Still on the Quest

In some ways this was a very good year for writing, and in others, not so much. Despite my thinking I'd get active on LJ again, I kind of failed at blogging. But I did do some writing, and the Yuletide reveal tradition has nudged me into posting once more.

If you go on AO3, you'll see that as of January 1st I posted Rules of Silence. I actually wrote it the year before for Holmestice, but it's pertinent, because the fandom was Lyndsay Faye's Sherlockian masterpiece Dust and Shadow. Lyndsay, who is one of the Baker Street Babes, found it, read it, and liked it. *whew*, and she recommended me to David Marcum, who was putting together an anthology of traditional pastiches with MX Publishing. He knew me from my fanfic on ff.n, and invited me to write a story for the book. Which I did. It's in the first volume of the anthology, and since I used my real name I'll invite you to go deduce which one is mine. (I promised not to post the story anywhere else for at least a year, since the proceeds of the anthology go to charity.)

I also got invited to write an essay analyzing an episode for a book about the New Avengers. So two publications in one year!

Back to AO3, where the fanfiction lives, I posted an ancient Trapper John, M.D fic that used to be on my attempt on a geocities page.

Then I noodled around for most of the year adding bits to Clipped Wings, a Tony Stark/Martin Crieff story wherein I crash a plane and it isn't Martin's fault. (I'm currently trying to get going again with Grounded, the sequel, which is over 10,000 words and hasn't even got to lunchtime yet in the same day. I'm having fun, but I admit, it's not exactly exciting.)

Then come October, when my work headaches were getting a bit better, Yuletide came along. This year I managed to sign up, and I issued my annual Yuletide Madness Drabble Initiative invitation, too.

***

My assignment was a story for Riptide. My favorite character has always been Murray, but my recipient really wanted Nick and Cody. And it had been too long since I'd watched the episodes, so a marathon canon review was in order. (Gosh, they blew up a lot of stuff on that show!) I don't remember what got me thinking about earthquakes, but once the niggling of an idea came along, I did some internet research and found a major quake shortly after the show went off the air. It centered in "Whittier Narrows", and that led me to Turnbull Canyon, which has all sorts of delicious spooky rumors about it. I started writing with just the dialogue, wanting to get the voices right before tossing in descriptions, and as it turned out, the dialogue carried most of the story alone, so I wound up worrying if it would seem pretentious, but fortunately, the person I wrote it for really liked it.

Earthquake (1788 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Riptide (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Cody Allen, Nick Ryder
Additional Tags: Hurt/Comfort, Accidents, internet research
Summary: When the earth trembles, friendships stand firm.

***

I also had an idea almost straight away for a story about The Martian. Well, the same idea as a lot of people. I wanted to write about what happens after the end of the book. I actually wrote the first 400 words before assignments came out! So when I had time to come back to it I looked for Yuletide letters from people who also liked the fandom and found the perfect person to finish the story for. It's not the best Yuletide story for the fandom (because there were some FANTASTIC stories for both book and movie versions of The Martian this year) but I'm still pleased with it.

The Martian and the Earthlings (2878 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Martian - Andy Weir
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mark Watney, Alex Vogel, Rick Martinez (The Martian), Beth Johanssen, Chris Beck, Melissa Lewis (The Martian)
Additional Tags: trip home, coda to the book
Summary: The first few days on the Hermes, everyone is still getting used to having Mark back.

***

I also snagged a pinch hit. It had been sitting forlorn and unloved for a couple of days, and one of the prompts was a simple "what happens next" for a book I knew we had at the library where I work. It isn't my usual sort of read, but I like the challenge of writing for new fandoms, and as it turns out, it's the longest story I wrote for Yuletide. Mostly because the book left so much dangling that I couldn't resist tying up a few loose ends. Much to my surprise, the original character I threw in to ask the questions a reader unfamiliar with the fandom might ask ended up hijacking my miniscule plot. But in a good way!

Unfinished (4655 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Finishing Touches - Hester Browne
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Jamie/Betsy, Liv/Mark
Characters: Olivia O'hare, Jamie O'hare, Betsy Phillimore, Mark Montgomery, Adele Buchanan, Lord Pelham Phillimore
Additional Tags: Postscript, various OCs and minor characters - Freeform


***

By then it was December, and I hadn't done a single drabble. Luckily, I had two weeks vacation and I snuck in a bunch of them in the evenings when everyone else had gone to bed since I was two hours off their schedule. By then the prompts were available, so I just trolled through the fandoms I knew fairly well, looking for things which enticed me. I now have drabbles in 108 fandoms! (Some of which, I admit, aren't very good drabbles, but I tried.) I wrote 21 of them, as follows:

Unfair Advantage (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Alan Grant Series - Josephine Tey
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Marta Hallard, Alan Grant (Alan Grant series)
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 108 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Marta's been feeling every year lately.

The Alan Grant mysteries by Josephine Tey are old friends of mine, but like Nero Wolfe, it doesn't matter what decade he's in Grant is always Grant. If you want a taste, the most famous one is The Daughter of Time.

***

Here's Another Fine Mess (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Man From U.N.C.L.E. (2015)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Illya Kuryakin, Napoleon Solo, Gaby Teller
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 107 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms


The Man from U.N.C.L.E movie was so much fun that I forgave them for transforming my clever, unassuming, and hazard-prone Illya into a giant ball of anger issues. And I loved Gaby.

***

The Observer and the Observed (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Martian (2015)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mark Watney, Mindy Park
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 106 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: It's not exactly like meeting a movie star...

The Martian again, but the movie this time. Funny how many people thought these two should meet! (And I so wanted to put in a Mork and Mindy reference, since it's a 70's TV show, but I just couldn't do that in a drabble.)

***

After the Fall (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Streets of San Francisco
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mike Stone, Steve Keller
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 105 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms


One of my clunkers, unfortunately. I really need to watch the show more before I attempt this fandom again. (And I wish there was more fanfic!)

***

The Best Things (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: White Christmas (1954)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Phil Davis/Judy Haynes
Characters: Judy Haynes
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 104 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: No choreography necessary!

From a lovely prompt. And bonus! I got to do canon review and hang around with my 91 year old mom at the same time!

***

Prince of Darkness (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Diggy Diggy Hole - Yogscast (Music Video)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Dwarfling (Diggy Diggy Hole), Dwarf King (Diggy Diggy Hole)
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 103 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms


This one is my nephew's fault. He's the one who taught me the earworm after all...

***

Gone (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Inside Out (2015)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Joy (Inside Out), Sadness (Inside Out), Disgust (Inside Out)
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 102 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Well, mostly gone...

Another good prompt. And a chance to fix things, too!

***

Location is Everything (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Sesame Street (TV)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Mr Hooper, Kermit the Frog
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 101 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Mr. Hooper has always wanted his own store.

This is where being *mumble mumble* years old really shows. The prompter asked about what it was like for Mr. Hooper having a store in a neighborhood with both muppets and people, and the whole history of redlining and racial discrimination in housing as it might apply to people who actually are monsters living next door kind of ran through my head and came back with a Peter Paul and Mary song.

***

Just Add Marshmallows (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Quantum Leap
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Al Calavicci, Sam Beckett
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble


I just wanted to give those two a vacation. :D

***

Facing the Future (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Last Starfighter - Fandom
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Maggie/Alex
Characters: Maggie Gordon, Alex Rogan
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 100 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms


This is another time when the prompt asked a good question. I didn't come up with an answer, but I liked thinking about it.

***

Inheritance (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rotkäppchen | Little Red Riding Hood (Fairy Tale)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Characters: Little Red Riding Hood
Additional Tags: Wolves, yumadrin, Drabble, Dark
Series: Part 99 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms


This one took me two days to write, and many many revisions, but the work was worth it, because people seem to like it. Possibly because it's creepy...

***

Solution (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Ferris Bueller, Cameron Frye
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 98 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Ferris has always been the most magnificent of puzzles.

Until I read the prompt, I'd never considered this possibility. Then I did.

***

Interrupted (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Ghostbusters (Movies)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Library Ghost (Ghostbusters)
Series: Part 97 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Some things never change. Not even when you're dead.

Speaking as a librarian...

***

Metaphor (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Johnny Maxwell - Terry Pratchett
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Johnny Maxwell, Yo-less
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 96 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Or is it a simile?

Another good prompt, because I like these books nearly as much as I like the Discworld.

***

Dreams Should Come True (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Kim - Rudyard Kipling
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Hurree Babu
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 95 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Especially for those who work hard for them.

And "minor" characters sometimes make for the most fun writing!

***

Another Day, Another Concussion (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Hardy Boys - Franklin W. Dixon
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Frank Hardy
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 94 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: They say you solve mysteries by spotting patterns, but...

I read so many of those books, and those poor boys got kidnapped soooo often! Not that I cared when I was a kid. I was too busy bouncing with excitement.

***

Wishing (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Neverending Story (Movies)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Bastian Balthasar Bux | Bastian Balthazar Bux, Kindliche Kaiserin | Childlike Empress, Atréju | Atreyu
Additional Tags: Drabble, yumadrin
Series: Part 93 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: Time passes, even in Fantasia.

One of the rare times when I wrote the drabble before I even knew what my idea was, and it came out with a perfect word count.

***

What Comma? (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Oxford Comma Example Sentences
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Original Character
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 92 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: It's not my fault!

I wish I could have come with a better ending for this one, but banging my head against walls was useless PUNishment.

***

Teacher (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Protector of the Small - Tamora Pierce
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Keladry of Mindelan, Alanna of Pirate's Swoop and Olau
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Summary: Everyone has something to share.

I wrote it because I want it!

***

Everyone Pitches In (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Three Men and a Baby (1987)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jack Holden, Peter Mitchell, Michael Kellam, Sylvia Bennington, Mary Bennington
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Series: Part 91 of 100 words in 100(+) fandoms
Summary: It takes cooperation to make a family.

It's a silly movie, but I love the characters, so I was happy to see this amongst the prompts.

***

Parting (100 words) by rabidsamfan
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Valdemar Series - Mercedes Lackey
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Karal Austreben, Kris (Valdemar), Lyra
Additional Tags: yumadrin, Drabble
Summary: Someday things must change. Hopefully for the better.

This actually came about because of a couple of different prompts, and then I had the fun of figuring out which person to gift it to!

***

***

Anyway, that's the lot.
*whew* Now for 2016!

I had a lovely visit with Gayalondiel, and now have many many plotbunnies nibbling at my ankles. Got to see Oxford, and the Barrow Downs (or at least the inspiration for the Barrow Downs) and we yattered about everything from Sherlock to the War of the Worlds.

If you're interested in what I've been writing lately, well, let's just say that I blame it all on good writing by other people. Yes, I'm pairing up Tony Stark and Martin Crieff... but it's not my fault! It just has to happen!

If you're curious start with Pilots Get it Up Faster, by flawedamythyst and read on. I split off the series after the Duxford Air Show. http://archiveofourown.org/series/28029

So, there's this: http://wipbigbang.livejournal.com/

And before I decide whether or not to sign up for it, I thought I'd test the waters and see which, if any, of my ancient WIPS still echo down through the ages.



[Poll #1954031]

Hopefully, this means you'll see me start unlimbering my rather creaky writing muscles...

When you have become utterly trapped by your research while writing a Sherlock Holmes story, don't forget that Conan Doyle wouldn't have bothered.

THINK OF THE MILK DRINKING SNAKE AND KEEP WRITING.

These are just some of the stories I've enjoyed at yuletide this year.

Oo-de-lally Slash (106 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Robin Hood (Disney 1973)

You will end up singing this, you know. But maybe not at work, yes?

Attack Chickens, Children, and Other Hazards of Suburban Life (1361 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Calvin & Hobbes, Hobbes and Bacon

I think it was the mention of attack chickens that hooked me… Or was it the zombie princess? Joy from a fandom I didn’t even know existed until recently.

Moomintroll in Autumn (3873 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Mumintroll | Moomins Series - Tove Jansson, Winnie-the-Pooh - A. A. Milne

A loving, gentle crossover that I can easily imagine reading to children who love either world.

Any Other Way (1607 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Tortall - Tamora Pierce
Three Times is a Trend (1023 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Protector of the Small - Tamora Pierce

Two stories about Kel and the people around her in the future, both of which take my favorite character and only add more to love.

Harp and Soup (1737 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: Chronicles of Prydain - Lloyd Alexander

It’s Flewddur Fflam! What more do you need to know!

Blueprint (3305 words) by Anonymous
Fandom: The Invisible Bridge - Julie Orringer

Having been the writer with the fewest hits at Yuletide myself, I try to make a point of going to read the story at the bottom of the list. This year I was rewarded with a lyrical character study (illustrated yet!) that guarantees I’ll be looking for the source canon now.

One of my favorite authors on AO3 has an LJ, I've discovered belatedly, and has recently posted a wonderful essay On Character Death which had me laughing, but left me thinking. If you're a writer of fanfiction (or other things) or for that matter just a reader/viewer who has noticed how many times fictional characters bite the dust and wonder why, you'll enjoy the read.

Trust me!

But I did manage to squeak out a story for Yuletide (in spite of having to default on Holmestice this round.)

The story, such as it is, is for a tiny fandom based on two YA science fiction books from years ago. But the prompters yuletide letter did lead me to the wonderful concept of Noodle Incidents, so that was good. And at least three people liked it!

http://archiveofourown.org/works/299969

Hopefully I'll get more writing done this year.

I mean, things you haven't looked at practically since you posted them, and you read them and all of a sudden you're having to blink back tears?

I've been moving some things to AO3 that I'd posted elsewhere, and I just caught myself feeling like I'd been punched in the gut. Funnily enough, my drabbles and things seldom do that to me, although my readers accuse me of that sort of thing fairly often.

It's like discovering you can tickle yourself or something. My brain came up with that?

Hmm.




[Poll #1775923]

At last the master list of all the Holmestice fics and art this round is up. And there were some truly lovely stories and artwork in the mix this time.

My humble contribution is called STUD, and it is a Very Silly Piece -- a blatant misuse of canon, with massive UST, and switching p.o.v.'s because the person who asked for it wanted Gregson/Lestrade and my brain boggled for three days before I began to get a glimmer of how to go about it. Fortunately janeturenne came to my rescue and beta'ed me out of the hole I wrote myself into.

And now I must go and get ready for my storyteller and the kickoff to summer reading. [Insert panic here.]