Snowflake challenge - 4

[antuhsa]

Challenge 4: In your own space, set some goals for the coming year

Personal
2017 en 2018 were difficult years, because during them I discovered that university wasn't the right place for me anymore. The Master's programme I was in was perfect for me on paper, but in reality it wasn't remotely challenging and I was bored out of my mind for the 1,5 years I was in it, until I finally dropped out. As a result, I became very depressed, which forced me to reflect on life and what I wanted from it. Figuring out what you want is hard though. It was much easier to figure out what I didn't want, and throwing those things out of my life was the theme for 2019. I got rid of a lot of things that no longer worked for me. Hobbies, clothes, books, clients, friendships. Some of it painful, some of it a relief, but I like to think that all of it was necessary. I don't think I need to get rid of anything anymore though. I feel like I've stripped my life to the bare bones already. Everything I've left, at least the things I have control over, are things I'm happy with. So in 2020 I'd like to build my life back up. I have room for new hobbies and new friendships now and I intend to actively go looking for those. To be succesful in that, my goals for 2020 are to keep an open mind and not dismiss new opportunities out of fear.

Fandom
-  Writing: I've had this fanfic idea in my head for almost 5 years and in 2020 I finally want to write it, dammit. I know the concept has a lot of potential. I have loads of plans for it and I just want to get it all out of my head. I always thought I needed to be much better at writing before I could do this story justice, and that's probably true, but the reality is that I don't want to write anything else. Every other fic I've written in the past few years has been half-hearted at best, because my fingers were secretly itching to write different words. So done with the excuses. In 2020 I want to see this story on paper.

-  Bookbinding: There are two books I want to make. The first one will be a collection of my favourite short fics, bound in leather and handwritten, because these fics deserve nothing less. This is going to be a ridiculously time-consuming and ambitious project, but one I'm very excited about. Unfortunately, the binding I have in mind is above my current skill level, so I won't be able to finish it until I'm more confident with leather. The calligraphy, on the other hand, I can already do. I still have a lot of planning and designing to do for this project, but I hope to get started on the calligraphy this summer.
The second book, which is a binding of a wonderful fanfic I read last year, will be much more doable. The design for this is already done; I've had it sharp and clear in my head for months. I'm going to get started on this project tomorrow and want to have it finished in April.

Comments

[fadedwings]

Good luck with your goals!!!

[antuhsa]

Thank you!

[buggyfiction]

I always stick to one story at a time when writing. When it doesn't want to flow, I step back for a few days and I won't allow myself to start something else. The muse usually comes back and the words flow again.

As far as 'wanting to be better before doing this story justice', screw that. That's likely fear talking. You can do this. You can write the story. Maybe find someone who's knowledgable of the fandom to read while you're working on it to feed you ideas or maybe to tell you how to do things differently, but you can do this.

[antuhsa]

Hey, that's good advice, thank you! Yeah, I'm always surprised when people tell me they're writing multiple long fics at the same time. How? I don't think I'd be able to. Your method sounds much better to me.

It sure is fear talking. I've tried to listen to it and write other fics instead, but it wasn't working, so I guess now is the time to accept that my fear wasn't right. Luckily, I have three, maybe even four, lovely and very knowledgeable friends who would be more than willing to discuss my idea with me and beta my draft, so I really shouldn't have any excuses anymore. Thanks for stopping by! It's always great to hear writers like you who' ve written a ton and are already past the beginner stages!

[buggyfiction]

Well, I always worked on multiple stories at a time but I found out that they started to bleed into each other. I see friends of mine starting multiple projects and then complaining that with those 20 projects they start yet another and basically never finish things.

I made my co-conspirator and occasional partner in crime finish some of her stories before starting on something new.

And sure, it may 'suck' if you can't write for a week because you're working on one project at the time, but even if you write 100 words a day on the project, eventually it will be alright. You can use the 'downtime' to fantasize what's going to happen next and then your muse will spark right back in action :)

Again, you can do this :)

[antuhsa]

I didn't even know you could add images to your comments on DW, but this chicken is awesome!

Yeah, I get that. Especially if you're writing multiple stories with the same characters at the same time, I can imagine they'll start to feel as if they're all taking place in the same verse. I once followed two fics with the same ship by the same writer, who was writing both stories at the same time, and even as a reader I had a hard time remembering which events took place in which story. I eventually even dropped both fics, because it became too confusing (and also because the character bashing was getting a little tiresome).

I think it's a good habit to finish one project before you start another. You're always going to be the most excited about your newest idea anyway and if you go along with that, you'll always be riding the new project high and never learn to deal with the lows you'll experience when you stick with one or two projects and try to bring them to completion.

Your comments actualy inspired me to take a good, hard look at my fic idea to figure out what was bothering me. I think part of the problem is the nervousness of committing to writing a long fic, so I've decided to turn it into a series with shorter installments instead. It already feels much less overwhelming to think of it this way. I might still publish it as one long fic, but for the writing process a series of shorter stories is more manageable. It also mean I'll experience the 'omg, I finished something!' rush a few more times and that's always a plus. Thanks again for sharing your thoughts with me! It's been very inspiring!

[buggyfiction]

Haha yes, you can! Find the image url you want to add to a post, then do the html tag for that image in the comment box and voila, image!

I character bash, well... I make them evil. Because sparkly vampires are evil, right?

The OMG I FINISHED SOMETHING is a rush, yes. It always makes me so annoyed when I see an uncompleted fic that hasn't been updated in years because that's simply not fair. My readers know by now that if I start posting a story, even though it's one chapter per week, that the story will be completed before I start something new.

And, it's so much better for mental health, no dividing your attention to multiple stories!

[williamsnickers]

YOU GOT THIS!

[antuhsa]

:D
:D
:D

[paulamcg]

I’m arriving here a bit late but I want to chime in and say I trust you’ll reach your wonderfully-crafted goals. You truly must be a crafter and an artist.

I’m not sure if I understand correctly, as I’ve never known any bookbinder or anything really about bookbinding before. But the way you describe the patient preparation needed for your exquisite bookbinding projects made me think that maybe here’s one reason – besides any fear – for your hesitation to start actually just writing your long fic. You’ve got wonderful advice and wonderful ideas of your own above, and I, too, want to encourage you by saying that you – as you are now – are the right person with just the right skills and spirit to write the story you are passionate about.

As for not writing other fics at the same time, myself I – while in the long process of writing my Remus novel – ended up writing short stories set in the same reality but in different eras, because I wanted to get something completed and shared with new readers. This made the process of writing the novel slower but also inspired me and deepened my understanding of my characters(s).

[antuhsa]

Thank you so much for your supportive response!

You're right, I am a bit of a perfectionist and with long commitments like that novel-length fic I want to write, I want to have the whole project fully planned before starting. I know it's not the right approach. Just starting on it and figuring it out as I go along works much better for me. But it's difficult to let my perfectionism go.

The idea of writing short stories in the same verse is a great idea. I think I'm going to try something like that too, since it makes the whole project feel a lot less daunting. Glad to heear that approach works for you!