sarcasticsciencefictionwriter asked:

Hi (again)! For the even more fic writer asks: 22 [your choice], 23 [Time Will Tell], and 25 [Life Without Purpose].

Awww thank you, one from both lists. You are sweet.

22) What is something you learned about yourself as a writer from the experience?

Hmm ok my choice aaaaand the difficulty level in answering jumps up a LOT haha.

If I look at the last fics I posted. There was the outtake of the fic I never got round to writing, the pinch hit for the Librarians exchange, a ficlet accompanying art for the B&W exchange and then the last fic I wrote – a canon-compliant, post-season fic for Seven/Raffi, Star Trek: Picard.

When I moved house September 22 I decided to draw the line then and quit fanfic. But I hit a rough mental health patch and wrote this little oneshot. I intended it to be a series. I have a lot of notes for a fic focusing on Raffi, and then one focusing on B’elanna. They would be in series, having a shared theme rather than time, events or setting. I never wrote anything past the first Seven fic.

What I learned about myself I guess is the reinforcement of quitting. It could have been a gateway back in because I love story, and I love the world of Trek, and I have headcanons and feelings. I have a lot of nostalgia for fanfic. It is comforting and it is safe. It has given my life purpose. But it has also been a way to self-sabotage because original writing is scary.

This Trek fanfic series I literally have so many notes and so many feelings but in writing out the first one, I just knew I was done. It gave me peace I guess? I still have a lot of fondness for my unwritten fanfic ideas. I love them. I wish they could have been written. But I have the same fondness for my original ideas too. Plus I think it being a Picard fic… that show hurt me a lot. That oneshot was a way to self-heal a bit. And I kinda vowed not to invest myself so much in other peoples creations, because that way leads to disappointment. My original writing will always turn out how I would like. I have the power of happy endings.

23) How did you come up with the title?

I’m pretty sure the phrase imprinted most strongly on my mind thanks to Alias. The vibe of a mystery and a love entwined with pain.

But time – timers. The whole countdown nature of the soulmark. Only time will tell as to who they match with, and whether that match will turn into love and a happy ending.

Honestly the title just jumped out at me. It fits IMO perfectly. I don’t think I could have called it anything else.

25) Share your favorite line
Hmm there’s a few turns of phrase that work quite well. I’m going to go with this though:

Fifteen thousand people vaporised in an instant but only one that mattered.