Opus Equi

[BlackShanglan]

A more confounding, teasing, elating and frustrating work, I have never taken in hand.

I normally think that I have some idea what I'm doing. But this latest ... It's like picking my way in an utter fog. Sometimes I can't tell even if the problems are in wording, plot, character, or structure. The same issue strikes me one day as needing six more pages of development and the next as best served by cutting half of what I have. I spend a night polishing word choices and the next day wondering if I ought to cut the paragraph, the page, or the whole damned story.

I love a challenge. But I'm starting to wonder if I've gone too far with this one. Yet I can't let it go. I feel like Beowulf down under the lake, locked in a death-grapple with the great unknowable mother.

God send me a sword.

Shanglan

 

[rikaaim]

A more confounding, teasing, elating and frustrating work, I have never taken in hand.

I normally think that I have some idea what I'm doing. But this latest ... It's like picking my way in an utter fog. Sometimes I can't tell even if the problems are in wording, plot, character, or structure. The same issue strikes me one day as needing six more pages of development and the next as best served by cutting half of what I have. I spend a night polishing word choices and the next day wondering if I ought to cut the paragraph, the page, or the whole damned story.

I love a challenge. But I'm starting to wonder if I've gone too far with this one. Yet I can't let it go. I feel like Beowulf down under the lake, locked in a death-grapple with the great unknowable mother.

God send me a sword.


Shanglan

I can't offer much sound advice at this time, only know that you have my support and a set of eyes if you need a reader. I am always willing to assist you in whatever way that I can. Good luck.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

A more confounding, teasing, elating and frustrating work, I have never taken in hand.

I normally think that I have some idea what I'm doing. But this latest ... It's like picking my way in an utter fog. Sometimes I can't tell even if the problems are in wording, plot, character, or structure. The same issue strikes me one day as needing six more pages of development and the next as best served by cutting half of what I have. I spend a night polishing word choices and the next day wondering if I ought to cut the paragraph, the page, or the whole damned story.

I love a challenge. But I'm starting to wonder if I've gone too far with this one. Yet I can't let it go. I feel like Beowulf down under the lake, locked in a death-grapple with the great unknowable mother.

God send me a sword.


Shanglan

:
Kisses
I'm going through the same thing right now. Characters talk too much about nothing it seems and I've become so paranoid about it that I can't pick out what's useful anymore. To begin with, I was in a groove, not editing at all, just letting the words flow. After a break where real life interrupted me, I now can't seem to find that groove again.

I know it's not time to give up; these characters invade my dreams. Confidence I had when I started this project has turned to doubt. Hey, send me a sword while you're at it.

 

[English Lady]

*gives the poor confuzzled horsey a stroke and a polo mint*

The only thing to do is to keep plodding on with it. Unless you feel you can put it down for a bit and come back to it later? that might help you a bit.


I started a story for the valentines contest, got to about 1000 words but it was a struggle. In the end I decided to walk away from it and I'll take it up again once I get the urge too.

Same thingt happened with my story"not what you see,what you feel" that took me a good 6 months to write. (It is in my opinion my best story so far though *L*)

Take care, and I have more strokes and polo mints if you need'em!

 

[Colleen Thomas]

A more confounding, teasing, elating and frustrating work, I have never taken in hand.

I normally think that I have some idea what I'm doing. But this latest ... It's like picking my way in an utter fog. Sometimes I can't tell even if the problems are in wording, plot, character, or structure. The same issue strikes me one day as needing six more pages of development and the next as best served by cutting half of what I have. I spend a night polishing word choices and the next day wondering if I ought to cut the paragraph, the page, or the whole damned story.

I love a challenge. But I'm starting to wonder if I've gone too far with this one. Yet I can't let it go. I feel like Beowulf down under the lake, locked in a death-grapple with the great unknowable mother.

God send me a sword.

Shanglan

those stories, the ones yo canot let go, but frustrate you to no end, usually end up the very creme of what you write. I have great faith in your ability and hope you stick to it and finish.

*HUGS*

 

[BlackShanglan]

Thank you for the kind words. I'm still struggling, and stopping by here in the breaks of the combat.

I hope that it does end up showing the passion I've put into it. I think, at least, that it need not fear being "indifferent." It will no doubt be generally hated, but if I can come to some happiness with it myself, I don't much care how anyone else thinks of it.

Scarlett, the sword is yours if it survives the combat.

Shanglan

 

[English Lady]

I am sure I really want to read it once it's done Shanglan

Do you want more strokes and mints? *L*(horses do like mints right? I think Desert Orchid did anyhow. I can do sugar lumps if so prefered!

 

[Guest]

 

[BlackShanglan]

BS

All I can say is you're not alone.

EL has given some good advice and I find that letting somethng sit for a while can clear your vision.

God knows it can. Alas, this is already about the fifth time around on this one; I started it last summer. I know it's time to write more on it; just finding it hard to get the emotional transitions and weightings right. I hope that Colly is right; that is, I know that my trouble comes from trying to tell well things that are strange and ideally wonderful. If I can get that right, I will feel like I've done something. But showing it (and not telling it) is an immense challenge. I feel like I'm not so much writing as orchestrating and delineating the perfect silences in which the action actually takes place.

Or possibly just talking bollocks. EL, I would love some mints. And the stroking is damned nice too. Especially for the scene I'm on.

Shanglan

 

[English Lady]

Awww, it's bound to be wonderful Shanglan *continues stroking for a while then offers you a mint* I'll keep it up as long as you need me to!

Keep plodding on if it feels right...you'll get there! (another pair of eyes to look at whatyou've got might help too..if you've not done that already *L*)

 

[BlackShanglan]

YES! It is working!

Hurrah and a barbaric YAWP!

We now return you to your regular programming.

 

[minsue]

YES! It is working!

Hurrah and a barbaric YAWP!

We now return you to your regular programming.

I didn't know horseys could YAWP!

Great to hear it, Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

Delighted to hear from you, gosling, in particular. I was depressed nearly to the point of nearly giving up on this one, but some charming little waterfowl gave it a gentle word or two. It made the revisions seem a bit less hopeless.

It's shed about 6000 words now and is feeling a great deal better.

Shanglan

 

[carsonshepherd]

Delighted to hear from you, gosling, in particular. I was depressed nearly to the point of nearly giving up on this one, but some charming little waterfowl gave it a gentle word or two. It made the revisions seem a bit less hopeless.

It's shed about 6000 words now and is feeling a great deal better.

Shanglan

I'm so glad it's working out for you Shang.

 

[minsue]

Delighted to hear from you, gosling, in particular. I was depressed nearly to the point of nearly giving up on this one, but some charming little waterfowl gave it a gentle word or two. It made the revisions seem a bit less hopeless.

It's shed about 6000 words now and is feeling a great deal better.

Shanglan

Shed 6000 words!

(Now you know yet another reason why I don't write. I can't stand to see any story I love lose those precious words. )

I'm happy to hear you're feeling better about it.

 

[BlackShanglan]

I'm so glad it's working out for you Shang.

Cheers dearest. Celebrations are no doubt a bit premature - I've got another 19 pages to go on what will not be the last revision - but I feel like I have hammered out some quite serious issues and do see the proverbial ray of light amongst the clouds. We shall see.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

Shed 6000 words!

(Now you know yet another reason why I don't write. I can't stand to see any story I love lose those precious words. )

I'm happy to hear you're feeling better about it.

*nuzzle* Don't worry. Nothing lost that was needed at all. If I remember, Carson was a little shocked when I told him that "Letters from the Hesperus" had lost 15% of its length, but when he looked at the new draft he couldn't figure out where it had gone from.

Same thing here. No events removed - just rather more compactly described. Mostly a sentence here or there; at times a couple of paragraphs folded into each other. I think it an improvement, but I suppose only time will tell.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

It's submitted.

And I'm off to drink heavily.

Shanglan

 

[minsue]

It's submitted.

And I'm off to drink heavily.

Shanglan

*waits with bated breath*

 

[CharleyH]

A more confounding, teasing, elating and frustrating work, I have never taken in hand.

I normally think that I have some idea what I'm doing. But this latest ... It's like picking my way in an utter fog. Sometimes I can't tell even if the problems are in wording, plot, character, or structure. The same issue strikes me one day as needing six more pages of development and the next as best served by cutting half of what I have. I spend a night polishing word choices and the next day wondering if I ought to cut the paragraph, the page, or the whole damned story.

I love a challenge. But I'm starting to wonder if I've gone too far with this one. Yet I can't let it go. I feel like Beowulf down under the lake, locked in a death-grapple with the great unknowable mother.

God send me a sword.

Shanglan

Feel like exchanging problems? As in . . . authourial? To see where, what, why, how, who the hell did he/she just have sex with? :|

 

[English Lady]

Yay for you enjoy the drink!

 

[carsonshepherd]

Salut....


Bottoms up!

 

[BlackShanglan]

Re: Re: Opus Equi

Feel like exchanging problems? As in . . . authourial? To see where, what, why, how, who the hell did he/she just have sex with? :|

Always happy to exchange. Glad to trade drafts if you are ever interested.

Shanglan

 

[BlackShanglan]

Viewed twice.

Thus far no flat rejection.

The tension is fucking killing me.

 

[English Lady]

It'll get there Shanglan *hugs*