@the-wip-project Day 42

@the-wip-project Day 42

What’s an an old idea that you’ve discarded?

The honest truth is that there are actually 5 wips in my greenhouse.

Two of them have made their way out of it straight to the main house, in full daylight, to be pampered, watered, nurtured into growth. One of these is already the size of a monstera, the other is giving me nice and healthy stems :)

There are three left. One is a single stem, green and proud but barely an inch tall. I started writing it, erased, rewrote, erased, rewrote. But the whole plot is planned out in my mind; the moodboard has been ready for ages (one of the first thing I did when the idea budded) and I know I'm attached to it. I just can't write it, for some obscure reason, but I can't discard it either. There's another that hasn't made it to my computer yet, but has remained there, in its earthy, seemingly barren pot. I water it once in a while, the roots look healthy still. I don't know what to do with this one.

Finally, there's this dry heap of dust, with a withered, blackened stem jutting akimbo in the middle. I haven't tended that one in years and I'm ashamed to say, I'm letting it die. I initially wanted to adapt an old classic play, "Les Fâcheux" ("The Bores" in English, I think) So classic and old that hardly anybody knows it in my country, despite having been written by Molière. I came across it while tidying up my bedroom at my mom's and read it. The language is dated, but the idea is funny. Set in a modern setting, I used to think it could be a fun read. It narrates the day of the protagonist, determined to propose the love of his life despite her tutor's objection. He's on his way to fulfill his goal at all costs, but is constantly hindered by a series of drags, bothering him with various topics.

Even now as I write it, I seriously doubt the actual fun in that plot, just as I doubt my skill in making it funny :\

@the-wip-project Day 75

Do you write in past tense or present tense? Why do you prefer one?

When I started writing three years ago, I used to write in the past tense. My first two published stories are told in the past.

And then I saw that meme somewhere here on Tumblr...

That ended me 😆 (and my past tense story-telling)

@the-wip-project Day 32

What’s your favorite trope you’re not writing and why?

I don't think I have a favorite trope overall, whether in reading, or (even less) in writing. My reading depends on my mood of the day, so I've covered a large variety of tropes that I thoroughly enjoy. I figured some that I don't particularly like, so obviously my writing is going to stay away from those.

There are some tropes that I really like but would not try out (like royals au for instance), for the simple reason that, so far, no idea of a plot, or a prompt, has emerged in my mind. But I wouldn't go as far as saying that I will not write any at all. Mafia au are also really cool, but complex to set up. I'm not sure my imagination is as flexible as it needs to be to imagine a world of crime and violence (graphic or not).

But now that I think about it, no trope is as intimidating as canon compliant. I'd be too afraid to mess things up, while I love reading about it. Some writers are exceedingly good at it!

Out-of-body experience

@the-wip-project Day 43

How often to you switch WIPs and do you think that’s a good thing to do?

I've read a few answers to the question to help my line of thought get straight, because if I had to take the idea more literally, as if the black-hole of my brain, I'd say ALL THE TIME! Taking a step back to think about that aspect of the writing process is actually quite scary because there's hardly any spare time when I don't think about my stories. Either I do something that occupies my brain (my teaching job is quite demanding in that respect), either I think about my stories.

The reason they occupy my mind so often is mostly because over time, it's become a coping mechanism of mine. When I'm stressed out, anxious, worried, depressed, I've learned to divert my darker thoughts to more positive and productive directions. And my wips help LOADS in that! It doesn't always bring satisfaction with the actual writing that should follow (like @sayonaramidnight, I also wish thoughts could type themselves out directly, though I'm considering voice-recording them as they come idk), but at least the creative process isn't smothered under piles of emotional or psychological luggage.

Havins two wips actually out there on ao3 is a new thing to me. So I haven't quite examined the way I switch from one to the other. The first wip is already a certain size (15 chapters - 180k) and generally made of long chapters so they take more time and research, which is why I tend to prioritize it for now. Also because I'd feel bad for some faithful readers who are really looking forward to what's going to happen next.

That being said, I also write the scenes once they are neat and clear in my mind, which can take time (and a lot of daydreaming or distraction). These scenes however, may also require that I anticipate and think about the rest of the plot to some extent (which takes even more time, and even more daydreaming). But as soon as every major element is on the go, I sit down to write them and type them as they come. This may lead me to write a chapter, and start the next in the following days.

But both stories constantly overlap in my mind, that's certain.

@the-wip-project Day 39

What kind of traits make a character interesting?

I've read a bunch of answers to this question, and like @sayonaramidnight, multi-layered, complex, conflicted characters are the most appealing to me. Especially if this complexity is non-apparent from the start. It automatically pulls me to the edge of my seat, expectant of the moment when they'll jump that plot-cliff. I'll be ready jump with them!

One collateral answer could be this, I live for the moments when this character is making THE DECISION™. The one that's going to flick the first domino of the series and trigger the course of actions they didn't know they needed. It might come with some collateral damage, some violent life-changing upheavals, heart-breaks, the end of important relationships even.

Such decisions require a determination that doesn't come easily for some types of characters. It can take a few chapters to bud and grow; it also can the spur of a instant. In any case, it's a beautiful thing to witness, as a reader and as a writer (*sniffles* proud) But the courage that comes thereafter to face the consequences is what makes a character a hero to me!

@the-wip-project Day 50 & 51

What fic/story made you? And do you use tools for plotting and what are they?

I hope I understand the question well, in the sense of what story made me jump the cliff into writing fics at all. Over the years, I regularly see posts encouraging people to give their creativity a chance whenever their mind provides them with an original twist to an existing show/cast/story and not to be afraid of letting go and jump in the fanfic bandwagon; the mere emergence of this original idea gives it - and gives them - full legitimacy.

These claims are so true that three years past since I wrote my first fic, I could still cry. I never thought I'd be able to write that first baby if I had not followed these friendly reminders. Yet, I went through all the stages of denial before getting down to it.

The idea had come from a classic opera, Verdi's La Traviata, I had just attended during a trip to Paris. Not my idea, but a gift my dad had given me, in the hope I'd find it pleasant enough to allow an interest in opera ("You love plays, you love music, I'm sure you'll love opera" was his full argument. Who was I to refuse him the wish to bond with me over such a dear topic to him (✿◡‿◡), especially through a present :D) The story is classical, so was the staging but who cares, I loved it and thought it was still very current. Chuck the period costumes, update the soundtracks, but keep the magical place (Paris <3), the romance, the plot twists, and the morals.

My first impulse had been to message one of my fave fic authors to tempt them into writing it. I was aware it could get rejected of course, but I sent the message anyway, too excited at the idea that it might also be interesting enough to be given a shot. So excited that I started daydreaming about it non-stop (bless my partner for bearing with my frequent zoning-out >>>> that's my answer to the second question by the way (. ❛ ᴗ ❛.) Pantsers, unite!). I had mapped all the places across the French capital for this scene and that scene, using the cafés, restaurants, walks I had experienced myself over our stay. Then came some dialogues, which characters would do or say what and how. So much so that as I boarded the train to head back home, I started regretting messaging that author....

... who was not replying anyway! I waited for a whole week. No news. Fine. I'm gonna do it myself then. I wrote the first chapter in a day. The next day, I swam my way through the "post work" tabs on ao3. ╰(*°▽°*)╯