wherein Liz discusses a dilemma

[edenfalling]

So... my Yuletide recipient specifically requested world-building and OCs. I have a fragmentary story in this fandom that consists of nothing but world-building and OCs, which I started years ago and abandoned because A) it wants to be a novella at least, possibly a short novel, and B) I didn't think it had enough connection to canon for anyone besides me and maybe three other people in the world to want to read it.

BUT! The whole point of Yuletide is to write the story that maybe only three people in the whole world want to read, because they want to read it that much. So obviously I should drag my old fic out of storage, dust it off, fix the stupid squidgy bits that I'm sure have become apparent after years of distance, and finish it by Christmas.

ON THE OTHER HAND! The point of Yuletide is to write a new story specifically for your recipient, not to repurpose stuff you were writing anyway. So obviously it would be tacky in the extreme to drag my old fic out of storage and attempt to foist it on my recipient. Even if only the opening three scenes exist right now, at a grand total of 1,500 words, and I'm sure the story needs another 20,000 words to get much of anywhere useful.

...

You know what, I should write a different story first -- create a whole new OC and scenario in a different setting and time period -- and then come back and see if I can get anywhere with the old one.

Comments

[marbleglove.livejournal.com]

If you've written less than a tenth of it, and you weren't going to write the rest without prompting, then I think it probably still counts as a new story for your recipient, and the fact that you've spent years thinking through all the complexities, just means that it will be that much higher quality than anything rushed.

On the other hand, if you're not sure you'll be able to get anywhere with it, then yeah, probably better to start a new idea that you'll be able to deliver on time.

[edenfalling]

Oh, cool. I am never sure of the etiquette of these situations.

The story concept and the main characters are solid, but my focus and time management skills are perpetual weak areas. So yeah, I am going to write something different and shorter first -- I have an idea already, which is helpful -- and then tackle the metaphorical mountain if I still have time. :-)