Open Thread Round II

[mhalachai]

Open Thread!

It's time for another round of open thread.

Definitions of Open thread on the Web:
An open thread is a post on a blog or frequently updated website where readers may comment and discuss any topic that they choose. Open thread

So, as mentioned, this is an open thread on all things Mhalachai. Ask anything you want.

Some suggestions

• Do you realize that waiting for the ending of Inevitable may just kill me?


• Why crossovers?


• What the hell motivated you to start writing *insert name of fic here*


• Are you ever gonna write original fic or what?

Ask away!

Comments

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there will be many questions about your WIPs. I'm happy to wait and see (though if you need poking about various unfinished stories I am right there :D...)

So...is there original fic on the cards? Long or short form? What genre/s?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Original fic... long (novel), probably this genre (demonic horror/fantasy). You know, something you can't admit to writing in academic company :P

I also have an idea for a semi-autobiographical look at my family history, but if I write it then no one in my extended family will ever speak to me again. Not sure if this is a bad idea or not...

I'm never sure how to write short stories. I mean, why bother? My stories are plot and need a solid character and I have not yet mastered an OC in less than 30,000 words.

[deepfishy.livejournal.com]

Kewl :). (I have no shame in the face of academic company, because my flavour of academia was totally down with genre, and I'm prepared to defend it to the hilt.)

Short stories...they have their own needs, but primarily the plot needs to be short-story-sized (ie, you don't need 40,000+ words to cover it; ideally, less than 10,000). I'd say you're actually really good at writing short stories already, but if they're not the ideas you itch to write for original fic, my view is don't force them.

Good luck with it. You're one of my favourite fanfic writers, and I'd love to read your books one day!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I work with mathematicians and economists -- they ain't so forgiving :P

I think the main reason I can never write a short story is that I can't shut the hell up.

Oh well :)

[strangevisitor7.livejournal.com]

I love your crossovers but it's been ages since any GG/SPN. Any chance for more?

What is your favorite crossover to write?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Not sure about GG/SPN -- it's been a while since I've seen either and I can't feel the love. Maybe we'll see how SPN hits this year.

Idea -- Rory as demon hunter. Yes/no?

You mean what specific fandoms, or the story? Fandoms, I like Anita Blake (because i'm a masochist) and SPN and SGA because of their characters and the worlds. I like the big bad monsters.

As for story... Dawning Light. It's just so cute.

[jaydeyn-sitari.livejournal.com]

So, Doctor Who fic sometime in the future - Y/N?

Any chances of seeing continued House stuff?

And what about that original fic question anyway?

:)
Jaydeyn

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Never seen dr who, so at this point no. Maybe when I get a chance to see it....

House... still have to see season 3. I haven't got cable any longer so I need to wait for DVDs.

Original fic... i have ideas, ya know. Just getting the characters in line is the hard part. Plot and story arc is just fine. I think I work backwards at these things.

[autumnus]

I know I am being insisting about this but will we see a Blood Ties fic anytime? :)

what is your reason for writing fanfic? relaxing? can't get images from your head? practice? other?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about Blood Ties... I'd much rather write off the books than the show, and it's been a while since I've read those. I have the Shadow books (second series with same characters) but not the Blood... one of those things to rectify when I find some spare cash.

Fanfic is mostly stories in my head, some practice, and some fun. Most days I write just cuz.

Then I get concrit comments on the worst day in the universe at work, and I feel sad, but then I pick myself up and go on. Man, RL is really interrupting my fandom activities.

*sigh*

Sorry for the info dump, I'm just having One Of Those Days.

[autumnus]

ohh... I can't believe you haven't read the blood books! (this coming from someone who only read the first of the smoke series)

They are fun, they are nice. oddly they are not too far off the TV show. I still cannot decide if the books or the TV version is darker. :D

and for everything else *hugs*. RL interrupts all of our lives. it should be banned forever.

you take care!

[cissasghost.livejournal.com]

So, you do realize that waiting for the ending of Inevitable may just kill me? ;)

If you wrote original fic, what sort of characters would you write? What themes interest you? Your fanfic is all across the board, so I'm curious as to what really grabs you. Do you have a project (original, that is - I know there are many, many projects fic-wise) already in the works?

-Sonya

[ladybeth.livejournal.com]

Ah, the more sophisticated sister of the spam post:)

Do you realize that waiting for the ending of Inevitable may just kill me?

Inevitable??

[draconin.livejournal.com]

What's your feeling about how to treat the comics? Canon? Or leave it with "Chosen" as the end of the official canon and treat the comics as fanfic?

Dawning Light

[(Anonymous)]

When are we going to see more of Dawning Light, not that I don't love Inevitable.

Drix

Re: Dawning Light

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Yup, Dawning Light is next up!

[say-smile.livejournal.com]

Will you post another poll?

Do you realize that waiting for the ending of Inevitable may just kill me?

Are you ever gonna write original fic or what?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Another poll? What a lovely idea! Now all I need is a subject :D

Original fic is in the works... at least the idea phase. I've got a couple of ideas bouncing around, and now all I need to do is figure out the characters. They're harder than the plot.

And Inevitable... at least we'll have an ending soonish. One day.

[firefox1490.livejournal.com]

Honest I got nothing...which is strange. So I'm gonna thief your suggestion question, Do you realize that waiting for the ending of Inevitable may just kill me? And then to have to wait for the sequel, I'm going to DIE!!! Waste away into nothing. Between that and Dawning Light *sigh*

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Waiting for the end of Inevitable may kill me. I've been writing this story for longer than 2.5 years. It's getting a little much.

And the sequel will be in a different format. A series of tubes vignettes leading up to something. But it won't be quite as long :)

[peegchica.livejournal.com]

I very much love your fics Dawning Light and Inevitable. You write the characters so well, and its definately better than current Anita Blake canon. Any chance more Dawing Light anytime soon?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Dawning Light is next on tap. Dawn is being very loud in my head right now (not in an "i'm crazy" sort of way, but you get the idea). I'm hoping to get some time to write on that story this weekend :)

Thanks so much for your kind words also. The more I read on current AB canon (such as snippets from the most recent book) the more I miss early Anita. Ah well. Such is life, I suppose (fraught with disappointment.)

[triscut2.livejournal.com]

The return to 'Early Anita' is one of the reasons why I so like Switchback. *pleas for an update* I have hopes that she may return at least in part to that characterization in canon someday.

I know you say the outcome of Switchback is depressing and that is why you are putting it off. I guess it is, to realize that even with foreknowledge of the events to take place around her in her past/present she is unable to change the outcomes for the better, in fact, in some cases so far, they have turned out worse. But please, soon.

[dizzy-lizard.livejournal.com]

I'll add my vote to the waiting for Inevitable's ending will probably kill me. :)

I'll also ask if there's anymore of the Stargate Atlantis/Harry Potter fics in the works? I like your John Shepherd as having once been Harry Potter stories.

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Oh, Inevitable. Heck, waiting to the end of it may kill *me*

I have some ideas to continue the HP/SGA series, but nothing more than nebulous ideas. Maybe some Tonks coming to Atlantis.... but I haven't seen season 3 of SGA and I'm a little hesitant to write fic in that case. Maybe after I get the DVDs :D

[irish-dragon.livejournal.com]

Have you ever thought of doing a crossover w/ Kindred the Embraced, and if so, how would you do it?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

But I have! Waaaay back in the day.

Masks (http://www.tthfanfic.com/Story-5895/Mhalachai+Masks.htm)

Summary: When Buffy ran away after sending Angel to Hell, she ended up in San Francisco, where she learned that vampires aren't the only things that thrive in the darkness.

This was written long ago. All the way back in 2004.

Other than that... I have some interesting ideas for a KtE/SGA crossover, but that's probably never going to get written. Maybe if I can justify buying the KtE dvds... We'll see.

[irish-dragon.livejournal.com]

I bought the dvds when they first came out.

Going on amazon OMG. I see what you mean.

[az-anneliese.livejournal.com]

Okay, I know this will probably come up later but ... 'Candlelight'? Will it get finished this year or has it been firmly shoved to the back of the cabinet, so to speak? Which I understand (I have a couple more than I'd like to admit to that I don't think I'll ever finish).

If it won't ever be finished, are you the type of writer that could give up your story for someone to finish? I don't think I would be able to but it seems to be something that we see more and more often now ...

[penyn-1600.livejournal.com]

Will you be continuing your John Winchester/Anita Blake fic?

Will there be any Inevitable sequels or little ficlets? (Do you realize that waiting for the ending of Inevitable may just kill me? And that anticipating the end is half the fun?)

What draws you to certain characters (Anita, Harry, Dawn. etc.)?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

You know what? You said John Winchester/Anita Blake and I thought, "Oh yeah, the one where a disembodied John (a ghost after he died in that hospital room) starts to haunt Anita and wackiness ensues. What was the name of that one again?"

It has no name because I never wrote it.

I really need to re-read my stuff.

Anyway. I found the one you mean. It's possible I'll get to it at some point, you know, after I finish everything else. It's almost stupid how many WIPs I have.

K, next question

There will be a series of sequels to IN. Mostly, a bunch of one-offs dealing with the post-IN years, and then I'm contemplating a multi-chapter fic to have fun! times! for! all! but that last may not happen. The onesies will, as I truly need to deal with the story in my head :)

What draws me? Hrm. The "outsider" syndrome, I guess. A character that's not popular (in their minds) and a little spazzy but good people underneath. I like writing characters that are moral at heart and are willing to do anything they can for their fellows, even without adulation or reward. Not the most original reasoning in the world, but I can live with that :D

[jenova-silver.livejournal.com]

Did the last Harry Potter book mess with your Inevitable plans?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Not really. There were some things that were annoying (killing off Tonks and Remus), some things that were kind of line with what I had imagined (Harry being a Horcrux, Dumbledore being a tarnished hero, and Luna being *kickass*). There were lines of plot that I was surprised JKR didn't follow up on, monsters and the like, but that's okay as I plan to do it in IN.

Oh, and yeah -- Neville freaking rocks in any regard :D

Essentially, Inevitable has been off-canon since OotP. I started writing (and finished planning) before Half Blood Prince, so I'm really fine with canon changes. I do tend to incorporate new canon when I can, tho. We'll see what makes it into IN from DH.

[practical-puss.livejournal.com]

Is there any possibility of Heroes fic?
:cough:Petrellicest:cough:

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen Heroes yet. Give me time until my bestest bud finishes her copy of Season 1, so I can scam it L:D

Few Ideas

[aletathuvis135.livejournal.com]

For Original Characters:

Build them with a Roleplaying System, DnD or White Wolf or what have you.

Also take a few of those silly personality tests, by take them with your character in mind instead of yourself.

And I too look forward to the end of inevitable. In fact, I was dropping by to reread it.

Tho, Dawning Light is fun too!

Re: Few Ideas

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like Inevitable and Dawning Light :D Thanks for the suggestion for OC development. I'm going to get these characters done if it's the last thing I do.

Looking for more

[(Anonymous)]

Just wondering about these fics, if you're planning on picking them back up and/or writing sequals.

Dust Motes, Candlelight, Different Eyes, and Letter Box.

These are some of my favorites from you, especially Different Eyes I would like to see a sequal on. As well as your Merry Gentry/Firefly crossover fics.

Vexen

Re: Looking for more

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Dust Motes is pretty much done (due to lack of inspiration). Different Eyes actually *is* finished, and it's been so long since I have seen Firefly that there's nothing doing on that front.

Candlelight is still out there. I have drifted from it, true, but I have an ending in line.

I have no idea where Letterbox was going, actually. It's one of the few that I had no clue on. Most of my Dawn-Nathaniel interaction nowadays is in Dawning Light.

[child-labor.livejournal.com]

I feel bad chiming in here since it's been about a bazillion years since I left you any reviews because I'm a terrible person, but maybe commenting here will guilt me into starting to leave proper feedback again. (Or something)

Think you'll ever write any more in the Faith-in-Atlantis universe? I love that fic.

Also, a question that isn't just "hey, when are you writing more of ..." *thinks* Do you have any preferences for writing in fandoms with ongoing canons vs. fandoms where the canon's set and closed and not going to be changing anymore? Or does it really make no difference?

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Nah, chime in all you want. You're not terrible, only busy like the rest of us ;) Feel free to say anything about anything I write, how's that?

Faith in Atlantis.... good question. All I can say is not at this point, but that may change once I see the full season 2 and season 3 of SGA. Who knows? I'm never saying no to that, as Faith is too cool.

As for canon, it's easier to write a closed canon show, but the ongoing canon keeps the motivation up, with new ideas and new twists. I think I prefer the ongoing canon. MOtivation and all.

[(Anonymous)]

Is there a chance that we'll see any more of Mary Russell? *crosses fingers* Please say yes!

[mhalachaiswords.livejournal.com]

Why yes, more Mary Russell is in the works :) It's a surprise little ficlette, if I can get it written soon.

I do so enjoy those books.

[(Anonymous)]

Do you think after inevitable and its sequel, you are going to be doing more hp/ab? because you sooo got me hooked on that crossover, and you are by far the best author i have ever come across to write hp/ab fics!