KJ

Despite everything else going on, I found myself drawn back into writing yesterday and today. T was working late yesterday night, and I ended up spending a lot of time with the game, making notes and just watching. Then this morning I started turning the notes into text, and I got a good chunk of the next chapter drafted (along with a scene that probably isn't going to make the cut; too bad, because I liked it. But it doesn't really serve the story, so out it goes. I did save it in a separate file. Maybe it will morph into a one-shot someday -- it's too long for a drabble). These replays have been really useful, reminding me what these characters look and sound like, how they react to events and one another. Although I wish I had known a couple of years ago that I was going to be doing this. I could have saved a lot of slogging through pointless battles if I'd held on to a few more saves. Now I'm paranoid about overwriting any, since I never know what I'm going to want to watch again!

I'm still in the bridge material, leading up to what I consider the next major event in the arc. I'm writing far more of Yuna's pilgrimage than I had originally intended, but I think it's all been necessary -- leave too much out, and the story becomes choppy. Not that anyone reading the story doesn't already know what happens in the game; they can certainly fill in the gaps. But I want the thing to have a cohesive narrative on its own. Silly, I know.

No guess yet when this will be done. There's still a scene largely undrafted, some other bits are still rather rough, and the cats are a perpetual (if thoroughly welcome) distraction. Maybe in the next couple of days.

Another chapter posted. Not quite certain what I'm going to do next on the story -- there is so much I could cover, but I don't know how much of it is worth doing. Maybe I'll let the ideas percolate for a little while before jumping back in.

Second lines are here. Congratulations to peachespig and helianthemum, who came up with the theme: songs parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic!

Also, a new chapter is posted here.

I had enough energy last night to finish Chapter 34 and post it, but not enough to tell the world that I had done so. So those of you who care have probably read it already, but I wanted to mention it here anyway, for completeness sake.

The chapter is insanely long, about 500 words more than any other chapter in the story (and that's after I cut several hundred words -- no cutting for the sake of cutting, I found many places where it genuinely needed tightening). Most of the chapters are between 3000 and 3500; this one is over 4500. The chapter bears it, I don't find it particularly bloated, but it's not what I was expecting it to be when I planned it. Funny how that happens.

I haven't started the next chapter yet; I want to play through a bit of the game first. I hope to get the chance tonight, we'll see.

I had been having trouble deciding how the structure of the next few chapters of AGL was going to work, but the answer hit me in the shower this morning. So I spent the next hour rearranging some things and planning some others, and now Chapter 33 is up.

Now all I want to do is stay right here and keep working on all the other pieces that fell into place for me, but no, I have to go to work. Stupid work.

"A Guardian's Legacy" officially makes its return from hiatus with the posting of this chapter.

It took me awhile to get back into the groove of this but I think I succeeded. We'll see how future chapters go but I think this one came out reasonably well. Onward...

Wonder of wonders, I have caught up! Just in time for the weekend break we all seem to be taking. I wasn't planning it, but I woke up early this morning full of inspiration for where to take Nine, and I finished it.

Transitional chapters are always the hardest for me to write. I keep being drawn to the significant events that are happening next, and I have to force myself to concentrate on where I'm actually supposed to be working. It's even worse with AGL, because I set my own agenda there. This story is a little bit different, because I'm working within a much stricter framework, which helps force me to mostly write it in order. In that respect, I think OMC has been an excellent exercise, because this story is coming out much tighter. (I really wonder what a good editor would do with AGL; I bet one could cut out a lot of fat.)

I'm glad for the weekend break, actually, because now I can really take some time to think about Ten. That chapter is such a turning point for everyone, and I really don't want to rush it.

OMC Four is largely finished; it just needs some polishing. I expect to post it tonight. (Edit: Done.)

Then it will be time for a Potter break. I'm not obsessed with the books, though I do really enjoy them, but I waited a mere two weeks to read the last one and still ended up far more spoiled than I like. So I want to get this one read as quickly as possible. I got my copy this afternoon, read the first chapter, and practically had to pick my jaw up off the floor. I suspect this book is going to be rather different from its predecessors.

Once that's done, unless everyone else become very prolific in the meantime and I feel the need to catch up, I'll get cracking on AGL 29. When that's finished, I expect to put Auron's tale on temporary hiatus and devote my writing time to Paine. 29 should be a natural pause point for AGL, and I want to take as much advantage as possible of the lightning in a bottle that we seem to have captured with the Confessional quartet.

I tweaked a couple more things and then declared 28 finished last night. It's now up.

( Not that there are any huge surprises to preserve, but just in case. )

I have about one paragraph of 29 written. This one is going to be a challenge. I know exactly what needs to happen and have some good ideas of how to go about it, but forcing myself to put words to screen is another matter. Killing your hero is not an easy task.

And now, to get through the day on four hours sleep; ugh. The fire alarm went off at an ungodly hour, and I couldn't get back to sleep afterwards. I was able to take yesterday off, a comp day for a weekend I worked in June, and it was glorious -- perfect weather, time to read and write and play, some quality husband time since he was working from home. Normally, I would be rested and rejuvenated after such a vacation at home, but not today. Blah.