2015 writing roundup and analysis
Jan. 2nd, 2016 12:33 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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A Year in Writing: 2015
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JANUARY
Fanfiction:
The Moons of Skaia -- Homestuck, 2,450 words. Twelve sweeps after the Collapse, Justiciar Redglare came to the moons of Skaia on the trail of Her Imperious Condescension. Written for chthonianCrocuta in Ladystuck 2014.
New Roots -- Homestuck, 2,300 words. I think a fic with gardener Jade and author Rose would be nice. Perhaps Rose was buying flowers for her mom, or Rose simply keeps a garden at home. Maybe Jade could be the person who helps Rose out, then discovers that Rose was the person who wrote Jade's favorite book. Written for![[archiveofourown.org profile]](https://p2.dreamwidth.org/b164c54b26e4/-/archiveofourown.org/favicon.ico)
Ghost_Assist in Ladystuck 2014.
The Rule of Threes -- Homestuck, 1,375 words. The day Aradia Megido arrived in New York, three important things happened, though she only noted two at the time. Humanstuck. Written forChameleonSerket in Ladystuck Treats 2014.
Sandedge -- Homestuck, 1,325 words. Unfortunately, when you turn around, you realize the cave was already occupied. Fortunately, the occupant can be reasoned with. (AKA, the Dolorosa meets the Disciple.) Written forratherrumpus in Ladystuck Treats 2014.
Three Sentence Ficathon:
persuasion -- Homestuck, 150 words. Alpha!Rose considers her work.
Suspect Methodology -- Star Trek: AOS, 150 words. Gaila, Nyota, and Spock apply the scientific method to sex.
Unweaving -- Arthurian Mythology, 225 words. Merlin was not content with asking. Implied Nimue/Merlin.
By Its Cover -- Chronicles of Narnia/Harry Potter, 150 words. Edmund and Ginny have a minor disagreement over what counts as a big stick.
Whither Thou Goest -- Sailor Moon, 125 words. In which Michiru is a mermaid and Haruka becomes a sailor. Haruka/Michiru.
Hierogamy -- Chronicles of Narnia, 150 words. There is only ever one human family allowed to live in Narnia. Susan & Edmund, implied incest.
Fanfiction: 8,400
Original Fiction:
The Queen in Waiting -- Sunbright & Shadowfall, 425 words. Sunbright has a complicated relationship to the prophecy that shaped her life. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 425
January Total: 8,825
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FEBRUARY
Fanfiction:
Three Sentence Ficathon:
Sisterhood -- Star Trek: AOS, 200 words. Gaila braids Nyota's hair.
Loving-kindness -- King Lear, 125 words. Regan and Goneril loved their sister, once.
Interesting Times -- Chronicles of Narnia, 725 words. "I am never getting on a ship with you again," Susan proclaimed with great and injured dignity as their Galman merchant transport and its piratical attacker sank, smoldering, into the seas off the western shore of Terebinthia.
Be Prepared -- The Homeward Bounders, 175 words. A demon hunt goes wrong. Joris & Konstam.
Gladly Beyond -- Homestuck, 250 words. Dave and Rose visit Hellmurder Island. Alpha Timeline Fluff.
The Grandmother's Tale -- Howl's Moving Castle, 150 words. "Will you take the path of pins or the path of needles?" the wolf asks the girl in the old story, but Sophie missed her moment to step into that dance.
Cat Among the Pigeons -- Harry Potter, 125 words. Baby names are serious business, except when they're really not. Background Harry/Ginny.
Domesticity -- Sailor Moon, 100 words. "When did you turn me into a responsible adult and how did I not notice this happening?" Haruka/Michiru.
As the Storm and the Lightning -- LotR, 125 words. Galadriel takes up the Ring. Dark.
That You Won't Let Show -- Yu-Gi-Oh!, 175 words. Anzu starts a ballroom dance club at school.
Come In, She Said -- Captain America, 100 words. Steve and Natasha play Twenty Questions. Implied Natasha/Steve.
Needs Must -- Charlotte's Web, 100 words. Not all fonts translate well from ink to spider webs.
Twice Shy -- White Collar, 125 words. Neal's past makes submission difficult. El/Neal/Peter.
Negative Example -- LotR/Chronicles of Narnia, 150 words. All worlds find a Ring, soon or late, and no Ring serves aught but destruction. Dark.
Missed Connections -- BtVS, 225 words. Sometimes Giles sees echoes of himself in Faith.
Rosebuds While Ye May -- Sailor Moon, 100 words. Chibiusa in the past.
Further Down and Further In -- Chronicles of Narnia, 175 words. This is the secret the dwarfs keep to themselves: the earth itself is alive.
Following the Girl -- Guardians of the Galaxy/Star Trek: AOS, 1,225 words. "Let me make sure I've got this straight: your universe-jumping doohickey just happened to activate at the same moment Gamora caught the Tesseract, and that means she got zapped to wherever your lost crewmember is, and you wound up here instead?" Vaguely implied Peter Quill/Jim Kirk.
Fanfiction: 4,350
Original Fiction:
Empty Hands -- Firsthome, 325 words. Ekanu finally tells Kadeotak that she's going to leave home. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 325
February Total: 4,675
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MARCH
Fanfiction:
Mycophilia -- Homestuck, 300 words. Rose tells Kanaya about a weird sex dream. [15-minute fic]
Three Sentence Ficathon:
The Company of Trees -- Guardians of the Galaxy/Star Trek: AOS, 1,600 words. This was Gamora's universe, but she acted more out of place and isolated than Gaila. She held herself clenched tight like she was in enemy hands and opening would be to invite poison into her veins. Fortunately Gaila had years of practice forming out-nets and in-nets with aliens. Implied Gaila/Gamora.
Nasty, Disturbing, Uncomfortable Things -- Chronicles of Narnia/Oz, 150 words. Susan does not like flying monkeys.
To Breathe Free -- Chronicles of Narnia, 150 words. Susan sails home from America.
classic detective games -- Homestuck, 100 words. Terezi and Dave play Clue.
Such a heart in my bosom -- Macbeth, 125 words. Lady Macbeth has no children.
Maybe not with actual flowers -- Discworld, 100 words. Polly and Mal attend a diplomatic conference.
Usurpation -- Oz, 150 words. Glinda prefers not to be ruled.
Is that what you really want? -- Hamlet, 100 words. Gertrude finds her land a king.
Fanfiction: 2,575
Original Fiction:
Ripples in Time -- Firsthome, 425 words. Ekanu takes a class on the history of the Three Day Revolution and the end of the Estarin Empire. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 425
March Total: 3,000
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APRIL
Fanfiction:
Things To Do Post-Sburb When You're Bored -- Homestuck, 575 words. Rose said later that "I was really fucking bored" was insufficient explanation or indeed justification for the First Triennial Human/Troll Flashstepping Competition. A ficlet in two parts. [prompt!fic for![[tumblr.com profile]](https://www.tumblr.com/favicon.ico)
madamehardy]
The Law of Conservation of Mangrit -- Homestuck, 15,300 words. It starts out ironically, of course, but by the time Dave's wearing a corset and a swanky evening dress and Terezi's in a three-piece suit, Jade wants nothing more than to get them both into bed as soon as possible. Jade/Dave/Terezi, explicit sex.
Tomorrow's Memory -- The Darkangel, 425 words. Because she had stopped counting the passing of daymonths after reaching one thousand, Aeriel could scarcely believe the change wrought in Avaric. [prompt!fic for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rosaxx50]
Fanfiction: 16,300
Original Fiction:
Tooth and Claw -- Sunbright & Shadowfall, 500 words. Sunbright is twelve when she first kills another human. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 500
April Total: 16,800
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MAY
Fanfiction:
Give Place Unto Wrath -- Daredevil, 775 words. It's not about vengeance, Matt tells himself. His anger isn't the point. The point is justice. [15-minute fic]
The Snow Queen: A Story in Six Parts -- Homestuck, 6,650 words. Back in the days when meteors still fell from the sky in dozens at a time, a girl and a boy grew up next door to each other in the shadow of a fallen city. They were as close as sister and brother (And maybe they were! It's hard to say, since so many people lost their families back then and were taken in by strangers), and in three seasons of the year they played together every day in the garden around the girl's house, where nothing grew but roses and even they were mostly thorns. Of course, it couldn't last. Beta kid OT4 friendship, written forlight_rises in Betapalooza 2015.
The Going Rate -- Daredevil, 575 words. "Penny for your thoughts?" Karen says from the doorway, a determined lightness in her voice that's both honest and false at the same time. Matt & Karen friendship. [15-minute fic]
Fanfiction: 8,000
Original Fiction: none
May Total: 8,000
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JUNE
Fanfiction:
Winter in the Shade -- Chronicles of Narnia, 525 words. Years later, Edith still missed the crisp silence of that handful of days, the clear cadence of Jadis's voice as she talked about Charn, about law, about power. About magic. (Part of the As the Morning and the Night genderswap AU) [15-minute fic]
Now and at the Hour of Our Death -- Daredevil, 800 words. Before she died, Matt's grandmother used to look after him in the afternoons and evenings, while his dad worked a series of short-term jobs. She wasn't as strict about homework as Matt's dad, but she was strict in other ways. [15-minute fic]
Hold These Truths -- Naruto, 2,850 words. Sakura and Sasuke thwart an assassination attempt on Naruto during a political rally. SasuSaku, implied NaruSasuSaku. Part of the Summer Camp & Politics AU. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic foraskerian]
Visiting Narnia -- Chronicles of Narnia, 900 words. Aravis, Cor, and Corin visit Narnia for the Summer Festival. The story I didn't write forFiKate last summer in the 2014 Narnia Fic Exchange. Fragment.
Until the Day Breathes and the Shadows Flee -- Daredevil, 1,425 words. Being with Matt is still a terrible idea, but Claire can find some compensations. Matt/Claire, foreplay. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [kinkmeme prompt!fic]
They Have To Take You In (A Sheepish Story) -- The Dark Is Rising, 1,700 words. After the events of The Dark Is Rising, the Black Rider calls the White Rider for help. This is only amusing for one of them. Written forGramarye in Remix Redux 12.
Narutostuck: Damaged Goods -- Homestuck/Naruto, 3,425 words. After the revolution, Karkat is assigned to a special forces training team with Terezi Pyrope and Dave Strider. He'd never admit it, but they might be the least bad of his possible options. (They might even agree.) Contains mentions of past torture.
Follow the Story (One Queen, Bearing Gifts) -- Chronicles of Narnia, 1,825 words. On Ramandu's island, Lucy and the Star's daughter speak of stories, choices, and new beginnings. Written forrthstewart in Remix Madness 2015.
Fanfiction: 13,450
Original Fiction:
Signs and Portents -- 1,000 words. Aujae and Laura regroup after a dangerous encounter with the Keeper's enemies, and build on their fragile trust. Sequel to Utilitarian Virtue. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic forcherokee1]
Original Fiction: 1,000
June Total: 14,450
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JULY
Fanfiction:
Narutostuck: Culture Shock -- Homestuck/Naruto, 275 words. The thing about Abyss, the part no outsider understands, is that it wasn't horrible at all. It was family. Dark. [15-minute fic]
Those Who Favor Fire -- Daredevil, 700 words. When Karen was six years old, she decided she was going to be a dragon when she grew up. She still remembers the bitter sense of betrayal when her mother told her dragons weren't real. [15-minute fic]
Or Wonder, Till It Drives You Mad -- Chronicles of Narnia, 300 words. Shezan and Ilgamuth talk of paths not taken. [15-minute fic]
A Moral Decision in One Eighth of a Second -- Daredevil, 1,850 words. Karen thinks her phone is lost or stolen. It turns out her bosses simply borrowed it... which may not actually be an improvement. [kinkmeme prompt!fic]
Testify to Time's Relentless Melt -- Daredevil, 450 words. The reason for some of Karen's photos, as mentioned in A Moral Decision in One Eighth of a Second. [request!fic forFreyalyn]
Before the Dawn -- Chronicles of Narnia, 575 words. Rabadash and Shezan share a few private words on the eve of his coronation. [15-minute fic]
An Elephant with Laryngitis -- Homestuck, 625 words. Jade brings Davesprite to LOFAF on a quest to recreate her eclectic bass. Naturally they get derailed by tangents. Light Davesprite/Jade. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [15-minute fic]
Fanfiction: 4,775
Original Fiction: none
July Total: 4,775
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AUGUST
Fanfiction:
The Golden Age: A Historical and Cultural Survey -- Chronicles of Narnia, 225 words. An excerpt from the introduction to The Golden Age: A Historical and Cultural Survey, published by the University of Redhaven in the year 1667. [15-minute fic]
Engendered by Disquiet -- Stargate: SG-1, 350 words. Some days, Earth still seems like a children's tale to Vala. [prompt!fic forkk-maker]
The Inauspiciousness of the Owl -- Labyrinth, 125 words. Jareth dislikes the implications of his other shape. [prompt!fic formadamehardy]
The Movement of Sound To Reach the Soul -- Guardians of the Galaxy, 600 words. Peter finds some new music for the Milano. It's not what Gamora was expecting. [prompt!fic fortoxinvictoria]
Like a Sinking Star -- Lucifer, 200 words. Mazikeen and Lucifer in the garden. [prompt!fic forrosaxx50]
I Have a Secret -- The Dark Is Rising, 200 words. Jane plans to study archaeology. She'll explain about the 'underwater' part some other day. [prompt!fic forrosaxx50]
When a Princess Royal -- The Darkangel, 500 words. On the night of her many-times-great niece's birth, Aeriel listens to a storyteller in Pirs. [prompt!fic forrosaxx50]
White Lady of the Eastern Sea -- Chronicles of Narnia, 1,725 words. In the third year of her conquest, Jadis locked Aslan out of Narnia and plunged that country into endless winter. But there are other powers in the world, and not all of them are pleased at the sudden changes. Written forredsnake05 in the Narnia Fic Exchange 2015.
The Mystery of Mount Pire -- Chronicles of Narnia, 2,600 words. Aravis joins Lucy and Susan on a winter exploration of Archenland. Written forHeliopause in the Narnia Fic Exchange 2015.
A Heady Draught -- Chronicles of Narnia, 475 words. The Fauns of Narnia attempt to reclaim their winemaking heritage after the long winter. Bacchus takes an interest in the results. Written forsongsmith in NFE Madness 2015.
Fanfiction: 7,000
Original Fiction: none
August Total: 7,000
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SEPTEMBER
Fanfiction:
Kiss the Bride -- Chronicles of Narnia, 425 words. Corin proposes to Susan. [prompt!fic for![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
madamehardy]
In Sure and Certain Hope -- Homestuck, 275 words. Does a funeral really count if you know the person it's for will resurrect tomorrow? Beta kid friendship. [prompt!fic forshinyrock6498]
Under Pressure -- Naruto, 400 words. Sakura will survive until her teammates dig her out. Part of the Tides AU. [prompt!fic forbranchandroot]
Literal Interpretation -- Homestuck, 675 words. John has some questions about the repercussions of going God Tier. Davesprite and Jade are less than helpful. Tales from the Yellow Yard. [prompt!fic foraskerian]
Freedom Ride -- Homestuck, 425 words. Aradia and Kanaya, in the moments before a guerrilla raid on Battleship Condescension. [prompt!fic forgracefularchitect]
Tall Ship of War -- Chronicles of Narnia, 225 words. Shezan and Ilgamuth discuss types of watercraft as the Narnian delegation arrives in Tashbaan. [prompt!fic forautumnia]
My Sorrow's Share -- LotR/Silmarillion, 125 words. Arwen's view of her uncle's choice changed over time. [prompt!fic formarycontrary]
Crowning Glory -- Chronicles of Narnia, 625 words. Edmund combs Susan's hair. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic forcat_i_th_adage]
Picture Perfect -- Homestuck, 150 words. Davepetasprite takes up an old hobby in a new medium. [prompt!fic forprimtheamazing]
Pay It Forward -- Naruto, 1,150 words. Yukiko and Iruka discuss educational opportunities and the lack thereof. Part of the Apartment Manager AU. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic forwistfulmemory]
Mischief Night -- Naruto, 550 words. The night before they return to Konoha for real, Team 7 blow off some steam by reversing their old genin missions. Part of the Tides AU. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic foreos_joy]
Necessary Measures -- Homestuck, 200 words. Kanaya takes steps to end a recurring argument. [prompt!fic forprimtheamazing]
In Abeyance, In Arrears -- Homestuck, 150 words. If Bro had smiled, even once... [prompt!fic for anonymous on Tumblr]
Fanfiction: 5,375
Original Fiction: none
September Total: 5,375
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OCTOBER
Fanfiction:
Broken If Revealed -- Daredevil, 2,150 words. Karen discovers Foggy's catastrophe contingency plans, and a number of secrets come out in the process. [prompt!fic forshinyrock6498]
An Unorthodox Pedagogical Approach -- Naruto, 300 words. Naga and Kakashi take their genin teams on a joint D-rank mission. There is no way this can possibly go wrong. Part of the Apartment Manager AU. [prompt!fic forwistfulmemory]
Part of Your World -- Homestuck, 675 words. Rose asks Jade to move in with her. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic forgracefularchitect]
Only Children -- Homestuck, 650 words. The thing is, Roxy never really wanted a sister. She wanted her mom. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [15-minute fic]
Fanfiction: 3,775
Original Fiction: none
October Total: 3,775
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NOVEMBER
Fanfiction:
And Beat Them Backward Home -- Homestuck, 625 words. Aradia's friends come to check up on her and make sure her brush with magic hasn't backfired. Sequel to Untimely Ripped. [15-minute fic]
Three Sentence Ficathon:
gentility is relative -- Harry Potter, 150 words. "The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read."
good night till it be morrow -- Labyrinth, 150 words. A morning after. Jareth/Sarah.
Fanfiction: 925
Original Fiction:
A Dream of Heat -- Intarre, 325 words. Tom Redding endures a test in the desert of Mur. [15-minute fic]
Correspondence -- Intarre, 525 words. Ri-Lady Lourdés Rodelay receives bad news from home. Tom does what he can to be there for her.
Original Fiction: 850
November Total: 1,775
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DECEMBER
Fanfiction:
Can't Catch Me -- Homestuck, 375 words. "Jade," she asked, eyes slowly surveying the remains, "what happened to the lab?" Jane & Jade. [prompt!fic forgracefularchitect]
Zombie Pigeons; or, A Step Too Far -- Daredevil, 350 words. Karen knew it was going to be a long day when the second zombie pigeon lumbered around the corner. [prompt!fic forshinyrock6498]
The Guardian in Spite of Herself, chapter 16 -- Naruto, 4,450 words. The reward for a job well done is a bigger job. In this case, Ayakawa Yukiko's new job is a lot more complicated than anyone expected. The Uchiha massacre and its aftermath, in the Apartment Manager AU.
Echoes of the Past -- The Dark Is Rising, 2,275 words. Bran and Will have settled happily into ordinary lives, until Jane calls with news of a brewing magical catastrophe on the Isle of Wight. Written forharborshore in Yuletide 2015.
The Shattering of Stone -- Daredevil, 2,125 words. Matt opened a rift to the middle world to get relief from his own dark realm and the futility of arguing with Vanessa and Wilson over the injustices created by their settlement after the war. He expected a quiet morning alone. What he found was better. [kinkmeme prompt!fic]
The Transient and the Eternal: Stop that -- Angel Sanctuary, 2,950 words. Kira takes Setsuna and Sara into the city to forget about their parents' impending divorce.
Of Ill Repute -- Daredevil, 400 words. Karen has a reputation again. [15-minute fic]
Three Sentence Ficathon:
life lessons -- Naruto, 200 words. Be good, be smart, be pretty, be lucky: a kunoichi's instruction manual.
reciprocity -- Mad Max: Fury Road, 100 words. A small kindness on the road. Max & Furiosa.
at the stroke of midnight -- Sailor Moon, 150 words. Playing Cinderella at the ball, and after. Haruka/Michiru.
like silence, but not empty -- Inception, 125 words. What's happy about rain? Arthur/Ariadne fluff.
firsts -- Star Trek: AOS, 225 words. Nyota's first time in space. Gaila/Uhura.
the real treasure -- Homestuck, 250 words. Dave is a dashing pirate! (Karkat disagrees.)
can't take you anywhere -- Guardians of the Galaxy, 225 words. In retrospect, bringing a sentient tree into a bookshop wasn't the best idea.
in sunshine and in shadow -- Captain America/Jessica Jones, 150 words. Steve and Trish drag Bucky and Jessica on the most awkward double-date in history.
in a yellow wood -- Harry Potter, 250 words. In another life, Petunia has a niece instead of a nephew.
images unseen -- Daredevil, 175 words. The midterm project for Matt's urban studies course involves making and presenting his mental map of St. Joseph's campus.
in exchange, a bride -- Chronicles of Narnia, 175 words. The escape from Tashbaan fails. Susan pays the price. Dark.
everything that you wanted -- Labyrinth, 75 words. Dreams are better won than given. Implied Jareth/Sarah.
a minor glitch in the itinerary -- Doctor Who, 150 words. "Someday," Martha said, "just once, you are going to land us on a planet at the correct relative time of day."
none of these rescues, please -- Enchanted Forest Chronicles, 425 words. Daystar didn't think he'd ever met a princess who wanted to be a novelist before.
I lift my lamp -- Mad Max: Fury Road, 175 words. Electricity is rare these days, but there are still satellites overhead and some signal in the static.
shall be reborn -- Mad Max: Fury Road, 125 words. Furiosa leads a caravan back to the wreckage two days later -- sooner than she should, but symbols are important.
more precious than rubies -- Sailor Moon, 125 words. Rei used to love rubies.
Fanfiction: 16,025
Original Fiction: none
December Total: 16,025
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2015 Fanfiction: 90,950
2015 Original: 3,525
2015 Total: 94,475
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ANALYSIS
As always, I count words by posting date rather than writing date, which can give somewhat misleading results if you are trying to track my periods of greatest productivity.
I signed up for five fic challenges/exchanges this year: Betapalooza, Remix Redux, Narnia Fic Exchange, Yuletide, and Ladypalooza. I completed Betapalooza, Remix (plus a treat), NFE (plus a pinch hit and a treat), and Yuletide. My Ladypalooza fic is not due until Monday. (I did, however, finish last year's Ladystuck fic, plus a pinch hit and two treats last January, so I trust I will manage at least the basic assignment again this January.) I also started filling my second Cotton Candy Bingo card, over a year late.
I don't think there was any particular theme to my year, unless you count grim determination to keep writing despite my continuing employment woes and a resulting slide into prolonged mild situational depression. I wrote an awful lot of short prompt!fic, which may have been a response to the way depression tends to, well, depress my ability to generate my own ideas and my ability to maintain interest in any story past a certain length of time/number of words. I did also manage to write some snippets of original fiction -- not nearly as much as I would have preferred, but something is better than nothing and ficlets can be a useful first step in reviving dormant stories of greater length.
Did you write more than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted?
---Any year I write under 100,000 words, I am disappointed in myself. Granted, circumstances were not in my favor, since even though unemployment and underemployment leave a lot of time on my hands, those conditions also make me feel relatively crappy which is not conducive to creative activity. But I did hope I'd make my minimum and am annoyed at myself for not setting a better routine. (If nothing else, regular creative effort is an excellent pick-me-up, so you'd think I'd work harder to prioritize it. *sigh*)
What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted last year?
---The MCU version of Daredevil! First of all, I hadn't seen it last year since it was only released in April. Second, I have trouble making myself sit down and watch audiovisual media, no matter how interested I am in the stories on offer. And third, even when I do watch a movie or some episodes of a television show, I tend not to write much for those canons because they are harder to review for nitpicky little details. (I can thumb through a book to find an obscure reference in five minutes. Finding an equally obscure thing in a multi-episode show? Where do you even start?)
But as I said in a slightly flippant response in July, I was really not expecting to like the show as much as I did, but, um. Moral ambiguity, anger issues, obsessive determination (which applies to more characters than just Matt), plus lots of up close and personal violence? Yes, hello, you have dialed the direct line to my id. The lizard brain wants what it wants, you know? And it's been a fun ride so far. :D
Also the three-sentence ficlets for Mad Max: Fury Road, for pretty much the same reasons.
Did you take any writing risks this year?
---Not particularly, unless picking up "The Guardian in Spite of Herself" after a three and a half year gap counts.
Do you have any fanfic or original fic goals for the coming year?
---In a general sense, write more words than this past year! I'll settle for my usual goal of 100,000 if I need to, but I'm going to aim for 120,000 and try to be more organized about reaching in.
On the fanfiction front, I want to write at least six more chapters of "Guardian." I also want to finish "The Transient and the Eternal" and post all the component fics over on AO3. On the original fiction front, I'd like to finish "Harvest" (an Ekanu Thousandbirds story I've been somewhat desultorily working on for over a decade) and nail down a functional outline for "Sunbright and Shadowfall."
Favorite story -- not the most popular, but the one that makes you happiest
---I am very fond of "The Moons of Skaia," "Hierogamy," "As the Storm and the Lightning," "The Going Rate," "Winter in the Shade," "They Have To Take You In (A Sheepish Story)," "The Golden Age: A Historical and Cultural Survey," "The Movement of Sound to Reach the Soul," "White Lady of the Eastern Sea," "in a yellow wood," and "images unseen." I don't think I can narrow it down further.
Best story
---I am not impressed by the technical skill of anything I wrote this year, probably because most things I wrote this year are very short and the longest one was basically porn. I guess I'd go with either "They Have To Take You In (A Sheepish Story)" or "White Lady of the Eastern Sea," which are the most complete thoughts among the greater-than-ficlet-length pieces. If we're including the mini-ficlets, there is definitely something to be said for "Hierogamy," "As the Storm and the Lightning," and "in a yellow wood," which all convey a distinct thought in the most compact manner possible.
Apparently this was my year for writing slightly disquieting short fics, in addition to my regularly scheduled "yay friendship is awesome!!!" short fics.
Most underappreciated by the universe
---None, really, which was nice. Thank you to everyone who commented or clicked a like/kudos button. :D
Most "Holy crap, that's wrong, even for you" story
---I think either "Hierogamy" or the tiny duology of "As the Storm and the Lightning" and "Negative Example," though "Narutostuck: Culture Shock" is also pretty creepy from the right angle. (On a more humorous note, if you count desecration of childhood favorites as wrong, you could go with Glinda the Good's turn as a villain in "Usurpation." *evil grin*)
Sexiest story
---Presumably either "The Law of Conservation of Mangrit" or "Until the Day Breathes and the Shadows Flee." If those fics aren't sexy, they are failing at their entire purpose in life since they are, respectively, happy threesome porn that accreted a bunch of context, and extended touch-based foreplay.
Hardest story to write
---Fucking "Guardian," because of that three and a half year gap. Rereading over 60,000 words to figure out where I was and where I was going was a pain and a half. Then I edited them. And then I opened the new chapter with a relatively complicated fight scene even though I hadn't written any fight scenes in ages, because that was what the story demanded at that point. It took me six months from deciding to restart work to completing the new chapter and overhaul of the existing story. But I got there!
Easiest story to write
---Oh, I don't know. Pick a random prompt!fic out of a hat and I won't argue.
Most fun to write
---Let's go with "The Snow Queen: A Story in Six Parts," because mangling fairy-tales is always fun. :D
Most disappointing
---Any WIP I didn't finish! *headdesk*
Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters
---Probably any Daredevil fic featuring Karen Page (most specifically "Those Who Favor Fire," "A Moral Decision in One Eighth of a Second," "Testify to Time's Relentless Melt," and "Of Ill Repute") which is not surprising since I wrote them largely to figure out how I saw her.
Story with the single sweetest moment
---Considering one of my main themes is human connection and I deliberately write fluff for Cotton Candy Bingo, there are a LOT of sugary moments in my work (though often liberally mixed with mild to moderate angst). I guess if you held me at gunpoint, I'd go with "The Movement of Sound to Reach the Soul," "The Company of Trees," or the duology of "New Roots" and "Part of Your World."
Biggest surprise
---All the Daredevil stories, obviously!
Most revealing story
---"White Lady of the Eastern Sea," I think -- less for the story itself and more for the accompanying notes about why I ended up writing it the way I did. My religious issues, let me show them to you. *wry*
---------------------------------------------
And that is that for the year.
2013 version
2012 version
2011 version
2010 version
2009 version
2005 version
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A Year in Writing: 2015
---------------------------------------------
JANUARY
Fanfiction:
The Moons of Skaia -- Homestuck, 2,450 words. Twelve sweeps after the Collapse, Justiciar Redglare came to the moons of Skaia on the trail of Her Imperious Condescension. Written for chthonianCrocuta in Ladystuck 2014.
New Roots -- Homestuck, 2,300 words. I think a fic with gardener Jade and author Rose would be nice. Perhaps Rose was buying flowers for her mom, or Rose simply keeps a garden at home. Maybe Jade could be the person who helps Rose out, then discovers that Rose was the person who wrote Jade's favorite book. Written for
The Rule of Threes -- Homestuck, 1,375 words. The day Aradia Megido arrived in New York, three important things happened, though she only noted two at the time. Humanstuck. Written for
Sandedge -- Homestuck, 1,325 words. Unfortunately, when you turn around, you realize the cave was already occupied. Fortunately, the occupant can be reasoned with. (AKA, the Dolorosa meets the Disciple.) Written for
Three Sentence Ficathon:
persuasion -- Homestuck, 150 words. Alpha!Rose considers her work.
Suspect Methodology -- Star Trek: AOS, 150 words. Gaila, Nyota, and Spock apply the scientific method to sex.
Unweaving -- Arthurian Mythology, 225 words. Merlin was not content with asking. Implied Nimue/Merlin.
By Its Cover -- Chronicles of Narnia/Harry Potter, 150 words. Edmund and Ginny have a minor disagreement over what counts as a big stick.
Whither Thou Goest -- Sailor Moon, 125 words. In which Michiru is a mermaid and Haruka becomes a sailor. Haruka/Michiru.
Hierogamy -- Chronicles of Narnia, 150 words. There is only ever one human family allowed to live in Narnia. Susan & Edmund, implied incest.
Fanfiction: 8,400
Original Fiction:
The Queen in Waiting -- Sunbright & Shadowfall, 425 words. Sunbright has a complicated relationship to the prophecy that shaped her life. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 425
January Total: 8,825
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FEBRUARY
Fanfiction:
Three Sentence Ficathon:
Sisterhood -- Star Trek: AOS, 200 words. Gaila braids Nyota's hair.
Loving-kindness -- King Lear, 125 words. Regan and Goneril loved their sister, once.
Interesting Times -- Chronicles of Narnia, 725 words. "I am never getting on a ship with you again," Susan proclaimed with great and injured dignity as their Galman merchant transport and its piratical attacker sank, smoldering, into the seas off the western shore of Terebinthia.
Be Prepared -- The Homeward Bounders, 175 words. A demon hunt goes wrong. Joris & Konstam.
Gladly Beyond -- Homestuck, 250 words. Dave and Rose visit Hellmurder Island. Alpha Timeline Fluff.
The Grandmother's Tale -- Howl's Moving Castle, 150 words. "Will you take the path of pins or the path of needles?" the wolf asks the girl in the old story, but Sophie missed her moment to step into that dance.
Cat Among the Pigeons -- Harry Potter, 125 words. Baby names are serious business, except when they're really not. Background Harry/Ginny.
Domesticity -- Sailor Moon, 100 words. "When did you turn me into a responsible adult and how did I not notice this happening?" Haruka/Michiru.
As the Storm and the Lightning -- LotR, 125 words. Galadriel takes up the Ring. Dark.
That You Won't Let Show -- Yu-Gi-Oh!, 175 words. Anzu starts a ballroom dance club at school.
Come In, She Said -- Captain America, 100 words. Steve and Natasha play Twenty Questions. Implied Natasha/Steve.
Needs Must -- Charlotte's Web, 100 words. Not all fonts translate well from ink to spider webs.
Twice Shy -- White Collar, 125 words. Neal's past makes submission difficult. El/Neal/Peter.
Negative Example -- LotR/Chronicles of Narnia, 150 words. All worlds find a Ring, soon or late, and no Ring serves aught but destruction. Dark.
Missed Connections -- BtVS, 225 words. Sometimes Giles sees echoes of himself in Faith.
Rosebuds While Ye May -- Sailor Moon, 100 words. Chibiusa in the past.
Further Down and Further In -- Chronicles of Narnia, 175 words. This is the secret the dwarfs keep to themselves: the earth itself is alive.
Following the Girl -- Guardians of the Galaxy/Star Trek: AOS, 1,225 words. "Let me make sure I've got this straight: your universe-jumping doohickey just happened to activate at the same moment Gamora caught the Tesseract, and that means she got zapped to wherever your lost crewmember is, and you wound up here instead?" Vaguely implied Peter Quill/Jim Kirk.
Fanfiction: 4,350
Original Fiction:
Empty Hands -- Firsthome, 325 words. Ekanu finally tells Kadeotak that she's going to leave home. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 325
February Total: 4,675
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MARCH
Fanfiction:
Mycophilia -- Homestuck, 300 words. Rose tells Kanaya about a weird sex dream. [15-minute fic]
Three Sentence Ficathon:
The Company of Trees -- Guardians of the Galaxy/Star Trek: AOS, 1,600 words. This was Gamora's universe, but she acted more out of place and isolated than Gaila. She held herself clenched tight like she was in enemy hands and opening would be to invite poison into her veins. Fortunately Gaila had years of practice forming out-nets and in-nets with aliens. Implied Gaila/Gamora.
Nasty, Disturbing, Uncomfortable Things -- Chronicles of Narnia/Oz, 150 words. Susan does not like flying monkeys.
To Breathe Free -- Chronicles of Narnia, 150 words. Susan sails home from America.
classic detective games -- Homestuck, 100 words. Terezi and Dave play Clue.
Such a heart in my bosom -- Macbeth, 125 words. Lady Macbeth has no children.
Maybe not with actual flowers -- Discworld, 100 words. Polly and Mal attend a diplomatic conference.
Usurpation -- Oz, 150 words. Glinda prefers not to be ruled.
Is that what you really want? -- Hamlet, 100 words. Gertrude finds her land a king.
Fanfiction: 2,575
Original Fiction:
Ripples in Time -- Firsthome, 425 words. Ekanu takes a class on the history of the Three Day Revolution and the end of the Estarin Empire. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 425
March Total: 3,000
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APRIL
Fanfiction:
Things To Do Post-Sburb When You're Bored -- Homestuck, 575 words. Rose said later that "I was really fucking bored" was insufficient explanation or indeed justification for the First Triennial Human/Troll Flashstepping Competition. A ficlet in two parts. [prompt!fic for
The Law of Conservation of Mangrit -- Homestuck, 15,300 words. It starts out ironically, of course, but by the time Dave's wearing a corset and a swanky evening dress and Terezi's in a three-piece suit, Jade wants nothing more than to get them both into bed as soon as possible. Jade/Dave/Terezi, explicit sex.
Tomorrow's Memory -- The Darkangel, 425 words. Because she had stopped counting the passing of daymonths after reaching one thousand, Aeriel could scarcely believe the change wrought in Avaric. [prompt!fic for
rosaxx50]Fanfiction: 16,300
Original Fiction:
Tooth and Claw -- Sunbright & Shadowfall, 500 words. Sunbright is twelve when she first kills another human. [15-minute fic]
Original Fiction: 500
April Total: 16,800
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MAY
Fanfiction:
Give Place Unto Wrath -- Daredevil, 775 words. It's not about vengeance, Matt tells himself. His anger isn't the point. The point is justice. [15-minute fic]
The Snow Queen: A Story in Six Parts -- Homestuck, 6,650 words. Back in the days when meteors still fell from the sky in dozens at a time, a girl and a boy grew up next door to each other in the shadow of a fallen city. They were as close as sister and brother (And maybe they were! It's hard to say, since so many people lost their families back then and were taken in by strangers), and in three seasons of the year they played together every day in the garden around the girl's house, where nothing grew but roses and even they were mostly thorns. Of course, it couldn't last. Beta kid OT4 friendship, written for
The Going Rate -- Daredevil, 575 words. "Penny for your thoughts?" Karen says from the doorway, a determined lightness in her voice that's both honest and false at the same time. Matt & Karen friendship. [15-minute fic]
Fanfiction: 8,000
Original Fiction: none
May Total: 8,000
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JUNE
Fanfiction:
Winter in the Shade -- Chronicles of Narnia, 525 words. Years later, Edith still missed the crisp silence of that handful of days, the clear cadence of Jadis's voice as she talked about Charn, about law, about power. About magic. (Part of the As the Morning and the Night genderswap AU) [15-minute fic]
Now and at the Hour of Our Death -- Daredevil, 800 words. Before she died, Matt's grandmother used to look after him in the afternoons and evenings, while his dad worked a series of short-term jobs. She wasn't as strict about homework as Matt's dad, but she was strict in other ways. [15-minute fic]
Hold These Truths -- Naruto, 2,850 words. Sakura and Sasuke thwart an assassination attempt on Naruto during a political rally. SasuSaku, implied NaruSasuSaku. Part of the Summer Camp & Politics AU. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic for
askerian]Visiting Narnia -- Chronicles of Narnia, 900 words. Aravis, Cor, and Corin visit Narnia for the Summer Festival. The story I didn't write for
Until the Day Breathes and the Shadows Flee -- Daredevil, 1,425 words. Being with Matt is still a terrible idea, but Claire can find some compensations. Matt/Claire, foreplay. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [kinkmeme prompt!fic]
They Have To Take You In (A Sheepish Story) -- The Dark Is Rising, 1,700 words. After the events of The Dark Is Rising, the Black Rider calls the White Rider for help. This is only amusing for one of them. Written for
Narutostuck: Damaged Goods -- Homestuck/Naruto, 3,425 words. After the revolution, Karkat is assigned to a special forces training team with Terezi Pyrope and Dave Strider. He'd never admit it, but they might be the least bad of his possible options. (They might even agree.) Contains mentions of past torture.
Follow the Story (One Queen, Bearing Gifts) -- Chronicles of Narnia, 1,825 words. On Ramandu's island, Lucy and the Star's daughter speak of stories, choices, and new beginnings. Written for
rthstewart in Remix Madness 2015.Fanfiction: 13,450
Original Fiction:
Signs and Portents -- 1,000 words. Aujae and Laura regroup after a dangerous encounter with the Keeper's enemies, and build on their fragile trust. Sequel to Utilitarian Virtue. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic for
cherokee1]Original Fiction: 1,000
June Total: 14,450
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JULY
Fanfiction:
Narutostuck: Culture Shock -- Homestuck/Naruto, 275 words. The thing about Abyss, the part no outsider understands, is that it wasn't horrible at all. It was family. Dark. [15-minute fic]
Those Who Favor Fire -- Daredevil, 700 words. When Karen was six years old, she decided she was going to be a dragon when she grew up. She still remembers the bitter sense of betrayal when her mother told her dragons weren't real. [15-minute fic]
Or Wonder, Till It Drives You Mad -- Chronicles of Narnia, 300 words. Shezan and Ilgamuth talk of paths not taken. [15-minute fic]
A Moral Decision in One Eighth of a Second -- Daredevil, 1,850 words. Karen thinks her phone is lost or stolen. It turns out her bosses simply borrowed it... which may not actually be an improvement. [kinkmeme prompt!fic]
Testify to Time's Relentless Melt -- Daredevil, 450 words. The reason for some of Karen's photos, as mentioned in A Moral Decision in One Eighth of a Second. [request!fic for
Before the Dawn -- Chronicles of Narnia, 575 words. Rabadash and Shezan share a few private words on the eve of his coronation. [15-minute fic]
An Elephant with Laryngitis -- Homestuck, 625 words. Jade brings Davesprite to LOFAF on a quest to recreate her eclectic bass. Naturally they get derailed by tangents. Light Davesprite/Jade. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [15-minute fic]
Fanfiction: 4,775
Original Fiction: none
July Total: 4,775
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AUGUST
Fanfiction:
The Golden Age: A Historical and Cultural Survey -- Chronicles of Narnia, 225 words. An excerpt from the introduction to The Golden Age: A Historical and Cultural Survey, published by the University of Redhaven in the year 1667. [15-minute fic]
Engendered by Disquiet -- Stargate: SG-1, 350 words. Some days, Earth still seems like a children's tale to Vala. [prompt!fic for
The Inauspiciousness of the Owl -- Labyrinth, 125 words. Jareth dislikes the implications of his other shape. [prompt!fic for
The Movement of Sound To Reach the Soul -- Guardians of the Galaxy, 600 words. Peter finds some new music for the Milano. It's not what Gamora was expecting. [prompt!fic for
Like a Sinking Star -- Lucifer, 200 words. Mazikeen and Lucifer in the garden. [prompt!fic for
rosaxx50]I Have a Secret -- The Dark Is Rising, 200 words. Jane plans to study archaeology. She'll explain about the 'underwater' part some other day. [prompt!fic for
rosaxx50]When a Princess Royal -- The Darkangel, 500 words. On the night of her many-times-great niece's birth, Aeriel listens to a storyteller in Pirs. [prompt!fic for
rosaxx50]White Lady of the Eastern Sea -- Chronicles of Narnia, 1,725 words. In the third year of her conquest, Jadis locked Aslan out of Narnia and plunged that country into endless winter. But there are other powers in the world, and not all of them are pleased at the sudden changes. Written for
The Mystery of Mount Pire -- Chronicles of Narnia, 2,600 words. Aravis joins Lucy and Susan on a winter exploration of Archenland. Written for
A Heady Draught -- Chronicles of Narnia, 475 words. The Fauns of Narnia attempt to reclaim their winemaking heritage after the long winter. Bacchus takes an interest in the results. Written for
Fanfiction: 7,000
Original Fiction: none
August Total: 7,000
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SEPTEMBER
Fanfiction:
Kiss the Bride -- Chronicles of Narnia, 425 words. Corin proposes to Susan. [prompt!fic for
madamehardy]In Sure and Certain Hope -- Homestuck, 275 words. Does a funeral really count if you know the person it's for will resurrect tomorrow? Beta kid friendship. [prompt!fic for
Under Pressure -- Naruto, 400 words. Sakura will survive until her teammates dig her out. Part of the Tides AU. [prompt!fic for
branchandroot]Literal Interpretation -- Homestuck, 675 words. John has some questions about the repercussions of going God Tier. Davesprite and Jade are less than helpful. Tales from the Yellow Yard. [prompt!fic for
askerian]Freedom Ride -- Homestuck, 425 words. Aradia and Kanaya, in the moments before a guerrilla raid on Battleship Condescension. [prompt!fic for
Tall Ship of War -- Chronicles of Narnia, 225 words. Shezan and Ilgamuth discuss types of watercraft as the Narnian delegation arrives in Tashbaan. [prompt!fic for
autumnia]My Sorrow's Share -- LotR/Silmarillion, 125 words. Arwen's view of her uncle's choice changed over time. [prompt!fic for
marycontrary]Crowning Glory -- Chronicles of Narnia, 625 words. Edmund combs Susan's hair. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic for
cat_i_th_adage]Picture Perfect -- Homestuck, 150 words. Davepetasprite takes up an old hobby in a new medium. [prompt!fic for
Pay It Forward -- Naruto, 1,150 words. Yukiko and Iruka discuss educational opportunities and the lack thereof. Part of the Apartment Manager AU. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic for
wistfulmemory]Mischief Night -- Naruto, 550 words. The night before they return to Konoha for real, Team 7 blow off some steam by reversing their old genin missions. Part of the Tides AU. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic for
eos_joy]Necessary Measures -- Homestuck, 200 words. Kanaya takes steps to end a recurring argument. [prompt!fic for
In Abeyance, In Arrears -- Homestuck, 150 words. If Bro had smiled, even once... [prompt!fic for anonymous on Tumblr]
Fanfiction: 5,375
Original Fiction: none
September Total: 5,375
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OCTOBER
Fanfiction:
Broken If Revealed -- Daredevil, 2,150 words. Karen discovers Foggy's catastrophe contingency plans, and a number of secrets come out in the process. [prompt!fic for
An Unorthodox Pedagogical Approach -- Naruto, 300 words. Naga and Kakashi take their genin teams on a joint D-rank mission. There is no way this can possibly go wrong. Part of the Apartment Manager AU. [prompt!fic for
wistfulmemory]Part of Your World -- Homestuck, 675 words. Rose asks Jade to move in with her. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [prompt!fic for
Only Children -- Homestuck, 650 words. The thing is, Roxy never really wanted a sister. She wanted her mom. Cotton Candy Bingo fill. [15-minute fic]
Fanfiction: 3,775
Original Fiction: none
October Total: 3,775
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NOVEMBER
Fanfiction:
And Beat Them Backward Home -- Homestuck, 625 words. Aradia's friends come to check up on her and make sure her brush with magic hasn't backfired. Sequel to Untimely Ripped. [15-minute fic]
Three Sentence Ficathon:
gentility is relative -- Harry Potter, 150 words. "The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read."
good night till it be morrow -- Labyrinth, 150 words. A morning after. Jareth/Sarah.
Fanfiction: 925
Original Fiction:
A Dream of Heat -- Intarre, 325 words. Tom Redding endures a test in the desert of Mur. [15-minute fic]
Correspondence -- Intarre, 525 words. Ri-Lady Lourdés Rodelay receives bad news from home. Tom does what he can to be there for her.
Original Fiction: 850
November Total: 1,775
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DECEMBER
Fanfiction:
Can't Catch Me -- Homestuck, 375 words. "Jade," she asked, eyes slowly surveying the remains, "what happened to the lab?" Jane & Jade. [prompt!fic for
Zombie Pigeons; or, A Step Too Far -- Daredevil, 350 words. Karen knew it was going to be a long day when the second zombie pigeon lumbered around the corner. [prompt!fic for
The Guardian in Spite of Herself, chapter 16 -- Naruto, 4,450 words. The reward for a job well done is a bigger job. In this case, Ayakawa Yukiko's new job is a lot more complicated than anyone expected. The Uchiha massacre and its aftermath, in the Apartment Manager AU.
Echoes of the Past -- The Dark Is Rising, 2,275 words. Bran and Will have settled happily into ordinary lives, until Jane calls with news of a brewing magical catastrophe on the Isle of Wight. Written for
The Shattering of Stone -- Daredevil, 2,125 words. Matt opened a rift to the middle world to get relief from his own dark realm and the futility of arguing with Vanessa and Wilson over the injustices created by their settlement after the war. He expected a quiet morning alone. What he found was better. [kinkmeme prompt!fic]
The Transient and the Eternal: Stop that -- Angel Sanctuary, 2,950 words. Kira takes Setsuna and Sara into the city to forget about their parents' impending divorce.
Of Ill Repute -- Daredevil, 400 words. Karen has a reputation again. [15-minute fic]
Three Sentence Ficathon:
life lessons -- Naruto, 200 words. Be good, be smart, be pretty, be lucky: a kunoichi's instruction manual.
reciprocity -- Mad Max: Fury Road, 100 words. A small kindness on the road. Max & Furiosa.
at the stroke of midnight -- Sailor Moon, 150 words. Playing Cinderella at the ball, and after. Haruka/Michiru.
like silence, but not empty -- Inception, 125 words. What's happy about rain? Arthur/Ariadne fluff.
firsts -- Star Trek: AOS, 225 words. Nyota's first time in space. Gaila/Uhura.
the real treasure -- Homestuck, 250 words. Dave is a dashing pirate! (Karkat disagrees.)
can't take you anywhere -- Guardians of the Galaxy, 225 words. In retrospect, bringing a sentient tree into a bookshop wasn't the best idea.
in sunshine and in shadow -- Captain America/Jessica Jones, 150 words. Steve and Trish drag Bucky and Jessica on the most awkward double-date in history.
in a yellow wood -- Harry Potter, 250 words. In another life, Petunia has a niece instead of a nephew.
images unseen -- Daredevil, 175 words. The midterm project for Matt's urban studies course involves making and presenting his mental map of St. Joseph's campus.
in exchange, a bride -- Chronicles of Narnia, 175 words. The escape from Tashbaan fails. Susan pays the price. Dark.
everything that you wanted -- Labyrinth, 75 words. Dreams are better won than given. Implied Jareth/Sarah.
a minor glitch in the itinerary -- Doctor Who, 150 words. "Someday," Martha said, "just once, you are going to land us on a planet at the correct relative time of day."
none of these rescues, please -- Enchanted Forest Chronicles, 425 words. Daystar didn't think he'd ever met a princess who wanted to be a novelist before.
I lift my lamp -- Mad Max: Fury Road, 175 words. Electricity is rare these days, but there are still satellites overhead and some signal in the static.
shall be reborn -- Mad Max: Fury Road, 125 words. Furiosa leads a caravan back to the wreckage two days later -- sooner than she should, but symbols are important.
more precious than rubies -- Sailor Moon, 125 words. Rei used to love rubies.
Fanfiction: 16,025
Original Fiction: none
December Total: 16,025
---------------------------------------------
2015 Fanfiction: 90,950
2015 Original: 3,525
2015 Total: 94,475
---------------------------------------------
ANALYSIS
As always, I count words by posting date rather than writing date, which can give somewhat misleading results if you are trying to track my periods of greatest productivity.
I signed up for five fic challenges/exchanges this year: Betapalooza, Remix Redux, Narnia Fic Exchange, Yuletide, and Ladypalooza. I completed Betapalooza, Remix (plus a treat), NFE (plus a pinch hit and a treat), and Yuletide. My Ladypalooza fic is not due until Monday. (I did, however, finish last year's Ladystuck fic, plus a pinch hit and two treats last January, so I trust I will manage at least the basic assignment again this January.) I also started filling my second Cotton Candy Bingo card, over a year late.
I don't think there was any particular theme to my year, unless you count grim determination to keep writing despite my continuing employment woes and a resulting slide into prolonged mild situational depression. I wrote an awful lot of short prompt!fic, which may have been a response to the way depression tends to, well, depress my ability to generate my own ideas and my ability to maintain interest in any story past a certain length of time/number of words. I did also manage to write some snippets of original fiction -- not nearly as much as I would have preferred, but something is better than nothing and ficlets can be a useful first step in reviving dormant stories of greater length.
Did you write more than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted?
---Any year I write under 100,000 words, I am disappointed in myself. Granted, circumstances were not in my favor, since even though unemployment and underemployment leave a lot of time on my hands, those conditions also make me feel relatively crappy which is not conducive to creative activity. But I did hope I'd make my minimum and am annoyed at myself for not setting a better routine. (If nothing else, regular creative effort is an excellent pick-me-up, so you'd think I'd work harder to prioritize it. *sigh*)
What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted last year?
---The MCU version of Daredevil! First of all, I hadn't seen it last year since it was only released in April. Second, I have trouble making myself sit down and watch audiovisual media, no matter how interested I am in the stories on offer. And third, even when I do watch a movie or some episodes of a television show, I tend not to write much for those canons because they are harder to review for nitpicky little details. (I can thumb through a book to find an obscure reference in five minutes. Finding an equally obscure thing in a multi-episode show? Where do you even start?)
But as I said in a slightly flippant response in July, I was really not expecting to like the show as much as I did, but, um. Moral ambiguity, anger issues, obsessive determination (which applies to more characters than just Matt), plus lots of up close and personal violence? Yes, hello, you have dialed the direct line to my id. The lizard brain wants what it wants, you know? And it's been a fun ride so far. :D
Also the three-sentence ficlets for Mad Max: Fury Road, for pretty much the same reasons.
Did you take any writing risks this year?
---Not particularly, unless picking up "The Guardian in Spite of Herself" after a three and a half year gap counts.
Do you have any fanfic or original fic goals for the coming year?
---In a general sense, write more words than this past year! I'll settle for my usual goal of 100,000 if I need to, but I'm going to aim for 120,000 and try to be more organized about reaching in.
On the fanfiction front, I want to write at least six more chapters of "Guardian." I also want to finish "The Transient and the Eternal" and post all the component fics over on AO3. On the original fiction front, I'd like to finish "Harvest" (an Ekanu Thousandbirds story I've been somewhat desultorily working on for over a decade) and nail down a functional outline for "Sunbright and Shadowfall."
Favorite story -- not the most popular, but the one that makes you happiest
---I am very fond of "The Moons of Skaia," "Hierogamy," "As the Storm and the Lightning," "The Going Rate," "Winter in the Shade," "They Have To Take You In (A Sheepish Story)," "The Golden Age: A Historical and Cultural Survey," "The Movement of Sound to Reach the Soul," "White Lady of the Eastern Sea," "in a yellow wood," and "images unseen." I don't think I can narrow it down further.
Best story
---I am not impressed by the technical skill of anything I wrote this year, probably because most things I wrote this year are very short and the longest one was basically porn. I guess I'd go with either "They Have To Take You In (A Sheepish Story)" or "White Lady of the Eastern Sea," which are the most complete thoughts among the greater-than-ficlet-length pieces. If we're including the mini-ficlets, there is definitely something to be said for "Hierogamy," "As the Storm and the Lightning," and "in a yellow wood," which all convey a distinct thought in the most compact manner possible.
Apparently this was my year for writing slightly disquieting short fics, in addition to my regularly scheduled "yay friendship is awesome!!!" short fics.
Most underappreciated by the universe
---None, really, which was nice. Thank you to everyone who commented or clicked a like/kudos button. :D
Most "Holy crap, that's wrong, even for you" story
---I think either "Hierogamy" or the tiny duology of "As the Storm and the Lightning" and "Negative Example," though "Narutostuck: Culture Shock" is also pretty creepy from the right angle. (On a more humorous note, if you count desecration of childhood favorites as wrong, you could go with Glinda the Good's turn as a villain in "Usurpation." *evil grin*)
Sexiest story
---Presumably either "The Law of Conservation of Mangrit" or "Until the Day Breathes and the Shadows Flee." If those fics aren't sexy, they are failing at their entire purpose in life since they are, respectively, happy threesome porn that accreted a bunch of context, and extended touch-based foreplay.
Hardest story to write
---Fucking "Guardian," because of that three and a half year gap. Rereading over 60,000 words to figure out where I was and where I was going was a pain and a half. Then I edited them. And then I opened the new chapter with a relatively complicated fight scene even though I hadn't written any fight scenes in ages, because that was what the story demanded at that point. It took me six months from deciding to restart work to completing the new chapter and overhaul of the existing story. But I got there!
Easiest story to write
---Oh, I don't know. Pick a random prompt!fic out of a hat and I won't argue.
Most fun to write
---Let's go with "The Snow Queen: A Story in Six Parts," because mangling fairy-tales is always fun. :D
Most disappointing
---Any WIP I didn't finish! *headdesk*
Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters
---Probably any Daredevil fic featuring Karen Page (most specifically "Those Who Favor Fire," "A Moral Decision in One Eighth of a Second," "Testify to Time's Relentless Melt," and "Of Ill Repute") which is not surprising since I wrote them largely to figure out how I saw her.
Story with the single sweetest moment
---Considering one of my main themes is human connection and I deliberately write fluff for Cotton Candy Bingo, there are a LOT of sugary moments in my work (though often liberally mixed with mild to moderate angst). I guess if you held me at gunpoint, I'd go with "The Movement of Sound to Reach the Soul," "The Company of Trees," or the duology of "New Roots" and "Part of Your World."
Biggest surprise
---All the Daredevil stories, obviously!
Most revealing story
---"White Lady of the Eastern Sea," I think -- less for the story itself and more for the accompanying notes about why I ended up writing it the way I did. My religious issues, let me show them to you. *wry*
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And that is that for the year.
