over-the-stars 11 months ago
Text
after seeing Tom Blyth with a buzz cut in action I think with his natural hair color he might have been a great casting choice for Ronan Lynch in some parallel universe 馃ゲ
Tumblr media
32 notes View notes
linskywords 11 months ago
Note
heyyyy I don't recall if you've ever mentioned using a beta for any of your fics, but can I ask you about your editing process? How you start it, how you do it, what sort of things are you are on high alert for, etc?
I'm 23k into my first hockeyrpf fic, which is kinda *out there* and I'm now grappling with "woah is this even intelligible to other fans" 馃槄
What a fun question!! First of all, congrats on being 23K in. That's so many Ks! It's such a fun fandom to write in, I'm glad you're joining the fun. 馃槃
I don't use a beta. I used to, but I'm too impatient for it -- I always want to edit my fics right away and get them out there. So I do my own editing. I don't know how useful this will be for you, since everyone's writing process is so different, but here's how mine works!
First, I write a complete draft. I'll sometimes backtrack if I realize I've taken a wrong turning, but otherwise, I try not to worry too much about quality in the draft. I write from start to finish because otherwise I can't hold onto where I am in the emotional arc. Getting to the end and having the tension resolve is a huge motivator for me.
Once I have a complete draft, I usually do a full editing pass. I save a copy and go back to the beginning and read through the whole thing, editing and rewriting as I go. It's actually impossible for me to read my own draft without editing, which is hugely inconvenient sometimes (e.g. if I step away for a bit and need to refresh myself on the story, it takes forever because I find myself editing as I reread).
A lot of what I edit for is rhythm. I can't quite accurately gauge the rhythm of a scene while I'm writing it, especially if the scene is a conversation; I need to give myself a little distance and then reread for that. I do a lot of adding lines and taking others away to make things flow the way I want them to. I especially watch for if a scene builds too fast and doesn't earn its level of intensity, or if a scene drags and can be trimmed.
Another big one is, am I overstating emotions? Sometimes this means I'm repeating myself, and sometimes it means I'm being too direct about angst etc. when it would be stronger to dial it back and let the reader extrapolate. A lot of times when I'm writing I put in lines that state very directly how the character is feeling, mostly as a way of figuring out what that is, but that's really for me and not the reader, so I take those parts out. Or sometimes I'll put in a line or a feeling and realize I want to use it later on, so it'll be in both places in the draft and I'll take out the earlier one in editing.
I guess the biggest question I'm asking myself when editing is, does this ring true? Anything that feels fake or forced or convoluted or disconnected or illogical gets edited out the best I can.
Other things I look for:
clunky sentences (so many)
using the same word more than once in close succession ("even" and "just" are big ones for me, as are "soft" and "warm" in any sex or romance scene)
using the same sentence structure too many times in a row (she typed a thing, her words wording <- my biggest offender)
having characters smile or grin or laugh too many times in close succession
places where it's not clear which "he" I'm talking about (down with epithets, just repeat the name or rephrase)
places where I use too many dialogue tags (confession, I use them way more often than I need to for intelligibility; I just like the rhythm, and "he says" is neutral enough to my ear that I don't mind the unnecessary usage)
continuity errors, often where I changed something in one place while writing and forgot to change it elsewhere
weird metaphors I thought would work but don't
Usually one pass is not enough, since I'll have rewritten so much that then needs to be edited again. Two editing passes is arguably not enough either, but it's usually the limit of what I'll do. Sometimes if a story is very tricky I'll do more, or if it's very straightforward I might stop at one. It's kind of a vicious cycle: if I reread my edits, I'll want to edit again, and there's no real stopping it without just deciding it's good enough and you can be done. This is one reason I often post in chapters, because it's easier to do this with a smaller chunk of story.
I think that's what I have off the top of my head. Happy to talk more about any aspect if you're curious. Good luck with your writing and editing!!
24 notes View notes
walkingstackofbooks 1 year ago
Text
DS9 3x22 Explorers thoughts (I'm re-watching, so beware spoilers for future episodes!)
(26/05/2023)
Leeta! She walks so confidently
That cough XD聽
He's so gentle!聽
Actually I'm in love with this, it's so cute. I think the first time I thought it was one of those random women Julian always flirts with - but he and Leeta are sweet and I appreciate seeing their meet-cute
Julian's annoyed "Hi." to Jadzia when she approaches XD聽
"I'm Jadzia." "Leeta." On a second rewatch I'm totally reading this as he's worried Jadzia will now start flirting with Leeta :P
Haha, his "GO AWAY" Padd is hilarious XD
His realisation Jadzia had something he actually wanted to hear 馃槄 oh he's so awkward "Stay there", no, Juliannn
The amusement on Jadzia's face as he chased after her.
I love watching Jadzia tease Julian, this conversation is great
"I... would have been valedictorian." Oh, you
HOW IS HE SO CUTE I LOVE HIM
Nah, I'm not vibing with Sisko's moustache I'm afraid, it's still a strange change
I love how excited sisko is about history and artefacts <3 He's like me!!!
"That's why I'm going to build one." This is why I love you Sisko, you go and do that!
Jake's head shake, you can just tell he's thinking "That's mad but sure I'll never be able to talk you out of it."
M: "A sabre saw?" S: "Y'know, to cut wood?" Sisko's having so much fun
K: "Oh,you sound just like a Cardassian." M: "I beg your pardon?" The most offensive thing you could say to Miles XD
"Why? Because it will be fun." Yes, Sisko, you take a break to enjoy yourself! Kira's little smile at that too, she's a fan <3
Siskos disappointed voice when Jake turns him down. I'm so excited for Jake to change his mind and Sisko be over the moon (and not to bring along Nog and Quark this time!)
How long did it take for Sisko to make this boat???聽
The way Dax's face softens when she mentions Jennifer <3
Aw Jake, growing up.
"Maybe a bit small for two people but I think I could get used to it. That is, if you still want me along." What a great way to say you do want to come after all. And the way Sisko pauses and looks before laughing and hugging Jake聽
Hah! Jadzia looking her head round the corner then positively sneaking up on Julian xD
"Including you?" "No? This is the assignment I wanted." He looks so serious, and completely puzzled how Jadzia could say that when she knows he wanted to be here
"No matter what I accomplish while I'm here, somehow that'll always make me feel... second best." Especially if you feel you had to be second best to hide yourself. Or that your accomplishments aren't as good as anyone else's because you're "cheating" with your enhancements.聽
For all that it's bad CGI, the sails are very pretty.
"Is this the bathroom?" "Yes. It was designed for a zero-gravity environment." "How am I suppose to? How are you supposed to, er?" XD Jake's so awkward
"Imagine how the ancient Bajorans must have felt-" This is really where Sisko changes from caring for to being excited about Bajor isn't it? (Edit: no, but it's a step in the journey.)
Jake's so vulnerable <3 Talking to parents is hard, even when they're as loving as Sisko, when it's about feelings and who you are.
Oh, Julian's so precious, moving everything around so they're all in an exact precise position :3
He's so worried, as much as he's trying to play it cool. Oh, bless him.聽
You can see Quark and Morn betting on this upstairs!
"I'm betting that your charm will take you further." The scowl Julian gives Quark!
Okay without the context that she doesn't know him from Adam, that did seem cold XD But also the fact he's assuming she'd recognise him when it's been three years!
"I liked it." "You're not just saying that?" It is hard when you feel your dad might feel they had to say that.
"I don't think that he'd confront him with it, not right away." "Yeah, I guess he could wait until he gets back from the Demilitarised zone." I love how Jake is able take Sisko's feedback on board, he is getting up and maturing <3
"Unless you've joined the Maquis without telling me." "I can't talk about it. (pause) I had you going there!" I love love love these twoooo.
"I think you should keep writing." Oh, he is planning to, Sisko!
A writing fellowship? Does that have a different meaning to what I know? I thought Fellows at uni were senior members of staff!
"I don't think we'll be able to get to the Denorias Belt like this." "The ancient Bajorans probably ran into these kinds of problems." "I suppose they did." "Well, did they give up and go home?" I love Jake, and this turnaround of him being the optimistic one.
After their drunken 'Jerusalem' - "That was really beautiful chief." XD聽
Miles finding "unless she really ignored you because she can't stand you" so funny is great XD
It's the love you or hate you conversation!
Julian's lil head peeping over the cushions. "And now?"
"Well... now I don't." Because you can't say "I love you".聽
"I really do... Not hate you anymore!" Oh, Miles.
Miles and Julian's friendship makes me so happy聽
Jake immediately falling off the hammock XD
"I can always eat dinner with Dax, or Doctor Bashir, or even Quark." Dinner with Dax is very believable - Julian and Quark far less so!
"I cannot believe that I'm getting advice about women from my son." "Don't think of me as your son right now. Just think of me as... another guy." Jake's so young, aww, he has no idea how funny he sounds. Bless <3
"Excuse me. We were at medical school together." Your social skills sure are something, my love <3
"I thought you were Andorian!" Well that's a good twist!
"With my friend, Erit." That's why that name crops up so much in fanfic!
"If it hasn't been for that preganglionic fibre..." Surely they'd have been neck and neck without that mistake? I don't get how one question was such a big deal.
"Phew - a freighter captain." Love how he already sounds impressed.
"I've already decided to wait at least a year." "Why?" "Well, I've heard that you can only write about what you've experienced." Hah, quoting his dad back at him, excellent!
Dukat's distaste at reading the Cardassian Government's message. xD
I was so certain the first time round the Cardassians were just gonna shoot them out the sky at this point. But no! Fireworks!
This might just be my favourite episode so far: I love Sisko and Jake, I love Julian being this stupid anxious bean, I love Dax and Leeta and Miles and how Elizabeth turns out to be so nice too, and how Dukat is miserable and everything is just so wholesome in this episode. Truly lovely.
1 note View note