Here I Am

 Saw this on a few people's journals and it's Friday, so why not?

Put a number in the comments and I’ll answer accordingly. The mission for those of us who answer the questions, should we accept it, is to stay positive about our writing and ourselves, but to also be fair about our shortcomings.

1. Of the fic you’ve written, of which are you most proud?
2. Favorite tense
3. Favorite POV
4. What are some themes you love writing about?
5. What inspires you to write?
6. Thoughts on critique
7. Create a character on the spot... NOW!
8. Is there a character you love writing for the most? The least? Why?
9. A passage from a WIP
10. What are your strengths in writing?
11. What are your weaknesses in writing?
12. Anything else that you want to know... (otherwise known as Fill in the Blank)

Happy New Moon day! I can only hope the movie is half as entertaining as the first one was, which has more to do with who I saw it with than the astounding acting and direction. but still, I love the books and therefore have a great amount of love for the movie(s).

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--Here's a great article from Huffington Post called "The Best Writing Tips." It's put together by someone who worked under Ginsberg and knew about his "Mind Writing Slogans." Two decades' experiences teaching poetics at Naropa Institute, half decade at Brooklyn College, and occasional workshops at Zen Center; Shambhala/Dharmadhatu weekends have been boiled down to brief mottoes from many sources found useful to guide myself and others in the experience of "writing the mind." --Allen Ginsberg

I've missed two days so far with mininanowrimo. It's sad, but sometimes it's inevitable. And I'm trying to focus on the positive. This has been a really crappy year in many ways and one of those turning-pages-moving-forward types as well, and this month, my little amounts for most of the days of November has been the most I've written since my mother died. So i'm not too upset with myself. And I'm really happy because I've got this basic idea and characters for a new novel. Who knows what will come of it, but I'm in that happy getting-to-know-my-characters place.

And have I mentioned how awesome my yuletide assignment is? I'm really looking forward to writing this. It's a pairing I love, but have never undertaken. And a few of the other fandoms, I know, just wasn't sure I could write. So who knows what will come out of it? I always enjoy yuletide. It's a lot of fun and it's in those smaller fandoms that don't always get notice written by brilliant (in my opinion) writers.

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Don't die from surprise everyone, but I actually have recs to go up at polyfandomrecs. I've slowly been reading and gathering, so most of the stories aren't new per se, but I wanted to wait until I had more than three recs. I might change that in the new year and just rec smaller amounts just to get them out there, but I'm OCD and like to have certain amounts that fit certain fandoms that fit other certain crazy criteria.

And on that note, I shall beg my leave until I've seen New Moon. Pray that the reason the woman in Whole Foods next to me was wearing a mask over her face was her own issues and not that I am now infected with plague.

So I can't stop staring at this picture of Jared taken by vorpalblades. He is so adorable. Just adorable. Can he come to Philadelphia?

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medie is hosting an impromptu multifandom drabble meme. Go play. I'm hoping to if I can get past my own writing laze of a block.

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Apparently, the whole slash vs. het & gen debate is alive and well. ladybug218 has opened up her journal for discussion of the topic (no flaming!) because she's as flummoxed as I am by the whole thing.

I'll never understand what's so horrible about het. I love the slash for a lot of pairings...but I also love the het. For me, it's all about character chemistry. And I get that we're all different and that different things ping for each of us...so why does it matter so much to some people that what works for one person is a het couple? Why is het so frowned upon by some people?

I guess it goes back to my belief that bad writing is bad writing. Slash writers aren't automatically better because they write slash and vice versa. You either are capable of writing a good story or you're not, and genre designation won't change that.

I'm extremely tired today. I attempted to go to bed at a reasonable hour, but like most Sunday nights, I couldn't fall asleep and kept tossing and turning. I really hate mornings, especially mornings I have to work.

I think I have figured out what I'm going to do for my Supernatural Big Bang. I started writing a scene of the What Is and Never Should Be from Sam POV piece, so I think I'm going to focus on that. If I find that I'm stuck, by starting early enough I might be able to switch to one of the other ideas. Though really, this is me. And early for deadline and me don't go together too often. People would start to think I'm a pea-pod person.

It's just I really, really want this fic set from before, during, and after that episode from Sam's POV. So I figure I might as well write it. At the very least, I'll enjoy my fic.

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( This is that writing meme I saw going around the friends list... )

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So Torchwood friends: Where is the good schmoop? Specifically, Owen-related schmoop? I'm cool with any pairing if it features Owen. Hee. I don't mind angst, hurt/comfort if it ends happily.

Originally, I was going to write a Supernatural, Sam/Dean story for undermistletoe. My prompt is Snow White and I figured I could try to work it into the storyline premise of Bedtime Stories. But I decided against that seeing as that ( in case this is still spoilery... )

So then I came up with a different idea based around the boys and the prompt, but I'm having trouble making it come out in a decent manner on the page.

So I'm thinking of maybe going with either Heroes or X-Men as the fandom. Maybe that will work a little easier...as I keep thinking, fairy tales was just done on Supernatural and it was done better than I can do it. Le sigh.

I really need to finish it though as I want to get it beta'd before my posting day of Monday. Must write. Must write. Must write.

Maybe I'll make it Peter/Nathan as really, my mechanism for coping from that episode on Monday night, is to want to write lots of Peter/Nathan living happily ever after.

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Is Supernatural new tonight? I thought the Christmas episode was next week, but some people have been mentioning tonight? I'm recording some Christmas movie if it's a repeat, but I will cry buckets if I end up with a cheesy holiday movie (Oh, I admit it, I love them all) but no Sam and Dean.

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Also with Supernatural: I know some of you have already responded and I have those saved/downloaded...but I'm working on a holiday project of sorts and was looking for which songs make you think of Sam and Dean's relationship?, whether it's wincesty or just brotherly.

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Finally, anyone know how to set up an RSS feed livejournal account. iamtheenemy and I were discussing possibly setting up a del.icio.us account for polyfandomrecs since we tend to save our recs until we have a batch, but we know some people like instant access...so we thought that might cover the best of both worlds.

I didn't manage to do the drabbles today, but I did get out the sn_holidays match ups. That's one fannish project done. Woo-hoo. Now, of course, I need to think about my assignment for it.

Work was crazy today. First day back after vacation compounded by the fact that my co-worker was out sick. I hope she's back tomorrow because it would be nice to have a few minutes of breathing time.

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When I got home, I watched last week's Chuck so that I'm ready for this week with Heroes. I really love and adore Chuck. If you're not watching it, I highly suggest you check it out. Cute, self-deprecating nerd becomes a spy and works with Jayne from Firefly. It's awesome and makes me very happy. I want to marry Chuck.

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In keeping with my habit of inserting Dean Winchester into every single thing in the world, I was catching up on Reaper and started thinking: What if Dean's time is up and he's ready, but the demon is overstepped by the devil, who wants Dean to put all his skills in hunting to work just dealing with escaped demons for him.

I must be stopped. Damn you, Dean Winchester, and your hold on my brain.

Because ladybug218 and I were already talking about creating a 'verse of fics for Supernatural based off 3.2 of this season. She understands my mad Daddy!Dean love and encourages me to write it. Heh.

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Okay, twenty minutes to kill before viewing my Monday night television (If I start at 8:40, I don't have to deal with evil commercials) so I will try to catch up on friends list.

Ciao darlings!

I have a whole paragraph of my story! Woo-hoo! Even better, vinylroad is going to write me Jo/John, with possession and John speaking Latin because we are dirty!wrong!bad girls who love John's voice. YUM. So yeah, anyone know Latin? Heh.

And then G-I-P. If you guys have read my Daddy!Dean stories, this is Nate as girlnotgone and I envision him. And I have another story idea planned for Nate with Hedda's approval and dudes...she has the most awesome of awesome stories planned. I cannot wait.

No, really, I am writing. Really.

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Anyone else ever heard the Puppini Sisters? They are a lot like a modern day Andrews Sisters and they have this awesome version of "Heart of Glass" - I'd upload it but I don't know how to make it an unprotected file on ITunes. Anyone know?

This was a completely lazy weekend on my part. Friday I saw the new Harry Potter movie. Yesterday, my sinuses were terrible so I pretty much slept most of my day away. When I was awake, I read a bit or watched the Lifetime Movie Channel's Christmas in July moviethon. Today, I was a little more productive at least. I did some laundry, straightened up my room, baked cupcakes, and updated my website with all the stories I've written since March. It wasn't a whole lot, but I still hate coding like whoa.

I also worked on some girl!Eric/Vince Entourage fic. I usually write stories in order, but this one...I just had this idea that would have to be set closer to the end of the story and decided to write it down before I forgot it. It's not too bad for a first draft. Also added another 500 words to Winchester Meets Halliwell. It's truly the neverending story. I think too big, my friends. I must stop that.

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I finally watched the first two episodes of Burn Notice and I love it. It's funny and smart. And I was hooked when the little boy was crying and Michael was like, "Are you crying? Please don't cry." Why do I love the emotionally retarded guys all the time? What does that say about me?

I still have this past Thursday's episode to watch and I'm very excited. And seriously, why do I think Dean Winchester would fit so well into the spy world? It's a sickness, people. I always insert Dean Winchester into *everything* - it's way past obsession.

Tonight there is new Entourage, Flight of the Conchords, and 4400, but I'm probably going to try to watch Psych and Eureka as I'm a tad bit behind on my television. And it doesn't help that the GH spin-off, NIght Shift features Patrick/Robin pretty predominantly, which means I had to watch it. I love Patrick/Robin and they're one of the only reasons I still watch GH these days.

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A few recs:

-vinlyroad has finished her Supernatural Sam/Jess/Dean story and it's awesome. The latest part is called The Odd Number. I suggest you read the other two stories in the series as well. I love her Jess and the dynamic she creates with the three of them. And really, I just love her style of writing. (And sure, I'm biased as her friend/beta, but it's good stuff yo!)

-shay_renoylds finished up Eating Gifted Children, the story I requested from her for Sweet Charity. It's a Heroes/Supernatural crossover featuring two of my favorite sets of brothers. It's a wonderful, fun read. I love it.

-iamtheenemy wrote some awesome Panic! fic, Counting Down the Days ‘Til You’re Walking Through My Door. It's Brendon/Ryan and it's hot and funny and Steph needs to write more often. ::prods her::

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Alrighty, I am going to try to catch up on friends list tonight and maybe do a bit more writing. Though chances are I'll read the friends list and then get distracted by my re-reading of Harry Potter for book seven.

Speaking of book seven, i do not want to be spoiled! Please cut anything that is spoilerish when you post it. And keep anything spoilery away from my journal. I would greatly appreciate that. I found out about book five's big spoiler because I was weak and it ruined the experience of reading it to an extent, just dreading what was coming...so yeah, I learned my lesson, so please help me out.

Tomorrow is back to work after four days out sick and the weekend. I'm seriously scared of what my in-bin and outlook is going to look like upon my return.

That said, I have accomplished a few things this weekend:

- room cleaned and laundry done
- finished a book on organization and have some ideas for how to do it
- watched a bunch of Arrested Development and allowed myself to start season one of CSI with my sister (because I need another freaking show)
- posted sam/dean schmoop, I Can Feel Your Heart Beat from a Thousand Miles
- began writing a Daddy!Dean fic in honor of father's day for iamentheos

Of course, none of these things were on my planned to-do list, but oh well. It was stuff I'm glad was accomplished nonetheless.

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Check out reel_spn if you get a chance. It's for Supernatural/CW RPS fic based around different movies. I swore to myself I wasn't going to take on any more challenges, but I saw Just Friends as a choice and had to have it. Any excuse to watch that movie again. Plus, the idea of Dean Winchester singing "I Swear" just makes me laugh and laugh.

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So I have a question to put out there regarding constructive criticism. Not so much how one feels about receiving it. If it's handled in a positive manner, I find that it's a great help to me personally.

That said, I never know how to react when someone provides it to something I'm done with. Because I do appreciate the feedback and knowing what works/doesn't work in a story...but at the same time, I'm not likely to go back and change anything in that story (more like keep it in mind for further times).

So how does one respond to constructive criticism in that situation?

I don't want to seem like I'm pissed off by the honesty (I appreciate it), but I'm also not going to change it at that point.

I think I've figured out my story for spn_heraea with iamtheenemy's help. It will end up the schmoopiest schmoop known to man, my friends. At first I was pondering my prompt and thinking, "How can I be bring the schmoop to this?" but now, I fear it might end up too fluffy. ::giggles:: Oh, Jesus.

Also, if you haven't checked the stories out and you read Sam/Dean? You must get over there when you get a chance. There is a ton of brilliant angst and schmoop fic being produced on a daily basis. And I'll admit it, I'm partial to schmoop (shocking, I know) because it makes me happy.

Tomorrow my goal is to write the first draft of it, barring utter head pain of today.

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I see the conversations going on about friending again and there is a great poll on the process at mskatej's journal.

It's one of those things where I understand all the sides of the issue, but I tend to think of mine, for the most part, as a reading list at its core. I use this journal for my fannish fun and that's how I tend to choose who I friend. Do I develop friendships and grow to care about the people on my list? Of course, and I would probably miss them/wish them best if we diverted in interests...but it doesn't bother me if someone I'm not that close to ends up defriending/not friending me. I read people who share fandoms/interests/make me think, and if we can create a friendship, that's great, but if we just remain random commenters, that's cool too.

Basically, if you're on my friends list over here, I find you interesting and enjoy reading your posts. I only filter out communities so I'm less likely to automatically friend back these days due to time constraints...so if you're here, I read you and try to comment. That said, there is no requirement from me to be friended back or expecting comments in order for you to remain on my list. Comments are always nice, but not necessary.

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Alrighty, I think my drugs are kicking in. I'm going to watch th E Hollywood True Story on Mickey Mouse Club because Tony! JC! Marc! Damon! I loved MMC from the beginning.

::is huge dork::

::stares at mood icon:: Dude, I need to use "hot" more often. Holy hell!