writing year in review - 2020
Jan. 18th, 2021 02:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
moonfleurI'm finally doing this.. a whole two weeks into January but, you know what? Better late than never.
(stolen fromluvisms post, sorry hui but thank you!)
Total number of completed works: 20
Total Word Count: 223,269 T__T
(stolen from
luvisms post, sorry hui but thank you!)Total number of completed works: 20
Total Word Count: 223,269 T__T
Fandoms Written in: nct, seventeen, the boyz
Looking back, did you expect to write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d expected?
WAYYYYY MORE. God, never in my life did I think I would write over 100k words in a year and this year I hit 300k (written, not necessarily published). Honestly, I never set writing goals but this really exceeded anything I ever expected and I don't plan on trying to do this again LOL.
To write for myself and at my own pace and to try not to get too caught up in numbers and statistics.
Also to, hopefully, start distancing myself from [redacted] (if you know, you know).
Other non-fanfic goals include:
- Read more books
- Write more original fiction
- Write something my mum can read T__T
WAYYYYY MORE. God, never in my life did I think I would write over 100k words in a year and this year I hit 300k (written, not necessarily published). Honestly, I never set writing goals but this really exceeded anything I ever expected and I don't plan on trying to do this again LOL.
What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January?
Honestly, so many. I think my shipping preferences definitely shifted to more rarer pairs this year, which is wholly unexpected in and of itself but if I had to pick specific ships? Markno, Renle, Renhao?, Jeongwonhao (in any and all combinations), Soonhao. (Maybe my shift was towards chinaline? Who knows...)
Genre-wise? I don't think I wrote anything unexpected.
Fandom was definitely TBZ. Did not expect to write them but I'm also glad I did.
I think so? I did TWO 50k months this year, which I will probably never do again unless I know I have sufficient recovery time after because my brain cannot handle that.
I also tried not outlining a fic (for A Prince's Folly) and honestly, reception for that fic has been so good?? Especially regarding characterisation? I haven't yet tried to reread it so I cannot say for sure if it worked but I am considering outlining less for future fics to see how that works out for me.
Hmmm.. this is a hard one. I think it's probably a tie between darling, will you walk me home and ashes to ashes (dust to dust) specifically because I've reread them both a couple of times and didn't die so I assume they're okay. I think also because I enjoyed writing them and felt good after writing them.
Honourable mention goes to beyond the stars because it is the one fic I truly, truly enjoyed writing but it has to be an honourable mention because it is still incomplete :')
In terms of writing, both vos currere venas and dream a little dream (of me) because I think I executed the atmosphere of the fics in exactly the way I wanted to. Other than those, I will have to say my current ongoing fics but (technically) I should not be including them.
cause baby you're a firework even though I always say I never understand why because I felt absolutely horrible after writing it. I do think I need to give it another chance though, and I might reread it some time soon just to see if I feel any different.
Definitely, definitely ashes to ashes! I love it so, so much but for some reason, nobody wants to click into it. I blame it on both the tags and the summary because they are both a bit... morbid? It is also an apocalypse au and I guess that isn't everyone's jam. I don't know... I will never understand ao3 engagement rate as much as a try to.
Hands down, it has to be beyond the stars (even if it is yet unfinished). When I was writing it, I had reached that point where I finally understood what it meant to write for myself and I enjoyed every single moment of it (and I know I will enjoy the rest of it too).
If I had to pick from my completed works though... honestly either/or vos currere venas and dream a little dream. They were fun little things to write!
HMMM... I think this is tied between the make out scene in fire on fire and the scene from Song of Songs. Neither of them are smut though, so don't expect that. I don't write explicit fic :')
This has to go to hold me softly because rensung are ridiculously cute and soft and the literal embodiment of sweet fic.
BUT honourable mention goes to take my hand because... wedding fic.
I don't write... overly questionable fics but for sheer wtf-ery impact I will have to say blood and bone. I will not say more and it definitely isn't as bad as the question suggests but I guess... it's the closest thing to it.
Song of Songs, for sure. This is the one fic where I had to trash a good two-thirds of my outline because my characters decided they were going to react differently and I was just along for the ride. I do really like how it turned out though and this is one of the main reasons I decided to try not outlining because... My stories rarely go as planned anyway.
A Prince's Folly. It was 11k words of me gushing about Jaemin in a way I never thought I was capable of. Honestly, I did not realise the scope of his attractiveness until I started writing this and then I just.... yeah... [head in hands].
Probably... Burn Baby Burn, specifically on account of it being my first ever TBZ fic and I was terrified that I would never get the characterisations right. But... I think it turned out okay?
But also, I think darling, will you walk me home because of the style and the way it was more introspective than anything I've ever written. It was like wringing an almost dry towel for a few drops of water.
Midnight Boulevard. Mainly because, while I really enjoyed writing it and I really do love the story in general, the reception was just not great? And this was also for an exchange and it was the first time (of many, I will come to find) that my giftee did not read or acknowledge my fic. Which sucked. So... heaps of negative emotions around a fic and a universe I actually really, really love.
fools? mainly because it was an experiment (on what, I will probably explain in another post if I feel like it). It did prove my hypothesis correct but that didn't stop me from being surprised anyway - mainly because I was hoping that it would be wrong but...... yeah.
When Minghao arrived, in the aftermath of Mingming’s departure Junhui told himself that no, Minghao wasn’t a replacement, that he wasn’t there to fill the space in his heart that Mingming had taken when he’d left. (darling, will you walk me home)
Honourable mention: Wonwoo walks. (vos currere venas) - because I saw it and thought it was funny lol
Favourite closing line(s):
“And you will, my love. For tonight, and for always.” (ambrosia)
The power within him sings and, tonight, his demon and his hunter answer. (vos currere venas)
He takes Mingyu’s hand and presses his own lips to Mingyu’s ring before kissing him, soft and gentle. “I was always yours.” (take my hand)
Minghao doesn’t hesitate as he takes the dagger and drives it home. (love me tender)
Clearly I am better at closing lines than opening :}
Favourite 5 line(s) from anywhere:
^ refer to above because... I am not going through 200k words tonight lol
Top 5 scenes from anywhere you would choose to have illustrated:
- the opening scene from ashes to ashes
- the demon realm in midnight boulevard
- the clearing scene in vos currere venas
- the end scene in love me tender
- jeno's flower shop in hanabira
Do you have any fanfic or profit goals for the new year?
Honestly, so many. I think my shipping preferences definitely shifted to more rarer pairs this year, which is wholly unexpected in and of itself but if I had to pick specific ships? Markno, Renle, Renhao?, Jeongwonhao (in any and all combinations), Soonhao. (Maybe my shift was towards chinaline? Who knows...)
Genre-wise? I don't think I wrote anything unexpected.
Fandom was definitely TBZ. Did not expect to write them but I'm also glad I did.
Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?
I think so? I did TWO 50k months this year, which I will probably never do again unless I know I have sufficient recovery time after because my brain cannot handle that.
I also tried not outlining a fic (for A Prince's Folly) and honestly, reception for that fic has been so good?? Especially regarding characterisation? I haven't yet tried to reread it so I cannot say for sure if it worked but I am considering outlining less for future fics to see how that works out for me.
What’s your own favourite story of the year?
Hmmm.. this is a hard one. I think it's probably a tie between darling, will you walk me home and ashes to ashes (dust to dust) specifically because I've reread them both a couple of times and didn't die so I assume they're okay. I think also because I enjoyed writing them and felt good after writing them.
Honourable mention goes to beyond the stars because it is the one fic I truly, truly enjoyed writing but it has to be an honourable mention because it is still incomplete :')
Best story of the year?
In terms of writing, both vos currere venas and dream a little dream (of me) because I think I executed the atmosphere of the fics in exactly the way I wanted to. Other than those, I will have to say my current ongoing fics but (technically) I should not be including them.
Most popular story of the year?
cause baby you're a firework even though I always say I never understand why because I felt absolutely horrible after writing it. I do think I need to give it another chance though, and I might reread it some time soon just to see if I feel any different.
Story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion:
Definitely, definitely ashes to ashes! I love it so, so much but for some reason, nobody wants to click into it. I blame it on both the tags and the summary because they are both a bit... morbid? It is also an apocalypse au and I guess that isn't everyone's jam. I don't know... I will never understand ao3 engagement rate as much as a try to.
Most fun story to write:
Hands down, it has to be beyond the stars (even if it is yet unfinished). When I was writing it, I had reached that point where I finally understood what it meant to write for myself and I enjoyed every single moment of it (and I know I will enjoy the rest of it too).
If I had to pick from my completed works though... honestly either/or vos currere venas and dream a little dream. They were fun little things to write!
Story with the single sexiest moment:
HMMM... I think this is tied between the make out scene in fire on fire and the scene from Song of Songs. Neither of them are smut though, so don't expect that. I don't write explicit fic :')
Most sweet story:
This has to go to hold me softly because rensung are ridiculously cute and soft and the literal embodiment of sweet fic.
BUT honourable mention goes to take my hand because... wedding fic.
“Holy crap, that’s wrong, even for you!” story:
I don't write... overly questionable fics but for sheer wtf-ery impact I will have to say blood and bone. I will not say more and it definitely isn't as bad as the question suggests but I guess... it's the closest thing to it.
Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters:
Song of Songs, for sure. This is the one fic where I had to trash a good two-thirds of my outline because my characters decided they were going to react differently and I was just along for the ride. I do really like how it turned out though and this is one of the main reasons I decided to try not outlining because... My stories rarely go as planned anyway.
Most unintentionally telling story:
A Prince's Folly. It was 11k words of me gushing about Jaemin in a way I never thought I was capable of. Honestly, I did not realise the scope of his attractiveness until I started writing this and then I just.... yeah... [head in hands].
Hardest story to write:
Probably... Burn Baby Burn, specifically on account of it being my first ever TBZ fic and I was terrified that I would never get the characterisations right. But... I think it turned out okay?
But also, I think darling, will you walk me home because of the style and the way it was more introspective than anything I've ever written. It was like wringing an almost dry towel for a few drops of water.
Biggest disappointment:
Midnight Boulevard. Mainly because, while I really enjoyed writing it and I really do love the story in general, the reception was just not great? And this was also for an exchange and it was the first time (of many, I will come to find) that my giftee did not read or acknowledge my fic. Which sucked. So... heaps of negative emotions around a fic and a universe I actually really, really love.
Biggest surprise:
fools? mainly because it was an experiment (on what, I will probably explain in another post if I feel like it). It did prove my hypothesis correct but that didn't stop me from being surprised anyway - mainly because I was hoping that it would be wrong but...... yeah.
Favourite opening line(s):
When Minghao arrived, in the aftermath of Mingming’s departure Junhui told himself that no, Minghao wasn’t a replacement, that he wasn’t there to fill the space in his heart that Mingming had taken when he’d left. (darling, will you walk me home)
Honourable mention: Wonwoo walks. (vos currere venas) - because I saw it and thought it was funny lol
Favourite closing line(s):
“And you will, my love. For tonight, and for always.” (ambrosia)
The power within him sings and, tonight, his demon and his hunter answer. (vos currere venas)
He takes Mingyu’s hand and presses his own lips to Mingyu’s ring before kissing him, soft and gentle. “I was always yours.” (take my hand)
Minghao doesn’t hesitate as he takes the dagger and drives it home. (love me tender)
Clearly I am better at closing lines than opening :}
Favourite 5 line(s) from anywhere:
^ refer to above because... I am not going through 200k words tonight lol
Top 5 scenes from anywhere you would choose to have illustrated:
- the opening scene from ashes to ashes
- the demon realm in midnight boulevard
- the clearing scene in vos currere venas
- the end scene in love me tender
- jeno's flower shop in hanabira
Do you have any fanfic or profit goals for the new year?
To write for myself and at my own pace and to try not to get too caught up in numbers and statistics.
Also to, hopefully, start distancing myself from [redacted] (if you know, you know).
Other non-fanfic goals include:
- Read more books
- Write more original fiction
- Write something my mum can read T__T
