... signifying nothing

[michelel72]

Yeah, no comment on the start of the quotation giving this post its title.

My currently active story now has 13,800 words of setup. I have 13,800 words leading me to "okay, and now what?" I have the gimmick fully established ... and no idea what to do with it.

I mean, I've got an idea of a plot to round it out with, but boy howdy is it tired. I guess it'd work, but if I'm having trouble caring ... meh.

If anybody out there is really, really bored and actively interested in trying to figure out a decent direction to take a strange (not-so-)little post-Trinity story, do please feel free to drop me a note. Otherwise, hey, maybe this'll finally let me move to a different story. So, not all bad, right? ... sigh.

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Comments

[maribella008.livejournal.com]

I don't know your sub-fandom well enough to inquire specifically, but I do feel your pain in a general sense - I'm currently in a similar place (on a pinch hit no less). I'm meditating on something that seems a little helpful

"What keeps a soap opera running for 20 or 30 years? (I know, stay with me here) Questions. What keeps a reader turning pages? Questions. It doesn't make sense, and isn't much fun, to create or retell w/o that ingredient. We grow to love stories because of their characters, events, and wisdom, but most of us read them through the first time to find answers to the questions the story raises."

in terms of thinking of what questions I want readers to be dying to have answered by the time fic is over.

"Otherwise, hey, maybe this'll finally let me move to a different story."
Now reeeeeeaaaaaalllllly hoping I didn't just derail
*ducks* *runs*

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

Oh, I do appreciate the perspective. In my case, the big question ends up being "... okay, so what happens now?", which I can't answer, which is the problem! But looking at it from this angle, I realize that I've deliberately answered the "how did this happen" questions as I've gone along (in really freaking annoying omniscient interludes), because I didn't think the timelines worked for an in-story explanation. I think I can use a very slightly different angle, answer the questions with the story itself, and punt those damn interludes. I lose a couple of lines I like but can stop cringing; worthwhile to me.

I'm going to see what my two lovely volunteers think, but this definitely is more promising than what I had. And since I need to retrack the plot, I think I can get my brain to shunt this one to the "back-of-brain" processor so that the more interesting ones can shove forward. Thank you!

[sentientcitizen]

Don't know how helpfull I'd be with your need-a-direction thing, but I'm always willing to read your writing. I'd love to take a shot at it, if you like.

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

You're a dear! Is there an email address I could send an MSWord doc to, or would you prefer a friends-filtered LJ post, or ...? Thank you!!

[sentientcitizen]

OneSentientCitizen [at] gmail [dot] com is my prefered mode of communication. :) I'm looking forward to reading it!

[valleya.livejournal.com]

Michele, I would have some time this weekend to read it if you like. I'm in the mood for some great Michele fic! Send it on if you like.

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

You are fantastic! I will tweak a bit and send by email, unless you let me know prefer a friends-filtered LJ post kind of thing. Thank you so much!

[sophia-sol.livejournal.com]

If you're still in need of another perspective, I'd be very happy to take a look and add my two cents! (...I'm a sucker for post-Trinity stories) Though if the input of your other volunteers has been sufficient to help you figure out where to go, that's cool too.

[michelel72.livejournal.com]

You're a dear! I've forwarded you the file and my problems with it. If you don't get a chance, that's fine, but I'd love to know what you think. Thank you!