Hi.
I am posting this way in the future to keep it at the top of the page. To find recent posts, please scroll down.
The main purpose for this is to tell you all my HP stories can now be found at
http://www.hpfandom.net/eff/viewuser.php?uid=4145
and all my other stories (along with most of the HP ones) can be found at
http://www.foreverfandom.net/viewuser.php?uid=32408 (however this does not include The Silent Trio nor The Western Sky, though I do plan to change that)
I have also started posting on a new site - http://www.ficwad.com/author/69837 - for both my fanfiction stories and the original stuff I have written.
I have abandoned Fanfiction.Net after the March 22nd Debacle, and the refusal of the site-admins to even acknowledge they screwed up, even though a fair number of users think they did.
Maybe if they fix the problem they caused, and promise not to do it again, I would feel happy about returning. But until I can be sure that the site will let me publish my stories as I want them to be seen, I am not going to risk putting any more stories on there.
Thursday 31 December 2009
Monday 14 December 2009
Restarting Nineteen Years Later
Lucius Malfoy looked down the length of Diagon Alley, and smiled.
While the weekly Devotion Meetings were always very fulfilling, this one marked the fourteenth anniversary of the end of the war, and The Unity Squads had been out far more often to ensure they got maximum attendance.
From what he could see, they'd done their job very well - The Alley was packed, with hundreds of people carrying unity banners and waving flags with images of his Royal Majesty.
"Minister Malfoy - it's time" He smiled down at his assistant - Saffron always enjoyed the meetings, and he was fairly certain that - after they were finished - she would be more than willing to join him in a post meeting celebration.
"Thank you, Saffron" He smiled as she giggled. In the decade since his wife had been executed for treason, he had had quite a few companions, but - he had to admit - Saffron was proving the most entertaining and delightful.
"You're welcome, Minister" She nodded, then took a step back as he walked up to the platform and turned to face the crowd.
"People of Britain" He paused to let the cheers calm down "I stand before you today, pleased to announce the longest era of growth and prosperity the county has seen" There was more applause, and he smiled genially "It's now fourteen years since the rebellion against his Royal Majesty was crushed - fourteen years in which we have hunted down the traitors, the terrorists and those who would disrupt the peaceful running of our glorious country" He paused, then beamed "And this morning, I am proud to announce that...." He trailed off, frowning as he realised there was music playing in the background.
"Early one morning"
"Minister?" Saffron walked up behind him.
"Just as the sun was rising"
"Where is that coming from?" He asked quietly, still looking around.
"I heard a maiden singing"
"I don't know, Minister, but I will find out" She turned, and clicked her fingers at a few of the security agents flanking the podium.
"In the valley below"
Lucius turned back to see the crowd looking around in confusion.
"Ladies and gentlemen - do not panic. This is merely a minor disturbance, and we will have it sorted out momentarily" He looked around The Alley again, then turned back to see Saffron looking confused.
"Shut that noise off now, or don't bother coming in to work tomorrow" He yelled at her. She looked around wildly, but still could not find the source of the music.
"Oh do not leave me"
"People! Do not...." He started again, then trailed off as the crowd started pointing up.
"Minister!" Saffron pointed above him, to where a giant wolf's head had appeared, jaws dripping blood as it snapped at the people below.
Lucius turned back to the now panicking audience, then glanced up to the roof of Flourish and Blots.
"Do not deceive me"
Three figures, all dressed in deep purple robes, were stood on top of the bookshop, all with wands drawn, and pointing towards him.
"Saffron...." He tried to get her attention, but his voice came out as a whisper.
A moment later, he saw three beams of green light lance out of the wands, and fly through the air towards him.
As the crowd screamed in terror, he realised that he, at least, was getting off easy. At least Voldemort would not be able to to torture him for this failure.
"How could you use a poor maiden so?"
Hermione Granger-Weasley turned away from the scene below them, and looked to her two fellow assassins.
"Lets go" She said, then all three turned on the spot, and vanished, leaving the screaming, panicked crowd below, and the giant, snarling wolf's head above.
While the weekly Devotion Meetings were always very fulfilling, this one marked the fourteenth anniversary of the end of the war, and The Unity Squads had been out far more often to ensure they got maximum attendance.
From what he could see, they'd done their job very well - The Alley was packed, with hundreds of people carrying unity banners and waving flags with images of his Royal Majesty.
"Minister Malfoy - it's time" He smiled down at his assistant - Saffron always enjoyed the meetings, and he was fairly certain that - after they were finished - she would be more than willing to join him in a post meeting celebration.
"Thank you, Saffron" He smiled as she giggled. In the decade since his wife had been executed for treason, he had had quite a few companions, but - he had to admit - Saffron was proving the most entertaining and delightful.
"You're welcome, Minister" She nodded, then took a step back as he walked up to the platform and turned to face the crowd.
"People of Britain" He paused to let the cheers calm down "I stand before you today, pleased to announce the longest era of growth and prosperity the county has seen" There was more applause, and he smiled genially "It's now fourteen years since the rebellion against his Royal Majesty was crushed - fourteen years in which we have hunted down the traitors, the terrorists and those who would disrupt the peaceful running of our glorious country" He paused, then beamed "And this morning, I am proud to announce that...." He trailed off, frowning as he realised there was music playing in the background.
"Early one morning"
"Minister?" Saffron walked up behind him.
"Just as the sun was rising"
"Where is that coming from?" He asked quietly, still looking around.
"I heard a maiden singing"
"I don't know, Minister, but I will find out" She turned, and clicked her fingers at a few of the security agents flanking the podium.
"In the valley below"
Lucius turned back to see the crowd looking around in confusion.
"Ladies and gentlemen - do not panic. This is merely a minor disturbance, and we will have it sorted out momentarily" He looked around The Alley again, then turned back to see Saffron looking confused.
"Shut that noise off now, or don't bother coming in to work tomorrow" He yelled at her. She looked around wildly, but still could not find the source of the music.
"Oh do not leave me"
"People! Do not...." He started again, then trailed off as the crowd started pointing up.
"Minister!" Saffron pointed above him, to where a giant wolf's head had appeared, jaws dripping blood as it snapped at the people below.
Lucius turned back to the now panicking audience, then glanced up to the roof of Flourish and Blots.
"Do not deceive me"
Three figures, all dressed in deep purple robes, were stood on top of the bookshop, all with wands drawn, and pointing towards him.
"Saffron...." He tried to get her attention, but his voice came out as a whisper.
A moment later, he saw three beams of green light lance out of the wands, and fly through the air towards him.
As the crowd screamed in terror, he realised that he, at least, was getting off easy. At least Voldemort would not be able to to torture him for this failure.
"How could you use a poor maiden so?"
Hermione Granger-Weasley turned away from the scene below them, and looked to her two fellow assassins.
"Lets go" She said, then all three turned on the spot, and vanished, leaving the screaming, panicked crowd below, and the giant, snarling wolf's head above.
Tuesday 24 November 2009
Alarums!
Apparently HPFandom has been temporarily shut down due to.... I think it is overuse of the CPU on a shared server, but it's not entirely clear at the moment.
I am going to wait to see what happens, but possibly look for other sites as well. (I have felt in a bit of a minority on HPFandom since it is so obviously a slash-site, even if there are a few non-slash stories there).
Watch this space, I suppose.
I am going to wait to see what happens, but possibly look for other sites as well. (I have felt in a bit of a minority on HPFandom since it is so obviously a slash-site, even if there are a few non-slash stories there).
Watch this space, I suppose.
Tuesday 20 October 2009
Plagiarism is a truly appalling thing
I am not a professional writer, and probably never will be.
But I am quite proud of what I've written, and if I thought anyone else was claiming credit for it, I would be more than a bit ticked off.
(Note - yes, I quote a lot in what I do. But as far as I know I have never written something I took from someone else and claimed it as my own. I always provide sources for what I quote, unless it is really obvious who wrote it, and generally copyright info as well.
In addition, posting stories on different sites with different names sometimes causes confusion amongst readers, but generally I clear that up easily enough).
So when I found this http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=140402 and compared it to this http://www.outpost-daria.com/fanfic/daria_vs_the_lawndale_zombies.html I was utterly appalled someone would have the balls to do it.
I am pretty sure the Daria one is the original, and that the Happy Days one is a rip off, because at one point the character of Chachi is referred to Upchuck - the only time it happens in the story. Which smacks of a sloppy cut and paste job. (Plus one of the characters sings the Lumberjack Song, which I'm sure wasn't around in Happy Days time. But that could just be crappy writing).
Now - it's possible Erin Mills and Race's Girl are the same person, in which case it isn't plagiarism, and I take it back.
But when you look at other stories Race's Girl has written, and search for phrases in them, they come up in different stories. (Captain Muscles vs The Amazons seems to be a copy of History Created and Crushed, by Nigel Preece, for example).
I admit, there isn't a lot I can do, but honestly - it does make me want to smack this Race's Girl for doing such a shitty thing.
But I am quite proud of what I've written, and if I thought anyone else was claiming credit for it, I would be more than a bit ticked off.
(Note - yes, I quote a lot in what I do. But as far as I know I have never written something I took from someone else and claimed it as my own. I always provide sources for what I quote, unless it is really obvious who wrote it, and generally copyright info as well.
In addition, posting stories on different sites with different names sometimes causes confusion amongst readers, but generally I clear that up easily enough).
So when I found this http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=140402 and compared it to this http://www.outpost-daria.com/fanfic/daria_vs_the_lawndale_zombies.html I was utterly appalled someone would have the balls to do it.
I am pretty sure the Daria one is the original, and that the Happy Days one is a rip off, because at one point the character of Chachi is referred to Upchuck - the only time it happens in the story. Which smacks of a sloppy cut and paste job. (Plus one of the characters sings the Lumberjack Song, which I'm sure wasn't around in Happy Days time. But that could just be crappy writing).
Now - it's possible Erin Mills and Race's Girl are the same person, in which case it isn't plagiarism, and I take it back.
But when you look at other stories Race's Girl has written, and search for phrases in them, they come up in different stories. (Captain Muscles vs The Amazons seems to be a copy of History Created and Crushed, by Nigel Preece, for example).
I admit, there isn't a lot I can do, but honestly - it does make me want to smack this Race's Girl for doing such a shitty thing.
Wednesday 14 October 2009
Wargh!
You can't just shove in four characters for one act then never use them again. It's stupid, and people are going to notice.
So - how about we change E&B for a new Ambassador? Maybe Emily Brown... That might work?
So - how about we change E&B for a new Ambassador? Maybe Emily Brown... That might work?
Monday 12 October 2009
Sidious is FINISHED!! (Again!)
I finished posting Sidious to the twin sites about three minutes ago.
Which gives me a happy.
Which gives me a happy.
Sunday 11 October 2009
The Ninth Floor
So - I think I may - FINALLY - have figured out how to write a political drama set in the world of Harry Potter.
My original plan was to base it on the aftermath of "Dark Lord Sidious", but since I killed almost all of the main characters during that story, there was no one left with whom the readers would be familiar enough to make a suitable story.
Instead, I am going to just write it set in a fictional universe (and at what point did I start referring to JK Rowling's world as "real"?) with almost everyone alive.
Because that way people might get more interested in the story, since they recognise more of the characters.
The question now becomes can I come up with enough to fill out a few stories without people getting bored?
My original plan was to base it on the aftermath of "Dark Lord Sidious", but since I killed almost all of the main characters during that story, there was no one left with whom the readers would be familiar enough to make a suitable story.
Instead, I am going to just write it set in a fictional universe (and at what point did I start referring to JK Rowling's world as "real"?) with almost everyone alive.
Because that way people might get more interested in the story, since they recognise more of the characters.
The question now becomes can I come up with enough to fill out a few stories without people getting bored?
Monday 5 October 2009
Lost In Forkes
Yes folks - the long awaited sequel to "Lost In Middle Earth" is here. An epic story spanning generations, a story of love and loss, of drama and comedy, of passion and parody.
xoxox
Harry Potter and Sally-Anne Perks, now a newly married couple, had decided to take their honeymoon in Washington.
As they drove along the main street, Harry caught sight of a young couple walking along the sidewalk. He glanced at Sally, who nodded encouragingly. He smiled back, and slowly pulled the car to a halt beside them. He rolled down the window and and leaned out.
"Excuse me - could you tell me how to get to the freeway?"
"Sure" The young man grinned "Turn left at the crossroads, and it's about five miles from there"
"Thanks" Harry beamed "Have a nice day" He waved as they drove off.
Edward Cullen watched them go, then turned to Bella.
"He seemed nice"
xoxox
Thank you.
xoxox
I should add, I have spent most of the day writing reports and presentations and this just popped in to my head.
xoxox
Harry Potter and Sally-Anne Perks, now a newly married couple, had decided to take their honeymoon in Washington.
As they drove along the main street, Harry caught sight of a young couple walking along the sidewalk. He glanced at Sally, who nodded encouragingly. He smiled back, and slowly pulled the car to a halt beside them. He rolled down the window and and leaned out.
"Excuse me - could you tell me how to get to the freeway?"
"Sure" The young man grinned "Turn left at the crossroads, and it's about five miles from there"
"Thanks" Harry beamed "Have a nice day" He waved as they drove off.
Edward Cullen watched them go, then turned to Bella.
"He seemed nice"
xoxox
Thank you.
xoxox
I should add, I have spent most of the day writing reports and presentations and this just popped in to my head.
Saturday 26 September 2009
Sidious is FINISHED!!
That's right - The main story line of "Harry Potter and The Dark Lord Sidious" is now complete. I finished the epilogue around twenty minutes ago, then edited it and finished it again about five minutes ago (it's better than it was - the ending lacked something originally!)
There are seven more "story arc" chapters to post (including the epilogue), and then three chapters after that - Snape's Letter, a complete list of members of The Conspiracy and how they were punished, and a complete disclaimer/notes chapter (mostly answering questions from reviews, and one or two other things that came up).
The three additional chapters will be posted at the same time as the last two, while the other five chapters (16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) will be posted once every two or three days over the coming fortnight, since they still need to be properly proof-read.
But it is done, and I am actually very happy with how it has turned out. The Battle Hymn scene went exactly as I wanted, and the two final chapters also turned out as I pictured them in my head. Which is nice.
I think after this there will be a short break (probably involving Blue Dragon) and then I am going to try to get back to "Enemies", since I should finish off "A New Dawn" before going on to anything else.
(On a related note, I have figured out how to restart 19 years Later, so hopefully that will follow "A New Dawn"'s completion).
But for now, I am just happy that my first proper time travel story is finished. Because the last two chapters were a complete bitch to get right.
There are seven more "story arc" chapters to post (including the epilogue), and then three chapters after that - Snape's Letter, a complete list of members of The Conspiracy and how they were punished, and a complete disclaimer/notes chapter (mostly answering questions from reviews, and one or two other things that came up).
The three additional chapters will be posted at the same time as the last two, while the other five chapters (16, 17, 18, 19 and 20) will be posted once every two or three days over the coming fortnight, since they still need to be properly proof-read.
But it is done, and I am actually very happy with how it has turned out. The Battle Hymn scene went exactly as I wanted, and the two final chapters also turned out as I pictured them in my head. Which is nice.
I think after this there will be a short break (probably involving Blue Dragon) and then I am going to try to get back to "Enemies", since I should finish off "A New Dawn" before going on to anything else.
(On a related note, I have figured out how to restart 19 years Later, so hopefully that will follow "A New Dawn"'s completion).
But for now, I am just happy that my first proper time travel story is finished. Because the last two chapters were a complete bitch to get right.
Monday 21 September 2009
More Sidious News
The next chapter of Sidious has been posted, but only to ForeverFandom, as HPFandom is still down (le sigh!).
In addition, I am pretty sure I am about to start the final chapter (of the main story arc), after which there'll be two epilogues (it will make sense when you read them) and a notes chapter (mostly answering questions asked in reviews).
I am pretty happy with the way it has gone, but I think the last chapter will prove the hardest to write - something else I am looking forward to!
In addition, I am pretty sure I am about to start the final chapter (of the main story arc), after which there'll be two epilogues (it will make sense when you read them) and a notes chapter (mostly answering questions asked in reviews).
I am pretty happy with the way it has gone, but I think the last chapter will prove the hardest to write - something else I am looking forward to!
Saturday 19 September 2009
HP Fandom Down (Ish)
So apparently HPFandom dot net is currently not accepting new stories, due to transferring to a new hosting plan (I'm guessing either a new ISP or the like?)
So new updates to Sidious are going to be unavoidably delayed until further notice. However, if you do want to keep reading it, I am going to continue updating ForeverFandon dot net, and then - once HPFandom comes back up I will post all the missing chapters to there to bring the stories back in to Sync.
(On an unrelated note, I am currently six chapters ahead, and I think I am two or three chapters way from the end of the story, with an epilogue, a second epilogue and probably a "Note&Queries" chapter after that).
So, pending holidays and work related crap, "Harry Potter And The Dark Lord Sidious" should be done by the end of October. Isn't that nice?
So new updates to Sidious are going to be unavoidably delayed until further notice. However, if you do want to keep reading it, I am going to continue updating ForeverFandon dot net, and then - once HPFandom comes back up I will post all the missing chapters to there to bring the stories back in to Sync.
(On an unrelated note, I am currently six chapters ahead, and I think I am two or three chapters way from the end of the story, with an epilogue, a second epilogue and probably a "Note&Queries" chapter after that).
So, pending holidays and work related crap, "Harry Potter And The Dark Lord Sidious" should be done by the end of October. Isn't that nice?
Tuesday 8 September 2009
Double Sidious!
After spending most of last night playing Blue Dragon, I felt a little guilty about my lack of progress with Sidious.
So today you get two chapters for the price of one! (Well - for the price of none technically. Charging for fanfiction is baaaaad!)
The other reason is that the most recent chapter ("Letters To America", the title of which will be explained at some point) ended up being about twice as long as I originally thought, I have had to break it up in to two parts.
Which means that I ended up four chapters ahead, and thought I should possibly post at least one of them. (I also plan to post both parts of "Letters To America" at the same time, since it is one chapter!).
Hopefully regular service will be returned in due course, and I will get back to posting one chapter every three to five days.
Unless something stupid happens. But what are the odds of that?
So today you get two chapters for the price of one! (Well - for the price of none technically. Charging for fanfiction is baaaaad!)
The other reason is that the most recent chapter ("Letters To America", the title of which will be explained at some point) ended up being about twice as long as I originally thought, I have had to break it up in to two parts.
Which means that I ended up four chapters ahead, and thought I should possibly post at least one of them. (I also plan to post both parts of "Letters To America" at the same time, since it is one chapter!).
Hopefully regular service will be returned in due course, and I will get back to posting one chapter every three to five days.
Unless something stupid happens. But what are the odds of that?
Monday 7 September 2009
Sidious and blue dragons
I got a tad distracted playing Blue Dragon over the past two days, so there might be a day or so delay in the next chapter of Sidious.
But I am about half-way through year 3, so it's going pretty well ;)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
But I am about half-way through year 3, so it's going pretty well ;)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Friday 28 August 2009
Possible Delay
I am spending the weekend with my beloved, so there probably won't be any updates to Sidious until midweek.
In the meantime - I would like to sing you a song. But since I can't post voice recordings, I guess I will just wave..... Damnit!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
In the meantime - I would like to sing you a song. But since I can't post voice recordings, I guess I will just wave..... Damnit!
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Sunday 23 August 2009
More Sidious
The first of the 'revenge' chapters is up - it turns out I am breaking the story in to two different parts. The first is Harry carrying out his plan to change the past, and the second is his budding romance.
And if you had told me six months ago I would actually be writing a love story (albeit a love story with quite a lot of horrible, bloody deaths in it), I might have thought you were mad :)
Anyway - "Crime And Retribution" has been posted.
(And now I have a slight problem... I have two ways to end the next chapter, and I can't decide which is best. Still - I am around 3000 words from having to decide just yet, so I guess I can sleep on it :)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
And if you had told me six months ago I would actually be writing a love story (albeit a love story with quite a lot of horrible, bloody deaths in it), I might have thought you were mad :)
Anyway - "Crime And Retribution" has been posted.
(And now I have a slight problem... I have two ways to end the next chapter, and I can't decide which is best. Still - I am around 3000 words from having to decide just yet, so I guess I can sleep on it :)
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Sometimes it just feels right
Generally when I plan to write stories, I write the plots out in Narrative form. That is I tell a summary of the story from start to finish, without regard to chapters.
Consequently, when I actually start writing, there is a lot of "filler" to write. Not random stuff that has no relevance, but expanding of the narrative plot.
For example the narrative plot might read "Hermione talks to Harry about the night before, then they go down to breakfast".
Now I could write "Hermione sat down to Harry and asked him about the night before. After a brief discussion, they went down to breakfast together", but that's DULL! Really, really boring.
So instead I start writing in the bits that are missing. So you get this...
Hermione sat down on the sofa, and looked across at Harry.
"How's it going?" She asked. He shrugged "Did you have a good time last night?"
"Well - I had an odd dream about two otters and a sea-lion, but aside from that it was mostly okay" He grinned as she frowned at him.
"You know what I mean Jim - how did it go with Flitwick?"
"Pretty much okay"......
And so on. Most of what I write (as filler) is made up on the spot, without giving it much thought before hand.
Which is where I come to the title of the post - I have just finished a scene in "Sidious" where Harry and Luna are discussing what's going to happen on Back To School day in Diagon Alley. It wasn't one I planned out before (very occasionally I will write complete plans of scenes, but that is usually reserved for fights and large scale battles, because you would not believe how easy it is to kill someone and then having them fighting two scenes later) and I just started writing.
In most cases like this, I get about three or four paragraphs in, and it just clicks - I know how to end it, and then I just steer the story in that direction. And when I reach the end, I know I have because it feels right - it feels like that should be the end.
The thing is - I can't explain WHY it feels right. It just does. The closest analogy I can think of is Colin Mathews talking about when to sell and when not to in Press Gang - you just get this feeling that this is the moment, and everything has fallen in to place.
Does anyone else get like this? Or is it just me?
Consequently, when I actually start writing, there is a lot of "filler" to write. Not random stuff that has no relevance, but expanding of the narrative plot.
For example the narrative plot might read "Hermione talks to Harry about the night before, then they go down to breakfast".
Now I could write "Hermione sat down to Harry and asked him about the night before. After a brief discussion, they went down to breakfast together", but that's DULL! Really, really boring.
So instead I start writing in the bits that are missing. So you get this...
Hermione sat down on the sofa, and looked across at Harry.
"How's it going?" She asked. He shrugged "Did you have a good time last night?"
"Well - I had an odd dream about two otters and a sea-lion, but aside from that it was mostly okay" He grinned as she frowned at him.
"You know what I mean Jim - how did it go with Flitwick?"
"Pretty much okay"......
And so on. Most of what I write (as filler) is made up on the spot, without giving it much thought before hand.
Which is where I come to the title of the post - I have just finished a scene in "Sidious" where Harry and Luna are discussing what's going to happen on Back To School day in Diagon Alley. It wasn't one I planned out before (very occasionally I will write complete plans of scenes, but that is usually reserved for fights and large scale battles, because you would not believe how easy it is to kill someone and then having them fighting two scenes later) and I just started writing.
In most cases like this, I get about three or four paragraphs in, and it just clicks - I know how to end it, and then I just steer the story in that direction. And when I reach the end, I know I have because it feels right - it feels like that should be the end.
The thing is - I can't explain WHY it feels right. It just does. The closest analogy I can think of is Colin Mathews talking about when to sell and when not to in Press Gang - you just get this feeling that this is the moment, and everything has fallen in to place.
Does anyone else get like this? Or is it just me?
More Original HP Fiction
Annoyingly, I have figured out the best way to write "Break Of Day" - but it involves setting it sixty years in the future, and having almost no HP characters in it.
So, whether I'll get it started or written, I don't know, because only one of the two sites permits original HP fiction..... So I guess we'll see.
So, whether I'll get it started or written, I don't know, because only one of the two sites permits original HP fiction..... So I guess we'll see.
The Dark Lord Sidious : Posted
Woohoo! I have posted the Prologue and First Chapter of Sidious on the two main sites. I even contemplated breaking my near 17 month boycott of Fanfiction.net, but in the end I decided that after the events of M22-08 are still annoying, and even though I use "xoxox" rather than "-----", there is still the chance they'll remove that variation as well, and my scenes will start to merge again.
Anyway - setting aside my opinions of FFN, the first chapter is posted, which is good. Whether people like it or not, we'll see soon enough. And whether I've broken any site-rules will also become apparent.
There should be another chapter before the end of the week - I am doing two chapters ahead rather than one, because it's proving somewhat harder to write than I originally thought.
As for the other stories - A New Dawn : Enemies is having problems - the start of the third part is already tending towards being a lot like the last two, and quite a lot like The Silent Trio (in certain ways), so I'm going to take a slight pause and continue with Sidious, which will hopefully give me an idea of how to write it better.
And I spent my lunch re-reading the start of The Western Sky, and once I am done with that, I might be able to get back to it, and write "Shadows Of The Past" can start again.
And now, it is time for bed.
Anyway - setting aside my opinions of FFN, the first chapter is posted, which is good. Whether people like it or not, we'll see soon enough. And whether I've broken any site-rules will also become apparent.
There should be another chapter before the end of the week - I am doing two chapters ahead rather than one, because it's proving somewhat harder to write than I originally thought.
As for the other stories - A New Dawn : Enemies is having problems - the start of the third part is already tending towards being a lot like the last two, and quite a lot like The Silent Trio (in certain ways), so I'm going to take a slight pause and continue with Sidious, which will hopefully give me an idea of how to write it better.
And I spent my lunch re-reading the start of The Western Sky, and once I am done with that, I might be able to get back to it, and write "Shadows Of The Past" can start again.
And now, it is time for bed.
Monday 10 August 2009
Dark Lord Sidious
I have finally started HP and The Dark Lord Sidious, and the first chapter was a bit of a bugger. But now I've got in to the main plot, it is going slightly easier.
I suspect - when I get to posting it (see later) it might confuse people at the start. But to be honest, that is kind of the idea.
My plan for posting is to do the first two chapters, then post the prologue and chapter one, so I'll always be one chapter ahead while writing.
On a side note - this is my first post from my shiny new phone, so I might be lacking tags (until I can figure out how to do them!)
I suspect - when I get to posting it (see later) it might confuse people at the start. But to be honest, that is kind of the idea.
My plan for posting is to do the first two chapters, then post the prologue and chapter one, so I'll always be one chapter ahead while writing.
On a side note - this is my first post from my shiny new phone, so I might be lacking tags (until I can figure out how to do them!)
Thursday 16 July 2009
Something sadly stuck in my head
"There was a teacher had a school, and Albus was his name-oh.
A.L.B.U.S.
A.L.B.U.S.
A.L.B.U.S.
And Albus was his name-oh"
A.L.B.U.S.
A.L.B.U.S.
A.L.B.U.S.
And Albus was his name-oh"
Tuesday 14 July 2009
Recommendation
http://www.outpost-daria.com/fanfic_series_turnabout_confusion.html
This is very good, and worth reading. It helps to know something about the Daria-verse, but I'm pretty sure you can pick it up as you go along if you don't.
This is very good, and worth reading. It helps to know something about the Daria-verse, but I'm pretty sure you can pick it up as you go along if you don't.
Monday 13 July 2009
A new Dawn : Allies - Complete!
The second part of the "A New Dawn Trilogy" is now complete. Although I guess since there is a prequel ("A Summer's Story"), at least one sequel ("The Holiday From Hell") and another one planned ("Return To Willamette") I suspect that calling it a trilogy is probably a bit of a misnomer. (Though there were two Star Wars trilogies, so if I can write the third part of The Hands of Blue story line, maybe I can go back to calling it a normal trilogy. But I digress).
"A New Dawn : Allies" is finished, pending proof-reading and posting to the two main sites, and I am quite happy with it.
Quite what I'm going to do next, I'm not sure. I think "Enemies" will have to wait, at least for a little while. Not least because I am going on holiday in two weeks, and there will be no writing during that week or so.
Plus I kind of want to write "Dark Lord Sidious", or at least get it started. For example.....
Sirius Black was dead!
As Harry listened to Dumbledore explain The Prophecy, and how he was destined to be the saviour of wizard kind, only one thought went through his mind.
Sirius Black was dead!
As he turned and stalked out of the office, the same thought kept running through his head.
Sirius Black was dead!
And as he came face to face with Luna Lovegood, the thought continued to echo.
Sirius Black was dead! And he could not be happier about the situation.
(Yet again, I am reacting to whiny Post-OOTP stories about Harry being all depressed and turning in to a little, whiny bitch).
So - either "Dark Lord Sidious", "Return To Willamette" or another Harry/Jane story. I think "Enemies" is going to have to wait for the middle of August, or possibly September. But hey - that's only really six weeks away.
"A New Dawn : Allies" is finished, pending proof-reading and posting to the two main sites, and I am quite happy with it.
Quite what I'm going to do next, I'm not sure. I think "Enemies" will have to wait, at least for a little while. Not least because I am going on holiday in two weeks, and there will be no writing during that week or so.
Plus I kind of want to write "Dark Lord Sidious", or at least get it started. For example.....
Sirius Black was dead!
As Harry listened to Dumbledore explain The Prophecy, and how he was destined to be the saviour of wizard kind, only one thought went through his mind.
Sirius Black was dead!
As he turned and stalked out of the office, the same thought kept running through his head.
Sirius Black was dead!
And as he came face to face with Luna Lovegood, the thought continued to echo.
Sirius Black was dead! And he could not be happier about the situation.
(Yet again, I am reacting to whiny Post-OOTP stories about Harry being all depressed and turning in to a little, whiny bitch).
So - either "Dark Lord Sidious", "Return To Willamette" or another Harry/Jane story. I think "Enemies" is going to have to wait for the middle of August, or possibly September. But hey - that's only really six weeks away.
Wednesday 24 June 2009
Starlight - The Movie - posted
I have started posting Starlight - The Movie. And since it only has three chapters, it shouldn't take me that long (however the next chapter requires formatting, and it took me about an hour or so to do one tonight, so don't expect the next one before the weekend).
However it is only up at one site, because the other one does not permit stories like "Starlight", so I can't post it there.
(ForeverFandom.net has no problem with it, but HP Fandom doesn't permit "original fiction" on the site - which is what Starlight apparently is).
Meanwhile, A New Dawn (Allies) continues a pace, and my notes for Dark Lord Sidious also continue to be written. Which is nice.
However it is only up at one site, because the other one does not permit stories like "Starlight", so I can't post it there.
(ForeverFandom.net has no problem with it, but HP Fandom doesn't permit "original fiction" on the site - which is what Starlight apparently is).
Meanwhile, A New Dawn (Allies) continues a pace, and my notes for Dark Lord Sidious also continue to be written. Which is nice.
Monday 25 May 2009
Nicola Grafton and The BMP
My attempts to write a political allegory (if that's the word I am looking for) about a politician named Nicola and her rise to power as part of the British Muggle Party aren't going as well as I'd hoped.
The basic idea is that about two, three years after the magical secret comes out, Nicola Grafton (who revealed the secret originally) uses fear of magic and mages to gain a massive majority in Parliament. And then to bring in a number of oppressive rules against mages. She also opens up the policy of "Voluntary Resettlement" for mages - citing the fact they'd be happier amongst their own kind in other countries than in a hostile environment.
The trouble is I either make it far too obvious who I am talking about, or I realise I am not making it clear enough.
So, maybe Harry Potter and Politics don't mix. Which, given the similarities between the Death Eaters and The BNP is kind of surprising.
The basic idea is that about two, three years after the magical secret comes out, Nicola Grafton (who revealed the secret originally) uses fear of magic and mages to gain a massive majority in Parliament. And then to bring in a number of oppressive rules against mages. She also opens up the policy of "Voluntary Resettlement" for mages - citing the fact they'd be happier amongst their own kind in other countries than in a hostile environment.
The trouble is I either make it far too obvious who I am talking about, or I realise I am not making it clear enough.
So, maybe Harry Potter and Politics don't mix. Which, given the similarities between the Death Eaters and The BNP is kind of surprising.
Tuesday 19 May 2009
Distraction. It's never good.
So instead of continuing The New Dawn trilogy, or typing up "Holiday From Hell" and "Starlight", spent the last week writing a cross-over between Harry Potter and Jane and The Dragon, and am now plotting out a "do-over story" (Harry comes back to rewrite the past).
I really need to get more organized with this. Or just stop coming up with ideas.
(The Jane and the Dragon crossover was just something that popped in to my head, and took 12 days to write, so I don't feel so bad about that one, and the "do-over" story is a reaction to all of the bloody annoying "whiny Harry" stories that people seem to think should follow "OOTP". Get over it people - JK Rowling went the other way!).
I really need to get more organized with this. Or just stop coming up with ideas.
(The Jane and the Dragon crossover was just something that popped in to my head, and took 12 days to write, so I don't feel so bad about that one, and the "do-over" story is a reaction to all of the bloody annoying "whiny Harry" stories that people seem to think should follow "OOTP". Get over it people - JK Rowling went the other way!).
Wednesday 29 April 2009
I think I excelled myself.....
The Holiday From Hell came in at 192 pages (which was more than I thought), but then in a stunning display of script writing, Starlight (The Movie) came in at 100 pages exactly.
So - go me. Two scripts in 29 days, with a total of 292 pages of glory.
I realise I am very bad to blow my own trumpet, but I am very, very proud of myself for this.
They'll be posted as soon as I can work out an easy way of converting them to HTML - and HTML that can be posted on the twin sites (although apparently Starlight can't be posted at one, because it's not directly related to HP).
So - go me. Two scripts in 29 days, with a total of 292 pages of glory.
I realise I am very bad to blow my own trumpet, but I am very, very proud of myself for this.
They'll be posted as soon as I can work out an easy way of converting them to HTML - and HTML that can be posted on the twin sites (although apparently Starlight can't be posted at one, because it's not directly related to HP).
Saturday 4 April 2009
Lets Go To The Mall - To Die
So - I am about half way through at the end of Day Three. Which is pretty typical for me, and apparently for most people.
Writing an A4 page full of text is a lot harder than writing an A4 script page, because there is generally far less text.
Which would explain why I am about half way through.
The two major problems I have are that the "major scenes" (of which there are 23) should be four/five pages long, and some are far shorter, meaning I might run out of story, before I run out of pages.
The second is that celtx SUCKS for HTML formatting. So it's going to take me a while to get it presentable for the web, once I finish it (which I haven't yet).
Still - 45 pages in three days. Not bad.
Writing an A4 page full of text is a lot harder than writing an A4 script page, because there is generally far less text.
Which would explain why I am about half way through.
The two major problems I have are that the "major scenes" (of which there are 23) should be four/five pages long, and some are far shorter, meaning I might run out of story, before I run out of pages.
The second is that celtx SUCKS for HTML formatting. So it's going to take me a while to get it presentable for the web, once I finish it (which I haven't yet).
Still - 45 pages in three days. Not bad.
Friday 27 March 2009
Allies (A New Dawn II)
Well - I actually managed it. The first three chapters are posted on both sites, and I am quite happy with them.
But now the story is on hiatus until at least April 30th (end of ScriptFrenzy '09), because while I am fairly confident I can write the screenplay in April, I am not so confident I can do it and continue "A New Dawn" at the same time :)
So - by May 1st, I should have "Harry Potter and The Holiday From Hell" completed, and maybe ready for posting (though Celtx, for all the good it has, is not good for HTML export, so it might take a week or so to tidy up), and I should be able to continue "Allies" by the second week in May (the writing side - the posting side might take a few days more).
But, as a preview.......
LUNA LOVEGOOD
But now the story is on hiatus until at least April 30th (end of ScriptFrenzy '09), because while I am fairly confident I can write the screenplay in April, I am not so confident I can do it and continue "A New Dawn" at the same time :)
So - by May 1st, I should have "Harry Potter and The Holiday From Hell" completed, and maybe ready for posting (though Celtx, for all the good it has, is not good for HTML export, so it might take a week or so to tidy up), and I should be able to continue "Allies" by the second week in May (the writing side - the posting side might take a few days more).
But, as a preview.......
Harry and Dawn stand behind Luna, as she looks down at two youngish woman who are sat on the floor. They both look sad.
Marji, Gina - I know you two need to grieve, but it's important to remember that Lee died saving you, and that he would want you to make sure you survive this, and not just give up (pauses, then smirks) I guess what I'm saying is don't cry for Lee, Marj and Gina.
The two girls burst out laughing, while Harry and Dawn roll their eyes.
Saturday 21 March 2009
Harry Potter and The "A New Dawn" Hiatus.
So - ScriptFrenzy 2009 starts in 10 days time. I didn't enter last year, because the year before......
Well - I wrote a story about a young girl who grows up to be a doctor and a terrorist, then about four days after I finished it, a number of members of the medical profession were arrested on suspicions of being terrorists (after trying to blow up Glasgow Airport).
So - I decided to skip a year, just in case.....
But this year I am back with a vengeance, and with a story based on the game "Dead Rising" (for x-box, not wii), featuring the characters from "A New Dawn" the year after Luna, Dawn and Ginny graduate from Hogwarts. They take a holiday, and visit a small town called Willamette, Colorado, arriving around middday on September 19th.....
So - my plan is to post the prologue and three chapters of "Allies (A New Dawn II)" before April 1st, but then it will be on hiatus for a month while I write a movie. Once that's done, it will be posted on the two sites, and I will return to A New Dawn II.
Sorry for anyone who was waiting for the continuation of A New Dawn, but this is one of those things that I have to do (mostly because it's stuck in my head, and if I don't do it, it will remain stuck in my head).
Well - I wrote a story about a young girl who grows up to be a doctor and a terrorist, then about four days after I finished it, a number of members of the medical profession were arrested on suspicions of being terrorists (after trying to blow up Glasgow Airport).
So - I decided to skip a year, just in case.....
But this year I am back with a vengeance, and with a story based on the game "Dead Rising" (for x-box, not wii), featuring the characters from "A New Dawn" the year after Luna, Dawn and Ginny graduate from Hogwarts. They take a holiday, and visit a small town called Willamette, Colorado, arriving around middday on September 19th.....
So - my plan is to post the prologue and three chapters of "Allies (A New Dawn II)" before April 1st, but then it will be on hiatus for a month while I write a movie. Once that's done, it will be posted on the two sites, and I will return to A New Dawn II.
Sorry for anyone who was waiting for the continuation of A New Dawn, but this is one of those things that I have to do (mostly because it's stuck in my head, and if I don't do it, it will remain stuck in my head).
Monday 2 March 2009
A New Dawn - surprisingly done.
Yay! Part One of the "A New Dawn" Trilogy is finished. It needs proofing and posting, but it's complete.
And aside from ONE HUGE GINOURMUS MASSIVE plot change (that took me completely by surprise when I wrote it), it pretty much went the way I wanted. Which is always good.
The OHGMPC has necessitated replotting the next two stories, but only a little. But, looking back over the rest of the story, it does seem kind of obvious that it would end up the way it did.
Clearly I can't explain this now - not without spoiling the story - but no doubt I will come the end of the trilogy.
Anyway - it's done, and should be posted by the end of the week. (Assuming I don't get ludicrously busy at work or home, which seems improbable!)
And aside from ONE HUGE GINOURMUS MASSIVE plot change (that took me completely by surprise when I wrote it), it pretty much went the way I wanted. Which is always good.
The OHGMPC has necessitated replotting the next two stories, but only a little. But, looking back over the rest of the story, it does seem kind of obvious that it would end up the way it did.
Clearly I can't explain this now - not without spoiling the story - but no doubt I will come the end of the trilogy.
Anyway - it's done, and should be posted by the end of the week. (Assuming I don't get ludicrously busy at work or home, which seems improbable!)
Friday 23 January 2009
A New Dawn - a trilogy in four parts
So - due to The Western Sky causing me major problems ("Shadows Of The Past" might have to be turned in to a two parter due to length) and Nineteen Years Later being on hiatus, I have started a new series.
The Monks of The Order of Dagon send The Key to Harry, rather than to Buffy, and - at the end of his fourth year - Harry gets a sister who is a year younger than he is. Of course, he doesn't realise that, because he remembers that Summer Dawn Potter has been a part of his life since she was born.
The story is in three parts, taking Harry in to his fifth year, and through his sixth, finishing in his seventh. The fourth part, however, is a prequel, which covers the major changes in Harry's life since Dawn came in to it (mostly that they now live with Sirius and his wife Emily, who have a daughter named Lily-Anne).
The Prequel is posted at both sites - I was going to leave it to the end, but there are a few key things that need some explanation. I wanted the fifth year to be a little confusing, but not so confusing that you can't understand it), and the first part is underway.
The four stories are called "A New Dawn : Summer's Story", "A New Dawn", "Allies" and "Enemies", and I am posting them one chapter behind - so I will have chance to modify things if necessary. (So at the moment Chapter 5 is written, but only Chapter 4 is posted). However all of the arcs are plotted out in their narrative form, which is the most I tend to do (I stopped chapterizing a while back, cause it never works out like I want!).
Anyway - A New Dawn.... coming to a website near you.... pretty much now.
The Monks of The Order of Dagon send The Key to Harry, rather than to Buffy, and - at the end of his fourth year - Harry gets a sister who is a year younger than he is. Of course, he doesn't realise that, because he remembers that Summer Dawn Potter has been a part of his life since she was born.
The story is in three parts, taking Harry in to his fifth year, and through his sixth, finishing in his seventh. The fourth part, however, is a prequel, which covers the major changes in Harry's life since Dawn came in to it (mostly that they now live with Sirius and his wife Emily, who have a daughter named Lily-Anne).
The Prequel is posted at both sites - I was going to leave it to the end, but there are a few key things that need some explanation. I wanted the fifth year to be a little confusing, but not so confusing that you can't understand it), and the first part is underway.
The four stories are called "A New Dawn : Summer's Story", "A New Dawn", "Allies" and "Enemies", and I am posting them one chapter behind - so I will have chance to modify things if necessary. (So at the moment Chapter 5 is written, but only Chapter 4 is posted). However all of the arcs are plotted out in their narrative form, which is the most I tend to do (I stopped chapterizing a while back, cause it never works out like I want!).
Anyway - A New Dawn.... coming to a website near you.... pretty much now.
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