danceswithgary: (John - Pensive)
I rework the same three sentences for the fifth time. *sigh*

I'll think I'll go wrap some Xmas gifts.
danceswithgary: (Cowboy Bunny)
I have 7/8ths of the next episode of Willoughby written, the file is open and waiting and, instead of finishing that up today, I was just upstairs folding clothes and plotting out an apocalyptic McShep based on Skyline. It would be a story I'd have a hard time selling as 'happy ever after' - no - it would definitely force me to put up big warnings that it was an exception to my rule.

&*@^%^$!!!!!

The movie was supposed to be simple background images and noise while I worked on my weekly icons for [livejournal.com profile] sga_icontest and [livejournal.com profile] mcshep_icontest - something I could watch on Netflix streaming while Gary was on his little two-day motorcycle trip and he wouldn't care if he missed it. I've been deliberately choosing movies and TV series to watch lately that shouldn't inspire McShep or CLex remixes because I already have too many that I've been struggling to finish.

I hate when this happens.

I need to finish the episode, then write Hell-Met by Moonlight, the Spook Me vampire!bug!John story I have plotted to go with my art piece for SGA Scare, then possibly finally finish Blood Debts for a CLex vampire entry in Spook Me, and then the Romcomorama stories then....

You get the picture.

If I'm lucky, I can emerge from my antihistamine-sedative-painkiller fog for a few hours a day and manage to get a few hundred semi-coherent words down. The last thing I needed was another bunny to fuzz my concentration - a so very dark poison-fanged bunny - although I must admit the vampire stories aren't exactly hearts and flowers either. :-(

*returns to fiddling with too many open files and laughing at puppies chasing a fly*
danceswithgary: (Rodney - Sleep)
Doesn't everything finally come together late yesterday afternoon for my [profile] sheppard_hc, the day before my sister, niece, and BIL arrive? It couldn't have given in a day earlier so that I didn't stay up past 1:00 AM typing and trimming and adding more? I even kept waking up to make notes in my PDA. I wrote 3000 words beginning to end yesterday and I think I'll end up posting late today after tweaking - with a wallpaper, of course :-D. I feel a little embarrassed at the pitifully short length when I see all the 16,000+ stories being posted, but I'm just glad I finished something before the deadline.

Now all I have to do is have the same thing happen for my [community profile] mcshep_match story which is sitting there with an outline and lots of notes and is due the tenth (or sooner).

Unfortunately, I've already used up two days of spoons this morning with a walk in the village with the dogs followed by a lightning-fast 'clean everything' tour through the house changing all the linens, chair and loveseat covers, and rugs, followed by vacuum and dust, followed by dog baths, followed by Gary's nasty-smelling bathroom scrub because the dogs get the bath water everywhere. I'm now perched on the edge of the loveseat trying not to get it grubby while I'm waiting for the fumes to clear enough to take my own shower.

I'll collapse for a while waiting for them to arrive, then Gary and BIL will take off for a weekend motorcycle ride and I get to take the dogs to obedience class. I should be able to manage that with my sister and niece's assistance, since the walk and bath will leave the dogs a little less hyper.

My sister and BIL will be departing Sunday leaving my 10-year-old niece behind for a two-week visit. It will be frustratinginteresting if my writing muse keeps poking me while I'm supposed to be paying attention to her. At least she loves the dogs and they should help keep her occupied. :-D

Hmmm, that was a less-than-coherent post. I hope the story doesn't look as disjointed when I read it through today. :-/
danceswithgary: (Clark - Glasses)
I could use some prompts for SV drabbles to be written before May 12th.

Anyone interested?

ETA: That would be CLex, of course. :-D
danceswithgary: (Clark - Think)
It helps if the damn thing actually highlights the part that's wrong.

What I mistyped (Word's feedback underlined):

"It not as if you have a hot tip you're working on right now, Lois."


Word suggests substituting you is.

You is? When would that ever be right outside of something like ...the machine behind you is working...?


After staring in disbelief for entirely too long, I finally noticed and corrected the real problem.

"It's not as if you have a hot tip you're working on right now, Lois."

Problem solved.

Assbackwards tool.
danceswithgary: (Cowboy Bunny)
Many of the bunnies hopping about in their cages on my hard drive are direct descendants of movies. Some are movies I've watched and thought had possibilities for one of my two OTP's, others are suggestions or requests from my readers. A few are captured from a comment or post on someone else's journal.

When I watch a movie for a remix or fusion, I'm on the lookout for characters that possess enough similarities to allow both men of my OTP's to retain their characters and still fit into the movie's basic plot. Details of the plot will change to accommodate and support the OTP's insertion or substitution, but both the movie and the OTP's need to be recognizable in the end.

Sometimes, there's no way to carry that off and I have to say goodbye to the bunny and let the requester know it won't work as they'd like. For example, I couldn't write CLex into 'The Thin Man' or 'Return To Me' and my remix of 'Beauty and the Beast' definitely wasn't the Disney version.

I just released Strange Days and sent it off with a few carrots and a pat on its not-so-fluffy little behind.

After watching it with Gary last night, we both agreed that while there were elements of John Sheppard in Lenny, especially Vegas Sheppard, there weren't enough. More importantly, the moment Angela Bassett walked on screen, she OWNED that movie. Any attempt on my part to alter her character or change the plot to emphasize Sheppard as Lenny or insert a McKay would be foolish. I toyed for a millisecond with writing a John/Teyla, but even that made me cringe. 'Mace' became who she was through a different journey than Teyla, and I couldn't take that away from either of them.

Now, I just have to wait for 'Blade Runner - The Final Cut' to get here. :-D
danceswithgary: (Cowboy Bunny)
I wish I could blame work or Gary or insomnia for my lack of productivity, but still disabled, Gary's been off riding his bike for almost two weeks and won't be back for almost another two, and I've been sleeping almost ten hours a day.

I suppose the sleep issue should be worrying me a little. I've been feeling a little worse than usual - probably a sinus infection - and I know I've been using sleep as an escape, a way to make time pass by since getting out of bed holds little attraction. Yes, I know that's a symptom of depression and I'm already on meds for that, so I'll be visiting the doctor so he can put me on antibiotics again and hopefully back in a better mood. Actually, I know it will, it's not as if I haven't been through this before.

Back to the writing. I've been doing the butterfly thing, fluttering between files and adding a paragraph here and there, but nothing that can be posted. Worse, I've woken up two days in a row with a very dark story poking at me and I'm afraid nothing will get anywhere unless I write it. I'm sitting here thinking that I'd have a hard time convincing myself, let alone my readers, that there's a 'happy' ending to it, even though my OTP ends up together and alive at the end. I thought To Race Apollo, Intentions, and The Seeds of Change were grim. *shudders at the unexpectedly dark place in my brain*

What I'm not going to do is post any new WIPs. The next update to a WIP will be to finish it. I'm determined to get at least one done in the next few weeks - likely The Kent Identity since that's the one I've gotten the farthest on lately.

At least I've been able to get a few pieces done in Photoshop, although even that's dropped off.

I'd really like my brain back on line sometime soon.
danceswithgary: (CLex - Impasse)
I've been reminded why I usually avoid offering my opinion on fannish activities outside my own.

Based on a post by an author on my flist, I posted explicitly stating that my fan works are not for profit and what I considered fair use of them. That was supposed to be the important theme of the post.

So much for trying to keep it focused on me and my opinions.

I'm tempted to go back and remove two other sections, but people have already responded and I try to avoid deleting what I've posted publicly - likely another mistake but I've always kept my writing and art posts public. The sections in question are the link to the Ebay listing and my statement that some other listed appeared to be the same. In addition, my opinion on a particular fanzine (which I have never named) asking me to participate could be (and probably was) misinterpreted and I have clarified it with an update.

It's worth stating again.

I'd also like to clarify that in the past fanzines were a vital part of a fan community that had few other outlets for collection and distribution. That has changed with the expansion of the internet and LJ, but the earlier 'zines are valuable and a tribute to dedicated fans.

There are legitimate fanzines for sale with appropriate credit and permission.

Please be very careful in accusing anyone of plagarism or theft or misuse. Make sure you have your facts straight and do your own checking, don't depend on anyone else's post to send you off on a witchhunt.

I am now backing away from this issue. Please be kind to each other.
danceswithgary: (CLex - Unhappy)
I'm exceedingly pissed off at one or more unknown offenders today.

One of the authors on my flist discovered an [link removed - listing has been removed and explanation offered by seller and accepted by author] for her work printed, bound and listed as a 'fanzine' without her knowledge. Although that particular listing now appears to have been pulled at her request, her journal has just been set to 'friends only' and, honestly, I don't blame her.

There are still other listings in that seller's store that appear to be the same type of ripoff. [ETA: The bulk of the listings appear to be legitimate and seller has explained items in question were purchased in bulk lot]

I have seen nasty comments made in the past about authors/artists pulling or f-locking their fanworks, and it's sad when it happens, but when someone else decides that placing the work on the internet means it's fair game for plagarism or making money off it without compensating the author/artist, then I can certainly sympathize with their decision.

I just went through my fic and art lists and added the following:

All works in this journal are NOT for profit - mine or yours.

I feel as though I shouldn't have had to explicitly state this - I've never charged anyone for my fan works and actually turned down an invitation to a fanzine because I disliked the idea that anyone would have to pay for my creations, even if it was purportedly just for production costs. Seeing the 'real' fanzines listed for sale in that Ebay store just adds to my personal reasons not to participate in such projects.

I pay for my journals and for my website and would/will never ask for donations to cover those costs. I've donated to archive sites in the past because I understand server space costs money and I plan to do the same when OTW is ready to accept my entries. I buy software and freeware and shareware and DVDs and CDs because I firmly believe those artists and producers and thousands of support people deserve to get paid for the work they do for a living so they'll keep on making lovely things to play with..

I do not charge for what I'm creating for my fandoms.

In return, all I ask is that no one else charge for my work either.

What I do allow and even encourage:

1. Do copy my fanworks down to your hard drives for your own use.

2. Do print out my fanworks for your own use.

3. Do use any of my art and icons (with credit to danceswithgary so other people know where to go to get more) as long as they're not designated with a 'do not copy' since they were made for special purposes or are gifts from other artists.

4. Do go ahead and archive to non-profit archives with proper credit as long as I'm notified (I currently archive to SSA and Wraithbait and will post to OTW)

5. Do enjoy what I'm making available to my fandoms because I've received so much enjoyment from other fans' work and am trying to give back.

/end diatribe

ETA 7/26: The author in question has updated with the seller's claim that they picked up the items at MediaWest and that they were not directly responsible for the theft.

I'd also like to clarify that in the past fanzines were a vital part of a fan community that had few other outlets for collection and distribution. That has changed with the expansion of the internet and LJ, but the earlier 'zines are valuable and a tribute to dedicated fans.

ETA 7/27: I've been asked to post a link to a list of legitimate fanzines (in this case Supernatural) that can be used to verify the legitimacy of a fanzine to avoid incorrectly reporting abuse to Ebay. Once again, let me emphasize there are fanzines that have been published with appropriate credit and permission and those should not be confused with any that are being sold without the author/artist's permission.

ETA 2- 7/27: For lists of published fanzines in other fandoms, go here.

http://morgandawn.dreamwidth.org/995000.html
danceswithgary: (John - Think)
Still feeling kind of crappy (elegant wording, hunh?) and hoping the second round of antibiotics will finally kick this infection to the curb. I have been writing, but diligently avoiding posting any more WIPs, as tempting as it is sometimes to get them out there.

I finished the first of the dogpile of SGA bunnies, Interlaced, although it's still hanging around and haunting me. I immersed myself so deeply in that one that I may need to do a DVD commentary to finally purge the thing from my head. It's too bad that it sort of tanked after all that work, but then I kind of expected it since it was partially written in first-person and the plot was very convoluted (as was the movie's). I did get some very nice comments, however, so it was worth it. Took a chance, now on to the next. :-D

I've also finished my [livejournal.com profile] artword entry, Beyond Roses, and as soon as my teammate, [livejournal.com profile] beet, finishes the art (I held her up because Interlaced possessed my brain and I didn't get enough of the story to her to work with), then that will be posted.

My copy of Farewell to Harry arrived from Amazon on Tuesday, and now I'm going to settle in and watch it again to find the right mood for cruising through A Stop At Willoughby, my SGA entry for [livejournal.com profile] enter_tzone. I've been jotting down J/R scenes all along, including the ending, now it's time to tie it all together.

The Night of the Trembling Tower is a little stalled, although I've been jotting down scenes for that, too. I just haven't found the right POV for that yet, simply because the exposition for the back story isn't coming together. It will I think, once it figures out how to make post-fall of Atlantis adventures humorous. I suspect black humor, at best.

I've also been creating covers for the submissions to [livejournal.com profile] enter_tzone entries, which is always fun. I love searching for the right elements that represent the story to me.

I must confess that CLex stories are going nowhere right now, although The Bourne Identity tape is sitting on top of my VCR making obscene gestures in my general direction. It'll happen, but I'm afraid I need these SGA stories out of my head first.

And now, I'll go and make with the writing!
danceswithgary: (Clark - Floor)
10,000 words and they're dangling over a pit in a Mayan death chamber and my fingers have gone numb.

I need sleep.

Tomorrow.
danceswithgary: (Default)
My daughter pointed me to the perfect comic describing both the McShep and CLex dynamic at its best. *grin*

God, I love writing these pairs.
danceswithgary: (Clark - Glasses)
Writing has been so difficult for me lately. My brain flits from story to story, never landing long enough for more than a sentence or two before taking off again. I know that a lot of it is due to being ill and issues with work - and the attendant depression, but that doesn't stop it from happening. Still, I'm close to finishing a 'supah sekrit' art/fic collaboration project that has been in the works for months. Really close, like 6-7 paragraphs from done.

That would be the final *^*&%$E sex scene, of course.

*sigh*

I occasionally ask myself in an incredibly whiny rasp, 'Why do I write anything above PG-13?'

Can we say masochist?

Well, I could if I could actually TALK. Six more weeks until I see the next specialist for the amazing missing voice. It's been almost a year since this started and it got old months ago.

Enough of that.

Back to Clark and Lex and sex. *grin*
danceswithgary: (Cowboy Bunny)
I'd really like to finish something today, but I'm under attack by bunnies that wouldn't let me sleep last night. *sigh*

Well, actually I have finished something - two somethings - one yesterday and one today. They're SGA challenge pieces, though, and I have to wait for my co-challengers to finish their parts so we can post. It was actually kind of cool working on them because one is a written remix of my fic Refining Gold using another artist's unrelated artwork and the other is a rework of the cover for Refining Gold for another author's unrelated fic. The idea was to incorporate elements from the other fic/artwork in the remix/rework.

I'm about halfway through a CLex songfic and researching the obnoxious SGA bunny for the latest [livejournal.com profile] sga_flashfic Five Things challenge due tomorrow. In addition, I really have been plugging away on Nothing But Air and hope to post an update this weekend.

I also made notes on another CLex songfic (a possible sequel to Lightning Strikes) and another SGA Five Things fic that I don't think will get written this time around, but will go on the back burner for a future challenge.

Oh, and I have 10 fics waiting to be archived on my website, SSA or Wraithbait, and LexSlash.

Hmmm. I think I'm a little busy over here. That's a good thing.

*nods earnestly in attempt to convince self of same*

I really haven't been a slug this year, even though it's been a while since I posted.

Fics completed in 2008: 33
Challenge fics submitted in 2008: 12
Total words posted in 2008: 177150

Total stories completed since start (Sept 2006): 85
Total words posted since start (Sept 2006): 754360
danceswithgary: (Clark - Glasses)
It certainly isn't what I've been doing any decent amount of recently.

I've been struggling with multiple health issues and, as a result, I've only been reading a lot of fanfic and finally watching the SGA DVDs I bought months ago. I just finished season 3 and season 4 is on its way from Amazon. I do have all sorts of lovely ideas swirling around in my brain (for both SV and SGA) - I just need to get them into a usable form.

Since I'm now on antibiotics - again *sigh* - the next few days are going to be rough, but hopefully then I'll be back on track for writing.

Coolness

Jul. 9th, 2008 01:55 pm
danceswithgary: (Default)
I'm mainlining SGA on my home laptop while working on database queries on my work laptop. Working from home certainly has its high points.

Just like I did with SV, I actually started writing it before I'd watched more than the pilot. I've been saturated with McShep fanfic and am now watching so I can hopefully pick up some different nuances/perspectives to work with. Fun!

I'm also tinkering with Nothing But Air, Sole Survivor, and Lived By The Sea, as well as an independent project.

Too bad my voice is still gone, otherwise I could add recording to the mix. *grin*
danceswithgary: (Clark - Glasses)
Today is my first day back in the office after sixteen days working at home or on vacation. Yuck. It's such a pain having to actually get dressed in something other than my comfy clothes and have to sit on a desk chair instead of my couch. Figuring out how to make a living writing becomes more appealing every day. I don't know how well I'm going to handle it when Gary retires in December, and I have to face the prospect of him being 'free' while I'm still a wage slave. *sigh*

Lying in bed this morning, with the windows open and birdsong insisting that it was time to get up - even if the sun was barely peeking over the horizon -it struck me how much I'd enjoyed the pleasant morning sounds in Prague. Our hotel was on a side street well away from the main thoroughfares, so the noise was a gentle hum interpersed with the occasional bang of a door or low-voiced discussion in Czech that floated up to our third-floor room. Our window looked out over a courtyard and, as people began to trickle in for the breakfast buffet, we could hear the clink of cups and silverware, and their murmured conversation. The sun didn't shine in directly on our bed, but the light was still luminous most mornings, a gentle wake-up call. It's good to be home, but I loved Prague while I was there.

Thinking about the pictures Gary took, I was reminded that one of the side trips we missed because London was cancelled was a tour of Saffron Walden. I'd thought it would be neat to explore the real-life setting I used (well, at least one of them) for Destiny Wears A Disguise. I'd envisioned using the photos as background to a sequel where Clark wanders through the village, Audley End, and possibly the abbey, remembering the past - including the duel of honor that Lex fought and lost. Then I remembered all my WIPs and the two stories I'm in the middle of right now and haven't posted anything on - yet, and put the sequel back in the future's pile where it's been living.

It's good to know my muse hasn't deserted me, and I'm very glad I haven't committed to any challenges. With luck, maybe I'll get something written today! :-D
danceswithgary: (Clark - Glasses)
This second SGA fic that I'm writing for the Kink/Cliche Challenge? The one that - thank goodness - [livejournal.com profile] svmadelyn is giving us more time to submit on? I'm seriously thinking I may need to let it simmer some more and let my two submissions stand as-is. This one is an extra because I've already met my commitments - on time.

This fic is NOT crack!fic, it's actually quite angsty, which shouldn't be a big surprise. I do tend to write those. The problem is that it's changed direction on me three times already. That's usually a hint that I'm not there yet. *frowns* I really like the underlying premise, I'm just having a hard time articulating it the way I want. Oh well, now that I've whined about it, it will probably settle down and behave.

In the meantime, I still have Two Years From Tomorrow which is due on 6/3 and I'm sure my beta would appreciate it before then, so I guess I'll mosey on over to work on that more seriously than the notes I've been dropping into the file for weeks.

11 days until we leave for Prague!
danceswithgary: (Clark - Glasses)
Yes, I thought we could, because there's one sitting in my chair. *sigh*

Just...uninspired. Not even a song!fic teasing me right now. Oh, I'm writing little bits here and there on my challenges and did a couple of banners and have been beta'ing, but nothing significant. Haven't even wanted to make icons.

I've been trying to move forward on the WIPs, too. I feel VERY guilty about Nothing But Air - I won't be putting myself up for bid again because it's taking me so freaking long to finish it, although I will. The problem is there's obviously something wrong/missing with the plot that hasn't worked itself out in the back of my mind, the same with The Kent Identity. I know it should be simple - they're remixes - but I do try to make sure they're CLex remixes with a twist, so not that simple at all. I know I'm going to wake up one morning and the pieces will be there, I'm just getting ticked off that it hasn't happened yet.

Something positive...need to find something positive...my voice! It's slowly coming back. Still cracks and fades out, but getting there. Gary being gone the last 3 days has left me with no reason to talk to anyone, so it's gotten a lot of rest, even though the rest of me hasn't :-D

There! That was positive!

Now I'll go and write some more. *nods head confidently*
Powered by Dreamwidth Studios