New Chapter Posted

Chapter Eighteen is up and available for viewing! Thanks for your patience and a special shout-out to my beta aiRo25 who got it to me sooner than I could even get back to it!

Mood:

Accomplished

Writer's Drabbles: The Teaser

A little bit about logistics. Writer's logistics (and yes, I just made that up).
There is such a thing as a teaser on the fanfiction website. That is the limited summary you find when you scroll down the list of new/updated stories. Ones that intrigue me include: romantic pairings (particularly Romy, though the archive on that alone could stand on its own--there's that many), a (decent) alternate universe, and (yes) the writing itself. Spelling and grammar counts here too, mostly because it sort of sets you up for what's to come. Therefore, if I'm too busy staring at how you wrote "rite" in the summary, chances are I won't bother with the rest. I think our brains are wired that way, or maybe I'm generalizing.
I try not to plead with readers to READ MY STORY, IT'S NOT A MARY SUE, K??!! Because, well, because I try not to plead, period. Offer, ask, yes. But not beg. First off, I did not know what a Mary Sue was until I read a reader's bio, stating that it's the usual, formulaic mish-mash. If that's the case, my story can be categorized as a Mary Sue--but with a twist. I like that, playing on a theme, making it better. But if someone denies it and writes out in caps to get my attention, it does reverse psychology on me and I don't venture forward. Caps are equivalent to yelling. Don't yell. It's the internet.
Finally, the R&R requests in summaries tend to bother me. I'm very traditional. I think that if people like your topic, like your summary, like the idea you've proposed, chances are they'll at least read it. Maybe not review (which I've come to terms with--but not 100% okay with), but there are the hits on your counter, if that offers any consolation (not for me, though). I always believed that if people find your work interesting, they might be inspired to give some love, er, feedback. But people get lazy, they get tired of staring at the screen, who knows? I'm only being so benign about it because I can be guilty of all of those things as well. That, or I just could not continue reading. But that's for another day.
I guess in reality, that summary is just a summary, and people look at it in different ways. I'm always thinking up new ways to attract people to my writing, and sometimes it starts with a decent summary. But that's my opinion.

M ood:

Okay

New Chapter to be Posted

Hurray! Just got the chapter back from beta aiRo25 and after some last minute revisions, plan to post tonight. What a wait!

Anime vs. Cartoons

Postings on youtube can be quite entertaining. Besides battling it out with strangers, it can also be a thought-provoking process. Consider: I stumbled upon the anime version of Wolverine. And though you would never recognize him without those trademark claws, it did fit. Wolverine did wind up in Japan and married one of the country's own in the comics. At least, that's what I came away with from seeing that very brief, yet intriguing, trailer. But the comments below the vid heckled back and forth, about how tall Wolverine is (a mere 5'3? that can't be right), how anime is so much more than cartoons; anime has depth. And I thought, well, doesn't the X-Men have depth? And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that wasn't always true. In many ways, Evo is very formulaic. Kitty' valley girl accent, Scott's leadership, mutant harrassment. But I guess what it lacks in depth, fanfiction steps up to fill in that gap. And that's what makes writing about the X-Men so alluring and exciting; that what the show barely scratched on the surface, regular joes could hash out, evaluate, and analyze like economists reporting on the Recession (but it would be much more interesting and optimistic).
In the end, I would watch both and not think much of it. But this anime Wolverine still looks interesting, 5'3 and all.

Random

There is an ad for Vampire Eau de Parfum by Body Fantasies on the Fanfiction.net website. What does it smell like? Blood? Might as well open a vein; its cheaper! Bwahahaha!

Reading Bits

It took almost two days to finish McEwan's Atonement, and I am more than motivated to write the next part of my story. It was a very hard book to read; with not knowing the plot, the relentless imagery that made me mad with skimming--it's written very much like a Jane Eyre, but much more defiant, provocative. I was blisteringly angry with Briony and her injustice towards the lovers, but, as my sister reminded me, it is her story, so I read on patiently.
It does not end well, and that is the only spoiler I will allow myself to reveal. It is a good read, though, and really pits wartime nursing in a brighter, more inspiring light for me. Not like Scarlet, from Gone with the Wind, who wanted to get the hell out of there and abandons her duty, but Briony and her unnerving perseverance with her patients--that even writing seemed childish compared to feeling such awestruck love for these strangers and wanting nothing but to help them.
But the ending was outrageous and I felt jipped in many ways. Therefore, I plan to write in that design, but to a more acceptable ending (at least in my terms). I always love a good love story.

So Excited!!

Well folks, the Sixteenth Chapter is underway!! I just sent it off to my beta reader to do a check-a-roo, and as soon as I get it back I will update!
Personally, I was done with Appalachia. Sorry Jubilee. ;D But we'll come back to it when the time is right! I'm in the mood for a good Jott. And that's not often, let me tell you!
I have been in a good mood as of late, reading Stardust and re-watching Under the Greenwood Tree, so writing downer material was extremely hard at times. I had to tap into my Emo-alter ego, and even that was not easy.
But I stuck it through, and now it's time to write about another wedding (hopefully one that does not end up with Remy and Jean together. Wait, did I just give that away?) and New York (I've never been. Heard it's a nice place, when people aren't trying to blow it up). Check back soon for fanfiction updates VERY VERY SOON! Yes!

I am feeling dorky

Queries of the Curious

Hello all. I am working to bring a queries section where I answer and explain away about my intentions concerning Legend of Logan's Kin. This bit will start it off.

Why a western-type of X-Men story?

Well, why not? *glares at computer*
I am quite smitten with this era, when America was very much a new country. But being that Rogue was from Mississippi, I couldn't just write her in Arizona and expect Remy to suddenly find her out West. No, not when the goal was to get her to Massachusetts where Xavier is. Therefore, the story is set in the latter 1870s and focuses primarily in the East. That makes the storyline much more believable and easier on me. But that doesn't make it any less romantic, right? :D Anyway, that's why its a western-type of story, not a western. I know; that makes me sad too.

Why 1877?

Because the Civil War is overrated! Er, I mean, it IS a very big part of U.S. history with the North winning and Lincoln's assassination and all, but in a way, it is also a period that is constantly, tirelessly revisited. Well, this author didn't want to base her story on the Civil War. Seriously, which side would each mutant choose? Besides, the period after the Civil War greatly tested racial tensions within the States, so why not throw mutants in the mix? Let's just make this a story of prejudice sentiments! Or...not.

Ororo's not a slave-to-be-freed! Uh, why?

I do not intend to write Ororo in as a slave or maid or anything involving servitude. Though it would work, being African-American and all, I don't really see her in that situation. She'd run away faster than you could think. I find her more like Harriet Tubman helping out with the Underground Railroad! That badass, for, uh, the nineteenth century.

Why X-Men Evolution?

Well, I'll tell you, it wasn't that hard of a decision, really. I liked the show when it aired, oh, I don't know, ten years ago. It featured the mutants as teenagers and Rogue as a goth. And I never knew Shadowcat and Nightcrawler were ever mutants until I saw that show. Nightcrawler became a favorite of many viewers overnight, and Jean Grey did not. So there I was, ten years younger, feeling that I needed to put my two-cents online and write Gambit into the story. What's X-Men without a Gambit? (The X-Men Movies, that's what.) That was Evolution's hey-day, a time you could write a Romy and twenty people would review your story. At once. Yes, that was a glorious thing, and it's haunted me since.

But being that there are more than 13,000 fanfiction stories on Evolution alone, you would think the creators would continue the show. That's not gonna happen now. There will never be another Evolution crowd quite like this one. But the impact of its characters has followed me into this story. I wanted to write a more serious piece involving Romy and many (if not all) the Evo characters. Wow, I thought, wouldn't THAT be a story worth reading?! Of course, I intended to take my sweet time writing it because it would probably be the last Evo fiction I write. And here I am, four years later, documenting my progress/inspiration in a blog, fifteen chapters to boot. Go figure.

I do admit my writing has gotten better the older I've gotten. But there's hardly an audience out there anymore, let alone one that would entertain a western-kinda story like mine. Sometimes I think about what this story could have been in those fanfiction Evo glory days. It's hard to say about then, but I like the audience I've got now. It's good to write to people who like your work and are willing to tell you too.

I've been around since 6/25/01 (or so my profile reveals), and have only written for Evo (which might change. I'm debating). I've got to say, the Evo fanfiction crowd isn't a heartless one. There are critics, even those who are willing to bash some characters to death, but never once have I been flamed. So, here I am, still writing, still thinking up ways to get Rogue and Remy into the wrong situations and make them right. That's half the fun. The other half is taking others along for the ride.

Character analysis to come! And some fiction inspiration that has influenced the way I write and how this story is told.

Toodles!

AQ

I am feeling artistic.

The Day of the Cowboy and Cowgirl

Wish you were here.

This was the event I wanted to attend so so so badly since I saw it advertised on Goldstar. And two days before the actual event, I got my friend S. to come along and it was soooo much fun, as fun as a girl who's writing about the West can be. If you're ever in Los Angeles and can't get cowboys out of your head, the Autry National Center is the place to visit. Tucked in the hills of Griffith Park and right across the street from the Los Angeles Zoo (which, I tell you now, is sort of sad and I don't recommend it), the Autry leads your through the last century from Moving West to Movie Cowboys.

Taken inside the Autry's giftshop. Get it?
I didn't even know there was a Day of the Cowboy (though there's a National Day for Ice Cream, but everyone loves ice cream and therefore should take note). Although there were many kids, it wasn't like Disneyland where everywhere you step could be on a child or multiple parents plowing strollers into your way (which should be a safety/fire hazard). There was a gunslinger, panning for gold (flecks, I should add), cowboy street market (indoors AND air conditioned), blacksmiths and chuck wagons, and of course, the museum itself. So, it was like a Western writer's happy place on so many levels.S. panning for gold. She was so excited to do it too.Vaqueros doing their fancy roping.

I didn't mind that my story only takes place partially in the West, or that many of the exhibits I couldn't use being that they consisted of Indian heritage (though, I'm sure, if you wanted to research weaving baskets, they have a whole section you could study).
That being said, it was hot and wonderful, and I took a lot of pictures with strangers who had dressed up for the occasion, reveling in a past that's too much of our history to forget.

The Sheriff's Posse on horses. The only bummer of the day was that there was no horseback riding, though I specifically read there would be. No biggie.

Leather Crafting. Two seats and a thousand people in line? Not good planning.

Carriage, circa 1850s.How to Cheat with Cards. A Remy must. Backside of the bar. Not very pretty. Yes we did eat beef bbq sandwiches and enjoyed them too.
Hope this little bit keeps you inspired! Maybe I'll see you next year...?


I'm feeling chipper.

In the Works...

So, here's my latest stack of library books. I keep them on the floor by my desk, having no place else to keep them and have tripped one too many times because of it. I'm meaning to skim through this batch, many being my returning favorites (like that Cajun French dictionary on top, just for Remy), and the Life in the 1800s reference which is out of print and costs way too much to own at the moment. And yes, that is a walgreens ad in which I unsuccessfully tried to weasel dental floss with a Riteaid coupon. Serves me right. It wound up with within the stack of books and remains there for some reason.

Good news is it'll be a heck of a next chapter or two. Depends. Maybe this time I can get the library books back on time and I won't suffer a dent in my wallet. A stack like that, it pays to pay attention.


I am feeling excited.

First Post Ever.

Postcard by Rar Rar Press, Chicago, IL

I've been meaning to do this for awhile, coming clean with inspiration for writing my latest X-Men: Evoluation fiction, Back in the Day: The Legend of Logan's Kin. It's been a pet project of mine to start a blog, so forgive me if this is plain and simple. I plan to expand this blog of an afterthought into something special. It is, after all, a confession of my interests through my work, a celebration of the American homeland, and an expression of how the perfect alternate universe can remake the X-Men (hopefully).

For now, I've got this fancy postcard that I've marked for just the occasion. With all good beginnings, there should be pictures. A map, I figure, will do just fine this time around; for Caldecott, Mississippi is where this all starts, and Bayville, Massachusetts is where we must end. But the real story is what's in between. So is it really that far? In 1877, riding railroads, horses, and carriages, I can imagine it sure was.


I am feeling accomplished.