blythely

A bit tardy, seeing as the reveal was last week, but I used the opportunity to write a Mighty Nein (Critical Role) story.

Continuing Professional Development (1639 words) by blythely
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Critical Role (Web Series)
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Fjord/Mollymauk Tealeaf

Summary: Activities, behaviours and values that contribute towards the effective running of a team: agility, leadership, resilience, empathy, and candour.

Fjord and Molly enjoy the learning curve.

Musings follow
( Read more... )

What is it, 2004?

Submitted my candyheartsex story, which I am very happy with, not least because the pairing-I-never-really-considered has ... awakened something ... and given me a whole new window into a world I am very fond of but never felt superfannish about (or at least, driven to write fic). The piece I wrote is part one of something longer, so I'll keep working on it. Love this for me.

I hope I wrote something the recipient will like; they had a couple of blanket DNW that were adjacent to something critical to the character(s), so fingers crossed I veered around that sufficiently while also keeping true to the visions of them in my head.

There's a pinch hit I *think* I could do--at least I could write defo 300 words, as a way into a story that I already have as a vague thing in my head (for err decades) but I'll give myself today to mull it over.

My request hasn't been fulfilled, but heyho, I find myself not really minding so much? I found it so difficult to choose things to request, I think because I have not been *reading* fic while I've got back into writing, and so I don't know what is out there for me to want.

Did grown-up chalking out in tailoring course yday, and also learned a crazy technical method for doing darts in woolen fabric. Finally starting to feel like the course is hitting its stride, so of course it is half-term next week.

Gotta go prep teaching.

EDIT: lol, the pinch hit has already been pinched.Oh well I guess I just have to try internal motivation *looks around for another challenge*

Hallo, writer!

In general, I have very few DNWs. If you want to use this challenge to be niche, or weird, or filthy—be my guest. In terms of relationships feel free to explore anything from passing acquaintanceship to long-term lovers and anything in-between. What I do appreciate is a story that explores intimate character details that communicate what A and B find fascinating or admirable about each other. Expertise, hobbies, backgrounds—tell me something new about the people you write. I also love a scientific or botanical theme, if it works.

Babylon 5
I'm most interested in anything that fills in gaps in canon, slice of life on the station, and the build-up or fallout from big decisions that characters make. But I am also an OG Susan/Marcus shipper so that would make me super happy! My only DNW is using JMS's horrible clone short story.

Doctor Who
Donna is my favourite companion, partly because she's seen more of the world before she sees more of the universe, and I really value her grown-up perspective. Having said that she's also bloody hilarious with her straight talking. I'm not that keen on something set entirely post-14-retirement, unless there are adventures in time and space.

Ghosts

Somehow in the last three months I've managed to write a bit. I was inspired to write an outtake for Planning Permission, for the Good Omens Minisode Minibang, and while I didn't sign up for it (which would have immediately been the kiss of death, no doubt) I've been trying to keep to their schedule and have something finished by ~December~

Maaaayyybe that will happen?

One of the challenges of writing Good Omens fic, and Planning Permission was a prime example of this, was trying to decide exactly what historical moments to land Aziraphale and Crowley in. You want settings that are rich enough in cultural meaning that they say something new about the characters; narrative challenges that make sense when interweaved into the plot (or provide plot! I am lazy); enough assumption of shared knowledge that your readers will know where you are, but not travel the clogged Dickens-Robin Hood-Shakespeare-Viking (etc) highways. A nice scenic B road, but not so obscure that readers need Exposition Bob leading the way.

So anyhow I've accomplished ABSOLUTELY NONE of that. I set my story in prehistory, from the Palaeolithic to Neolithic. Zero characters from history, mostly obscure megalithic and archaeological sites, and I did not let angel and demon interact for an inordinately cruel period of time. This story is the literal definition of self-indulgent, if you are an anthropologist who thinks about the evolution of culture and human-environment-meaning all the time (i.e. me). I suspect it is going to be Quite Niche, and without Circe to steer plot and tension I have to kick my own ass to reign in my worst excesses.

To be fair C is a doll who makes excellent suggestions every time I say HALP I CAN'T WRITE WITHOUT U. She is just very busy, but also recognises that my stone age shenanigans are best worked through solo. She will owe me a Richard III comedy though.

So I've got 13k words, and one part (of five in total) plus some moderately annoying editing left to do. Hopeful to have it done by year's end. I will eye some of you for beta.

I would like the story to have some clever and all-encompassing title like PP, but unless I go with a saddo pompous line from Job, it's going to end up where it started, which is from Aziraphale musing on the external of Durham Cathedral: He takes a photograph of the weathered sandstone at the entrance. Az sends his picture to Crowley, texting:

What’s your earliest memory on this island?

Then later gets this:

Yep. It's called Stone circle-y times. Sigh.