I think my Ethan fic just died on me

[estepheia]

Isn't the internet just amazing? I just asked myself what a magpie sounds like, whether it caws like a crow, entered 'bird song magpie' into google and found a site that hosts Corvidae Sounds.

But even the magpie info doesn't help. I think I have to shelve my Spike/Ethan fic that I'm writing for the Ethan-ficathon and start from scratch. Ack.
Or maybe I should finish a previous attempt at Spike/Ethan, called Candy Man. Normally the requestee should get something brand-new, but it seems I can't get a handle on any of my stories right now. Oh, the irony. I wrote a how-to essay on the Spike/Ethan ship, but I can't write the damn pairing myself. *facepalms.*

Comments

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

HUGS

Having stories refuse to flow is just gaahh. I usually end up dragging myself over to Cambridge and inflicting my woe on one of the LJers who aren't just Imaginary People Inside My Computer, and that seems to help.

Where do you start with stories (other than pairing, which is a given in this instance)? Plot? Location? Point in a given timeline? Basic theme? A single image? Maybe if you started from a different jumping off point, would that help?

Good luck.

Gina

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

inflicting my woe on one of the LJers who aren't just Imaginary People Inside My Computer
I used to do that. I am not much of a lone wolf when it comes to writing. I need the discussion with someone, with an active beta who I can chat with, that sort of thing. I am always better at thinking, when I'm 'talking'. I need a sounding board.

*sigh* Righ now I have no online friend who acts as a sounding board.

As for the shelved story: it started off with an image and a concept, and a few lines of dialogue, vaguely post-NFA. I managed to get the opening exchange written, but now I feel that the descriptions are too long. There's no real tension between the characters, and I have no clue how to move them forward.

I want them to reminisce about the Initiative, but getting them to mention it is proving harder than I thought. Stupid Ethan, he's just too proud and bitter to talk about his experience as a lab rat. Bah.

Thanks for letting me whine, Gina.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

No worries.

Maybe you should supply your characters with more alcohol. I got Ethan to say lots (all while telling himself to shut up) when I wrote the drinking scenes in my ficathon piece.

Gina

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Alcohol. Hmmm.
While the scene takes place in a pub,it is not really a good idea for Ethan to get drunk. On the other hand... since when does Ethan do the smart thing?

Hmmm.

That might actually work. Except that Spike won't drink anything in Rayne's pub (he's the owner) or presence, thanks to the Fyarl incident. I guess I have to make Ethan give him a promise not to slip him a mickey Finn. Of course, since when does Ethan keep his promises.... Hmmmm.

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Now that all makes perfect sense. Go for it!

Gina

[eatenbyweasels.livejournal.com]

*pets you*. Mine's a second attempt, too. It'll be fine.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the pep talk!

Do you have a beta for your Ethan stuff? Because I don't have one who can point out where Ethan is ooc...

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

I'd volunteer, but I'm vanishing in 24hrs for the following 36 or so.

Gina

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the offer. Maybe next time? It would be nice to just chat about Ethan. None of my usual online friends really 'get' him. *sigh*

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Sounds like a good plan to me. Especially if I can bounce future Ethan ideas off you too.

Gina

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Especially if I can bounce future Ethan ideas off you too.

Yes yes yes! I love that!

Yay!

[pinkdormouse.livejournal.com]

Yay!

The next Ethan fic I do will probably be the one about Diedre in the early 80s.

"We were together 11 months, but then she did live above Oddbins."

I wonder if play.com has a video/DVD of 'All Those Wasted Years' for the glam-trash ambiance.

Gina

[eatenbyweasels.livejournal.com]

I don't use a beta at all, generally; okay, I did run my Ethan piece psst vampirefever, but that was really only to torture her because she can't stand Ethan. I always write him as sounding like the evil lovechild of Leslie Phillips and Terry Thomas and no-one seems to complain...

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Since I don't know who Leslie Philips and Terry Thomas are...

*sigh*

I am really high maintanance as a writer (and a person), I know that, and it annoys me, but still, I always work best if I can bounce off ideas, if I get the occasional "this is good, now write more" comment from my beta. I need the crack of a dedicated whip....

Anyway, I've written a few paragraphs this morning, so I decided not to shelve my first attempt yet. It might still turn into something salvageable.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

*passes bribe on to muse*
She's such a fickle cow, these days. Bah.

:-)

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

*Gives your Ethan fic mouth-to-mouth resusictation courtesy of a good bottle of single malt.*

Good idea to get Ethan drinking. Spike doesn't have to join him, of course if he's wary, though I don't see how he would be as he wasn't the one on the receiving end of the Fyarl spell. And, as Angel and Spike both agreed, it's much more difficult to get a vampire drunk than it is a human. All you need is the motive behind why Spike finds himslef in Ethan's bar - and I presume you already have that.

Feel free to bounce off me for while. I'm not off to France until the end of the month.

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Yay, thank you!!!
Spike is wary at first, but he soon grows overconfident. :-)
Besides, he has his flask on him, so he can drink too. Yay for booze!!!

[hesadevil.livejournal.com]

but he soon grows overconfident.
Sounds familiar. I'm sure a little discussion about the merits (or otherwise) of American booze will soon lead to a discussion of other things they have in common - football, Giles-loathing, the Initiative.

Are you back on track now?

[estepheia.livejournal.com]

Am I back on track now? Er, no, I'm actually a little tipsy right now. LOL.
the weather was awesome today and when a friend of mine stopped by we worked in the garden for almost four hours, then decided to open a bottle of sparkling wine...
I can't write when I'm tipsy. I get very sleepy so I'll go to bed early.

But I think I have at least a clue from where to go on tomorrow morning.

*Yawn*