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Labor Day Meme: Stories That Never Were
From
petronelle, who filled this in glorious manner. Give me the title of a story I've never written, and feedback telling me what you liked best about it, and I will tell you any of: the first sentence, the last sentence, the thing that made me want to write it, the biggest problem I had while writing it, why it almost never got posted, the scene that hit the cutting room floor but that I wish I'd been able to salvage, or something else that I want readers to know.
Feel free to try any fandom you have reason to think I know, but if I don't at all know the fandom I'll have to say so.
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Feel free to try any fandom you have reason to think I know, but if I don't at all know the fandom I'll have to say so.
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The last sentence: Jim stands up, looking at the sky.
The thing that made me want to write it: I decided to take the Pike/two generations of Kirks thing to its logical extreme; what if Pike calls Jim George in bed? What if Jim finally got fed up enough to stop putting up with it?
The biggest problem I had while writing it: I wussed out so many times between having the idea and finishing the first draft, because this Christopher Pike is a brave strong man but not, in some ways, a good one. Writing him that way broke my heart and probably made a couple of people defriend me.
Why it almost never got posted: See 'biggest problem while writing it'. I got this one flame in email that hurt all the more because I agreed with it.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: The original outline ended with Kirk/McCoy, introduced in a scene where McCoy says, "Jim, this is fucked up," but I realized Jim had to, and could, realize that for himself.
Something else that I want readers to know: All of the above is true in an alternate universe.
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I think the title was something like "oh it's you again"
Oh, you mean "You Again?!"
The last sentence: "That's not humanoid."
The thing that made me want to write it: If we can have a story about multiversal Batmans, why not draw on Batmans from favorite fanfics? So I did Te's Angelsverse Jason, and Dick from that '90's Broken Bat sequence, and Petra's "So Sweet a Changeling" Tim, and then I came up with Batman Cass and... well, the rest is fiction.
The biggest problem I had while writing it:
Running out of alcohol.Wondering who would read this crack.Why it almost never got posted: I should combine this q with the previous.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: Transgender Kevin nee Kate Kane. I wasn't satisfied that my execution wasn't offensive, so I didn't include this variant Batman.
Something else that I want readers to know: Reading that article about that crossover was lots of fun.
Re: Oh, you mean "You Again?!"
Re: Oh, you mean "You Again?!"
I want you to know that I screamed when I read this.
The last sentence: Jim sat up, rubbing his throbbing jaw, and grinned.
The thing that made me want to write it: I wanted to explore gender. Or something.
The biggest problem I had while writing it: Surprisingly, the Spock!speak.
Why it almost never got posted: Writing a story where someone thinks they're female and doesn't want to be, while never saying anything that could be taken as "being female is bad," is pretty frelling hard.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: I couldn't come up with a plausible motive, so I went with "they're aliens, they have incomprehensible motives" and left it at that.
Something else that I want readers to know: So you like Kirk/Chekov/Sulu, huh? *works harder on my upcoming threesome*
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Falstaff is a bit of a departure from everyone you normally write, though, isn't he.
ZOMG, My Hal really is a lot like my Jim Kirk.
The last sentence: So Falstaff went from the sight of his hard-eyed young king.
The thing that made me want to write it:
Overconfidence.Falstaff's adoration of Hal shines off the page, and I tend to give characters what they want, at least proximately.The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: What possessed me to think I could write a story entirely in iambs? I kinda sorta managed it for most of the dialogue. Kinda.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: Scroop's on-stage cameo.
Something else that I want readers to know: If "My Day of Trouble" hadn't met such a quiet reception I might try this for real. But the iambs are a real problem.
Re: ZOMG, My Hal really is a lot like my Jim Kirk.
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Unrelated: I want to lick your icon.
The last sentence: Pavel jumps up laughing and runs to catch up, furry hat swinging from his hand.
The thing that made me want to write it: I didn't think I had anything to say about the "bringing to meet the parents" subgenre of stories, and then I realized I did.
The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: Describing a Californian's reaction to such cold was actually very difficult for me; I'm really flattered that you found that notable. I ended up working hard on remembering my cousins' reactions to snow in the USA (my family is from Jamaica).
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: I trimmed about half of Hikaru's cold-related whining. Also, he would never insult Mrs. Chekova's borscht by word or deed.
Something else that I want readers to know: I had to get really drunk before writing that after-sex scene with the musical howling of the wolves. I still don't know where it came from. I do hope for the Walrus Club sequel (I ended with the hat!) but right now have no plotbunnies.
Re: Unrelated: I want to lick your icon.
Re: Unrelated: I want to lick your icon.
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Would That I Could
The last sentence: Jim's eyes reflect the blue sky above him. "Okay, kids, time to go home."
The thing that made me want to write it: I have long had a Pet Theory of Jim's Fuckedupness, which is that someone messed with him during his childhood who wasn't Frank or Winona. So I finally wrote it.
The biggest problem I had while writing it: I felt gratuitous and Gilbert&Sullivanny to make sure I paired Bones off with someone, but it was one of the blocks I had to get over in writing K/S/U.
Why it almost never got posted: I am SO glad those parallel conversations worked, because they alone took me two months. I meant to post this story back in the fandom's summer glory days!
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: None of them were having sex during that visit. They refused, o how they all refused.
Something else that I want readers to know: I posted this comment on March 6, 2010.
Re: Would That I Could
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Did this comment migrate from Te's journal, or Gloss's?
The last sentence: He can still catch a sparkle of stardust in the depths of her hair.
The thing that made me want to write it: Reading stories to my little roommates got me on a fairytale kick...
The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: I nearly just did Five Things, but then the interconnected storylines would've been lost to each other. I'm glad I put in the extra work.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: Actually, the Queen of Fables bits nearly hit the cutting room floor. I've had nightmares about her, too. I saw her face much more clearly than I described.
Something else that I want readers to know: I have to say, this is one of the best ideas ever.
You've *written* Banner of the Bat, and Bulls and Birds.
Oracle: Queen of Fables
Re: Oracle: Queen of Fables
Re: Oracle: Queen of Fables
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When Charlie finally confesses his feelings to Don? OMG that *broke* me. His heartfelt and heartbreaking monologue - and the fact that he wouldn't let Don get a word in until all the he'd been holding in for decades spilled out - just made me hurt so much inside for him.
We need more beautiful aching broken loving fic like that. /vehement nodding/
Oh, te adoro.
The last sentence: "Charlie."
The thing that made me want to write it: The cycle of inspiration: just as
The biggest problem I had while writing it: Alan, I'm sorry I began this story by killing you. OTOH, you wouldn't've wanted to be around for it anyway.
Why it almost never got posted: I don't want to go into too much detail, but this actually caused some turmoil in my personal 'real' life.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: I tried writing out Charlie's letter to Don, then decided to make it a MacGuffin instead. The bits of the letter I liked best went into Charlie's confession.
Something else that I want readers to know: I went 'bwee' at this prompt.
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Holy crap, I want to read this.
The last sentence: She looked over her shoulder with a blinding smile. "Are you coming?"
The thing that made me want to write it:
Pike's documented thing for Orion girlsYou said it so well above! You saw everything I was trying to do. I would just be restating if I tried to describe.The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: Doing Number One justice.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: The threesome with Kirk. My id wanted it, my superego said no.
Something else that I want readers to know: I'm actually working on a Pike/Gaila story right now; thank you for this, as it helps.
Re: Holy crap, I want to read this.
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If I were still there I would try this.
The last sentence: "Home again, home again, jiggety jig."
The thing that made me want to write it: I had never written a mystery.
The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: I had never written a mystery. I literally ran around my living room making squeaky distressed noises.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: None, actually. I crawled through this story slowly, but without false starts.
Something else that I want readers to know: I would try this if I were still in the DCU fandom, but I doubt I'd actually get anywhere.
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If I write one of these it will be this one.
The last sentence: "Farewell, Son of George!"
The thing that made me want to write it: Getting Jim Kirk into Mycenean clothes, honestly. I have my shallownesses.
The biggest problem I had while writing it: Keeping Jim and Theseus balanced between competition and mutual amusement and admiration, especially since Theseus is actually straight.
Why it almost never got posted: I got stuck at the point when Medea appeared in the cave entrance and ululated.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: Theseus deciding he wasn't so straight. Tempting, but not IC.
Something else that I want readers to know: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
and also !
Re: If I write one of these it will be this one.
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I am trying so hard not to wake the baby, omg
The last sentence: "Winslow? Still a virgin."
The thing that made me want to write it: Like Jim, the idea came to me in the shower.
The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: I had trouble thinking of how to convey the montage scenes. Not to mention the inevietable monogamy issues.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: I almost let Jim get Ensign Winslow, but the story really wouldn't've been nearly as funny if I had.
Something else that I want readers to know: How did you know my estimate for the Enterprise's crew complement is 400-450?
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The way you write Amita makes me jealous. I wish I could do a better job of sounding like a mathematician when I write from her (or Charlie's, for that matter) POV.
I should have done this meme 3 months ago.
The last sentence: Charlie just sits silently, stroking Amita's hair, as all the decision trees collapse.
The thing that made me want to write it: It was as close as I could get to writing Amita/Charlie/Don.
The biggest problem I had while writing it/Why it almost never got posted: Oh, my God, the math takes so much research, and I usually can't understand 90% of what I read.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: The first outline had Don saying yes.
Something else that I want readers to know: I meant to write something much like this for the
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"Set the Battlements on Fire" was appropriately hot, but what made it worth reading was the way it answered the question of how those two got together in the first place.
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I don't usually write first times, but if I did...
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Your take on Tim-as-the-object-of-almost-everyone's-desire was simultaneously hilarious and heartbreaking, and watching him pull through to figuring out the distinctions between what he needed, what he wanted, and what he could live with was one of the truest character moments I've ever seen.
Back in the day, huh?
The last sentence: Smiling, Tim takes a deeper breath and turns around.
The thing that made me want to write it: I have a thing, in fiction and in real life, for people who don't realize how lovely they are. I like telling them.
The biggest problem I had while writing it: This wasn't a story that could end with Tim having a harem, as it were, though it hurt my polyamorous soul to admit it.
Why it almost never got posted: The entire Batfamily had an epic brawl inside my head over who got Tim at the end.
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: I really kind of wanted to end this with a fivesome, but there's gratuitous and gratuitous.
Anything else: BWEE. That is all. Also, see icon.
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I know you wrote it for Dana, but it felt like you wrote it for me.
I had to think for awhile to remember my Pippin.
The last sentence: "Well, it wouldn't be the Shire without mushrooms," said Pippin, watching sidelong as Pervinca smiled.
The thing that made me want to write it: I wrote Merry realizing how his kin had suffered without him by conversing with his cousin Beri, so I had to give Pippin an equivalent story with his sister.
The biggest problem I had while writing it: I had several false starts. For instance...
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: Not a scene, but the first line was originally a more straightforwardly symbolic statement about Pervinca's restrained hairstyle when she'd previously worn it loose.
Anything else: AHAHAHA I almost had to go and write the whole drabble just to answer this. Well played! *grins and hugs you*
Re: I had to think for awhile to remember my Pippin.
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Sequel?
! I have an actual story idea this corresponds to.
The last sentence: Jim laughs and slings his unbroken arm around his First Officer's shoulders, which Spock endures with remarkable ease as they look out at their familiar stars.
The thing that made me want to write it: From watching Nova [an American science show] I learned that Mars once had a rotating molten core, liquid water, a thick atmosphere (maintained by the magnetic field produced by the rotating core's dynamo), and a large satellite, all just like Earth, but when its satellite crashed into it Nars lost the internal dynamo, the atmosphere and the water and thus any chance of sustaining life-as-we-know-it. And then I thought, what if that collision weren't an accident? What if Earth had been saved from the same fate? And when you need time-travelers to save the Earth... (well, one could also call on The Doctor, but he doesn't have photon torpedoes.)
The biggest problem I had while writing it: I've never seen Enterprise, so basing my villains on a race from it was a bit... dodgy, probably.
Why it almost never got posted: Being as that the plot of Star Trek XI (and umpteen other instances of Star Trek) hinged on time travel, it felt redundant to write yet another time travel story. But the plot was so compelling...
The scene that hit the cutting room floor: I was going to put in explicit Kirk/McCoy, even if just a smooch, to make it slightly-slash-flavored gen in analogy with all the het flavoring gen usually gets (both in fanfic and in professional works) but that ended up not fitting in anywhere.
Anything else: I might write this one day, and if I do, the Kirk/McCoy smooch will be in there.
Re: ! I have an actual story idea this corresponds to.
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