Motivational *mumble* Friday Post

[dawn_felagund]

I am two days late this week! This is ridiculous. My theory that my brain works worst on Wednesdays (Wednesdays have been my least favorite day of the week since I was a little kid) is being proven by my attempts to make motivational posts on Wednesdays! My apologies, everyone.

This week's quote is in honor of muses ... or whatever that crazy, fickle force is that makes us write like unstoppable superheroes one day and then fritter away the entire uninspired day on Tumblr the next. I also liked it because this is, after all, the Season of Writing Dangerously, i.e. taking creative chances that might sometimes feel a little like madness.

"The man who arrives at the doors of artistic creation with none of the madness of the Muses would be convinced that technical ability alone was enough to make an artist ... what that man creates by means of reason will pale before the art of inspired beings."
~Plato

As always, feel free to brag, rant, plead for help, whine, celebrate, cheer each other on, and anything else related to your SoWD projects!

If you have a quote, image, video, or other idea that you think would inspire your fellow participants in one of these motivational posts, please do let me know. Also, we're coming up on the halfway point of SoWD in about two weeks, and we have something special planned for that occasion. If you like making banners and such and would like to help us out, please let me know. (If you've volunteered generally to help with SoWD, no need to volunteer again; you're on the list of people I will contact.)

Here's to a week of madly productive muses! :)

Comments

[ladybrooke]

Bright side: I have 5 of 25 stories written and posted. :D 20% done! With a few more that will be posted soonish.

Not so bright side: Having met my goal of starting my CampNaNo, I think I'm going to stop trying to reach the goal, because the finger on my left hand that I slammed in a car door last spring and my entire right arm have been acting up and throbbing the past few days. I might dabble in it more later, but right now I just want to not do the frantic 2000 word sprints I end up doing for NaNo. On the bright side of that, I have enough chapters written that after getting it beta read and all that, I could post one weekly for three months - giving me more than enough time to get the next set of chapters done when my arm doesn't hurt as much.

I'd offer to help, but I'm not good at making banners. If there's anything I can do, just let me know!

[independence1776]

The good news: I edited my final RAFA 'verse fic! I upped my third SWD goal to writing, editing, and posting my last B2MeM 2013 fic instead of just writing the first draft of it.

The bad news: I wrote the first draft of said fic. It sucks, to the point where I'm wondering why I even thought it was a good idea in the first place. So I could really use some encouragement.

[independence1776]

Congrats on the 20% done!

As for the Nano: that's a smart idea. Taking care of yourself matters more than meeting a wordcount goal.

[leianora.livejournal.com]

I'm going to hell for the story I'm writing. Even though I didn't officially sign up for this, I've been working my butt off on a story in which Faramir becomes the sexual slave of Caranthir. Yes, I know they lived in different ages, but I just kinda ignored that fact. Most of the first and second age elves have appeared in my third age story. They're doing things to each other and to Faramir that are kinky; and thus, I'm going to hell. :D

[leianora.livejournal.com]

You are too hard on yourself, dear. If you need someone to objectively look at it, let me know and I'll be willing to help.

[ladybrooke]

I'm sure it's not as bad as you think it is (minds like to play tricks).

But you can get it done! :D Even if this draft is bad, that's what editing is for.

[moetushie]

I am in favor of this. Not you going to hell, of course, but your story.

[ladybrooke]

Meh, if you're going to hell, so are a lot of the rest of us. I've written drug selling Orodreth with body piercings before, and didn't get too much trouble over it.

Your story sounds fun. :D

[ladybrooke]

Thank you!

It is! Especially since I can't afford to overdo it and cause more damage - the next semester of uni starts in a month.

[moetushie]

I am 240 words into chapter 5 of Racing to the Finish, and since I can't remember my other goals, I think it's safe to say that I might be failing them.

While I forgot to add Sultry in September in my goals post, it is there in spirit, and I have also been thinking about it... A lot ... Though not actually ... Writing anything. As of yet.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

Well, 20% done is fantastic and the rest sounds like a good plan to me.

Take your time don't rush. Your health is much more important, so give your arm a rest. I know exactly how that feels for since childhood I am suffering from writing cramps. I am left handed but wasn't allowed to write with the left so I have to write with my right hand and that hurts as hell after a while.
In school it was so bad that at times I couldn't even get the pen out of my fingers for they were just hardened stiff.

So my rec - don't be too hard on yourself. Give it time. You're doing great.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

I have that problem too ever so often and it helps me to leave it be for a while and then re-read and work on it with a fresh set of eyes.

I'm sure it's not as bad as you believe it to be.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

It sounds that you are up to something quite interesting.

Have you written something like that before? _ I know I am not very good at the kinky writing but I like reading it.

I shall keep my fingers crossed that it all works out fine for you and there is no need to write canon all the time. Your's sounds like a great AU.

[j-flattermann.livejournal.com]

"I am 240 words into chapter 5 of Racing to the Finish".
Hey that is good news.

I usually set myself reminders in my calendar when I am working on several challenges that are having deadlines or goals to fulfil. Helps me not to forget what I am up to and what I still have to do.

[moetushie]

True! I might only be a hundred words into it. Sigh.

I only have one challenge fic this summer, so it should be easy to keep track...

[just-jenni.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of trying to do something completely different from my usual stuff. Luckily my Sultry in September assignment is a very challenging one that would also work as a piece that would fit the Season of Writing Dangerously. I've read through all the comments above and the stories that others are writing are fascinating in the extreme. Maybe titillating is a better word. I'm just coming off a very long stretch of writer's block and feel quite empowered by the visions of others that might enable me to start writing again this week.

[independence1776]

Thanks! I'm hoping to rewrite the problem chapter this weekend, so maybe I'll like it better then.

[independence1776]

Unfortunately, it is. Best analogy I can come up with is Mulan walking into the training camp and going, "I see you have a sword! I have one too!" It really is at that level of horridness.

Exactly! I'm hoping to rewrite the problem chapter this weekend, so maybe I'll like it better.

[independence1776]

I normally do that, but not with this fic. (It really is that bad.) I'm going to try to rewrite the problem chapter this weekend, so maybe I'll like it better.

[independence1776]

I don't think you're going to hell for writing it, either! What's the point of fanfic if you can't have fun? :D

[independence1776]

I hope you're able to start writing again!

[ladybrooke]

I've been looking through around 150 stories a day lately. Believe me, even that is above some of the things I've glanced at (I feel like a horrible person for admitting that, but...) Plus, you realize it's bad, which automatically makes it 90% easier to make it better. :P

I hope you do like it better! I'm sure you can make it better.

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Oh muses... yes. I am not doing well with my goals. I got a decent start on my SiS story, but now it is completely pushed aside by a very fanatic Celegorm muse who thinks that heartofoshun had a really good idea for a novel or two.

It's like this:



Help? I am so doomed!

[rhapsody11.livejournal.com]

Hmz. Well, it beats a start opener: hey I love the colour of your horse, where is it coming from ;c)

[samtyr.livejournal.com]

Anyone feel like doing some beta work? I have a two-parter that is fairly well finished but still needs some work. No idea how long it runs, but I am guessing under 5k, since it is basically done, just needs a bit of fine-tuning in places.