The road less travelled...

Greetings all!

I thought those people who enjoy my writing might appreciate an explanation for my long delay in posting anything Doctor Who-related, those who are curious about my other writing would appreciate an update on that, and those who are just sticky-noses might like an update on my life in general.

As many of you will know, I am currently writing my PhD. (Procrastination is a wonderful thing. ;-) I have to submit in August 2011 and have a number of dates for things to be due before then. The first major one is to have a draft of the entire critical section of the thesis complete by early December, which is (dear God!) about four weeks away. I'm sure you can understand this is putting rather more constraints on my time than I would usually have.

Naturally, I am not spending all my time on my thesis. However, as well as the critical element, there is also a creative section, which is a diary set during World War II in Berlin. This has been slowly coming together over the past two years or so, but is a long time from being ready. Luckily I will have about six months early next year when my critical supervisor is away to work on it.

What this means, though, is that while I was writing that work, I found it very difficult to work on the Chalet School book I have been plowing through since 2005. Being set in a similar era, but with such dramatically different style and voice, focusing on one makes it hard to get back into the mindset of the other. In fact, until August, I'd done nothing on Muellers for more than 12 months. However, now that my creative thesis story is on the back-burner, I have begun a reread of the Chalet School series and have also returned to working on Muellers. I am now half-way through chapter 7 and am aiming to get a first draft complete by the end of the year. This will mean, while I shift focus back to my creative piece for my thesis, those responsible for helping me knock Muellers into shape for publication can work on it.

The nett result of this, though, is that I have had to shelve my Doctor Who writing for now. I have similar problems with Chalet School and DW in that their extreme differences in terms of style, voice and tone make it hard to jump from one to another. While I can promise that I will have the Secret Santa fic ready, I'm not sure how much else I will manage. I'm sorry to those who enjoy my writing, but I will return in the New Year with a vengeance!

I will also do my best to read and comment on as many fics as possible, but I hope you will forgive any absences.

Greetings all!

I thought those people who enjoy my writing might appreciate an explanation for my long delay in posting anything Doctor Who-related, those who are curious about my other writing would appreciate an update on that, and those who are just sticky-noses might like an update on my life in general.

As many of you will know, I am currently writing my PhD. (Procrastination is a wonderful thing. ;-) I have to submit in August 2011 and have a number of dates for things to be due before then. The first major one is to have a draft of the entire critical section of the thesis complete by early December, which is (dear God!) about four weeks away. I'm sure you can understand this is putting rather more constraints on my time than I would usually have.

Naturally, I am not spending all my time on my thesis. However, as well as the critical element, there is also a creative section, which is a diary set during World War II in Berlin. This has been slowly coming together over the past two years or so, but is a long time from being ready. Luckily I will have about six months early next year when my critical supervisor is away to work on it.

What this means, though, is that while I was writing that work, I found it very difficult to work on the Chalet School book I have been plowing through since 2005. Being set in a similar era, but with such dramatically different style and voice, focusing on one makes it hard to get back into the mindset of the other. In fact, until August, I'd done nothing on Muellers for more than 12 months. However, now that my creative thesis story is on the back-burner, I have begun a reread of the Chalet School series and have also returned to working on Muellers. I am now half-way through chapter 7 and am aiming to get a first draft complete by the end of the year. This will mean, while I shift focus back to my creative piece for my thesis, those responsible for helping me knock Muellers into shape for publication can work on it.

The nett result of this, though, is that I have had to shelve my Doctor Who writing for now. I have similar problems with Chalet School and DW in that their extreme differences in terms of style, voice and tone make it hard to jump from one to another. While I can promise that I will have the Secret Santa fic ready, I'm not sure how much else I will manage. I'm sorry to those who enjoy my writing, but I will return in the New Year with a vengeance!

I will also do my best to read and comment on as many fics as possible, but I hope you will forgive any absences.

I thought I would like people know the status of a variety of my DW-related fics. I'm horrified to realise that I have several on the go or finished that I can't post yet. I also have a few I need to start working on for various reasons. This is as much for me as anyone else, but I thought people would like a glimpse of where I'm up to:

Time After Time - I posted the prologue for this story here. This story is developing into a monster to rival some of my longest fics this far, is requiring me to watch quite a lot of Old!Who (often for the first time) and is thus going to be a while before any more of it is seen by the public. I know that leaves Donna in a bad situation, but I'm definitely not posting this one in a more unfinished state than it already is, so you will all have to display a little patience.

Finding A Way Home: Monster in the Dark - this is a story that describes the events begun in FAHW: A Little Bit of Vengeance and also one of the requests for my Timestamp meme. It is currently a (very fun) WIP, but I would love to have it finished this weekend and begin posting on Monday. Hopefully. We shall see... Just finishes this! Hurrah! First part will be up in the morning...

Finding A Way Home: The Heart of Things - this is a follow-up to FAWH: Kitchen Conversation, however it references details given in FAWH: Monster in the Dark, so it can't be posted until that is. Posted! Yay!

Finding A Way Home: Making Sense - this is a sequel to FAWH: The Heart of Things and can't be posted until that is. Which won't appear until FAWH: Monster in the Dark.

Stacie stories - you can find the prompts I received here. I plan to begin on those when I have finished the above stories, as I can't change my focus in case I lose momentum on everything else.

Weekly Drabble Challenge - I will definitely get to that this weekend as well, but sadly it doesn't fit neatly into any of the above stories... Done! I'll post that tonight.

Oh, and did I mention I'm sick again?

*heads off with Mabel the plotbunny to keep working*

I thought I would like people know the status of a variety of my DW-related fics. I'm horrified to realise that I have several on the go or finished that I can't post yet. I also have a few I need to start working on for various reasons. This is as much for me as anyone else, but I thought people would like a glimpse of where I'm up to:

Time After Time - I posted the prologue for this story here. This story is developing into a monster to rival some of my longest fics this far, is requiring me to watch quite a lot of Old!Who (often for the first time) and is thus going to be a while before any more of it is seen by the public. I know that leaves Donna in a bad situation, but I'm definitely not posting this one in a more unfinished state than it already is, so you will all have to display a little patience.

Finding A Way Home: Monster in the Dark - this is a story that describes the events begun in FAHW: A Little Bit of Vengeance and also one of the requests for my Timestamp meme. It is currently a (very fun) WIP, but I would love to have it finished this weekend and begin posting on Monday. Hopefully. We shall see... Just finishes this! Hurrah! First part will be up in the morning...

Finding A Way Home: The Heart of Things - this is a follow-up to FAWH: Kitchen Conversation, however it references details given in FAWH: Monster in the Dark, so it can't be posted until that is. Posted! Yay!

Finding A Way Home: Making Sense - this is a sequel to FAWH: The Heart of Things and can't be posted until that is. Which won't appear until FAWH: Monster in the Dark.

Stacie stories - you can find the prompts I received here. I plan to begin on those when I have finished the above stories, as I can't change my focus in case I lose momentum on everything else.

Weekly Drabble Challenge - I will definitely get to that this weekend as well, but sadly it doesn't fit neatly into any of the above stories... Done! I'll post that tonight.

Oh, and did I mention I'm sick again?

*heads off with Mabel the plotbunny to keep working*

Sometimes it's okay to pimp yourself out. Post a list of your top five fic-favorites you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most. Then tag five other people to do the same.

Okay, so I wasn't tagged by anyone specific to do this, but I'm being an egotist and doing it anyway. It's an interesting question, because I've always agreed with Bryce Courtney, who said that your favourite story is your most recent one. However it's interesting to reflect on my Doctor Who stories. (I've limited it to that because I've done this before for my other fandoms.)

1. She Never Really Forgot. The original and, for many reasons, still one of the best fics I've written. A strong storyline that takes time to explore all of the different characters and gives them backgrounds and futures they never had on the show. It was also my chance to explore the idea of writing in the present tense, which I really haven't done before. I'm seriously considering self-nominating this one for the next round of the COT awards.

2. Revisiting the Past. My first attempt at a dialogue-only story that turned out pretty well. I've always loved the idea of exploring behind the scenes a bit and this was a great chance to do that.

3. Her. I love throwing readers a curve ball and this really seems to have achieved that. Short and sweet. I rarely manage a drabble in the strictest sense of the word, still less one that tells as much of a story as this does. (Okay, so it's a drabble and a half, but the point still stands.)

4. Nightmares and its sequel Daydreams. I couldn't say where this story was going when it started, but it certainly got there in one heck of a fashion. This was probably the first fic I wrote that I was completely and totally happy with. I didn't go back and tweak it forever until I posted it. It stands just as it did when I finished it (well, except the typos).

5. If You Knew Your Future. I love this story for many reasons, but primarily because I think it does a good job of sending Donna's character into a place that's almost impossible for her and shows how it affects the person she becomes by the end of the story. It's also a chance for the Doctor to become almost a secondary character and yet still grow and change as the story goes on. I'm often guilty of neglecting my secondary characters, so this was a chance to avoid that. I also have a glorious pic that someone was inspired to make for it and I'm both surprised and delighted to be able to inspire people in that way.

Bonus. Friends or Strangers. My latest fic. I am deeply fond of this tale because it explores a story from an angle I haven't yet explored and it's been an incredible experience to create. I haven't ever struggled with a story before as much as I have with various elements of this because they made me profoundly uncomfortable, but I hope it will be worthwhile. The first part will be posted tomorrow.

And yes, I'm aware that I'm a tease.

If you haven't done this yet, consider yourself tagged!

Sometimes it's okay to pimp yourself out. Post a list of your top five fic-favorites you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most. Then tag five other people to do the same.

Okay, so I wasn't tagged by anyone specific to do this, but I'm being an egotist and doing it anyway. It's an interesting question, because I've always agreed with Bryce Courtney, who said that your favourite story is your most recent one. However it's interesting to reflect on my Doctor Who stories. (I've limited it to that because I've done this before for my other fandoms.)

1. She Never Really Forgot. The original and, for many reasons, still one of the best fics I've written. A strong storyline that takes time to explore all of the different characters and gives them backgrounds and futures they never had on the show. It was also my chance to explore the idea of writing in the present tense, which I really haven't done before. I'm seriously considering self-nominating this one for the next round of the COT awards.

2. Revisiting the Past. My first attempt at a dialogue-only story that turned out pretty well. I've always loved the idea of exploring behind the scenes a bit and this was a great chance to do that.

3. Her. I love throwing readers a curve ball and this really seems to have achieved that. Short and sweet. I rarely manage a drabble in the strictest sense of the word, still less one that tells as much of a story as this does. (Okay, so it's a drabble and a half, but the point still stands.)

4. Nightmares and its sequel Daydreams. I couldn't say where this story was going when it started, but it certainly got there in one heck of a fashion. This was probably the first fic I wrote that I was completely and totally happy with. I didn't go back and tweak it forever until I posted it. It stands just as it did when I finished it (well, except the typos).

5. If You Knew Your Future. I love this story for many reasons, but primarily because I think it does a good job of sending Donna's character into a place that's almost impossible for her and shows how it affects the person she becomes by the end of the story. It's also a chance for the Doctor to become almost a secondary character and yet still grow and change as the story goes on. I'm often guilty of neglecting my secondary characters, so this was a chance to avoid that. I also have a glorious pic that someone was inspired to make for it and I'm both surprised and delighted to be able to inspire people in that way.

Bonus. Friends or Strangers. My latest fic. I am deeply fond of this tale because it explores a story from an angle I haven't yet explored and it's been an incredible experience to create. I haven't ever struggled with a story before as much as I have with various elements of this because they made me profoundly uncomfortable, but I hope it will be worthwhile. The first part will be posted tomorrow.

And yes, I'm aware that I'm a tease.

If you haven't done this yet, consider yourself tagged!

Writer's Meme: Sometimes it's ok to pimp yourself out. Post a list of your top five favorite fics you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most. Then tag five other people to do the same.


Well, as I was tagged by sangerin, here we go:


1. Peace Comes to the Chalet School. It's hard to argue against the first book I've had published and one that took up two (very emotional) years of my life. I'm so proud of this work for many reasons and it's been a major inspiration in me going on to do my PhD in English (Creative Writing).
2. Unfinished Business (Pretender Virtual Series). Of all the episodes I wrote for the Pretender Virtual Series, this was my favourite episode (although Chamber of Horrors comes a close second). In this story I introduced one of my best characters - Jacob - and also expanded several others who were a lot of fun. It was also my first successful experiment with having several different genres in one episode - romance, action-adventure, family relationships and, of course, major character development.
3. Mysterious Connections. I loved writing this story and I still enjoy rereading it when I need to be reminded about why I got into writing Pretender stuff in the first place. It was my first major experimentation without the safety net of bringing in a new character and I'm still happy with the way it went, even when I'm losing my satisfaction with some of the other things I wrote at the same time.
4. Survival of the Fittest. Although this isn't finished, I'm having a lot of fun with it. It's a cross-over with a difference, as I get to introduce a whole lot of original characters who can do and be all sorts of things. This is also the first time that (so far, at least) I have not peeped into Jarod's head in some way. It's all from the perspective of other people.
5. CSP: Crime Scene Pretender. I was really into CSI when I wrote this and I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It also interested me in writing murder mysteries, and I have all sorts of ideas that, I am hoping, will eventually settle down into a basic storyline that I can get done.


Tagging:
scribblings_etc
sezzie_dee
kannaophelia
bluecove
witchy_rachel
Go for it, guys!

Writer's Meme: Sometimes it's ok to pimp yourself out. Post a list of your top five favorite fics you've written, regardless of fandom or the reason you love them. This isn't about the BEST things you've written, but what you LOVE most. Then tag five other people to do the same.


Well, as I was tagged by sangerin, here we go:


1. Peace Comes to the Chalet School. It's hard to argue against the first book I've had published and one that took up two (very emotional) years of my life. I'm so proud of this work for many reasons and it's been a major inspiration in me going on to do my PhD in English (Creative Writing).
2. Unfinished Business (Pretender Virtual Series). Of all the episodes I wrote for the Pretender Virtual Series, this was my favourite episode (although Chamber of Horrors comes a close second). In this story I introduced one of my best characters - Jacob - and also expanded several others who were a lot of fun. It was also my first successful experiment with having several different genres in one episode - romance, action-adventure, family relationships and, of course, major character development.
3. Mysterious Connections. I loved writing this story and I still enjoy rereading it when I need to be reminded about why I got into writing Pretender stuff in the first place. It was my first major experimentation without the safety net of bringing in a new character and I'm still happy with the way it went, even when I'm losing my satisfaction with some of the other things I wrote at the same time.
4. Survival of the Fittest. Although this isn't finished, I'm having a lot of fun with it. It's a cross-over with a difference, as I get to introduce a whole lot of original characters who can do and be all sorts of things. This is also the first time that (so far, at least) I have not peeped into Jarod's head in some way. It's all from the perspective of other people.
5. CSP: Crime Scene Pretender. I was really into CSI when I wrote this and I'm very happy with the way it turned out. It also interested me in writing murder mysteries, and I have all sorts of ideas that, I am hoping, will eventually settle down into a basic storyline that I can get done.


Tagging:
scribblings_etc
sezzie_dee
kannaophelia
bluecove
witchy_rachel
Go for it, guys!