Saturday night's all right

[itsallovernow]

Spent most of today at the studio, much of it playing my new doombek which is sort of tin and plastic, but was cheap and therefore rules. It will also allow me to annoy the neighbors on a level as of yet unheard. Between the drum and M's guitar and mini-amp, we shall be the hated ones in the building.

In addition to starting my new job on Wednesday, I also started my novel writing class. And I was "that" student in class. The one who kept piping up, who had too much to say, who was just way overenthusiastic, but dude, I'm excited. I've been wanting to take this class forever and now I just have to make the enthusiasm translate to the butt in the seat effort of writing.

I'm running smack into the "I'm writing a space opera and everyone else is writing the great american novel" thing that I was so afraid of and it's not so much that I'm getting this from outside, but from my own fears - that this thing is entirely derivative, that it'll be better in my head than on paper, that it has no plot, that I've bitten off more than I can chew. I need to just breath, and I need to just write and see what happens. I know that's the key. Writing, writing and more writing. And remembering to breathe.

If I can do 1000 words a day, even crappy words, I'll feel like it's time and money well spent. And if anyone wants to encourage me in the novel writing, assignments would be more than welcome. I'm going to start the novel post in a new LJ, as well. I'll post what I have so far, but scenes and assignments and questions and prompts would be welcome.

On the fannish front, I'd consider the Thelma and Louise Ficathon to be a rousing success. The stories have all been really intriguing and interesting, exploring new facets of these characters, these women and I'm so pleased with the participants!


cofax7 wrote me a fabulous Aeryn and Zoe piece, Contradanse, and I couldn't have asked for more! Truly.

Other than that, I'm mostly trying to make myself write and reading ltlj's "Retrograde" series, which I think is just stellar storytelling and I have no interest in SGA on screen. The fic draws me in, but the show still bores me. However, I really, really think that they should send Mitchell to SGA because despite the fact that I seem to have a Mitchell/Shephard kind, it isn't even a sex kink. It's largely a two guys hanging out and bonding kink. Because they're so pretty, and guys just being guys together is a turn on mentally and emotionally. In some ways, I'm not even a huge advocate of the sex although I very much liked the porny addendum to the series. Mostly I like the reluctant bonding, and I like how nice they look together.

Comments

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

is not Retrograde fucking FABULOUS??????? just killer storytelling.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

It is indeed. I'm utterly engrossed. And should probably send feedback indicating such!

ps

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

they *are* sending Mitchell to SGA. don't know what ep off the top of my head. i can go look if'n you want. there's spoiler pics up too. hang on.

Re: ps

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

pretty men here.


sorry, but i can't ever figure how to add pics in comments.

Re: ps

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Dude, I may be quietly hyperventilating in joy over here. Yeah, joy, that's what it is!!

Hee. Thank you.

Goes back to stare at the prety.

Re: ps

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

isn't it just, i dunno, breathtaking almost?

Re: ps

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

It certainly makes me gleeful.

Re: ps

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Loves you utterly for looking that up and posting the pics!! That will so be a night I make a point to watch SGA!!

Re: ps

[somedaybitch.livejournal.com]

:::beams:::

[kernezelda]

I love LTLJ's series, too. She's very solid and engrossing.

And Sheppard & or / Mitchell are a very fun pair of guys.

*clears throat* So are Sam and Dean in Supernatural...*

*smiles at you without any ulterior intentions of any kind*

[kernezelda]

Also, your novel will not be derivative any more than Shakespeare is derivative. Every story's been told, it's how you tell it and what of yourself you bring to it that makes it unique, and therefore valuable.

*hearts you and your little book too*

For you, I use Shippy Season 2 J/A icon.

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

Yes, what she said! My roommate and I had a long conversation about such things just last night, the conclusion of which was that most stories worth telling are worth telling many times in many different voices. And they're going to make us doctors in this literature stuff, so presumably we know...

Stop laughing.

Seriously, though, you're such a talented writer, and I have faith that what you write will be worth reading. And I'm glad this class looks good so far; I hope it's all you've been hoping for.

And I've probably got a shippy season 2 J/A icon in here somewhere, too. ;)

(er, and I presume it's obvious, but "you" here refers to Thea even though I'm technically replying to Kerne's comment. And I should really stop babbling at the flist after I've had a few beers...)

[raithen.livejournal.com]

you are a PhD candidate. Babbling is an occupational hazard! (Says one who was SUPPOSED to get one of them thar fancy pieces of parchment saying she knew about words and literatur and stuff, and instead, settled for another MA and a well-paying job and happiness ;).

Also, Thea, what she said!! It'll be great. Just WRITE dammit! ;) And be sure to let us know where the new LJ is so we can read along!

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't have the fancy piece of parchment yet, and each successive year of poverty does make that whole well-paying job thing more and more attractive! I fear the babbling is ingrained regardless, though. ;)

[raithen.livejournal.com]

for me year 7 was the watershed. the diss still wasn't done. my advisor was less than helpful. my topic bored me. I was poor. I was offered a job. et. voila ;)

Good luck to you!

what's your diss topic?

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Fortunately I'm only at year 3--or 5 if you count the MA--and so far I've rebounded from the various bouts of burnout.

My dissertation is on book reviewing and periodical networks in 1920s and 30s Britain. Though it doesn't really exist yet, beyond a proposal and a few file-folders worth of semi-disorganized notes.

[simplystars.livejournal.com]

the conclusion of which was that most stories worth telling are worth telling many times in many different voices

It's funny, because I believe this too... yet I just finished Life of Pi and I felt so disillusioned (though quite likely without much justification, considering the evidence when I looked into the matter) when it tuned out that a story I'd been so impressed with because of its originality and uniqueness had actually been sparked by a previous work.

I've been mulling it over with the intent to post once I've sorted out why I feel the way I do, and why I probably shouldn't.

But Thea, that in no way lets YOU off the hook. Derivative - *pfft*. If I had a stick I'd fwap you with it. :-P

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Loves Starsy! And happy Birthday dear! Feel free to request something as a prezzie if you'd like! Derivative is... legitimate I think. We borrow from each other, feed off each other and I know this. I'm just afraid it will be derivative bad, instead of derivative legitimate. And one way or another, the first draft always sucks and the only way to make it better is to write it down then make it what it should be, I guess.

[pellucid.livejournal.com]

Well, the sparking point behind the conversation with my roomie was Ian McEwan, and the relationship of Atonement and Saturday to prior writers, especially Virginia Woolf. And we agreed that McEwan (esp. Saturday) compares unfavorably to Woolf (though talk about aiming high) but that he's still totally worth reading, and there are things he's able to do that are fresh and interesting and non-derivative.

I'm trying to remember if I've ever had an experience of disappointment or disillusionment over reading something I knew or discovered to be based on something else. Nothing's coming to mind. I would imagine a big distinction for me, though, would be the extent to which the writer is self-conscious about her sources: does she borrow from another story without really acknowledging it, or is there a bit of a wink to the reader--sort of an "I know I'm doing this, and you know I'm doing this, but I've got a good reason for it." I find the latter more appealing and could see how the former might lead to a degree of readerly disillusionment. *shrugs*

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thanks hon. I go through these crises when I should just shut up and write this thing. And dude, loves shippy season 2 icon.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Loves Kerne utterly:) So very utterly. Loves the icon as well:)

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

But here's the thing about Supernatural - there're no women in the regular cast. And I just don't... I need that to stay engrossed. I'm sure it's fun, I'm sure it's entertaining, but I just can't get entirely engrossed in something that's pretty much female free on a regular basis.

The two leads also don't ping any of my mmmmm, yummy buttons. They're very pretty, but not... sexy. For me. I totally get that opinions on that are obviously varied:)

However, I may have to watch anyway. Just to keep up. And because the road trip, crappy motels, old car and cassette tape thing does ping for me:)

[boofadil.livejournal.com]

I'm going to start the novel post in a new LJ, as well. I'll post what I have so far, but scenes and assignments and questions and prompts would be welcome.

Is this something that anyone can read or is it going to be locked? Or I guess the real question I'm asking is, can I have access to that lj or is it going to be an, understandably, locked journal?

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

It'll be open to people who want to read it. Mostly, right now, it's a mess, so I hate to get anyone's hopes up!

i have a question...

[thehallway.livejournal.com]

...are you hoping to publish this at some point in the future? and does putting it up on-line, even in your own lj, negatively impact that? if that is what you hope to do.

i have a couple of hundred pages of a novel that is just sitting there daring me to finish it, and i've thought about putting it up for comments and feedback and prompts and such, but am wary of putting it up on line for any number of reasons.

i'd love to know what you think about this. and i'd love to follow along in the lj once you get it up and going.

Re: i have a question...

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

I'm going to put it on my own LJ and open it only to certain people, so I don't think there should be an copyright issues or... plagiarism issues (assuming anyone would want to). I wouldn't post it for the general public though.

If it ends up being something I like, then yes, I'd like to sell it. If not, then I'll move on to the next idea and hope that one turns out better.

Re: i have a question...

[se-parsons.livejournal.com]

Back in the old days, we used to always create special yahoo groups for betaing works for publication, invite only. That seems to work well, though you don't get fun icons like on LJ. I think it might offer more protection, too.

Re: i have a question...

[thehallway.livejournal.com]

thanks so much for the info.

aside from other issues, another question for me relates more to the ability to shop a manuscript that's been available for free on-line.

i've seen discussions floating around suggesting that a publisher won't look at something that's had ten percent of the work posted on-line.

i have no idea if that's an arbitrary assessment or not, true or not. does posting in yahoo groups negate that?

my concern is with protecting the author who hopes to publish. i'd hate to see anyone get to that point and then have a problem because of on-line posting.

or am i just really confused about that?

Re: i have a question...

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

I don't know the legal ramifications, but in my case, it wouldn't be open in general. It would be something very tightly controlled that allowed me to get feedback and harassment from my regular betas.

Those are good questions to ask and I'd be very interested in the answer.

Re: i have a question...

[se-parsons.livejournal.com]

I actually don't know how it effects it legally. But a closed-membership group would probably work the same as a workshop or something where the members met in the same room rather than virtually. You won't have it open to be read by passers-by, so it won't be "posted."

You might ask coffeeandink she's up on publishing issues.

[se-parsons.livejournal.com]

Go you, on the novel-writing. I hope the class helps you knock it out, because it really IS all about sitting down and working on it.

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I think the class is already helping. It's forced me to really put down on paper what I know about these characters and their story. Turns out, I know more than I thought. Even if it's a terrible book, if I can get it on paper, I'll be proud of myself.