I don't remember who said this, but he was some sort of composer, I'm certain. Probably from the 20th Century. Anyways, he said he never had problems composing within the boundaries of set rules (I think this might have been when we were talking about twelve-tone scales, which have REALLY strict compositional rules) but when someone said to him "just compose something" without giving him any sort of restrictions, it became so much more difficult. And I think that applies to fannish writing vs. original fic as well: once the set boundaries of the fandom and its characters, history, and mythology are taken away it adds a huge level of complexity that must be overcome to successfully write something (anything). I know I always have about a zillion (actually, more like five, but it feels like a zillion) ideas racing around my head for original stories and it's so hard for me to just develop one.

In short, it's hard. But you already knew that. And I would not be bored by any work you do, I'm certain.

Going back to education as a teacher or a student?

And I definitely hear you - writing original fic is hard in entirely different ways and I've found now that I'm used to fanfic type writing, original is even harder.

But yay writing!

Hee! Join me in going back! *looks at half-done apps* *shudders*

History! My mom has often asked me why I didn't major in history (or didn't want to go back and do so) since I'll babble at her for hours. I usually point out I have no idea what I'd do with a history degree and it's more fun to just study for fun.

I think fanfic is very useful in a lot of ways. It teaches you about writing characters, about writing dialogue that sounds character-specific and how to play with words and language to bring out different emotions and describe different situations. But it doesn't help you learn to build an original world or character - so, yeah, pluses and minuses. I do think it's made a better writer in every aspect of my life though.

Happy to be on the filter although I can't promise to always comment.

Can you let me know what kind of commenting you want. The C&C I give nowadays tends to be quite to the point and very practical. "Yes, this works", "no, this doesn't and here's why" It's also intended for people working towards publication. I have no idea how to criticise 'for my own pleasure' writing.

I havce to confess I don't read yout Stargate fic, simply because I don't watch Stargate. (Even though half my flist writes it!)

But I'm very happy to give harsh and cruel crit. Bwahahaha!

I'm sooo going to fail at Nano to :) I am however determined to hit the 10k mark by the end on Friday.

Writing original fiction is hard. I have sitting on my hard drive 6 pages of a historial romance that I began in 2000. Every now and then I will take a look at it. I know what I want to happen and where I want it to go. But the style and writing is so formal and cold!!! It's like reading one of my Open University assignments. I hate it!!!

I definitely want to be part of your filter!!!

Have you thought of applying to the OU or do you intend to go back to Uni full time?

Me...I'm doing a BA (HONS) History Degree with the OU.

The OU courses are very good. I've just finished the A200 course - Exploring History: Medieval to Modern 1400 - 1900. The materials included very glossy and infomative course books and CDs. There was stuff you could access online and also online groups you could get involved in. Also tutorials once a month at a local centre.

It is a shame those geeky shows are no more. But most of the stuff you need is provided online or on CD.

Assignments can be sent to your Tutor by email as well. So, there is no more panic about it getting lost in the mail or you missing the deadline date. I sent one of this year's assignments to my tutor by email a minute before midnight *g*

I think the OU is great!

I'm happy to meet up in AIM if you want to chat further about the OU or the course :)

I am GOING to be doing the course on Film and Television Histiry next year. I'm looking forward to receiving my 13 feature films and seven TV programmes which are included as part of the course materials.

The course is mainly about exploring the social role and cultural influence of film and TV in the United States of America, Britain and western Europe.

I'm not a writer and hence really can't offer any words of advice.
I'd like to be on the filter if you don't mind me lurking. If you'd rather have writer peeps on it, that's cool too, no probs.

I love the lure of going back to school. I did my BA in History, but my MA was in an area more geared towards my job. One day I will go back to school (when my mortgage and student loans stop sending me into cold sweats) but right now, I can't decide if it would be History or something work related again. Or if I could combine them, but I doubt that. I just keep my history brain happy by reading everything I can get my hands on.

I'd quite like to lurk, if you don't mind. I'm completely impressed with anyone who even tries to write anything non-fannish seriously.

I know exactly what you mean. For the past year or so I've really been trying to get some original work done and every time I sat down an wrote this completely not me stuff starts coming out all clumsy and self-conscious and lacking any of the vibe I aim for in my fanfic. It was incredibly frustrating and still is. I think there is a dichotomy in our heads between fanfic and original fic, like one is more 'worthy' or more 'serious' and for me, whenever I write original fic I always have that Internal Editor barking at me "and why would anyone publish this?"

But I think the writing what you want to read and completely for yourself and not for that publisher, original fic audience is the first step of mental gymnastics that we need to pull off to get our original fic flowing. Because in fanfic we don't worry about things like fitting a specific format or appealing to a wide group. It just is what it is and we don't feel the need to apologize for that.

At least, those are my fractured ideas at the moment. :) As much as I am whining about NaNo right now, it has taught me two important skills: 1) sitting down at the computer and writing *something* every day no matter how much I am not in the mood or how craptastic the words are that come out, and 2) being completely self-indulgent and writing only what I would like to see happen, no matter how cliche or trite or angsty or whatever. The only times I have stalled out in NaNo is when I let my retarded Inner Editor whisper to me that no one could possibly ever want to read my drivel, let alone publish it (which is more than likely true), but I have to cling to the mental gymnastics of giving myself permission to write, or all I have accomplished is writing nothing rather than writing something other than brilliant. And I think how many lengthy fanfics I wrote before I really found a rhythm and a voice I liked, and remind myself its going to take a lot of finished novels before I see a glimmer of what I am aiming for.

And, oh my god, if I could just ramble like this in my NaNo I would have been done forever ago! ;)

I'm back off to do some mental gymnastics. *hugs*

(And, heh, I've noticed that the NaNo people are all writing longer comments. It's very amusing. *g*)

That's because we are all stuck in this MUST WRITE mode *head-desk*

Set words seems a bit arbitrary to me sometimes, but it does work. Are you on the NaNo pep talk email list still? The one we just got today pretty much just echoed everything we've been saying. But he has a great idea of sitting down and writing a chapter at a time, letting yourself go back and revise the previous chapter first as a warm-up and then plow straight into the next chapter. I sort of love that idea (the no revising has been killing me this month).

Every time I let myself seriously trying to have a writing career, my mind automatically jumps to a degree program, like I am incapable of finishing (or hell, even starting) anything without an outside arbitrary deadline like university courses or some such. But then my husband gets this freaked out look when I mention going back to school, probably remembering how unpleasant I was the first time around. lol.

I think we should definitely set up some sort of comm geared towards helping us set writing goals, a sort of lower pressure version of NaNo where in we can encourage each other and mete out fitting punishments, and, of course, just bitch to each other about our writing woes. I was even thinking doing some sort of prompt comm where a writing exercise is posted just to get the creative juices flowing.

Omg, I need to stop blathering in your journal now. :D

There seem to be lots of us original fic peeps out there. I'd be happy to join you in your quest.

*bows formally*

Actually,

*blushes*

I've been reading regency romance novels. For research, don't you know.

I don't *think* I have. But I just added a couple of books to my library queue.

er...Venetia and The Talisman Ring. Because they were first on the list. ;-)

"Mere" romance writer...see, romance is just like any other genre. I mean, Jane Austen was a "mere romance writer."