.  I also have better luck if I try to do my writing first thing in the morning, before I even check social media or forums.  If I get something done early, I don't feel as guilty for focus-failing later in the day.  I've become more of a morning/early afternoon writer than a late night writer, which is weird for me because I'm such a night owl.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 12:49:50 AM
Stumbled on this thread Kelly started way back!

Anyone want to take a stab at these again? If you posted in the original thread, do you still feel the same as you did then? On a side note, not sure how I missed this one last time, I love stuff like this (clearly).

Still not sure why I didn't respond to this the first time. So, who knows what I would have said then. Kind of wish I had so I could reflect.

Strengths:

1. Characters. I love a great character more than a great story, so I try my best to always make strong characters who can do anything from make you laugh to make you think to make you cry to make you want to strangle them, even if they are a main character that you love! I definitely spend most of my early time figuring out the characters and the plot just kind of falls into place after them.

2. World building. I wasn't great at it when I started, but I practiced a lot and by the time I got to PBox, I was pretty good at it, but I think I've gotten even better since then. And I'm not sure if that's because I try to find more ways to show "yo, this is all bigger than you think" in my more recent writing or if I've just gotten better at the research and planning aspects of it. I think there's something fun about creating a whole little world.

3. Balance between descriptions/dialogue/action. I always get told that I am good at this, so I'll include it here. I definitely think I've improved on adding more body language in as time as gone on, subtle things, like fiddling with finger nails when anxious.

Weaknesses:

Updating Consistently? Let me poke fun at myself here. If history says anything, I let my creative muse rule me and then do a whole lot of nothing otherwise. Productivity is not my strong point. I get stuck in research black holes all the time. I get distracted by things like this place when it's busy really badly. We'll see if I get better knowing I'm way ahead of you all.

I know back then I probably would have said not following through on projects as well. I started so many things I never finished, I just wanted to share. You would have thought that I would have liked blogging way better because I love to ramble, but I ended up hating it after several years. Maybe we can call this "aimlessness"? Maybe I just hadn't settled into the right projects back then. Maybe PBox was always the project. I don't know.

Getting stuck on finding the right word(s) is probably one too. I could probably keep editing forever if I though it would turn a story into an immaculate masterpiece.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 12:55:46 AM
Thank you!

Yeah, we're back to evenings.  But at least it's the weekend, so I'll be around more the next two days!  I just need to have more willpower when it comes to staying focused on my writing.  If I'm really determined to not get distracted, I will hide my bookmarks bar or turn off wi-fi so it takes an extra step to get to Twitter, the forum, or anywhere else.  That does help.  I also have better luck if I try to do my writing first thing in the morning, before I even check social media or forums.  If I get something done early, I don't feel as guilty for focus-failing later in the day.  I've become more of a morning/early afternoon writer than a late night writer, which is weird for me because I'm such a night owl.

I am also at work most of the day, so I should have known, haha. I have been editing during my lunch breaks this week though and I've found that I get through more than I do in the evening. I also like to write with my coffee, so I guess I'm the same: more productive in the morning/early afternoon. I check all my things I keep up  on in the morning when I first get up, so I do my best to get distractions out of the way early on. I have not been much of a night owl overall until I came back to you all. What's this called? Revertigo?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 12:56:05 AM
Judging by my experience writing with you, I think you're spot on with all of those.  Especially the characters.  I hope this isn't awkward for you, but you created a strong character in Kayleigh in Song for the Undead.  In just a couple chapters, we felt like we had a sense of who she was and how she would handle a zombie apocalypse, and that made it easy to continue writing her.  Same with Howie, whom you wrote in the beginning, as well as Diamond Divine in 00Carter.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 12:57:47 AM
I am also at work most of the day, so I should have known, haha. I have been editing during my lunch breaks this week though and I've found that I get through more than I do in the evening. I also like to write with my coffee, so I guess I'm the same: more productive in the morning/early afternoon. I check all my things I keep up  on in the morning when I first get up, so I do my best to get distractions out of the way early on. I have not been much of a night owl overall until I came back to you all. What's this called? Revertigo?

LOL The fact that I'm still up at 1 a.m. on a Friday night (technically Saturday morning) suggests revertigo for sure.  I normally end up going to bed earlier on Friday nights than I do the rest of the week because I'm so exhausted by the end of the week - and this week has been especially bad, adjusting to back to school schedule with everything that's been going on.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 01:22:59 AM
Judging by my experience writing with you, I think you're spot on with all of those.  Especially the characters.  I hope this isn't awkward for you, but you created a strong character in Kayleigh in Song for the Undead.  In just a couple chapters, we felt like we had a sense of who she was and how she would handle a zombie apocalypse, and that made it easy to continue writing her.  Same with Howie, whom you wrote in the beginning, as well as Diamond Divine in 00Carter.

I've told y'all many times, it's no longer awkward/a sore spot for me as long it's neither of those things for you both. I'm happy that you were both able to finish it and turn it into something that seems well loved. And I'm happy that I got to contribute to that at all, no matter how small; I always kind of figured you killed off any of the original characters I helped with, haha. Sorry that Kevin tripped me up so much.

I'm surprised (and delighted) to hear that you think I did Howie well, because he always gave me trouble in my early fanfic career, way more than the other Boys! And I think now that it's because he has so many facets, but he's surrounded by people who demand attention, praise, command of the room, etcetera (like I for sure always figured Nick has a mean streak of "if I yell the loudest, I win," and then saw it confirmed many times in HOC and even the documentary) and Howie's just happy to be whatever the situation needs at the time to get it all ironed out smoothly. I think Kevin falls into this too, but a little less, as we all know he'll literally break down doors if he needs to get something done. Howie's a complicated kind of guy! I wonder if he even thinks "Oh, so and so needs xyz right now, so I'll just be over here Howie-ing until they get that."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 01:26:41 AM
LOL The fact that I'm still up at 1 a.m. on a Friday night (technically Saturday morning) suggests revertigo for sure.  I normally end up going to bed earlier on Friday nights than I do the rest of the week because I'm so exhausted by the end of the week - and this week has been especially bad, adjusting to back to school schedule with everything that's been going on.

I've done it a few times here and there, especially when a group of friends and were doing corona-tine happy hours, but that was only Fridays. Even if I'm exhausted from the week, I typically stay up late on Fridays unless a home football game was really early on Saturday morning. Consistently for days is this, definitely. I'll be exhausted tomorrow at like 6pm? Then catch a second wind? Maybe I'll be tired forever now, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 12:14:03 PM
I've told y'all many times, it's no longer awkward/a sore spot for me as long it's neither of those things for you both. I'm happy that you were both able to finish it and turn it into something that seems well loved. And I'm happy that I got to contribute to that at all, no matter how small; I always kind of figured you killed off any of the original characters I helped with, haha. Sorry that Kevin tripped me up so much.

I'm surprised (and delighted) to hear that you think I did Howie well, because he always gave me trouble in my early fanfic career, way more than the other Boys! And I think now that it's because he has so many facets, but he's surrounded by people who demand attention, praise, command of the room, etcetera (like I for sure always figured Nick has a mean streak of "if I yell the loudest, I win," and then saw it confirmed many times in HOC and even the documentary) and Howie's just happy to be whatever the situation needs at the time to get it all ironed out smoothly. I think Kevin falls into this too, but a little less, as we all know he'll literally break down doors if he needs to get something done. Howie's a complicated kind of guy! I wonder if he even thinks "Oh, so and so needs xyz right now, so I'll just be over here Howie-ing until they get that."

Well (spoiler alert), we did kill Kayleigh off later in the story LOL, but she made it 70 chapters!  We killed off one of the other OCs too.  We figured we had to kill some of them to keep it realistic; not all of them were going to survive the zombie apocalypse.  But her death was very sad and was mourned by the other characters.

As for Howie, you gave us the beginning of a great character arc for him.  He started off so stiff and serious and businesslike, and over the course of the story, he breaks down and builds himself back up to become better suited for the apocalypse.

I agree with your take on real life Howie.  He had never been my favorite to write about because he's kind of boring by comparison, but I've found the way to make him more interesting is to make him more flawed.  My favorite Howie character is, of course, Dr. Rough... who is very out of character and yet, his character traits are based on Howie's real life insecurities about being short and being relegated to the role of a back up singer for the first half of BSB's career.  The only Howie novel I've written is my slash, Sick as My Secrets, and in that one, he was the catalyst for all the drama.  You get more out of him when you go beyond his "Sweet D" persona.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 01:02:31 PM
Well (spoiler alert), we did kill Kayleigh off later in the story LOL, but she made it 70 chapters!  We killed off one of the other OCs too.  We figured we had to kill some of them to keep it realistic; not all of them were going to survive the zombie apocalypse.  But her death was very sad and was mourned by the other characters.

Spoil away! I hadn't planned on reading it just because I worry that reading it (more than talking about it) would bring up more of those guilt feelings for me. I'm touched, I always figured it would be more of a "kill off this character early, replace with a new character, wipe our hands of it" sort of thing, haha. I think unless a zombie/apocalypse story was focusing on a bunch of military types, there's no way everyone would survive. So even if you like characters, you've gotta kill some of them. That's the only situation where I would maybe believe it. That's one of the things that bugs me about Zombieland, for instance. Abigail Breslin's character was so young in the first one. She should have for sure died between the movies, no matter how hard everyone tried to protect her or how good she was getting with a firearm.

As for Howie, you gave us the beginning of a great character arc for him.  He started off so stiff and serious and businesslike, and over the course of the story, he breaks down and builds himself back up to become better suited for the apocalypse.

I agree with your take on real life Howie.  He had never been my favorite to write about because he's kind of boring by comparison, but I've found the way to make him more interesting is to make him more flawed.  My favorite Howie character is, of course, Dr. Rough... who is very out of character and yet, his character traits are based on Howie's real life insecurities about being short and being relegated to the role of a back up singer for the first half of BSB's career.  The only Howie novel I've written is my slash, Sick as My Secrets, and in that one, he was the catalyst for all the drama.  You get more out of him when you go beyond his "Sweet D" persona.

Good for Howie! I'm glad he was able to get through it and become a better person, haha.

I think Howie probably has a lot of flaws, he's just really good at carefully crafting his "persona" and focuses less on allowing the flaws to come out. He's always struck me as someone who can get pretty "green-eyed monster," but also as someone who has a strong grasp on emotional intelligence to deal with those things. I feel like out of all of them, he'd be the most likely to pursue therapy, for instance.

I mean, I think everyone is a little OOC in 00Carter, but less in the "I saw you at Starbucks and must marry you now, you have consumed my life" way and more in the "these traits, good or bad, are taken to their logical extremes for comedy" way.

In going back to PNecklace, I think out of the Boys that aren't Nick (demander of attention that he is), Howie has been my favorite to write. He's got this whole aspect where you're never really sure if he's speaking for himself or the country with his "royal we," but he always seems genuine in what he's doing, then he has this whole mysterious aspect to his powers like Nick, but for completely different reasons. I wrote a Nick & Howie chapter where they have a serious talk that has major story implications, but it was also just nice to see them play off each other when none of the other characters are involved. It's definitely one of my favorites.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 01:32:34 PM
I agree with your take on Howie.  He's always been on the quieter side in interviews and doesn't reveal as much personal info as some of the other guys do.  I think it's harder to get to know the real Howie - not that we really know any of them, but hopefully you know what I mean.  Compare him to Nick and AJ, who have always been a lot more open.  Howie is more guarded, which may be smart on his part because look what has happened to people's perceptions of Brian.

I love the friendship Nick and Howie have developed.  They're so different from each other in many ways, but they complement each other well.  I've always felt the same way about AJ and Brian.

Related question for everyone:  What are your favorite pairings of Boys to write about and why?  This could be either slash or platonic or both, depending on what you write.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 01:47:31 PM
Now that we're over twenty pages, I thought I'd pop back in with the summary of the questions post. Please find them below.

The questions:

1. Are any of the Boys your muse? Do any of them in particular lead you to new and great ideas? What kinds of ideas? (generalizing is fine!)

2. What has been the weirdest or most random/obscure/unexpected source of inspiration for one of your story ideas?

3. What kind of music do you listen to on Spotify?

4. Anyone else interested in reflecting on "7 Writing Lessons Learned in 2020" (https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/7-writing-lessons-learned-in-2020/) by K.M. Weiland?

5. What's THE story for you that you've written? Are you defined by it and how have you felt about that?

6. What do you usually have the hardest time writing - the beginning, the middle, or the end?  How about the easiest?

7. Anyone else have any writing-related mementos they hang on to?

8. Has anyone else had luck resurrecting really old ideas or unfinished stories?

9. What's the most random note you ever wrote about and/or for a story?

10. Challenge for everyone: Go find some old physical writing thing you saved that's worth sharing!

11. Anyone else have a writing-related silver lining from Covid?

12. What you feel you are good at (writing strengths) and where you think you could improve (writing weaknesses)? If you responded to the original post (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,1553.msg54394.html#msg54394), have your answers changed?

13. What are your favorite pairings of Boys to write about and why?

The planning process questions post:

1. When an idea strikes, what's the first thing you do?

2. Are there any things you consider integral to your planning process? For example, Julie mentioned earlier in the thread that she often makes a banner when she's in the planning stages.

3. If you use outlines, how faithful are you to outlines? How detailed are your outlines? If you write first and plan later, how do you keep track of your ideas? Anyone go between the two?

4. What's the easiest part of planning? The hardest?

5. How far into the planning process do you know that an idea is definitely something you'll finish writing? Or the opposite, when can you tell if it should be scrapped?

6. Are there any clear signs to you that you're fully invested in an idea, either early or late?

7. Do you have a specific point where you decide you'll post something or do you just post everything you write?

And if you didn't see Julie and I answer them, just click our names: Julie (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121087.html#msg121087) and Dee (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121089.html#msg121089)

Questions asked in the context of a conversation that can be answered by all:

1. Do you have a project lined up for after [Bethlehem] already or not yet? Where in the story would you say you are in the writing process (beginning, middle, or end)? Everyone else can substitute out [Bethlehem] and replace it with your current project to answer.

2. Summer 2010, the summer of sadness... Maybe it was vibe going around?

3. Like [getting rid of the wives] always goes to killing, but divorce?

4. How unbelievable is too unbelievable for 2020 and/or a story set in 2020? Murder hornets? Alien abduction?

5. Is "if it could happen, it will happen" a rule on the internet?

6. Does every idea you have get to the outline stage?

7. Do you have any sort of planning notes that help keep track of characters and their motivations throughout a story?

8. [Medical] research, how daunting is that? Do you look for accredited sources? Everyone else, feel free to replace [medical] with whatever you find yourself researching a lot!

9. How often do those bursts of inspiration happen?

10. Do you ever have a hard time going back and writing the beginning, which may not be as interesting as the heart of the story?

11. How often do [ideas] "just go away?"

12. How many docs are in the [outlines and ideas] folder right now?

13. Did you ever write [HP fanfic] outside of that crossover? Anyone write fanfic for other fandoms besides BSB?

14. Do any of your current options feel like "What's next after [Bethlehem]"? Or do you feel like a new idea will strike? Again, replace [Bethlehem] with whatever you're currently working on.

15. Do you use a different notebook for each story?

16. What do you think it is about the Boys that stuck with you so much [to write about them] over other fandoms?

17. How do you like jumping around stories? Is it doing multiple things at once that's frustrating or not having the clear idea for the next project?

18. Did you find it nice or frustrating to have a "between projects" story?

19. On purple prose: What was wrong with just calling them "eyes"? How did calling them "orbs" make it any more descriptive?

Off-topic Questions:

1. So did you like the Cats movie?

2. Do you think the Boys would ever sign off on a biopic musical with their songs? If they did, would you see it? Or, do you think they would ever sign off on a musical with their songs as the plot? If they did, would you see it? Also what would be the plot of that musical?

3. It's definitely a weird world... don't you know it?  ;)

4. What will the first restaurant I go to feel like? Will I be able to see the Boys in [August]?

5. Why is a guest printing [my old PBox update thread]?

6. OMG, a Zombie Burlesque show?

7. Do we have a list of the BSB fanfic rules? See here (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3383.0.html).

8. Are all these toys weird? Do I just think they're weird because they're updates of toys I liked as a kid? Did my mom think modern barbies were weird compared to the two that existed when she was a kid (blonde or brunette harsh face barbie)?

9. I've been there! It's pretty base-ic? (I'll see myself out...)

10. Can you just tell me what [HP] houses the Boys were in?

11. But then if they're all in Slytherin, do they care [about being betrayed by their friends]?

12. Have you ever seen "Cannibal: The Musical"?

13. Are you experiencing revertigo these days?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 02:18:31 PM
I agree with your take on Howie.  He's always been on the quieter side in interviews and doesn't reveal as much personal info as some of the other guys do.  I think it's harder to get to know the real Howie - not that we really know any of them, but hopefully you know what I mean.  Compare him to Nick and AJ, who have always been a lot more open.  Howie is more guarded, which may be smart on his part because look what has happened to people's perceptions of Brian.

I love the friendship Nick and Howie have developed.  They're so different from each other in many ways, but they complement each other well.  I've always felt the same way about AJ and Brian.

Related question for everyone:  What are your favorite pairings of Boys to write about and why?  This could be either slash or platonic or both, depending on what you write.

Apparently Howie and I are kindred spirits in my old age, haha. I think part of that too is that AJ and Nick were just kids when they started, so we watched them grow up. And a kid doesn't really know how to balance a private life with a public one, so you get more "I am all of this" from them. Similarly, I always thought it was pretty smart that you made your persona a pen name. I was young and dumb when I started writing fanfic and was like "I am Dee!" (at least I went with a nickname, haha) If I could go back, I think I would probably make up a pen name instead.

I think Nick has a little of all of them in him, and that's why it's most fun to write Nick & whoever. Because the similarities are uncanny, but the clashes are explosive.

I actually wrote about this in one of my author talks. Let me pull it up!

(I'm so sorry AJ and Howie!), I'm forever team Frick & Frack and Big Bro & Little Bro (does this have a name I'm unaware of?). I've consciously tried to have different dynamics in PBox & PNecklace as much as possible, but you'll definitely still catch leanings in there, especially when the groups split up. Frick & Frack is really nostalgic for me and their banter is just great. Plus I love that Brian can still make the dumbest jokes and Nick will die every time. It just gets me! And I melt every time for the dynamics of Nick and Kevin foiling, supporting, and loving each other. "The little one is the oldest and usually has to take care of people and the big one's the youngest and gets taken care of by people, but now in their chosen family, they're the opposite. Aww..." And then their serious vs silly dynamic, but the older I get, the more I think in the 90's that had a heavy basis in age dichotomy in addition to personality. In general, I'm a sucker for "band of brothers/chosen family/true companions," probably because of the Boys. It will get me every time, so I try to use it as much as possible in my own writing (even outside of BSB fanfic, but especially in BSB fanfic).

Although, like I said, I think I'm on a Nick & Howie kick here recently. So I guess looking at this, I gotta get on an AJ & someone kick, because poor AJ! I really do love you, buddy!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 02:26:59 PM
I figured everyone would like an update on my coffee mug. It fits all the coffee I would like to drink without overflowing and because the inside is black, it keeps the coffee warm longer. 10/10 will enjoy over and over again. I was a little annoyed at staring at Brian this morning because I am right handed, though.

There's another question for everybody. How does whatever the Boys are up to affect your writing? Do you let it affect your writing?

Right now, I'm at the chunk of PBox where there's three separate storylines: Nick, Brian, and Minako; AJ, Kevin, and Howie; and Renee and NSYNC. I edited the AJ, Kevin, and Howie portions first because they come first and then I decided to edit the Nick, Brian, and Minako portions last because they're interwoven through the others. I also thought that knowing that once I finished the Renee and NYSNC portions, I would get to edit the Nick, Brian, and Minako portions would motivate me to finish the Renee and NSYNC portions without dilly dallying. They're some of my favorite chapters in the story. But now I'm afraid I'll be unmotivated because of all this Brian nonsense. Hopefully what I said when we talked romance was true, "It's been in my head so long that they're just characters at this point and kind of removed from what the Boys are up to in real life." If that's the case, I can focus on PBox Brian, probably...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 02:51:21 PM
Apparently Howie and I are kindred spirits in my old age, haha. I think part of that too is that AJ and Nick were just kids when they started, so we watched them grow up. And a kid doesn't really know how to balance a private life with a public one, so you get more "I am all of this" from them. Similarly, I always thought it was pretty smart that you made your persona a pen name. I was young and dumb when I started writing fanfic and was like "I am Dee!" (at least I went with a nickname, haha) If I could go back, I think I would probably make up a pen name instead.

Very true.  It's clear that Nick and AJ in particular didn't really even know who they were yet back then because they were so young, so we saw them both go through the awkward phases of trying to figure that out as they grew up.  AJ's "bad boy" phase, Nick's ghetto fab phase, etc.  Howie and Kevin were already adults with some actual education and life experience to draw on, and Brian was somewhere in the middle.

You know, I first made up a pen name to start posting my fanfics because I didn't want my friends, who were also still BSB fans back then, to find out about them.  I have never been comfortable sharing my writing with people in my real life.  The anonymity of the internet and writing under a pen name makes it easier.  But now, being a teacher, I'm extra glad I made that choice as a fifteen-year-old because now I would be worried about students, parents, and coworkers finding them.  Dee is probably vague enough that you're good though.

I think Nick has a little of all of them in him, and that's why it's most fun to write Nick & whoever. Because the similarities are uncanny, but the clashes are explosive.

I actually wrote about this in one of my author talks. Let me pull it up!

Although, like I said, I think I'm on a Nick & Howie kick here recently. So I guess looking at this, I gotta get on an AJ & someone kick, because poor AJ! I really do love you, buddy!

I agree about Nick too.  There is something special about his relationship with each one of them.  Frick & Frack has always been my favorite, but I also love Nowie.  Kevin and Nick have a big brother/little brother dynamic I love, and Nick and AJ, as the two youngest, are fun to write together, especially in old-school stories.

Thanks for compiling all those questions!  That's quite a long list we've wracked up just in the last couple days! LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 03:06:00 PM
I figured everyone would like an update on my coffee mug. It fits all the coffee I would like to drink without overflowing and because the inside is black, it keeps the coffee warm longer. 10/10 will enjoy over and over again. I was a little annoyed at staring at Brian this morning because I am right handed, though.

I'm glad you're enjoying your mug!  Sorry your handedness forces you to look at Brian's face.  I am a lefty, so I also struggle with the pictures on most mugs being on the wrong side if I use the handle with my left hand.  I do have a few that are lefty mugs or have something on both sides.  My favorite writing mug is one a good friend who knows me well got me:  it's purple (my favorite color), left-handed, and says "I'm silently correcting your grammar."

There's another question for everybody. How does whatever the Boys are up to affect your writing? Do you let it affect your writing?

I try not to let it affect my writing.  If anything, it sometimes drives me deeper into writing because I've always considered fanfic my escape from real world problems.  It's tough when those real world problems are also fandom problems, but at least with fanfic, I can write the Boys however I want to and read stories that portray them in a positive light.

Back in 2003-2004, I much preferred my emo but sweet Broken Nick to real life ghetto fab, Paris-dating, pierced-nipple Nick.  I remember watching his Punk'd episode and being so turned off by him, but I just retreated back into Broken land and kept writing about my version of him.  I did the same in 2006 after his DUI, in 2016 after his arrest in Key West, and in 2017 after Melissa Schuman's allegations against him.  The 2000s have certainly been a rollercoaster for Nick fans.

I guess it's time for me to use the same approach with Brian.  I wasn't sure last night if I was even going to try writing anything this weekend, but I woke up this morning, made my coffee, opened my story, and spent a couple hours trying anyway.  And I did get a few paragraphs written.  I also have some more clarity on what story idea I'm going to try tackling next (besides 00Carter), which I think may help me work through this.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 03:07:44 PM
Very true.  It's clear that Nick and AJ in particular didn't really even know who they were yet back then because they were so young, so we saw them both go through the awkward phases of trying to figure that out as they grew up.  AJ's "bad boy" phase, Nick's ghetto fab phase, etc.  Howie and Kevin were already adults with some actual education and life experience to draw on, and Brian was somewhere in the middle.

You know, I first made up a pen name to start posting my fanfics because I didn't want my friends, who were also still BSB fans back then, to find out about them.  I have never been comfortable sharing my writing with people in my real life.  The anonymity of the internet and writing under a pen name makes it easier.  But now, being a teacher, I'm extra glad I made that choice as a fifteen-year-old because now I would be worried about students, parents, and coworkers finding them.  Dee is probably vague enough that you're good though.

I agree about Nick too.  There is something special about his relationship with each one of them.  Frick & Frack has always been my favorite, but I also love Nowie.  Kevin and Nick have a big brother/little brother dynamic I love, and Nick and AJ, as the two youngest, are fun to write together, especially in old-school stories.

Thanks for compiling all those questions!  That's quite a long list we've wracked up just in the last couple days! LOL

I loved Nick's ghetto fab phase. Nick, once you became a Backstreet Boy, you were no longer a thug in any way, shape, or form. I figure Kevin and Howie got all of their "I am a college kid, this is awesome" out in Europe in the early days, then they were ready to focus on business.

I did with a couple friends, but it was very specific people and I doubt they would remember much now that I wrote fanfic back then. You know, I actually doodled some of my costume designs at school during a "fun day" before a break while the kids were also doodling something different. So they're aware I wrote a novel with these characters, but that's as far as it went, I kept it vague on purpose when they asked. I don't think they could find me unless they did some deep diving (as you said, Dee is vague enough), which I don't think I'm as important to them as things like Among Us anyway or the thought that maybe this novel is online somewhere hasn't likely crossed their minds. Although one of them asked, "Why is that one so handsome?" (Nick). And I was like, "You know, he's just a handsome kind of guy!" haha

I enjoy going back and compiling them (and laughing about the more random ones) and figured it was a must do, especially after Rose responded to the first compilation. I guess we're all just itching to talk about some writing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 03:18:54 PM
I'm glad you're enjoying your mug!  Sorry your handedness forces you to look at Brian's face.  I am a lefty, so I also struggle with the pictures on most mugs being on the wrong side if I use the handle with my left hand.  I do have a few that are lefty mugs or have something on both sides.  My favorite writing mug is one a good friend who knows me well got me:  it's purple (my favorite color), left-handed, and says "I'm silently correcting your grammar."

It's okay, once I was done drinking my coffee, I switched it back to blonde AJ and Dolphins doorag Nick, haha. That's perfect for you! I got my bff one with a stethoscope on it that says "I limit myself to one cup of coffee a day," but it's one of those novelty gigantic mugs. I enjoy when I get to drink coffee out of an actual mug, because you get to smell it more. However, I think I prefer my to-go mugs because they don't have handles, so handedness and picture isn't an issue. My favorites are my crocodile mug (more recently since I used it every Wednesday this fall) and one I have that says "Cold Hands Warm Heart."

I try not to let it affect my writing.  If anything, it sometimes drives me deeper into writing because I've always considered fanfic my escape from real world problems.  It's tough when those real world problems are also fandom problems, but at least with fanfic, I can write the Boys however I want to and read stories that portray them in a positive light.

Back in 2003-2004, I much preferred my emo but sweet Broken Nick to real life ghetto fab, Paris-dating, pierced-nipple Nick.  I remember watching his Punk'd episode and being so turned off by him, but I just retreated back into Broken land and kept writing about my version of him.  I did the same in 2006 after his DUI, in 2016 after his arrest in Key West, and in 2017 after Melissa Schuman's allegations against him.  The 2000s have certainly been a rollercoaster for Nick fans.

I guess it's time for me to use the same approach with Brian.  I wasn't sure last night if I was even going to try writing anything this weekend, but I woke up this morning, made my coffee, opened my story, and spent a couple hours trying anyway.  And I did get a few paragraphs written.  I also have some more clarity on what story idea I'm going to try tackling next (besides 00Carter), which I think may help me work through this.

I always used writing as an escape/processing tool as well, so I'm hoping I'm just overthinking it while I mire around in Renee & NSYNC land. I got half a page of edits done so far today, so I'd say it's going pretty well (with a few "forum refresh" breaks when I stare at a portion too long). Although I woke up kind of late, so I'm more behind than I'd like to be.

I think the 2000s were just a rollercoaster for Nick too. I kind of wished I had someone to talk with during those times that understood my side of it and didn't just jump to "Nick's a terrible person."

I'm just hoping I don't let actual Brian affect PBox Brian in a terrible way. I'd feel so bad. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I guess I'm just more worried about how the other Boys are feeling today, but that's a conversation for the "Everything Backstreet Boys" thread and not this one necessarily.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 03:37:21 PM
I don't think they could find me unless they did some deep diving (as you said, Dee is vague enough), which I don't think I'm as important to them as things like Among Us anyway or the thought that maybe this novel is online somewhere hasn't likely crossed their minds. Although one of them asked, "Why is that one so handsome?" (Nick). And I was like, "You know, he's just a handsome kind of guy!" haha

That's so cute that they thought Nick the most handsome!  They have good taste LOL.

I have a Backstreet Boys poster in my classroom.  It's this picture: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/99/ed/f899edfc922c5fc6f14a78f1654fdb41.jpg  "Stay in school with the Backstreet Boys!"  I shared it on Facebook once years ago and jokingly said I would love a poster of it to put in my classroom, and my teaching partner (who also gave me the lefty grammar mug) found it on Ebay for me!  So it's been hanging behind my desk for the last few years.  Usually I have at least one kid a year notice it and say, "My mom likes the Backstreet Boys!"  Which means I'm getting old LOL, but hey, I'll take it.


I kind of wished I had someone to talk with during those times that understood my side of it and didn't just jump to "Nick's a terrible person."

I'm just hoping I don't let actual Brian affect PBox Brian in a terrible way. I'd feel so bad. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I guess I'm just more worried about how the other Boys are feeling today, but that's a conversation for the "Everything Backstreet Boys" thread and not this one necessarily.

Aww, you should have come back here years ago.  We've had many conversations about Nick's problems.  The "Nick's a terrible person" people stopping posting here once they realized the rest of us weren't going to participate in dragging him through the mud.

I'm also not going to waste my time ranting about what a terrible person Brian is and judging everyone having a hard time with this.  I'm right there with you.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 04:35:37 PM
That's so cute that they thought Nick the most handsome!  They have good taste LOL.

I have a Backstreet Boys poster in my classroom.  It's this picture: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/f8/99/ed/f899edfc922c5fc6f14a78f1654fdb41.jpg  "Stay in school with the Backstreet Boys!"  I shared it on Facebook once years ago and jokingly said I would love a poster of it to put in my classroom, and my teaching partner (who also gave me the lefty grammar mug) found it on Ebay for me!  So it's been hanging behind my desk for the last few years.  Usually I have at least one kid a year notice it and say, "My mom likes the Backstreet Boys!"  Which means I'm getting old LOL, but hey, I'll take it.

Indeed!

OMG, I love it! I have the old scholastic one still "Everybody... Read a Book!" and I have been dying to put it in my classrooms, but my students always liked to pull down our decorations and my school is bigger on "student centered displays," so it's stayed at home. If you have something in common with their families, you're gold. I relish the times I get called "mom," it makes me feel so important to their lives.

Aww, you should have come back here years ago.  We've had many conversations about Nick's problems.  The "Nick's a terrible person" people stopping posting here once they realized the rest of us weren't going to participate in dragging him through the mud.

I'm also not going to waste my time ranting about what a terrible person Brian is and judging everyone having a hard time with this.  I'm right there with you.

I really should have. I tried once or twice, but wasn't really ready for it then, still being in the "I have nothing to contribute" phase. I don't know that I can drag them through the mud and I've already done a decent job of separating the music from the people for the most part.

I guess it's been a little off for me since I don't really keep up their personal socials as much, just the @backstreetboys ones, and I hate when my inklings are proven right if they're not good things (as opposed to a "Kevin has forced them all to go on several hikes and AJ is always woefully unprepared" type thing). I'm pretty much over it already though, since we all discussed it and I slept on it, unless something worse happens because of it.

I told myself I had to finish my last chapter edit and was starving to death, so it got quiet here for a minute, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 06:01:39 PM
I told myself I had to finish my last chapter edit and was starving to death, so it got quiet here for a minute, haha.

Well darn, I thought I would try my old method of listening to NSYNC during Renee and NSYNC chapters and now I'm already half way through editing the next chapter. Guess I gotta buckle down and listen to the least amount of NSYNC possible while writing this story, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 06:22:50 PM
OMG, I love it! I have the old scholastic one still "Everybody... Read a Book!" and I have been dying to put it in my classrooms, but my students always liked to pull down our decorations and my school is bigger on "student centered displays," so it's stayed at home. If you have something in common with their families, you're gold. I relish the times I get called "mom," it makes me feel so important to their lives.

Aww, I need to find that one!  And yes, I love getting called mom too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 07:20:08 PM
Aww, I need to find that one!  And yes, I love getting called mom too.

I begged our librarian for it at the end of the year back when I was a young one myself. I have treasured it since.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 07:39:35 PM
I was going through Question Thread #11 and had to smile when I saw this post I wrote: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3214.msg113733.html#msg113733

"I am all about that mind-blowing moment when the reader finds out the story she thought was going in a certain direction has just taken a huge turn in a totally different direction.  Granted, in my stories, that twist usually comes in the form of some deadly disease or another, so that's probably starting to become predictable.  Maybe someday I'll do the opposite and write a cancer story that turns into some crazy suspense thriller. :)"


I did do that!  It wasn't a cancer story, but medical drama that turns into some crazy suspense thriller?  Check.  I didn't get the specific idea for that story until 2017, but I forgot I had this thought three years earlier.

Has anyone else either followed through with a story idea many years later, or had the same basic idea twice and didn't realize it until way after the fact?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 07:55:06 PM
I was going through Question Thread #11 and had to smile when I saw this post I wrote: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3214.msg113733.html#msg113733

"Maybe someday I'll do the opposite and write a cancer story that turns into some crazy suspense thriller. :)"

Now you have to write a suspense thriller that turns out to be a fever dreamed caused by cancer.

Has anyone else either followed through with a story idea many years later, or had the same basic idea twice and didn't realize it until way after the fact?

I didn't think I had, but then I stumbled on this thread ("Rewriting Old Stories?" (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,891.0.html)) today where I said:

There's a few I've thought about rewriting, but never got around to it yet. When I originally made that list (of all my stories and where they were in progress), I kind of came to the conclusion that a story I had started writing years ago had a similar basic plot idea to PBox... Only PBox is way more interesting. lol

And now I'm rewriting PBox... Man, I've apparently really only had one good idea ever, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 08:08:24 PM
Now you have to write a suspense thriller that turns out to be a fever dreamed caused by cancer.

LMAO!  Oh jeez, don't give me ideas.  I cut myself off from writing any more cancer stories.  Unless it's that Brian brain tumor story... cause at least it wouldn't be about Nick.

Anyone else ever been like, "Okay, that ship has sailed.  I will never write that type of storyline/genre/whatever again"?


Here's another story idea I gave myself in one of the question threads, which I have no memory of LOL.

Maybe someday I'll write that Brian/Howie story that everyone thinks would be such a snoozefest, and I'll make it an AU, and Brian will be a teacher, and Howie be a doctor, and I will be the female love interest who has to choose between the cute teacher and the rich doctor, and no one else will want to read it, but I will sure enjoy writing it! LMAO

I'm kidding... maybe.

We had been talking about some interview where the boys were asked what they would have done for a living if they weren't musicians, and those are the professions Brian and Howie mentioned.  Maybe I should write a story where Nick and Howie decide to go to med school together LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 08:09:03 PM
And now I'm rewriting PBox... Man, I've apparently really only had one good idea ever, haha.

LOL Better one good idea than none!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 08:22:59 PM
LMAO!  Oh jeez, don't give me ideas.  I cut myself off from writing any more cancer stories.  Unless it's that Brian brain tumor story... cause at least it wouldn't be about Nick.

Anyone else ever been like, "Okay, that ship has sailed.  I will never write that type of storyline/genre/whatever again"?

Okay, fine, a coma dream... Whatever.  Just add it to your ideas folder.

I did for ten years, then decided that I would be forever defined by it. I've poked in some of the recommendation s threads, always hoping it's someone's fantasy pick and it never is. I think I went the wrong route putting the twist at the end instead of at the beginning for a BSB fanfic, haha. Or not disappeared for a decade? But you're exactly right on this:

LOL Better one good idea than none!


Here's another story idea I gave myself in one of the question threads, which I have no memory of LOL.

We had been talking about some interview where the boys were asked what they would have done for a living if they weren't musicians, and those are the professions Brian and Howie mentioned.  Maybe I should write a story where Nick and Howie decide to go to med school together LOL.

You kind of did that with Brian and AJ in that AU already. At least Brian the teacher. I just can't picture you writing a self-insert fanfic, especially after all these years.

Or, instead of going to Med School together, Howie's like a few years ahead and becomes Nick's friend and mentor.

Howie stories will not be snoozefests. I'm going to go campaign in a socially responsible way. More justice for Howie! *makes a glittery sign that says "#TeamSweetD" and buttons*
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 08:40:06 PM
Okay, fine, a coma dream... Whatever.  Just add it to your ideas folder.

LOL I think I do have an old idea written down somewhere that was all going to turn out to be a coma dream, but it seemed too cliched.

I did for ten years, then decided that I would be forever defined by it. I've poked in some of the recommendation s threads, always hoping it's someone's fantasy pick and it never is. I think I went the wrong route putting the twist at the end instead of at the beginning for a BSB fanfic, haha. Or not disappeared for a decade?

I think it's the disappearing for a decade that is the problem.  Obviously there are a few of us still here from ten years ago, but not many.  It seems like most people that were actively reading back then have moved on or disappeared.  I bet Pbox got lost in the crowd after you stopped updating it, and people that came to AC after that never found it.  Hopefully you'll attract some new readers, if not here than on AO3.

You kind of did that with Brian and AJ in that AU already. At least Brian the teacher. I just can't picture you writing a self-insert fanfic, especially after all these years.

Or, instead of going to Med School together, Howie's like a few years ahead and becomes Nick's friend and mentor.

Howie stories will not be snoozefests. I'm going to go campaign in a socially responsible way. More justice for Howie! *makes a glittery sign that says "#TeamSweetD" and buttons*

Oh no, I wouldn't really write the teacher/doctor/self-insert love triangle.  There's a reason that one never made it into my ideas folder.  That would bore the crap out of me LOL.

I had that same thought about Howie being the mentor, but that would make it an AU, which is basically already what Code Blue was.  I was thinking it would be more interesting if Nick went to med school as himself, a Backstreet Boy.  It would be more along the lines of the show Castle, where a famous writer shadows a homicide detective to research for a story and ends up basically joining the police department.  This probably isn't a serious idea, although never say never.  I've written many a story that started as a joke.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 08:42:22 PM
Here is one reason I haven't updated Guilty Roads in so long:

Honestly, that is the problem I've been having with that story forever.  Why doesn't Nick just do that?  Is he really that stupid?  I want him to stay because that's how I envisioned the story going, but I don't know why he would, and the further I get into it, the harder it is to justify.  So I just stopped writing and moved on to something easier to write.  When the going gets tough... give up! :)

Great advice LOL.

At what point is it better to give up and move on to a different project instead of persevering with one that's giving you all kinds of trouble?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 08:52:43 PM
LOL I think I do have an old idea written down somewhere that was all going to turn out to be a coma dream, but it seemed too cliched.

But if no one's done it in forever, it suddenly becomes uncliched... Hmmm... *holds out idea folder helpfully*

I think it's the disappearing for a decade that is the problem.  Obviously there are a few of us still here from ten years ago, but not many.  It seems like most people that were actively reading back then have moved on or disappeared.  I bet Pbox got lost in the crowd after you stopped updating it, and people that came to AC after that never found it.  Hopefully you'll attract some new readers, if not here than on AO3.

I mean, it was finished, but I think people are more apt to read active authors rather than inactive ones. I definitely needed the break, though perhaps not that long. All in all, I'm just happy to be writing something again because I wanted to write it and that some of the people I was hoping were still around are the people around here. Yo who knows about AO3. I'll summon Tracy again to explain Watt Pad if that's more active, because I stumbled around without an account and did not get it at all. It's organized really bizarrely (or at least is on my cell phone when I have no idea how to navigate it).

Oh no, I wouldn't really write the teacher/doctor/self-insert love triangle.  There's a reason that one never made it into my ideas folder.  That would bore the crap out of me LOL.

I had that same thought about Howie being the mentor, but that would make it an AU, which is basically already what Code Blue was.  I was thinking it would be more interesting if Nick went to med school as himself, a Backstreet Boy.  It would be more along the lines of the show Castle, where a famous writer shadows a homicide detective to research for a story and ends up basically joining the police department.  This probably isn't a serious idea, although never say never.  I've written many a story that started as a joke.

That's apparently your version of the "come up with the weirdest story you can!

Do you need a bachelor's degree to go to med school? Nick has his GED yeah? Med school might be a long process for him if he has to get a bachelor's degree first. However, people doing things like that is not uncommon, so more power to this fictional Nick! I believe in him!

And then it turns out to be a suspense novel in Brian's coma dream!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 08:55:03 PM
Here is one reason I haven't updated Guilty Roads in so long:

Great advice LOL.

At what point is it better to give up and move on to a different project instead of persevering with one that's giving you all kinds of trouble?

I'm telling you characters. They're annoying and will do what they want. Let him leave and then make the plot find him after sneaking around in the dark!

At the point of panic and avoid, of course! After many months of whacking your head on your desk and staring at a blank screen. Haha.

At this point, I would say if you go more than a month without writing and without inspiration, take a break and then come back with fresh eyes. Don't be afraid to just not write for that time either.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 09:13:38 PM
I'll summon Tracy again to explain Watt Pad if that's more active, because I stumbled around without an account and did not get it at all. It's organized really bizarrely (or at least is on my cell phone when I have no idea how to navigate it).

I find WattPad to be weirdly organized too.  I have an account there and have browsed a bit, but have yet to actually read or post anything.  But maybe I should because Tracy did say she gets more feedback there than on AO3.

That's apparently your version of the "come up with the weirdest story you can!

Do you need a bachelor's degree to go to med school? Nick has his GED yeah? Med school might be a long process for him if he has to get a bachelor's degree first. However, people doing things like that is not uncommon, so more power to this fictional Nick! I believe in him!

And then it turns out to be a suspense novel in Brian's coma dream!

LMAO Yes!

You do need a bachelor's, and Nick would need to get his GED first.  He said on "I Heart Nick Carter" that he came close, but never actually graduated high school or got his GED and that he wanted to go back and get it (but I don't think that has ever happened LOL).  Then he would have to get his bachelor's degree and THEN go to med school.  I thought this through enough to realize it would take him like ten years to be far enough into this process to actually get to the point of seeing patients in a teaching hospital, which would be the fun part.  So no, it's totally not realistic.  But it could definitely work as a coma dream!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 09:32:23 PM
Here is a great answer to our "Why do we torture Nick so much?" question:
http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3335.msg117614.html#msg117614

"It could also be that he would give the best, most dramatic reaction in any situation just from what we've seen of him. The rest of them are more rational. Example:

*A hole opens up in the sky, the pending apocalypse is here*

Howie and Kevin: Oh, we read about this in The Globe and Mail. Good thing we combined our forces and built a bunker. Everyone into the bunker!
AJ: *Lights a cigarette* Well, this blows.
Brian: *Clutches his bible*
Nick: ARE YOU KIDDING ME??! How can this be happening?! I've got two girls waiting in my bed and after that I'm moving into my twentieth house on the beach. Everything is terrible. I should have patched things up with my family. No, I shouldn't have, they're terrible. I'm in such crisis! Brian's praying - I bet he won't save my soul. We used to be best friends AND NOW WE'RE NOT.
Howie and Kevin: *Drag Nick to the bunk while he clutches his beautiful blonde head, crying the whole way*"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 09:32:47 PM
I find WattPad to be weirdly organized too.  I have an account there and have browsed a bit, but have yet to actually read or post anything.  But maybe I should because Tracy did say she gets more feedback there than on AO3.

That's why I looked into it, but yeah, I'm totally lost. Tracy, please make a step by step tutorial for me! I wanna be where the people are! *sings* I'm the Disney Princess of fanfic land and this is my "I want" song, basically.

You do need a bachelor's, and Nick would need to get his GED first.  He said on "I Heart Nick Carter" that he came close, but never actually graduated high school or got his GED and that he wanted to go back and get it (but I don't think that has ever happened LOL).  Then he would have to get his bachelor's degree and THEN go to med school.  I thought this through enough to realize it would take him like ten years to be far enough into this process to actually get to the point of seeing patients in a teaching hospital, which would be the fun part.  So no, it's totally not realistic.  But it could definitely work as a coma dream!

I didn't think he ever graduated, but I wasn't sure if he'd gotten his GED by this point. I guess he's never needed it. I laughed so hard when he said "Now I can add 'seduced Robin Thicke' to my resume" because my first thought was "In what world does Nick Carter the Grammy nominated Backstreet Boy need a resume?" Can't he just have his people call whoever and say "Nick Carter the Grammy nominated Backstreet Boys would like to do xyz"?

Also, you don't need to physically go through all of that, you just need the studying montage from the beginning of Legally Blonde! I wonder what Nick would get a bachelor's degree in? I feel like something like OChem would turn him off. And Anatomy and Physiology at my school was notoriously difficult as well. And those are the courses that come to mind when friends were planning on pursuing Med School.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 09:36:47 PM
Here is a great answer to our "Why do we torture Nick so much?" question:
http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3335.msg117614.html#msg117614

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Maybe instead of patching things up with his family, he should have patched things up with Brian? Then he would save his soul?

That's exactly it. He's either LOUDLY stoked as hell about everything or screaming from anxiety in as many words as possible.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 10:03:10 PM
I liked this question a lot:

24. If you could pick two stories you have written as a before and after to show us how much you have grown as a writer, which two would you pick?

But I almost want to change it to a before and after editing question... How does the same story change after you edit? Give us a scene that isn't a spoiler!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 10:23:25 PM
I've finished three chapters today out of the five I wanted to finish, go me! Thanks Julie for being focused on the questions threads. Though I'm still here to chat about Nick going to medical school with you.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 10:24:00 PM
Also, you don't need to physically go through all of that, you just need the studying montage from the beginning of Legally Blonde! I wonder what Nick would get a bachelor's degree in? I feel like something like OChem would turn him off. And Anatomy and Physiology at my school was notoriously difficult as well.

Oh I know, I wouldn't show all the school part.  Hypothetically, I would start it with him either in his third year of med school where he gets to start rotations in a hospital or right after he graduates med school and starts his first job.  But again, it's really not realistic that Nick would go through all that trouble with two little kids and a whole nother career.

I've finished three chapters today out of the five I wanted to finish, go me! Thanks Julie for being focused on the questions threads. Though I'm still here to chat about Nick going to medical school with you.

Yay!  LOL I only have one more thread to go through, so I'm almost done compiling.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 10:28:26 PM
Oh I know, I wouldn't show all the school part.  Hypothetically, I would start it with him either in his third year of med school where he gets to start rotations in a hospital or right after he graduates med school and starts his first job.  But again, it's really not realistic that Nick would go through all that trouble with two little kids and a whole nother career.

Yay!  LOL I only have one more thread to go through, so I'm almost done compiling.

But it is realistic in Brian's suspenseful coma dream...  :bateyes: He might do it just to have a "you can do anything!" moment for them if he got focused enough on the idea. Persistence and all.

How many questions are you up to now? So many...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 11:14:53 PM
I just finished through your last compilation of them in this thread (thanks for doing that, btw, saved me time!), and we're up to 740!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 11:21:06 PM
Wow, so many questions! ???

What will you do now that you compiled them all? haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 11:29:15 PM
Beginnings are almost always hard for me, and I have probably used just about all of the ways they say NOT to start a novel at one point or another.  What are your thoughts on this list?  Bad Ways to Start a Novel: http://www.wattpad.com/4667955-bad-ways-to-start-a-novel

That made me laugh. if I ever decide to un-fanficify this whole thing, then they're probably right that I should actually start with chapter two of PBox.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 11:31:51 PM
I liked this question a lot:

24. If you could pick two stories you have written as a before and after to show us how much you have grown as a writer, which two would you pick?

But I almost want to change it to a before and after editing question... How does the same story change after you edit? Give us a scene that isn't a spoiler!

I don't typically save old versions of chapters/stories after editing, and my edits don't usually drastically change a scene anyway.  I edit more for mistakes, word choice, and sometimes adding in more description, body language, and that type of thing.

But I guess on kind of a related note, I came across this post I made in June 2017 in one of the question threads: http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3335.msg117928.html#msg117928

"Is anyone else super indecisive when it comes to writing?  I'm usually not, but I just started a new story, and I have been having so much trouble making up my mind about basic things, like a title and events.  I feel like I have a solid premise and some good character development going for me (and I do have set names for the original ones, which is usually something I get hung up on), but everything else I keep changing my mind about.  I wrote two whole chapters of the story, then completely scrapped them and started the whole thing over, and I've made at least five different banners with different titles.  I haven't even attempted to write a summary yet, but I feel like that may be a challenge for me too.  Is this a bad sign that my story may be doomed from the start? LOL"

This was the story that would become A Heart That Isn't Mine, although I didn't have that title yet because the song (Don't Go Breaking My Heart) would not come out for another year.  I have never struggled so much getting started with a story that I would ultimately go on to finish.  I wrote three completely different versions of the first couple chapters.  The first version started at a convention in Atlanta.  The second version started at a concert in New Jersey.  And the third and final version started at a bar in Key West LOL.  Howie was also going to be the second main BSB after Nick in the original version, but I switched it to Brian in the second two versions.  I also did make multiple banners with multiple titles, none of which I loved.  What finally got me into a groove on it was literally Don't Go Breaking My Heart and the lyric "If you're gonna be someone that hurts somebody just for fun, then do it to a heart that isn't mine."  Once I changed the title, I was good.  It sounds so stupid, but I really can't write a story until I've decided on a title LOL.  I am proud of myself for persevering and coming back to this idea because it turned out to be one I really liked.

Anyone else have a story they've struggled with and ultimately finished?  Or maybe one that's still a struggle?  What is it that tends to gives you the most trouble?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 09, 2021, 11:32:54 PM
Wow, so many questions! ???

What will you do now that you compiled them all? haha.

Um, I need to go eat dinner (you know, at 11:30 p.m. LOL) and stop staring at this screen for a while.  But I'm sure I'll be back at some point.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 09, 2021, 11:36:36 PM
Um, I need to go eat dinner (you know, at 11:30 p.m. LOL) and stop staring at this screen for a while.  But I'm sure I'll be back at some point.

It's almost midnight! Go eat before you become a gremlin!

I'm going to think on your last post for a minute.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 11:56:23 AM
What finally got me into a groove on it was literally Don't Go Breaking My Heart and the lyric "If you're gonna be someone that hurts somebody just for fun, then do it to a heart that isn't mine."  Once I changed the title, I was good.  It sounds so stupid, but I really can't write a story until I've decided on a title LOL.  I am proud of myself for persevering and coming back to this idea because it turned out to be one I really liked.

Anyone else have a story they've struggled with and ultimately finished?  Or maybe one that's still a struggle?  What is it that tends to gives you the most trouble?

The Boys really came through for you at the right time with that one. I never think the title is that important, but I do know that when I don't have a title for something, it usually doesn't get finished. So maybe a title is more important to me than I thought? Although, I often save my stories as weird words in their own folder in my google drive. Like PNecklace is definitely called "blap" and then split into parts every ten chapters or else the document slows down excruciatingly . I think this is my way of making it silly and less serious seeming.

I remember in PBox, the part that got me the most was ch. 47. I struggled with that one for months! And at the time, I thought it was that I had no ideas on how to write it, but looking back, I think it's because I wasn't ready for Brian to die. Like Brian was so cool about it and I was sitting there like, what have I done? Killing off the Boys... I'm not really sure what snapped me out of that six month writer's block, honestly. I've been poking around old posts here and I don't think I've ever given any indication as to what finally happened other than that  I was "writing today."

In an original novel I'm writing, I've been having a hard time going in and filling in the gaps as I rewrite it. The old version of it had so much filler that I tried to pare down and I've had a hard time deciding what to write instead or which of the "filler type" things are worth expanding into something better. So while the original had... hundreds of chapters? I can't really remember. The rewritten version has snippets of six, maybe.

Okay there, I've had two good ideas ever. I don't know that Gobosei counts, because it's basically "The Backstreet Project" on steroids if it was more fantasy geared rather than sci-fi.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 12:11:31 PM
I was thinking about a possible question this morning and I can't remember if it was in the questions thread when I was skimming through.

What's something you do in BSB fanfic that would never fly in an original novel? This can be something as big as a whole plot or something as small as "I often find myself not describing the Boys' appearances."

I am definitely guilty of the appearance one, those short hand things will always trip me up. I think the only reason I even bothered to describe the Boys in PBox is because in the beginning when less of them were introduced, I was trying to make who was who a surprise until it became necessary to know, so the descriptors were clues. Howie was my favorite, because several people told me that they were sure Brian would be the next one introduced. I was excited to fool people. And then when Brian was actually introduced they were like, oh yeah, that's definitely Brian. Not sure why I thought the other one would be him.

Describing clothing is sometimes also a trap for me. Not their fantasy-land clothing, because I do describe that since it's new and different. But if they're the Boys, unless the clothes do something, I just leave them out? I figure you all can imagine them in something?

Like here's Nick: "He picked up a crumpled pair of jeans from the floor between the bed and the window, then pulled them over each leg as he walked toward a chair between the door and a large closet. He grabbed a gray sweatshirt slung over the arm and pulled it over his head quickly before opening the door."

Here's Kevin: "his black button down shirt contrasting against the dark wood."

Brian: "pulled his phone out of his jeans" (I actually went back and just added in somewhere that he was wearing a shirt in passing because I mentioned his pants?)

And then I just skipped AJ and Howie. Oh, AJ got "pulled down his sunglasses." Does anyone else do this or am I a lazy bum? Yell at me if I am, basically.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 12:52:58 PM
Back on the "what do you listen to" question, I was clearly listening to The Labyrinth's soundtrack while originally writing the chapter I'm editing right now. I wonder if anyone else noticed that during their read.

Does anyone feel like whatever you're listening to seeps into your writing? Do you ever pick specific things to listen to for that reason because you want it to seep into the feel of your writing?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 10, 2021, 03:36:32 PM
I definitely get inspired by certain songs when I write. Sometimes it comes across in my chapters, or in a story theme or title. Depends on what I'm writing. Like last night I was listening to NSYNC and got a fantastic idea for something. So yes I'm heavily influenced by music.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 03:40:07 PM
Is it a fantastic idea for a new story or something in If I Knew Then? We were NSYNC twins yesterday, apparently, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 05:13:39 PM
The Boys really came through for you at the right time with that one. I never think the title is that important, but I do know that when I don't have a title for something, it usually doesn't get finished. So maybe a title is more important to me than I thought? Although, I often save my stories as weird words in their own folder in my google drive. Like PNecklace is definitely called "blap" and then split into parts every ten chapters or else the document slows down excruciatingly . I think this is my way of making it silly and less serious seeming.

You people and your Google titling systems!  I was just giving Tracy a hard time (jokingly) on Twitter the other day because she posted a picture of her writing, and I noticed that the document was "Untitled" on Google Docs.  I was like, "Ahh, how can you not give it a title?!"  That would drive me nuts.  But I am definitely a little OCD about stuff like that.  I am all about proper titles and folders and file organization.

I have done the thing where I have to divide a story into multiple smaller files while I'm working on it because I've noticed Google Docs can't handle long stories the way Word can.  Broken, BMS, and Undead were literally too long to even upload to Docs in one document.  I had to break them into parts.  The other long ones I was able to put back into one document once I finished writing them.  Maybe this is subconsciously why I have stopped writing really long stories since switching to Google Docs LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 10, 2021, 05:14:40 PM
It's for If I Knew Then, actually the current chapter I'm writing right now.



Is it a fantastic idea for a new story or something in If I Knew Then? We were NSYNC twins yesterday, apparently, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 05:24:33 PM
It's for If I Knew Then, actually the current chapter I'm writing right now.

Thanks NSYNC! Never thought I would say that...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 05:31:46 PM
You people and your Google titling systems!  I was just giving Tracy a hard time (jokingly) on Twitter the other day because she posted a picture of her writing, and I noticed that the document was "Untitled" on Google Docs.  I was like, "Ahh, how can you not give it a title?!"  That would drive me nuts.  But I am definitely a little OCD about stuff like that.  I am all about proper titles and folders and file organization.

I have done the thing where I have to divide a story into multiple smaller files while I'm working on it because I've noticed Google Docs can't handle long stories the way Word can.  Broken, BMS, and Undead were literally too long to even upload to Docs in one document.  I had to break them into parts.  The other long ones I was able to put back into one document once I finished writing them.  Maybe this is subconsciously why I have stopped writing really long stories since switching to Google Docs LOL.

Oh I mean, inside the document I have the side outline with all the chapters as headings so I can get to any part easily, then as I'm editing I comment on the chapter title with the original word count. And I also edit by day so I can keep track of what I changed. But yeah, my document to keep track of edits is called "untitled," PBox is "blorp," PNecklace is "blap" if it's been completed, whatever I'm currently working on is "blep," the interesting pieces and tidbits are "blep2." I have another project started called "blup" and I believe I titled my holiday story "blirp." I don't really know why, I just did it when I started and the random words still make me smile. And then each project is in its own folder and parts are numbered in order 1-5.

I don't know why it can't because it's all online, but yeah, each ten chapter chunk is about 100 pages and it is just... ridiculously slow at the end. Very difficult when you like to write epics.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 05:36:01 PM
What's something you do in BSB fanfic that would never fly in an original novel? This can be something as big as a whole plot or something as small as "I often find myself not describing the Boys' appearances."

I include too many song lyrics.  Not as much as I used to, but I still have characters singing songs from time to time, and not just BSB songs.  I would need to edit all that out or get permission to use it if I were going to publish a novel.

I also describe features of the Boys' appearance more often than I need to (which would be almost never, since we all know what they look like LOL).  Especially Brian's blue eyes, Nick's blond hair, and Kevin's eyebrows LOL.

I came across a YouTube video once made by a former fanfic author who became published, talking about bad habits fanfic authors have.  https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY (https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY)  I have probably been guilty of all of these at some point, but the one that I had never thought about was the eye-based reactions.  I am always having my characters raise their eyebrows, waggle their eyebrows, etc.  To be fair, though, Nick has really nice eyebrows, and Kevin has really prominent ones, so I blame them.  Maybe with different characters, I wouldn't do that so much. LOL

If anyone watches the video I linked above, let us know your thoughts and if you're guilty of any of those "bad habits."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 05:45:56 PM
Back on the "what do you listen to" question, I was clearly listening to The Labyrinth's soundtrack while originally writing the chapter I'm editing right now. I wonder if anyone else noticed that during their read.

Does anyone feel like whatever you're listening to seeps into your writing? Do you ever pick specific things to listen to for that reason because you want it to seep into the feel of your writing?

Hm, that's an interesting question.  I almost always listen to music when I write, but I don't feel like it really seeps into my writing.  I can tell you exactly what I was listening to during certain parts of certain stories, but that's more based on my memory than the story itself.

I try to pick music that will fit the mood of the scene, so maybe it does in that way.  I like listening to sad, dramatic music when I am writing sad, dramatic scenes.  But then sometimes I will pick the opposite of that to listen to just to lighten the mood when the story gets too intense.  I fell in love with the first Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack when I was writing the post-choppage section of Broken because I inevitably wrote some pirate/peg-leg joke into the story and thought I could use some pirate music to listen to.  I ended up knowing every note of that score before I even saw the movie because I loved it and listened to it so much while I was writing.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 05:47:18 PM
Oh I mean, inside the document I have the side outline with all the chapters as headings so I can get to any part easily, then as I'm editing I comment on the chapter title with the original word count. And I also edit by day so I can keep track of what I changed. But yeah, my document to keep track of edits is called "untitled," PBox is "blorp," PNecklace is "blap" if it's been completed, whatever I'm currently working on is "blep," the interesting pieces and tidbits are "blep2." I have another project started called "blup" and I believe I titled my holiday story "blirp." I don't really know why, I just did it when I started and the random words still make me smile. And then each project is in its own folder and parts are numbered in order 1-5.

That would probably make me laugh too! LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 06:16:20 PM
I include too many song lyrics.  Not as much as I used to, but I still have characters singing songs from time to time, and not just BSB songs.  I would need to edit all that out or get permission to use it if I were going to publish a novel.

I also describe features of the Boys' appearance more often than I need to (which would be almost never, since we all know what they look like LOL).  Especially Brian's blue eyes, Nick's blond hair, and Kevin's eyebrows LOL.

I came across a YouTube video once made by a former fanfic author who became published, talking about bad habits fanfic authors have.  https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY (https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY)  I have probably been guilty of all of these at some point, but the one that I had never thought about was the eye-based reactions.  I am always having my characters raise their eyebrows, waggle their eyebrows, etc.  To be fair, though, Nick has really nice eyebrows, and Kevin has really prominent ones, so I blame them.  Maybe with different characters, I wouldn't do that so much. LOL

If anyone watches the video I linked above, let us know your thoughts and if you're guilty of any of those "bad habits."

I found a "no one is glamorously lonely" in a sentence today and I still think its beautiful, but the wording was so awkward in whatever sentence I put it in, so I had to move things around. I've been actively trying to take song lyrics out. There's only one at the end where I'm debating whether to leave it or remove it. I haven't gotten there yet, but I know it's there.

Oh see, I for sure don't describe their appearances unless it's something they have in common or contrasting with another character that I wanted to highlight EXCEPT for Kevin's large caterpillar eyebrows. I just love them so much.

I watched it and laughed so hard. I feel like Nick is always more suave than the awkward he should be, even in moments where he hasn't thought "I'm going to be so f-ing suave and it will work. It did not... Nailed it?"

From her list, I've definitely been removing so many awkward dialogue tags and focusing instead on meaningful movement or fixing up speech so you can see it and know it's so and so speaking. I could honestly probably fix it again and just use "said," but that's a project for another time! Maybe if I ever follow through on the unfanficing thought.

I've also found a lot of those POV character is blushing moments and tried so hard to change them to other things. Why is that what I underwrote? I don't know.

She has a couple other videos that looked interesting on this topic, but they were twice as long and I wanted to respond to this.

What things does everyone think BSB fanfic writers are more guilty of and what things are they less guilty of? Like, I don't know that we have as many "monologue heavy villains," for instance.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 06:17:46 PM
I fell in love with the first Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack when I was writing the post-choppage section of Broken because I inevitably wrote some pirate/peg-leg joke into the story and thought I could use some pirate music to listen to.

I love that you picked your music because of a joke you used! haha
That would probably make me laugh too! LOL

You just gotta lighten the mood sometimes, you know?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 06:30:26 PM
What things does everyone think BSB fanfic writers are more guilty of and what things are they less guilty of? Like, I don't know that we have as many "monologue heavy villains," for instance.

In general, I think we're definitely guilty of the dialogue tags and physical description stuff (including eye-based reactions).  Also the rakeish love interest.  Since most of us find the Boys attractive, we put in those sexy descriptions, such as Nick smirking or Howie winking.  (But to be fair, Howie does wink a lot in real life, and Nick is always flashing that cute, crooked smile, so some of that is realistic.)

I don't think we do the villain monologues as much, but I have seen it in this fandom, obviously more in suspense stories.  The overblown dramatic scenes, though, definitely!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 06:32:32 PM
I love that you picked your music because of a joke you used! haha

You just gotta lighten the mood sometimes, you know?

Writing is such a lonely habit sometimes.  Gotta find ways to make yourself laugh!  I find the more serious/intense/dramatic a scene is, the more I laugh as I'm writing it.  I guess it's the same kind of awkward giggling I do on the rare occasion I write a sex scene.  It eases the tension.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 06:39:52 PM
Since most of us find the Boys attractive, we put in those sexy descriptions, such as Nick smirking or Howie winking.  (But to be fair, Howie does wink a lot in real life, and Nick is always flashing that cute, crooked smile, so some of that is realistic.)

Darn them for being so attractive.

I feel like if it was one character always winking, it wouldn't be that bad because that's believably plausible as "this character tends to wink when the situation calls for it." Or Nick having smile based reactions, because he just does that. I think you run into problem territory when either, every character is using the same reaction. Like Howie, AJ, and Brian winking all the time? No... Or if that's the only thing that one character does in the story... See below, I'm sorry, I had to:

Nick gripped the sides of his head, his pulse quickening as he hyperventilate d. "How did a bomb get on our tour bus?! What do we do?! All of my video games are in here! All of you are in here! I'm too young to die! What if this is like Speed and if the bus doesn't keep driving we die?!"

Howie winked.

Nick grabbed his shoulders and shook them. "Stop winking! This is serious!"

(That made me laugh so hard thinking about it, because that is not a situation Howie would wink in.)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 06:41:28 PM
Writing is such a lonely habit sometimes.  Gotta find ways to make yourself laugh!  I find the more serious/intense/dramatic a scene is, the more I laugh as I'm writing it.  I guess it's the same kind of awkward giggling I do on the rare occasion I write a sex scene.  It eases the tension.

It's pretty lonely. That's why I'm much happier about it now that I'm being a supreme time waster again. I figure you can't be only sad when you're writing sad things. It's more fun to laugh.

Meanwhile, I'm still laughing about Howie winking about the bomb...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 06:42:41 PM
LMAO!!  Howie's the only one I could see winking in that situation.  I swear he can't help it; it's more of a tic than a conscious decision.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 06:46:30 PM
At this point? Yeah probably. So maybe he does wink after all. Meanwhile Kevin's like "There's the door, everyone just get off the bus in a calm and orderly manner."

That's the funniest thing I've written all day, I'm still laughing about it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 10, 2021, 06:56:26 PM
It's for If I Knew Then, actually the current chapter I'm writing right now.



Is it a fantastic idea for a new story or something in If I Knew Then? We were NSYNC twins yesterday, apparently, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 07:04:21 PM
It's for If I Knew Then, actually the current chapter I'm writing right now.

Thanks NSYNC! Never thought I would say that...

You've got this! Keep writing! Sorry that response got lost in the shuffle of the writing thread.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 07:30:28 PM
Ooh, here's another music question for everyone because I'm jamming out to "Great Divide" right now. I forgot how many PBox vibes it used to give me. Do songs ever remind you of your stories?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 07:32:37 PM
Here's some questions from the first question archive post that I thought were funny, relevant, or worth revisiting.  Answer any or all!  You should be able to plug these into the search with quotes around them to look up the original thread they're from and find your original answer if you think you answered it before and want to compare.


18. Remember when people would write dialogue in Ebonics because that is how nick was speaking most of the time?

20. Do you think there is any subject matter that should be off limits when it comes to writing a story? Is there anything you would never write about?

32. Is there a storyline that you want to see covered that no one has really touched on?

86. How far do you take your hatred of someone when it comes to fan fiction? (ie: Leighanne or even a BSB fan).

92. Now I'm curious about the most random thing ever. What font do you guys write in? LOL

128. Have you ever considered writing a story or a sequel to one of your existing stories and then decided against it and were later glad you decided not to write it?  Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!

130. Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising.

162. What is the biggest motivator for you to write?  And on the other end of things what is the thing that makes your motivation go bye bye?

185. What are some of the stories you've written because they were something you would want to read?

186. Have you ever actually gone back and read those stories, and if so, do you think you enjoyed them as much as you would have if you hadn't been the one who wrote them?

187. Are there any stories you've written that you don't think you would read if someone else had written them?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 07:45:22 PM
Ooh, here's another music question for everyone because I'm jamming out to "Great Divide" right now. I forgot how many PBox vibes it used to give me. Do songs ever remind you of your stories?

Definitely.  I have to admit, when Nick started singing "Open Arms" on the Masked Singer finale, I cried and thought how much Claire would have loved that because that was "their" song in Broken and BMS.  That made my little fanfic-loving heart so happy.

"Not the Other Guy" and "I'm Taking Off" make me think of Curtain Call because I was writing that story when that album came out and included those songs in the story.  "Cherry Pie" and "Man on the Moon" also make me think of Curtain Call, even though I completed that story long before All American came out, just because they reminded me of my female lead, Cary, and how much she would have loved them.  I actually ended up writing a little companion one-shot about that.

"Halfway There" from the Nick & Knight album makes me think of Sick as My Secrets, which makes me laugh because in that story, I had Nick write it for Howie.

"Quit Playing Games" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" make me think of A Heart That Isn't Mine.  There's a conversation between the characters in that story about all the songs by the Boys that have "heart" in the title, cause there's a lot of them, so I had a little playlist going of all those songs while I was writing that story.

And of course any song about zombies, but especially "Thriller" makes me think of Song for the Undead, as does "Song for the Unloved."

Likewise, any song we used in 00Carter makes me think of that.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 07:51:17 PM
Definitely.  I have to admit, when Nick started singing "Open Arms" on the Masked Singer finale, I cried and thought how much Claire would have loved that because that was "their" song in Broken and BMS.  That made my little fanfic-loving heart so happy.

Aww! I loved all of them, but that one touched my heart.

"Quit Playing Games" and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" make me think of A Heart That Isn't Mine.  There's a conversation between the characters in that story about all the songs by the Boys that have "heart" in the title, cause there's a lot of them, so I had a little playlist going of all those songs while I was writing that story.

They have so many. I'd venture at least a quarter of the catalogue.

You also seem to like including music as an integral part of your writing. Do you think that comes from it being BSB fanfic and our "shared cannon" or is it more about the feeling of music compared to writing?

Also, off topic, but I'd forgotten how much this album bops. I realized from the timing of its release that I'd only had it on itunes and never bought a physical copy, so I definitely paid a bajillion dollars for it last month to rectify that.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 07:58:09 PM
You also seem to like including music as an integral part of your writing. Do you think that comes from it being BSB fanfic and our "shared cannon" or is it more about the feeling of music compared to writing?

When it comes to listening to music while I'm writing, I think that is just something I do because it helps me focus and get into the right mood.  I don't usually listen to BSB music while I write.

When it comes to including music in my stories, I do think that is just the nature of writing fanfic about musicians.  I write a lot of scenes involving music - concerts, rehearsals, recording/songwriting sessions, etc.  My romances seem more likely to have special songs tied to them, but a lot of those came from the same type of music career-related scenes I just listed.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 08:13:09 PM
When it comes to including music in my stories, I do think that is just the nature of writing fanfic about musicians.  I write a lot of scenes involving music - concerts, rehearsals, recording/songwriting sessions, etc.  My romances seem more likely to have special songs tied to them, but a lot of those came from the same type of music career-related scenes I just listed.

I just like the emotive feeling of music. I often include songs arced throughout a story as characters grow and change. Sometimes they inspire different feelings in the story.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 08:37:20 PM
Here's some questions from the first question archive post that I thought were funny, relevant, or worth revisiting.  Answer any or all!

I wanted to get to a certain point in my editing so I could tackle this. You guys are a great distraction from NSYNC focused chapters, but I really am trying to stay motivated and focused for 00Carter.


18. Remember when people would write dialogue in Ebonics because that is how Nick was speaking most of the time?

OMG, Nick and Justin Timberlake wanted to be so Black in the early 2000's! Does everyone think it was an age thing or an early 00's thing? Do guys in their early twenties still do this? As a language buff, I can't hate on Ebonics too much, because it actually has really interesting linguistic patterns, but reading it over and over in stories was so grating, even if it was mimicking Nick well.

20. Do you think there is any subject matter that should be off limits when it comes to writing a story? Is there anything you would never write about?

No. The written word is a reflection of the world around us, so it's important to cover a range of topics and situations.

32. Is there a storyline that you want to see covered that no one has really touched on?

I'm out of the loop. Let me catch back up and I'll let you know. For now, I will say more storylines. Let's get a little more life back into this section of the fandom again. :)

86. How far do you take your hatred of someone when it comes to fan fiction? (ie: Leighanne or even a BSB fan).

Far enough to avoid including them in my writing. What is it Mare always says? BSB fanfic should focus on the Boys? haha

92. Now I'm curious about the most random thing ever. What font do you guys write in? LOL

Calibri. I think I started writing in it on accident, because it definitely used to be Time's New Roman. I like that it's kind of bubbly without taking away from the readability.

128. Have you ever considered writing a story or a sequel to one of your existing stories and then decided against it and were later glad you decided not to write it?  Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!

No, the exact opposite. Okay, so I know I've come up with a lot of ridiculous stories over time... But I cannot remember any of them right now. Like the other day, I quoted myself saying that I'd had a story that was the same idea as PBox, but not as good and I cannot remember that other story at all. I think my years of party girl drinking have caught up to me and, like the Boys, I have a hard time remembering things in specifics. I'm actually surprised I remembered that "Nick made up the Backstreet Boys and is actually being treated for mental health issues" story last month, for instance.

130. Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising. How random? I've been dying to answer this question and no one's bitten. Would this count as a random fact:

I was serious when I said ask me anything and you'll get answers. Been waiting to talk about mundane things like why Nick doesn't wear shoes and everyone else does.

162. What is the biggest motivator for you to write?  And on the other end of things what is the thing that makes your motivation go bye bye?

I think it's always been the same thing, but I've learned over the years to let it be my focus on not agonizing or other things like I did in the past. I really think it's leaning into whatever the characters are doing. If I'm excited about the direction they seem to be taking a story, I will write and write and write until my fingers bleed. If we seem to have different ideas or I had a plan that doesn't seem to be going well, I shut down. Also life. If life is busy, I'm not writing.

185. What are some of the stories you've written because they were something you would want to read?

I think every story I've stuck with is a story I wanted to read. I actually reread my own stories a lot, especially when I'm wanting to get back into the groove of them. I find rereading really helpful to reconnect with a work. If I started writing something because I thought other people would enjoy it, I've never finished it. *eyes every 2-3 chapter Nick romance story ever on my account*

186. Have you ever actually gone back and read those stories, and if so, do you think you enjoyed them as much as you would have if you hadn't been the one who wrote them?

Yes, I often reread. I think the only thing that makes them slightly less enjoyable is that you know what's coming. Even if it's been a long time, I eventually start remembering details in them. There's not really twists for the author, so it's never surprising. But, I also think it's the same as rereading a favorite book. You know what's coming, but as you age and mature, you get different things out of a story. I reread Les Mis and Gatsby about every five years and still love both of them, even though I'm not surprised by anything.

187. Are there any stories you've written that you don't think you would read if someone else had written them?

The ones I never finished? I say that now, but if someone else had written them back when I was thinking of writing them, I probably would have read them then.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 09:32:54 PM
OMG, Nick and Justin Timberlake wanted to be so Black in the early 2000's! Does everyone think it was an age thing or an early 00's thing? Do guys in their early twenties still do this? As a language buff, I can't hate on Ebonics too much, because it actually has really interesting linguistic patterns, but reading it over and over in stories was so grating, even if it was mimicking Nick well.

LOL I don't know!  Justin Bieber talks this way or used to (don't pay much attention to him), but I don't think all guys that age do.  It was weird that both Nick and Justin did when none of the other guys in BSB or NSYNC really did either.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad Nick no longer talks that way.  In general, he has gotten much more eloquent over the years, in terms of both speaking and writing.  His tweets don't make me cringe because of grammatical errors as much anymore.  Autocorrect probably helps with that, but it also seems like he has made an effort to read more and educate himself.  I love how he values education when it comes to his kids.  His Instagram post this weekend with Odin reading was so adorable.  I love how he reads to them regularly.  Stuff like that really makes me appreciate how far he's come.  I wish I could go back to 2003-2004 and tell myself, "Don't worry... this too shall past.  Nick will turn out okay.  He will marry a lovely woman who is not Paris Hilton, start a family that is not at all dysfunctional, and become a great dad."


I've been dying to answer this question and no one's bitten. Would this count as a random fact:

So tell us, why DOES everyone wear shoes except Nick??
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 09:45:40 PM
LOL I don't know!  Justin Bieber talks this way or used to (don't pay much attention to him), but I don't think all guys that age do.  It was weird that both Nick and Justin did when none of the other guys in BSB or NSYNC really did either.  Whatever the reason, I'm glad Nick no longer talks that way.  In general, he has gotten much more eloquent over the years, in terms of both speaking and writing.  His tweets don't make me cringe because of grammatical errors as much anymore.  Autocorrect probably helps with that, but it also seems like he has made an effort to read more and educate himself.  I love how he values education when it comes to his kids.  His Instagram post this weekend with Odin reading was so adorable.  I love how he reads to them regularly.  Stuff like that really makes me appreciate how far he's come.  I wish I could go back to 2003-2004 and tell myself, "Don't worry... this too shall past.  Nick will turn out okay.  He will marry a lovely woman who is not Paris Hilton, start a family that is not at all dysfunctional, and become a great dad."

Justin Bieber did do it too (Does? I also don't keep up with him.), so maybe it's just male white celebrities in their early twenties who are experimenting with living the stereotypical thug life that is far removed from their reality.

Even though my dream was to marry him, I just always wanted him to be happy most of all. So I am pleased with all those things you would tell yourself in 2003-2004 and with all the efforts he's made to better himself over the years. I am also extremely pleased that he is reading with his kids regularly. Parents ask me constantly how to get their kids to appreciate books, speak in longer sentences, etcetera. And I'm always like, "Well do you read to them and talk about what you're reading? Because the more you read and talk with your kids, the better all those things will get, in addition to a plethora of social emotional and cognitive things."

So tell us, why DOES everyone wear shoes except Nick??

Finally! (haha) Any character in PBox et al. who does not wear shoes is meant as shorthand for barefoot poverty in their world. For Nick in particular, it's a mix of that, "they don't sell shoes in Hell," too old to change, and stubborn af. He's in the corner muttering "I see your weird foot coverings, but also I have feet that work just fine," basically.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 10:11:02 PM
Celebrate with me! I finished the NSYNC arc! Now back to Nick, Brian, and Minako. Hopefully pesky Brian stays in his corner while he's possessed.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 10:16:58 PM
20. Do you think there is any subject matter that should be off limits when it comes to writing a story? Is there anything you would never write about?

I had to look up my original answer on this one:

I don't think anything should be off limits; writing is all about creativity and freedom of expression.  That said, I guess there are things I choose not to write about.  I don't kill off Backstreet kids, for example - Baylee, Mason, James, and AJ's spawn are off limits.  I don't do slash.  I guess that's about it LOL.  And the things I said I don't do, I probably will do someday just because I vowed I wouldn't; that's how I roll LOL.

I still haven't crossed the killing real BSB kids line, but slash is now off my short list of things I "don't do."  Otherwise, my answer is the same now as it was then.  And the last two lines are very true LOL.


86. How far do you take your hatred of someone when it comes to fan fiction? (ie: Leighanne or even a BSB fan).

This one just made me laugh after Dee resurrected that post about Leighanne.  I don't hate anyone currently associated with the Boys, including Leighanne (hate is a strong word), but I have definitely based characters on people I don't like.  That's a writer's best form of revenge.  I also mocked Paris Hilton (and killed her off in that freak carnival accident) and wrote a Return of the Jedi parody with Melissa Schuman in the role of Jabba the Hutt.


92. Now I'm curious about the most random thing ever. What font do you guys write in? LOL

Georgia, size 12.  I've used Georgia for years and carried it over to Google Docs when I switched from Word.  I just like the way it looks - nothing fancy, easy to read, but prettier than Times New Roman, in my opinion.


128. Have you ever considered writing a story or a sequel to one of your existing stories and then decided against it and were later glad you decided not to write it?  Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!

I went looking for my original answer to this one, but couldn't find it.  I posed this question, but I don't think I ever answered it.  The first thing that came to mind was my ill-fated BMS sequel I mentioned last week, which may have been what inspired this question.  I also had a fantasy idea a long time ago that was basically Nick and the boys getting trapped inside one of his video games and going on some kind of quest.  I'm not 100% sure, but I think that was also the one that turned out to be a coma dream in the end LOL.  It never got to outline stage; it was just a one-line idea written down in a document.


130. Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising.

I like putting inside jokes into stories.  There are a ton in Broken, so many that when I reread it last year, I was like, "Okay, I know this is a joke, but I don't remember the details of it anymore."  Sad.  But one of my favorite  random ones that makes me laugh any time I come across it is the doctor character in Curtain Call called "Dr. Schnabeltier."  "Schnabeltier" means "platypus" in German... so his name is "Dr. Platypus" LMAO.  This was right after Platypussy Galore was planned for 00Carter, so I was in a platypus phase.  It really is the most random animal.


162. What is the biggest motivator for you to write?  And on the other end of things what is the thing that makes your motivation go bye bye?

Writing makes me happy.  I always feel better after I've had a productive writing day or written a scene I'm proud of.  So my biggest motivation is probably the mood boost I get from doing it.  The biggest obstacle to writing is a lack of time and/or energy - being too busy or too tired to do it.  


185. What are some of the stories you've written because they were something you would want to read?

All of my medical dramas and suspense stories


186. Have you ever actually gone back and read those stories, and if so, do you think you enjoyed them as much as you would have if you hadn't been the one who wrote them?

I have gone back and read them, and I've enjoyed everything from Broken on.  I think, as a reader, I would have gotten bored with Broken before the big cancer reveal, similar to how it took me two tries to get into the first Swollen Issues story when it seemed like more of a comedy than a medical drama.  Once I got to the cancer diagnosis, I would be in.

Like Dee said, the only downside to reading your own stories is that you already know what's coming, so there's no real surprises or genuine reaction to a twist.  Even the old ones that I don't remember all the details to, I do start to remember more the further I read, so nothing is truly surprising.


187. Are there any stories you've written that you don't think you would read if someone else had written them?

I wouldn't have even clicked on 00Carter because I don't like James Bond movies, and I'm not a huge fan of AU.  I may have read Song for the Undead, but I'm not totally sure because of the AU thing again.  Secrets of the Heart may have had better luck because of the giant human heart on the banner - that would have caught my attention.  Sick as My Secrets I wouldn't have read because it was slash, although I may have if I knew the actual premise of it.  I probably wouldn't have read my pandaskunk stories either because they look so stupid.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 10:21:08 PM
Finally! (haha) Any character in PBox et al. who does not wear shoes is meant as shorthand for barefoot poverty in their world. For Nick in particular, it's a mix of that, "they don't sell shoes in Hell," too old to change, and stubborn af. He's in the corner muttering "I see your weird foot coverings, but also I have feet that work just fine," basically.

Interesting!  I like those behind-the-scenes facts about characters that are never explained in the actual story, but left to interpretation .
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 10:21:43 PM
Celebrate with me! I finished the NSYNC arc! Now back to Nick, Brian, and Minako. Hopefully pesky Brian stays in his corner while he's possessed.

Yay!!  Congratulation s!  Stay in your corner, Brian!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 10:30:08 PM
20. Do you think there is any subject matter that should be off limits when it comes to writing a story? Is there anything you would never write about?
I still haven't crossed the killing real BSB kids line, but slash is now off my short list of things I "don't do."  Otherwise, my answer is the same now as it was then.  And the last two lines are very true LOL.

I took that as a writing in general question, not a BSB fanfic question. I would also not have their children get killed, because I don't like to include their wives and families in my stories! So this is a non-issue.

86. How far do you take your hatred of someone when it comes to fan fiction? (ie: Leighanne or even a BSB fan).

This one just made me laugh after Dee resurrected that post about Leighanne.

I want some of the people in that thread to respond to it now, like Sarah.


128. Have you ever considered writing a story or a sequel to one of your existing stories and then decided against it and were later glad you decided not to write it?  Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!

The first thing that came to mind was my ill-fated BMS sequel I mentioned last week, which may have been what inspired this question.  I also had a fantasy idea a long time ago that was basically Nick and the boys getting trapped inside one of his video games and going on some kind of quest.  I'm not 100% sure, but I think that was also the one that turned out to be a coma dream in the end LOL.  It never got to outline stage; it was just a one-line idea written down in a document.

You keep bringing up that ill-fated sequel in old questions. Do you perhaps still want to write it deep down?

I would read that video game story, probably. But oh no, the quest ends when you get unplugged! And they break the fourth wall!


130. Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising.

But one of my favorite  random ones that makes me laugh any time I come across it is the doctor character in Curtain Call called "Dr. Schnabeltier."  "Schnabeltier" means "platypus" in German... so his name is "Dr. Platypus" LMAO.  This was right after Platypussy Galore was planned for 00Carter, so I was in a platypus phase.  It really is the most random animal.

Did you know that they're phosphorescent like diamonds?! Platypus(es?) are the best!

186. Have you ever actually gone back and read those stories, and if so, do you think you enjoyed them as much as you would have if you hadn't been the one who wrote them?

I have gone back and read them, and I've enjoyed everything from Broken on.  I think, as a reader, I would have gotten bored with Broken before the big cancer reveal, similar to how it took me two tries to get into the first Swollen Issues story when it seemed like more of a comedy than a medical drama.  Once I got to the cancer diagnosis, I would be in.

Like Dee said, the only downside to reading your own stories is that you already know what's coming, so there's no real surprises or genuine reaction to a twist.  Even the old ones that I don't remember all the details to, I do start to remember more the further I read, so nothing is truly surprising.

That being said, I still laugh at things that were supposed to be funny and tear up a little at things that were supposed to be sad. It's just those twist moments that aren't surprising. And sometimes I'll skim if I want to get to a great part that I know is coming. (*cough* totally skim through all the NSYNC chapters *cough*)

similar to how it took me two tries to get into the first Swollen Issues story when it seemed like more of a comedy than a medical drama.

Related question, how long do you give a story before you go "nope"? Is the amount similar for fanfics and published works?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 10:35:48 PM
Interesting!  I like those behind-the-scenes facts about characters that are never explained in the actual story, but left to interpretation .

Ah, me too! If only fantasy interested you at all, because I just want to share, haha. I don't know if it's a writing thing or a world building thing, but I love extra little tidbits from authors as long as they don't totally contradict something written in the story. Maybe some of my author talk ideas would make good questions for this thread.

Yay!!  Congratulation s!  Stay in your corner, Brian!

9 chapters left to edit! Then I can pick up a second project! Hooray! Be ready, Rose! Are you about a week or two out from finishing Bethlehem, Julie?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 10:42:49 PM
You keep bringing up that ill-fated sequel in old questions. Do you perhaps still want to write it deep down?

I would read that video game story, probably. But oh no, the quest ends when you get unplugged! And they break the fourth wall!

No, not at all.  That ship has sailed.  It was just on my mind because I talked about it the other day.  I do have a series of Nick & Claire one-shots called Footprints that I could add to if I ever felt a strong urge to write about them again, but I haven't written anything for that in a long time.

LOL Unplugged as taken off life support?  Oh noes!

Did you know that they're phosphorescent like diamonds?! Platypus(es?) are the best! fanfics and published works?

No!  I just googled that, and you're right!  They really are the best.  It's on my bucket list to see a live platypus in person.  I once read that Australia refused to export them to zoos on other continents because they don't do as well in captivity, but then I just looked it up again now and found an article about a pair being on display at the San Diego Zoo in 2019!  I wonder if they'll still be there post-pandemic.  I wanna go!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 10:44:17 PM
Are you about a week or two out from finishing Bethlehem, Julie?

Depending on how fast I write, yes!  I'm like halfway through the second-to-last chapter.  Hopefully I'll finish that in the next week and just have one more to write, which I think will go quickly.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 10:56:27 PM
No, not at all.  That ship has sailed.  It was just on my mind because I talked about it the other day.  I do have a series of Nick & Claire one-shots called Footprints that I could add to if I ever felt a strong urge to write about them again, but I haven't written anything for that in a long time.

LOL Unplugged as taken off life support?  Oh noes!

I stop dredging up failed stories from your past, haha. You also have one shots? That was an epic! No wonder you only write shorter stories now.

That's exactly what I meant! Oh noes, the medical drama! I volunteer as a consultant for your video game world building.

No!  I just googled that, and you're right!  They really are the best.  It's on my bucket list to see a live platypus in person.  I once read that Australia refused to export them to zoos on other continents because they don't do as well in captivity, but then I just looked it up again now and found an article about a pair being on display at the San Diego Zoo in 2019!  I wonder if they'll still be there post-pandemic.  I wanna go!

I would love to see a platypus and an echidna. They are fascinating. I'd go to Australia for that, but I also love the San Diego Zoo! If they're still there, I hope they're doing okay if they don't do well in captivity.

Depending on how fast I write, yes!  I'm like halfway through the second-to-last chapter.  Hopefully I'll finish that in the next week and just have one more to write, which I think will go quickly.

How did we get on the same schedule? haha It's like the stars aligned. Take your time, though, obviously.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 10, 2021, 11:05:22 PM
How did we get on the same schedule? haha It's like the stars aligned. Take your time, though, obviously.

I know!  It's kinda perfect.  I told myself I need to be done in the next month anyway, or I'll catch up to myself and not have anything to post LOL.  Plus I just remembered I have a three-day weekend coming up for MLK Day, so it should be a productive one.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 11:10:39 PM
I know!  It's kinda perfect.  I told myself I need to be done in the next month anyway, or I'll catch up to myself and not have anything to post LOL.  Plus I just remembered I have a three-day weekend coming up for MLK Day, so it should be a productive one.

That's the same thing I keep telling myself too, be productive over MLK weekend.

I take it you have enough chapters to get yourself through January right now? You're pretty close to the end!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 10, 2021, 11:21:20 PM
Oh no, I forgot how much I head hopped in this chapter... I probably still head hop between Minako and Nick between scenes and haven't even noticed, don't I? Darn me for considering them co-protagonists in this one... Oof, this one will be fun to edit and put back into more Brian's POV like the other demon-focused chapters are... This is one I got told was confusing and that would probably solve the problem.

Apparently this is a question thread and also a "Dee complains about things to anyone who might listen" thread...

I think that was one of the questions? 1st or 3rd POV?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 04:45:51 PM
That's the same thing I keep telling myself too, be productive over MLK weekend.

I take it you have enough chapters to get yourself through January right now? You're pretty close to the end!

Yep!  I posted 16 this past weekend, and I'm working on 20, which should be the second to last chapter.  So I'm good through at least the 30th and hoping to be done by then.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 04:53:35 PM
Oh no, I forgot how much I head hopped in this chapter... I probably still head hop between Minako and Nick between scenes and haven't even noticed, don't I? Darn me for considering them co-protagonists in this one... Oof, this one will be fun to edit and put back into more Brian's POV like the other demon-focused chapters are... This is one I got told was confusing and that would probably solve the problem.

Apparently this is a question thread and also a "Dee complains about things to anyone who might listen" thread...

I think that was one of the questions? 1st or 3rd POV?

POV can get so complicated when you have multiple main characters.  Even J.K. Rowling is guilty of head-hopping.  It happens.

So what is everyone's preferred point of view these days?  And if you write in different POVs depending on the story, how do you decide which to do?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 05:10:09 PM
Yep!  I posted 16 this past weekend, and I'm working on 20, which should be the second to last chapter.  So I'm good through at least the 30th and hoping to be done by then.

You've got this! *holds up a reasonably sized banner that says "Go Julie!"*
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 05:19:30 PM
So what is everyone's preferred point of view these days?  And if you write in different POVs depending on the story, how do you decide which to do?

I think I used to write exclusively in a 3rd omniscient POV, but then dabbled in some 1st person POV and enjoyed the inner monologue enough that I tend to go for a 3rd limited these days. But I really try my best to stick to one character for a chapter. Although Nick has a tendency to black out in the middle of chapters, so... That's probably where I get in trouble head hopping.

I did my holiday story in Nick's POV exclusively though because he was alone for a good chunk of it and I didn't feel like omnisciently following him around.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 05:42:23 PM
It's definitely easier to do limited with only one character.

I used to write almost exclusively in third person.  Then I went through a first person phase, and now I'm back to writing mostly third person.  I think I said this before, but first person helped me move past my purple prose phase.  You can't do purple prose in first person, or it sounds like Twilight LOL.  First person is fun and works well for stories where I only want to show one character's perspective (though I have written first person stories that switched between two narrators), but when I want to show the perspectives of more than one or two people, I stick with third person.  I usually write in third person limited, although which character's perspective it's limited to may switch from scene to scene or chapter to chapter.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 05:46:03 PM
Here's a fun question for today. I came across this thread "Fanfic Cliches" (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,400.0.html) where we all discussed how guilty we were of cliches.

What decisions have you made to actively subvert a fanfic cliche?

I talked about it more in the post quoted below, but I decided to introduce Howie second in PBox because I actively wanted to avoid him having an unimportant role in the story where he just slept or something.

In the early days of my career as a fanfic writer, I leaned hard into that old cliche that "Howie appears in chapter seven or something, finally, and then doesn't appear until the end again" because as a young writer, I didn't know what to do with him. Also, Nick existed.

So, when I started writing PBox, I had a few shaky details on the aspects of the Boys I wanted to draw their archetypes/roles/powers from (I'm a hardcore plantser, more on those two things once AJ has been introduced in the edits), but I also wanted to make a conscious effort to give Howie something important to do. I thought, well he's Sweet D. always taking care of people, so "The Good King" seemed like the perfect role for him. He gets introduced as a "voice in a carriage," but I always felt like he was out and about that day checking on his citizens and their day-to-day goings on. At least until Nick and Minako crashed into the capital screaming, "We're here to interrupt you with the plot, Howie!!!"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 05:52:48 PM
I think I said this before, but first person helped me move past my purple prose phase.  You can't do purple prose in first person, or it sounds like Twilight LOL.  First person is fun and works well for stories where I only want to show one character's perspective (though I have written first person stories that switched between two narrators), but when I want to show the perspectives of more than one or two people, I stick with third person.  I usually write in third person limited, although which character's perspective it's limited to may switch from scene to scene or chapter to chapter.

It really does, because no one thinks purple prose. Well, sometimes I do when I'm being melodramatic on purpose in my head so I don't do something melodramatic out loud, but that's not too often.

As I've been fixing up this chapter, I've enjoyed the exercise in being more creative and thoughtful about Nick's reactions, because he can't ramble in his head like he normally would. And since they're all in the dark, I also have been focusing on sound more than I typically do, which is also fun. Thanks Brian for being a delight in story.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 06:37:32 PM
LOL Yeah, I am/was guilty of quite a few of those!

And yeah, I have used most of these cliches too.  Even the ones I say I don't like LOL.  I've done the best friends, the childhood best friends (slight difference there), the abused chick, the bus crash, the car crash, the plane crash, the cancer story, the kidnapping story, the stalker story, the Brian heart problems story (there's one no one has mentioned yet - though that one is not so popular anymore either), the love child after a one night stand, the drug abuse fic, the long lost fictional sibling (sort of - in reverse), the stranded on a deserted island fic (almost), the vampire fic, the ghost fic, the angel fic, the suicide attempt fic, the transplant fic, the sick child fic, the star-crossed lovers fic, the NSync-are-the-bad-guys fic, the girl group fic...

I am a walking cliche. :D

Accurate!


As for ways I've tried to actively subvert a cliche...

Probably the biggest one in suspense is of course the stalker or kidnapper, Always directed at Nick and I am guilty of writing a few storylines with this plot as well lmao *hangs head in shame*

I wrote a story where Nick and Brian didn't know they had been kidnapped.


The biggest cliche I have noticed in medical type dramas is the failure of the sick person (again usually Nick lol) to tell anyone he's sick until it's too late.

I'm guilty of using this one twice with Nick, but in my last "Nick has a disease" story, he went straight home from the doctor's office and told Lauren the truth.  Yay Nick!


- the use of Frick and Frack

As a Frick & Frack girl, I'm sure I used to use these nicknames a lot, but I have made an effort to cut back.  I have an unofficial "Frick & Frack" quota in my stories now.  It's not a hard and fast number, but I only allow Brian and Nick to use those nicknames in certain situations.  They can use them if they're being cheesy on purpose, or they can use them in life or death situations when they're begging each other to hang on or stay away from the light or whatever, LOL.  Just not too many times; once or twice is most effective.  I have the same rule for Howie calling Nick "Nicky."  I will use it occasionally to be cute, and I will definitely bust it out to try to make readers cry, but only sparingly.


I will leave you with this, which cracked me up! LMAO

But seriously, if there's a bus crash that leads ultimately to Nick falling in love with a forest ranger then being diagnosed with cancer caused by tanning bed exposure and too much sex then a week later he finds out some chick he slept with had his child... write something else.

Well that just killed my next story idea, thanks a lot! *deletes Swollen, Faceless chance encounter with Mare the gorgeous, pregnant best friend of Nick the kidnapped forest ranger* :(  <-- the title was too long anyways. lol
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 06:56:01 PM
As for ways I've tried to actively subvert a cliche...

I wrote a story where Nick and Brian didn't know they had been kidnapped.

I'm guilty of using this one twice with Nick, but in my last "Nick has a disease" story, he went straight home from the doctor's office and told Lauren the truth.  Yay Nick!

What did they think was happening instead of them getting kidnapped? A fun trip for ice cream?

Good for Nick. He's matured a lot when he gets diseases in your stories.


As a Frick & Frack girl, I'm sure I used to use these nicknames a lot, but I have made an effort to cut back.  I have an unofficial "Frick & Frack" quota in my stories now.  It's not a hard and fast number, but I only allow Brian and Nick to use those nicknames in certain situations.  They can use them if they're being cheesy on purpose, or they can use them in life or death situations when they're begging each other to hang on or stay away from the light or whatever, LOL.  Just not too many times; once or twice is most effective.  I have the same rule for Howie calling Nick "Nicky."  I will use it occasionally to be cute, and I will definitely bust it out to try to make readers cry, but only sparingly.

I try to limit my Frick & Frack usage to myself these days.

Although looking back at all those "Brian is Nick's guardian angel," maybe Nick is Brian's guardian angel?

Also I love Mare's joke stories. Mare, please just write down one scene from all of them somewhere. I just want to laugh again. I miss Mare/Julilly banter.

the NSync-are-the-bad-guys fic

I also want to point out that NSYNC isn't bad, they're just the heroes of another story!... written by an NSYNC fan. :D There's a version of PBox out there where Nick's an untamed monster and Justin has deep emotional issues he's too afraid and vulnerable to share with anyone.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 07:13:13 PM
What did they think was happening instead of them getting kidnapped? A fun trip for ice cream?

Good for Nick. He's matured a lot when he gets diseases in your stories.

They woke up in what they thought was a hospital.  But I would be down for a story where the kidnappers take them on a fun trip for ice cream... laced with drugs to subdue them.  Yay!

Aww I know, Nicky's growing up.  :patpat:


I try to limit my Frick & Frack usage to myself these days.

Although looking back at all those "Brian is Nick's guardian angel," maybe Nick is Brian's guardian angel?

If Nick is Brian's guardian angel, he needs to start giving better advice!  The devil on the other shoulder is winning.

:whip: "Make a video asking your fans to follow you to Parler."

:angel: "No, Frick!  Don't do it, bro!"


Also I love Mare's joke stories. Mare, please just write down one scene from all of them somewhere. I just want to laugh again. I miss Mare/Julilly banter.

I second this.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 07:27:20 PM
They woke up in what they thought was a hospital.  But I would be down for a story where the kidnappers take them on a fun trip for ice cream... laced with drugs to subdue them.  Yay!

Yay! Look at all the fun sprinkles in that one! :wave:

(I just wanted to use some fun smilies.)

If Nick is Brian's guardian angel, he needs to start giving better advice!  The devil on the other shoulder is winning.

Let's be honest, the devil one is too busy doing this:

:whip: "Look what I can do!" *shoves whole fist in its mouth*

And the Angel is over here:

:angel: "No, Frick! Don't be a dick like everyone knows you are!"

So... advice is inconclusive.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 07:29:41 PM
Yay! Look at all the fun sprinkles in that one! :wave:

:angel: "No, Frick! Don't be a dick like everyone knows you are!"

LMAO!!  Dead.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 07:35:22 PM
I forgot how much more fun the smilies make everything.

And now I have two stupid fanfics to write, apparently:

"There's a bomb on the bus and Howie winks excessively" and "Nick is a terrible guardian angel."

Now I wish that every joke fanfic we ever planned on this board was an actual fanfic.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 07:36:45 PM
LOL That should be a challenge.  Take someone's joke idea and write it as a real story.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 07:41:30 PM
I would do it! We tend to devolve into it a lot, so I'm sure there's a plethora of ideas on this board already!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 08:15:01 PM
134. Is there any question you'd like to ask any of the authors who usually participate in this thread?

140. What has been your favorite memory of writing?

I liked these two questions from the questions thread! But who knows if you all have new answers. I feel so out of the loop, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 08:27:57 PM
134. Is there any question you'd like to ask any of the authors who usually participate in this thread?

Since I already managed to get my burning question for Julie into a natural conversation, I think my question is for Tracy!

Tell me about your fanfic journey. I feel like I remember you writing a lot of Nick/female OC and now you do a lot of Nick/Brian. Tell me about your fanfic life, basically.

140. What has been your favorite memory of writing?

And this one's easy: all y'all. That's why I eventually made my way back. If I had to be specific... Late night 00Carter planning, probably? The best of both writing and being here.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 08:41:53 PM
Ugh, just found a "Brian nodded his head." As opposed to what? His knee? His shoulder to shake off his unhelpful guardian angel Nick?

Who has a tendency to overwrite and who has a tendency to underwrite? Do you do one for certain things, but not others?

We already discussed one tiny aspect of this with the Boys' eyebrows.

I should have just made a thread titled "Dee reacts along with her editing and calls herself out on terrible things she did in the past, come be critical of your growth as well!"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 09:30:10 PM
Ugh, just found a "Brian nodded his head." As opposed to what? His knee? His shoulder to shake off his unhelpful guardian angel Nick?

Who has a tendency to overwrite and who has a tendency to underwrite? Do you do one for certain things, but not others?

We already discussed one tiny aspect of this with the Boys' eyebrows.

I should have just made a thread titled "Dee reacts along with her editing and calls herself out on terrible things she did in the past, come be critical of your growth as well!"

LOL I write redundantly like that too and probably don't even realize it half the time.  If I went back and reread my stories just with that in mind, it would probably make me cringe.  When I was first starting out, I underwrote.  Then as I got better at showing, not telling, I started overwriting to compensate.  I think I have a better balance between the two now, but I still tend to overwrite more than underwrite.

We could start a thread for posting all the cringe-worthy stuff we find in our older stories or unedited first drafts.  I found this gem from one of my first stories:

She smiled again. "I love you so much, Brian."
"I love you even more," he replied, lovingly.


Good thing that adverb is there to help convey his feelings LMAO.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 09:43:31 PM
140. What has been your favorite memory of writing?

And this one's easy: all y'all. That's why I eventually made my way back. If I had to be specific... Late night 00Carter planning, probably? The best of both writing and being here.

I totally agree.  Like I said before, writing is a lonely hobby - perfect for an introvert like me, but even I would say my favorite memories are the ones that involve other people.  Whether it's a piece of feedback that made me feel good or a fun late-night collab planning session or just talking about writing on here, it's nice to be able to share ideas with other people who understand me.

As for more specific memories, the early days of 00Carter definitely come to mind.  I also have fond memories of what Rose and I call "The Summer of Sadness," which was 2010.  It wasn't actually a sad summer at all.  The This Is Us tour was in full swing, and the forum was active, and most of the regulars were still writing regularly and reading each other's stuff.  But we all started writing these depressing stories that involved poor Nick being tortured in one way or another around the same time.  Not a fun summer for Fic Nick LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 09:52:12 PM
I found my original answer to that question about favorite memories:

Okay, favorite writing or writing-related memories.  I definitely can't narrow them down to one, so here are the top three that came to mind:

*Finishing "By My Side"
Finishing ANY story feels good, but finishing BMS was especially amazing because I had been plugging away at it for almost four years, and if you include Broken in that, five years.  The two stories together were over a million words and almost 2000 pages long, so it felt like a huge accomplishment to type the final "The End."  And then I was just like, "Okay, now what?" LOL

*The Felix Awards
AC's fanfic awards are so much better than any of the old-school awards I was ever involved with.  My favorite part is when we all gather together on the forum for the award ceremony to see the winners announced.  Julilly, Mare, and Chaos put so much effort into making it fun, creative, and interactive, so it really feels like another Oscar/Emmy/Grammy night!  The year some of us actually put on gowns and took pictures of our reactions was fun.  And of course it's fun to be nominated and to win some awards, but the whole spectacle of it is as much fun as actually being recognized.

*00Carter chats
I've done a lot of collaborations, including two big collabs, but nothing has been more fun than 00Carter.  From the original thread on here that spawned the idea to our many late-night chats planning episodes on Yahoo Messenger, I've never laughed as much as I do when chatting and planning with Rose, Lore, and the rest of our crew who don't post here anymore.  And the writing is as much fun as the planning!


Of course I said 00Carter then too.  I almost forgot how much fun the Felix Awards ceremonies were.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 10:00:07 PM
I know I have two really terrible stories on AC, because Lore wanted me to share how horrible I used to be. The first two I ever wrote are still there and are nothing like any of the juggernauts I went on to write. I can't remember specific things that were horrible about them (maybe she would?), but I know they were bad because I thought they were terrible in 2007 when I posted them on her urging. I am hesitant to go back to them because of that. But that would have been my underwriting phase. I think all of us have that in the beginning because we're just getting started from our dreams of being elementary school writers where a paragraph was an acceptable story.

Then we write and write and write about how much we love Nick's blue eyes and bright smile or Brian's laugh and curly locks or AJ's rocker vibe and hidden heart of gold or Kevin's serious protectiveness and caterpillar brows of awesome or Howie's...  ??? I'm kidding... or Howie's Latin Lover winking and sweetness. And I realized I devolved Nick to only appearance, but I could obviously write pages of all the things I've loved about Nick over the years. Oh wait, (checks PBox + PNecklace) more than 750 pages of things I've loved about Nick, at bare minimum. (Heck, tack on another 500ish for the original PBox, though all total, it's probably in the high 1,000s somewhere -- just putting my trackable math skills to use!)

Anyway, as we write and write and write about those things, we realize that we have a lot more to say about those things, but also about how sadness feels or what a sunrise looks like. So we start writing paragraphs and paragraphs about those things. And then at some point, we realize that "you can just call them 'eyes'" instead of trying to be clever and descriptive about something that doesn't need it, but you could be clever and descriptive about what else a body is doing when those "orbs" are "glassy and distant". And we also realize that not every sunrise is "a vibrant painting from God's majestic brush," sometimes it's just another mfin' sunrise and you're angry that you're up that early to see it. And we find a happy medium.

I also lean toward overwriting, but I try to be more particular about what gets an overwrite. (which was this post, apparently...)

She smiled again. "I love you so much, Brian."
"I love you even more," he replied, lovingly.


Good thing that adverb is there to help convey his feelings LMAO.

Phew. I thought maybe he didn't love her lovingly enough. But not only does he love her lovingly, but he loves her lovingly even more than she loves him, which is so much! So grateful to have that expressed so clearly.

I also have... no room to poke fun...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 10:08:52 PM
I totally agree.  Like I said before, writing is a lonely hobby - perfect for an introvert like me, but even I would say my favorite memories are the ones that involve other people.  Whether it's a piece of feedback that made me feel good or a fun late-night collab planning session or just talking about writing on here, it's nice to be able to share ideas with other people who understand me.

As for more specific memories, the early days of 00Carter definitely come to mind.  I also have fond memories of what Rose and I call "The Summer of Sadness," which was 2010.  It wasn't actually a sad summer at all.  The This Is Us tour was in full swing, and the forum was active, and most of the regulars were still writing regularly and reading each other's stuff.  But we all started writing these depressing stories that involved poor Nick being tortured in one way or another around the same time.  Not a fun summer for Fic Nick LOL.

I found my original answer to that question about favorite memories:


Of course I said 00Carter then too.  I almost forgot how much fun the Felix Awards ceremonies were.

Chatting about writing again has been very fun with me. I tried to talk to my husband about it during NaNo and he would listen, but didn't really get it. Nothing plot/character specific obviously. Unlike Kelly's husband, I think he would make fun of me so much if he knew I was writing BSB fanfic again.

Aw, I miss the Felix Awards. I would have loved to put a ballgown on for them, bummed I miss that. If they ever happened again, I'll wear my wedding dress, haha. They were always so funny and everyone's speeches and I only experienced... Two? I feel like they were off a year from the actual year.

Also poor Nick. Can we get the poor guy a "Summer of Happiness"? Maybe one where all the other Boys are main characters and he gets a nice paid vacation to pull from some of their old fanfic habits like "only sleeps," "wears several hats throughout," "gets to pop in to make silly jokes," or "shakes his head at *someone's* antics." haha
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 10:24:04 PM
I know I have two really terrible stories on AC, because Lore wanted me to share how horrible I used to be. The first two I ever wrote are still there and are nothing like any of the juggernauts I went on to write. I can't remember specific things that were horrible about them (maybe she would?), but I know they were bad because I thought they were terrible in 2007 when I posted them on her urging. I am hesitant to go back to them because of that. But that would have been my underwriting phase. I think all of us have that in the beginning because we're just getting started from our dreams of being elementary school writers where a paragraph was an acceptable story.

Then we write and write and write about how much we love Nick's blue eyes and bright smile or Brian's laugh and curly locks or AJ's rocker vibe and hidden heart of gold or Kevin's serious protectiveness and caterpillar brows of awesome or Howie's...  ??? I'm kidding... or Howie's Latin Lover winking and sweetness. And I realized I devolved Nick to only appearance, but I could obviously write pages of all the things I've loved about Nick over the years. Oh wait, (checks PBox + PNecklace) more than 750 pages of things I've loved about Nick, at bare minimum. (Heck, tack on another 500ish for the original PBox, though all total, it's probably in the 1,000s somewhere -- just putting my trackable math skills to use!)

Anyway, as we write and write and write about those things, we realize that we have a lot more to say about those things, but also about how sadness feels or what a sunrise looks like. So we start writing paragraphs and paragraphs about those things. And then at some point, we realize that "you can just call them 'eyes'" instead of trying to be clever and descriptive about something that doesn't need it, but you could be clever and descriptive about what else a body is doing when those "orbs" are "glassy and distant". And we also realize that not every sunrise is "a vibrant painting from God's majestic brush," sometimes it's just another mfin' sunrise and you're angry that you're up that early to see it. And we find a happy medium.

I also lean toward overwriting, but I try to be more particular about what gets an overwrite.

Phew. I thought maybe he didn't love her lovingly enough. But not only does he love her lovingly, but he loves her lovingly even more than she loves him, which is so much! So grateful to have that expressed so clearly.

I also have... no room to poke fun...

All that is so true!  Most of us were kids when we started doing this.  I was 14 when I wrote my first fanfic, which is way closer to the age of my students than my current age.  When I think of it like that, I'm proud of that dorky little 14-year-old who overused the word "lovingly" LOL.  I don't know about you, but I don't remember receiving much instruction on creative writing in school when I was a kid.  I diagrammed a lot of sentences and wrote a lot of five-paragraph persuasive essays, but the only fiction I wrote for school was a short story once a year for Young Authors.  So pretty much everything I've learned about writing fiction was self-taught, first through reading and picking up on things other authors did, and then through actively trying to educate myself by reading books about how to write.  Writing is like any other hobby or skill - you get better with practice and experience.  We can laugh about our cringe-worthy mistakes (erotically LOL), but kudos to all of us who spent our adolescence and young adulthood writing purely for the fun of it, learning as we went.  That's why I keep my crappy old stories online; I like to be able to look back and remind myself of that (and still laugh at the awkward stuff).
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 11, 2021, 10:29:38 PM
Chatting about writing again has been very fun with me. I tried to talk to my husband about it during NaNo and he would listen, but didn't really get it. Nothing plot/character specific obviously. Unlike Kelly's husband, I think he would make fun of me so much if he knew I was writing BSB fanfic again.

Aw, I miss the Felix Awards. I would have loved to put a ballgown on for them, bummed I miss that. If they ever happened again, I'll wear my wedding dress, haha. They were always so funny and everyone's speeches and I only experienced... Two? I feel like they were off a year from the actual year.

Also poor Nick. Can we get the poor guy a "Summer of Happiness"? Maybe one where all the other Boys are main characters and he gets a nice paid vacation to pull from some of their old fanfic habits like "only sleeps," "wears several hats throughout," "gets to pop in to make silly jokes," or "shakes his head at *someone's* antics." haha

I would love for the Felix Awards to happen again, but the site has died so much since the last one, I feel like it would just be a few of us doing the nominating and voting.  

LOL That would be nice for Nick, to be able to kick back and barely contribute to the storyline.  We need to find someone who hates him the way Julilly hates Kevin to write that story.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 10:37:34 PM
All that is so true!  Most of us were kids when we started doing this.  I was 14 when I wrote my first fanfic, which is way closer to the age of my students than my current age.  When I think of it like that, I'm proud of that dorky little 14-year-old who overused the word "lovingly" LOL.  I don't know about you, but I don't remember receiving much instruction on creative writing in school when I was a kid.  I diagrammed a lot of sentences and wrote a lot of five-paragraph persuasive essays, but the only fiction I wrote for school was a short story once a year for Young Authors.  So pretty much everything I've learned about writing fiction was self-taught, first through reading and picking up on things other authors did, and then through actively trying to educate myself by reading books about how to write.  Writing is like any other hobby or skill - you get better with practice and experience.  We can laugh about our cringe-worthy mistakes (erotically LOL), but kudos to all of us who spent our adolescence and young adulthood writing purely for the fun of it, learning as we went.  That's why I keep my crappy old stories online; I like to be able to look back and remind myself of that (and still laugh at the awkward stuff).

I was 11, but I think you're a couple years older than I am if memory serves me right. It was probably all around that same 99/00 time frame though. We did a few fiction works per year and our teacher's submitted the best ones to "Beat Street" which was a little PTA run library at my elementary school. If your story got picked, you got to go back and illustrate it and laminate it/coil bind it and it stayed there until you graduated. I had two of mine ever chosen. One in Kindergarten and one in 3rd or 4th grade. So when I was like, "I can write a story about the Backstreet Boys? Well, clearly I am already a published author. I've got this." haha. I did not have this then.

My father always wanted to write a novel when I was younger, so I think he encouraged me to keep writing and seeking things out to learn. I think he was always a little upset that I decided to focus on BSB fanfic, but that's the least of our problems with each other and also #teamKTBSPA!

I actively sought out ways to get better. I've taken so many creative writing courses over the years. And like you said, read, wrote, and kept learning. I'm proud of how far all of us have come in our writing. And that we have grown enough that we can laugh at the silly or cringe-worthy things we have done in the past. And my hope is that at some point, we can do our utmost to pass the love of writing on to others and encourage the next round of budding young authors who will try and learn.

We can laugh about our cringe-worthy mistakes (erotically LOL)

You know this always destroys me and I both love and hate that you use it against me.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 11, 2021, 10:41:30 PM
I would love for the Felix Awards to happen again, but the site has died so much since the last one, I feel like it would just be a few of us doing the nominating and voting.  

LOL That would be nice for Nick, to be able to kick back and barely contribute to the storyline.  We need to find someone who hates him the way Julilly hates Kevin to write that story.

I nominate myself for the longest hiatus and most glorious comeback. ;) It's one of those honorary awards.

Poor Nick, I think even the people who hate him as much as Julilly hates Kevin still make him do important things in their stories.

Oh wait! I have the perfect solution. Nick and Howie Freaky Friday each other, but then Nick disappears for the whole story, so Howie can't switch back. haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 12, 2021, 12:06:50 PM
 Wow. Lol well it's been a real ride since I started writing like when I was 13/14. I started in high school before I knew what fanfiction was. My Nick and Amanda series was the first one I really wrote and it's evolved so much since I began it. I finally finished that like in 2019 I believe? I'm not sure. I wrote a lot of different things. I've pretty much tried just about every genre in one way or another except for fantasy. I've written a lot of AU stuff so I would say that's probably my favorite one to play with. I also like to write in third person a lot although I've done some first person POV as well. So it's a toss up what I'm going to work on because like I said, I've tried nearly everything lol.

Nick and Amanda is 5 stories long and my baby so it felt really good to finish, and I started to write slash in 2017/2018. I do Nick and Brian usually but I've also written some Nick and Kevin.

My first story I ever wrote is still on AC, it's called Incomplete and it's very cringe lol its one of those Nick being in a coma stories but with a twist. I still keep it up cause sometimes it's fun to go back and look at it and see how I've grown as a writer. I've definitely grown! I reread a lot of my own work as a comparison and to inspire myself to get even better.

I wanna say my favorite story I've ever written was Finding Carter. It was my first first person POV story, first story that I did a lot of research for, and the first one I had kind of an outline for. I usually do not outline anything. I know most of the time how I want to end something when I begin writing but then again, sometimes I also just wing it.

Sorry for the long response LOL

134. Is there any question you'd like to ask any of the authors who usually participate in this thread?

Since I already managed to get my burning question for Julie into a natural conversation, I think my question is for Tracy!

Tell me about your fanfic journey. I feel like I remember you writing a lot of Nick/female OC and now you do a lot of Nick/Brian. Tell me about your fanfic life, basically.

140. What has been your favorite memory of writing?

And this one's easy: all y'all. That's why I eventually made my way back. If I had to be specific... Late night 00Carter planning, probably? The best of both writing and being here.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 05:07:17 PM
I was 11, but I think you're a couple years older than I am if memory serves me right. It was probably all around that same 99/00 time frame though.

Yep!  I started in 99/00 too.


Oh wait! I have the perfect solution. Nick and Howie Freaky Friday each other, but then Nick disappears for the whole story, so Howie can't switch back. haha.

Haha, love this idea!  Add it to the list of joke ideas.


Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 05:27:21 PM
I've pretty much tried just about every genre in one way or another except for fantasy. I've written a lot of AU stuff so I would say that's probably my favorite one to play with. I also like to write in third person a lot although I've done some first person POV as well. So it's a toss up what I'm going to work on because like I said, I've tried nearly everything lol.

This is one reason I respect you as a writer, Tracy.  You really have written just about everything!


My first story I ever wrote is still on AC, it's called Incomplete and it's very cringe lol its one of those Nick being in a coma stories but with a twist. I still keep it up cause sometimes it's fun to go back and look at it and see how I've grown as a writer. I've definitely grown! I reread a lot of my own work as a comparison and to inspire myself to get even better.

How did I miss this one back in the day?!  I just went to look it up because I have no memory of it, and I was definitely around when you posted it.  You know I'm a sucker for coma stories.  I just sped-read it and was quite entertained!  My favorite part was the description of Brian in the leopard print thong, humping the stage... LMAO!!

I loved how old-school it was.  It had all the great BSB fanfic cliches, from using nouns like "the rebel" and "the Latino" instead of the Boys' names, to crazy Jane Carter storming in to demand they pull the plug, to the Boys singing Nick out of his coma.  I literally clapped and burst out laughing when I got to that part.  Every coma story needs a heartfelt bedside serenade!

In all seriousness, it was cliched, but really not bad at all for your first story!  I liked the premise of it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 12, 2021, 06:23:09 PM
Lol thank you... I know a lot of people didn't start reading my stuff until I posted Figured You Out but yes Incomplete was riddled with cliches  :D

Thanks for the other comment about respecting me as a writer, that really means a lot cause for the longest time I looked up to you girls, especially you, Rose and Mare who is my favorite fanfiction author. I really have tried everything and I think that's what makes my stories so interesting. I don't feel pigeonholed when it comes to genres.



So that's a question that I have. Does anyone feel like they're "known" for writing a certain genre and have you stepped out of your comfort zone? How was that for you?

Writing slash is definitely out of my comfort zone but I have come to really enjoy it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 12, 2021, 06:24:28 PM
Also I'm glad you did enjoy Incomplete for the entertainment value, Brian being a male stripper made me laugh so hard when I wrote it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 07:50:32 PM
Lol thank you... I know a lot of people didn't start reading my stuff until I posted Figured You Out but yes Incomplete was riddled with cliches  :D

Thanks for the other comment about respecting me as a writer, that really means a lot cause for the longest time I looked up to you girls, especially you, Rose and Mare who is my favorite fanfiction author. I really have tried everything and I think that's what makes my stories so interesting. I don't feel pigeonholed when it comes to genres.



So that's a question that I have. Does anyone feel like they're "known" for writing a certain genre and have you stepped out of your comfort zone? How was that for you?

Writing slash is definitely out of my comfort zone but I have come to really enjoy it.

Yeah, Figured You Out is the first story I remember reading of yours.  I loved that one!

Thanks for the compliment!  That means a lot to me too. <3

I am definitely best known for writing medical drama.  I don't feel pigeonholed by it because it's my favorite genre to write, but I have tried to broaden my horizons over the years.  00Carter really helped with that, so thanks Rose, Dee, and everyone else who was part of that project.  That is not the kind of story I ever thought I would enjoy writing or be good at writing, but it was so fun and really brought out a creative side of me I didn't know I had.  Since then, I've written more comedy and other genres I'd never really tried before, like horror and slash.  Some of my favorite stories I've written have been ones that pushed me out of my comfort zone, whether because of genre or subject matter.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 07:52:53 PM
Also I'm glad you did enjoy Incomplete for the entertainment value, Brian being a male stripper made me laugh so hard when I wrote it.

I loved how everything was backwards.  It was like Opposite World!  Brian a stripper, AJ a preacher, Howie with no property, and Kevin with no eyebrows LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 08:01:28 PM
What's everyone's fanfic guilty pleasure?  In other words, what kind of story will you always click on, even if you've read a dozen other stories like it?

Like I told Tracy, I'm a sucker for coma stories, car/bus crash stories, and sick fics.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 12, 2021, 08:20:14 PM
I love almost anything but I especially love Frick and Frack, anything with them. I love suspense and angst. Comedy.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 08:32:35 PM
Another question I thought of while watching The Resident:  Has the pandemic affected the plots of your current or future stories at all?  If it hasn't, do you see yourself writing something that takes place in this time period, or would you prefer to stick to the past or an unspecified time period for future projects?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 08:34:18 PM
I love almost anything but I especially love Frick and Frack, anything with them. I love suspense and angst. Comedy.

I'm here for angsty Frick & Frack suspense stories!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:07:34 PM
Wow. Lol well it's been a real ride since I started writing like when I was 13/14. I started in high school before I knew what fanfiction was. My Nick and Amanda series was the first one I really wrote and it's evolved so much since I began it. I finally finished that like in 2019 I believe? I'm not sure. I wrote a lot of different things. I've pretty much tried just about every genre in one way or another except for fantasy. I've written a lot of AU stuff so I would say that's probably my favorite one to play with. I also like to write in third person a lot although I've done some first person POV as well. So it's a toss up what I'm going to work on because like I said, I've tried nearly everything lol.

Nick and Amanda is 5 stories long and my baby so it felt really good to finish, and I started to write slash in 2017/2018. I do Nick and Brian usually but I've also written some Nick and Kevin.

My first story I ever wrote is still on AC, it's called Incomplete and it's very cringe lol its one of those Nick being in a coma stories but with a twist. I still keep it up cause sometimes it's fun to go back and look at it and see how I've grown as a writer. I've definitely grown! I reread a lot of my own work as a comparison and to inspire myself to get even better.

I wanna say my favorite story I've ever written was Finding Carter. It was my first first person POV story, first story that I did a lot of research for, and the first one I had kind of an outline for. I usually do not outline anything. I know most of the time how I want to end something when I begin writing but then again, sometimes I also just wing it.

Sorry for the long response LOL

I was trying to split this response up in little quotes and couldn't find a good way to do so.

First, write as much as you want, I loved reading it all! I'm excited that you were able to finish your fanfic baby. It always feels really nice when you finish something, especially something that you've put so much work into over the years. I also love that you've tried so many different things. I think, if nothing else, it helps us realize where our strengths really do lie in writing and gives us a chance to say why we don't do certain things or possibly find a new love or appreciation for something we didn't think we would.

You guys being so proud of your old stories. Fine, I will go find something.

I think all my favorite stories have been the ones that have involved a lot of research as well. Because you can look back at all your man hours and think "Yeah I did something awesome."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:08:00 PM
Haha, love this idea!  Add it to the list of joke ideas.

Done.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:10:25 PM
Also I'm glad you did enjoy Incomplete for the entertainment value, Brian being a male stripper made me laugh so hard when I wrote it.

I loved how everything was backwards.  It was like Opposite World!  Brian a stripper, AJ a preacher, Howie with no property, and Kevin with no eyebrows LOL.

Nick dreams weird things in a coma. But I love it! Except I'm holding a vigil for Kevin's eyebrows.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:17:29 PM
So that's a question that I have. Does anyone feel like they're "known" for writing a certain genre and have you stepped out of your comfort zone? How was that for you?

Probably back in the day, I would say it was fantasy or AUs. Most of the stories I enjoyed that I wrote were pretty heavily AU. I've been gone so long that I don't even know that anyone would think of me when they thought BSB stories in the fantasy genre, let alone if I'm anyone other people think of ever, haha. And it's actually... oddly freeing to just write something because I'm enjoying it. Don't get me wrong, I wish when I came back AC was more like it was then, but it was more for the people here and the overall bustle of the site than any dreams of popular fanfic author glory.

It wasn't all BSB fanfic, but I think I've written just about every genre at this point (not straight sci-fi, I'm more team magi-tech) and it honestly just made me say "Yeah, I like fantasy." I like researching and planning and creating epic characters who can bring an epic world to life. So I guess I will forever live my life being exhausted from writing epics, basically.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 09:22:16 PM
Nick dreams weird things in a coma. But I love it! Except I'm holding a vigil for Kevin's eyebrows.

RIP.

I was trying to imagine what Kevin would look like without eyebrows.  I was going to suggest someone photoshop that, but then decided to see if anyone already had, and Google delivered: https://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/lobby/9305/jokekev_06.jpg

Terrifying.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:23:01 PM
What's everyone's fanfic guilty pleasure?  In other words, what kind of story will you always click on, even if you've read a dozen other stories like it?

The Boys bonding circa 1997-2000. True Companions/Band of Brother/Family of Choice forever! Especially when it's nostalgic. So many warm fuzzies.

Another question I thought of while watching The Resident:  Has the pandemic affected the plots of your current or future stories at all?  If it hasn't, do you see yourself writing something that takes place in this time period, or would you prefer to stick to the past or an unspecified time period for future projects?

On a whole, I'd rather forget 2020 ever happened. And if anything, I think it's made me go the opposite. Avoid anything present-day. I like to remember my Boys as they were in fanfics, so I don't think I'd ever write anything past 2003ish. But who knows! Never say never.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:23:49 PM
RIP.

I was trying to imagine what Kevin would look like without eyebrows.  I was going to suggest someone photoshop that, but then decided to see if anyone already had, and Google delivered: https://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/lobby/9305/jokekev_06.jpg

Terrifying.

His beautiful face! Nooooo! I have to go bleach that out of my brain. Now find one where he has excessive eyebrows!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:26:44 PM
You guys being so proud of your old stories. Fine, I will go find something.

Okay, so... I went and looked and hated every minute of my 200 word chapters. Here's a fantastic gem:

"My friend took the picture of us dancing," Nick explained.

"This is really nice of you, Nick."

"I was nothing," he answered, then added, "I also got you this." He pulled a rose out of his pocket and kissed it. "I love you, Jessica."

"Thank you, Nick. I love you too."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 09:29:16 PM
His beautiful face! Nooooo! I have to go bleach that out of my brain. Now find one where he has excessive eyebrows!

Here is a whole Geocities site dedicated to them! https://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/lobby/9305/brows.html LOL
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:30:32 PM
Here is a whole Geocities site dedicated to them!  https://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/lobby/9305/jokekev_06.jpg  LOL

No!!! It's the same "no eyebrows" picture! Burn it!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 09:31:21 PM
No!!! It's the same "no eyebrows" picture! Burn it!

Ahh, the link didn't copy. Fixed it! https://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/lobby/9305/brows.html
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 09:34:46 PM
Okay, so... I went and looked and hated every minute of my 200 word chapters. Here's a fantastic gem:

"My friend took the picture of us dancing," Nick explained.

"This is really nice of you, Nick."

"I was nothing," he answered, then added, "I also got you this." He pulled a rose out of his pocket and kissed it. "I love you, Jessica."

"Thank you, Nick. I love you too."


LOL Aww...  I hope he didn't poke himself with thorns when he was kissing that rose.

This is how I picture young Nick with roses: https://twitter.com/nickcarter/status/1082812711178723328
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:35:40 PM
Ahh, the link didn't copy. Fixed it! https://www.oocities.org/sunsetstrip/lobby/9305/brows.html

OMG, I love that someone wrote a poem about them. I'll buy a "team stroke the brows" button. I've also grown to appreciate our dear Kev more as the years went on.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 09:37:07 PM
OMG, I love that someone wrote a poem about them. I'll buy a "team stroke the brows" button. I've also grown to appreciate our dear Kev more as the years went on.

Same!  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Leaving and coming back was probably the best decision he ever made; we appreciate him more for it, and I think he appreciates us fans more too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:37:29 PM
LOL Aww...  I hope he didn't poke himself with thorns when he was kissing that rose.

This is how I picture young Nick with roses: https://twitter.com/nickcarter/status/1082812711178723328

Real Nick probably would. I couldn't click through more than three chapters. I hated it so much. Poor naive 11-year-old Dee.

I definitely ripped that one out of a magazine and had it proudly displayed on my wall. So much sex appeal.  ::)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 12, 2021, 09:39:19 PM
LMAO... He looks "special."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:40:43 PM
Same!  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  Leaving and coming back was probably the best decision he ever made; we appreciate him more for it, and I think he appreciates us fans more too.

I think more than the others, he needed to see what else what out there since he's been with the Boys for basically his whole adult life. That's gotta give you a "am I anything but an aging boy bander" complex. But we all know he chose to come back, so I think that makes the absence more meaningful for me. I figured it was never really a "money" based decision.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:41:42 PM
LMAO... He looks "special."

His big beautiful blue eyes needed to be as big as possible, okay? How else could we fully appreciate them?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 12, 2021, 09:46:04 PM
Stumbled through this thread: "fighting with your characters" (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,2229.0.html)

Does this still happen to anyone? I only ask as it's basically my reason for being.

Also, it seems like Nick wanted to pick fights with everyone. Why is he so picky in particular? Other than the aforementioned "main character vibes."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 13, 2021, 05:45:08 AM
I include too many song lyrics.  Not as much as I used to, but I still have characters singing songs from time to time, and not just BSB songs.  I would need to edit all that out or get permission to use it if I were going to publish a novel.

I also describe features of the Boys' appearance more often than I need to (which would be almost never, since we all know what they look like LOL).  Especially Brian's blue eyes, Nick's blond hair, and Kevin's eyebrows LOL.

I came across a YouTube video once made by a former fanfic author who became published, talking about bad habits fanfic authors have.  https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY (https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY)  I have probably been guilty of all of these at some point, but the one that I had never thought about was the eye-based reactions.  I am always having my characters raise their eyebrows, waggle their eyebrows, etc.  To be fair, though, Nick has really nice eyebrows, and Kevin has really prominent ones, so I blame them.  Maybe with different characters, I wouldn't do that so much. LOL

If anyone watches the video I linked above, let us know your thoughts and if you're guilty of any of those "bad habits."

I am so guilty of song lyrics lmao. Nick's always singing in my stories.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 13, 2021, 05:54:57 AM
Remember when people would write dialogue in Ebonics because that is how nick was speaking most of the time?


God yes and I was so guilty of this LOL.

Do you think there is any subject matter that should be off limits when it comes to writing a story? Is there anything you would never write about?
I mean I've mentioned Melissa in stories so clearly nothing's off limits LOL.

Is there a storyline that you want to see covered that no one has really touched on?
Honestly I'd like to see more people touch upon the Nick/Brian rift knowing everything we know now.

How far do you take your hatred of someone when it comes to fan fiction? (ie: Leighanne or even a BSB fan).
Killed them. And not in the fun bring them back way.

Now I'm curious about the most random thing ever. What font do you guys write in? LOL
Calibri!

Have you ever considered writing a story or a sequel to one of your existing stories and then decided against it and were later glad you decided not to write it?  Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!
I thought about writing a sequel for Walked Out Of My Dreams... it didn't come together right though. The most ridiculous? Maybe the one where Julie and I were going to have the Boys happen upon a baby being dropped off at their house and it ends up being possessed with a demon LMAO.

Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising.
Umm...Remember Me This Way is the only story where I knew the exact last line of the story before I even wrote it. I wrote it in my original outline.

What is the biggest motivator for you to write?  And on the other end of things what is the thing that makes your motivation go bye bye?

Honestly just the escape of it. Sometimes stress tires me out though.

What are some of the stories you've written because they were something you would want to read?

Practically every story I've written LOL. Since I write in the less popular genres it's always been more about write what I'd want to see.

Have you ever actually gone back and read those stories, and if so, do you think you enjoyed them as much as you would have if you hadn't been the one who wrote them?

No but maybe I should.

Are there any stories you've written that you don't think you would read if someone else had written them?
OH yeah, Just Another Day I never would've read LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 13, 2021, 06:04:37 AM
Oh Nick still argues with me. It's why my story "Miles To Go" hit such a block. I had a plan, Nick fought me. I gave up and went with him and here we are. I did write myself out of that corner finally though so that's a plus. It's just slow going.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 13, 2021, 06:13:02 AM
LOL That should be a challenge.  Take someone's joke idea and write it as a real story.

My kind of challenge LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: Rose on January 13, 2021, 06:23:19 AM
It's okay, once I was done drinking my coffee, I switched it back to blonde AJ and Dolphins doorag Nick, haha. That's perfect for you! I got my bff one with a stethoscope on it that says "I limit myself to one cup of coffee a day," but it's one of those novelty gigantic mugs. I enjoy when I get to drink coffee out of an actual mug, because you get to smell it more. However, I think I prefer my to-go mugs because they don't have handles, so handedness and picture isn't an issue. My favorites are my crocodile mug (more recently since I used it every Wednesday this fall) and one I have that says "Cold Hands Warm Heart."

I always used writing as an escape/processing tool as well, so I'm hoping I'm just overthinking it while I mire around in Renee & NSYNC land. I got half a page of edits done so far today, so I'd say it's going pretty well (with a few "forum refresh" breaks when I stare at a portion too long). Although I woke up kind of late, so I'm more behind than I'd like to be.

I think the 2000s were just a rollercoaster for Nick too. I kind of wished I had someone to talk with during those times that understood my side of it and didn't just jump to "Nick's a terrible person."

I'm just hoping I don't let actual Brian affect PBox Brian in a terrible way. I'd feel so bad. But I'm getting ahead of myself. I guess I'm just more worried about how the other Boys are feeling today, but that's a conversation for the "Everything Backstreet Boys" thread and not this one necessarily.

I wish you'd come back sooner. There were many talks here. Honestly I'm surer now than I was in 2017 about what I think happened.

As for Brian, I basically am taking a step back from him at the moment. Because I didn't jump to "terrible person", but I did jump to..."terrible decisions" and "terrible beliefs". So where does that leave me? No idea. I'm really bothered by it. So taking a break from him to sort out my head with him seemed best. I'm not judging how anyone decides to cope with it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 13, 2021, 04:34:03 PM
The most ridiculous? Maybe the one where Julie and I were going to have the Boys happen upon a baby being dropped off at their house and it ends up being possessed with a demon LMAO.

Haha, I forgot about this idea!  It was gonna be a twist on the old "Here's your love child you didn't know you had" cliche.

Oh Nick still argues with me. It's why my story "Miles To Go" hit such a block. I had a plan, Nick fought me. I gave up and went with him and here we are. I did write myself out of that corner finally though so that's a plus. It's just slow going.

I would love to see you update this one again!  I'm glad you at least wrote yourself out of the corner.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 13, 2021, 05:08:35 PM
I am so guilty of song lyrics lmao. Nick's always singing in my stories.

I am guilty of making him sing made up songs in his head. Anyone else do this or only real songs?

Now I'm curious about the most random thing ever. What font do you guys write in? LOL
Calibri!

What are some of the stories you've written because they were something you would want to read?

Practically every story I've written LOL. Since I write in the less popular genres it's always been more about write what I'd want to see.

It's like we're twins! I know how much you'd love that.

Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!
The most ridiculous? Maybe the one where Julie and I were going to have the Boys happen upon a baby being dropped off at their house and it ends up being possessed with a demon LMAO.

I mean, there's definitely a fair share of guys who might describe an ex as a succubus. Someone's bound to be right eventually.

Haha, I forgot about this idea!  It was gonna be a twist on the old "Here's your love child you didn't know you had" cliche.

Called it!  ;D

Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising.
Umm...Remember Me This Way is the only story where I knew the exact last line of the story before I even wrote it. I wrote it in my original outline.

How soon in the idea did you come up with it? Was it the first thing or had you been planning it out for a while. I love when last lines are really impactful.

Are there any stories you've written that you don't think you would read if someone else had written them?
OH yeah, Just Another Day I never would've read LOL.

I feel like I remember you being particularly proud of that one. Have your feelings for it changed over the years or is it "proud in a different way"?

Oh Nick still argues with me. It's why my story "Miles To Go" hit such a block. I had a plan, Nick fought me. I gave up and went with him and here we are. I did write myself out of that corner finally though so that's a plus. It's just slow going.

Why is he so picky? At this point, I figure if he has something to say to just trust him. He's usually got the right idea. Glad you were able to write yourself out! You've got this!

This was basically my "respond to everything Rose has said" post.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 13, 2021, 05:15:55 PM
I wish you'd come back sooner. There were many talks here. Honestly I'm surer now than I was in 2017 about what I think happened.

As for Brian, I basically am taking a step back from him at the moment. Because I didn't jump to "terrible person", but I did jump to..."terrible decisions" and "terrible beliefs". So where does that leave me? No idea. I'm really bothered by it. So taking a break from him to sort out my head with him seemed best. I'm not judging how anyone decides to cope with it.

Alas, I will hop in my time machine next time. I'm here now, slowly wasting time again.  ;D I'm still not entirely decided on it (and we don't need to get into it now), but I decided long ago that if Nick said he's on the right side of that line, I would choose to trust him. Definitely got labeled as a "won't hold their favorites accountable" by a friend, but I've accepted that.

I wish I could have, but as I said, I had a Brian PBox chapter to edit. However, it's gone mostly well, just took several days and basically got a whole chapter rewrite (mostly to fix some confusing bits), unlike the other Boys. So, lucky for you Brian? Now I just have to punch the last page of edits out and then let it sit while I edit everything else for updating day.

I figured if I checked here first, it would be less distracting later, haha. If you see me posting or lurking on who's online and I haven't updated my updates thread, call me out.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 13, 2021, 05:59:08 PM
I figured if I checked here first, it would be less distracting later, haha. If you see me posting or lurking on who's online and I haven't updated my updates thread, call me out.

Get back to work, Dee.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 14, 2021, 06:49:36 PM
Get back to work, Dee.

I saw you updated, so I guess you did!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 14, 2021, 06:55:59 PM
Another question I thought of while watching The Resident:  Has the pandemic affected the plots of your current or future stories at all?  If it hasn't, do you see yourself writing something that takes place in this time period, or would you prefer to stick to the past or an unspecified time period for future projects?

I asked this question the other day, and I don't think anyone answered it.  It may have gotten lost among all the other posts, or maybe no one had an answer.

Personally, the pandemic played a big role in the premise of my current story, The Road to Bethlehem.  I have a Brian idea I'm considering for my next project that I thought of a few years ago, but I will likely incorporate the pandemic and other current events into that if I write it while all of that is still relevant.  Most of my other story ideas are set in the past, so the pandemic wouldn't affect them.

Another question for everyone who still writes:  How about the recent drama surrounding Brian?  Do you think that will affect your current or future projects?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 14, 2021, 07:46:27 PM
I saw you updated, so I guess you did!

I got my new update out, but not my edits. That Brian POV chapter ended up being 3000 new/changed words and somehow ended up longer than it was before. I thought for sure editing out the confusion would make it shorter. So I finished my update and then figured "I'll let this sit for 24 hours" before I post the PBox edits. At some point in PNecklace, Nick and Minako are playing their silly travel game where they ask each other vague questions or request stories about certain topics. One of their questions was "First impression of one of our friends" and Nick's answer was "Talks too much" about Brian. And judging by that update to align with his POV, Nick's not wrong! haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 14, 2021, 07:57:40 PM
3000 new/changed words?!  Wow, that would be like every word in an average chapter of mine LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 14, 2021, 08:00:13 PM
I asked this question the other day, and I don't think anyone answered it.  It may have gotten lost among all the other posts, or maybe no one had an answer.

Personally, the pandemic played a big role in the premise of my current story, The Road to Bethlehem.  I have a Brian idea I'm considering for my next project that I thought of a few years ago, but I will likely incorporate the pandemic and other current events into that if I write it while all of that is still relevant.  Most of my other story ideas are set in the past, so the pandemic wouldn't affect them.

A Brian idea would be wild right now, how would all the current business affect your idea? (No major spoilers, obviously.) I thought I did, must have gotten lost in the shuffle... Found it.

On a whole, I'd rather forget 2020 ever happened. And if anything, I think it's made me go the opposite. Avoid anything present-day. I like to remember my Boys as they were in fanfics, so I don't think I'd ever write anything past 2003ish. But who knows! Never say never.

Another question for everyone who still writes:  How about the recent drama surrounding Brian?  Do you think that will affect your current or future projects?

I think you're in my head, because I was doodling your word chickens during lunch today and was thinking that with all the Brian drama, these three jokes all sound like the're actually the same story:

Although looking back at all those "Brian is Nick's guardian angel," maybe Nick is Brian's guardian angel?

Also if Nick's become clairvoyant in addition to everything else he's got going on, I feel like there's a whole new fanfic there. You can also blame him for my distracting reappearance, so I guess he works in mysterious ways... *shrug*

Hahahaha. Guys, I love you, but I do not have time to do real life, write, chat with you, and be your ghostly Messiah from the Heavens who helps you save fanfic, so you've gotta pick three, haha. (May I suggest the first three? I've got those down.)

It's like The Neverending Story, but Nick is the childlike empress.

I already doodled Nick as the childlike empress, so it did already start popping around my brain. Maybe it's fate?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 14, 2021, 08:07:00 PM
3000 new/changed words?!  Wow, that would be like every word in an average chapter of mine LOL.

You know, it felt like it. That's about my average too 3000-4000. I think it ended up being on the high end of 4000, maybe crept into 5000. I think I'll need to pare something down...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 14, 2021, 08:12:59 PM
I thought I did, must have gotten lost in the shuffle... Found it.

Oops, so it was your post that got lost in the shuffle, not mine.  Sorry I missed it!

It is fun reading and writing old-school, late '90s/early '00s era fics.  I think it's easier to keep it group-centered in those, compared to now.  Now it takes more effort to get rid of their families.

I think you're in my head, because I was doodling your word chickens during lunch today and was thinking that with all the Brian drama, these three jokes all sound like the're actually the same story:

I already doodled Nick as the childlike empress, so it did already start popping around my brain. Maybe it's fate?

LOL Can't wait to see the word chickens!  Yes, maybe you are destined to write a story with Nick as Brian's guardian angel, after you finish your PBox/PNecklace series.  But don't take too long - Brian seriously needs an angel to set him straight right now LOL.

A Brian idea would be wild right now, how would all the current business affect your idea? (No major spoilers, obviously.)

Oddly enough, I think it actually strengthens my idea.  Like maybe it was fate that I sat on that idea so long; maybe I was meant to write it this year.  I won't know until I actually try to write something, which won't happen until Bethlehem is officially done, but it kinda seems like perfect timing.  Now, will anyone actually want to read a Brian story right now?  That is another question LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 14, 2021, 08:19:04 PM
Inspired by the nostalgia thread...  Would you ever name a child after a character from one of your stories?  What about a character from someone else's story?  (This could also include published fiction.)  Would you name a kid after one of the Boys?

So you can also answer for pets if you want!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 14, 2021, 08:41:06 PM
Inspired by the nostalgia thread...  Would you ever name a child after a character from one of your stories?  What about a character from someone else's story?  (This could also include published fiction.)  Would you name a kid after one of the Boys?

So you can also answer for pets if you want!

I think it depends on what the character does in the story? I like the name Renee, but I'd know she was a jerk in the story. It's kind of like kids in class having names you like. I'd been pondering "Carter" since I met my husband/decided I'd marry him if he asked/wasn't sure how long it would take to convince him to go for a "junior"... and then I had a Karter in my class and he was a sweet hellion. But I was like, well that was a Karter and not a Carter, so it might be okay. And then when one of my sister-in-laws and I were discussing baby names, she brought up Carter (again, don't know if she wanted C or K), and I was like, ugh, that would be weird... Two Carters in the same family. Plus I didn't want to fight with her over ownership of the name, because she would fight passive aggressively and dirty, haha. But after my BSB 2020, I just don't think I could get the husband on board. Maybe if I hadn't devolved into my teeny ways on Wednesdays?

So I guess we're back to "Junior"?

I pondered the other Boys for a hot minute, but I don't think I could convince him to go for Howie or AJ for similar reasons, we know too many Kevins personally, and I can't in good conscience claim that "Don't be a dick like everyone knows your namesake is" wouldn't slip out of my mouth once. And I would laugh, but the kid would not.

Going for a "Junior" situation or Carter would be the best bet. My dream of owning a yellow dog named "Beau" was shattered for similar reasons to the "Kevin" for a kid's name.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 14, 2021, 08:51:51 PM
Oops, so it was your post that got lost in the shuffle, not mine.  Sorry I missed it!

It is fun reading and writing old-school, late '90s/early '00s era fics.  I think it's easier to keep it group-centered in those, compared to now.  Now it takes more effort to get rid of their families.

When we're speed replying/commenting like in the days of old, it's easy to miss a post. I'm glad you brought the question back up. Other people might have missed it, but I have eagle eyes to respond to all questions, haha.

That's most of it. I'm lazy and don't like writing about their families. Also, I've become more like Mare in my old age. If I'm reading a BSB fanfic, I'd rather not read about their actual families. I'd honestly be fine with female OC love interests, but I feel like there aren't as many of those anymore.

LOL Can't wait to see the word chickens!  Yes, maybe you are destined to write a story with Nick as Brian's guardian angel, after you finish your PBox/PNecklace series.  But don't take too long - Brian seriously needs an angel to set him straight right now LOL.

Oddly enough, I think it actually strengthens my idea.  Like maybe it was fate that I sat on that idea so long; maybe I was meant to write it this year.  I won't know until I actually try to write something, which won't happen until Bethlehem is officially done, but it kinda seems like perfect timing.  Now, will anyone actually want to read a Brian story right now?  That is another question LOL.

I think you'll get a kick out of them. They just have to be just right and they're not quite there yet. That might have to be a two projects at once thing if that was the case, because PBox/PNecklace/etcetera will likely take a while. However, it's something new I'm intrigued by, so it's a possibility. I'm mostly in the "mulling it over" stage at the moment.

I love that. Sometimes things are just serendipitous! I'm excited for you, but yes, finish Bethlehem first. I think you're well known and enjoyed enough that people who read your stuff would read it as well as people who would read Brian centered fanfics anyway. There's also that sheer curiosity aspect: Brian was always Julie's favorite, how's she angling this?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 14, 2021, 09:13:36 PM
I think it depends on what the character does in the story? I like the name Renee, but I'd know she was a jerk in the story. It's kind of like kids in class having names you like. I'd been pondering "Carter" since I met my husband/decided I'd marry him if he asked/wasn't sure how long it would take to convince him to go for a "junior"... and then I had a Karter in my class and he was a sweet hellion. But I was like, well that was a Karter and not a Carter, so it might be okay. And then when one of my sister-in-laws and I were discussing baby names, she brought up Carter (again, don't know if she wanted C or K), and I was like, ugh, that would be weird... Two Carters in the same family. Plus I didn't want to fight with her over ownership of the name, because she would fight passive aggressively and dirty, haha. But after my BSB 2020, I just don't think I could get the husband on board. Maybe if I hadn't devolved into my teeny ways on Wednesdays?

Keep working on him; I think Carter's a cute name!  But not if your sister-in-law beats you to it, unless she gave you her blessing.  Cousins both named Carter would be kinda weird, and I know some people are really touchy about that kind of thing.  I've had a couple of Carters in class, and they were both sweet kids!  One year I had a Nick and a Carter in the same class, and it secretly made me smile whenever I got to say their names back to back LOL.

When I was like 14, I was dead set on naming a daughter Brianne.  I don't think I would actually do that now because there are other girl names I like better, but that's the only way I could see myself naming a kid after a Backstreet Boy.  I used to like the name Alexa, but it would be cruel to name a kid that today LOL.

As far as naming kids after my own characters... If I did, it would probably be because I used a name I already really liked for a character.  I love the name Analiese, which I gave to a character in Guilty Roads.  If I ever named a daughter that, it would be because I like the name, not because of that character.  I could see myself using Claire or Carolyn as a middle name, but probably not a first name.

I don't think I would name a kid after a character from someone else's fanfic, unless it was a name I already loved.  Harry Potter characters are fair game though! LOL  I probably wouldn't name a human child after a HP character, but I have a cat named Luna and want to have a black cat named Bellatrix someday.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 14, 2021, 09:46:21 PM
Keep working on him; I think Carter's a cute name!  But not if your sister-in-law beats you to it, unless she gave you her blessing.  Cousins both named Carter would be kinda weird, and I know some people are really touchy about that kind of thing.  I've had a couple of Carters in class, and they were both sweet kids!  One year I had a Nick and a Carter in the same class, and it secretly made me smile whenever I got to say their names back to back LOL.

I don't think I would name a kid after a character from someone else's fanfic, unless it was a name I already loved.  Harry Potter characters are fair game though! LOL  I probably wouldn't name a human child after a HP character, but I have a cat named Luna and want to have a black cat named Bellatrix someday.

I do too. Just subtle enough. I'm hoping that we have a boy before she does and I'd very calmly explain all my reasons (also "I got your brother to agree to it knowing all my reasons" would be a good point in my favor) and it would be all good, haha. Aw, a Nick and a Carter, that would make me smile too. I've had a few Brians and the Karter I mentioned already.

I've ended up with a lot of kids with GOT names in my class actually, so people definitely do it! I say do whatever makes you happy. My name was actually inspired by Star Trek (which I hate admitting to people), so there's precedence for this type of thing in my family. I guess, no one tell my potential future son that he got named after his mom's favorite boy bander? He'll figure it out and I'll be like "Well, at least you're named after a great guy? You're welcome!"

When I was like 14, I was dead set on naming a daughter Brianne.  I don't think I would actually do that now because there are other girl names I like better, but that's the only way I could see myself naming a kid after a Backstreet Boy.  I used to like the name Alexa, but it would be cruel to name a kid that today LOL.

As far as naming kids after my own characters... If I did, it would probably be because I used a name I already really liked for a character.  I love the name Analiese, which I gave to a character in Guilty Roads.  If I ever named a daughter that, it would be because I like the name, not because of that character.  I could see myself using Claire or Carolyn as a middle name, but probably not a first name.

I can't even remember what I wanted to name any future children at 14, but they all probably had nothing to do with the Boys as my plan was to become a famous Britney Spears-type and marry Nick, so that would have been weird. I had a co-teacher named Alexa a few years ago and that first Christmas we worked together, her parents got everyone Amazon Alexas and she said it was the worst thing that had ever happened to her as everyone tested them out simultaneously throughout the holiday. Poor Alexa.

I have a name in mind for a daughter as well, but it's more on the "just about everyone has a holiday birthday in your family" vein than anything else. I know I've actively tried not to use names I was seriously considering for children in stories (other than the Boys using their own names, obviously). Although Madeleine might not be the worst way to sneak in a BSB reference either.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 15, 2021, 05:41:43 PM
I've been working on a update for If I Knew Then for a few days now and Nick has been bugging the hell out of me to change things and rewrite them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 06:14:19 PM
I've been working on a update for If I Knew Then for a few days now and Nick has been bugging the hell out of me to change things and rewrite them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 06:35:18 PM
It's good to know that as I edit, Nick apparently keeps Nicking along over the years.

I just added this line: Nick leaned his head back against the wall and closed his eyes. He winced, then opened them again and fixed his gaze on hers.

And a few lines down on the page in the unedited portion is this line: Nick leaned his head against the crisp, stone wall, shutting his eyes momentarily and holding his hand just above the wound.

Glad he's so consistent, I guess?

Also, Tracy, I was trying to figure out how many posts were on a page so my reply to you didn't get lost when I sent this and I found that I posted something similar a couple days ago:

Stumbled through this thread: "fighting with your characters" (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,2229.0.html)

Does this still happen to anyone? I only ask as it's basically my reason for being.

Also, it seems like Nick wanted to pick fights with everyone. Why is he so picky in particular? Other than the aforementioned "main character vibes."

And Rose said:

Oh Nick still argues with me. It's why my story "Miles To Go" hit such a block. I had a plan, Nick fought me. I gave up and went with him and here we are. I did write myself out of that corner finally though so that's a plus. It's just slow going.

So I feel like at this point we probably just need a thread titled "Nick's being annoying about my writing again" where we can all vent about him barging in and making his opinion known (loudly and persistently).
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 15, 2021, 07:20:07 PM
Lol I should have read back but thank you for showing me lol. In this particular case Brian has a lot to say and Nick doesn't like how I originally wanted him to react so he had me change a bunch of stuff. He is a persistent little shit haha
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 07:40:15 PM
Lol I should have read back but thank you for showing me lol. In this particular case Brian has a lot to say and Nick doesn't like how I originally wanted him to react so he had me change a bunch of stuff. He is a persistent little shit haha

Nah, I think this thread goes pretty fast. I've enjoyed every minute of it, but I've only had to play catch up the two times Rose appeared and replied to twenty different things. But I know it can be frustrating combing back through a quick-paced thread, so I'm happy other people come in to post. :) Happy to pull up anything if it helps.

I think Nick basically badgers until he gets his way. He's very opinionated about everything for many of us, it seems. If I go a while without hearing from him, I miss his annoying ways, but that also tells me I'm doing everything exactly right, according to him anyway. Sometimes if I get stuck with a couple options, I'll put something that could fit, but he wouldn't like so he'll pop up and say "EX~CUSE ME!" so I can get back on the right track.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 08:53:29 PM
I came across a YouTube video once made by a former fanfic author who became published, talking about bad habits fanfic authors have.  https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY (https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY)

So I started watching some of her other fanfic to pro videos while eating dinner and basically got sucked in. I think it's all pretty interesting! Anyone else watch any of these videos?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 09:24:07 PM
Although Madeleine might not be the worst way to sneak in a BSB reference either.

Ooh, Madeleine's a good one!  No one outside of the fandom would ever get where that came from LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 09:27:26 PM
Ooh, Madeleine's a good one!  No one outside of the fandom would ever get where that came from LOL.

Let's just say that I've considered it. I don't even think my husband would catch it, haha. There's also Julia in Poster Girl.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 09:39:04 PM
I've been working on a update for If I Knew Then for a few days now and Nick has been bugging the hell out of me to change things and rewrite them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 09:40:57 PM
Lol I should have read back but thank you for showing me lol. In this particular case Brian has a lot to say and Nick doesn't like how I originally wanted him to react so he had me change a bunch of stuff. He is a persistent little shit haha

Conversations are where the boys push back against me the most.  Sometimes conversations just don't go the way I thought they might go, but they usually turn out better for it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 09:42:29 PM
So I started watching some of her other fanfic to pro videos while eating dinner and basically got sucked in. I think it's all pretty interesting! Anyone else watch any of these videos?

I don't think I have watched any of her other videos.  I'm not sure how I found the original one, but it apparently stuck with me.  I will have to venture down that rabbit hole someday soon.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 09:50:07 PM
Let's just say that I've considered it. I don't even think my husband would catch it, haha. There's also Julia in Poster Girl.

She was trashy though, with her smoking and shoplifting LOL.  Plus, there's never been total agreement on whether it's Julie or Jodie.  Most of the lyrics sites say Jodie.  This is something I would love for the Boys to clarify for us someday because it's hard to tell.  Poster Girl is my least favorite song on Never Gone, but I liked it a little better when I thought it had my pen name in it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 09:56:36 PM
Once in a while, but not as often as it does to Dee LOL.  I've pretty much tortured the boys into submission by now, so they generally do what I want.  I did do Nick and Brian a small favor by revising the last two chapters of Bethlehem I posted (which was originally one giant chapter) to make them slightly less dramatic, which may be a first for me LOL.

Lucky duck. ;) I'm sure Nick and Brian thank you for being slightly less dramatic.

Conversations are where the boys push back against me the most.  Sometimes conversations just don't go the way I thought they might go, but they usually turn out better for it.

I love it when it happens in conversations. I'm pretty used to Nick being pushy about whatever, but when it's a conversation, it means the other Boys are pushing back, haha. There's a chapter coming up down the line where Nick's looking to pick a fight, basically. Brian tries being reassuring, Howie tries logic, Kevin tries to put him in his place gently, but then it ended up being AJ who got the conversation to end... with Nick storming out, but I don't think Nick or I were expecting AJ to shut him up, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 09:58:55 PM
I don't think I have watched any of her other videos.  I'm not sure how I found the original one, but it apparently stuck with me.  I will have to venture down that rabbit hole someday soon.

It was interesting, though the other ones are a bit longer than the one you linked. I watched "Going from fanfic to pro" talking about strengths and weakness fanfic writers have on a whole and then I watched the one about filing serial numbers off fanfic. And at the end she was talking about that Harry Styles one and said something like, "If you're already writing RPF AU, then you should probably just be writing your own novel." And I was like, maybe? The evidence seems compelling enough, but also... fandom.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 10:02:52 PM
She was trashy though, with her smoking and shoplifting LOL.  Plus, there's never been total agreement on whether it's Julie or Jodie.  Most of the lyrics sites say Jodie.  This is something I would love for the Boys to clarify for us someday because it's hard to tell.  Poster Girl is my least favorite song on Never Gone, but I liked it a little better when I thought it had my pen name in it.

I know, which is why I didn't mention it originally. Can't name a kid after a named woman who commits petty theft. Madeleine's just off dreaming, having some hard times, and being supported.

I have never heard Jodie, but that doesn't mean my ears aren't deceiving me. However, I would be willing to wager that it is Juli-a. It's probably my least favorite song too. This is what needs to be asked instead of "boxers of briefs" or whatever other inane questions have been answered a million times.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 10:05:40 PM
They should have just printed the lyrics in their liner notes!  Why'd they stop doing that for all their songs?  It was so helpful.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 10:10:17 PM
I have no idea! I loved it. No questions or deep googling. One thing the internet brought the downfall of, now we have to rely on what people think they hear.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 10:25:17 PM
Anyone besides Julie and I have a long weekend that they're hoping to use for writing?

Here's another one, describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically. Like I couldn't say "I'm editing PBox" and Julie can't say "Bethlehem."

Here's a writing quote for the weekend:

"Never write anything that does not give you great pleasure. Emotion is easily transferred from the writer to the reader." -- Joseph Joubert

Also, Nick insisted that this should be the quote that you read, so... here's another one?:

"First, find out what your hero wants, then just follow him!" -- Ray Bradbury
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 10:35:50 PM
Anyone besides Julie and I have a long weekend that they're hoping to use for writing?

Here's another one, describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically. Like I couldn't say "I'm editing PBox" and Julie can't say "Bethlehem."

Here's a writing quote for the weekend:

"Never write anything that does not give you great pleasure. Emotion is easily transferred from the writer to the reader." -- Joseph Joubert

Weekend goal: Finish Chapter 20.

I love this quote!  I just watched another one of Alexa's videos, "What Fanfic Can Teach You About Writing" (https://youtu.be/gG-LpRqIlYM), and one of the things she talks about is how fanfic helps you figure out what tropes readers like to read.  For the most part, I write what I like to read and hope there are others out there who will like reading it too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 10:47:38 PM
Weekend goal: Finish Chapter 20.

I love this quote!  I just watched another one of Alexa's videos, "What Fanfic Can Teach You About Writing" (https://youtu.be/gG-LpRqIlYM), and one of the things she talks about is how fanfic helps you figure out what tropes readers like to read.  For the most part, I write what I like to read and hope there are others out there who will like reading it too.

Editing my favorite, oh noes!

I didn't watch that one yet, but I loved when she brought up tropes in the fanfic to pro one. I think it's true, fanfic writers have a real handle on tropes. Which is great, because I love them.

Same, I write things I would like to read (and things Nick wants me to write), so I have at least two fans for sure, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 15, 2021, 10:48:12 PM
I guess that's a writing related question that I think I posted in the wrong place originally... What are everyone's favorite tropes?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 15, 2021, 11:50:10 PM
I guess that's a writing related question that I think I posted in the wrong place originally... What are everyone's favorite tropes?

I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort stories!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 12:02:31 AM
I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort stories!

Any reason in particular? Other than the squees of the hurt one being comforted?

I've mentioned my love of Band of Brothers/Family of Choice/True Companions many times.

I'm also a sucker for "The Power of Friendship" because I just love characters that know they're stronger together (see: Band of Brothers/Family of Choice/True Companions above).

You can also always get me with a Bright Lady/White Knight dynamic and I am also a sucker for Magical Girl stories no matter the intended age demographic, but that does not really apply to the Boys... Although PBox might be a Magical Boy story?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 12:13:04 AM
Any reason in particular? Other than the squees of the hurt one being comforted?

I've mentioned my love of Band of Brothers/Family of Choice/True Companions many times.

I'm also a sucker for "The Power of Friendship" because I just love characters that know they're stronger together (see: Band of Brothers/Family of Choice/True Companions above).

I love all these ones you mentioned too.  I bet most BSB authors who write group stories do; that brotherly relationship is one of the things we all love about the Boys, right?

As for hurt/comfort, I think it just goes with my lifelong love of medical drama.  I was reading fiction about hospitals and diseases and whatnot well before I discovered fanfic.  Then I found fanfic at a time when Brian heart problem stories were all the rage, so I read a lot of those (as well as bus crash stories and all the rest) and eventually started writing them too.  I've done romantic hurt/comfort, but I also like just having the other boys be there for the one who's hurt or sick.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 12:23:22 AM
I love all these ones you mentioned too.  I bet most BSB authors who write group stories do; that brotherly relationship is one of the things we all love about the Boys, right?

Definitely. If anything they're the reason I love those ones so much in general, maybe in the back of my mind, I'm like "the characters from x are just like the Boys right now," haha.

As for hurt/comfort, I think it just goes with my lifelong love of medical drama.  I was reading fiction about hospitals and diseases and whatnot well before I discovered fanfic.  Then I found fanfic at a time when Brian heart problem stories were all the rage, so I read a lot of those (as well as bus crash stories and all the rest) and eventually started writing them too.  I've done romantic hurt/comfort, but I also like just having the other boys be there for the one who's hurt or sick.

It's crazy to think of a time when the medical drama was mostly focused on a real life medical issue Brian had instead of "spin the wheel of possible diseases for Nick" ("Herpes? That's too normal." *spins again* "Ooh, flesh eating bacteria!"). I miss the good old bus crash stories. It always felt like anything could happen after a bus crash.

You're assuming I don't also squee when the Boys comfort one of them when they're hurt or sick without any romantic connotations. It's not quite the same thing, and I know Mare used to make fun of it/would make fun of me now, but I always enjoyed when Kevin carried Nick up stairs or whatever.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 12:35:34 AM
It's crazy to think of a time when the medical drama was mostly focused on a real life medical issue Brian had instead of "spin the wheel of possible diseases for Nick" ("Herpes? That's too normal." *spins again* "Ooh, flesh eating bacteria!"). I miss the good old bus crash stories. It always felt like anything could happen after a bus crash.

You've been spying on me again, haven't you?  How else would you know I had herpes and flesh-eating bacteria on my Nick Wheel of Misfortune?

I'm sure the Sick Nick stories were around then too, but being a Brian teenybopper whose least favorite Backstreet Boy was Nick, I only read stuff about Brian or Brian and the group.  Like bus crash stories!

The ER crossover I finished last year was an old-school bus (technically van) crash story set in 1995, and it was such a fun throwback.  I hadn't written one of those since 2000.

You're assuming I don't also squee when the Boys comfort one of them when they're hurt or sick without any romantic connotations. It's not quite the same thing, and I know Mare used to make fun of it/would make fun of me now, but I always enjoyed when Kevin carried Nick up stairs or whatever.

Not at all!  I was just saying I personally enjoy both.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 12:50:08 AM
You've been spying on me again, haven't you?  How else would you know I had herpes and flesh-eating bacteria on my Nick Wheel of Misfortune?

Hahahaha! Well, I figured after leg choppage and zombie viruses you could either go completely mundane or continue down the less common medical issues path. How common are flesh eating bacteria? I'm actually not sure!

I wish I still had my tiny wheel, then I would write these on it for the full laugh.

I'm sure the Sick Nick stories were around then too, but being a Brian teenybopper whose least favorite Backstreet Boy was Nick, I only read stuff about Brian or Brian and the group.  Like bus crash stories!

The ER crossover I finished last year was an old-school bus (technically van) crash story set in 1995, and it was such a fun throwback.  I hadn't written one of those since 2000.

Think there are Sick Howie or Sick Kevin stories? I'm sure Sick AJ has to exist...

A medical drama and a bus crash? How did it feel to go back to your roots?

Not at all!  I was just saying I personally enjoy both.

All the squees here too. Though I prefer my problems on the emotional side over the medical for hurt/comfort. This one is broken and being cared about helps fix them and makes it so they start personing again. Aww.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 16, 2021, 04:58:48 AM
I love stories where the guys are kidnapped, whether it's one or all of them. I like hurt /comfort stories.

I especially love stories set back in the day when they were younger. Old school stuff.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 16, 2021, 05:13:07 AM
Same ^
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 10:19:55 AM
Hahahaha! Well, I figured after leg choppage and zombie viruses you could either go completely mundane or continue down the less common medical issues path. How common are flesh eating bacteria? I'm actually not sure!

I wish I still had my tiny wheel, then I would write these on it for the full laugh.

Flesh-eating bacteria aren't super common, but when I hear stories in the news about it, it usually comes from Florida, so it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to infect Nick with it LOL.  Future "1000 Ways to Kill Carter" idea, perhaps.

You read my mind.  I have a wheel somewhere that I bought for my classroom a long time ago and don't use, but I don't remember if it's in storage at school or out in my garage.  I need to go look for it.  I would totally make a Wheel of Misfortune LMAO.

Think there are Sick Howie or Sick Kevin stories? I'm sure Sick AJ has to exist...

LOL I have written Sick Howie.  I have a Kevin medical drama started - not so much Sick Kevin as Hurt Kevin, but close enough.  Sick AJ definitely exists, though he's much rarer than Sick Nick or Sick Brian.

A medical drama and a bus crash? How did it feel to go back to your roots?

It was fun!  One of the first few fanfics I wrote was a bus crash story, which was admittedly pretty bad.  It was satisfying to write a fresh take on that storyline and actually write it well this time.  It was the perfect story for me.

All the squees here too. Though I prefer my problems on the emotional side over the medical for hurt/comfort. This one is broken and being cared about helps fix them and makes it so they start personing again. Aww.

Emotional hurt/comfort is good too!  I just love angst.

I love stories where the guys are kidnapped, whether it's one or all of them. I like hurt /comfort stories.

I especially love stories set back in the day when they were younger. Old school stuff.

Yes to all of the above!!  More old-school kidnapping stories, please!  I would love to see you or Mare write another one.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 12:29:58 PM
Flesh-eating bacteria aren't super common, but when I hear stories in the news about it, it usually comes from Florida, so it wouldn't be that much of a stretch to infect Nick with it LOL.  Future "1000 Ways to Kill Carter" idea, perhaps.

You read my mind.  I have a wheel somewhere that I bought for my classroom a long time ago and don't use, but I don't remember if it's in storage at school or out in my garage.  I need to go look for it.  I would totally make a Wheel of Misfortune LMAO.

Nick's just down in the Keys racing boats, falls in the water, then a couple days later has black spots on his body...

You bought a wheel and don't use it? I love those tiny wheels. The one I bought got donated to the non-profit board I used to be on because it was a long inside joke among some of the older members who have all since retired. And again, people love tiny wheels. If you can't find it, maybe I'll just buy you a Wheel of Misfortune for the laughs. I think it wasn't that expensive if memory serves correctly.

It was fun!  One of the first few fanfics I wrote was a bus crash story, which was admittedly pretty bad.  It was satisfying to write a fresh take on that storyline and actually write it well this time.  It was the perfect story for me.

I love it. I don't think I could go back and do a fresh take on any of the first stories I wrote, they would just be... bad... It would be too bad...

Emotional hurt/comfort is good too!  I just love angst.

Same. I think that's a telltale sign that a professional author used to write fanfic, because I think that's one thing all fandoms have in common: everyone just loves angst.



I love stories where the guys are kidnapped, whether it's one or all of them. I like hurt /comfort stories.

I especially love stories set back in the day when they were younger. Old school stuff.
Same ^
Yes to all of the above!!  More old-school kidnapping stories, please!  I would love to see you or Mare write another one.

Seconded. I hear there was a Nick and Brian being kidnapped, but thinking they were getting ice cream idea earlier in this thread.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 12:42:27 PM
So I was really productive today so far, but not in the way I intended! I mentioned earlier that I've been enjoying the bops on I'm Taking Off this past week and this morning, I woke up with one tiny line from one of the songs in my head and I was like, "Oh, hey Nick, you want to talk about something clearly." "I want to say this." And then I wrote part of the end of PNecklace.  :o So, I guess now I know that my editing break did not deter my will to finish it (good for me).

Do you all always know the exact end before you start writing or is it more vague ideas? If you write in order, what do you do when monumental things like that pop up? If you don't always write things in order, would you drop everything and write an end before you've finished a middle?

I also ended up spitting this out onto the paper during that writing session: “If I don’t have you, all those promises don’t mean anything!”

Did I accidentally Backstreet and lean into it or did my brain purposefully put the words in that order to intentionally Backstreet?  :shrug: I know I accidentally Hamilton sometimes, but in a BSB fanfic it's less clear to me because there are definitely times I do it on purpose (like the thing Nick bugged me about this morning or every Incomplete reference in PBox), but I've also found a few while editing where I've thought, "Haha, BSB. I don't think I meant to do that?"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 01:07:02 PM
Nick's just down in the Keys racing boats, falls in the water, then a couple days later has black spots on his body...

Necrotic flesh, oh noes!!


You bought a wheel and don't use it? I love those tiny wheels. The one I bought got donated to the non-profit board I used to be on because it was a long inside joke among some of the older members who have all since retired. And again, people love tiny wheels. If you can't find it, maybe I'll just buy you a Wheel of Misfortune for the laughs. I think it wasn't that expensive if memory serves correctly.

Yeah, I bought it with the thought of using it for classroom management, but then I got away from giving out rewards for behavior and haven't found another good use for it.  I have a smartboard, so it's easier to just use a virtual spinner when I need one.  This one was just taking up space.  I know I still have it somewhere though; it was too cool to get rid of, and as I've said, I'm a bit of a hoarder LOL.


Seconded. I hear there was a Nick and Brian being kidnapped, but thinking they were getting ice cream idea earlier in this thread.

LOL!  Crazy fans pull up outside the studio in an ice cream truck...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 01:13:37 PM
So I was really productive today so far, but not in the way I intended! I mentioned earlier that I've been enjoying the bops on I'm Taking Off this past week and this morning, I woke up with one tiny line from one of the songs in my head and I was like, "Oh, hey Nick, you want to talk about something clearly." "I want to say this." And then I wrote part of the end of PNecklace.  :o So, I guess now I know that my editing break did not deter my will to finish it (good for me).

Yay for you!  I love those unexpected bursts of inspiration.  Waking up with words already in your head is the best, especially when it's the weekend and you actually have time to write.

I will be back to respond to the rest later.  I allowed myself a short break from writing to check the forum, but I need to get back at it while I'm in the right head space.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 01:18:25 PM
Necrotic flesh, oh noes!!

Haha, I knew you would know the actual medical term for whatever I was picturing.

Yeah, I bought it with the thought of using it for classroom management, but then I got away from giving out rewards for behavior and haven't found another good use for it.  I have a smartboard, so it's easier to just use a virtual spinner when I need one.  This one was just taking up space.  I know I still have it somewhere though; it was too cool to get rid of, and as I've said, I'm a bit of a hoarder LOL.

I love and hate smartboards because there's something so satisfying about having a physical thing to use for those types of things rather than just some sort of virtual app or add on. I hope you find it and add it to your room on inspiration, haha. Maybe Rose needs one for any time she has a new plot bunny. Now it's a random fanfic wheel of inspiration!

LOL!  Crazy fans pull up outside the studio in an ice cream truck...

Hahaha, not the crazy fans running a food truck! It's 2020 though, so all the ice cream is actually made from bananas and other fruit. We find out that Nick has a severe allergy to something weird like dragon fruit. Now he's kidnapped and sick! How will Brian comfort him now?! Haha. I'll keep going for days on joke fanfics, basically.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 01:23:54 PM
Yay for you!  I love those unexpected bursts of inspiration.  Waking up with words already in your head is the best, especially when it's the weekend and you actually have time to write.

I will be back to respond to the rest later.  I allowed myself a short break from writing to check the forum, but I need to get back at it while I'm in the right head space.

Same! Otherwise it just ends up a tiny note in my Google Keep documents that I hope I remember everything about later in the same way.

I also allowed myself a short break between projects, but I'm hoping to be really productive between now and picking up my husband at the airport. Hopefully it doesn't derail my flow too much. Good luck and vibes to you!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 16, 2021, 03:59:29 PM
Here's another fun writing question for today:

What's something small about writing that you love when it happens?

Mine is word choice. That moment when you are carefully choosing your words and you stumble upon a place where you get to use a word with many layered (and often contradictory) definitions and they all fit together beautifully in a nuanced way in that portion of the narrative. It happened twice to me today: attention and cleave. I was very excited.

Carry on with your Saturday writing, all!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 11:57:16 PM
Haha, I knew you would know the actual medical term for whatever I was picturing.

I watch a lot of reruns of The Monsters Inside Me on Animal Planet LOL.  I love me some flesh-eating bacteria!

Hahaha, not the crazy fans running a food truck! It's 2020 though, so all the ice cream is actually made from bananas and other fruit. We find out that Nick has a severe allergy to something weird like dragon fruit. Now he's kidnapped and sick! How will Brian comfort him now?! Haha. I'll keep going for days on joke fanfics, basically.

The ice cream cones were probably full of gluten - oh noes!!  Now it's gonna give him explosive diarrhea, and Brian's gonna be stuck in the back of the van with him and no bathroom.  Oh noes!!!  Brian may be the one who needs comforting after that, haha.

I also allowed myself a short break between projects, but I'm hoping to be really productive between now and picking up my husband at the airport. Hopefully it doesn't derail my flow too much. Good luck and vibes to you!

Thanks!  My little break lasted longer than I intended, but I did finish the first scene of Chapter 20, which was my goal for today.  I hope you were productive before picking up hubby!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 16, 2021, 11:59:41 PM
I also ended up spitting this out onto the paper during that writing session: “If I don’t have you, all those promises don’t mean anything!”

Did I accidentally Backstreet and lean into it or did my brain purposefully put the words in that order to intentionally Backstreet?  :shrug: I know I accidentally Hamilton sometimes, but in a BSB fanfic it's less clear to me because there are definitely times I do it on purpose (like the thing Nick bugged me about this morning or every Incomplete reference in PBox), but I've also found a few while editing where I've thought, "Haha, BSB. I don't think I meant to do that?"

LOL You probably can't help it at this point.  After so many years of listening to BSB, the lyrics are just engrained in our brains.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 17, 2021, 12:24:56 AM
Do you all always know the exact end before you start writing or is it more vague ideas? If you write in order, what do you do when monumental things like that pop up? If you don't always write things in order, would you drop everything and write an end before you've finished a middle?

I don't usually know the exact last line or anything, but I rarely start a story without having some idea of how it will end, and I usually envision what the last scene will be well before I get there.  I'm about half a chapter away from the last chapter of Bethlehem, and I've known for a while what that last chapter will look like.  I've imagined it in my head and even written down a couple of good lines of dialogue I want to include.  That's usually as far as I get with writing ahead; if I think of a really good line, I'll write it in my outline, but I don't write whole scenes ahead of time.

What has been harder for me, at least with this story, is the stuff right before the ending.  I'm in that "falling action" section of the story arc now, where the exciting climax is over, but I still have a lot of loose ends to tie up before I can get to that last scene.  I'm trying to be concise without resorting to a lot of summarizing and time skipping.  I think I've got it figured out now, but I definitely spent a couple weeks going, "Okay... so I got through plot Point A, B, and C.  Now how am I going to get to Point D?"


Here's another fun writing question for today:

What's something small about writing that you love when it happens?

Mine is word choice. That moment when you are carefully choosing your words and you stumble upon a place where you get to use a word with many layered (and often contradictory) definitions and they all fit together beautifully in a nuanced way in that portion of the narrative. It happened twice to me today: attention and cleave. I was very excited.

Carry on with your Saturday writing, all!

I agree about word choice!  I probably spend too much time on that when I should just be trying to write a first draft, and it definitely slows me down - but I love when I read it back over later and realize I have a beautiful passage that doesn't need editing.

"Cleave" is a great word!

I love when I think of something funny to write that makes me laugh, especially when it's comic relief in an otherwise dramatic story.  For example, I often sing the word "incomplete" Nick-style when I see it ("In-com-puh-lee-ete!" all drawn out and dramatic), and I just wrote a character doing that in my chapter, which made me smile and also helped me transition from one part of the scene to the next.

I also love ending on a nice, round chapter number.  I'm on Chapter 20 now, and since I should only have one more to go, I'm planning to make the last chapter an epilogue instead of Chapter 21 just so I can make the last numbered chapter a multiple of ten.  It will work well as an epilogue anyway because there will be a little time jump, but it's also perfect that a story set in 2020 would have 20 numbered chapters.  I have a weird OCD thing with numbers; it would bug me to end a story on Chapter 21.  This is why BMS had both an epilogue and a "post-epilogue," which I came up with to avoid having to have a Chapter 201.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 01:04:48 AM
I watch a lot of reruns of The Monsters Inside Me on Animal Planet LOL.  I love me some flesh-eating bacteria!

I figured it was something like that! That stuff is so fascinating, but I also hate knowing that my eyebrows are full of microbes, for instance.

The ice cream cones were probably full of gluten - oh noes!!  Now it's gonna give him explosive diarrhea, and Brian's gonna be stuck in the back of the van with him and no bathroom.  Oh noes!!!  Brian may be the one who needs comforting after that, haha.

Oh noes!!! Gluten!!! They're both going to need comfort after explosive diarrhea in a van and no bathroom. Oh noes! And Nick would just eat another ice cream... Time for the crazed fans to kidnap more Boys or for one of them to get really good at kicking open doors. Man, if only Kevin got kidnapped too, they would be all set!

Thanks!  My little break lasted longer than I intended, but I did finish the first scene of Chapter 20, which was my goal for today.  I hope you were productive before picking up hubby!

Yay, proud of you! I got through the rest of the chapter I edited yesterday, and part of today's chapter. Then Nick was being picky, so driving to the airport was a good break. Then I finished up to the point where I'd put a comment on part of the chapter that says "Would Nick notice and understand this conversation if he's already in his untamed demonic state?" And now I'm tired, so tomorrow, I guess. But there's only 1.5-2 pages left in the chapter to edit, so it's going alright! I also have my next four chapters' "describe your writing plan/goals in five words or less" planned out, haha. Hopefully tomorrow is very productive!

I didn't want to forget to respond to the ice cream story tomorrow since there's a new page in this thread now. Night!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 10:41:07 AM
LOL You probably can't help it at this point.  After so many years of listening to BSB, the lyrics are just engrained in our brains.

That's probably it, our brains are just going "Yeah, that sounds right, great word choice!"

I guess we shouldn't worry until we think something like "Does his friends get all your time?" sounds right.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 17, 2021, 10:47:13 AM
That's probably it, our brains are just going "Yeah, that sounds right, great word choice!"

I guess we shouldn't worry until we think something like "Does his friends get all your time?" sounds right.

LOL!  Ahh, cringe!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 11:17:44 AM
I don't usually know the exact last line or anything, but I rarely start a story without having some idea of how it will end, and I usually envision what the last scene will be well before I get there.  I'm about half a chapter away from the last chapter of Bethlehem, and I've known for a while what that last chapter will look like.  I've imagined it in my head and even written down a couple of good lines of dialogue I want to include.  That's usually as far as I get with writing ahead; if I think of a really good line, I'll write it in my outline, but I don't write whole scenes ahead of time.

What has been harder for me, at least with this story, is the stuff right before the ending.  I'm in that "falling action" section of the story arc now, where the exciting climax is over, but I still have a lot of loose ends to tie up before I can get to that last scene.  I'm trying to be concise without resorting to a lot of summarizing and time skipping.  I think I've got it figured out now, but I definitely spent a couple weeks going, "Okay... so I got through plot Point A, B, and C.  Now how am I going to get to Point D?"

I agree, it's tough to start a story if you're not even vaguely sure what the end will be. The middle can be all squiggly and wibbly-wobbly, but if an idea doesn't have a pretty clear beginning and a semblance of an end, it's just an idea and not a story at that point, for me anyway. I don't think I've ever known a last line when I started, but I applaud people who do because that is an impressively clear vision.

Most of my "interesting snippets" start out with just the dialogue. No dialogue tags, very few actions, no indication of who said what, just some lines of dialogue. To me, everyone has a pretty clear way of speaking, so I always know who's who when I go back to it.

Plot point "D" is the worst. I hate when you have one that you haven't tied up, but it's not a clear sequel hook or anything like that, so you get to the point where you start worrying about how to tie it up, and it's really stressful. I'm glad you figured it out.

I agree about word choice!  I probably spend too much time on that when I should just be trying to write a first draft, and it definitely slows me down - but I love when I read it back over later and realize I have a beautiful passage that doesn't need editing.

"Cleave" is a great word!

Same. But I often find that having the right word can tie whatever I'm trying to say together and make the next part much easier to write, plus, like you said, little to no editing if it hits exactly right. Yesterday when I stumbled upon "cleave" (a fantastic word for sure), I was meandering along about "cuts," "hopes," "separation," "togetherness," and then felt frustrated because I knew there was a word that could talk about all of that, but none of those were it. And then it was just an a-ha moment. Absolutely pleased.

I love when I think of something funny to write that makes me laugh, especially when it's comic relief in an otherwise dramatic story.  For example, I often sing the word "incomplete" Nick-style when I see it ("In-com-puh-lee-ete!" all drawn out and dramatic), and I just wrote a character doing that in my chapter, which made me smile and also helped me transition from one part of the scene to the next.

I love when a part of a story makes me laugh or tear up a little. I always wonder if people reading have those same moments at those same parts or not, but I will always include something that makes me laugh because it brings me joy many times over.

Not writing related, but I love every time Nick dramatically draws out words to the point that the syllables kind of slur. Not in-com-puh-lee-ete necessarily, but I've often thought things like "I'm positive there's not a "v" in that word, Nick," but I love it every time.

I also love ending on a nice, round chapter number.  I'm on Chapter 20 now, and since I should only have one more to go, I'm planning to make the last chapter an epilogue instead of Chapter 21 just so I can make the last numbered chapter a multiple of ten.  It will work well as an epilogue anyway because there will be a little time jump, but it's also perfect that a story set in 2020 would have 20 numbered chapters.  I have a weird OCD thing with numbers; it would bug me to end a story on Chapter 21.  This is why BMS had both an epilogue and a "post-epilogue," which I came up with to avoid having to have a Chapter 201.

I love ending on nice round chapters numbers, unless it's a one shot that only needs the one chapter, of course. But those are nice because they just are. I haven't gone to the point of having an epilogue and a "post-epilogue" (haha, the aversion to 201 chapters), but I will actively try to wrap things up or split up chapters a certain way so that there is a nice round number. 15-20 would be good for a shorter one for me. PBox et al. I just like that 50. It's nice, clean, and feels epic without being massive. I hate that I made an awards chapter and it's 51, but these things happen. Also that I left my summary up from my six month hiatus forever and so every chapter after it had the little number AC puts on them, then my "Chapter x: The X-ening" title, but the numbers were off. I fixed that right away when I started editing.

I name all my chapter titles (like a little cryptic summary) and somewhere around the end of PBox, I started using only one or two words to name them. There's a few times in PNecklace where I went with multiple words because that's what fit, but I love when the one word just hits right or when two chapters kind of go together and I can use similar or opposite words to title them for juxtaposition. It's another tiny thing that makes me smile as I write, seeing the chapter titles in the little "quick outline" on the side of the document once I name them.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 11:19:18 AM
LOL!  Ahh, cringe!

Haha, I knew that would make you cringe. I know they've changed it for the concerts, but it definitely sounds wrong if I sing "do" instead of "does" even though I know "do" is grammatically correct.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 17, 2021, 12:20:54 PM
I hate that I made an awards chapter and it's 51, but these things happen. Also that I left my summary up from my six month hiatus forever and so every chapter after it had the little number AC puts on them, then my "Chapter x: The X-ening" title, but the numbers were off. I fixed that right away when I started editing.

I name all my chapter titles (like a little cryptic summary) and somewhere around the end of PBox, I started using only one or two words to name them. There's a few times in PNecklace where I went with multiple words because that's what fit, but I love when the one word just hits right or when two chapters kind of go together and I can use similar or opposite words to title them for juxtaposition. It's another tiny thing that makes me smile as I write, seeing the chapter titles in the little "quick outline" on the side of the document once I name them.

Yes to all of this!  The chapter numbering thing on AC and AO3 bothers me too.  I've gotten away from doing prologues because then it throws the numbering off for the whole story.

I agree about the outlines in Google Docs too - so satisfying!  It also makes it super easy to jump between chapters when I need to.

I very rarely title my chapters because I usually agonize over story titles so much in the first place, that just seems like it would cause me unnecessary strife and end up wasting too much of my time.  But I do admire authors who can come up with great titles for all their chapters.  Do you ever have a hard time coming up with them, or do they usually come easily to you?

Haha, I knew that would make you cringe. I know they've changed it for the concerts, but it definitely sounds wrong if I sing "do" instead of "does" even though I know "do" is grammatically correct.

I agree; I sing the original lyrics too, poor grammar and all.  It does song "a little more better" in the context of the song.  But it would bother me to write that way in a story outside of them singing those lyrics.  Oh Backstreet Boys... messing up our grammar with your weird song lyrics LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 01:29:50 PM
Yes to all of this!  The chapter numbering thing on AC and AO3 bothers me too.  I've gotten away from doing prologues because then it throws the numbering off for the whole story.

I agree about the outlines in Google Docs too - so satisfying!  It also makes it super easy to jump between chapters when I need to.

I very rarely title my chapters because I usually agonize over story titles so much in the first place, that just seems like it would cause me unnecessary strife and end up wasting too much of my time.  But I do admire authors who can come up with great titles for all their chapters.  Do you ever have a hard time coming up with them, or do they usually come easily to you?

I never really did prologues for this reason. Chapter four can't be listed as chapter five, it would make my eye twitch. If I had anything like a prologue, it was usually small enough to just include in chapter one.

I love that I can jump between chapters without having to scroll forever, it's perfect!

If it's a multi-word chapter title, I usually picked it either before or during writing because I knew it would fit. The ch. 31-40 section of PBox has several two word titles because the ones where each Boy gets a chance to showcase his powers against the "ghost demons" are named after what the villains do/are in the chapter (e.g., "Stone Soldier," "Vine Wielder," etcetera). I didn't do it with the NSYNC chapters because they fought a couple in the same chapter and then Nick's chapter broke the trend because I named it after Nick instead. He's so special, he gets TWO chapter names about him. The ones where the Boys are introduced also have multiple word titles with their epithets. Brian's the only one where his is slightly later than the chapter he's introduced, but that chapter does focus more on his powers. If you see a "The _____" in the table of contents, it means it's heavily focused on one of the Boys or a place, generally (e.g., "The Hidden Demon").

If it's a one word chapter title, I usually came up with it after I finished writing the chapter and a word still stood out in my mind that described the chapter. There's two with Japanese verbs for titles and those are the spell words in the story involving the box. There was a third originally, but it's changed during the edit.

I agree; I sing the original lyrics too, poor grammar and all.  It does song "a little more better" in the context of the song.  But it would bother me to write that way in a story outside of them singing those lyrics.  Oh Backstreet Boys... messing up our grammar with your weird song lyrics LOL.

That's it, it definitely sounds "a little more better" in context because that's how I memorized the song, haha. I'm glad we're on the same page, this has bothered me and I "just can't hold it back no more."
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 01:35:16 PM
Describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically.

"Only six chapters left, wow!"

If you read any of my author's notes near the end of PBox, similar statements were said many times. That's right, the rest of these are jokes!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 17, 2021, 02:21:48 PM
The only writing goal I had for this weekend was to finish Chapter 39 of If I Knew Then, and I'm close to it but I'm probably going to end up finishing it tonight or tomorrow morning, I'm maybe half done with it. Depending on if Nick allows me to finish it without interruptions. So far he's been quiet because it's more of a Brian centric chapter anyway.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 02:44:04 PM
The only writing goal I had for this weekend was to finish Chapter 39 of If I Knew Then, and I'm close to it but I'm probably going to end up finishing it tonight or tomorrow morning, I'm maybe half done with it. Depending on if Nick allows me to finish it without interruptions. So far he's been quiet because it's more of a Brian centric chapter anyway.

I think not being in a chapter is equivalent to the knocking him out Julie suggested, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 02:49:56 PM
I'm rewriting a part right now where Nick's pretty darn sad and sobbing (the beginning of chapter 45 for anyone familiar). I started to write that he hiccuped (which Nick seems okay with, he's not being a dick about it or anything), but the sheer act of writing "he hiccuped" is making me laugh. Like he's a cute puppy with those huge puppy eyes, just hiccuping while he sobs. And while hiccuping would be a natural response for the body, it's just offsetting the sadness for me. I just want to give him a hug, but more for the "aww, cute, you hiccuped" feeling than the "aww, you're so sad, you look like you need a hug" feeling. I don't know that this is supposed to make me laugh, so I should probably just erase it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 17, 2021, 02:52:48 PM
I like that lol it kinda makes me laugh too but it's like a good visual to see the type of crying he's doing.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 03:03:09 PM
I like that lol it kinda makes me laugh too but it's like a good visual to see the type of crying he's doing.

That's why I wrote it, because if you're sobbing and hyperventilati ng, your body will eventually go, "OMG, we gotta hiccup! Time to BREATHE!" But it just makes me laugh so much.

I think it's the same reason I laughed and wanted to hug him when he yawned once in PNecklace. I wrote that, and went "OMG, Nick's doing something mundanely normal, what?" And I realized he rarely does things like that, things that are human, but kind of vulnerable. So I gave him a reason.  And now that I'm writing this out, I'm laughing at the idea of him sneezing. He would be so upset if he was getting sick and made an audible noise about it! Haha!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 04:07:24 PM
It's been a while since we had a questions recap for this thread, so here's one a little earlier than the start of the forties:

The questions:

1. How does whatever the Boys are up to affect your writing? Do you let it affect your writing?

2. Has anyone else either followed through with a story idea many years later, or had the same basic idea twice and didn't realize it until way after the fact?

3. Anyone else ever been like, "Okay, that ship has sailed.  I will never write that type of storyline/genre/whatever again"?

4. At what point is it better to give up and move on to a different project instead of persevering with one that's giving you all kinds of trouble?

5. Anyone else have a story they've struggled with and ultimately finished?  Or maybe one that's still a struggle?  What is it that tends to gives you the most trouble?

6. What's something you do in BSB fanfic that would never fly in an original novel? This can be something as big as a whole plot or something as small as "I often find myself not describing the Boys' appearances." Does anyone else do this or am I a lazy bum?

7. Does anyone feel like whatever you're listening to seeps into your writing? Do you ever pick specific things to listen to for that reason because you want it to seep into the feel of your writing?

8. If anyone watches the video I linked above ("Bad Fanfic Habits" (https://youtu.be/SmbUAKi-ovY)), let us know your thoughts and if you're guilty of any of those "bad habits." Related: Anyone else watch any of her other videos?

9. What things does everyone think BSB fanfic writers are more guilty of and what things are they less guilty of? Like, I don't know that we have as many "monologue heavy villains," for instance.

10. Do songs ever remind you of your stories?

11. Related question, how long do you give a story [when you're reading it] before you go "nope"? Is the amount similar for fanfics and published works?

12. What decisions have you made to actively subvert a fanfic cliche [while writing]?

13. Who has a tendency to overwrite and who has a tendency to underwrite? Do you do one for certain things, but not others?

14. Does anyone feel like they're "known" for writing a certain genre and have you stepped out of your comfort zone? How was that for you?

15. What's everyone's fanfic guilty pleasure?  In other words, what kind of story will you always click on, even if you've read a dozen other stories like it?

16. Has the pandemic affected the plots of your current or future stories at all?  If it hasn't, do you see yourself writing something that takes place in this time period, or would you prefer to stick to the past or an unspecified time period for future projects?

17. Does this still happen to anyone [fighting with your characters, especially Nick]? Why is [Nick] so picky? Does this happen to anybody else? Do the boys ever make you second guess what you're working on? (If it does, there's a thread (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3387.0.html) to complain about it now.)

18. Would you ever name a child after a character from one of your stories?  What about a character from someone else's story?  (This could also include published fiction.)  Would you name a kid after one of the Boys?

19. Anyone besides Julie and Dee have a long weekend that they're hoping to use for writing? Describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically.

20. What are everyone's favorite tropes?

21. Do you all always know the exact end before you start writing or is it more vague ideas? If you write in order, what do you do when monumental things like that pop up? If you don't always write things in order, would you drop everything and write an end before you've finished a middle?

22. Did you ever accidentally Backstreet and lean into it or does your brain purposefully put the words in that order to intentionally Backstreet? Do you ever purposefully Backstreet? (Backstreet (v)- to add snips of song lyrics to your stories in the context of dialogue or action, but not as explicitly singing the song)

23. What's something small about writing that you love when it happens?

Questions originally from "The Question Archive":

1. #24. If you could pick two stories you have written as a before and after to show us how much you have grown as a writer, which two would you pick? (Suggested addition: How does the same story change after you edit? Give us a scene that isn't a spoiler!)

2. #18. Remember when people would write dialogue in Ebonics because that is how nick was speaking most of the time?

3. #20. Do you think there is any subject matter that should be off limits when it comes to writing a story? Is there anything you would never write about?

4. #32. Is there a storyline that you want to see covered that no one has really touched on?

5. #86. How far do you take your hatred of someone when it comes to fan fiction? (ie: Leighanne or even a BSB fan).

6. #92. Now I'm curious about the most random thing ever. What font do you guys write in? LOL

7. #128. Have you ever considered writing a story or a sequel to one of your existing stories and then decided against it and were later glad you decided not to write it?  Share the most ridiculous idea you came up with, but never wrote!

8. #130. Give us a random fact about something you've written that we might find surprising.

9. #162. What is the biggest motivator for you to write?  And on the other end of things what is the thing that makes your motivation go bye bye?

10. #185. What are some of the stories you've written because they were something you would want to read?

11. #186. Have you ever actually gone back and read those stories, and if so, do you think you enjoyed them as much as you would have if you hadn't been the one who wrote them?

12. #187. Are there any stories you've written that you don't think you would read if someone else had written them?

13. I think that was one of the questions? 1st or 3rd POV? (It was. #1. Do you write in first person or third person?) Related: So what is everyone's preferred point of view these days?  And if you write in different POVs depending on the story, how do you decide which to do?

14. #134. Is there any question you'd like to ask any of the authors who usually participate in this thread?

15. #140. What has been your favorite memory of writing?

Questions asked in the context of a conversation that can be answered by all:

1. Tracy, will you explain WattPad? It's confusing.

2. You also seem to like including music as an integral part of your writing. Do you think that comes from it being BSB fanfic and our "shared cannon" or is it more about the feeling of music compared to writing?

3. Re: Ebonics: Does everyone think it was an age thing or an early 00's thing? Do guys in their early twenties still do this?

4. What is it Mare always says? BSB fanfic should focus on the Boys?

5. To Dee: So tell us, why DOES everyone wear shoes except Nick??

6. You keep bringing up that ill-fated sequel in old questions. Do you perhaps still want to write it deep down?

7. I am guilty of making [Nick] sing made up songs in his head. Anyone else do this or only real songs?

8. To Rose about RMTW: How soon in the idea did you come up with [the last line of the story]?

9. To Julie: A Brian idea would be wild right now, how would all the current business affect your idea? (No major spoilers, obviously.)

10. To Dee: 3000 new/changed words?! Wow, that would be like every word in an average chapter of mine LOL.

11. Now, will anyone actually want to read a Brian story right now?

12. Re: hurt/comfort trope: Any reason in particular? Other than the squees of the hurt one being comforted?

13. You've been spying on me again, haven't you?  How else would you know I had herpes and flesh-eating bacteria on my Nick Wheel of Misfortune?

14. To Julie (about going back to things we wrote about in our first fanfics): A medical drama and a bus crash? How did it feel to go back to your roots?

15: To Dee: Do you ever have a hard time coming up with [chapter titles], or do they usually come easily to you?

Off Topic Questions:

1. Do you need a bachelor's degree to go to med school? Nick has his GED, yeah?

2. In what world does Nick Carter the Grammy nominated Backstreet Boy need a resume? Can't he just have his people call whoever and say "Nick Carter the Grammy nominated Backstreet Boys would like to do xyz"?

3. I wonder what Nick would get a bachelor's degree in?

4. Did you know that they're phosphorescent like diamonds?! Platypus(es?) are the best!

5. What did they think was happening instead of them getting kidnapped? A fun trip for ice cream? (Meanwhile, Julie and Dee write (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121350.html#msg121350) a (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121353.html#msg121353) little (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121588.html#msg121588) joke (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121590.html#msg121590) story (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121592.html#msg121592) about (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121628.html#msg121628) it (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121631.html#msg121631) over a few pages.)

6. Although looking back at all those "Brian is Nick's guardian angel," maybe Nick is Brian's guardian angel? (Meanwhile, Julie (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121350.html#msg121350) and Dee (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121353.html#msg121353) write jokes about this too.)

7. Ugh, just found a "Brian nodded his head." As opposed to what? His knee? His shoulder to shake off his unhelpful guardian angel Nick?

8. Also poor Nick. Can we get the poor guy a "Summer of Happiness"?

9. You bought a wheel and don't use it?

Possible Challenge: Take someone's joke fanfic and write an actual fanfic. (I think I've already claimed the combination of #2/#5/#6, maybe it starts with a bus crash. Maybe it's fate? --Now it's tied back to the questions.)

1. "There's a bomb on the bus and Howie winks excessively."

2. "Nick is a terrible guardian angel."

3. "Nick and Brian are kidnapped while they think they're getting ice cream."

4. "Nick and Howie Freaky Friday each other, but then Nick disappears for the whole story, so Howie can't switch back. haha."

5. "Also if Nick's become clairvoyant in addition to everything else he's got going on, I feel like there's a whole new fanfic there."

6. "Guys, I love you, but I do not have time to do real life, write, chat with you, and be your ghostly Messiah from the Heavens who helps you save fanfic, so you've gotta pick three, haha. (May I suggest the first three? I've got those down.) It's like The Neverending Story, but Nick is the childlike empress."

7. "Nick gets a disease based on spinning the 'Nick Wheel of Misfortune' to decide."

8. "Nick gets a 'Summer of Happiness' where all the other Boys are main characters and he gets a nice paid vacation to pull from some of their old fanfic habits like 'only sleeps,' 'wears several hats throughout,' 'gets to pop in to make silly jokes,' or 'shakes his head at *someone's* antics.' haha"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 04:11:18 PM
It's been a while since we had a questions recap for this thread, so here's one a little earlier than the start of the forties:

Basically writing the perfectly acceptable "Nick hiccuped [while crying]," then remembering the time he yawned and hated it, and imagining him reacting to sneezing destroyed my focus. Time for a not computer break, I think.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 17, 2021, 07:02:36 PM
The only writing goal I had for this weekend was to finish Chapter 39 of If I Knew Then, and I'm close to it but I'm probably going to end up finishing it tonight or tomorrow morning, I'm maybe half done with it. Depending on if Nick allows me to finish it without interruptions. So far he's been quiet because it's more of a Brian centric chapter anyway.

Yay!  I can't wait!

I have been on such a roll with the writing today.  I've been at it pretty much all day, except for showering and a few trips to Twitter and this forum.  I've drained my chromebook battery twice.  I think I'm gonna finish Chapter 20 tonight, and then I'll just have the epilogue left to write.


I'm rewriting a part right now where Nick's pretty darn sad and sobbing (the beginning of chapter 45 for anyone familiar). I started to write that he hiccuped (which Nick seems okay with, he's not being a dick about it or anything), but the sheer act of writing "he hiccuped" is making me laugh. Like he's a cute puppy with those huge puppy eyes, just hiccuping while he sobs. And while hiccuping would be a natural response for the body, it's just offsetting the sadness for me. I just want to give him a hug, but more for the "aww, cute, you hiccuped" feeling than the "aww, you're so sad, you look like you need a hug" feeling. I don't know that this is supposed to make me laugh, so I should probably just erase it.

Aww, Nick!  I agree, hiccuping is cute.  It makes me want to give him a glass of water and a pat on the back more than a hug, but it still gives me that "Awww!" feeling.  If Nick's not fighting you on hiccuping, you should keep it in.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 17, 2021, 07:03:52 PM
Thanks for the recap, Dee!  If Mare unlocks the question archive thread, I can put them in there too.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 07:41:28 PM
The only writing goal I had for this weekend was to finish Chapter 39 of If I Knew Then, and I'm close to it

I have been on such a roll with the writing today.  I've been at it pretty much all day, except for showering and a few trips to Twitter and this forum.  I've drained my chromebook battery twice.  I think I'm gonna finish Chapter 20 tonight, and then I'll just have the epilogue left to write.

Yay, Julie! And yay, Tracy! (I missed saying earlier.) You're both champs! Charge your batteries (literally and figuratively)!

I've gotten through editing half of one chapter and then half of another one. Nick hiccuping really derailed my focus, but I'm feeling back in the groove a little. I just had to take a break after staring at three versions of the same part (since I'd edited it for a different chapter in PNecklace and then hadn't used a lot of it, but still had some edited bits that I didn't end up using, plus the original version I'm in the process of editing) to get the edit right.


Aww, Nick!  I agree, hiccuping is cute.  It makes me want to give him a glass of water and a pat on the back more than a hug, but it still gives me that "Awww!" feeling.  If Nick's not fighting you on hiccuping, you should keep it in.

He didn't fight at all, so I kept it. Glad everybody is thinking "Aww" over a hiccup. I just know he would hate it if he wasn't so distraught and distracted (which is most of what makes me laugh about it).

He did however have a lot to say a little later when he walked through a door. Mainly, "This is boring. I'm going to punch it and make it explode." Okay, Nick. Whatever you want.  :shrug:

Thanks for the recap, Dee!  If Mare unlocks the question archive thread, I can put them in there too.

Any time! I enjoy combing back through and putting in the joke questions and laughing again. I'm sure she would unlock it for you to post more questions in it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 07:54:41 PM
Here's two fun questions for today inspired by Nick hiccuping:

What's something mundane the Boys do in fanfics that makes you go "aww"?

What's a weird character trait any of the Boys' have ended up with in a story your wrote? (e.g., absolutely hating when anyone sees them hiccup, yawn, sneeze, etcetera because they don't like the possible outcomes that arise from mundane, but vulnerable actions)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: mare on January 17, 2021, 08:20:41 PM
I’ll unlock it now
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 17, 2021, 08:34:24 PM
Thanks, Mare!

Dee, I like both of those questions, but they kinda have me stumped at the moment.  I'm gonna think more about them and try to answer later.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 08:45:44 PM
I’ll unlock it now

We summoned her! I think that seems fair. The thread can be unlocked when Julie needs to update the questions.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 08:47:10 PM
Dee, I like both of those questions, but they kinda have me stumped at the moment.  I'm gonna think more about them and try to answer later.

Take your time. I'm supposed to be editing, haha. And also haven't figured out my answer for the first one yet, because my first thought was "go fishing," but that's not really a general answer across fanfics.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 09:56:15 PM
Found more accidental Labyrinth soundtrack. I love that movie so much. I should go watch it tomorrow, haha.

OMG, Spotify has the soundtrack. It's going to feel like 2007 all over again.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 17, 2021, 10:53:13 PM
So this felt appropriate because I know for sure that I was listening to "As The World Falls Down" the first time I wrote this chapter. Feels like 2007, aww. If you haven't seen Labyrinth, you should for sure go watch David Bowie acting with puppets and singing great songs, it's awesome. Anyway, the reason I think Nick's been so picky this whole time is that he's trying very hard to remind me that he's a hard core do-er. The way PBox was originally written was definitely very "omnipresent narrator in a dark and dreary world" if it wasn't something the characters were directly saying or doing. But it's really Nick's story and he gets things done regardless of consequences. So he gets frustrated with things like this from 2007, when it's supposed to be focused on him and he'd rather do something, even if he's just thinking about what he'd do.

An except if you'll allow (from 2007):

Why was the night sky so apparent within her eyes? They seemed to sparkle like small jeweled stars, crying out in his pain. A sad love… A pale jewel… They had been running together, through the darkness all this time. And up until then, they had been running through the darkness alone. They had spent their whole lives looking for something, for someone to hold closely. And in that instant, they had found their safety, they had found each other. And yet, in that one instant, the world shattered around them. They had lost their most precious thing in the world, across all worlds. They seemed to live in a glass ball, only for the amusement of God. And, when he felt their glass ball lives were unfit, he dropped their world, shattering it into a thousand pieces. Where does life continue from that moment? How does one combat the shattering of the world? Is it combatable? Or is it something that is merely accepted with existence?

An excerpt from the edits (now):

Your eyes are sparkling like small jeweled stars in the night sky. I want to run through them until we’re far away from here, until we’re somewhere warm and bright. If there’s anything I can do to keep the world from falling down, I’ll do it for you. I’ll switch off the sun, the stars, and the moon if that takes the sad and pained look out of them. Until you got here, we were both running through the darkness alone. This whole time, we’ve both been looking for the one thing that makes existing warm and bright. Then you came here and we both found that safety we’d been looking for. We found that light of being accepted by someone else in each other. But the longer we stay here, our world is shattering. We almost lost each other! It’s like we live encased in glass so God can watch us for amusement. And if we’re no longer amusing, he’ll drop our world and shatter it into a million pieces. Where would we go? How could we fight that? I promise, I’ll find a way to fight any malicious God for you. I won’t let your world shatter.

And it all still feels very "As The World Falls Down" while getting to add a purposeful "Who Needs The World." Pretty delighted.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 10:24:18 AM
Aww, I haven't seen The Labyrinth since I was a kid!  (Also, I can never seem to spell Labyrinth correctly on the first try LOL.)

So are you re-writing the story from third person into first person POV, or was the second version just Nick's inner thought?  It was interesting to see how it changed from one version to the next.  I smiled at the phrase "the sun, the stars, and the moon" - was that one intentional or accidental Backstreeting?  ;D
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 12:40:40 PM
Aww, I haven't seen The Labyrinth since I was a kid!  (Also, I can never seem to spell Labyrinth correctly on the first try LOL.)

I never can either, which is abysmal. I think it's because the /y/ isn't really pronounced, but you know it's in there somewhere, but where is a mystery. I think it holds up, but it's also probably still my second favorite movie of all time (after Titanic, obviously).

So are you re-writing the story from third person into first person POV, or was the second version just Nick's inner thought?  It was interesting to see how it changed from one version to the next.

It's still third person POV, but a little more character centered. So yes, just Nick's thoughts. I feel like it would be a very difficult challenge to completely change it to first person and probably not my preference anyway. I think my limit on writing a first person POV is about 10,000 words.

I think what's been the most challenging is keeping the overall tone because it's easy to be like "everything here is pretty bleak" when you're the omnipresent narrator. But Nick's fairly... "sugar and fire" is probably the best way to describe him after he defrosts, so he's more like, "Yeah, everything is pretty bleak here, but we're still alive and we're gonna deal with it with a lotta gumption and zeal! Roar!!! Oh look, I'm bleeding again... Onward!!" So it feels a lot less bleak when he's around doing his Nick thing loudly, even when he has his heroic BSOD moments, haha.

I smiled at the phrase "the sun, the stars, and the moon" - was that one intentional or accidental Backstreeting?  ;D

I'd actually completely forgotten while writing it that it's in AFY in that order, which is surprising because the amount of times Nick says "Anything for you" in the story very intentionally is fairly high.

It was an intentional Cartering, I guess? Is that the verb for this? The phrase "switch off the sun, the stars, and the moon" was just me switching verb tense from "Who Needs The World" to match the narrative. So does that mean that Nick intentionally or accidentally Backstreeted in that song? New things to ponder...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 01:05:31 PM
Describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically.

I couldn't decide! One's kind of a spoiler and the other one's not... as much...  :shrug:

"Now with more heart eating!" or "Sorry you [spoiler]died first, AJ.[/spoiler]"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 01:20:56 PM
I never can either, which is abysmal. I think it's because the /y/ isn't really pronounced, but you know it's in there somewhere, but where is a mystery. I think it holds up, but it's also probably still my second favorite movie of all time (after Titanic, obviously).

Obviously!

And yeah, I always want to put the y somewhere after the r.  Labryinth?  Labriynth?  But I learned how to spell Saoirse the night we found out baby girl's name, so I can learn Labyrinth too if I just put my mind to it.  Goals!

It's still third person POV, but a little more character centered. So yes, just Nick's thoughts. I feel like it would be a very difficult challenge to completely change it to first person and probably not my preference anyway. I think my limit on writing a first person POV is about 10,000 words.

Yeah, that would be challenging (and time-consuming!) to completely change the POV for a whole story.  I have done it for first chapters, on the rare occasion I've started writing in one POV and then changed my mind, and even doing that sucks.

I prefer first person for stories that center on one or two characters, not the whole group.  It's easier to show multiple perspectives in third.

It was an intentional Cartering, I guess? Is that the verb for this? The phrase "switch off the sun, the stars, and the moon" was just me switching verb tense from "Who Needs The World" to match the narrative. So does that mean that Nick intentionally or accidentally Backstreeted in that song? New things to ponder...

Haha, how weird - I thought of Anywhere for You first, not Who Needs the World.  (Even though I love Who Needs the World much more.)  It's funny how they use the same phrases across multiple songs.  "Wild and free" is another one of those.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 01:28:46 PM
Obviously!

And yeah, I always want to put the y somewhere after the r.  Labryinth?  Labriynth?  But I learned how to spell Saoirse the night we found out baby girl's name, so I can learn Labyrinth too if I just put my mind to it.  Goals!

It's definitely a "does the i come first or the y?"

I'm still not really sure how to spell it, or pronounce it to be honest. I'm a terrible fan. I'll go hide in shame.

Yeah, that would be challenging (and time-consuming!) to completely change the POV for a whole story.  I have done it for first chapters, on the rare occasion I've started writing in one POV and then changed my mind, and even doing that sucks.

I prefer first person for stories that center on one or two characters, not the whole group.  It's easier to show multiple perspectives in third.

I've done it a couple times when there were only a few chapters, but yeah, it's a lot. Even just changing those 3rd person based inner thought sections has been time consuming to match verb tense. It's definitely better this way, more character-centric, but sooooo time consuming. I think I usually only go with straight 1st person if there's other characters in it, but we really only spend time with one of them. Like my holiday story, I started writing it in 3rd person, but Nick shopping was just funnier when he was narrating it himself.

Haha, how weird - I thought of Anywhere for You first, not Who Needs the World.  (Even though I love Who Needs the World much more.)  It's funny how they use the same phrases across multiple songs.  "Wild and free" is another one of those.

All I'm thinking of right now is "The One," but I definitely feel like there's others! I wonder if the ones that use the same phrases have the same songwriters or if they're different songwriters.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 02:23:47 PM
It's definitely a "does the i come first or the y?"

I'm still not really sure how to spell it, or pronounce it to be honest. I'm a terrible fan. I'll go hide in shame.

It's okay; Nick's mom doesn't either LOL.  She did an interview with Aaron right after Saoirse was born and kept saying "Seer-say" - and something about how Saoirse was the name of a Greek goddess (which is not true; it's an Irish name) and also her Siamese cat when she was a child.  https://youtu.be/nfk_TbmhUuo?t=152

In actuality, it's pronounced "Seer-sha," and she was named for a character in an animated movie Odin liked to watch when they were on tour.  I definitely had to practice the pronunciation too.

All I'm thinking of right now is "The One," but I definitely feel like there's others! I wonder if the ones that use the same phrases have the same songwriters or if they're different songwriters.

Show Me the Meaning is the other one.  "Wild and free, I can feel the sun..."   I bought a light-up sign that says "Wild and Free" for my writing room just because it reminded me of BSB songs LOL.

You got me curious, so I looked it up.  Max Martin co-wrote both SMTMOBL and The One, so there's definitely a connection there.  Anywhere for You and Who Needs the World were written by completely different teams of people though, so that one's just a fluke.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 03:07:56 PM
It's okay; Nick's mom doesn't either LOL.  She did an interview with Aaron right after Saoirse was born and kept saying "Seer-say" - and something about how Saoirse was the name of a Greek goddess (which is not true; it's an Irish name) and also her Siamese cat when she was a child.  https://youtu.be/nfk_TbmhUuo?t=152

In actuality, it's pronounced "Seer-sha," and she was named for a character in an animated movie Odin liked to watch when they were on tour.  I definitely had to practice the pronunciation too.

Okay, so neither of those things are close to what I've been thinking in my head! Shame on grandma though, they're related by blood! Though who knows how often then see each other these days, I'm still betting close to never unless anything's gotten much better over the years.

I've definitely been pronouncing it more like Sah-or-see. Back to hiding in shame! I'm up on my Norse mythology at least!

Show Me the Meaning is the other one.  "Wild and free, I can feel the sun..."   I bought a light-up sign that says "Wild and Free" for my writing room just because it reminded me of BSB songs LOL.

You got me curious, so I looked it up.  Max Martin co-wrote both SMTMOBL and The One, so there's definitely a connection there.  Anywhere for You and Who Needs the World were written by completely different teams of people though, so that one's just a fluke.

Yes, that's it! I knew it was another Millennium, I just couldn't get The One out of my head. Aw, I love that. I only buy those types of things if they're really funny. We have three (plus a Mr. & Mrs. with our wedding date that one of my friends made us): "Dear Coffee, I love you. That's all!," "Conserve water, drink wine," and "This house is built on love and shenanigans."

It's only a fluke unless Nick changed it. "Moon" is clearly in the right spot because of the loose rhyme with "you," but it's possible it was originally stars first, then sun and Nick either flubbed it up on accident or said "it sounds better the other way." We'll never know. I'm going to pretend it was a Nick choice, it makes me smile.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 03:17:45 PM
Okay, so neither of those things are close to what I've been thinking in my head! Shame on grandma though, they're related by blood! Though who knows how often then see each other these days, I'm still betting close to never unless anything's gotten much better over the years.

I've definitely been pronouncing it more like Sah-or-see. Back to hiding in shame! I'm up on my Norse mythology at least!

Irish/Gaelic names are hard!  So many are not spelled anywhere close to phonetically, for English-speakers anyway.  I'm guessing Jane has never met Saoirse and probably hadn't even spoken to Nick before that interview.  I think he pretty much cut her out of his life after the way she treated Lauren before their wedding.  And this is when Aaron was being awful to him too, accusing him of being a serial rapist and all that bullshit.  Nick is better off without them.  I'm glad he seems to get along well with Lauren's family - and he has a good relationship with Angel, too.  It's nice to see him so happy.

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 03:24:32 PM
Here's my three-day weekend writing update:

I finished "Chapter 20" last night, but it was so long, I ended up breaking it into two chapters, so now I'm also done with 21.  And since I have 21 chapters instead of 20, I will probably end up calling the last one 22 instead of an epilogue so I don't have to end on an odd number, because that would make my OCD sad.

Long story short, Bethlehem is a few pages from being finished!  Yay!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 03:31:05 PM
Irish/Gaelic names are hard!  So many are not spelled anywhere close to phonetically, for English-speakers anyway.  I'm guessing Jane has never met Saoirse and probably hadn't even spoken to Nick before that interview.  I think he pretty much cut her out of his life after the way she treated Lauren before their wedding.  And this is when Aaron was being awful to him too, accusing him of being a serial rapist and all that bullshit.  Nick is better off without them.  I'm glad he seems to get along well with Lauren's family - and he has a good relationship with Angel, too.  It's nice to see him so happy.

I think phonics is difficult in general and many languages have many words where the phonetic syllables are not standard. Japanese is the only one coming to mind that has hard an fast rules that if you see a syllable, it's going to be pronounced exactly the way you think it will be.

I missed out on a bunch of that wedding drama, but I did see all the Aaron being awful bs. I'm glad that Nick gets along well with Lauren's family, has his own little happy family, and has a good relationship with at least one of his siblings (though on a whole, he's for sure better off without the whole lot).

On the Aaron is dramatic train, I did enjoy an article I read once that was something akin to "Aaron's tattoo artist recommends against a face tattoo." And I was like, yo Aaron, if even your tattoo artist is saying not to get a face tattoo, don't get a face tattoo! haha
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 03:32:25 PM
Here's my three-day weekend writing update:

I finished "Chapter 20" last night, but it was so long, I ended up breaking it into two chapters, so now I'm also done with 21.  And since I have 21 chapters instead of 20, I will probably end up calling the last one 22 instead of an epilogue so I don't have to end on an odd number, because that would make my OCD sad.

Long story short, Bethlehem is a few pages from being finished!  Yay!

Whoo! You're a champ! Don't make your OCD sad and write that Chapter 22!

I hate when they get so long. That Brian chapter rewrite, I was like "Oh no, I want to split this up, but I can't have 51 chapters!"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 04:18:26 PM
Whoo! You're a champ! Don't make your OCD sad and write that Chapter 22!

I hate when they get so long. That Brian chapter rewrite, I was like "Oh no, I want to split this up, but I can't have 51 chapters!"

I know!  It was almost 6000 words, and most of my chapters are closer to 3000.  Sometimes I'll let them go long if it's all one continuous scene with no obvious stopping point, but this one already had two scenes that were each around 3000 words, so it just made the most sense to split it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 04:22:25 PM
I know!  It was almost 6000 words, and most of my chapters are closer to 3000.  Sometimes I'll let them go long if it's all one continuous scene with no obvious stopping point, but this one already had two scenes that were each around 3000 words, so it just made the most sense to split it.

Yeah, when they get to 6,000 words, I feel like there's no point in keeping it together. I feel bad when they're really one scene that keeps going though, especially if I want to switch the viewpoint character. I've been consciously more aware of the head hopping after that Brian chapter, but then I'm always like "If Nick didn't end up unconscious, this would be fine."

I'm slowly realizing with these ending chapters of PBox that they might end up longer when they're already long. Maybe I still overwrite, haha.  I'm trying to get better!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 04:55:12 PM
That's okay though.  A lot of published novels have longer chapters than most fanfics.  I'd rather have them all be different lengths than try to chop them up in places that don't make sense.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 05:02:21 PM
That's true! I guess I don't notice it as much in a published novel because the table of contents doesn't tell me "Get ready to read 5,000 words that are all great, but it's a lot!" ;) I figure as long as the repetitive overwrites are going away, like so and so nodded their head, then it's fine if a little extra is need for clarity.

Instead of editing today, I'm working on the weirdest project about word usage because of something someone wrote in a review once: "You open a lot of chapters talking about darkness." So I wondered, just how often do I talk about darkness? Let's find out!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 05:21:25 PM
LOL!  I like to look for patterns in my writing too.  Sometimes I get deja vu and think, "Did I write this exact line in another story?"  So then I go searching to see.  Sometimes I discover that I actually did LOL.  And sometimes it's just deja vu.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 18, 2021, 05:25:26 PM
I've been working on this chapter of If I Knew Then and it's been difficult because like I said before, it's a Brian centric chapter. It's a out his heart surgery. I am having a bit of trouble with how I want this one to go because I know a lot of my readers are excited to read it and I don't want to disappoint them. Not to mention I never really go into details when it comes to medical stuff cause I don't know anything about it. So that's a bit challenging for me as well.

Either way I feel like this chapter might take me a little longer to write. I did watch some videos with Brian talking about the surgery and those helped a little bit.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 05:34:54 PM
LOL!  I like to look for patterns in my writing too.  Sometimes I get deja vu and think, "Did I write this exact line in another story?"  So then I go searching to see.  Sometimes I discover that I actually did LOL.  And sometimes it's just deja vu.

I love and hate when that happens. And I find that I do, I'm like, do I use it again? Was it really that great hat it needs to go twice? Who knows?

The other fun part of my project is "Just how often do Nick and Minako say the other's name?" Because it feels like a lot and often loudly. I went through the first ten chapters and was like "Good job Nick, that wasn't that bad." Whereas Minako was basically like "Nick Nick Nick Nick Nick Nick Nick Nick..." ad nauseam. Minako, at least try to pass the Bechdel test as much as you can, will you? And Minako got a little better in the next ten chapters, but then Nick doubled, so I'm not sure where we stand. I'm hoping that it gets better as they have more and different people to talk to in the next ten chapters, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 05:36:30 PM
I've been working on this chapter of If I Knew Then and it's been difficult because like I said before, it's a Brian centric chapter. It's a out his heart surgery. I am having a bit of trouble with how I want this one to go because I know a lot of my readers are excited to read it and I don't want to disappoint them. Not to mention I never really go into details when it comes to medical stuff cause I don't know anything about it. So that's a bit challenging for me as well.

Either way I feel like this chapter might take me a little longer to write. I did watch some videos with Brian talking about the surgery and those helped a little bit.

Ooh, first person accounts. Always good!

I don't want to volunteer her services when she has other things going on, but I know there's someone in this thread who loves writing about medical stuff and could be a good sounding board for you!

I'm sending you good vibes.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 07:02:25 PM
So, just for fun, I decided to look and see how often I wrote the Boys' names in PBox and it is... eye opening. This is only chapters 1-40, since I haven't finished editing the last five yet.

So AJ is only in chapters 27-40 (but doesn't physically appear in four of them), so his is a little less, but some variation of AJ/Alexander/Alex appears 221 times.

Kevin is in chapters 18-40 (but doesn't physically appear in eight of those) and his name appears 282 times.

Brian is in chapters 12-40 (but doesn't physically appear in ten of those) and his name appears 457 times.

Howie is in chapters 5-40 (but doesn't physically appear in fourteen of those, oops) and some variation of Howie/Howard/Your Majesty/His Majesty appears 379 times (still more than AJ or Kevin, I guess?)

I'm embarrassed to say how much Nick jumps... haha...  :(  :blushes:

Nick's in chapters 2-40 (but doesn't physically appear in eleven of them), but his name still appears 1,541 times! Is this a case of clear author favoritism? Probably! And none of those are "nick" as in "to steal" or "a small cut," I avoid using them in BSB fanfics because Nick exists in universe. His name is over 1% of all the words I've lovingly written in the first 40 chapters of PBox... Oy... In case you were wondering, dark/darkness is only 0.29% of the words I've written in those chapters (but it does appear more than the other Boys' names except for Brian).
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 07:37:19 PM
I've been working on this chapter of If I Knew Then and it's been difficult because like I said before, it's a Brian centric chapter. It's a out his heart surgery. I am having a bit of trouble with how I want this one to go because I know a lot of my readers are excited to read it and I don't want to disappoint them. Not to mention I never really go into details when it comes to medical stuff cause I don't know anything about it. So that's a bit challenging for me as well.

Either way I feel like this chapter might take me a little longer to write. I did watch some videos with Brian talking about the surgery and those helped a little bit.

Have you ever read the chapter he wrote for the book "Taking on Heart Disease"?  You can read it on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Taking_on_Heart_Disease/j-Pc9RfM2DoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=brian%20littrell  Hopefully this link will work.  It's a really good, detailed account of his surgery.  It also has a little bit about the aftermath and going back on tour.  Hopefully it will help!


Ooh, first person accounts. Always good!

I don't want to volunteer her services when she has other things going on, but I know there's someone in this thread who loves writing about medical stuff and could be a good sounding board for you!

I'm sending you good vibes.

Haha, here I am!  Happy to help if needed.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 07:40:36 PM
So, just for fun, I decided to look and see how often I wrote the Boys' names in PBox and it is... eye opening. This is only chapters 1-40, since I haven't finished editing the last five yet.

So AJ is only in chapters 27-40 (but doesn't physically appear in four of them), so his is a little less, but some variation of AJ/Alexander/Alex appears 221 times.

Kevin is in chapters 18-40 (but doesn't physically appear in eight of those) and his name appears 282 times.

Brian is in chapters 12-40 (but doesn't physically appear in ten of those) and his name appears 457 times.

Howie is in chapters 5-40 (but doesn't physically appear in fourteen of those, oops) and some variation of Howie/Howard/Your Majesty/His Majesty appears 379 times (still more than AJ or Kevin, I guess?)

I'm embarrassed to say how much Nick jumps... haha...  :(  :blushes:

Nick's in chapters 2-40 (but doesn't physically appear in eleven of them), but his name still appears 1,541 times! Is this a case of clear author favoritism? Probably! And none of those are "nick" as in "to steal" or "a small cut," I avoid using them in BSB fanfics because Nick exists in universe. His name is over 1% of all the words I've lovingly written in the first 40 chapters of PBox... Oy... In case you were wondering, dark/darkness is only 0.29% of the words I've written in those chapters (but it does appear more than the other Boys' names except for Brian).

LOL No shame.  Nick is your favorite, and from the way you talk about it, it seems like the story centers mostly on him.  If I counted names in my stories, I would probably have more Nicks too.  And he's not even my favorite.  He just tends to dominate my ideas, as he does for a lot of us here.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 07:41:45 PM
Btw, I just finished Bethlehem!  Now I'm going to make some dinner and watch some TV and do something other than stare at my computer for the last few hours of my Monday... but I may be back later! :)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 07:53:53 PM
He just tends to dominate my ideas, as he does for a lot of us here.

Nick, stop being so dominating! >:(

I just feel bad that it's over three times as much as the others and Brian's in second place is a distant second at best.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 07:54:43 PM
Btw, I just finished Bethlehem!  Now I'm going to make some dinner and watch some TV and do something other than stare at my computer for the last few hours of my Monday... but I may be back later! :)

Yay!!! Confetti and party hats for you! Run far away from the computer! Avoid it!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 09:43:02 PM
Thanks!  I am already back and just finished reading over the last chapter and doing a bit of editing.  It's hard to walk away!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 09:55:43 PM
I applaud your diligence. You can still have confetti and a party hat.

I am 59.5 pages away from being all done editing. Probably. There's probably more I could edit, to be honest. I accidentally started re-editing Kevin's chapter when I was supposed to be editing AJ's last week, so that tells me work is never done. :shrug:
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 10:38:46 PM
Eh, it's not so much diligence as wanting to bask in the glow of a newly finished story LOL.  That is one of the best feelings.

That's so true.  I can usually find something to change or fix every time I reread a chapter.  I stop doing major editing once I've posted a chapter and only edit to fix typos I find after the fact, but I can almost always find more I would write differently if I were writing it now.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 18, 2021, 10:52:16 PM
I actually tried the link from my phone and even my IPad and laptop and couldnt get it to work for me. so I looked it up and kept saying that it doesnt have a E Book version that I could just skip to the part about Brian, but I appreciate you trying to help me. I've been working on this chapter all day. Rewrote things twice. I'm still plugging away, though.




Have you ever read the chapter he wrote for the book "Taking on Heart Disease"?  You can read it on Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Taking_on_Heart_Disease/j-Pc9RfM2DoC?hl=en&gbpv=1&bsq=brian%20littrell  Hopefully this link will work.  It's a really good, detailed account of his surgery.  It also has a little bit about the aftermath and going back on tour.  Hopefully it will help!


Haha, here I am!  Happy to help if needed.


Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 10:52:41 PM
Eh, it's not so much diligence as wanting to bask in the glow of a newly finished story LOL.  That is one of the best feelings.

Oh man, it's been a long time since I finished a story, I don't remember that feeling! I guess I enjoyed writing my holiday story, posting it, and then thinking "I never have to worry about this again!" Though Nick in the candle shop pops into my head sometimes and I laugh a lot every time it pops up. Someone got me a candle in my secret santa gift at work and I laughed so hard to myself. Not sure if you read it, but here:

I sniffed a candle. Blegh, pine barf. I glared at it. First snow? What a weird name for pine barf. I plopped it back on the shelf. Does Kevin even like candles? That seems more like a Howie or AJ thing. Ocean breeze? I picked it up and sniffed it. Blegh. What is that?! That doesn’t even smell like an ocean. It’s not salty enough… It smells... sweet? Like it’s trying to be candy instead of an ocean. Sandy beaches? I picked it up.

I don’t want a lot for Christmas...

Arg! I have to get out of here! Why is everyone playing this song?! Sandy beaches, I bet you smell terrible anyway! I put it back on the shelf, then power walked out of the store.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 10:54:26 PM
I actually tried the link from my phone and even my IPad and laptop and couldnt get it to work for me. so I looked it up and kept saying that it doesnt have a E Book version that I could just skip to the part about Brian, but I appreciate you trying to help me. I've been working on this chapter all day. Rewrote things twice. I'm still plugging away, though.

I just clicked on it on my laptop in incognito mode and it went right to it. Maybe try that?

I died that his doctor called them the "Backdoor Boys" when he mentioned the band to his daughter and it was published in the book that way, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 18, 2021, 10:56:02 PM
I rarely use my laptop because I get frustrated with it LOL. I got a chromebook like last year as a christmas present to myself, it came with the laptop and a scanner/printer. I hardly am ever home to actually use it but I'm using it tonight.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 10:56:50 PM
I have a chromebook too! Try incognito mode, it went straight to it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 18, 2021, 11:00:16 PM
Okay, update I got it to work finally. I guess my chrome book didn't like me talking shit about it
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 18, 2021, 11:06:24 PM
Glad you got it to work!  I had it bookmarked from a long time ago, but my bookmark took me to Google Books in a different language and said it couldn't find that book?  So I tried just looking it up again and was able to find it that way.

He also did an interview on Larry King around the time this book was published and talked about it there too.  That may be the one you already watched, but if not, look for it on YouTube.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 18, 2021, 11:18:39 PM
Okay, update I got it to work finally. I guess my chrome book didn't like me talking shit about it

Technology knows when you're talking bad about it. It's why printers never print when you're in a hurry, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 04:49:00 PM
Here's a question for the day in honor of Julie finishing Bethlehem:

What do you do when you finish a story? Any fun rituals? How long do you give yourself before you start your next project to reset from one story to the next?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 06:11:18 PM
Here's a question for the day in honor of Julie finishing Bethlehem:

What do you do when you finish a story? Any fun rituals? How long do you give yourself before you start your next project to reset from one story to the next?

Yay!

I don't really have any fun rituals.  Sometimes I celebrate with a drink, but I didn't do that last night.  I'm already thinking about my next project.  I've pretty much decided which idea I'm gonna try to start next, unless a new idea pops up between now and then.  I'm not sure if I will start writing it this weekend or wait awhile.  I've been in a good routine of writing every weekend, so part of me would like to stick with it, but after spending this past weekend glued to my computer, it also might be nice to not write this weekend and catch up on other things instead.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 06:21:07 PM
That's kind of how I'm feeling about being done editing. Do I stay glued and go right back to chunking away at PNecklace? Do I catch up on tv? Do I go back to hardcore organizing the house?  :shrug:

I don't know that I have rituals either because it's been so long since I've finished anything substantial. So if I used to do anything, I've long forgotten. On Wednesdays after I update on here and when I update my note where I keep track of word counts/day, I always finger high five my little PBox Nick doodle (because his hand is too small for a real high five). That's probably the extent of it.

I don't have an answer to the reset question either for the same reason.

I've also been meaning to ask, how long does this thread go before it gets a second one called "2 Writing 2 Thread"?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 06:41:56 PM
LOL I remember feeling that way, back when I would go years between finishing stories because they were all so long, and I was so busy.  I forgot what it felt like to finish one.  It's exciting and satisfying, but then there's also that bittersweet sense of "What do I do now that this is over?"

A couple related questions for everyone: 

What story felt most satisfying to finish and why? 

Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?



Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 06:46:45 PM
We could start a new thread anytime!  This one got long quickly LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 06:53:24 PM
LOL I remember feeling that way, back when I would go years between finishing stories because they were all so long, and I was so busy.  I forgot what it felt like to finish one.  It's exciting and satisfying, but then there's also that bittersweet sense of "What do I do now that this is over?"

Well, I think when I finished PBox the first time, it was definitely "I never want to look at another fantasy again." Definitely stretched myself too thin back then.

What story felt most satisfying to finish and why?

Any story I finished? haha! It did feel pretty nice to finish the ~150,000 word juggernaut that was PBox. In this edit, it's definitely creeping closer to 200,000, so here we are.

Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?

Other than current projects? Probably Gobosei, especially with our recent Backstreet Project chatter.

Anything else I started writing is definitely lost to the past. But Gobosei was always one I wanted to finish that unfortunately got pushed to the side for PBox.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 06:54:08 PM
We could start a new thread anytime!  This one got long quickly LOL.

But now we're at 41 pages... Can't just leave a thread on 41 pages.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 06:55:02 PM
But now we're at 41 pages... Can't just leave a thread on 41 pages.

Let's start a new one at 50.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 06:55:37 PM
Let's start a new one at 50.

A nice, round even number. Perfect!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 07:00:09 PM
Well, I think when I finished PBox the first time, it was definitely "I never want to look at another fantasy again." Definitely stretched myself too thin back then.

What story felt most satisfying to finish and why?

Any story I finished? haha! It did feel pretty nice to finish the ~150,000 word juggernaut that was PBox. In this edit, it's definitely creeping closer to 200,000, so here we are.

Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?

Other than current projects? Probably Gobosei, especially with our recent Backstreet Project chatter.

Anything else I started writing is definitely lost to the past. But Gobosei was always one I wanted to finish that unfortunately got pushed to the side for PBox.

I definitely know that feeling!  And I agree, finishing anything feels satisfying!  Do you think you'll go back to Gobosei when you're all done with PNecklace, or would you rather start something new?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 07:11:46 PM
What story felt most satisfying to finish and why?

Finishing By My Side was really satisfying because it was so long.  I was and still am proud of that!

Finishing Sick as My Secrets was satisfying because I took a long break in the middle of that one while I was getting my master's, so it felt good to come back to it and complete it.

Finishing A Heart That Isn't Mine was satisfying in the same way it feels to get off a rollercoaster that was fun to ride, but also made you nauseous... so part of you is like, "Thank god this is over," and another part is like, "Let's go again!"

But maybe the most satisfying one to finish was Song for the Undead, if only because it felt so good to see a collaboration (that started as a joke) through to the end.  Most of my collaborations fizzle out and never get finished, so to stick with one for seven years and give it a definite ending was an awesome accomplishment .


Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?

I have to go with Guilty Roads because it has the most potential and the most readers wanting to see it finished.  Maybe someday.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 07:20:55 PM
I definitely know that feeling!  And I agree, finishing anything feels satisfying!  Do you think you'll go back to Gobosei when you're all done with PNecklace, or would you rather start something new?

I mean, there is that "Nick is Brian's guardian angel" story that might be calling me, haha.

I actually have the next two and a half chapters of Gobosei written from way back when, but never posted. Plus some random ramblings from different points in the story. I peeked over it a moment ago since I remembered that I'd written at least something that I never posted and found this gem of a joke:

Nick put both hands on the floor excitedly.  “She said she wanted to be a pop star, we could make her our opening act!”

Brian mimicked dialing a phone, “Hey, EYC, listen, you guys have been great so far, but we’ve decided to replace you with someone without a record label or any songs or references.  We hope you understand.”  Brian stared right at Nick and pretended to hang up the fake phone.

Nick rolled his eyes, “Okay…  Well if she can sing, she can probably dance.  We can make her one of our background dancers!”

Brian cleared his throat.  “Hey Backstreet dancers, we’ve called this meeting to let you know that you’re disappointing us.  We can’t say who in particular really, you just are.  So we’re replacing one of you with this girl halfway through the tour!  Of course she doesn’t have to audition.  Dance off!!”

Nick rolled his eyes again, “Brian, Brian, Brian, I get it…  The joke is old.  Stop…”

Howie blinked, “Nick’s annoyed at Brian’s jokes?  We really have seen everything tonight.”
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 07:23:28 PM
Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?

I have to go with Guilty Roads because it has the most potential and the most readers wanting to see it finished.  Maybe someday.

Loved all your answers to the first one. Just know there's always someday. I'd say never write off anything unless you're 100% positive it's a dead end for you. If you have even a little interest, don't worry about it too much.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 07:25:05 PM
I mean, there is that "Nick is Brian's guardian angel" story that might be calling me, haha.

I actually have the next two and a half chapters of Gobosei written from way back when, but never posted. Plus some random ramblings from different points in the story. I peeked over it a moment ago since I remembered that I'd written at least something that I never posted and found this gem of a joke:

Nick put both hands on the floor excitedly.  “She said she wanted to be a pop star, we could make her our opening act!”

Brian mimicked dialing a phone, “Hey, EYC, listen, you guys have been great so far, but we’ve decided to replace you with someone without a record label or any songs or references.  We hope you understand.”  Brian stared right at Nick and pretended to hang up the fake phone.

Nick rolled his eyes, “Okay…  Well if she can sing, she can probably dance.  We can make her one of our background dancers!”

Brian cleared his throat.  “Hey Backstreet dancers, we’ve called this meeting to let you know that you’re disappointing us.  We can’t say who in particular really, you just are.  So we’re replacing one of you with this girl halfway through the tour!  Of course she doesn’t have to audition.  Dance off!!”

Nick rolled his eyes again, “Brian, Brian, Brian, I get it…  The joke is old.  Stop…”

Howie blinked, “Nick’s annoyed at Brian’s jokes?  We really have seen everything tonight.”

LMAO!  Love the mocking of many a teenybopper fanfic from back in the day.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 07:27:05 PM
Loved all your answers to the first one. Just know there's always someday. I'd say never write off anything unless you're 100% positive it's a dead end for you. If you have even a little interest, don't worry about it too much.

Yep, that's exactly how I feel.  It's still listed on my "Projects in Progress" menu on my site, and I haven't given it the "discontinued" label because I'm not ready to give up on it yet.  I just keep hoping maybe someday I'll feel inspired again, but I've stopped trying to force it.  If it's meant to be, it'll happen.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 07:41:22 PM
LMAO!  Love the mocking of many a teenybopper fanfic from back in the day.

Thanks, that was the intent and it still holds up. It actually kept going through several other BSB adjacent careers like publicist and roadie (all with comments about necessary qualifications) until someone finally said "personal assistant" and Nick has to pay for it because "he's the only one invested in these new super powers." haha. But those first two were definitely the funnier of the bunch.

Edited to add: I started skimming through some of it in more detail and the Boys' banter is cracking me up. There's a point where AJ says "Can we go back and talk about why we're all so calm that Nick broke the window?" And then Nick, completely straight faced, just pats his arm and says, "The skeleton broke the window." And then another part where Kevin shoves Nick into a couch and yells "Of course you were minding your own business and a skeleton started stalking you!" And Nick starts long-windedly trying to explain that he was minding his own business and AJ responds "Yes Nick... Just ramble it to more death. I'm sure it will just get bored and leave!" Gobosei, I'm so sorry you got pushed to the side for PBox. You had many more funny moments.

Edited to add again: Brian's summarizing their day and "Nick started a fire in a nightclub" is one of the things in the list followed shortly by "I can't believe this is all the same day as our concert." I don't think I originally meant this to be so comedic, but maybe that's the way I should be leaning it if I go back to it.

Edited to add... again: "Like Kevin said, we don't have to be wearing the armor and stuff." "Yes, I clearly said 'and stuff,' Nick." I'm dying.

Edited to add, last time, I swear: Nick blinked. "There is nothing I understand about this."  :D

Yep, that's exactly how I feel.  It's still listed on my "Projects in Progress" menu on my site, and I haven't given it the "discontinued" label because I'm not ready to give up on it yet.  I just keep hoping maybe someday I'll feel inspired again, but I've stopped trying to force it.  If it's meant to be, it'll happen.

In the meantime, write things that seem exciting and fun. No sense in forcing inspiration, that's how you kill it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 07:44:50 PM
Oh, here's a fun one:

What's something you would absolutely go back and tell your younger self about writing (fanfics or otherwise) if you could?

And, what's something you would be hesitant to tell your younger self?

Alternatively, is there anything you wish your younger self could tell you from way back when?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 09:10:41 PM
Gobosei, I'm so sorry you got pushed to the side for PBox. You had many more funny moments.

This is exactly what happened to Guilty Roads too.  Darn pushy ideas!  I hope you'll go back to Gobosei one day and keep writing funny moments.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 09:42:28 PM
This is exactly what happened to Guilty Roads too.  Darn pushy ideas!  I hope you'll go back to Gobosei one day and keep writing funny moments.

PBox Nick is more demanding than Gobosei Nick. If Gobosei Nick were equally as demanding, then I probably would finish it.

I think the problem was that PBox was so pushy, but then I also had the added issue of having to change Gobosei from script format to a novelization for the first two chapters and it was... time consuming.

Like it was one thing to have a little script (https://i.ibb.co/5WJ1fCV/Goboseiscript.jpg) where I wrote "Nick looked down at himself, he has transformed." And then draw this picture of him (https://i.ibb.co/fN63D7Y/Goboseinick.jpg) looking at his outfit. But then on top of that decide to write: Nick looked down, following the eyes of the other four. *Proceed to describe clothing in 180 words* Nick’s surprise matched everyone else’s. He jumped from his kneeling position and began waving his arms frantically and screaming (https://i.ibb.co/024jTWF/Goboseinick2.jpg).

And that chunk is probably still not as interesting as his face in the picture (edited: figured you all deserved to see him screaming too). Though I'm sure I could make it more interesting now that I've had more practice and time writing epics and comedies.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 19, 2021, 09:45:22 PM

What story felt most satisfying to finish and why? 

Probably my Nick and Amanda series, which took me 10 years to write. It felt so satisfying to finish that. I did kind of start a spin off that was centered on Brian finding his girlfriend on the internet in a Star Wars chat room.

Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?


I have so many. That’s one reason I’m excited that I picked up writing If I Knew Then again, because I was worried it would be unfinished forever. Back to the question though, I’d love to finish Take Me Home, my science fiction story.



[/quote]
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 09:54:47 PM
What story felt most satisfying to finish and why? 

Probably my Nick and Amanda series, which took me 10 years to write. It felt so satisfying to finish that. I did kind of start a spin off that was centered on Brian finding his girlfriend on the internet in a Star Wars chat room.

Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?


I have so many. That’s one reason I’m excited that I picked up writing If I Knew Then again, because I was worried it would be unfinished forever. Back to the question though, I’d love to finish Take Me Home, my science fiction story.

I think the longer you spend working on something, the more satisfying it feels when it's finished. I'm glad you did finish it! I'm also intrigued by Brian finding a girlfriend via chatroom.

I believe in you! Keep finishing old things!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 19, 2021, 10:01:40 PM
I think the longer you spend working on something, the more satisfying it feels when it's finished. I'm glad you did finish it! I'm also intrigued by Brian finding a girlfriend via chatroom.

I believe in you! Keep finishing old things!

Yes my readers thought that was an interesting idea too. In the story he’s a cop...well got promoted to detective, so he’s a detective. He meets this girl from Texas online in Star Wars role play and they hit it off. She’s a college student studying child development. It’s a AU, a spin off of Nick and Amanda, where Nick is a singer but a solo artist. So in that story he has two kids and ends up hiring the girl Brian is dating as his nanny. This new story is basically telling how they met, cause at the end of the Nick and Amanda series they actually are engaged.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 10:07:35 PM
Yes my readers thought that was an interesting idea too. In the story he’s a cop...well got promoted to detective, so he’s a detective. He meets this girl from Texas online in Star Wars role play and they hit it off. She’s a college student studying child development. It’s a AU, a spin off of Nick and Amanda, where Nick is a singer but a solo artist. So in that story he has two kids and ends up hiring the girl Brian is dating as his nanny. This new story is basically telling how they met, cause at the end of the Nick and Amanda series they actually are engaged.

I'm laughing at Brian doing Star Wars role play online. What a "they're just like us" moment.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 19, 2021, 10:19:43 PM
Lol i thought it was something different.

I likely won’t be posting that one any time soon, I’m looking at maybe posting the group story I had started which is titled “History” after the song by One Direction. It takes place in 2011/2012 right when Kevin was about to come back to the group. While its a group story it centers around Nick and Kevin. So it’s a brotherly type group story. I’m more inclined to post that than a Brian centered romance that I don’t know if anyone would even be interested in considering everything going on with Brian in real life.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 10:28:51 PM
More Nick and Kevin! They melt my heart every time.

I figure it could either be the worst time or the best time to write and post Brian-centered stories. Maybe people want to escape into fanfic Brian?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 10:29:44 PM
What's something you would absolutely go back and tell your younger self about writing (fanfics or otherwise) if you could?

Hey there, younger self!  I know you're excited, but you don't have to post everything you write immediately after writing it.  Also, you should really look stuff up on the internet instead of relying on Lurlene McDaniel books from the '80s for your medical research.  There's this new search engine called Google.  It's going to be a game-changer!


And, what's something you would be hesitant to tell your younger self?

I know you're, like, totally in love with Brian Littrell and think he's perfect, but he's actually not.  And Nick is not so bad.  Believe it or not, someday you'll run out of Brian ideas and start writing Nick stories instead.


Alternatively, is there anything you wish your younger self could tell you from way back when?

OMG, I can't believe you're 35 and still writing BSB fanfic.  I'm, like, so embarrassed for you, future self.  But if you're seriously gonna keep doing this, you should really stop overthinking every word and just WRITE!  You may be better than me, but I'm much faster!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 10:32:58 PM
I’m excited that I picked up writing If I Knew Then again, because I was worried it would be unfinished forever.

I'm glad you came back to it too!  I'm really enjoying this story.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 10:34:27 PM
I'm laughing at Brian doing Star Wars role play online. What a "they're just like us" moment.

I could see it!  I follow his brother on Instagram, and he's a total Star Wars fanboy!  I think they were both big into Star Wars as kids (as I'm sure most little boys growing up in the 70s and 80s were).
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 10:36:20 PM
What's something you would absolutely go back and tell your younger self about writing (fanfics or otherwise) if you could?

Hey there, younger self!  I know you're excited, but you don't have to post everything you write immediately after writing it.  Also, you should really look stuff up on the internet instead of relying on Lurlene McDaniel books from the '80s for your medical research.  There's this new search engine called Google.  It's going to be a game-changer!


And, what's something you would be hesitant to tell your younger self?

I know you're, like, totally in love with Brian Littrell and think he's perfect, but he's actually not.  And Nick is not so bad.  Believe it or not, someday you'll run out of Brian ideas and start writing Nick stories instead.


Alternatively, is there anything you wish your younger self could tell you from way back when?

OMG, I can't believe you're 35 and still writing BSB fanfic.  I'm, like, so embarrassed for you, future self.  But if you're seriously gonna keep doing this, you should really stop overthinking every word and just WRITE!  You may be better than me, but I'm much faster!

LMAO! "You may be better than me, but I'm much faster!"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 10:37:06 PM
I could see it!  I follow his brother on Instagram, and he's a total Star Wars fanboy!  I think they were both big into Star Wars as kids (as I'm sure most little boys growing up in the 70s and 80s were).

Who doesn't love samurai in space with cool aliens?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 10:37:31 PM
Lol i thought it was something different.

I likely won’t be posting that one any time soon, I’m looking at maybe posting the group story I had started which is titled “History” after the song by One Direction. It takes place in 2011/2012 right when Kevin was about to come back to the group. While its a group story it centers around Nick and Kevin. So it’s a brotherly type group story. I’m more inclined to post that than a Brian centered romance that I don’t know if anyone would even be interested in considering everything going on with Brian in real life.

The brotherly Kevin/Nick story sounds best to me, but I would read a Brian romance that didn't have Leighanne in it.  Just as fanfic got me through Nick's ghetto fab phase, I need some sweet Brian fanfic to help me forget what's going on in real life.  I hope people keep writing Brian stories.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 10:57:13 PM
I've been milling this over since I posted it.

What's something you would absolutely go back and tell your younger self about writing (fanfics or otherwise) if you could?

Dear Young Dee circa 2005ish,

You and I both know that you decided to write BSB fanfics because you loved writing and you loved the Boys. And you also really love fantasy. It's fine. Write that even when it takes a long time, when you hit writer's block, or if you feel like no one is reading. It's okay. Write what you really love. You'll be happier. Because eventually fanfic might be quieter and if you want to keep writing, you'll be happier if you're really writing what you love because you love it and not for any of those other reasons to write and post online. Also give yourself more breaks and a little intentional slack. You deserve both those things.

Also, PBox? Nick's really annoying about his story and he'll never leave you alone. That's right, you don't know this yet, but it's actually HIS story and he is very particular about it. Maybe you'll be better prepared for him when he decides to loudly tell you his opinions if you know that going in.

Also, try to be better about seeing where people are coming from before you make decisions. Friends first, fanfic second.

Best,

~More Mature Dee

And, what's something you would be hesitant to tell your younger self?

PS. We took ten years off from writing fanfic. It was okay. Don't be too upset about that and be better than I was and take the advice above to heart.

PPS. I know the AC forum is awesome (or will be when you get there), but don't write every dumb comment that comes into your head. You sound like a bit of a loud airhead. Stay on topic more and let people who post threads control their direction.

PPPS. You did not marry Nick Carter. The universe can only do so much. If you want us to marry Nick Carter, you have to be more specific.

Alternatively, is there anything you wish your younger self could tell you from way back when?

To Old Dee: Boo! You suck!

I'm kidding. I wish younger me could tell me all the great but unpursued ideas I had back in the day. I'm sure there were actually a lot of gems, but they were not documented very well.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 19, 2021, 11:04:41 PM
Aww, I love all of the above, but this made me laugh:

PPS. I know the AC forum is awesome (or will be when you get there), but don't write every dumb comment that comes into your head. You sound like a bit of a loud airhead. Stay on topic more and let people who post threads control their direction.

PPPS. You did not marry Nick Carter. The universe can only do so much. If you want us to marry Nick Carter, you have to be more specific.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 19, 2021, 11:12:57 PM
Haha, I tried, if nothing else, to make all of us laugh.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 20, 2021, 10:11:32 PM
Anyone else a jerk to their characters just for fun?

Nick kept trying to talk and kept getting interrupted. And he eventually: Nick threw his hands up and huffed, then crossed his arms and hunched his shoulders while glowering at her.

Because that's how I feel when he does it to me, haha.

Feels weird to be MIA today. Had to finish my edit for my update.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 20, 2021, 10:13:02 PM
I wondered where you were.  Glad you've been productive!

And yes... I love messing with my characters just for fun LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 20, 2021, 10:35:28 PM
Oh yes, I got behind on my PNecklace edit for this week because I ended up in the rabbit hole of a few older threads yesterday, haha. Had to catch up and ended up changing around a few more things than I thought  I would.

It's funny when they can react in a big way. I don't mess with Kevin or Howie much for instance, because they're not really big reactors. Mostly just Nick and AJ.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 12:10:22 AM
Julie, how does day two of being all done feel?

I will ponder more writing questions for tomorrow!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 05:26:22 PM
More questions!

What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?

Tell us something semi-ridiculous you do while writing that if someone walked in on would be very confusing for them.

When you're writing, how are you picturing the story? Is it just words on a page? A movie? How do you think this helps or hinders your writing?

What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write?

Not a question or an answer, but I can tell that these last five chapters are going to have some "fun" word salad moments.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 21, 2021, 05:29:54 PM
Julie, how does day two of being all done feel?

I will ponder more writing questions for tomorrow!

Great!  I started rereading it from the beginning last night to see if there's anything important from earlier in the story that I forgot to reference or resolve in the end.  Already found a small continuity error to fix - Kevin broke his phone earlier in the story and was then using said phone toward the end.  Nope, can't do that, Kevy Kev.  This is the nice part of my having gained the willpower to not impulsively post the last five chapters all at once just because I'm done... I can actually take my time to go back and look at it as a whole when editing.

How many more chapters of PBox do you have to edit at this point?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 05:46:56 PM
Great!  I started rereading it from the beginning last night to see if there's anything important from earlier in the story that I forgot to reference or resolve in the end.  Already found a small continuity error to fix - Kevin broke his phone earlier in the story and was then using said phone toward the end.  Nope, can't do that, Kevy Kev.  This is the nice part of my having gained the willpower to not impulsively post the last five chapters all at once just because I'm done... I can actually take my time to go back and look at it as a whole when editing.

How many more chapters of PBox do you have to edit at this point?

I hate when I do that too. I'm editing chapter 46 right now and paused to cursory edit 41-45, only to realize that I'd just not mentioned what happened to anyone's swords when they no longer had them in chapter 46. So I was grateful to be able to go back and fix that before posting. Glad Kevin can no longer magic a perfectly functioning phone out of hammerspace, haha.

Four chapters and 3.5 pages left. I'm hoping to finish those 3.5 pages today and maybe get a chunk of the next chapter done. It dawned on me during this editing that if I had originally decided to focus on two characters doing the fighting, then everyone else did ... nothing. :shrug: Which is uncharacterist ic for them. So I've slowly had to add in either *something* or a cop out like "They were enclosed in one of Brian's barriers." Thank goodness for Brian having the power to seal everyone off so I can just focus on AJ or Howie like I did originally without it seeming out of character!

Except Nick, of course, is like, "To hell with that, I hate every minute of this not doing something!" So he gets to do fun things like:

Nick glanced at him, then started trying to walk toward him, but AJ pulled him back. Nick clenched his fist and gnashed his teeth, then whirled on AJ and forcefully poked him in the chest before he started gesturing toward God largely and wildly with his hands. He continued opening his mouth as though he spoke, but no sound came out.

and

As Kevin and Brian are clearly having a calm conversation about the emerald demons' powers: Meanwhile, Nick pounded on the barrier with his fists and appeared to be shouting.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 21, 2021, 05:59:19 PM
What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?
I guess the airport?  I know that's not that weird, but I'm not comfortable writing in public, so that was a stretch for me.  That was during one of my daily writing streaks for A Heart That Isn't Mine in 2019, and I was at like 50-something days of writing in a row and determined not to break it when I went to LA with Rose, so I wrote a little bit on my phone at the airport to keep the streak alive.


Tell us something semi-ridiculous you do while writing that if someone walked in on would be very confusing for them.
I get up and pace a lot, especially when I'm writing something that makes me uncomfortable.  I'll just randomly get up and wander into another room, then come back and get back at it.  There's no real rhyme or reason to it, and I don't even realize I'm doing it half the time.

Sometimes I act things out when I'm trying to figure out how to describe them or if what I'm describing is even possible.  For example, Brian broke his ankle in Bethlehem, and I was trying to describe him getting out of a recliner quickly on one leg.  I was having a hard time describing it the right way, so I sat down in my armchair with my feet up on an ottoman and practiced jumping up on one foot.  Dumb stuff like that LOL.  I know I've told this story here before, but my favorite was when I drove my car out onto a rural road in the middle of the night, parked it next to a cornfield, and climbed out of my moonroof just to make sure that a plausible means of escape for a scene from Song for the Undead.  I wanted to try it myself, but I didn't want other people in my apartment complex to see me doing that in the parking lot LOL.


When you're writing, how are you picturing the story? Is it just words on a page? A movie? How do you think this helps or hinders your writing?

I picture it in my head like a movie.  It helps me describe it better.  And when that doesn't work, I act it out myself, like I said above LOL.


What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write?

My favorite scenes are usually the ones with a lot of dialogue.  I love emotional conversations.  I also love brotherly banter scenes with the guys just joking around with each other.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 21, 2021, 06:03:31 PM
Four chapters and 3.5 pages left. I'm hoping to finish those 3.5 pages today and maybe get a chunk of the next chapter done. It dawned on me during this editing that if I had originally decided to focus on two characters doing the fighting, then everyone else did ... nothing. :shrug: Which is uncharacterist ic for them. So I've slowly had to add in either *something* or a cop out like "They were enclosed in one of Brian's barriers." Thank goodness for Brian having the power to seal everyone off so I can just focus on AJ or Howie like I did originally without it seeming out of character!

Except Nick, of course, is like, "To hell with that, I hate every minute of this not doing something!" So he gets to do fun things like:

Nick glanced at him, then started trying to walk toward him, but AJ pulled him back. Nick clenched his fist and gnashed his teeth, then whirled on AJ and forcefully poked him in the chest before he started gesturing toward God largely and wildly with his hands. He continued opening his mouth as though he spoke, but no sound came out.

and

As Kevin and Brian are clearly having a calm conversation about the emerald demons' powers: Meanwhile, Nick pounded on the barrier with his fists and appeared to be shouting.

Yay for you!  You're so close!

That is one of the hardest parts of writing group stories - trying to keep things balanced between the five guys and make sure they all have something to do in a scene.  I'm sure it's even more challenging in an action scene because you want to give them all action, but don't want to slow down the scene too much describing what they're all doing in too much detail.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 06:11:20 PM
Yay for you!  You're so close!

That is one of the hardest parts of writing group stories - trying to keep things balanced between the five guys and make sure they all have something to do in a scene.  I'm sure it's even more challenging in an action scene because you want to give them all action, but don't want to slow down the scene too much describing what they're all doing in too much detail.

Thanks for the yay. ;D So close, but so far! Those four chapters are 51 pages worth of stuff, so it will take some time. I'm a little worried about what editing the next chapter will look like because that was the one that spurred the original PBox six month update hiatus. I'm hoping it's not as bad because it's just already all there.

I'm prone to splitting them up just so I have less characters to worry about, to be honest. Which is fun with PBox because it definitely falls into the "loads and loads of characters" syndrome and only gets worse as time goes on.

Like I said, thank goodness for Brian -- best unintentional cop-out ever! I figure it's like a movie with a fight scene, you're either jumping between focuses or really zoomed in on one piece of it and the rest is just blurry background noise.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 06:19:57 PM
I realized that I kept writing "same" to so much of this, so just know that I nodded along exuberantly and have only kept parts I wanted to specifically comment on.

What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?
I guess the airport?  I know that's not that weird, but I'm not comfortable writing in public, so that was a stretch for me.  That was during one of my daily writing streaks for A Heart That Isn't Mine in 2019, and I was at like 50-something days of writing in a row and determined not to break it when I went to LA with Rose, so I wrote a little bit on my phone at the airport to keep the streak alive.

I think it's fine as long as you're not acting things out in the airport. The amount of times my husband has walked in on me clenching a fist to various degrees of clenched is high. At least he always asks if I'm okay and then says "Oh, you're writing again." He's stopped asking questions, haha.

50-something is a lot in row! Did you write on the trip too or did that break the streak?

I know I've told this story here before, but my favorite was when I drove my car out onto a rural road in the middle of the night, parked it next to a cornfield, and climbed out of my moonroof just to make sure that a plausible means of escape for a scene from Song for the Undead.  I wanted to try it myself, but I didn't want other people in my apartment complex to see me doing that in the parking lot LOL.

I have not heard that story and I laughed so hard! I hope you were kind to yourself and left the door unlocked so that you didn't have to climb back in through the moonroof.

Also knowing this, maybe you did have to restrain yourself from acting things out at the airport, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 21, 2021, 06:34:45 PM
LMAO Don't worry, I'm not that weird!

I did write on the trip, but only a sentence or so on my phone at night just so I could say I wrote something LOL.

LOL Your husband's gotten used to it, huh?  It's probably better than he not ask questions.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 06:36:24 PM
Should have answered first so I didn't keep writing "what Julie said" below.

What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?

So I asked this question because today was a late arrival day for my students, so I had an hour to myself to kill and nothing work-related to catch up on (what a weird world!), so I went back into my editing with a watchful eye on the door because can't have the kids suddenly appear behind me and ask "Who stabbed what with a sword?"

Tell us something semi-ridiculous you do while writing that if someone walked in on would be very confusing for them.

I am also a pacer. I've spent many years with Nick in my head and I know that if I stare too long at something, but feel focused, it means he has something to say in particular. I used to type a million different versions until I settled on the right one, but as time's gone on, I usually opt to mill it around in my brain instead. So I pace while he thinks and I've been able to cut it down to maybe three rewrites tops, but usually just a long pause and one pass through initially. Sometimes he'll want it changed for an edit, but I figure that's all part of the editing process. And even saying this out loud to someone that didn't write would doubly add to the semi-ridiculousness of this. Writers get it, people who only read or watch things do not.

I also act things out, but have no good stories like Julie's moonroof. I do have a lot of things bookmarked for stories that are also pretty weird. Pages of "parts of weapons" diagrams and also youtube videos about albatrosses. Admittedly, the physics in PBox is still a little wibbly.

When you're writing, how are you picturing the story? Is it just words on a page? A movie? How do you think this helps or hinders your writing?

Definitely like a movie, but I always think in terms of dialogue first. I always feel like the best way to showcase characters is when they speak and how they interact. But if I get stuck on whatever their bodies are doing, I'll doodle. It happened in my "Wishes" edit where I just went, wait how did they sit next to each other? Something so mundane, but I had to doodle it out to get it straight in my head.

What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write?

Definitely the banter and bonding. Dialogue snippets. I've enjoyed getting into everyone's individual head lately. That was a fun experience.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 06:46:39 PM
LMAO Don't worry, I'm not that weird!

I did write on the trip, but only a sentence or so on my phone at night just so I could say I wrote something LOL.

LOL Your husband's gotten used to it, huh?  It's probably better than he not ask questions.

I'm glad you at least wrote something to keep the streak alive! Five words is still five words and Rose would obviously be sympathetic to the streak.

I always feel kind of weird writing at airports too, but it's less the writing aspect and more that people at airports (or any kind of prolonged travel situation) tend to be nosy about strangers. I hate people looking over my shoulder as I write or read, especially if they were like "Huh... demons with magic powers... okay?" I think I would die a little if someone said that to me out loud while I was physically typing.

Unless, in 00Carter, Nick has to get from terminal A to terminal E in Atlanta's airport in 15 minutes or less. That might be the only thing I would act out in an airport because people would just think "Oh, they're really late for their connecting flight." I used Atlanta specifically because it's practically impossible (I've attempted it), but I know O'Hare is similar in that respect as well.

You know, he's had kind of a whirlwind life since Nick and AJ were both on celebrity competition shows at the same time. He adapts pretty quickly, haha. He keeps begging me to write him into my story in his dream cameo scenario: He's sitting at the bar drinking a beer and singing along to "We Built This City" on the touchtunes jukebox and the characters just come in and do whatever. And I tried to explain to him that of all those things, "beer" and "a bar-like establishment" are the only things that might exist in universe. So then he moved on to "Fine just at a random gas station," which again don't exist per se. So after I shot down those two things, he pretty much gave up asking about it. He's not one for fantasy, though he did like GOT, but probably more for the sex and history aspects than the dragons and more fantasy races.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 21, 2021, 07:08:21 PM
What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?

So I asked this question because today was a late arrival day for my students, so I had an hour to myself to kill and nothing work-related to catch up on (what a weird world!), so I went back into my editing with a watchful eye on the door because can't have the kids suddenly appear behind me and ask "Who stabbed what with a sword?"

I'm impressed!  I don't think I would ever be able to focus enough to work on a fanfic at work.

I do have a lot of things bookmarked for stories that are also pretty weird. Pages of "parts of weapons" diagrams and also youtube videos about albatrosses.

Haha, same with the weird stuff bookmarked.  Although not albatrosses... now I wanna look up videos of albatrosses.  Aww, here's a video of an albatross mating dance!  https://youtu.be/SFwgCh1hh4U  Albatrosses are adorable!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 21, 2021, 07:14:28 PM
I'm glad you at least wrote something to keep the streak alive! Five words is still five words and Rose would obviously be sympathetic to the streak.

I always feel kind of weird writing at airports too, but it's less the writing aspect and more that people at airports (or any kind of prolonged travel situation) tend to be nosy about strangers. I hate people looking over my shoulder as I write or read, especially if they were like "Huh... demons with magic powers... okay?" I think I would die a little if someone said that to me out loud while I was physically typing.

Unless, in 00Carter, Nick has to get from terminal A to terminal E in Atlanta's airport in 15 minutes or less. That might be the only thing I would act out in an airport because people would just think "Oh, they're really late for their connecting flight." I used Atlanta specifically because it's practically impossible (I've attempted it), but I know O'Hare is similar in that respect as well.

LOL This is why I got it out of the way at the airport and not on the plane.  Impossible to get away from prying eyes on a plane!

Oh yeah, I would act that out in an airport too LOL.  Atlanta and O'Hare are both crazy big and busy.  I have definitely done the "run through the airport to get on your connecting flight before they close the door" at O'Hare.

I'm glad you at least wrote something to keep the streak alive! Five words is still five words and Rose would obviously be sympathetic to the streak.

I always feel kind of weird writing at airports too, but it's less the writing aspect and more that people at airports (or any kind of prolonged travel situation) tend to be nosy about strangers. I hate people looking over my shoulder as I write or read, especially if they were like "Huh... demons with magic powers... okay?" I think I would die a little if someone said that to me out loud while I was physically typing.

Unless, in 00Carter, Nick has to get from terminal A to terminal E in Atlanta's airport in 15 minutes or less. That might be the only thing I would act out in an airport because people would just think "Oh, they're really late for their connecting flight." I used Atlanta specifically because it's practically impossible (I've attempted it), but I know O'Hare is similar in that respect as well.

You know, he's had kind of a whirlwind life since Nick and AJ were both on celebrity competition shows at the same time. He adapts pretty quickly, haha. He keeps begging me to write him into my story in his dream cameo scenario: He's sitting at the bar drinking a beer and singing along to "We Built This City" on the touchtunes jukebox and the characters just come in and do whatever. And I tried to explain to him that of all those things, "beer" and "a bar-like establishment" are the only things that might exist in universe. So then he moved on to "Fine just at a random gas station," which again don't exist per se. So after I shot down those two things, he pretty much gave up asking about it. He's not one for fantasy, though he did like GOT, but probably more for the sex and history aspects than the dragons and more fantasy races.

Aww LOL.  Someday you'll have to include that scene in a story in which it is possible.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 07:24:23 PM
I'm impressed!  I don't think I would ever be able to focus enough to work on a fanfic at work.

Haha, same with the weird stuff bookmarked.  Although not albatrosses... now I wanna look up videos of albatrosses.  Aww, here's a video of an albatross mating dance!  https://youtu.be/SFwgCh1hh4U  Albatrosses are adorable!

I'm in kind of a weird hole where I don't really interact with people outside my classroom much, and especially more now with COVID, so it was pretty much dead silence for an hour.

It's mostly because albatrosses are large, like people with wings would be, so more similar physics-wise than a bat even though they have bat-like wings. Honestly I can probably explain it all away with *MAGIC* but the physics of a running start is nice, when I remember to use it. The amount of times they all just basketball player jump would never actually work.  :shrug: You're welcome for sending you on an albatross time suck!

LOL This is why I got it out of the way at the airport and not on the plane.  Impossible to get away from prying eyes on a plane!

Oh yeah, I would act that out in an airport too LOL.  Atlanta and O'Hare are both crazy big and busy.  I have definitely done the "run through the airport to get on your connecting flight before they close the door" at O'Hare.

Aww LOL.  Someday you'll have to include that scene in a story in which it is possible.

I've also written on a plane, but it's typically work-related. Can't think of the last time I tried working on a novel on an airplane, but I know people on the bus would constantly bother me.

Well, now we all just have to race through the airport as fast as we can and see who wins!

Someday. Next time I do more urban fantasy, I suppose. Maybe there's a place for his cameo in the "Nick is Brian's guardian angel" one.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 08:29:26 PM
I need a support group for ellipses abuse.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 21, 2021, 08:43:40 PM
More questions!

What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?

I do still write on my phone from time to time, so I can pretty much write anywhere, and I have lol. I wrote while on my cruise in 2019 up on the Lido deck at like 3 in the morning because I couldn’t sleep that night. this wasn’t a BSB cruise but I got some pizza from the pizza bar and then went to write. I’ve written on the train to NYC a couple times. On buses.

Tell us something semi-ridiculous you do while writing that if someone walked in on would be very confusing for them.

Sometimes I read out loud after I’ve written a paragraph to see how it sounds, because sometimes I make grammar errors and that is how I catch them.

When you're writing, how are you picturing the story? Is it just words on a page? A movie? How do you think this helps or hinders your writing?

Sometimes I’ll picture it like a movie depending on what it is that I’m writing. I think it can help because it helps get the emotions across when I am describing something.

What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write?

I love banter too. Comedy scenes and angst are my favorite.

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 21, 2021, 08:44:30 PM
I’ve also worked on writing while I’m at work, usually while I’m on break or something.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 09:05:17 PM
What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?

I do still write on my phone from time to time, so I can pretty much write anywhere, and I have lol.

I will write on my phone if a snippit comes to me and I'm not near my computer, but I won't sit down to write a whole chapter or scene unless I can type on a keyboard. Swipe is not my friend and I can type properly faster than I can swipe anyway. Do you just write snippits or entire chapters on your phone?

Tell us something semi-ridiculous you do while writing that if someone walked in on would be very confusing for them.

Sometimes I read out loud after I’ve written a paragraph to see how it sounds, because sometimes I make grammar errors and that is how I catch them.

I read aloud to myself all the time. Sometimes it just hits better it you hear it. If it's focused a lot on one of the internal monologues of the Boys, I like to use that text to speech reader I mentioned earlier because they have male voices.

Speaking of, when you're reading fanfics, do you just read them in your inner voice or do you hear an approximation of the Boys' voices in your head if they're speaking?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 09:13:12 PM
OMG, I just told my husband that I was writing a really emotional death scene and had to get back to work. The look on his face was sheer pricelessness. He will definitely never ask me about my writing ever again.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 21, 2021, 09:16:14 PM
 I've written entire chapters on my phone.

Figured You Out and Finding Carter, were novels I wrote entirely on my blackberry phone. Plus most of my Nick and Amanda series was written completely mobile too.




I will write on my phone if a snippit comes to me and I'm not near my computer, but I won't sit down to write a whole chapter or scene unless I can type on a keyboard. Swipe is not my friend and I can types properly faster than I can swipe anyway. Do you just write snippits or entire chapters on your phone?

I read aloud to myself all the time. Sometimes it just hits better it you hear it. If it's focused a lot on one of the internal monologues of the Boys, I like to use that text to speech reader I mentioned earlier because they have male voices.

Speaking of, when you're reading fanfics, do you just read them in your inner voice or do you hear an approximation of the Boys' voices in your head if they're speaking?

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 09:19:28 PM
I've written entire chapters on my phone.

Figured You Out and Finding Carter, were novels I wrote entirely on my blackberry phone. Plus most of my Nick and Amanda series was written completely mobile too.

Oh man! How is that? Does your phone have a little keyboard attachment? Do your eyes hurt from staring at the tiny screen for so long?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 21, 2021, 09:52:51 PM
It was so hard. Cause I didn't have Google docs then. So what I had to do was write it out in my yahoo email drafts then copy and paste it to AC. It's why a lot of those chapters are only 1,000 to 1,100 ish words long and are very short. My hands would hurt if I typed for top long. It's a lot easier with Google docs and the touch screen phone.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 09:54:55 PM
Are you still writing most of your work via mobile? Color me impressed, essentially! That's a labor of love for sure.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 10:06:45 PM
Describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically.

This is my new favorite game. Couldn't decide again, but have to go with either:

"Taking a six month hiatus!" or "You shouldn't have [spoiler]died, Brian[/spoiler]!"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 21, 2021, 10:33:49 PM

I write maybe 50/50 now. Sometimes I'll still write on my phone if I don't feel like getting my iPad out.


Are you still writing most of your work via mobile? Color me impressed, essentially! That's a labor of love for sure.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 10:59:05 PM
I tried writing on my tablet and I hated it for anything long term. It's just too small. I'm very pleased to have a laptop again.

Would you say you use the phone or laptop for different types of writing or just a "mood" thing?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 21, 2021, 11:07:25 PM
If I'm home I prefer using the iPad because I have a Bluetooth keyboard for it so it's like a laptop. I also have a laptop that I use mostly for gaming, but I like writing on the iPad more. Not sure why that is, I think i just like the keyboard that I use.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 21, 2021, 11:17:54 PM
I think keyboard has a lot to do with it. Getting a keyboard for my tablet was a game changer! But, now I barely use it at all. Now if I could have a huge screen for my laptop, that would be awesome! Maybe someday, I'll be one of those people with multiple monitors, except it won't be for games, it will be for writing, research, and maybe rabbit holes.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 05:33:31 PM
Speaking of, when you're reading fanfics, do you just read them in your inner voice or do you hear an approximation of the Boys' voices in your head if they're speaking?

I hear an approximation of the Boys' voices, at least for the dialogue.  That's how I decide if it sounds like something they would say or not.  I think that's why dialogue is so important and why we've all said we enjoy banter.  The dialogue is what makes the characters believable and, in our case, recognizable as the Boys.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 05:34:00 PM
OMG, I just told my husband that I was writing a really emotional death scene and had to get back to work. The look on his face was sheer pricelessness. He will definitely never ask me about my writing ever again.

Hahaha!!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 05:48:54 PM
Tracy, I still don't know how you wrote whole novels on your phone.  That is dedication!  I do most of my writing on my Chromebook, occasionally on my desktop, and only very rarely on my phone - like Dee said, if I have an idea while I'm not near a computer or am trying to keep a writing streak going but too lazy to actually sit down at a computer and write for real LOL.

I thought of a new answer to the "Weirdest place you've written" question.  I don't know if it's really weird or not, but I love writing in the shower.  I do my best thinking in the shower, so I often write in my head, but I keep a set of bathtub crayons on hand for when I get on a roll or come up with a line so good I need to write it down before I forget it.  I have scribbled whole paragraphs across my shower walls, which end up looking like the ramblings of a raving lunatic LOL - good thing I live alone.  I also once used voice-to-text to dictate Brian's speech in the last chapter of AHTIM to my Chromebook while I was showering because I was on such a roll, but needed to get ready for work LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 07:07:11 PM
I hear an approximation of the Boys' voices, at least for the dialogue.  That's how I decide if it sounds like something they would say or not.  I think that's why dialogue is so important and why we've all said we enjoy banter.  The dialogue is what makes the characters believable and, in our case, recognizable as the Boys.

Sometimes Kevin and Howie get a little off in my head, then I watch an interview or something to get back on track. Maybe that's why they scream in my head less.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 07:12:00 PM
but too lazy to actually sit down at a computer and write for real LOL.

It's why I wrote two words on my husband's birthday. I've actually written something down, either new or via editing every day since November 1st. Not sure how long I can keep this pace up, but for now, go me!

I thought of a new answer to the "Weirdest place you've written" question.  I don't know if it's really weird or not, but I love writing in the shower.  I do my best thinking in the shower, so I often write in my head, but I keep a set of bathtub crayons on hand for when I get on a roll or come up with a line so good I need to write it down before I forget it.  I have scribbled whole paragraphs across my shower walls, which end up looking like the ramblings of a raving lunatic LOL - good thing I live alone.  I also once used voice-to-text to dictate Brian's speech in the last chapter of AHTIM to my Chromebook while I was showering because I was on such a roll, but needed to get ready for work LOL.

I love that you have bathtub crayons! I don't write in the shower because I think my hand would cramp up. However, I definitely brainstorm in the shower! Any time I'm puzzling over something or if Nick's being a dick about something, if I need to shower and pacing hasn't worked, I'll usually shower. I have repeated a few things to myself so I can remember them as soon as I get out and write them down then.

Work is the worst. We should get paid to write fanfics. Did I ever say that I wished I was majoring in fanfics in college? Because that would have been awesome. I would have gotten so much more done!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 08:34:13 PM
It's why I wrote two words on my husband's birthday. I've actually written something down, either new or via editing every day since November 1st. Not sure how long I can keep this pace up, but for now, go me!

I love that you have bathtub crayons! I don't write in the shower because I think my hand would cramp up. However, I definitely brainstorm in the shower! Any time I'm puzzling over something or if Nick's being a dick about something, if I need to shower and pacing hasn't worked, I'll usually shower. I have repeated a few things to myself so I can remember them as soon as I get out and write them down then.

Work is the worst. We should get paid to write fanfics. Did I ever say that I wished I was majoring in fanfics in college? Because that would have been awesome. I would have gotten so much more done!

Good for you!  I've definitely done the thing where I open the story and write exactly one word just so I can stay I kept the writing streak alive LOL.  But every word moves the story forward, and eventually one of those words will spark a sentence that ignites a paragraph that turns into a scene.

Someone gave me the idea to get the bathtub crayons probably 10+ years ago after I was talking about getting ideas in the shower.  I don't use them a lot (I still have the same set I got like 10 years ago LOL), but they're nice for those moments when I really do need to write it down.

Yes!  I would love to get paid for writing fanfics.  Only I wouldn't want it to feel like work.  I'm fine with giving myself deadlines, but I don't want anyone else to set them for me.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 09:12:41 PM
Good for you!  I've definitely done the thing where I open the story and write exactly one word just so I can stay I kept the writing streak alive LOL.  But every word moves the story forward, and eventually one of those words will spark a sentence that ignites a paragraph that turns into a scene.

It feels a little cheap, but it's probably fine as long as it's not a competition or something. If it's just you versus you, write as much or as little as you want.

Someone gave me the idea to get the bathtub crayons probably 10+ years ago after I was talking about getting ideas in the shower.  I don't use them a lot (I still have the same set I got like 10 years ago LOL), but they're nice for those moments when I really do need to write it down.

Yes!  I would love to get paid for writing fanfics.  Only I wouldn't want it to feel like work.  I'm fine with giving myself deadlines, but I don't want anyone else to set them for me.

At least you don't write a lot of murder-based stories, because those shower scrawlings could get a little weird!

No, of course no. It's getting paid to do something you love, so you get a lump sum when you start a story and then another lump sum when it's over. And views and reviews give you incentive bonuses or something.

Then if you decide to start putting out crud to get paid faster, that's on you. ;)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 09:27:37 PM
While I keep writing emotional death scenes, here are some fun random questions for everyone:

How many words can you write in a minute?

What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?

If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

What's your go-to writing snack?

Imagine a world where pet peeves are no longer allowed: Which fanfic pet peeve would be the hardest for you to give up?

Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?

Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 09:40:48 PM
It feels a little cheap, but it's probably fine as long as it's not a competition or something. If it's just you versus you, write as much or as little as you want.

Oh, it definitely felt like cheating, but it at least kept me opening the story every day for months, which made me more productive in the long run.

At least you don't write a lot of murder-based stories, because those shower scrawlings could get a little weird!

LOL They definitely get weird.  I technically killed Nick on the wall of the shower in my old apartment.  It's most fun when I write in red, and then it looks like blood as the water makes the letters run.  I may have had "Redrum" scrawled on the wall of said apartment shower for months just for fun and then had a hard time getting it off when it was time to move LOL.

No, of course no. It's getting paid to do something you love, so you get a lump sum when you start a story and then another lump sum when it's over. And views and reviews give you incentive bonuses or something.

Then if you decide to start putting out crud to get paid faster, that's on you. ;)

Yes!  That sounds like a perfect way to do it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 09:46:32 PM
Oh, it definitely felt like cheating, but it at least kept me opening the story every day for months, which made me more productive in the long run.

I've actually liked writing every day again. So I may keep trying, just to see what happens. Now if I could be better about other habits this way, haha. I complained about that to my husband and he said, "Sounds like an easy way to be an alcoholic." Clearly I meant going on a walk every day or something, Nick...  ::)

LOL They definitely get weird.  I technically killed Nick on the wall of the shower in my old apartment.  It's most fun when I write in red, and then it looks like blood as the water makes the letters run.  I may have had "Redrum" scrawled on the wall of said apartment shower for months just for fun and then had a hard time getting it off when it was time to move LOL.

I was hoping you had something like redrum or nivekllik on your wall with the letters running (and it's a joy knowing it's true), but I'm sure those are impossible to clean if you leave them up too long!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 10:09:32 PM
So I got stuck trying to make Nick turn Minako when he's standing behind her and doodling did not help, so I made my husband act it out with me with only the information "We're standing like this and you want me to turn around, but you can't tell me that. What do you do?" I've forced him to get involved in my writing, oh no! Except I walked down and said: "I need your help, I have a question!" And his answer was "No, I don't like AJ." "What?" "I thought you were going to ask me who my least favorite Backstreet Boy was and I don't know the other three." "Kevin, Brian, and Howie..." "Howie? Oh yeah, **** him." "Aww, Howie!  :(" "Was that the wrong answer? Are you still killing people in your book, maybe you should kill Howie." "Aww, Howie! :( I'm not killing Backstreet Boys..."

Yes I am. He knows! He's been reading it while I'm sleeping or something.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 10:14:16 PM
I've actually liked writing every day again. So I may keep trying, just to see what happens. Now if I could be better about other habits this way, haha. I complained about that to my husband and he said, "Sounds like an easy way to be an alcoholic." Clearly I meant going on a walk every day or something, Nick...  ::)

I like it when I'm inspired.  I don't like it when it feels forced.  But forcing it is part of the process sometimes.  I did not set a resolution to write every day this year, but I've been writing every weekend for a while now, so it will feel weird not to tomorrow.  Or maybe I will?  I haven't decided if I'm going to try or just take a break for at least one weekend.  We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

I, too, wish I could be better at sticking with other habits, like working out LOL.

I was hoping you had something like redrum or nivekllik on your wall with the letters running (and it's a joy knowing it's true), but I'm sure those are impossible to clean if you leave them up too long!

You know it!  But yeah, I have learned to quickly type up what I wrote or at least take a picture and then wipe it off because otherwise it will stain.  It runs so much, it gets hard to read pretty quickly anyway.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 10:16:11 PM
So I got stuck trying to make Nick turn Minako when he's standing behind her and doodling did not help, so I made my husband act it out with me with only the information "We're standing like this and you want me to turn around, but you can't tell me that. What do you do?" I've forced him to get involved in my writing, oh no! Except I walked down and said: "I need your help, I have a question!" And his answer was "No, I don't like AJ." "What?" "I thought you were going to ask me who my least favorite Backstreet Boy was and I don't know the other three." "Kevin, Brian, and Howie..." "Howie? Oh yeah, **** him." "Aww, Howie!  :(" "Was that the wrong answer? Are you still killing people in your book, maybe you should kill Howie." "Aww, Howie! :( I'm not killing Backstreet Boys..."

Yes I am. He knows! He's been reading it while I'm sleeping or something.

LMAO!!  Your husband cracks me up.  I love that you get him to act out parts of your fanfic for you without him knowing any details LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 10:22:17 PM
I like it when I'm inspired.  I don't like it when it feels forced.  But forcing it is part of the process sometimes.  I did not set a resolution to write every day this year, but I've been writing every weekend for a while now, so it will feel weird not to tomorrow.  Or maybe I will?  I haven't decided if I'm going to try or just take a break for at least one weekend.  We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

I, too, wish I could be better at sticking with other habits, like working out LOL.

Let me know how it goes! But I think if you decide to take a break, you've definitely earned it. I feel like if I stop writing every day, it will feel a little weird now that it's just a thing I've been doing.

Same on the exercise. I need to be much more consistent about it than I am. The lock downs definitely derailed any consistency I had with that.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 10:30:09 PM
LMAO!!  Your husband cracks me up.  I love that you get him to act out parts of your fanfic for you without him knowing any details LOL.

He's one of those "man of few words" types unless he knows you really well, then he's pretty chatty. Everyone's always surprised when he audibly laughs, for instance. I tell him everything, but I know he would make so much fun of me if I said I was writing BSB fanfics again, let alone BSB fanfics in the fantasy genre and I'm not quite ready for that loving teasing yet. However, he'll always help me with whatever, so it's nice to know he's a willing participant when it requires minimal effort. Now we gotta go climb out a moonroof or something! haha!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 11:14:08 PM
Ooh, these are fun!

How many words can you write in a minute?

According to the typing test I just took, I can type 110 words per minute at 100% accuracy. (https://www.typingtest.com/result.html?acc=100&nwpm=110&gwpm=110&ncpm=554&gcpm=554&dur=60&time=60&chksum=55413&unit=wpm&kh=998&td=null&err=0&hits=554&textfile=mediumText.txt)  So I guess technically, that's how many words I can write in a minute.  How many words do I write in a minute when I'm actually writing fanfic?  Maybe 3-5 on average? LOL


What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?

Oh jeez.  I don't even know.  I took a look through my story research bookmarks because I have them all saved dating back to BMS, and here are a few of the weirder or more random ones:
- Stained glass cremation urns
- How much caffeine it would take to kill you (https://www.caffeineinformer.com/death-by-caffeine)
- Florida crops in season
- Slapped cheek syndrome
- How to do a peritoneal tap to drain ascites fluid
- Medical Student Curriculum: Bladder Drainage
- Smalleye hammerhead shark
- How to milk a cow using a milking machine
- Skunk Ape Research Headquarters
- Parts of a pirate vessel
- How ice rinks work
- Can platypuses kill people?
- Necrophilia
- 9 Dangerous Things in New Hampshire That Could Kill You
- Fog types
- How to Keep Bears Away
- Pee Perimeter


If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

That is a good one and a tough one.  I am not sure right now, but I can tell you my answer from five years ago.  I would ask Nick, "What the hell are you singing before 'dreams' in 'Cherry Pie'?"  "___ dreams... ice cream skin..."  For the life of me, I could not figure out what kind of dreams he was singing about before the physical copy of All American came out and we had the lyrics, and I needed to know for a short story I was writing.  It bugged the crap out of me, and I kept tweeting about it asking people, and no one could answer me.  Then, finally, the album came out, and I got my answer:  virgin.  It's "virgin dreams."  Which I can hear now, but I never would have guessed it then LOL.


Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

I'd rather write only self-insert fanfics as long as they could include all the Backstreet Boys.  I will just make myself a doctor or nurse, since most of my stories feature those characters anyway LOL.


If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

LOL I should try to track this sometime, but my estimate would be 15 minutes refreshing Twitter and this forum, 25 minutes "researching" (a.k.a. looking up something legitimate and then going down a rabbit hole), 15 minutes staring at the page thinking about what words to put on it, and 5 minutes actually typing words on the page.


What's your go-to writing snack?

Don't laugh, but... Oreo-Os.  A.k.a. Oreos for breakfast LMAO.  It's my all-time favorite cereal, and I eat it without milk or a spoon at any time of day.  Just bought a new box this afternoon, so maybe I actually will write something this weekend LOL.


Imagine a world where pet peeves are no longer allowed: Which fanfic pet peeve would be the hardest for you to give up?

The grammatical errors... especially "loose" for "lose," as in "Don't Wanna 'Loose' You Now."  Ahh!!!


Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?

Probably my original favorite:  the Brian heart problem stories.  I read so many of those back in the day, and I've written a few of them too.  Even the first fanfic I read in its entirety on AO3 (just last year) was a Brian heart problem story.  I didn't even know people still wrote that storyline these days, but apparently I'm still a sucker for it.  Sorry, Brian.


Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.

Last new word: Year (the last word of The Road to Bethlehem)
Last word I edited: Howie's
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 22, 2021, 11:20:27 PM
Let me know how it goes! But I think if you decide to take a break, you've definitely earned it. I feel like if I stop writing every day, it will feel a little weird now that it's just a thing I've been doing.

Same on the exercise. I need to be much more consistent about it than I am. The lock downs definitely derailed any consistency I had with that.

I will not feel any guilt if I don't write anything this weekend.  I have an easier time keeping it going when I'm in the middle of a project, but it's different when I'm starting something new.  Part of me wants to start writing the Brian idea I have.  Another part is thinking about trying to write a short story I came up with for the DNA challenge here two years ago and never wrote.  And another part is like, "F that, I'm gonna binge watch TV all weekend and not even open Google Docs!"  But we'll see how I feel once I'm well-rested LOL.

He's one of those "man of few words" types unless he knows you really well, then he's pretty chatty. Everyone's always surprised when he audibly laughs, for instance. I tell him everything, but I know he would make so much fun of me if I said I was writing BSB fanfics again, let alone BSB fanfics in the fantasy genre and I'm not quite ready for that loving teasing yet. However, he'll always help me with whatever, so it's nice to know he's a willing participant when it requires minimal effort. Now we gotta go climb out a moonroof or something! haha!

He sounds like a great guy!  I always wondered how married women managed to keep writing fanfic.  You are lucky he's supportive without being too nosy.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 11:34:44 PM
How many words can you write in a minute?
71 wpm, but with only 90% accuracy! Basically, my brain works faster than my fingers, haha. I will get on testing how many words I type in a minute when writing later.

What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?
The weirdest... Probably when I was trying to poison Nick in PBox! I googled what happens when you drink poison, hated it, then ended up going for something more like what happens if you swallowed venom from animals instead.

If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

I don't have an answer for this one yet either. Maybe getting to ask for an honest and detailed answer about how they feel about how their relationships with each of the others have changed over the years, good or bad. I lean toward Nick or Kevin, but I think hearing it from any of them would be really interesting.

Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

Self-insert because I hate writing about the wives!

If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

Uhhh.... I'll answer this when I get back to writing and not editing because it is much easier to distract me from editing.

What's your go-to writing snack?

Popcorn! I put it in a bowl and chomp away. If I get unfocused, I try to toss it in the air and catch it with my mouth. I am not great at that...

Imagine a world where pet peeves are no longer allowed: Which fanfic pet peeve would be the hardest for you to give up?

It's been so long, I can't remember any of mine! And I'm probably guilty of any one else's except for lose/loose. As a dedicated fan, I've got that one on lock down.

Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?

I already admitted it was Kevin carrying Nick up the stairs! I put something similar into PNecklace for a reason and that was my own personal enjoyment! For a bigger plot point, anything that started with a bus crash, especially once they all stopped sharing a bus.

Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.

He caught her, then pulled her up before holding her left shoulder and pressing his palm against her right shoulder, forcing her to turn and face him.

(Clearly I've been really unproductive since begging for my husband's help!)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 11:47:58 PM
Ooh, these are fun!

How many words can you write in a minute?

According to the typing test I just took, I can type 110 words per minute at 100% accuracy.

You're a wizard!

What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?

Oh jeez.  I don't even know.  I took a look through my story research bookmarks because I have them all saved dating back to BMS, and here are a few of the weirder or more random ones:


- Can platypuses kill people?

I love how random these are and that you've saved all of them!  But also, can platypuses kill people?!


If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

That is a good one and a tough one.  I am not sure right now, but I can tell you my answer from five years ago.  I would ask Nick, "What the hell are you singing before 'dreams' in 'Cherry Pie'?"  "___ dreams... ice cream skin..."  Then, finally, the album came out, and I got my answer:  virgin.  It's "virgin dreams."  Which I can hear now, but I never would have guessed it then LOL.

He's the king of words that often sound like they have extra letters, for sure.


Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

I'd rather write only self-insert fanfics as long as they could include all the Backstreet Boys.  I will just make myself a doctor or nurse, since most of my stories feature those characters anyway LOL.


If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

LOL I should try to track this sometime, but my estimate would be 15 minutes refreshing Twitter and this forum, 25 minutes "researching" (a.k.a. looking up something legitimate and then going down a rabbit hole), 15 minutes staring at the page thinking about what words to put on it, and 5 minutes actually typing words on the page.

That Florence Nightingale effect is dreamy, no? But thank goodness we don't live in this would you rather situation.

I asked because I was thinking about it. I don't think it's fair for editing because it's way easier to distract me. But I was like, man, I should put the stopwatch up and do a lap every time I get unfocused.

What's your go-to writing snack?

Don't laugh, but... Oreo-Os.  A.k.a. Oreos for breakfast LMAO.  It's my all-time favorite cereal, and I eat it without milk or a spoon at any time of day.  Just bought a new box this afternoon, so maybe I actually will write something this weekend LOL.

I did laugh really hard. If all it takes to inspire you is a box of oreo-os, I will send you pallets of them.


Imagine a world where pet peeves are no longer allowed: Which fanfic pet peeve would be the hardest for you to give up?

The grammatical errors... especially "loose" for "lose," as in "Don't Wanna 'Loose' You Now."  Ahh!!!


Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?

Probably my original favorite:  the Brian heart problem stories.  I read so many of those back in the day, and I've written a few of them too.  Even the first fanfic I read in its entirety on AO3 (just last year) was a Brian heart problem story.  I didn't even know people still wrote that storyline these days, but apparently I'm still a sucker for it.  Sorry, Brian.

Is a world without pet peeves a post apocalyptic world for you? I knew you would say the grammar.

I think there's still something "special" about writing a medical drama that is based in reality rather than the Nick wheel of torture. Especially if they're something you loved in nostalgic times!


Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.

Last new word: Year (the last word of The Road to Bethlehem)
Last word I edited: Howie's

I have a guess to the last sentence, but you clearly didn't include it for a reason, so I won't say! And yay for Howie getting an edit. I've been editing him a lot lately because he's the most prone to the word salad moments.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 22, 2021, 11:55:13 PM
I will not feel any guilt if I don't write anything this weekend.  I have an easier time keeping it going when I'm in the middle of a project, but it's different when I'm starting something new.  Part of me wants to start writing the Brian idea I have.  Another part is thinking about trying to write a short story I came up with for the DNA challenge here two years ago and never wrote.  And another part is like, "F that, I'm gonna binge watch TV all weekend and not even open Google Docs!"  But we'll see how I feel once I'm well-rested LOL.

He sounds like a great guy!  I always wondered how married women managed to keep writing fanfic.  You are lucky he's supportive without being too nosy.

Starting is always the hardest part for sure. What would you binge watch? Something new or an old favorite?

He is! I think it's easier if you're writing a story and not trying to live out some self-insert fantasy through fanfic. If it's a story, it's just a story about characters who happen to be BSB, you know? Like I said, I think he's mostly just happy that I'm doing something instead of wrapping myself in our burrito blanket and staring at my phone as I binge watch tv. Though I do need to be better about not getting so sucked in while writing and go watch Trevor Noah with him or something without a computer attached. He's braver than I am about leaving the house, so it's just me here on the weekends usually.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 12:13:54 AM
I love how random these are and that you've saved all of them!  But also, can platypuses kill people?!

Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs that can paralyze smaller animals.  It's not strong enough to kill a human directly, but it does cause excruciating pain that can last for months.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus_venom  Just another reason platypuses are awesome!


I did laugh really hard. If all it takes to inspire you is a box of oreo-os, I will send you pallets of them.

True story:  They stopped making Oreo O's everywhere except South Korea in 2007, and I was so devastated, I signed petitions and joined a Facebook group dedicated to bringing them back.  Nothing came of that, so I eventually moved on with my life.  Then, a decade later, I was walking down the cereal aisle at Walmart, and lo and behold, a gleaming blue box of Oreo O's caught my eye.  They were back!  I had no idea!  I was so excited, I literally let out a little squee and fought the urge to jump up and down in the middle of the aisle.  I've tried to keep at least a box or two on hand at all times since then, just in case they disappear again. LOL


I think there's still something "special" about writing a medical drama that is based in reality rather than the Nick wheel of torture. Especially if they're something you loved in nostalgic times!

OMG, I totally forgot to look for the Nick wheel of torture at school this week!  Sad panda.  I didn't find it in my garage, so I'm almost positive it's in the storage closet at school.  Must remember to do some digging next week.


I have a guess to the last sentence, but you clearly didn't include it for a reason, so I won't say! And yay for Howie getting an edit. I've been editing him a lot lately because he's the most prone to the word salad moments.

I just didn't wanna give away my whole last line, but you can share your guess!  And yeah, that was me changing a mention of Kevin's phone to Howie's phone, since Kevin's phone broke earlier in the story.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 12:25:25 AM
Starting is always the hardest part for sure. What would you binge watch? Something new or an old favorite?

He is! I think it's easier if you're writing a story and not trying to live out some self-insert fantasy through fanfic. If it's a story, it's just a story about characters who happen to be BSB, you know? Like I said, I think he's mostly just happy that I'm doing something instead of wrapping myself in our burrito blanket and staring at my phone as I binge watch tv. Though I do need to be better about not getting so sucked in while writing and go watch Trevor Noah with him or something without a computer attached. He's braver than I am about leaving the house, so it's just me here on the weekends usually.

I have four more episodes of Snowpiercer to watch so I'm ready for Season 2 to start on Monday, so definitely that.  I also want to watch Bridgerton.

I wondered more about you spending hours and hours working on fanfic instead of hanging out with him or being a productive adult, more than the romantic fantasy aspect of it.  If he has his own hobbies and/or likes to go out and do his own thing, that helps.  I'm just basing this on my own experience of living with no one but a couple of cats.  I love the freedom of being able to literally write all day if I want to without having to answer to anyone, but I always think, "I don't know how I could ever live with another human being again" LOL.  I would need someone with his own nerdy hobbies who didn't ask too many questions about mine.  Your Nick sounds perfect in that respect!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 12:30:21 AM
Male platypuses have venomous spurs on their hind legs that can paralyze smaller animals.  It's not strong enough to kill a human directly, but it does cause excruciating pain that can last for months.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Platypus_venom  Just another reason platypuses are awesome!

So fascinating! Every new thing I've learned about platypuses has been an experience!

True story:  They stopped making Oreo O's everywhere except South Korea in 2007, and I was so devastated, I signed petitions and joined a Facebook group dedicated to bringing them back.  Nothing came of that, so I eventually moved on with my life.  Then, a decade later, I was walking down the cereal aisle at Walmart, and lo and behold, a gleaming blue box of Oreo O's caught my eye.  They were back!  I had no idea!  I was so excited, I literally let out a little squee and fought the urge to jump up and down in the middle of the aisle.  I've tried to keep at least a box or two on hand at all times since then, just in case they disappear again. LOL

I'm cracking up! I wish you had jumped up and down in the middle of the aisle. I do get that excited about things like that and have scared the husband many times with my shrill teeny squeak about something mundane that excited me.

But how would you ration your last box? Would you still like them if they got really stale?

OMG, I totally forgot to look for the Nick wheel of torture at school this week!  Sad panda.  I didn't find it in my garage, so I'm almost positive it's in the storage closet at school.  Must remember to do some digging next week.

I just didn't wanna give away my whole last line, but you can share your guess!  And yeah, that was me changing a mention of Kevin's phone to Howie's phone, since Kevin's phone broke earlier in the story.

Somewhere Nick's sneezing and thinks "Hmm, feels like it's going to be a good weekend for some reason..." And then next week you find it and he just feels doom encroaching on his person and shudders.

I actually have three guesses, so I'll just keep them to myself and tell you if I was right!  ;)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 12:41:21 AM
I have four more episodes of Snowpiercer to watch so I'm ready for Season 2 to start on Monday, so definitely that.  I also want to watch Bridgerton.

This is probably for the tv thread, but I've heard good things about Bridgerton, let me know how it is.

I wondered more about you spending hours and hours working on fanfic instead of hanging out with him or being a productive adult, more than the romantic fantasy aspect of it.  If he has his own hobbies and/or likes to go out and do his own thing, that helps.  I'm just basing this on my own experience of living with no one but a couple of cats.  I love the freedom of being able to literally write all day if I want to without having to answer to anyone, but I always think, "I don't know how I could ever live with another human being again" LOL.  I would need someone with his own nerdy hobbies who didn't ask too many questions about mine.  Your Nick sounds perfect in that respect!

Haha, I went the story aspect and forgot about real life, maybe that's the fantasy I'm living out right now. Lately he's been catching up on Shameless and likes playing the MLB game on his playstation, so he's been happy to have more control of the tv. When we first started dating, I was very busy volunteering for my college's alumni association (basically helping to run a tiny non-profit since that chapter was registered as such), so we've always had our own things that we did in addition to the things we enjoyed doing together. I've stepped back on my volunteering this past year, so this is just like another thing I'm doing to fill my time in the same way as before, just more of a personal hobby than something I'm doing with other people. I've been slightly more reclusive this month now that college football is over, but he's also been going out more for the NFL and traveling for work more frequently. I think maybe after I finish this edit, I might cut back on my days that I do write since I have updates ready through Aprilish at the moment. He's a pretty happy camper if he just gets to sit and do what he likes, he's just not as into creative hobbies as much as he was when he was a kid.

And you say the cats aren't judging how you use your time, but they are always judging.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 23, 2021, 01:50:49 AM
How many words can you write in a minute?

Not a clue. Lol.



What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?

Probably the probability of getting a snake bite while you are peeing. It was for a one shot where Nick got bit by a snake while he was peeing, and had to be rushed to the hospital where he died, not from the snake bite but an earthquake during surgery killed him. Lol



If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

I'd ask Nick how he REALLY feels about Leighanne and to give a detailed description.


Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

Self insert because I can make myself a background character.

If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

Probably 30 mins because I flip between Google docs and Twitter lol

What's your go-to writing snack?

I don't really eat when I'm writing but i do drink my orange Gatorade zero.

Imagine a world where pet peeves are no longer allowed: Which fanfic pet peeve would be the hardest for you to give up?

Uhh I don't think I have one? Lol I don't know.

Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?
 Nick torture. That's it lol. Gimme a story where something happens to him and I'm sold.


Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.

Kevin.

Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 12:14:09 PM
But how would you ration your last box? Would you still like them if they got really stale?

Somewhere Nick's sneezing and thinks "Hmm, feels like it's going to be a good weekend for some reason..." And then next week you find it and he just feels doom encroaching on his person and shudders.

I wouldn't be able to ration it for too long because I definitely can't eat stale Oreo O's.  I would just be really sad if they went away again.  I didn't see any last time I looked for them at Walmart, which made me worried, but I got some at Kroger yesterday.  Yay!

LOL Poor Nick.  Sounds about right!  I remembered I actually have given him flesh-eating bacteria before, in the AC fairy tale challenge we did a while back.  Someone randomly left a comment on it on my site, so I was rereading it and came across that.  No herpes, though... yet.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 12:16:46 PM
This is probably for the tv thread, but I've heard good things about Bridgerton, let me know how it is.

Haha, I went the story aspect and forgot about real life, maybe that's the fantasy I'm living out right now. Lately he's been catching up on Shameless and likes playing the MLB game on his playstation, so he's been happy to have more control of the tv. When we first started dating, I was very busy volunteering for my college's alumni association (basically helping to run a tiny non-profit since that chapter was registered as such), so we've always had our own things that we did in addition to the things we enjoyed doing together. I've stepped back on my volunteering this past year, so this is just like another thing I'm doing to fill my time in the same way as before, just more of a personal hobby than something I'm doing with other people. I've been slightly more reclusive this month now that college football is over, but he's also been going out more for the NFL and traveling for work more frequently. I think maybe after I finish this edit, I might cut back on my days that I do write since I have updates ready through Aprilish at the moment. He's a pretty happy camper if he just gets to sit and do what he likes, he's just not as into creative hobbies as much as he was when he was a kid.

And you say the cats aren't judging how you use your time, but they are always judging.

Sounds like you both have a great balance!  And yeah, my cats totally judge me.  One of them is rubbing her head on me right now as she watches me type this, like "Mama, pay attention to me!"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 12:20:09 PM
Probably the probability of getting a snake bite while you are peeing. It was for a one shot where Nick got bit by a snake while he was peeing, and had to be rushed to the hospital where he died, not from the snake bite but an earthquake during surgery killed him. Lol

LMAO!  I miss 1000 Ways.  It was fun when we first started and had so many different people writing deaths every day.


I'd ask Nick how he REALLY feels about Leighanne and to give a detailed description.

OMG, yes!!  I would pay to see that interview.


Nick torture. That's it lol. Gimme a story where something happens to him and I'm sold.

Yes!!!  This one's still going strong LOL.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 01:00:57 PM
I promised myself that I was going to buckle down and focus on editing while the husband was watching college basketball. So I set myself a stopwatch and I pause it every time I do something that's not writing. And I committed to not popping in here at all until 2pm, but I came to part of my edits, started laughing, and had to share. Even in 2008, I had Brian preaching about politics in PBox... F-in' Brian... I think I always knew...  ::)

2008:

Brian turned his head, examining their surroundings. “It would be nice if that were so. But… Everyone’s ideals face different routes. What I call justice may be thievery or blasphemy to someone else.” He turned back to Lance, “And yet, fighting to reach a world of light... Don’t you think both the living and the dead would appreciate that?”

And now:
Brian glanced around their surroundings. “What I call justice, others may shun as tyranny. Justice is shaped by the world we live in.” He turned back to Lance. “And yet, fighting to reach a world of light for all... Don’t you think both the living and the dead would appreciate that?”

See y'all after 2pm unless I'm four pages from being completely finished or something. I'll catch up on your posts then!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 02:18:11 PM
LOL Oh Brian.  We always knew he was conservative, but until this past administration, I didn't think of "conservative" as necessarily being a bad thing.

I will have to try the stopwatch trick next time I'm actually writing.  I doubt I'm going to do any of that this weekend.  I'm going to update my site and try to finish reading Bethlehem and editing the last few chapters, but I don't think I'll try to start anything new.  (Of course, as I'm typing this, the song "Fallen Angel" pops up on my BSB playlist.  That's also the working title of the Brian idea that might be my next project.  Is that the universe telling me to write? LOL) 

Good luck being productive!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 23, 2021, 02:58:54 PM
I am trying to be productive on Chapter 41. I'm a little stuck at the moment but I am not sure why, I guess I need to go read about where Brian talked about his recovery again because that's what's tripping me up a little bit.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 03:45:41 PM
What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?

Probably the probability of getting a snake bite while you are peeing. It was for a one shot where Nick got bit by a snake while he was peeing, and had to be rushed to the hospital where he died, not from the snake bite but an earthquake during surgery killed him. Lol

I love the twist that he probably would have been fine if it wasn't for a random earthquake, haha.

If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

I'd ask Nick how he REALLY feels about Leighanne and to give a detailed description.

Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

Self insert because I can make myself a background character.

That's a good one! Also you both and your background character self inserts. I guess that's my fault for not specifying that I meant as a love interest. The devil is in the details.

If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

Probably 30 mins because I flip between Google docs and Twitter lol

I wonder if this is why we were all faster when we were younger. The internet was slower, so it took a lot longer to use it as a distraction.

Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?

Nick torture. That's it lol. Gimme a story where something happens to him and I'm sold.

Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.

Kevin.

I think you and a bunch of other people really enjoy Nick torture. Although, is there a lot Nick torture around these days? Have people started being nicer to him? Are we the only sadists left?

I love that you both wrote one of their names most recently.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 03:53:21 PM
I wouldn't be able to ration it for too long because I definitely can't eat stale Oreo O's.  I would just be really sad if they went away again.  I didn't see any last time I looked for them at Walmart, which made me worried, but I got some at Kroger yesterday.  Yay!

LOL Poor Nick.  Sounds about right!  I remembered I actually have given him flesh-eating bacteria before, in the AC fairy tale challenge we did a while back.  Someone randomly left a comment on it on my site, so I was rereading it and came across that.  No herpes, though... yet.

I feel like every week, something different is out at the usual grocery store, but is perfectly fine at a different grocery store. I'm sure they're just restocking. :)

Haha! I picked it because I thought it was too random. Rule 34/BSB fanfic Rule #1, I guess. I wonder if anyone's actually given him herpes because of the mundane and commonality of it... Also the spreadability. .. You can't catch a terminal illness. Although, now I'm wondering, could you catch flesh-eating bacteria from someone else? I guess I'm not really sure how you would get it other than being in contaminated water or something.

Sounds like you both have a great balance!  And yeah, my cats totally judge me.  One of them is rubbing her head on me right now as she watches me type this, like "Mama, pay attention to me!"

We do! Also, pay attention to the cat already if it's judging you and asking for attention!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 03:57:32 PM
LOL Oh Brian.  We always knew he was conservative, but until this past administration, I didn't think of "conservative" as necessarily being a bad thing.

I will have to try the stopwatch trick next time I'm actually writing.  I doubt I'm going to do any of that this weekend.  I'm going to update my site and try to finish reading Bethlehem and editing the last few chapters, but I don't think I'll try to start anything new.  (Of course, as I'm typing this, the song "Fallen Angel" pops up on my BSB playlist.  That's also the working title of the Brian idea that might be my next project.  Is that the universe telling me to write? LOL) 

Good luck being productive!

That must be the universe trying to tell you to write. Up to you whether you heed or ignore the sign!

It was motivating, but I don't know if it was motivating in the right way? It kept me off here, but I was bummed every time I paused it because I needed to think for a minute or get a snack or something. All said though, out of the three hours I committed to, I actively wrote for two of them, plus fifteen minutes because I was half a page out from finishing a chapter. If I can do that three more times this weekend, I'll be golden!

I am trying to be productive on Chapter 41. I'm a little stuck at the moment but I am not sure why, I guess I need to go read about where Brian talked about his recovery again because that's what's tripping me up a little bit.

I hate that "I am stuck" feeling when you can't put your finger on why. I think going to the source for inspiration is a good plan.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 04:06:52 PM
Describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically.

So, editing this past chapter wasn't nearly as bad as writing it the first time (it did not take six months for instance, probably three hours tops if you count the first couple pages where I wasn't focusing at all). I teared up a little while editing the end, so I think my suspicions on why it took so long the first time were correct: I just really didn't want to kill off Brian, but ignored that feeling. Can you imagine if I had ignored Nick's wishes and stuck to my original plan to kill them all? I probably would have never finished PBox! Thank goodness he was really annoying thirty chapters prior, it saved us both a lot of heartache.

Onward!

This chapter's cryptic quip is: "Hashtag Team Howie Forever! Sniff!"

Edited to add: Oh hey, I hit 10,000 posts today. Supreme time waster indeed!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 04:18:09 PM
I wonder if this is why we were all faster when we were younger. The internet was slower, so it took a lot longer to use it as a distraction.

I definitely think that's why.  When I first started writing fanfic, I didn't even have internet in my bedroom (at my parents' house).  I had an old computer I could play games and do homework on, but it wasn't connected to the internet.  The only computer with internet (dial-up) was my mom's computer in the den, where I guess she thought she could better monitor our use of it. Ha!  So I had to do any research I needed ahead of time on her computer, save everything I needed to a floppy disk, delete my history, take it back to my own computer and write offline, then save my updates to the floppy and get back on her computer to post them.  It took a lot of dedication and a bit of stealth, but it definitely made me more productive with the writing part because there weren't any distractions.  Social media is somehow even more distracting than IM was back in the day, and faster internet definitely makes it easier to fall down a rabbit hole.


I think you and a bunch of other people really enjoy Nick torture. Although, is there a lot Nick torture around these days? Have people started being nicer to him? Are we the only sadists left?

That's a good question.  My inclination is to say of course there's still a lot of Nick torture around, but I really haven't read much outside of the AC regulars' stuff in years, so I actually have no idea.  It seems like angst is popular on AO3 (usually slashy angst), but that may be more emotional than physical torture.  I hope we're not the only sadists left.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 04:25:08 PM
I feel like every week, something different is out at the usual grocery store, but is perfectly fine at a different grocery store. I'm sure they're just restocking. :)

Yeah, it has been weird since the great toilet paper shortage of 2020.  At least I've been able to find TP and soap.


Haha! I picked it because I thought it was too random. Rule 34/BSB fanfic Rule #1, I guess. I wonder if anyone's actually given him herpes because of the mundane and commonality of it... Also the spreadability. .. You can't catch a terminal illness. Although, now I'm wondering, could you catch flesh-eating bacteria from someone else? I guess I'm not really sure how you would get it other than being in contaminated water or something.

We do! Also, pay attention to the cat already if it's judging you and asking for attention!

LOL The relatively obscure but terrifying ones are my favorite!  I've given him Ebola and bubonic plague in 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter, but of course the goal there is to be as ridiculous as possible.  I don't think I've ever read a "Nick has herpes" story, nor am I sure I would want to LOL.  Technically I have given him an STD, but it wasn't that one.

I looked up your question about flesh-eating bacteria being contagious because I wasn't completely sure either.  Apparently it could be passed from person to person through close contact, like someone with an open wound touching someone else's infected wound.  Ew...

Don't worry, kitty got plenty of pets.  :cheshire:
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 04:29:10 PM
So, editing this past chapter wasn't nearly as bad as writing it the first time (it did not take six months for instance, probably three hours tops if you count the first couple pages where I wasn't focusing at all). I teared up a little while editing the end, so I think my suspicions on why it took so long the first time were correct: I just really didn't want to kill off Brian, but ignored that feeling. Can you imagine if I had ignored Nick's wishes and stuck to my original plan to kill them all? I probably would have never finished PBox! Thank goodness he was really annoying thirty chapters prior, it saved us both a lot of heartache.

Aww... I have definitely had those subconscious "I don't really want to write this, so I'm going to stall and let myself get distracted" experiences too.  Killing the Boys can be fun, especially in joke stories and challenges, but it can also be really sad in a serious story, even if you know it's the right ending.  Those are the chapters where I do the most pacing.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 04:31:10 PM
I definitely think that's why.  When I first started writing fanfic, I didn't even have internet in my bedroom (at my parents' house).  I had an old computer I could play games and do homework on, but it wasn't connected to the internet.  The only computer with internet (dial-up) was my mom's computer in the den, where I guess she thought she could better monitor our use of it. Ha!

I had the only computer because my mom didn't want one, but we only had one phone line and the computer seemed ancient by that time since it was from her work after they replaced their computers. By the time I got a laptop before going to college, the graphics card was failing and everything was pink or green. We also went spurts without having the internet, so I took all my trusty floppy disks to the library to either upload stories, do research, or save other peoples' stories. I also printed things I thought I would like a paper copy of. It was a dedicated art form. Thank goodness the library computers wiped the history after you logged out of the session, haha.

That's a good question.  My inclination is to say of course there's still a lot of Nick torture around, but I really haven't read much outside of the AC regulars' stuff in years, so I actually have no idea.  It seems like angst is popular on AO3 (usually slashy angst), but that may be more emotional than physical torture.  I hope we're not the only sadists left.

I like for Nick to enjoy both emotional and physical torture! He's a lucky guy!  :-* It feels like more people posted on AC this month, so maybe it'll come back.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 04:37:22 PM
Yeah, it has been weird since the great toilet paper shortage of 2020.  At least I've been able to find TP and soap.

Our saving grace was that I always stock a backup for all paper products and cleaning supplies, so that one didn't affect us too much! Although when we tried to stock the backups back, it was a bit of an adventure for a while.


LOL The relatively obscure but terrifying ones are my favorite!  I've given him Ebola and bubonic plague in 1000 Ways to Kill Nick Carter, but of course the goal there is to be as ridiculous as possible.  I don't think I've ever read a "Nick has herpes" story, nor am I sure I would want to LOL.  Technically I have given him an STD, but it wasn't that one.

I looked up your question about flesh-eating bacteria being contagious because I wasn't completely sure either.  Apparently it could be passed from person to person through close contact, like someone with an open wound touching someone else's infected wound.  Ew...

Don't worry, kitty got plenty of pets.  :cheshire:

Bubonic plague is a real concern out here every few summers because of the prairie dogs! It's the mundaneness, plus the forced sexual content bit, I think. Ridiculous is more fun!

I suppose I could have looked it up too, but didn't want to see pictures, so thank you. I figured it might be something like. Open would will get you every time.

Good. Team pets for pets over here!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 04:41:31 PM
Aww... I have definitely had those subconscious "I don't really want to write this, so I'm going to stall and let myself get distracted" experiences too.  Killing the Boys can be fun, especially in joke stories and challenges, but it can also be really sad in a serious story, even if you know it's the right ending.  Those are the chapters where I do the most pacing.

I think the worst part was, I didn't even realize why it was back then, so I just hated being stuck in writer's block hell and not knowing why. I never even really thought about why and just assumed it was because I was so close to the end and wasn't ready to finish it or something. I honestly don't know if it was the right ending now, but it's the ending I chose and the ending I'd built up toward so I plowed through it. Let's see how editing this next chapter goes!

I mind it less in a joke story, because it's all meant for laughs. But killing off any character in a serious story is serious business, especially a main character.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 23, 2021, 09:46:23 PM
I had the only computer because my mom didn't want one, but we only had one phone line and the computer seemed ancient by that time since it was from her work after they replaced their computers. By the time I got a laptop before going to college, the graphics card was failing and everything was pink or green. We also went spurts without having the internet, so I took all my trusty floppy disks to the library to either upload stories, do research, or save other peoples' stories. I also printed things I thought I would like a paper copy of. It was a dedicated art form. Thank goodness the library computers wiped the history after you logged out of the session, haha.

I like for Nick to enjoy both emotional and physical torture! He's a lucky guy!  :-* It feels like more people posted on AC this month, so maybe it'll come back.

Kids today will never know the struggle LOL.

Emotional + physical torture = the best!


Our saving grace was that I always stock a backup for all paper products and cleaning supplies, so that one didn't affect us too much! Although when we tried to stock the backups back, it was a bit of an adventure for a while.

I thankfully had just bought TP before all this went down, so I was good for awhile, but when I started running low and went looking for it, I had to buy whatever brand I could find, not my usual.  The first time I ended up with some weird lavender scented Angel Soft.  Who needs scented toilet paper?!  But Mare will be happy to know the pandemic made me switch my brand of choice from Charmin Ultra Soft to Cottonelle.


Bubonic plague is a real concern out here every few summers because of the prairie dogs! It's the mundaneness, plus the forced sexual content bit, I think. Ridiculous is more fun!

Aww, prairie dogs!  I was inspired for that story by an article I read about a squirrel testing positive for plague near LA (when Nick still lived there).  So I had him get bitten by a squirrel while feeding it, and he contracted bubonic plague.


I honestly don't know if it was the right ending now, but it's the ending I chose and the ending I'd built up toward so I plowed through it. Let's see how editing this next chapter goes!

I mind it less in a joke story, because it's all meant for laughs. But killing off any character in a serious story is serious business, especially a main character.

Yep, I agree.  I joke about killing them, but I only kill one in a serious novel if it makes sense and feels right.  It's never a spur of the moment decision, but something I've had planned for a long time.

You said originally you were going to kill them all.  What made you change your mind?

Has anyone else ever planned to kill a Boy and then given them a stay of execution at the last minute?  Or done the opposite and killed one off when you were originally planning to let him live?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 23, 2021, 10:40:05 PM
Kids today will never know the struggle LOL.

Emotional + physical torture = the best!

Yes! They'll never know now that they can get their apps and their whatis in their hands at birth!

Hahaha! Yup, my favorite! That's why Nick angsts and bleeds so much in Pbox! Because then the others can patch him up.

I thankfully had just bought TP before all this went down, so I was good for awhile, but when I started running low and went looking for it, I had to buy whatever brand I could find, not my usual.  The first time I ended up with some weird lavender scented Angel Soft.  Who needs scented toilet paper?!  But Mare will be happy to know the pandemic made me switch my brand of choice from Charmin Ultra Soft to Cottonelle.

Aww, prairie dogs!  I was inspired for that story by an article I read about a squirrel testing positive for plague near LA (when Nick still lived there).  So I had him get bitten by a squirrel while feeding it, and he contracted bubonic plague.

Thank goodness! I feel like running out of toilet paper would be awful. We have also had to buy some weird brands to tie us over. Scented toilet paper is so weird! Sorry you had to experience that! OOh, Mare will be happy to know that we're a Cottonelle household too!

LMAO! Nick would feed a squirrel and die. Nick, you're not supposed to feed them!


Yep, I agree.  I joke about killing them, but I only kill one in a serious novel if it makes sense and feels right.  It's never a spur of the moment decision, but something I've had planned for a long time.

You said originally you were going to kill them all.  What made you change your mind?

Has anyone else ever planned to kill a Boy and then given them a stay of execution at the last minute?  Or done the opposite and killed one off when you were originally planning to let him live?

You definitely have to plan out the serious death of a Boy so you can make it emotional and give everyone else the right amount of grieving.

I was originally going to kill them all! It was what I thought needed to happen for the "priestesses don't really have powers, they hold and purify their demon's powers to use them and having them unseals the box" premise. It worked for the story, but... *someone*... hated that. haha. Nick hated it so much.

So I got to chapter fourteen, Brian's powers were introduced, and short fused Nick jumped in guns blazing, but was still standing at the end of it. Tiny, persistent Nick popped up and said, "Hey, I know you decided we would all die for the plot. I'll for sure do some crazy things, but I'm not dying. I will make it to the end alive." "There's still time, Nick." "Not dying." And this went on over the next couple of chapters as I focused on Brian a little and there was Nick, still trucking along when they got to Kevin. "Fine, Nick. I guess you're not planning on dying." "Nope." "Be honest, Kevin wouldn't get to the end and decide to die either, would he?" "Nope." "Okay, then in addition to it being defensive, I have to make his healing power bad***." So Kevin got the ability to heal and guard his little brothers while turning the power to heal into an attack (somehow, that part took a while longer still)."

Nick and I basically found a loophole he liked that meant he still got to live: "Well, I already gave her my whole heart a long time ago, so she can have it whenever and I can still live since she already had it." And I just kind of figured that Kevin wouldn't actually put up with dying, more than AJ, Howie, or Brian wouldn't put up with it. Plus, after I made his power to heal awesome if he used it to attack (it's like a mirroring thing and then he seals up all his wounds), I realized that he could probably just pry his own heart out of his chest and regenerate another one if he needed to, thus living just fine.

If anyone needed another clue that this whole story is actually about the Boys and Nick in particular, here you go: Pandoras can't open the box without their demons. I've also made it abundantly clear in the title for "Pandora's Necklace," which you'll remember from PBox is a temporary magic artifact that actually represents Nick's heart. Ta da!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 12:14:29 AM
You know what my biggest writing pet peeve is? Google docs loads slower than my fingers type... So frustrating.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 02:01:56 AM
Describe what you've got going on writing-wise in five words or less, but cryptically.

Phew! Only two chapters left!

Wish me luck to finish them quickly tomorrow!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 11:14:28 AM
You know what my biggest writing pet peeve is? Google docs loads slower than my fingers type... So frustrating.

Ugh, I know, especially with long stories.  I tend to just keep them open and minimized when I'm working on them consistently instead of having to reload them every time.


Phew! Only two chapters left!

Wish me luck to finish them quickly tomorrow!

Good luck!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 12:28:39 PM
Ugh, I know, especially with long stories.  I tend to just keep them open and minimized when I'm working on them consistently instead of having to reload them every time.

Good luck!

I also just leave them open unless I know I won't be looking at them for several days in a row. And since I like to do callback quotes, as I mentioned, I basically have the entire story open for these last five chapters just in case I have to double check if I edited a quote I used.

Thanks! Nick and Kevin are busy doing the Hunger Games salute. We're almost there.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 12:43:19 PM
I like to look at my little hits counters during my breaks and, oddly, Beta Sigma Beta has been going up. I feel bad if it's actually people reading and not spam bots, because it will never get updated. I wish there was a way to tell them that. I feel like me coming back and actually updating something has given people false hope for other stories.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 02:19:35 PM
Only twenty pages left to edit and I've only been at it for about an hour. I wonder if I should be worried or excited that it's going relatively quickly.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 02:32:52 PM
I like to look at my little hits counters during my breaks and, oddly, Beta Sigma Beta has been going up. I feel bad if it's actually people reading and not spam bots, because it will never get updated. I wish there was a way to tell them that. I feel like me coming back and actually updating something has given people false hope for other stories.

Hehe, I love the name of that story.  Beta Sigma Beta... perfect name for a fictional BSB frat!  You could always add an author's note just letting any future readers know not to expect an update on it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 02:33:09 PM
Only twenty pages left to edit and I've only been at it for about an hour. I wonder if I should be worried or excited that it's going relatively quickly.

Good for you!  You're getting so close!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 02:36:52 PM
I finished reading Bethlehem, worked on my outline for Fallen Angel (the Brian idea) and made a banner, which is how you know I'm serious about it LOL.  Maybe next weekend I'll actually try to start writing something for it.  I got a couple comments from enthusiastic Brian girls after I mentioned it in my site update yesterday, so at least someone is interested in reading it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 04:09:42 PM
Hehe, I love the name of that story.  Beta Sigma Beta... perfect name for a fictional BSB frat!  You could always add an author's note just letting any future readers know not to expect an update on it.

Oh good idea! And but of course! What else would you name a fictional BSB fraternity? Thank goodness they have at least two letters in their name! Although, I vaguely remember that I gave all the other fraternities joke names that made me laugh, I realize that maybe I missed out by not including a Nu Kappa Beta, a Nu Sigma, a Nu Delta, or an Omicron Tau (even though it wasn't a crossover). This was pre One Direction I think, but I suppose I also could have done a Beta Tau Mu or something... Not that Boys II Men is necessarily a boyband.  :shrug:

Good for you!  You're getting so close!

Took a real life break to cook meal prep with the husband for the week (see, don't worry, I still do household things with him even if I'm in gremlin mode). Now back to editing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 04:12:30 PM
I finished reading Bethlehem, worked on my outline for Fallen Angel (the Brian idea) and made a banner, which is how you know I'm serious about it LOL.  Maybe next weekend I'll actually try to start writing something for it.  I got a couple comments from enthusiastic Brian girls after I mentioned it in my site update yesterday, so at least someone is interested in reading it.

You made a banner! :o You are serious! I was always a little jealous of everyone's banner skills. Always something I wish I'd been able to learn.

That's exciting that people are looking forward to it. I was right, people probably just need some nice Brian fanfics right now.

You've got your next weekend planned out! Now what should I do? haha Life will feel a lot less cluttered without PBox to edit.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 04:15:47 PM
You said originally you were going to kill them all.  What made you change your mind?

Has anyone else ever planned to kill a Boy and then given them a stay of execution at the last minute?  Or done the opposite and killed one off when you were originally planning to let him live?

I answered that:

I was originally going to kill them all!

But it seems like no one else kills the Boys seriously. Have you, Julie? I'm trying to think of one for you and I'm at a loss.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 05:32:41 PM
You made a banner! :o You are serious! I was always a little jealous of everyone's banner skills. Always something I wish I'd been able to learn.

That's exciting that people are looking forward to it. I was right, people probably just need some nice Brian fanfics right now.

You've got your next weekend planned out! Now what should I do? haha Life will feel a lot less cluttered without PBox to edit.

I have no artistic talent when it comes to drawing, painting, etc., but I taught myself how to make/manipulate graphics.  I've always used Paintshop Pro, but there's a free one called Paint.net that is not bad.  There's a bit of a learning curve to it while you're first figuring out the program, but it's not hard to use once you get the hang of it.  If I can do it, anyone can!

LOL We'll see if I follow through.  It was nice just relaxing this weekend, but I also missed writing.  You should take a little break, be proud of yourself for finishing this editing project, and then get back to work on your next project.

But it seems like no one else kills the Boys seriously. Have you, Julie? I'm trying to think of one for you and I'm at a loss.

Yep, I have.  I've killed every one of them at least once, some of them multiple times.  It's never a decision I take lightly; I like happy endings, but sometimes sad or bittersweet endings just work better.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 05:50:40 PM
I have no artistic talent when it comes to drawing, painting, etc., but I taught myself how to make/manipulate graphics.  I've always used Paintshop Pro, but there's a free one called Paint.net that is not bad.  There's a bit of a learning curve to it while you're first figuring out the program, but it's not hard to use once you get the hang of it.  If I can do it, anyone can!

LOL We'll see if I follow through.  It was nice just relaxing this weekend, but I also missed writing.  You should take a little break, be proud of yourself for finishing this editing project, and then get back to work on your next project.

Yep, I have.  I've killed every one of them at least once, some of them multiple times.  It's never a decision I take lightly; I like happy endings, but sometimes sad or bittersweet endings just work better.

I used to use GIMP to color my line art, but it's been forever since I've used any programs like that and I was absolutely terrible at the blending tool, which I feel like would be a lot of what's used for banners.

I feel like I would also miss writing now that I've done it almost every weekend. I think it depends on what I try to do post-PBox edit. If it's binge watching twelve hours of TV, I should probably just work on writing. If it's getting back on my organization products or deep cleaning my house, I should probably do that. But, I also know post-COVID, I'll be back to my volunteering and fall tailgating, so I should probably get into the habit of not writing both days in a weekend. Or write a lot now so that I can take those days off then. Not sure.  :shrug:

I figured you had, but couldn't think of any. Did you always plan to kill them from the beginning or were there any where you changed your mind?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 06:56:22 PM
But, I also know post-COVID, I'll be back to my volunteering and fall tailgating, so I should probably get into the habit of not writing both days in a weekend. Or write a lot now so that I can take those days off then. Not sure.  :shrug:

I figured you had, but couldn't think of any. Did you always plan to kill them from the beginning or were there any where you changed your mind?

I say write as much as you can while you can!

You missed some of the more memorable ones while you were on hiatus LOL.  I can't think of any instances where I've changed my mind.  There have been some stories where I wasn't sure in the beginning whether certain characters would live or die; it could have gone either way.  But once I make up my mind, I stick with it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 07:09:28 PM
I say write as much as you can while you can!

You missed some of the more memorable ones while you were on hiatus LOL.  I can't think of any instances where I've changed my mind.  There have been some stories where I wasn't sure in the beginning whether certain characters would live or die; it could have gone either way.  But once I make up my mind, I stick with it.

You're probably right! It would be crazy if I kept this pace and actually finished a novel in six months or less, haha. Do you write more during the summer or would you say your pace is pretty consistent?

I figured I had. When about in the story do you decide if you're on the fence? Is it closer to the beginning or closer to the end? I've only ever tried to seriously kill off the Boys in PBox, so it's not super typical for me. I don't know that I could again. Right now I'm puzzling "Does Nick have to die to be Brian's guardian angel?"
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 08:34:52 PM
You're probably right! It would be crazy if I kept this pace and actually finished a novel in six months or less, haha. Do you write more during the summer or would you say your pace is pretty consistent?

I figured I had. When about in the story do you decide if you're on the fence? Is it closer to the beginning or closer to the end? I've only ever tried to seriously kill off the Boys in PBox, so it's not super typical for me. I don't know that I could again. Right now I'm puzzling "Does Nick have to die to be Brian's guardian angel?"

I definitely write more in the summer.  I usually only write on the weekends during the school year, unless I'm really inspired.

It's closer to the beginning.  I'd say by halfway through the story, I've got those life or death decisions figured out for the end.  I don't think I've ever changed my mind past that point.

Are you really thinking about writing the guardian angel story?  You totally should!  And unfortunately, yes, I think Nick needs to die to be an angel.  Although you're a fantasy person; you could probably work your magic and figure out some loophole to bring him back to life if you wanted to.  No one really knows for sure anyway when it comes to the afterlife, angels, ghosts, etc.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 08:40:29 PM
I definitely write more in the summer.  I usually only write on the weekends during the school year, unless I'm really inspired.

It's closer to the beginning.  I'd say by halfway through the story, I've got those life or death decisions figured out for the end.  I don't think I've ever changed my mind past that point.

It would be tough to wait for the weekend if you were really inspired, though I know late writing nights aren't fun the next morning.

Yeah, I'd had my PBox deaths all squared away by chapter twenty out of fifty as well. I think deciding later than halfway gets too rushed.

Are you really thinking about writing the guardian angel story?  You totally should!  And unfortunately, yes, I think Nick needs to die to be an angel.  Although you're a fantasy person; you could probably work your magic and figure out some loophole to bring him back to life if you wanted to.  No one really knows for sure anyway when it comes to the afterlife, angels, ghosts, etc.

I'm considering it, but it's in the questioning phase. Poor Gobosei, haha. Loopholes are my favorite! Like I said, that's how Nick got around dying like I planned.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 08:45:45 PM
Also, I apparently should have described this chapter as "I'm not crying, you're crying, Nick! (Just kidding we're both crying.)" Man, anyone who ever read this probably got to the end and thought "Well, that was a downer."

Because I did that story structure thing where you establish "Character x wants thing y," but you'll never give them thing y. However, you will give them what they need, thing z. And thing z ends up being really different from thing y. Except... Character x figures out that they didn't actually want thing y, they really wanted thing z all along. And so you say, "Oh no, now you get neither!"

Poor Nick...
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 09:11:26 PM
It would be tough to wait for the weekend if you were really inspired, though I know late writing nights aren't fun the next morning.

It's more that I'm usually exhausted by the end of the work day, and all I wanna do is veg out in front of the TV or play on my phone.  Writing takes too much mental effort.  But if I'm really inspired and don't have to think too much to get the words to flow, then I'll write on weeknights.  At my most inspired, I've even written before school.


Yeah, I'd had my PBox deaths all squared away by chapter twenty out of fifty as well. I think deciding later than halfway gets too rushed.

Agreed.  If I changed my mind just before the end, I would worry it was an impulsive decision I would regret later.  I once changed my mind about how I wanted to write a death (having it happen "on screen" and described in detail vs. having it happen "off screen") a few chapters before I wrote it, and I wish I had stuck to my original plan.


I'm considering it, but it's in the questioning phase. Poor Gobosei, haha. Loopholes are my favorite! Like I said, that's how Nick got around dying like I planned.

I'm happy to hear that!  Poor Gobosei indeed, but that's usually how it goes for me too.  Some shiny new idea comes along and distracts me away from going back to an old one.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 09:12:37 PM
Also, I apparently should have described this chapter as "I'm not crying, you're crying, Nick! (Just kidding we're both crying.)" Man, anyone who ever read this probably got to the end and thought "Well, that was a downer."

Because I did that story structure thing where you establish "Character x wants thing y," but you'll never give them thing y. However, you will give them what they need, thing z. And thing z ends up being really different from thing y. Except... Character x figures out that they didn't actually want thing y, they really wanted thing z all along. And so you say, "Oh no, now you get neither!"

Poor Nick...

LOL That is depressing!  But sometimes depressing works best.  Not everything can be wrapped up in a shiny bow at the end.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 09:32:06 PM
It's more that I'm usually exhausted by the end of the work day, and all I wanna do is veg out in front of the TV or play on my phone.  Writing takes too much mental effort.  But if I'm really inspired and don't have to think too much to get the words to flow, then I'll write on weeknights.  At my most inspired, I've even written before school.

I feel you on that! The kids really take it out of you sometimes. Maybe that's why I've gotten my writing mojo back. This school year hasn't been nearly as exhausting as they usually are. I don't think I could write before school. I like to continue sleeping until sleeping is no longer an option.

Agreed.  If I changed my mind just before the end, I would worry it was an impulsive decision I would regret later.  I once changed my mind about how I wanted to write a death (having it happen "on screen" and described in detail vs. having it happen "off screen") a few chapters before I wrote it, and I wish I had stuck to my original plan.

Did you change from on screen to off or off screen to on?

I think that's tricky with a lot of things, especially death scenes. But there's always that "Does this actually happening for the readers really do what I want it to in story" or would it be better to just summarize it later and get to whatever the fall out is? Sex scenes came to mind right away, but I'm sure there's something else I'm not thinking of right now.

I'm happy to hear that!  Poor Gobosei indeed, but that's usually how it goes for me too.  Some shiny new idea comes along and distracts me away from going back to an old one.

I wonder if it's possible to do them both at the same time. I feel like I used to try to do that and everything got jumbled in my head. That's part of why I stopped writing everything but PBox back in the day.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 09:46:48 PM
I feel you on that! The kids really take it out of you sometimes. Maybe that's why I've gotten my writing mojo back. This school year hasn't been nearly as exhausting as they usually are. I don't think I could write before school. I like to continue sleeping until sleeping is no longer an option.

Very true!  I feel the same way about this school year.  I'm the same way - not a morning person and will snooze till the last possible minute and leave my house at the last possible minute.  But there were days, especially when I was in the midst of my end-of-story streak for A Heart That Isn't Mine, when I would wake up early just so I could write for half an hour, or I would put my chromebook on the bathroom counter and write a little as I dried my hair and got ready in the morning.


Did you change from on screen to off or off screen to on?

I think that's tricky with a lot of things, especially death scenes. But there's always that "Does this actually happening for the readers really do what I want it to in story" or would it be better to just summarize it later and get to whatever the fall out is? Sex scenes came to mind right away, but I'm sure there's something else I'm not thinking of right now.

I went from off screen to on.  I had my reasons for doing it that went beyond "I'm gonna show, not tell," which involved the narrator being around to witness the death when originally he wasn't going to be, but actually seeing it play out on the page was almost too sad for me, and I've written a ton of sad stuff.  I don't think it was necessary to show it.

I agree about sex scenes too.


I feel you on that! The kids really take it out of you sometimes. Maybe that's why I've gotten my writing mojo back. This school year hasn't been nearly as exhausting as they usually are. I don't think I could write before school. I like to continue sleeping until sleeping is no longer an option.

Did you change from on screen to off or off screen to on?

I think that's tricky with a lot of things, especially death scenes. But there's always that "Does this actually happening for the readers really do what I want it to in story" or would it be better to just summarize it later and get to whatever the fall out is? Sex scenes came to mind right away, but I'm sure there's something else I'm not thinking of right now.

I wonder if it's possible to do them both at the same time. I feel like I used to try to do that and everything got jumbled in my head. That's part of why I stopped writing everything but PBox back in the day.

You could try writing both before posting anything and see how it goes.  I have a hard time balancing more than one story at a time anymore, but I usually go through a period of WADD (Writer's Attention Deficit Disorder) after finishing a story where I flit from project to project without being able to focus on any one of them.  But in the end, writing bits and pieces of different stories helps me figure out which one I want to keep working on.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 09:50:57 PM
LOL That is depressing!  But sometimes depressing works best.  Not everything can be wrapped up in a shiny bow at the end.

It was inevitable. It had to be depressing at the end, because there was more story to tell. I'd rather end depressing and get gradually happier as the story goes than end happy and make it depressing again only to get it back happy. Too much of a rollercoaster.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 09:57:10 PM
Absolutely!  Knock 'em down so you can build 'em back up.  I love doing that.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 10:01:50 PM
Very true!  I feel the same way about this school year.  I'm the same way - not a morning person and will snooze till the last possible minute and leave my house at the last possible minute.  But there were days, especially when I was in the midst of my end-of-story streak for A Heart That Isn't Mine, when I would wake up early just so I could write for half an hour, or I would put my chromebook on the bathroom counter and write a little as I dried my hair and got ready in the morning.

I'm impressed that you can write while getting ready. It literally takes everything I have in the morning to get ready to be a functioning person and it's definitely worse in the winter. I'm pretty positive I must have SAD, but just keep plucking along. Everything's fine once I get coffee in me, if only I could keep it by the bed without pulling a Michael Scott, haha!

I went from off screen to on.  I had my reasons for doing it that went beyond "I'm gonna show, not tell," which involved the narrator being around to witness the death when originally he wasn't going to be, but actually seeing it play out on the page was almost too sad for me, and I've written a ton of sad stuff.  I don't think it was necessary to show it.

If it was a story in 1st POV, I can see why it would be better to have the narrator around. Those are tough, but when things are sad for you, you know they're sad for the reader? If you want them to be sad... If you don't, then you're all just sad together. Is that something you would go back and change if you could?

You could try writing both before posting anything and see how it goes.  I have a hard time balancing more than one story at a time anymore, but I usually go through a period of WADD (Writer's Attention Deficit Disorder) after finishing a story where I flit from project to project without being able to focus on any one of them.  But in the end, writing bits and pieces of different stories helps me figure out which one I want to keep working on.

I think that's what I would do. I've enjoyed having this backlog to work from and know that if I stop to focus on something else, like PBox, that I have plenty to keep posting without lurching back into "six month hiatus" territory. I'm pretty pleased that I've been able to go on this editing adventure and not worry too much about people reading having to wait on me. Plus I like writing the interesting bits and pieces. Keeps me motivated.

I agree that the period of WADD was also my problem back when I started so many stories. I had great ideas and just wanted to get them all out, but then I never really got invested in them and they just sit unfinished. I wonder if I would have finished Beta Sigma Beta if I'd come back earlier or if it really needed to be PBox Nick pulling me back. I honestly can't even remember what my plan was with that one and I actually did hold on to the updates for a while before I started posting them.

Absolutely!  Knock 'em down so you can build 'em back up.  I love doing that.

Same! All the warmest, fuzziest feelings.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 24, 2021, 10:38:52 PM
I'm impressed that you can write while getting ready. It literally takes everything I have in the morning to get ready to be a functioning person and it's definitely worse in the winter. I'm pretty positive I must have SAD, but just keep plucking along. Everything's fine once I get coffee in me, if only I could keep it by the bed without pulling a Michael Scott, haha!

Me too, because usually I'm more like you LOL.  That was a rare streak of inspiration.  But it did make me almost late every day I did it, so I would not recommend LOL.


If it was a story in 1st POV, I can see why it would be better to have the narrator around. Those are tough, but when things are sad for you, you know they're sad for the reader? If you want them to be sad... If you don't, then you're all just sad together. Is that something you would go back and change if you could?

I wouldn't go back and change it now that it's online for the world to read, but if I could go back to when I was originally writing it, yeah, I would change it.  It would have been perfect if it had played out like Jack's death in This Is Us, where you get to see the reaction but not the actual death in any detail.  But I will say that writing it the way I did ended up inspiring the idea for the next novel I wrote, and I wouldn't change that, so things happen for a reason.


I think that's what I would do. I've enjoyed having this backlog to work from and know that if I stop to focus on something else, like PBox, that I have plenty to keep posting without lurching back into "six month hiatus" territory. I'm pretty pleased that I've been able to go on this editing adventure and not worry too much about people reading having to wait on me. Plus I like writing the interesting bits and pieces. Keeps me motivated.

I agree that the period of WADD was also my problem back when I started so many stories. I had great ideas and just wanted to get them all out, but then I never really got invested in them and they just sit unfinished. I wonder if I would have finished Beta Sigma Beta if I'd come back earlier or if it really needed to be PBox Nick pulling me back. I honestly can't even remember what my plan was with that one and I actually did hold on to the updates for a while before I started posting them.

I think it's fine to work on a lot of different things and not post them.  You never know which one(s) will take off.  It's when you (general "you," not you specifically) start posting a bunch of unfinished stories after only writing a chapter or two and then never update them again that it becomes a problem.  I've done that too, where I post a story too soon because it's been going really well, and then as soon as I post it, I hit a wall with it or something happens to derail me.  That's why hoarding chapters until you have a backlog to work with is the best way to do it.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 24, 2021, 11:08:05 PM
Me too, because usually I'm more like you LOL.  That was a rare streak of inspiration.  But it did make me almost late every day I did it, so I would not recommend LOL.

I get late enough with the traffic! I do not need something else to make me run in at the last minute, haha.


I wouldn't go back and change it now that it's online for the world to read, but if I could go back to when I was originally writing it, yeah, I would change it.  It would have been perfect if it had played out like Jack's death in This Is Us, where you get to see the reaction but not the actual death in any detail.  But I will say that writing it the way I did ended up inspiring the idea for the next novel I wrote, and I wouldn't change that, so things happen for a reason.

Silver linings! Glad it ended up inspiring you! I feel like if I had something like that where I was on the fence, I would just write both. Especially because, like you said, you wouldn't go back and change it afterward. I think it's good to have two things to compare when you're not sure. I cried so much at the reaction to Jack's death. I thought it was so well done.


I think it's fine to work on a lot of different things and not post them.  You never know which one(s) will take off.  It's when you (general "you," not you specifically) start posting a bunch of unfinished stories after only writing a chapter or two and then never update them again that it becomes a problem.  I've done that too, where I post a story too soon because it's been going really well, and then as soon as I post it, I hit a wall with it or something happens to derail me.  That's why hoarding chapters until you have a backlog to work with is the best way to do it.

It's okay, call me out, I know what I used to be like. ;) :D I love hoarding chapters. It might be my new favorite thing. And then I can edit them as much as I want while they're waiting to be posted, haha. I guess I like actual hoarding too. I should have known that hoarding writing would also make me happy.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 25, 2021, 03:59:33 PM
I enjoy hoarding too!

I probably should have written two versions of that chapter, but in the moment, I wasn't even on the fence; I just flat out changed my mind.  It was only later, when I realized I didn't even want to go back and reread that chapter because of how horribly sad it was, that I got to thinking I should have stuck with my original plan.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 25, 2021, 06:34:23 PM
I enjoy hoarding too!

I probably should have written two versions of that chapter, but in the moment, I wasn't even on the fence; I just flat out changed my mind.  It was only later, when I realized I didn't even want to go back and reread that chapter because of how horribly sad it was, that I got to thinking I should have stuck with my original plan.

I feel that. There's definitely things I've looked back on and thought "Oh, I really should have changed that." I just finished my edits for PBox and after rereading over the last chapter, I think if I could go back, I would write something totally different that's more interesting (for the last chapter, not the whole story). Maybe I'll add a tiny bit of it in instead.

Do you have any other stories that stick out where you thought that you'd rather have gone through with your original idea for a chapter? Or any stories of yours where there's chapters you skip when you reread for whatever reason?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: RokofAges75 on January 25, 2021, 08:23:51 PM
Do you have any other stories that stick out where you thought that you'd rather have gone through with your original idea for a chapter? Or any stories of yours where there's chapters you skip when you reread for whatever reason?

Not that I can think of.  How about you, or anyone else who wants to answer?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 25, 2021, 08:53:38 PM
When I reread PBox, I always skim the NSYNC focused chapters. Story-wise, they need to be in there to develop the villains as multi-dimensional, but I've cared less about those chapters over the years. Shh! Don't tell anyone, haha.
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 26, 2021, 09:07:18 PM
Anyone else have any writing-related mementos they hang on to?

So this is only vaguely writing related, but I planned on sharing some old doodles for my author talk this week and went on a hunt to find them. I found a few, but mostly I ended up finding some crazy things I had saved! The amount of Nick doodles I lovingly crafted and saved is crazy. I also found a binder with the script for an entire BSB fanfic movie (titled "Set Adrift on memory Bliss," so you know it was going to be great) that had casting sheets in the back and said a friend co-wrote it with me, so somehow I roped my friends into creating and planning to film this movie with me. No idea how! I skimmed it, but saw that there was a character named "Miami," so I noped out of that really quickly before getting in too deep. I'm sure it was terrible!

I present to you some weirdness from yours truly! And I would call these vague highlights? Among other things, I also found a doodle of Nick in that awful damask shirt? Anyone remember what I'm talking about?

Nick speaks French in green, obviously, and wears a Bucs jersey (https://i.ibb.co/NWbMQ2S/nickfrench.jpg)

This comic is for sure called "Naked Nick Pics," I'm so sorry I created this, but knew someone would laugh! (https://i.ibb.co/7b50Vb0/nickcomic.jpg)

The Phonebooth (https://i.ibb.co/1mBMm3B/Phonebooth.jpg)

One of the first pictures of Nick I drew in Middle School (https://i.ibb.co/6JYKkRh/nickgreencolor.jpg)

The same picture, but I found it in a college sketchbook (https://i.ibb.co/WPYKXFM/nickgreensketch.jpg)
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 26, 2021, 09:32:07 PM
And here's some writing questions for today!

While writing, if you had to give up snacks and drinks or music, which would be harder to give up and why?

Which is your favorite season to write in and why?

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a full year while writing a book, but your book had to take place there, where would you choose?

What is your favorite word and why?

What book from your childhood has shaped you most as a writer?

Do you believe in the concept of a muse? What is yours like?

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal?

We have five posts left before 2 Writing 2 Thread, so let's do this thing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on January 27, 2021, 12:13:42 AM
And here's some writing questions for today!

While writing, if you had to give up snacks and drinks or music, which would be harder to give up and why?. Well considering I don’t do any of that when i write anyway, and it’s very rare that I’m listening to music WHILE I write, that is an easy answer for me lol

Which is your favorite season to write in and why?

I like to write in Christmas and New Years. Christmas because there’s always something different you can do with it. It can be a romance, comedy...anyth ing you want. Just something about that time of year that makes it magical.

If you had the opportunity to live anywhere in the world for a full year while writing a book, but your book had to take place there, where would you choose? Anywhere tropical. Like some kind of island. Hawaii.

What is your favorite word and why? defective. It’s fun to say. I don’t write it nearly enough though.

What book from your childhood has shaped you most as a writer? hm, I wouldn’t say that any books influenced how I write. But as a kid my favorites were the Boxcar Children and Goosebumps.

Do you believe in the concept of a muse? What is yours like? well yes, and Nick obviously.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? a slice of pizza.

We have five posts left before 2 Writing 2 Thread, so let's do this thing!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 29, 2021, 06:12:33 PM
Tracy, I replied to you in the second writing thread. :) Didn't want you to think I forgot about you!
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: nicksgal on January 29, 2021, 07:01:49 PM
The last recap:


The questions:

1. What's something mundane the Boys do in fanfics that makes you go "aww"?

2. What's a weird character trait any of the Boys' have ended up with in a story your wrote?

3. What do you do when you finish a story? Any fun rituals? How long do you give yourself before you start your next project to reset from one story to the next?

4. What story felt most satisfying to finish and why?

5. Which of your unfinished projects (if you have more than one) would you most like to finish?

6. What's something you would absolutely go back and tell your younger self about writing (fanfics or otherwise) if you could?

7. And, what's something you would be hesitant to tell your younger self?

8. Alternatively, is there anything you wish your younger self could tell you from way back when?

For #6-8, Julie (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121747.html#msg121747) and Dee (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3378.msg121756.html#msg121756) wrote some nice letters to our younger selves and they responded.

9. Anyone else a jerk to their characters just for fun?

10. What's the weirdest place you've ever worked on one of your stories?

11. Tell us something semi-ridiculous you do while writing that if someone walked in on would be very confusing for them.

12. When you're writing, how are you picturing the story? Is it just words on a page? A movie? How do you think this helps or hinders your writing?

13. What are your favorite kinds of scenes to write?

14. Speaking of, when you're reading fanfics, do you just read them in your inner voice or do you hear an approximation of the Boys' voices in your head if they're speaking?

15. How many words can you write in a minute?

16. What's the weirdest thing you've ever researched?

17. If you could ask one of the Boys one question to help with your writing, who would you ask and what would that question be?

18. Would you rather only write self-insert fanfics or have to write about only one of the Boys and his wife for every story? Why?

19. If you spent an hour "writing" how much of it would be dedicated solely to putting words on the page?

20. What's your go-to writing snack?

21. Imagine a world where pet peeves are no longer allowed: Which fanfic pet peeve would be the hardest for you to give up?

22. Of all the old fanfic cliches, which one is your guilty pleasure?

23. Share with us the last word you wrote down. If it's not a spoiler, tell us the last sentence.

24. Has anyone else ever planned to kill a Boy and then given them a stay of execution at the last minute?  Or done the opposite and killed one off when you were originally planning to let him live?


Questions asked in the context of a conversation that can be answered by all:

1. So does that mean that Nick intentionally or accidentally Backstreeted in [Who Needs The World]?

2. Do you think you'll go back to Gobosei when you're all done with PNecklace, or would you rather start something new? The unspecific version of this would be: If you left a story unfinished to go to a different project (but it's been unfinished for a while), would you go back to it or would you start something new?

3. [With all the Brian stuff,] maybe people want to escape into fanfic Brian?

4. To Tracy: Do you just write snippits or entire chapters on your phone?

5. To Tracy (who said whole novels have been written via phone): How is that? Does your phone have a little keyboard attachment? Do your eyes hurt from staring at the tiny screen for so long?

6. Would you say you use the phone or laptop for different types of writing or just a "mood" thing? Alternatively, what devices do you use to write and when?

7. I always wondered how married women managed to keep writing fanfic?

8. But how would you ration your last box [of Oreo-os]? Would you still like them if they got really stale?

9. [Are certain songs popping up on shuffle] the universe telling [you] to write?

10. Although, is there a lot Nick torture around these days? Have people started being nicer to him? Are we the only sadists left?

11. To Dee, Re: killing Backstreet Boys in stories: What made you change your mind [to not kill them all]?

12. To Julie: Did you always plan to kill them from the beginning or were there any where you changed your mind?

13. To Julie, Re: killing characters: When about in the story do you decide if you're on the fence? Is it closer to the beginning or closer to the end?

14: To Julie: Do you have any other stories that stick out where you thought that you'd rather have gone through with your original idea for a chapter? Or any stories of yours where there's chapters you skip when you reread for whatever reason?


Off Topic Questions:

1. I've also been meaning to ask, how long does this thread go before it gets a second one called "2 Writing 2 Thread"? 50 pages, then we go to 2 Writing 2 Thread (http://absolutechaos.net/fictalk/index.php/topic,3388.0.html).

2. Who doesn't love samurai in space with cool aliens?

3. What would you binge watch? Something new or an old favorite?

4. Although, now I'm wondering, could you catch flesh-eating bacteria from someone else?
Title: Re: The Writing Thread
Post by: FrickingKaos on February 27, 2021, 08:49:36 AM
So I've been reposting one of my old stories from 2011 on wattpad and while I was rereading it a question occurred to me to ask.

What has been your most favorite scene that you've written in a story so far, or a moment that you've written where you've sat and just were proud of yourself for coming up with?