seperis: (Default)
seperis ([personal profile] seperis) wrote2010-12-21 04:46 am

so this is what sleep feels like when you aren't getting it

Between work and insomnia, I think TMI is about to reach epic levels of wtf.

It occurs to me, belatedly, to be thankful I am a.) not part of any famous writing partnership or b.) famous at all, due to my sudden and really uncomfortable flashbacks to losing my two writing partners early on in fandom. And thankful before God and man that LJ, diaryland, and online blogging had not reached fandom yet, because I'm imagining my twenty-something year old self having access to a blogging platform, an audience, several CDs of Sarah McLachlan, and a sense of righteous wrongness. Private then, thank God.

[personal profile] svmadelyn is the only one I ever really talked to about it, and even then, it was weirdly complicated: I couldn't just say "there were these people I wrote with" because God knows, I don't like simple and I am not exactly the minimizing type; it was "they wrote with me and then left and I want to burn our wips that we never finished; instead I zip filed everything and pretend it never happened." Cause I'm classy like that.

I mean, there is a moment when you have to sit back and think to yourself, you really need to let this go.



I've cowritten with a lot of people, but only two were partners for more than a fic or two; after 2001, I never made the mistake of even trying (maybe Pru if we weren't, well, us, but luckily Pru and I went to separate fandoms or she'd probably be my third and possibly my most bitter; she was the best I ever wrote with and I'm guessing I would have taken that as well as can be expected, which is not well at all and with an LJ to take it not-well publicly. Christ, I could have nightmares imagining that. I might now that I can see it unspool in my head. Oh badness).

It was actually really bizarre to remember that; my strongest fannish memories are memorialized here, and the time pre-2002 is all very indistinct now, but the first time, I was mad for months, I changed fandoms and walked away from a WIP that no, I had no excuse not to finish, but I was mad and that story represented all of it. I don't even re-read it and I just--and I mean this--realized why I don't even like looking at it, and it's not the guilt. It's the frustration.

The first time was like losing half my creativity and all the motivation in the world; I had to get out of the fandom because the investment was so huge with her that there wasn't anything left. It's the only fandom I never went back to, either, not directly. We didn't write everything together, and a lot wasn't even direct line-level cowriting, but I could send her anything and she told me what she thought, fixed it, improved it; she improved me beyond words, but she also made me confident about trying anything, because it didn't matter what it was, she'd read it and tell me what she thought and she'd send me things and you see where this is going. And God she was good, better than I was then, clean and sharp and gorgeous prose.

The second time was worse and better; our fandoms grew apart, but we were still friends, and so it dragged it out. It was compounded by the fact that we were close and when it petered out, I a.) was a fandom away from where we'd been together and b.) Te was there and Te was God and pretty much where the entirety of my fannish attention was focused, so I didn't have the bad fandom associations and could blow it off (never speak of it again) and sulk in private and boy, did I sulk.

I still sulk about it, in this weird scorned-woman way that's too self-aware to really enjoy all that much; trust me when I say, it is hard to really feel comfortable with your own neurosis when you can't even remember the last time you wrote with anyone. But I do remember how I felt, and how my work opened up with that, and how it felt giddy-joy to have someone to constantly bounce off of and it's been years--I mean, years and I still remember that and stare at the zip files and wonder if I'll ever open them again.



If there is a happy Beatles fic out there without foreshadowing, I think it is hidden somewhere and I will not find it until I have read another hundred fic that make me want to get really stoned and really drunk. I have to stop reading this; I'm seriously craving a joint and I really never got into that. And I only drink once a year. And they're very girly drinks, ask anyone.

I am thinking it would probably help, on a sideline, if work would back off long enough for me to breathe. I need retail therapy. Luckily, Christmas is obliging that nicely.
randomling: A wombat. (Default)

[personal profile] randomling 2010-12-21 11:30 am (UTC)(link)
I love the way you write. Or... think, or something. I love reading these posts. Which may sound like a weird thing to say, because you're writing about stuff that was obviously pretty damn painful at the time and still is at times, and I don't want to be all, "yay, pain!" at you, because - EW.

But I do love your writing style. And I've had bad co-writing experiences too, with some startling similarities really, and, hey, I'm not the only one. And that in itself is cool. I can't remember the last time I wrote with someone, either. It's been at least a decade and I'm pretty sure I won't be doing it again any time soon.

Er, anyway. In conclusion, there is no real point to this comment except to say that I love the way you write about this stuff.
ineptshieldmaid: Language is my playground (Inception - Arthur and Ariadne at work)

[personal profile] ineptshieldmaid 2010-12-21 11:58 am (UTC)(link)
I...

Thank you for this. I shan't go into what this is making me think, but thank you :)
out_there: B-Day Present '05 (Default)

[personal profile] out_there 2010-12-21 12:41 pm (UTC)(link)
she improved me beyond words, but she also made me confident about trying anything, because it didn't matter what it was, she'd read it and tell me what she thought and she'd send me things and you see where this is going. And God she was good, better than I was then, clean and sharp and gorgeous prose.

Yes, that. That giddy feeling of being neck-deep writing with someone, having someone who encourages you and helps you and all-around makes you feel stronger and almost fearless -- it's a bigger high than finishing a story, it's a bigger high than suddenly finding your New Shiny Fandom.

But even when it splits amicably, when you both get jobs and busy lives and change fandoms but stay friends, there's still this little lonely space in your creative soul, this place that remembers that even though you still keep in touch and still care, it's not this living, breathing closeness -- this person who you can share your craziest ideas and deepest thoughts in complete confidence, where the brightest spark of your day will be the email from her about this story, or the chat with her about that idea.

*sighs* I miss that. I mean, for all that life is going well for me now and I don't have time for both (and I don't, y'know, regret it), I miss that feeling of kinship and strength found in togetherness.

...mind you, I find it hilarious that I'm far better at this staying-friends thing when it comes to online writing buddies than actual ex's I've pysically slept with. Actual ex's I avoid like the plague and try to pretend I never, ever knew them.

(Anonymous) 2010-12-21 01:19 pm (UTC)(link)
I used to read a lot of your work from the fandom which you seem to want to remain nameless. And I always wondered why your writing disappeared so abruptly. I counted those stories as some of the best in the fandom. And I was greatly disappointed when you stopped updating. But, because I am so used to lurking, I never dared ask why. This posting explains so much. Wow!
treewishes: All season tree (Default)

[personal profile] treewishes 2010-12-21 01:57 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for writing this. It is really good to realize that so many people go through this, and that it's hard, but maybe worth it vs never having had it at all. Maybe.
scy: (syncretism)

[personal profile] scy 2010-12-21 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
*pats your shoulder* Yes, we only have one cowritten wip between us. *eyes you innocently*

Yes, cowriting can be AWESOME...and then you're not cowriting anymore and it's SAD SAD SAD.

*thinks back to fandoms never to be returned to EVER*

I think lately, the cowriting I do is very casual, and not in any way 'let us write together.' It tends to be (is) comment!fic.

Which is to say cowriting takes cooperation and organization, and TIME.

*pats your shoulder again*

[identity profile] archaeologist-d.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
I've never really written with anyone, at least not in that way but I can imagine it must be pretty much of a let-down when they drift away. :(

[identity profile] nrrrdy-grrrl.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
As is often the case with your fiction, here you have peeled of your armor with an ease that is overwhelming and remarkable. If I knew you better, I would say more. But perhaps by the time I am reading this you would no longer be in this frame of mind. Hopefully. So I will only say, "Yeah, I feel you, girl."

[identity profile] spuffyduds.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 03:33 pm (UTC)(link)
I've never really written with anyone but [livejournal.com profile] washa_way and I think part of that is the fear that it would be too intense.

[identity profile] tricksterquinn.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 04:24 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, my dear, that is so... sad. You know, I had a cowriter once - she was gorgeous and interesting and we would talk forever, and we were so into each other, and of course it all ended with bitterness and tears. So I do get what you mean. ♥

[identity profile] harriet-spy.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 04:39 pm (UTC)(link)
The best thing ever was watching [livejournal.com profile] spike21 come down like God and put the breath of life into my plotting in "Sequelae," but I couldn't handle actual co-writing of anything too serious.

[identity profile] cathalin.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
This is... Okay, two different responses. One, what you've written actually makes so much sense. Writing together, done well, is so very intense.

Two, I'm feeling so freaking guilty because... I'm the flaking one in a cowrite relationship. I don't want to flake from the friendship, but the writing... I'm just, completely unreliable. I want to do it still, but it's... hard. And it's fucking up everything I'm trying to write, not just that.

I have learned about myself that... I should never promise anything to anyone writing-wise, whether it's a cowrite or a charity fic or... anything that has someone depending on me, because -- I'm a fuckup, lol, and unreliable (In fairness to myself, I just didn't completely realize what my fannish cycle tends to be, and how that ties with my writing). And then the guilt builds and then it screws up everything else I want to do and... yeah.

Talk about tmi. Lol. Who knew fanfic writing would be so fraught? <3
fyrdrakken: (Sherlock/John)

[personal profile] fyrdrakken 2010-12-21 09:41 pm (UTC)(link)
I totally get that -- we were never actually collaborators, but that period when were on AIM together a lot and bouncing ideas off each other was the most productive period I've ever had, fanfic-wise. Changing fandoms into LotR really messed me up, because I couldn't find anyone like that, and by the time I got into Doctor Who I'd pretty much given up on myself ever writing much in the way of fanfic. A few pieces here and there, and I'd be thrilled with myself each time, but the enthusiasm to maintain the focused effort doesn't really spring from within. (It's gotten diverted to knitting -- I'm really good there about finishing things, sometimes large and complicated things, but I'm getting more positive feedback and there's a more concrete finished project to enjoy. I definitely noticed that one of my few outbursts of fictive creativity in Who happened when I was really frustrated with all of my then-current knitting projects -- the creative drive got dammed up and diverted back to an old channel.)

ETA: Also, you keep talking about the Beatles and I was trying to remember who it was I friended for her Sherlock fic that also wrote a lot of Beatles RPS. [livejournal.com profile] candle_beck, I think. And she's a pretty damned good writer.
Edited 2010-12-21 21:48 (UTC)

[identity profile] moojja.livejournal.com 2010-12-21 09:59 pm (UTC)(link)
For Beatles RPS, I love this writer:

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=hb_princess&keyword=My%20Fic&filter=all

Especially "Admit It" it's set in Beatles Hamburg era. It has John in leather pants.

[identity profile] cjandre.livejournal.com 2010-12-22 12:10 am (UTC)(link)
I have only lost one co writer that way and i still feel sad about it. But I know that I tend to drift in and out of fannish pursuits like the classic faithless harlot so i can't really blame anyone. Anyway, I like to keep the wips around- you never know what they may lead you back to.
:)

[identity profile] akamarykate.livejournal.com 2010-12-22 01:27 am (UTC)(link)
I've come back to read and think about this several times today. Partly because this:

I'm imagining my twenty-something year old self having access to a blogging platform, an audience, several CDs of Sarah McLachlan, and a sense of righteous wrongness

Is just...yes. Wow. In my case, that would have been so, SO bad. *g*

But also because...I never had a writing partner, per se. I co-wrote a couple of throwaway fluffy things for fun, but it was never as part of a relationship like you're describing. But I have been part of fandom friendships and intense beta collaborations that have shifted and changed while the fandoms (most of them small ones) died out or splintered, or while one of us moves on to other fandoms while the other one (usually me) clung to the original fandom. I can't imagine that intensity and the sense of loss when it changes multiplied by whatever number represents an actual writing collaboration (and possibly by being in one's early twenties ;).

It's bittersweet looking back on it, and you write about it so evocatively.