Weekly Check In

[norfolkdumpling.livejournal.com]

Hello Big Bangers!

It's that weekly check-in time again, so feel free to step on up and use the comments to tell us how you're doing.   Or, alternatively,  flail/cry/jump-for-joy/pour a large one (delete as applicable).   Got any questions you need answered?  Ask away!   Just want to chat about something that isn't the Pros Big Bang?  Well...we're probably OK with that too ;)

Let us know how things are going and give those cheerleaders a chance to shake their pom poms.  Go on - they really like an audience!

Finally,  here are 10 authors' 10 best tips for writing, as collected by The Guardian.

Happy writing, and happy weekend folks!

Comments

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

In panic mode here. I couldn't get started, then I did, and then I sent my fic to my beta who is basically happy with it but is going to send me minor stuff to correct - and now I'm in full-blown panic mode. Another friend says that's normal and she could be right. I'm terrified I've got research details wrong, not enough sex, the wrong length, the wrong plot, maybe the wrong fandom??? Hand-holding or pom-poms badly needed.

[sc-fossil.livejournal.com]

You'll be fine! *holds hands with moth* I have faith. You are NOT in the wrong fandom!

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

You haven't done a good job of the story if you haven't panicked at some point. ;) I always send my first draft to my beta with the note 'it's absolute rubbish and I expect you'll tell me I should just delete the lot and start over'. She, of course, always comes back and says 'stop being a fuckwit'. *g*

I bet your story is fabulous and I am dead certain you are not in the wrong fandom.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Panic is clearly part of the normal writing experience but why does it have to hit when you thought you'd finished?? I was definitely expecting a 'delete and start over' response but didn't get it.

It's a historical AU and somebody told me there's an expert in the period I've chosen who reads Pros fanfic so I expect that knowledge has fanned the flames of panic. Ordinary research, I can cope with. Experts - no way!!

I'm multi-fandom so at the moment I'm considering running away and concentrating somewhere else!!

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

You know, I think you have to worry more about the average reader than the expert. There's no way you're going to be able to include all the data the expert has spent years learning. As long as the reader doesn't say 'yeah, right' in derision, I think you're good to go.

Reading fiction always requires the reader to suspend their disbelief to a certain extent, and hey, even experts like to just kick back and enjoy the story sometimes. ;)

I know what you mean about wanting to run away and hide in another fandom, though. I do that after I've posted my big bang story usually. *g*

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Your reply is very comforting. Thank you!

[liriel1810.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it could help.

[margaret-r.livejournal.com]

Stop panicking!!! You have no need to panic, rather sit back and congratulate yourself on a job well done:) And have a Scotch.

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

Can't find the scotch. I found some honey liqueur from Pio Dao and it helped a bit.

[solosundance.livejournal.com]

If you're panicking, I'm wondering what I should be doing *g*

I sent my fic to my beta who is basically happy with it but is going to send me minor stuff to correct

See to me this sounds like grounds for celebration! Seriously though, I think these doubts are normal and part of the wonderful BB experience :D Maybe a third pair of eyes might reassure?

[moth2fic.livejournal.com]

I'm wondering if it's a punishment for finishing too early... I'm taken right back to my schooldays and the comments of 'well, if you've finished already it can't be very good' from teachers who expected their assignments to take a big chunk of time. And all those sayings like 'slow and steady wins the race'!

I will probably use at least one more pair of eyes, yes. That would be sensible.

And nobody else has any grounds for panic because we aren't even quite at the end of April yet!