Out Of Bounds progress report, and skater standings.

[icarus]

I'm not going to finish all of Out Of Bounds today.

Most of it.

But not all of it.

I have roughly six scenes (with ongoing expansions....) left to write. Vacation's over tomorrow, had family stuff last night. Came home exhausted and distracted (that's family for you). Got edits but no core writing done afterward.

Looks like I'll be working on the last of Out Of Bounds through this coming week.

For those who are curious... the names and standings of John's competitors at Nationals, because, yes, I am that anal.

Last year's National Champions (they have a bye through Regionals and Sectionals)

Gold - Kyle Fletcher (reigning champion for a couple years)
Silver - Mike Estey (injured, not having a good season)
Bronze - Jeff Kulka (considered Kyle's most likely competitor this year)
Pewter - William Haas (who retired, and then unretired)

East Coast Sectional (this year)

Gold - David Bellamy (5th at Nats last year)
Silver - Pete Wynne
Bronze - Andrew Reinhardt
Pewter - Raymond Aguilar (14th at Nats last year)

Pacific Sectional

Gold - Christian Yong Suk (7th at Nats last year)
Silver - Francis Caliaro
Bronze - Elijah Wong (just moved up from Juniors)
Pewter - Trey Watkins (10th at Nats last year)

Midwestern Sectional (Mids)

Gold - John Sheppard (9th at Nats last year)
Silver - Nathaniel Peters (just moved up from Juniors)
Bronze - Benjamin Lamato
Pewter - Mark Svick (8th at Nats last year)

Comments

Process? Part 2.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

6 - Freaking out (this apparently is essential) and writing the end.

Seeing how far I had to go, I declared, "Aaaaaaaaaugh!" Because at that point I only had two-thirds of the story.

I panicked and talked to everyone I could get my hands on, betas, my boyfriend, my dad.

My dad advised me to write the end, "Then you know you'll finish." So I did. That took a lot of pressure off.

perfica and ursule got me through my neurosis. I treated it like three stories, because I had three climaxes: one at John's America Cup, one during the summer training, and the very end.

I just outlined and wrote the individual scenes in the section I was working on, and didn't worry about those big blank spaces.

7 - Random experiences and symbols.

I continued to write scenes far in the future and toss them into random slots in my outline, even if I didn't know how they'd work.

At one point I was completely stuck. I had tons of time to write, but I didn't know what to do after my first climactic scene.

So I just... walked.

I walked past a pond, and the sounds of children laughing worked their way into a scene. I threw tennis balls into the pond, and their landing in a row of three meant something to me.

I went downtown, bought a ticket on a ferry and just... went anywhere... to see what it would tell me. I accidentally bought ice cream in a flavor I didn't usually like, but I was halfway through the ice cream bar before I noticed.

That was my answer. I wrote a series of scenes on a topic I usually didn't like, and that was my transition into the summer training.

I have other, less active versions I do of randomizing. Sometimes I pick up a book and open it to a random page, to see if that jars anything loose. Or I'll pick "random" on Google. Or I'll often pull out the Tibetan Mo divination and ask about two different options in a story.

My f-list also acts as a randomizing force. When I post a scene, often someone will comment on something that will make me see it in a whole new light, or share something that works its way into the story later. mattthebruinsfan and roaringmice both influenced major parts of the story.

8 - Plugging away, scene by scene.

Sometimes I just wrote the scenes in my outline and crossed them off my list. Sometimes I'd skip it, and it wouldn't end up in the story. Sometimes it would turn out completely differently. If the scene went in a different direction from my plan, I ran with it. Okay, okay, I complained and then ran with it.

When I got tired, I let myself leap ahead to something further along that seemed fresh. Or I would fall back on notes and write that scene that I scratched out almost word-for-word in my notes when I was hot on the scent.

Other times, I relied on my f-list to give me a boost of energy. I'd post a scene, rake in the reviews, roll in them a bit, and then feel energized to write more. I'm quite serious. It works.

9 - Finishing.

I can't tell you my process for finishing yet, because I have six scenes (or so) to go.

I'll let you know. :D

Re: Process? Part 2.

[elizabeth-rice.livejournal.com]

I was reading your process and had a few questions. I know you wrote this a month ago, but I was hesitating because I was (still am) worried that these may be silly questions. I hope I'm not a bother.

1. OOB is the first time you've attempted a complete AU: from Science Fiction to Sports. How did you decide what to keep from the core canon characterisations and backstories?

2. This is unrelated to OOB, but I've always wanted to know. You wrote Tanlines in comments on LJ, correct? I've noticed quite a few writers have done this exercise in comments or in chat. What are the benefits, disadvantages of writing this way? Any tips I should know if I attempt it?

Re: Process? Part 2.

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

I would love to, but at the moment I'm in midterms and have a Sanskrit and History midterm on the same day.

Re: Process? Part 2.

[elizabeth-rice.livejournal.com]

Ah, I just saw your entry on my flist. It's okay, I understand.

I'll take the opportunity to wish you all the best here. Good luck!