Tag Archives: Sam talks Writing

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I was too tired to write yesterday. I didn’t promise, but I implied there might be a new chapter of Faith of the Heart today. However, there won’t be because I have zero words written on it and I have to work today. While I could write the entire chapter this evening I would rather only write half of it, and write the other half tomorrow and post Tuesday. It’s less stressful that way.

To give me motivation I’m going to make myself finish the chapter tomorrow before I can watch the premiere. I want to watch it so badly, hopefully that will kill the procrastination demon for the evening 🙂

Urk I can’t wait! Netflix better not have been lying about when they were adding the episode.

Faith of the Heart (Chapter Two)

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woodelf68:

still-searching47:

Synopsis: Following directly on from The War Within. Rumplestiltskin and Belle have a lot to talk about. True loves kiss might have woken Belle from the sleeping curse but their marriage won’t be fixed over night. They have a little less than nine months to sort themselves out as a couple – then they’ll become a family. It’s time for them to reconcile properly, and to finally have the courtship that circumstances originally denied them.

Note: This is turning into a proper sequel to The War Within, that wasn’t the intention at all. I had in my notes two oneshots, one for reconciliation and one sweet fluffy fic where they could talk baby names and stuff like that. I really am awful at guesstimating length haha. Anyway, enjoy! 🙂

On Tumblr: Chapter One

AO3 Link

Belle lingered
at the foot of the stairs. Just a few feet separated her from the kitchen but
she couldn’t quite bring herself to walk the distance. Yesterday morning, for
the first time ever she’d had an honest conversation with her husband. She
chewed on her lip, thinking about it, and she had to acknowledge that wasn’t
quite accurate. Rumplestiltskin had been honest in the underworld, she just
hadn’t wanted to hear it at the time.

In truth she
wasn’t sure she wanted to hear it now. She wanted more than anything to
reconcile with her husband, and to build the kind of relationship they had
never actually had – a happy one. Even in the early days of their marriage,
when she had been blissfully ignorant of all his lies, there had been a small
voice at the back of her mind which had whispered that things weren’t right.

She had ignored
it, as she had wanted everything to be alright more than she wanted to deal
with the reality. Given her revelation about how she had formed a rose-tinted
picture of their past together, that seemed to be something of a pattern with
her. Anyway, given how badly she wanted to ‘make it work’, she should be eager
to do whatever it took in order for that to happen.

Instead she was
engaging in pointless avoidance and she didn’t really understand why. It wasn’t
like her to be a coward, and shy away from things that were difficult or
painful. ‘Do the brave thing and bravery will
follow’ had been her motto all her life. Now when she needed her courage
for what mattered the most, it was deserting her.

Keep reading

Moe is AWFUL. I can’t believe Belle defended Snow and the others, though!

Exactly what Belle thinks about Snow and the others is developed more in chapter three 🙂 As for Moe, that is briefly mentioned in chapter three, but I’ll probably develop that more in chapter four or a subsequent chapter. I’m glad you are enjoying it! Thanks for commenting 🙂

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Great news! According to google (so it could be a lie) Netflix UK will be putting up the new episode of Once Upon a Time on Monday’s for season 6 – just hours after it airs in the US!

That means I won’t have to avoid tumblr for very long, and maybe due to the time difference I’ll get to talk about the episode with people before it becomes ‘old news’.

I confess to being somewhat terrified though that the new season will destroy my desire to write Faith of the Heart. It’s why I was so desperate to finish up all the main parts of The War Within before the premiere which isn’t going to happen now. I think I’ll manage to write and post one more chapter but that’s it, there’s still going to be a lot left.

Three days to go!

#eeeeek I can’t wait#and at the same time too soon

12:Which do you prefer writing most, description, dialogue, or actions?

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Dialogue.

Description is tough, it’s something I often forget unless I remind myself. I actually have a sticky note on the side of my monitor about it. Otherwise sometimes my characters wind up floating in a bubble.

Actions are also tricky because it’s such a delicate balance. Need to describe enough people can picture it, but not describe everything as that is boring and ruins the pace. Actions need to be punchy, otherwise it feels slow and not realistic.

Whereas dialogue I can say out loud, I can practice conversations. Plus I speak all the time, whereas I don’t walk around narrating whatever I see and do. I also like to write ‘thinking’ and I do that probably way more than I should. My paragraphs always look like I’m writing description but really my character is just thinking.

Thanks so much for the ask! 🙂 

Fanfiction questions meme: 4, 11, 18. :~)

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Thank you so much for asking! I really appreciate it because nobody has ever asked me anything off one of these lists before – it’s really cool 🙂 However, this will teach me to reblog right before I go to bed.

4) What was the first fic you wrote?

Shall I be honest or shall I lie? Alright I’ll be honest *cringes* I was 9 and it was for Diagnosis Murder. Oh man, I’m embarrassed just thinking about it. Thankfully that one was written on paper, and I don’t think even I have a copy of it anymore. Now if it had been digital I would still have it as I never delete anything. Quite frankly the less said the better. Close to two decades later and some of my ‘logic leaps’ still baffle me. However, I suppose I was only 9.

11) If you could take one character from your fic and put it with another character in another one of your fics, who would you want to see together?
Hmm interesting. Alright this kinda violates the spirit of this question slightly but the honest answer might make you laugh, so maybe it’ll be ok. I have a couple of canon-divergent AU’s, they were actually the first Once fic ideas I had. I don’t know if I’ll ever actually write them so I probably shouldn’t talk about them. However, I have trouble sleeping and so I have a lot of time to think.

Anyway, I entertained myself for several nights imagining what would happen if I crossed over one of these ideas with the canon universe. You see ‘Her Happy Ending’ diverged after the curse (but before season one). Then at this time the show was on the Camelot arc of ‘must get the darkness out of Emma’ and I wondered what would happen if Merlin said “the darkness can’t be destroyed, it can only be transferred” and obviously Emma wouldn’t let someone else take it for her. Leading the only offer Merlin could make would be a spell that would transport them to an alternate reality, where in that reality none of them had become the dark one. Although he couldn’t promise what other differences the reality might hold.

It was a very “we are both” kind of deal, because they wake up in this new reality and they are all confused. At the start they don’t remember anything, it’s only over time that the new realities version of them (and all the memories) start to merge. So the Camelot brigade are canon show, and then are meeting my fanfic versions of the characters that didn’t go to Camelot.

Imagine waking up and you are in a house you don’t recognize, and you are sleeping next to someone you’ve never met. Or you find you have a kid you don’t remember having, it’s that kind of confusion level. Then obviously a) they start to remember/work out how this reality diverged, and b) this reality is a lot happier so maybe they are better off. It’s difficult because one half would be in love with say the canon partner, and the other half would be in love with this new reality/fanfic partner and so then they would be conflicted.

Plus they would be reacting to people differently, not just romantic partners but generally. I mean in canon the Charming’s kinda hate Rumple and don’t trust him but in ‘Her Happy Ending’ their son Nick (not Neal because Neal isn’t dead) calls him Grandpa because otherwise he wouldn’t have one and Rumple is Henry’s grandpa so it made sense to his two-year-old brain.

I hope that’s an acceptable answer, it’s the best one I’ve got.

18) Have you ever written a personal experience into your fic?

Yeah I have. For example my upcoming fic for the ‘Wrong Number’ prompt for this months Monthly Rumbelling is based on something that happened to me. That was something specific that happened but it can be more subtle. I don’t share any of Belle’s backstory in Painting Layers of Love, but for example she has my nervous habits. I’m sure if I thought about it, then I would be able to think of other examples.

Aside from something specific like the ‘wrong number’ prompt, I don’t usually intend to insert personal experience. However, I think everybody does it because we have to write what we know, or what we can imagine, and that is influenced by what we’ve experienced.

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Ok I’ve written half of the next chapter of Faith of the Heart and the power is flickering badly (I don’t know if we’re about to have a power cut or what, it’s weird) and I’m tired, so I can’t manage anymore today. Which means I won’t be posting tomorrow, but I should have the next chapter done for Thursday.

However, it’s time to face facts, there is no earthly way it’s going to be finished by Sunday. I think even if I did manage a chapter a day (which is technically possible but not much fun), with how long everything is running, that still wouldn’t be enough.

This is actually the same problem I have with Painting Layers of Love. That was an accidental WIP because once I started it, I wanted to do the idea justice. My theory is if I’m going to write a story, then I might as well write it properly (or at least do my best) and therefore if it runs long, then it runs long. It’s just sometimes (like now) that’s very inconvenient.

I do want it finished as soon as possible though and to that end I think I might delay Nightwalkers again. I did want to post the first chapter on the 27th but if I’m writing a couple of thousand words of Faith of the Heart everyday, I’m just not going to have time. Plus I need to do Chapter Five of Painting Layers of Love for the end of the month as well.

How did it get to be this close to the end of the month so fast? I did not give September permission to vanish like this 🙂

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Last week was not a particularly good week. I was ill, I had work stress, excuses, excuses etc. Anyway, my sense of priority went out the window. I have both Monthly Rumbelling fics written, and most of the Rush/Carter oneshot which I’ve been promising for the past three months. However, that oneshot isn’t finished and it’s a little early in the month to post a Monthly Rumbelling fic.

It is possible that for the first time in about three months I’m not going to have any fic to post tomorrow 🙁 I always post on Tuesday, without fail. It’s like, if I don’t post at any other time, at least I always update on Tuesday.

If I can finish up the first part of Faith of the Heart, then I will post that. If I can’t, then there isn’t going to be long to wait. Faith of the Heart both part one and part two, will be posted before the 25th. That is non-negotiable, I want it up before the premiere.

I really hope I will be able to post part one tomorrow! Just fair warning, it might not happen. It kinda depends on how today goes.

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I don’t know if this is a ‘writers problem’ or a ‘me’ problem but does anyone else ever think “gah I haven’t posted any fic in ages eeeek”, start to panic and then think about it logically and go “you posted something two days ago”?

#and it doesn’t even make me more productive#i feel like i’m racing much faster than i probably need but i’m forever standing still#it’s stressful for no reason#thanks for nothing brain#this was random#why is time weird like that?

The War Within (Chapter Fifteen)

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woodelf68:

still-searching47:

Synopsis: Alternate Season Six. Storybrooke is visibly under threat once more from Hyde and the Evil Queen. However, not all threats are visible as an old forgotten foe has been manipulating events from behind the scenes. The very nature of darkness is revealed as everyone struggles with the most difficult beast of all – acceptance.

Note: It’s the final chapter!! Well, I say final but … there’s going to be at least five oneshots added to this verse. Plus this verse will be open to prompts, want to see something I didn’t cover – prompt 🙂 I’m going to write three of the planned oneshots this month, and post two of them before the premiere on the 25th. This Friday I’ll be posting Chapter Four of Painting Layers of Love. Enjoy!

On Tumblr: Chapters One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Six, Seven, Eight, Nine,Ten, Eleven, Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen

AO3 Link

When
Rumplestiltskin stepped through the door, he didn’t know where in Storybrooke
it would have spawned. That it was by the well was unsurprising, that was the
source of magic in this town. That there was an audience to his arrival, which
included two versions of Regina,
was a surprise. He absently waved the wand, closing the doorway before placing
the wand back into his jacket pocket.

“Well, well Regina, you have been
busy,” Rumplestiltskin smirked. “Jekyll gifted you his serum. That’s … a
mistake. If you thought the dark curse left a hole in your heart, that’s
nothing compared to actually splitting yourself. Why did you do it?”

“I wanted a
fresh start,” Regina
told him defensively. She bristled. “I’m surprised you aren’t interested
yourself.”

Keep reading

Thank goodness you didn’t let Rumpel accept Belle moving out. They’d never fix things living apart. That’s a bad habit of hers, running off. And thank goodness for the ‘no more heroes, no more villains’, and Rumpel’s realisation that magic isn’t inherently good or bad, it’s just how you use it. So simple, that’s probably why David got it first while Emma and Regina were all frowny trying to understand what he was saying, they’d bought into this convoluted dark/light magic stuff.  And yay, you saved Dopey! I’m glad they’ve got Robyn/Ellie back, although what are they going to do with Zelena? Take her back to Oz? I like the idea of recreating Jefferson’s hat, although I thought the rule about same number in as out was a good one, magic should have rules and not be too easy. I’m happy to see Rumpel wanting a relationship with Henry; I hope you show that in one of your planned one-shots.

Heh yeah I’m afraid that’s a bit of a pet theory of mine that I couldn’t resist including. I very much believe that the world isn’t black and white, that nobody is all good or all bad etc. and so I don’t think magic can be carved up that way either. Perhaps it’s because I still tend to view all fantasy from a sci-fi perspective but magic is energy, so how can energy be good or evil? Surely it’s neutral and it’s just shaped by the user.

In my mind, the only reason why there is ‘dark’ or ‘light’ is because of what powers the magic – emotions, and some emotions lend themselves better to certain magic than others. It could also be said that some emotions are more powerful than others in certain people. For instance someone like Cora could do powerful magic with hate, because she could tap into that emotion easily. Her magic would be weaker with say love, because it wasn’t an emotion she was all that familiar with.

Then of course if you are submerging yourself in hate all the time to cast magic – that could twist you evil because stewing in that much negativity, would start to color your view of the world. Hence ‘dark magic’ being ‘evil’.

Erm sorry I think I went on a bit. Yeah I agree magic should have rules and shouldn’t be easy. However, the apprentices wand seems to make portals a doddle and if the hat had rules, nobody would want to use the hat and would be bothering Rumple all the time. I thought Rumple and Belle deserved some time to themselves 🙂

I briefly mentioned in He’s Behind You that Zelena is locked up. Regina goes to visit her because she is family, and Regina hasn’t completely given up hope on Zelena’s redemption one day. Yup there is definitely going to be a oneshot or two dealing with Rumple and Henry bonding and finally talking about Neal.

Thank you so much for all your comments on the chapters, I really appreciate it and I’m glad you enjoyed the fic!

Painting Layers of Love (Chapter Four)

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rowofstars:

still-searching47:

Synopsis: Belle French lives alone and she likes it that way. She’s lived alone ever since the terrible car accident which killed her mother and claimed her eyesight. Belle spends her days painting, in complete solitude, until one day she wakes up and hears movement outside. Somebody has moved into the cottage next door. She had grown comfortable in her solitary existence until Mr Gold crashes into her life. Now her future is uncertain, like a blank canvas, waiting for her to apply the paint and decide what kind of story she is creating.

Note: The thunderstorm is now over! Anyway, I think the update schedule for this is going to be every two weeks, which I know is a compromise. I would like it to be every week but with all my other projects I can’t manage that at the moment – maybe one day 🙂

In this chapter @rowofstars prompted “Maybe Nick
has a call with Neal and they fight about something stupid (Nick going back to
work for 4 days perhaps??) which puts Nick in a bad mood. This time Belle is
the one who is understanding and puts her issues aside to help a friend feel
better.”

Warning: I probably should have put this on the other chapters as well. Deals with depression and anxiety.

On Tumblr: Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three

AO3 Link

When Gold woke
up the next morning, the best description of his feelings would probably be
disquieted. He had been concerned about Belle from the moment they had met. Her
panic attack the day before had just deepened his concern. He could recognize
loneliness, it was an emotion he had felt in spades over the years but it
wasn’t just that, there was a lot more to it.

As a general
rule Gold didn’t care about people, mostly because they had always disappointed
him. Belle had wormed her way under his defenses disturbingly quickly but he
couldn’t bring himself to mind. She was so fragile, and obviously in a lot of
pain, the blackened remains of his heart ached for her.

He had so many
questions, and he wanted to help her but he wasn’t sure how. All he could think
to do was just be there, and let her
take the lead as much as possible. After all, Belle would presumably know what
was best for herself. He had felt awful that he had invited her for a walk and
it caused her such distress, that hadn’t been the idea at all.

Their first few
meetings had been marked by always ending in a fight. After the last fight he
had thought Belle was a mystery, one he would enjoy solving over the three
months of his sabbatical. However, then she had come over and apologized, they
had tea and then dinner and he was forced to admit the truth.

He was utterly
enchanted by her, he wanted to learn more about her because he cared, not just
to solve a puzzle. Belle seemed to want to be friends and that was more than
enough. He doubted she would ever return his affections and he resolved to
never let her discover them, it would only make her uncomfortable.

Keep reading

Oh my god my unsure, awkward babies!!! Bless them. I was glad to see Gold not retreat or change the subject so readily because it made Belle deal with the conversation that was happening and what both of them had said. And it was good to see Belle’s defense mechanisms happen but not get in the way. It’s small but very important progress. I’m sure Neal will get over it eventually and I don’t feel like it was really breaking their deal. He cannot expect his father to let parts of his business fail when he could stop it. Granted, Regina should be able to handle things, but it’s very common for a top executive to take some leave and vultures try to swoop in. What Neal wants with his father is some kind of ideal or absolute, and that’s not possible or realistic. Being away from a business for that long is really really difficult when you’re the one in charge.

Wow, thank you so much! Your reviews are always so thoughtful and so helpful. Yeah next chapter Gold will talk to Neal and then that’s going to spark what happens in the chapter after that probably. I have some plans 🙂 I’m glad you are enjoying the fic!