(no subject)

[pensnest]

Last night, I had a bowl of raspberries picked from my garden, with clotted cream. Meanwhile, Beast's Tauran avatar was fighting a giant armoured hippo.

I win, methinks.

There seems to be a writing meme on the go - the idea is that you pick a question and I'll answer it. Anyone want to play?

(found via torch)

A. Describe your comfort zone—a typical you-fic.
B. Is there a trope you’ve yet to try your hand at, but really want to?
C. Is there a trope you wouldn’t touch with a ten foot pole?
D. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Care to share one of them?
E. Share one of your strengths.
F. Share one of your weaknesses.
G. Share a snippet from one of your favorite pieces of prose you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.
H. Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.
I. Which fic has been the hardest to write?
J. Which fic has been the easiest to write?
K. Is writing your passion or just a fun hobby?
L. Is there an episode section of canon above all others that inspires you just a little bit more?
M. What’s the best writing advice you’ve ever come across?
N. What’s the worst writing advice you’ve ever come across?
O. If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?
P. If you only could write one pairing for the rest of your life, which pairing would it be?
Q. Do you write your story from start to finish, or do you write the scenes out of order?
R. Do you use any tools, like worksheets or outlines?
S. Stephen King once said that his muse is a man who lives in the basement. Do you have a muse?
T. Describe your perfect writing conditions.
U. How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?
V. Choose a passage from one of your earlier fics and edit it into your current writing style. (Person sending the ask is free to make suggestions).
W. If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?
X. Have you ever deleted one of your published fics?
Y. What do you look for in a beta?
Z. Do you beta yourself? If so, what kind of beta are you?
AA. How do you feel about collaborations?
AB. Share three of your favorite fic writers and why you like them so much.
AC. If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which would you choose?
AD. Do you accept prompts?
AE. Do you take liberties with canon or are you very strict about your fic being canon compliant?
AF. How do you feel about smut?
AG. How do you feel about crack?
AH. What are your thoughts on non-con and dub-con?
AI. Would you ever kill off a canon character?
AJ. Which is your favorite site to post fic?
AK. Talk about your current wips.
AL. Talk about a review that made your day.
AM. Do you ever get rude reviews and how do you deal with them?
AN. Write an alternative ending to a fic you've written (specify by title, link or general description].

(Some of the answers will turn up on LJ.)

If anyone wants to check up on any of the stories referenced in my answers, the fanfic is best reached from this page.

Comments

[sperrywink]

How about L?

L. Is there an episode section of canon above all others that inspires you just a little bit more?

[pensnest]

For popslash, I don't think so… I suppose my ur-characters are as they were in the early Oughties, all looking incredibly beautiful and dressing like bedazzled dolls, but I don't have a particular favourite era in terms of giving me inspiration. There are probably little things sprinkled throughout the canon that have surprised a fic out of me, but no, I don't think there is a particular incident, or era, that does more for me than the rest.

If we were talking about my Star Trek: TNG fic, it would be the middle. I started watching the show somewhere in season three, I think, so seasons 3 - 5 were the core of the show, for me, where the characterisations were right (Data does not behave the same way in season one, and by season seven it was mostly crap anyway, and do not let me start on the films!). Season six was probably my favourite, and I loved the episode with Data's Dream very much - it was actually a Worf episode, but the best bits were Data's dream. Mostly I suppose my favourite episodes were all the strong Data ones which weren't embarrassing.

[letterboys]

I'm gonna be greedy and ask for A, E, and W!

A. Describe your comfort zone—a typical you-fic.

[pensnest]

A. Describe your comfort zone—a typical you-fic.

I suppose… a typical me-story is comfortable. It's a fairly lighthearted romance, not a lot in the way of angsty, heavy stuff. The main characters are basically quite down-to-earth, not given to wild flights of fancy, and even if they are in a fantasy situation (see The Chronicles of Lancyn and Ser Chrisfer) they are quite practically-minded. If there is a misunderstanding between the characters, they get themselves sorted out without becoming ridiculous (I hope), and they are more likely to express affection through mockery than with sweet words. Sex, if it's there, is playful and doesn't involve any serious kink. And of course there is a happy ending. I suspect that covers most of my stories!

E. Share one of your strengths.

[pensnest]

Oh, scary. I don't know! It's much easier to figure out things I don't do well… um. Actually, I am quite proud of my ability to do verse, mostly through thinking up neat rhymes and then fitting them into an order that makes sense and turns into a sonnet. Verse and rhythm, because I'd have to include the blank verse scenes and 'The Song of Chris Kirkpatrick' among things I am perversely proud to have written.

Most helpfully, there aren't a lot of other people doing this stuff, and practically nobody in popslash except me. Comparisons are unnecessary!

W. If you were to revise one of your older fics from start to finish, which would it be and why?

[pensnest]

Hmm. I would like to have done a better job with 'The Little Dustbuster That Could'. I don't think I ever really got the JC characterisation that I wanted, and it was a bit too mannered, too much 'this is me writing' where I should have been invisible. If I could get it all up to the level of the golfing scene, I'd be really happy.

In practise, though, I'm way too lazy to rewrite it now, when there's no need!

[turps]

O please!

O If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?

[pensnest]

This is a fun question! I think it would have to be 'for this world to be unbroken' It's funny, two different people suggested the world was at least partially derived from 'I Am Legend', which it wasn't, but there's obviously a cinematic feel somewhere in there. I think a post-apocalyptic world, the Boys all scruffy and such, the bright, nostalgic comfort of the turkey meals, would all come across very well in a visual medium. It's a story where external things happen, so it would work as a film, and AJ's Thing for Kevin would be easy enough to convey with soulful looks, etc.

I started off thinking it would be Dragon Country, but it'd be very difficult to do the telepathic stuff properly in a movie, although it does contain scenes I'd love to see!

Re: O If you could choose one of your fics to be filmed, which would you choose?

[turps]

I think a post-apocalyptic world, the Boys all scruffy and such, the bright, nostalgic comfort of the turkey meals, would all come across very well in a visual medium

I'd watch it!

[ephemera]

S & AL, please ;)

S. Stephen King once said that his muse is a man who lives in the basement. Do you have a muse?

[pensnest]

That would explain why Stephen King writes... Stephen King stories, I suppose.

It's possible that my muse is called Lance Bass… unfortunately he's off gallivanting with his pretty fiancé and not helping me out much lately. I do find that most—although not all—of the stories in my head have Lance at the centre, still, he seems to be someone I love writing, in his various guises.

I do love it when the muse is with me, when a story just wants to be written and I have to keep going. It's one of the best feelings ever. These days, stories are usually quite a struggle. I'm afraid I don't just depend on the muse to get me writing, I want the feedback too—not that I chase the feedback, for if I did I'd be writing long, angsty Stucky fic (or short, amusing Stucky fic, even). But I kinda wish I just had the urge to write and didn't also need to be read.

AL. Talk about a review that made your day.

[pensnest]

Hmmmm. I can't remember actual *reviews* very well, so I'm going to have to refer to feedback. I think the one that started "Georgette Heyer has a worthy heir" is always going to be one of my favourites! I love GH, and was definitely trying to do something Heyeresque with this story, so it was very happy-making to see that someone thought I had done it. With additional "UNF-y shagging", of course!

[nopseud]

G & H, please.

G. Share a snippet from one of your favorite pieces of prose you’ve written and explain why you’

[pensnest]

He was hot and sweaty by the time he achieved his goal, and took off his top layer. Looking back, he didn't seem to have come so very far, but his legs assured him that the distant woods where he'd emerged into dragon country were a long way off. He probably shouldn't go any further, but he shouldn't need to. This was a great vantage point for dragon-spotting. He shivered, suddenly cold.

*CURIOSITY* filled his head, a huge and foreign curiosity which was certainly, certainly coming from someone, something—he looked around and didn't see any—oh, oh, the shadow on the ground around him was… He looked up.

The golden dragon was hovering high above, and its attention was plainly focussed on him. There was puzzlement in its thoughts, surprise, a hint of disapproval at his bizarre stunted shape—*NO WINGS?*—but mostly there was a relentless pressure of *CURIOSITY*.

Lance scrambled to his feet. "Hello?" he said, and bowed uncertainly.

*SURPRISE*

The dragon wafted gently down. It was enormous. Its head was as long, Lance reckoned, as he himself was tall. Its wings, spread to gentle its descent, would have done a Napoleonic battleship credit, and one of its mighty talons could eviscerate him easily.

It did not seem to be considering evisceration. It seemed baffled, not at all sure what this puny earthbound creature might be. Its huge head snaked forward, and eyes like molten cauldrons surveyed him unfathomably. For all that he'd imagined this moment, Lance had no idea what to do. He wasn't sure he could do anything—his legs seemed unwilling to support him, and he honestly didn't think he could move. His head throbbed from the pressure of the dragon's thoughts.

The dragon examined him for a few moments longer, and then appeared to lose interest. *SMALL*, it thought, and something that felt like *UNIMPORTANT* but might have been *SAVE FOR LATER*, and it reared back, bunched its mighty hind legs and took off into the sky. Lance's legs gave up the struggle and he collapsed to the ground, and his mind was filled with *FLY*JOY*POWER* as the dragon spiralled up into the azure sky. He had never seen anything so magnificent. He watched it and felt its entirely unhuman pleasure pounding like distant kettledrums in his head, and his heart hurt with delight.

And then it was gone. Lance had no idea how long he'd watched the dragon fly—not long enough—but it was gone, and time was still passing, and he must go home. He was cold, he realised, and hurried to put his jacket on. The sky was fading, perhaps because there was no longer a dragon in it, but he didn't want to spend the night here, he wanted a hot bath and his comfortable bed and he wanted, he really, really wanted to be able to tell somebody, anybody, that he had seen a dragon, that he'd had a, well, not exactly a conversation with a dragon, but communication. If only there was someone he could tell.

*

This is from 'Dragon Country', my recent dragon big bang story. The story has quite a lot of not-dialogue going on, and I'm pretty pleased with most of it. Not that it is because I crafted my prose with particular attention, or anything (mostly I just write), but sometimes it comes out right, and I discover as I'm writing how the characters *are*. I knew Lance wouldn't have an entirely comfortable time at his first meeting with the dragon, but that he'd be delighted at meeting it anyway, but I discovered quite a bit about how the dragon thinks as I was doing this part. And it isn't precisely foreboding, but it isn't precisely nice either. What I wanted to get across was the fact that the dragon isn't anywhere near as fascinated with Lance as Lance is with the dragon, and its thought processes are not like human thoughts. Eh.

*

There's also Joey didn't even remember hearing JC scream. In fact, he couldn't remember hearing any commands after the go order, only the enemy under his guns and the bright disintegrating ships. which is from 'The White Room'. I hope it conveys Joey's (and Chris's, and Lance's) state of mind. It's also much better than trying to describe a space battle!

H. Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’

[pensnest]

(It occurs to me that I am interpreting 'snippet' in rather a generous spirit.) You'll recognise this one.

"You're Adam Lambert, aren't you," said a new voice. "Congratulations on making the finals. I'm Joey Fatone."
They shook hands. "And this is Chris Kirkpatrick."



"Finals of what?" said Chris Kirkpatrick, juggling plate and bottle (he had, mysteriously, acquired beer) to offer a hand.

"American Idol, dumbass," said Joey. "Don't tell me you didn't watch it."

"Nope," said Chris. "Except for Bikini Girl, saw that on YouTube. I'm guessing you lost, since Joe didn't say anything about winning."

"Nothing wrong with coming second," said Joey.

"I bet Kelly doesn't think so," said Chris. He snapped his fingers. "Hah! Knew I recognized you from somewhere. Rolling Stone, right? So you've joined Lance's gay mafia now?"

"Ah, I don't think so," Adam said, because really. No. "Strictly speaking I'm here on business, I just couldn't escape until I'd eaten."

"He's from Mississippi," said Joey, who apparently thought that explained... something.

"Business?" Chris looked at him with interest. "What kind of business?"

"Ignore him," said Joey. "We never could teach him manners."

"No, it's fine," Adam said. Maybe these two could help him out. "I want Lance to record something with me, but I don't think I persuaded him yet."

"Really?" Joey looked surprised, but not hostile to the idea. "What do you have in mind? I mean, Lance likes those eighties power ballads and stuff, but he hasn't really done anything like that except at karaoke."

"Liz Phair's Flower," said Adam.

"Awesome!" There was the machine-gun laugh again.

"Interesting choice," said Joey, sounding doubtful. "It's not exactly your trademark sound, is it? I mean, there's not a lot of scope for, um, interpretation."

"I think I can do something with it," said Adam, grinning. "Besides, it wasn't my idea. Lance suggested it."

"Really?" said Chris, sounding absolutely enchanted. "Hey, Bass, get your ass in here!"

"Did we run out of something? What's wrong?"

"So how come you haven't given this guy an answer yet?"

Bass looked cornered. Adam felt a tiny bit guilty about that, but not enough to let him off the hook.

"I haven't exactly—"

"It's about time you got back in a recording studio," said Joey, helping himself to more of the evil prune things.

"Oh, like you can talk!"

"But we're not talking about me. We're talking about you—" he prodded Bass in the ribs, "being offered a chance to record with a hot new artist and apparently not saying yes."

"Particularly," said Chris, "when it was your idea."


Now, 'Bouquet' is a story with quite a lot of dialogue, and I'm pretty happy with most of it. This is from Lance's brunch party, and I really like the way Chris and Joey talk. The scene moves the action along, but I think it gives a nice look around at all the characters too. Adam is determinedly furthering his own agenda, Chris and Joey are firmly in support of Lance (whether he likes it or not), and I like the interaction between the three Nsync boys particularly.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

D and AC, please!

D. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Care to share one of them?

[pensnest]

Hmm... Well, there's the next episode of The Chronicles of Lancyn and Ser Chrisfer, a little bit started, and the final episode as well, which isn't started at all but which has some cracking scenes in my head, gah! I really have to write them in sequence, though, and I'm still not quite sure how to get to the meaty parts of the one I need to write next.

There's another Dragon Big Bang beginning to incubate, which will be the sequel to Dragon Country, probably written from Chris's point of view (I suspect he will be very irritated by Lance and Adam's telepathic bond), but although I know some of what happens, I haven't figured it all out yet. I need… something, not sure what. I've been looking into Chaos Theory, which at least would provide a very Kirkpatrick-esque title. I have no doubt that nothing will get written until I have a deadline, at which point there will be panic and madness.

There's also a little bit of nonsense involving Lance Bass being visited by someone from the Mirror Universe (although the visitor does not have a goatee). See Star Trek, ™. Want a teaser?

"How about a cup of coffee?"

"How about I turn on the light and get a good look at you?" Lance suggested.

"Yeah, yeah. I was just being nice. Taking things gently, you know?"

Lance reached over and switched on the light.

They stared at one another.

It was very, very strange. And—

"What happened to your nose?" the two Lances said, simultaneously.

Re: D. How many fic ideas are you nurturing right now? Care to share one of them?

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Nosejob jokes -- yes! Somehow they never get any less funny!

AC. If you could write the sequel (or prequel) to any fic out there not written by yourself, which w

[pensnest]

There is a story I have been meaning, in a rather vague way, to write a sequel to for some time. It's Give it a spin, written by Ephemera for MTYG 2011, and features Kevin teaching Chris ballroom dancing. As I've done a bit of ballroom dancing myself, I feel I ought to be able to think up some dance-related fun in Chris's lessons, and also some non-dance fun. Also, I was there when the story was conceived (I think - at least, it was in its infancy), and I think Ephemera would be okay with my input.