Ask the Audience

[alexisjane]

RL is kicking my ass. Just babysat for two hours and now all I want to do is sleep! But have to at least attempt some work today.

But anyway.



I'm not confident at all that I'm going to get the draft of my bb done in time. I have well over 20k but whether I can flesh out the skeleton outline in time is looking really doubtful right now.

But...just in case, I wanted to ask you about chapters. I tend to write in 2kish chunks which makes for many chapters in a long fic but I was wondering how all y'all feel about that. It's a bitch to upload but still...

[Poll #2007033]


Separate to that I have another question.

One of the reasons I'm being so slow, is the other plot bunny currently rubbing it's butt in my face. It would be another long fic, I think it could be good. But...

Normally with stories, I have the idea and then cast the characters with spn actors, to make things easier for me and also yum : ) So it's basically original fic acted out by the boys et al. But I'm having an issue with this one. As much as it started out J2, I'm starting to see it as a more Sterek type deal. But even then that's not sitting completely comfortably.

So the issue is this. J2AU? Sterek? Or completely OC only?...

[Poll #2007034]




I know I should be replying to comments and I will...just need to draw a puppy first : ) Love your faces xxx

Comments

[theatregirl7299]

Okay

1. I love longfic like breathing. (The longer the better) so multiple chapters are like crack to me. 2k chapters are fine.

2. I have never read a Sterek fic because that's not my fandom, but if the story works better over there then that's where you should put it. Who knows, you may convert me....

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

1. Me too! 100k ftw! : )

2. The thing for me is that it's totally AU, so it's just a case of seeing whose face fits best. I think I'll just write it and see how it goes. Who knows...I might just do two versions! : ) xx

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

You should write what feels most fulfilling to you.

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Noooooo! Coz then it would be drabbles all day everyday : ) xx

[fufaraw]

With my first BB I used the same small chapters, and wound up consolidating them into multi-chapter chunks to post on LJ. Which seemed pointless, once it was posted. Since then, I've put in soft chapter breaks while writing, and once the fic is finished, broken the whole of it down to chunks near post limit, and then gone back in to find logical chapter breaks close to the break for posting limit.

I still use spacing or punctuation graphics (triple asterisks) to indicate a break for time, or emotional beat, or what would be a chapter break. It's a sort of subliminal chapter break to the reader, but leaves the actual text to post close to the post limit.

I post to LJ first, so in posting to AO3, I maintain the same chapter breaks, soft breaks, etc.

As far as reading goes, I'm not really good at multifandom, especially with an open canon. It's not a prejudice against, but a preference, and the way my mind works. However, I don't have the same problem with OCs and original fiction.

As far as your BB draft, if you have 20K, I wouldn't worry. For the draft, you need *A* beginning, *A* middle, and *An* end. Any of those *could* change or modify by your final draft.

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I like the idea of the soft break. I write in scenes so to me each chapter has it's own arc, ending with a hook to hopefully take the reader to the next chapter, so I'm not sure how well that would work, but I definitely like the idea.

I'm really narrow in my reading choices so it's interesting to see what other people will or won't read. I'm actually really surprised how many people would actually go for original fic : )

Yeah it has all those things but I know there's a stipulation that you can't have any "insert scene here" bits, which although I know what's going to happen, it's not fully fleshed out. I've decided to just do as much as I can and just hope Wendy accepts it : / So we'll see : ) xxx

[sophiap.livejournal.com]

With AO3, I find multiple, shorter chapters easier to manage than I do on LJ, thanks to the archive's history and chapter navigation functions. With LJ, the fewer chapters the better.

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I do find it much easier to read fic on AO3. LJ is definitely better for shorter, one-shots and stuff xx

[masja-17.livejournal.com]

First: I don't mind a lot of chapters, even @ LJ! But you could always post 3-4 chapters together? And the pdf on AO3 always makes the font to small for my small tablet... So I tend to make my own! ;)

Second: I'll only read J2AU or Sam/Dean or Sam/DeanAU. I *like* to know how they look like, like *always*! I'm also kinda not in to OC's, unless you describe them so I *know* that they are really J2. Sterek, haven't watched or read...

You want a beta?

<3

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I think I write in scenes, as I think very visually which is why I end up with so many. I find the font for the PDF on AO3 is just horrible to read, I don't like it

Yeah I much prefer characters I know really well. Which is why I think I prefer to write J2AU, as even though the characters are original to me, I can so clearly see the boys acting the roles. I know how they with sound and act...it makes it much easier.

I haven't even started yet. Maybe nearer the winter. Thank you for the offer, Hunny xx

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

I used to think fewer chapters on AO3 was better, but then I realized it's nice being able to find stopping points easily in long stories. Because I normally leave the page open on my iPad, and sometimes when I come back to the story (after a long while), the page refreshes and I lose my place. But I think you ultimately have to break the chapters however you see fit. Weird/unsatisfying chapter endings would bug me more than chapter length.

As for the second poll, I only read stories from my fandoms, but I just haven't been reading SPN lately. Good luck with the story though!

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Hey BB! : )

Yes, exactly! I find it too hard to stop mid chapter so I need excuses to put my tablet down and sleep! I'm feeling better about the whole excessive chapter thing now : )

I'm actually surprised how many people said they'd read original fic, coz, yeah, I'm like you, I don't venture far.

Thinking of you, Hunny and keeping my fingers crossed re the house! ♥ miss you xxx

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

First off, don't be fretting about replies, we get you're busy bbcakes! *hugs* Long as we know you're okay we're fine!

Second, I'd happily read anything of yours, long, short, haiku, random abstract obscene toilet wall scratchings! That isn't something I can say about any and all of the writers on my flist, and that's not a diss' to them, it's just I *do* have my pairings I prefer...how ever! That is actually completely down to it being your fic. Plus there is a distinct lack of decent Sterek out there not written by horny teens just finding their footing in the slash fiction section, so to have something written by you in that arena would be an absolute TREAT!

Oh, the chapter thing, I personally love a lot of chapters, maybe it's just me but I feel I'm getting my fill of awesome that way O_O ♥ xx

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I'm okay...i think. Just damn distracted. All my inboxes have gone to all hell. Doing replies when and if I can, coz I'm damn slow.

Mwah! I know what you mean. I actually find it really awkward that I read such a small amount from my actual flist. I think I tend to read the exact opposite of what I write so the writers I'm friends with don't really write what I read...if that makes sense : )

I've been reading Sterek that I've filched from some tumblr rec lists. Some is okay, some is epically awesome. If you wants some recs, let me know what you like and I'll see if I have anything in my bookmarks, coz yeah, lots of vyoung writers in that fandom.

I tend to prefer lots of chapters myself so I have more chances to pause. And sleep. Can't stop reading mid chapter and if it's 20k long, I will just keep going no matter how tired I am : ) xx

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Mwah! I know what you mean. I actually find it really awkward that I read such a small amount from my actual flist. I think I tend to read the exact opposite of what I write so the writers I'm friends with don't really write what I read...if that makes sense : )

This! ♥ finally I'm not alone! *collapses* I don't not read their fic because it isn't perfection, because generally it *is* but I write like a lot of the talented people on my flist, only ya know, less talent more subtle as a house brick, lol. So I don't tend to read everything every one puts out on the flist.

And then I feel uber guilty!

There's a good amount of dross in the Sterek fandom, which sounds harsh, but having had the ladies of the flist of awesome giving out nuggets of fab, I'm a bit spoiled. SPN in general for fic has spoiled me, I tend to expect a certain level of *mind blown* which probably makes me a total snob and even writing this here where I know there is *so* no judgement, makes me worry, but it's true! I'm spoiled, I expect greatness! *is a bad person*

However, if you have some recs you think I'd like (cos you have the best taste in fic), please do share!

xx

[wings128.livejournal.com]

For some inexplicable reason I prefer to read long chaptered fics over at AO3. Don't know if it's the clean look and the font or what.

Where I am presently placed, I'm super keen to read an AJ-written, Sterek fic ;D

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I'm the same! I do most of my reading on AO3. I find their 'marked for later' function really handy and yeah, I do think the format is easier to read.

Huh...best check your inbox then : ) xx

[wings128.livejournal.com]

*runs off to check*

♥♥

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Email not inbox...y'know what I mean : ) xx