Thoughts on the Journey

My last couple of days have been busy as I substituted for middle school drama on Friday then spent yesterday at Arisia then back to fact-checking today. Sadly my energy level hasn't been great as shark week hit and on Friday, my cold decided to go, nope, not gone yet.

Arisia was amazing and reminded me of how much cool stuff there is in the Boston area that I want to try and get involved in along with fascinating people that I know. I went into the con with a lot of holiday money and happily spent it on jewelry, books, a cool antique satchel that made me think of Cassian and delicious chocolates. There was a huge amount of gorgeous cosplay but I ended up not taking a lot of pictures as I was having some shy moments. Though I found it all really inspiring, next year, I want to try and get more involved and spend a longer time there.

Day 11

Share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life.

I'm going to choose two musicals because one of the best parts of yesterday was going to dinner and talking Sondheim with cool people. There was a point where PBS was showing Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George on television and I was caught. In Sunday in the Park, there are a few songs about making art from Putting it Together to Finishing the Hat and they still feel to me so true about how creativity works.

Into the Woods has become one of my favorite soundtracks, I connect listening to the music to starting at Milliways as someone shared it with me. No More and No One is Alone are songs that they always get me. Its oddly hard to describe why, because this music clicks and I think that's how it is. There's that moment of oh yes, you've said it and I always feel better when I hear it again. I just put on the last song of the first act of Sunday in the Park when the painting comes together and my breathing has matched it.

Day 12

In your own space, create a fanwork.

I wrote a Jyn/Cassian fic that I've had in mind since the first cold snap, when it seemed that everyone was writing them snuggling for warmth. I saw a post on Tumblr about men wanting to be little spoons and it gave me the push I needed to write this as Cassian wants to be held by Jyn.

Cold as Home (421 words) by FiKate
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Cassian Andor/Jyn Erso
Characters: Jyn Erso, Cassian Andor, K-2SO (Star Wars)
Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Everyone Lives/Nobody Dies, Established Relationship, Sharing a Bed, Hoth, Domestic Fluff
Summary:

After returning late from a mission, Jyn searches out Cassian for warmth and he shares some truth. My version of Jyn and Cassian together on a cold night.

Day 13:

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year.

These goals are very much inspired by this weekend. No deadlines as I get enough of those with fact checking.
-Invite friends over to my place
-Finish and post more fics
-Investigate and attend meetups and fannish groups
-Figure out how to follow up with friends of friends that I had good conversations with at other events
-See about auditioning or volunteering, something with a theater group
-Spend more time with my relative in the area
-Apply for more jobs, get a reference from where I'm teaching

Today since the weather was nice, I went out exploring. I had gotten a discount for a coffee shop that turned out to not actually be what I was hoping for. It was in a store, didn't have anything for lunch and hand uncomfortable seats. Instead I ended up having lunch in a local sandwich/hoagie kind of place which was just right. I was reminded how its actually not that hard to get in between the various neighborhoods in my area. I live in a part of Boston with hills and twisty streets so sometimes things are closer than expected and other times farther.

Day 8

In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much.

So my first instinct on this was to go Rogue One as its been inspiring me and fueling me for over a year. Then I thought harder and want to talk about the Rogue One novelization, because it was what gave me inspiration. This novelization is amazing as it gets inside everyone's heads but especially Cassian's with all his pain. It also showed me places to expand and poke at canon.

Day 9

In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created.

This challenge is always a little tricky but I've gotten better at recognizing that I'm a good writer and feeling comfortable promoting it. For this year, I'm going to focus on works that are firsts for me.

The Death Star Job, my first chaptered fic, my longest fic ever and also the most complex AU that I've ever written. This is a Leverage and Rogue One fusion built on the idea that Eliot and Cassian served together and are friends since to me they feel like the same kind of character. Its not finished yet but I have the next two chapters planned out and most of the next chapter drafted. Sometimes I've gotten in my head with this fic as it hasn't had a lot of kudos but there's at least one loyal reader and subscribers which means other people are interested. Also once I figured out that what mattered wasn't the plot but the relationships around the plot, it worked better. Leverage is good at using plot and tropes to give relationships depth and time while Rogue One had powerful interactions and not enough time. That helped me go, okay, I can do the plot in key scenes and really lean into conversations and moments.

It's you and me, a series of four fics set in an Everyone lives Rogue One AU. This actually started with the second fic and then the other ones kind of dropped into my head going, nope, story's not over yet.

Its really hard to pick a third one as I've been doing a lot of stretching in terms of writing this year with backstories, AUs, funny fics and other things. So I think I'll end with one that I really like.

Echoes is a fic about what kind of impression Cassian left behind. The heart of it is that I love history and wonder a lot what kind of marks Cassian left in his world. And I have this headcanon of Poe, who loves Rebellion history and is fascinated by this spy who was at the heart of Rogue One, but few records remain of.

Today I ventured into the cold and my new purple jacket kept me nice and warm. My fact-checking is done so this weekend I'm going to try and do some writing, maybe catch up on all my book reviews that I didn't get to in the last few months.

I've also been watching the US Figure Skating Championships, I've always loved figure skating and the commentators are wonderful.

Day 5

Recommend a fannish or creative resource.

Since I'm currently writing Star Wars, my favorite resource is Wookieepedia. I don't think I've ever not found something or sometimes not finding is the answer. Since I'm also a librarian, I have been slowly collecting all the various books with behind-the-scenes and background info about Rogue One. Also Star Wars' puts out great books like the visual encyclopedias and wonderful in-universe background like the Rebel Dossier. I have this plan to make a Star Wars' shelf for the books and various toys.

In my work as a fact-checker, where my focus is often based in a place like a state or country, I have learned to rely on historical societies. Also when looking into Native American history, tribal websites are so helpful. The closer you can get to the source the better.

I recently started a new part-time job that's going well and taking up more of my time than I expected and I'm preparing for a trip. That's why I'm a little late but I do enjoy snowflake challenge and how it stretches me.

Day 2: In your own space, share a book/song/movie/tv show/fanwork/etc that changed your life. Something that impacted on your consciousness in a way that left its mark on your soul.

The October Daye series and all of Seanan McGuire's works. She captures figuring yourself out at many ages and what it feels like to be broken and heal. I discovered her when I was in graduate school and Toby's conflicts and troubles felt familiar and provided a connection for me. Her CD Wicked Girls is one of my most listened to because every song touches me. I've met her twice and the way she's found a way to live the life she wants inspires me. The song My Story is Not Done helped me get through one of my hardest endings.

Day 3: In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private.

This year, I'm going to move to Boston which is becoming more and more possible every day. I want to live in a place with friends and opportunities.

In terms of fandom, I want to finish up to 3 works in progress that are sitting in my drafts.

Day 4: Comment to someone you haven't ever interacted with before or introduce yourself to someone you've interacted with and friend/follow them.

I will do this as I love connecting to new people through this challenge.

Day 5: In your own space, post recs for at least three fanworks that you did not create.

This fic created a new headcanon for me with Miss Marple who's probably one of my favorite characters ever.

The Spirit of St Mary Mead (4005 words) by lost_spook
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Miss Marple - Agatha Christie
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Characters: Jane Marple, Griselda Clement, Original Characters
Additional Tags: Yuletide Treat, Historical, Multi-Era, Roman Britain, English Civil War, 18th Century, 20th Century, 21st Century, Misses Clause Challenge, Miss Marple is a Goddess
Summary:

St Mary Mead has had an unusual guardian down through all these centuries.

This fic was the perfect coda that I needed after Captain Vorpatril's Alliance, I love seeing this complicated little family come together. This Yuletide was a really good year for Ivan fics and its been inspiring me to write more of him.

Tied up with Strings (1531 words) by thetrickisnotminding
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Vorkosigan Saga - Lois McMaster Bujold
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Ivan Vorpatril/Tej Arqua Vorpatril, Alys Vorpatril & Ivan Vorpatril
Characters: Alys Vorpatril, Tej Arqua Vorpatril, Ivan Vorpatril
Summary:

Conversation while shopping, just before the end of Captain Vorpatril's Alliance.
Yuletide Fluff for jedishampoo

This fic as well feels like an amazing coda to the Derkholm series and it reminds me of some of my favorite romances with figuring everyone out.

a place to hang your hat (3034 words) by hollimichele
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Derkholm Series - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Blade/Claudia (Derkholm), Elda/Flury (Derkholm)
Characters: Blade (Derkholm), Claudia (Derkholm), Titus (Derkholm), Flury (Derkholm), Shona (Derkholm), Querida (Derkholm), Derk (Derkholm), Mara (Derkholm), Kit (Derkholm)
Additional Tags: everything but the curtains
Summary:

“Mm-hm,” said Titus, ignoring the eye-roll with perfect dignity. “And if I recall correctly--” which he did “--your father owns quite an impressive estate these days. You, on the other hand--”

I can't believe that Alan Rickman's dead. I've been traveling all day so only learned about it when I was on the train to NYC. He's an actor who's been in so many movies I adore and ones I don't, but he was always worth watching. Also I found out that the actor who voiced Robin Hood in Disney is dead as well from sdelmonte and that's awful, his voice was always my Robin Hood.

For the Snowflake Challenge, the prompt for the 14th actually ties into some fics that I want to rec.

Day 14

In your own space, share your love for something fannish: a trope, cliché, kink, motif, theme, format, or fandom.

I think my favorite trope, the kind that will pull me deeper into a fandom is if the characters feel messy and real. I have a weakness for characters figuring out what they can do and who they are and all the bumps along the way. I think the best example of this for me is Sameth from The Abhorsen Chronciles, his perception of himself feels real and while the situation is extraordinary, his reactions feel real. If you look at my roleplaying roster on my profile or the types of fics I tend to write, they tend to be all about someone making sense and making mistakes and finding what they can do.

Day 13
In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you did not create. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it.

Love and Marriage (3387 words) by shewhoguards
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: The Chronicles of Chrestomanci - Diana Wynne Jones
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Christopher Chant/Millie
Characters: Christopher Chant, Millie | Millie Chant
Additional Tags: Arguments, Happy Ending, marriage is hard, Newly weds
Summary:

Romantic it might be, but there was a limit to how much you could smile at each other, how many pet names you could find for each other and how many times people could pointedly leave you alone together before it all got a bit.. dull really. And there was a feeling as though that status had to be maintained, as though the first person to break it by speaking a cross word or even voicing a minor annoyance might be breaking something precious.

I adore Diana Wynne Jones' books because of how she writes messy people and situations. This fic with Christopher and Millie getting married and having their first fight feels like a continuation of the books. Its sweet, sad and funny,

A Noble Heart (1417 words) by Rhiannon87
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: October Daye Series - Seanan McGuire
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Dean Lorden/Quentin Sollys
Characters: Quentin Sollys, Dean Lorden
Summary:

Quentin has a confession to make. Dean has no shortage of questions. Set sometime between Chimes at Midnight and A Red-Rose Chain.

This was my Yuletide gift and I've lost count of how often I've reread it. The author captures all that I love about McGuire's writing, the great world and the people. Quentin is one of my favorite characters in the series and I RP him in Milliways as I'm fascinated by his journey. This fic fills in some missing pieces and complements the world.

Like Butter on Toast (7667 words) by SoundandColor
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries
Rating: Explicit
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Relationships: Hugh Collins/Dorothy "Dot" Williams
Characters: Hugh Collins, Dorothy "Dot" Williams, Tobias Butler, Phryne Fisher, Jack Robinson
Additional Tags: Established Relationship, Season/Series 03, Light Bondage, Canon Compliant, First Time, Sharing a Bed, Rope Bondage, Yuleporn
Summary:

“If I could find someone who looked at me the way your copper looked at you,” Nell says, staring into the bottom of her glass and seeing things Dot isn’t sure she wants to know about, “I wouldn't be standing here waiting. I’d go and get him and I wouldn’t let him go.”

Or, How Dot Decides It's Time to Bring Hugh Home.

Its really hard to pick only three fics but I think this one needs more love. Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries is a show where I worry for all of them and this fic is Hugh and Dot trying to sort themselves out. I love how you can see the various found families and orbits of Dot, Hugh and everyone else. That intertwining and care that helps them find their way to happiness.

I hope other people enjoy these fics as they make me happy.

David Bowie will be missed. I wish I had my copy of The Prestige or a way to watch Velvet Goldmine that was so inspired by him. As always when the internet publicly mourns, it can end up being rather overwhelming but I like seeing him on my dash.

Day 11

In your own space, make a list of at least 3 things that you like about yourself. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it.

This is a hard and important challenge.

1-I'm a good librarian and teacher.
2-I'm proud of what I write and feel like I'm improving over time.
3-I've been getting much better at not only asking for what I want and need but being willing to say no and not feel guilty about it.

Day 09

In your own space, set some goals for the coming year. They can be fannish or not, public or private. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

I like the phrasing of this, goals not resolutions as there are certain things I'm reaching for and writing them down helps.

1-Write and publish more-fics, on my librarian blog and keep looking into ways to write in other places.

2-Move to a city either Boston or DC-this one is something I've been thinking about and I think will make a big difference in many of parts of my life. Its going to involve finding the equivalent of the subbing I've been doing here, a bridge job as my mom calls them, but being closer to friends, people my age and more of what's happening in the profession will be good for me in a lot of ways.

3-Comment more, get involved in discussions all over the web in fannish and librarian places. I have a voice to add to the conversation.

4-Read books outside my comfort zone, read more diverse authors and stories.

5-Keep reconnecting more with the theater world.

Day 7

In your own space, share a favorite piece of original canon (a TV episode, a song, a favorite interview, a book, a scene from a movie, etc) and explain why you love it so much. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

This is a hard one to pick but yesterday I read the newest October Daye story by Seanan McGuire and was reminded how much I adore her writing.

For reference, this story and others that aren't in anthologies are posted here. I recommend investigating her site as she writes lyrics, books, short stories and so many fantastic works that inspire me. The latest story Heaps of Pearl overall wouldn't make sense without lots of backstory but I've found a quote that doesn't need it. I love how McGuire writes dialogue and people that feel real.

"This is the King's kitchen, missy," said a passing serving girl, sounding faintly offended. "We never run out of cheese."

"You heard the lady," said Dianda, turning back to me. "I'll expect your entire life story now, if you would be so kind. Don't make me ask again. There's still the chance that I'll grow weary of your company and hit you with a chair."

"You are very hard on the furniture," I said. It was difficult to keep the amusement out of my voice. It would have been utterly impossible, had I not been so thoroughly baffled. Dianda was, by any objective measure, beautiful. Her motions were quick and precise, underpinned by the sort of purpose that I rarely saw among the idle nobility. Her features were pleasant, and while she was lovely when she smiled, I thought she was twice as fine when she scowled. The fact that she allowed herself to frown was enough to set her apart from most of the nobles I knew. They kept their faces pleasantly neutral, lest they betray an actual emotion to someone who could use it against them. The embroidery on her gown was elegantly done, ornamented with bits of pearl and sea glass. She was lovely, intelligent, interesting...and sitting with me. Clearly, there was something terribly wrong with her. That, or she simply hadn't been warned about the local social structure yet, and this was an opportunity I was never going to have again.

At the moment, life is pretty good. I wandered around some favorite shops today and yesterday arranged my New York trip. The weather is cold and I love it, this is how winter should feel. Also I'm enjoying the Snowflake Challenge a lot, its a good way to get me doing as the year begins.

Day 5

Leave feedback for a fanwork. Or multiple fanworks. It can be as simple as I liked this to a detailed list of all the things you loved about the fanwork. The key is to leave some sort of feedback.

If you've already left feedback in the course of a previous challenge, it totally counts. But you're free to leave more feedback.

Afterwards, leave a comment in this post with the equivalent of "I did it!" If you feel so inclined, leave a link to the fanwork you left feedback for so others can check it out.

This one is easy for me as if I enjoy a fic, I leave a comment and kudos but it gave me a push to go back into the Yuletide archives and read fics I hadn't before.

Day 03

In your own space, post a rec for at least three fanworks that you have created. It can be your favorite fanworks that you've created, or fanworks you feel no one ever saw, or fanworks you say would define you as a creator. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

This is a hard challenge for me as I'm not always good at going look; I did this and I'm proud of it. Its something I'm working on more as it does help in job interviews and I like what I write. For this one, I'm going to highlight stories that I'm proud of but perhaps not my normal style.

When Millie Played Fair, I'm happy with this story as I feel like I caught that particular voice that old fashioned girls' books have, the kind I grew up reading. Also I adore the Chrestomanci books where Millie originated from and this mental exercise of what would Millie like made me happy. It was for the Lost Library exchange and a story that once I was writing flowed easily. This is a kind of story I love trying to write, where I'm using a certain style to tell a new story and subtle worldbuilding and plot.

La Marianne was a story I originally wrote for a porn battle prompt though the most that happens is kissing, but I feel like I was able to grasp Enjolras and Eponine as I knew them. Its one of my more atmospheric fics and a style I think of as snapshot, which I tend to do a lot of, just a moment.

The Waiting Sky is a Thor AU inspired by an image, I don't normally write AUs but I love Chris Hemsworth's Thor and the world of those movies. I feel like I grasped Sif's voice in this one and created a believable world.

That's three and as always, this is tough. I could have focused on three from this year but I think these three are where I stretched and found something that worked.