Found on just about everybody’s journal. I’m late, but eh…

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d predicted?

Depends on how you look at it. I had hoped to write a little bit more perhaps, but I’m amazed that I had time to do what I did, so it all evens out in the wash. I do wish I had had the nerve to pursue more of my LOTR ideas, but there’s always this year.

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January 2003?

I’ve only written for two genres so far–Gilmore Girls and LOTR–although the latter consists of a few drabbles and three paragraphs to three (as of yet) uncompleted stories that one day I hope to have the courage to pursue.

GG–I never thought I’d be writing a story about Paris and Brad. I started LNB because I felt unresolved with the Washington, DC storyline–and as I was telling my sister about it, she mentioned that she wanted a story about Paris and Brad. So I wrote Brad into the story, mostly thinking that he’d be an antagonist, somebody to bring the friendship of Paris and Rory closer together…but he wasn’t happy with that role. 🙂

And I’ve done a few drabbles on people that I never thought I’d channel either that are soon to be published–one on Dean and Lindsey for example.

What’s your favorite story of the year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you happiest.

Like Never Before, by far. Besides being my only true story, it’s my baby. I’ve put my heart and soul into it. When I started it, I had so few definite plans and now, it’s come together in a way that I could hardly imagine. It’s taken a while to get an audience, but I write it because I love it and the voices have a way of trying to get out and on paper.

Did you take any writing risks this year? (See above for unexpected pairings, etc.) What did you learn from them?

Publishing my last chapter of LNB was a big risk. I was really worried about it. I started in July and couldn’t seem to get beyond the first scene. Every line I wrote, I erased. I stared at that screen every day for months, putting one line on at a time.

At the same time, a friendship of mine was dissolving and I had a hard time writing this fight scenes between Rory and Paris, because it hit so close to home. I was afraid that I was channelling too much of my own life in it. And then when this friendship didn’t resolve in the nice and neat manner that my story’s did, I started freaking out that I had made it too idealistic and had an incredibly difficult time finishing up the last few paragraphs.

In the end, I hated looking at it so much, that I just finished it and posted it. My sister had problems with it and I was rather afraid of what my few, loyal reviewers would say about it. They did love it–but I still can’t read it, although it doesn’t strike me as the awful writing that I thought it was before.

I’m facing a similar risk with my next chapter. It’s about a subject that every teenie (not meant to bash on the very excellent teenage writers out there–some of them write circles around me three or four times, but you know of what I mean) gushes about–love–and I’ve had to closely analyze my story to make sure that I, romantic that I am, haven’t treated the subject as idealistically as they do.

Do you have any fanfic or pro-fic goals for the New Year?

In order of importance:

To finish LNB–there are three more chapters, not including the current one, and I want to be done before July.

And I love drabbles so much that it’s become a goal to write at least two a week–one LOTR, one GG (success for this week! They make such a pleasant distraction from physiology).

To actually write out the LOTR plot ideas that I have saved on my computer. I’m starting to get the feel of the language and I think I can manage a 1000+ word vignette. 🙂

I want to try some poetry forms. I’ve avoided poetry, I tend to think more in prose, but fileg‘s incredible poems have encouraged me not to rule that out.

To finish the X-Files story that I started back when I was a sophomore–it’s a chapter and a half and begging to be fleshed out. It’s what got me started on fanfic, and I’ve still never come across a story like it, so I’d like to finish it.

Pro-fic–not in your life. I actually enjoy the fanfic stuff more than I do coming up with original characters. And I’ve managed to find spare moments in my busy life, than I might with the real stuff. It’s my link to sanity. I’m hoping on the wards, I can find the time to dash down a few sentences, or I don’t know what I’ll do. 🙂

Finally bought the ROTK soundtrack tonight. I had hoped to get it for Christmas, no such luck, so I made it a gift from me. Not sure how good of an idea that was, though. I’ve been crying through it for the past hour now. I broke down completely when I listened to “Into the West.” Some things just touch so closely to the heart.

It’s a good thing my roommate’s not here, or I’d have to listen to comments about being obsessed again. Love her dearly, but she just doesn’t understand.