Three dollars and some change

For the Ask Me Anything December meme

Dec. 18: the one that got away (fic or fandom)

Hel's Bones escaped me with the relentless movement of the MCU canon (and the hole I dug myself into, more on that here).

Fandoms? I have fallen out of a few over the years as I drift from canon interest – Supernatural is a big one, as is Doctor Who. It's more that canon went in directions that didn't interest me so I went onto other ones.

As long-time readers of my blog would know, I set my Anita Blake obsession on fire back in the day but again, a difference of opinion on where the characters were going.

---

Dec. 19: How do you come up with names and story titles?

In most cases I get partway through the writing and start thinking, what should I call this? What are the themes I want to highlight?

With Turn, Archer, and Heed the Wild Hunt, I wanted to highlight the archery bit that Susan and Clint were using to show the similarities and fit, as well as to riff off the Wild Hunt concept. I ended up throwing words together but I think it works.

With Hands of Clay, it's a riff off the idiom, feet of clay, which means a weakness or flaw in an admired person. The main line in the story is that both Steve and Bucky work their way past their initial illusions of each other, see the other as a whole person, realize they love the whole man, and move to a real relationship. Only with hands instead of feet because part of Bucky's beliefs were around, who could love a man with only one hand (as well as his other flaws)? I thought myself witty when I made that up 4 years ago, but then writers always think that, don't they?

Sometimes, the title is the point-blank theme of the story. Inevitable – well, the final confrontation and Harry's attempt at noble sacrifice was pretty much inevitable, as was Anita's refusal to sacrifice those she loves. Widow Maker was another, where you thought it was going to be about “who made the Black Widow” and then I pull up in the last chapter to have Natasha realize that throughout it all, she's made herself into the person she is.

When I'm desperate, I start looking up poetry online and seeing what I can grab for a title based on thematics (see, And each man stands with his face in the light; and Rosemary, for Remembrance).

---

Dec. 20: What repeated themes do you see running through your work?

People losing use of their hands seems to be a big one. Found family or lost family members is another. People being smart and pragmatic while still making boneheaded decisions is another. But mostly found family.

---

Dec. 21: What's your policy on remixes, podfic, and other transformative work?

If you want to remix/podfic/fanart anything I've written? I will come to your house with cookies and clean your garage. I would love anything – I love to see where people take things based on my writing :D

(Seriously. I'll make you cookies).

---

Dec. 22: Where do you turn when your research is coming up with nothing of value to the story?

If I'm reading this right, it's where I'm looking for information but online gives me nothing. Most cases this isn't the case, as what I'm looking for are popular subjects (mainly medical and heath, mental and physical, along with childhood development and other stuff for kids). On the rare occasions where my plot research is more niche, I have the very good fortune to work for a research-intensive university, with a very large library and access to an immense journal selection. In all my time of writing, I've gone hunting for information in the library stacks about 4 or 5 times? Mostly I can find what I need in the online catalog.

And when I can't find anything, even with those resources and over 20 years of research know-how behind me? Either I take a different direction where I can find more info, or I whole scale make things up. It's fiction, after all.

---

Dec. 23: any media you enjoy but didn't get into the fandoms?

Mostly comedies, I have a hard time connecting on the fandom side (I enjoy the gifsets and the memes but I don't partake if you know what I mean).

I've also really gotten into shows that have zero fandom presence so that drifts. Best example was a show called Unforgettable (started in 2011, with Poppy Montgomery) with a detective who hyperthymesia and can remember everything she's ever experienced; I liked it, the supporting characters were interesting, but there was no fandom for it and I wasn't robust enough at the time to start up on my own.

---

Dec. 24: What's the best piece of writing advice you've ever gotten?

All first drafts suck. So write the first draft, let it suck, and then go back and make it better.

---

Dec. 26: Out of all the characters you've ever written, which one is your favorite? Which one has surprised you the most?

I love Natasha Romanoff in all her incarnations. Be she a five-year-old adopted by Bucky Barnes in modern-day New York, or as a 75-year-old near-indestructible spy. She's fascinating to bring to life.

Surprised me the most, I'd say, more recently, Viktor Nikiforov. He's surprised me in the directions I can take him, and to see where he ends up going in my AUs while based on the canon character.

For the Ask Me Anything December meme - Day #7

The question today is from dimestore_romeo : I'm not sure if it's wip or rip, but its an old favourite nevertheless! How did you picture the rest of the plot for Hel's Bones turning out?

Ah, Hel's Bones, my one story that's been jossed to many times by canon that I might actually just say "screw it" and go with the original plot.

Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/1961022/chapters/4241784

Which is this, so if you're not wanting spoilers, head out. But anyway, here's the big reveal:

Hel, daughter of Loki and Angrboða, is the Soul Stone.
( Putting in a cut because this really, really got away from me. also warning for a lack of coherence )

and that's what I did on my summer vacation that's how that was going to turn out - I still like it better than bringing in Hela as an Odin child and making her evil - even if Thor 3 is one of my favorite movies :)

For the Ask Me Anything December meme - Day #5

Today's question is: Why do you write?

Two reasons: I have all these stories in my head and want to share them with everyone, also to get them solidified into one actual story instead of the multi-verse of tangents and off-shoots and AU storylines. I find that once I write something down and publish it, all other tangents crumble to dust and I’m set on a particular “canon” for my stories*. Sometimes it’s a relief.

Also I crave validation from others and want everyone to like me

* Over the years I’ve heard readers criticize authors for forgetting details of their own stories and yes this is why we should all have a story bible but I bring this up because I find it fascinating how I can have an encyclopedic knowledge of the tiniest details of the shows I watch and books/fics I read, and have forgotten almost all details about a story I wrote two years ago. So I get it, both sides.

tl;dr - can't not write. have tried. didn't take.

For the Ask Me Anything December meme - Day #3

Today’s question comes from jjhunter : What do you carry with you?

---

Literal answer: Phone, headphones, chapstick, $40 in cash, a bookstore loyalty card, and my house keys

Philosophical answer: Loneliness. I have a hard time understanding social interaction and people really mean in any given social setting. I have a hard time making friends; I get the social signals all wrong and am either too clingy or too aloof, and it ends up with me sitting by myself too tired to try again.

And having said that in all its depressing glory, I try not to let that define me. I get up, go to work, perform all the obligatory social interactions (how was your weekend? Any holiday plans? Etc.) and live my life.

And and, I’m ok with alone. Lonely hurts sometimes, but alone is within my control. Alone is, I can go out and see people and then leave those people and be home  and knowing exactly what’s in my personal space and be in control of my own destiny.

Also I carry with me the lingering repercussions of childhood poverty and low socio-economic expectations, but I’m saving that particular topic for my autobiography.

For the Ask Me Anything December meme - Day #1!

The question today comes from kass: Tell me things you love about Yuri on Ice?

Oh, I love so much about Yuri on Ice:

• How Yuuri and Viktor are both seen to be living with mental health challenges and it doesn’t define them nor diminish them.
• How their dedication to the sport (both the athleticism and the artistry) is so realistic.
• How Yuuri as an unreliable narrator made Viktor seem to slightly sinister in the first few episodes and it was a delightful evolution for the viewer to go back and connect all the dots. Just fun storytelling.
• How supportive Yuuri’s family and friends are of him, even when he feels as if he has failed them or let them down.
• Makkachin.
• How Viktor and Yuuri both call each other out on their behaviour and talk through things like goddamn adults. Also, how they both make mistakes and own up to those mistakes.
• How by the end, Viktor can see a future for himself (with Yuuri, yes, but also for himself).
• Also how there is so much left open for interpretation that we can fanfic AU *anything*

What do you all like about YOI?

What TV shows are you guys watching this year?