Entry tags:
Fanfic wrap-up meme 2022
Stats
List of Completed Fic
Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys - High Rollers Aerois (4095 words, E, Quill/Lucius)
Better Judgement - Chalet School (931 words, G, Hilda /& Nell)
Find the happiness I seek - High Rollers Aerois (1610 words, G, Nova/Thalia)
Return to Greybell - High Rollers Lightfall (1472 words, G, Reynard/Grunka)
Different dinner, same chaos - High Rollers Aerois (2274 words, G, Quill/Lucius/Aridan)
He likes my company, right? - High Rollers Aerois (2292 words, G, Quill/Lucius)
Dust Bath - High Rollers Aerois (3008 words, T, Quill/Lucius)
Endings - Chalet School (927 words, G, Hilda/Nell)
silence and patience (pining and anticipation) - High Rollers Aerois (2740 words, G, Quill/Lucius)
First Dates - High Rollers Aerois (4307 words, T, Quill/Lucius)
Proposal Perplexity - High Rollers Aerois (1217 words, G, Nova & Lucius)
An Unlucky Ride - Malory Towers (2181 words, G, Sally & Clarissa)
Stress Relief - High Rollers Aerois (5023 words, E, Quill/Lucius/Aridan)
Total number: 13
Total word count: 32077, for an average of 2467.5 per fic - somewhat lower than last year, and overall a smaller spread in wordcount, they’re mostly in the 1k-3k range.
Ship/character breakdown:
According to AO3:
Relationships
Characters
Specifics:
Best/worst title?
I really like “Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys”, and the alliteration of “Proposal Perplexity”. Worst… maybe “First Dates”? But honestly I don’t hate any of them, for a change!
Best summary?
When Nova tells Lucius she's writing a proposal, Lucius is sure that can only mean one thing - she's going to propose to Thalia! - Proposal Perplexity
When Tiangong and Nova tell Lucius about Quill's questions, he's sure it must be a joke or a misunderstanding. Quill can't possibly doubt that Lucius likes his company... can he? - He likes my company, right?
When Lucius decides to get back into drawing, and Quill offers to pose for him, neither of them has any idea how far it will take them.
(Or, Kalus Valkyrian is so done wasting scrying spells on these two.) - Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys
Fun fact, a whole six of this year’s summaries start with “When” XD.
Best first line?
“I knew we should have had a dance floor built on the deck, I should have insisted,” Lucius said, with a sigh for his own past weakness. - Find the happiness I seek
Hilda runs her hand over the smooth surface of her now-empty desk, after checking the drawers one last time. - Endings
“Quill! Quartermaster! Are you deaf? I’ve been calling you!” Really, Lucius thought crossly to himself, what was the point of Quill being the most perceptive person on Aerois if he didn’t listen? - Stress Relief
Best last line?
“If that’s what it takes!” Nell retorted unrepentantly. Then, in a far more tender tone, she added, “I nearly lost you once, my dear. I won’t risk you now.” - Better Judgement
“I need you to teach me how to kiss you.” - Dust Bath (A bit of explanation needed, perhaps - high elf sorcerer Lucius canonically accidentally turned himself into a beautiful peacock aarakocra, much to the indignation of his aarakocra best friend Quill - who mentioned having to teach him how to be a birdman, which led to this friends-to-lovers fic).
Then, for the last time, Hilda closes the door, and - Heads of the Chalet School no longer - they head arm-in-arm towards the future. - Endings
General questions:
Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less than you thought, or about what you predicted?
A bit less than I hoped, but such is life! Barely any of the![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fan_flashworks prompts and no Swallows and Amazons ones, either... I think I'm stuck on those because "wind" is just too good a prompt for S&A, lol.
What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted last year?
I don’t think any of them were completely unexpected… I don’t generally write Malory Towers but I did sign up for it for Yuletide, so I knew it was a possibility.
What's your favourite story this year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you the happiest.
I’m quite pleased with all of them, honestly… Maybe "First Dates"? I really love the absurd amount of fluff I got in there, and I love my silly little purely for fluff and fun modern AU.
Okay, NOW your most popular story.
"An Unlucky Ride" by both comments (7 threads) and kudos (27) - Yuletide, as ever you are a joy :) "Dust Bath" is the runner up by both metrics (4 comment threads, 26 kudos) and is actually at the top by bookmarks (5 to "An Unlucky Ride" and "Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys"’ 3).
Story most underappreciated by the universe?
"silence and patience (pining and anticipation)" got no comments (but I got some on Discord). Least kudos is a 4-way tie between that, "Proposal Perplexity" (1 comment), "Return to Greybell" (2 comments), and "Stress Relief" (2 comments).
Story that could have been better?
Honestly, quite possibly “silence and patience (pining and anticipation)” - or at least longer, it was a fan_flashworks one so I had to wrap it up to post it in time! I meant to write a sequel or more chapters and then... didn’t. This year, maybe!
Sexiest story?
"Stress Relief", definitely, it is a thin veneer of… not even plot, just set-up, and then just smut - sweet fluffy loving smut, but smut. Honourable mention to "Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys", which does have some vague semblance of plot but is also E-rated for a reason ;)
Saddest story?
None of them are terribly sad, really… "Endings" is somewhat nostalgic, Hilda and Nell looking back on all their years at the Chalet School as they retire, but they're also looking forward to the future. “He likes my company, right?” and "Dust Bath" both have stressed insecure Quill, but it’s all part of setting up Quill/Lucius Friends To Lovers, so they end happily.
Most fun?
Maybe "Return to Greybell", Elora getting Reynard into trouble and Grunka’s outrage are a lot of fun - or "Proposal Perplexity", where Lucius starts planning Nova’s wedding on the strength of a single remark.
Story with single sweetest moment?
*Waves at entire pile of fluff I wrote this year* Nova attempting to learn to dance for Thalia in “Find the happiness I seek”? Lucius attempting to propose in “Different dinner, same chaos” - or in “He likes my company, right?”, and Quill talking him into courting instead in that one? Nell lovingly bullying Hilda into getting some rest in “Better Judgement”? Take your pick!
Hardest story to write?
“An Unlucky Ride” had the Yuletide It Must Be A Perfect Gift self-pressure, of course ;) but honestly I didn’t struggle madly with it… Maybe “Better Judgement”, conveying both Hilda and Nell’s sides fairly on a difficult topic?
Easiest/most fun story to write?
“Proposal Perplexity” was written while procrastinating on observing proposals, which is always a good writing motivator :P And "Stress Relief" wound up having a whole second half I hadn't anticipated but which made perfect sense when I got to my original endpoint.
Most overdue story?
“Better Judgement” was from![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thisbluespirit 's 2021 prompt challenge!
Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?
Hmm, nothing feels particularly risky… I did my first Lightfall fic, getting in Reynard’s head was a fun challenge.
This year's theme and the story that demonstrates it most:
Umm… romance? Friends To Lovers is the top tag, so sure, let’s go with that… Maybe “He likes my company, right?”. Or, of course, "summary starts with "when", which that one also fits :P
What are your fic writing goals for next year?
Write more consistently, I think… Get back intofan_flashworks properly, that was a good motivator for consistency.
List of Completed Fic
Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys - High Rollers Aerois (4095 words, E, Quill/Lucius)
Better Judgement - Chalet School (931 words, G, Hilda /& Nell)
Find the happiness I seek - High Rollers Aerois (1610 words, G, Nova/Thalia)
Return to Greybell - High Rollers Lightfall (1472 words, G, Reynard/Grunka)
Different dinner, same chaos - High Rollers Aerois (2274 words, G, Quill/Lucius/Aridan)
He likes my company, right? - High Rollers Aerois (2292 words, G, Quill/Lucius)
Dust Bath - High Rollers Aerois (3008 words, T, Quill/Lucius)
Endings - Chalet School (927 words, G, Hilda/Nell)
silence and patience (pining and anticipation) - High Rollers Aerois (2740 words, G, Quill/Lucius)
First Dates - High Rollers Aerois (4307 words, T, Quill/Lucius)
Proposal Perplexity - High Rollers Aerois (1217 words, G, Nova & Lucius)
An Unlucky Ride - Malory Towers (2181 words, G, Sally & Clarissa)
Stress Relief - High Rollers Aerois (5023 words, E, Quill/Lucius/Aridan)
Total number: 13
Total word count: 32077, for an average of 2467.5 per fic - somewhat lower than last year, and overall a smaller spread in wordcount, they’re mostly in the 1k-3k range.
Ship/character breakdown:
According to AO3:
Relationships
- Qillek "Quill" Ad Khollar/Lucius Virion-Elluin Elenasto (5)
- Hilda Annersley/Nell Wilson (2)
- Qillek "Quill" Ad Khollar/Lucius Virion-Elluin Elenasto/Aridan Irisen-Pelony Starsorrow (2)
- Hilda Annersley & Nell Wilson (1)
- Reynard Ferehorn/Grunka (1)
- Nova V'Ger/Thalia Whisperwind (1)
Characters
- Lucius Virion-Elluin Elenasto (9)
- Qillek "Quill" Ad Khollar (7)
- Nova V'Ger (4)
- Hilda Annersley (2)
- Nell Wilson (2)
- Aila (High Rollers) (2)
- Oriya Marius (2)
- Aridan Irisen-Pelony Starsorrow (2)
- Sally Hope (1)
- Darrell Rivers (1)
Specifics:
Best/worst title?
I really like “Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys”, and the alliteration of “Proposal Perplexity”. Worst… maybe “First Dates”? But honestly I don’t hate any of them, for a change!
Best summary?
When Nova tells Lucius she's writing a proposal, Lucius is sure that can only mean one thing - she's going to propose to Thalia! - Proposal Perplexity
When Tiangong and Nova tell Lucius about Quill's questions, he's sure it must be a joke or a misunderstanding. Quill can't possibly doubt that Lucius likes his company... can he? - He likes my company, right?
When Lucius decides to get back into drawing, and Quill offers to pose for him, neither of them has any idea how far it will take them.
(Or, Kalus Valkyrian is so done wasting scrying spells on these two.) - Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys
Fun fact, a whole six of this year’s summaries start with “When” XD.
Best first line?
“I knew we should have had a dance floor built on the deck, I should have insisted,” Lucius said, with a sigh for his own past weakness. - Find the happiness I seek
Hilda runs her hand over the smooth surface of her now-empty desk, after checking the drawers one last time. - Endings
“Quill! Quartermaster! Are you deaf? I’ve been calling you!” Really, Lucius thought crossly to himself, what was the point of Quill being the most perceptive person on Aerois if he didn’t listen? - Stress Relief
Best last line?
“If that’s what it takes!” Nell retorted unrepentantly. Then, in a far more tender tone, she added, “I nearly lost you once, my dear. I won’t risk you now.” - Better Judgement
“I need you to teach me how to kiss you.” - Dust Bath (A bit of explanation needed, perhaps - high elf sorcerer Lucius canonically accidentally turned himself into a beautiful peacock aarakocra, much to the indignation of his aarakocra best friend Quill - who mentioned having to teach him how to be a birdman, which led to this friends-to-lovers fic).
Then, for the last time, Hilda closes the door, and - Heads of the Chalet School no longer - they head arm-in-arm towards the future. - Endings
General questions:
Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less than you thought, or about what you predicted?
A bit less than I hoped, but such is life! Barely any of the
fan_flashworks prompts and no Swallows and Amazons ones, either... I think I'm stuck on those because "wind" is just too good a prompt for S&A, lol.What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted last year?
I don’t think any of them were completely unexpected… I don’t generally write Malory Towers but I did sign up for it for Yuletide, so I knew it was a possibility.
What's your favourite story this year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you the happiest.
I’m quite pleased with all of them, honestly… Maybe "First Dates"? I really love the absurd amount of fluff I got in there, and I love my silly little purely for fluff and fun modern AU.
Okay, NOW your most popular story.
"An Unlucky Ride" by both comments (7 threads) and kudos (27) - Yuletide, as ever you are a joy :) "Dust Bath" is the runner up by both metrics (4 comment threads, 26 kudos) and is actually at the top by bookmarks (5 to "An Unlucky Ride" and "Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys"’ 3).
Story most underappreciated by the universe?
"silence and patience (pining and anticipation)" got no comments (but I got some on Discord). Least kudos is a 4-way tie between that, "Proposal Perplexity" (1 comment), "Return to Greybell" (2 comments), and "Stress Relief" (2 comments).
Story that could have been better?
Honestly, quite possibly “silence and patience (pining and anticipation)” - or at least longer, it was a fan_flashworks one so I had to wrap it up to post it in time! I meant to write a sequel or more chapters and then... didn’t. This year, maybe!
Sexiest story?
"Stress Relief", definitely, it is a thin veneer of… not even plot, just set-up, and then just smut - sweet fluffy loving smut, but smut. Honourable mention to "Draw Me Like One Of Your Gusthaven Boys", which does have some vague semblance of plot but is also E-rated for a reason ;)
Saddest story?
None of them are terribly sad, really… "Endings" is somewhat nostalgic, Hilda and Nell looking back on all their years at the Chalet School as they retire, but they're also looking forward to the future. “He likes my company, right?” and "Dust Bath" both have stressed insecure Quill, but it’s all part of setting up Quill/Lucius Friends To Lovers, so they end happily.
Most fun?
Maybe "Return to Greybell", Elora getting Reynard into trouble and Grunka’s outrage are a lot of fun - or "Proposal Perplexity", where Lucius starts planning Nova’s wedding on the strength of a single remark.
Story with single sweetest moment?
*Waves at entire pile of fluff I wrote this year* Nova attempting to learn to dance for Thalia in “Find the happiness I seek”? Lucius attempting to propose in “Different dinner, same chaos” - or in “He likes my company, right?”, and Quill talking him into courting instead in that one? Nell lovingly bullying Hilda into getting some rest in “Better Judgement”? Take your pick!
Hardest story to write?
“An Unlucky Ride” had the Yuletide It Must Be A Perfect Gift self-pressure, of course ;) but honestly I didn’t struggle madly with it… Maybe “Better Judgement”, conveying both Hilda and Nell’s sides fairly on a difficult topic?
Easiest/most fun story to write?
“Proposal Perplexity” was written while procrastinating on observing proposals, which is always a good writing motivator :P And "Stress Relief" wound up having a whole second half I hadn't anticipated but which made perfect sense when I got to my original endpoint.
Most overdue story?
“Better Judgement” was from
thisbluespirit 's 2021 prompt challenge!Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?
Hmm, nothing feels particularly risky… I did my first Lightfall fic, getting in Reynard’s head was a fun challenge.
This year's theme and the story that demonstrates it most:
Umm… romance? Friends To Lovers is the top tag, so sure, let’s go with that… Maybe “He likes my company, right?”. Or, of course, "summary starts with "when", which that one also fits :P
What are your fic writing goals for next year?
Write more consistently, I think… Get back into
fan_flashworks properly, that was a good motivator for consistency.