That drabble meme

[auronlu]

So yah, I'm seeing the drabble meme going around and I didn't finish my first ten. Let me repeat:

I'll write ya drabbles. No promises when, because obligations make me break out in hives.

Fandoms: FFX, VIII, LOTR, Babylon 5, Star Trek: TNG, Trek classic, MYST/RIVEN, Greek mythology

Ratings: any, but if you're getting past R I can't promise to deliver yaoi. Excessive numbers of boy bits baffle me. More than happy to deliver yuri or het.



*thoughtful look*

I'm not entirely sure why I'm buying into the whole drabble thing. I have two problems with drabbles. One, they occasionally cause me to come up with good ideas and execute them as a drabble, when otherwise I could perhaps weave those nuggets into my "real" writing. Two, there seem to be so many challenges and drabble-trees going around right now that it feels like folks are too busy writing and reading and trading drabbles to write or review full-fledged stories. There's only so much creative juice and time floating around, and drabbles are sort of fast food fanfic.

However, I'm such a longwinded writer that drabbles are helping me hone my skills in brevity, and I'm hoping I'll be able to adapt what I've learned to my main stories. And they are fun to write. So I'm doing this, but... meh... let me also put in a plug for people to read/write/review the longer fic.

I have this vague feeling that we could have a Read and Review Monday or something, where we encourage everybody to read and review one story they haven't gotten around to checking out, and/or a Drabble Free Thursday where you either read or work on something longer than a drabble. Except again, that would be turning fandom into work instead of play. Any time our online fun starts developing obligations and self-imposed rules... *shakes head* yeah, not good. So a suggestion only, folks!



*EDIT* Note to self.
dolevalan pre/post pilgrimage Auron/Kinoc posted here, except I'm not satisfied with it.
owlmoose Captain Ivanova
saharasnow Legolas "comb" Posted here
muggy_mountain Auron/Yunalesca Posted here
lynnxlady Wakka/Rikku Posted here, except it turned into a dribble.
trekqueen Glory/Turgon

Comments

Oh, why not?

[dolevalan]

I've been itching to read some Auronfic related to Kinoc. It can be with pre-pilgrimage Auron or post-Zanarkand Auron, as you prefer.

Re: Oh, why not?

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Sure!

Since I pounced your LJ completely at random and you don't know me, seems only fair. :)

Re: Oh, why not?

[dolevalan]

Yay random drabble exchange!

[mneme-forgets.livejournal.com]

I hear your points about drabble memes and I think I understand.

I guess, I like to do drabble memes when I am feeling burnt out, like I can't really review or write long fic right now. I guess the reason why it's a good meme is because committing to something short is easier than committing to something longer. Also, I don't think anyone would stop you from holding off on your idea that you got from their request and using it for a longer story. I think they would feel very pleased if you explained it to them.

On the other hand I think that reviewing memes would be awesome too.

But on the other other hand I wonder why you don't see drabbles as real writing. Does shorter mean less real? Just a thought. :)

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, with YOUR writing, it's all real; I'm sure you could write a 1-sentence story with punh to it.

With mine, though, drabbles save me from having to deal with all the big problems I'm fighting in order to turn out stories of any length -- interactions between more than two characters, a coherent plot and story structure, sustained themes, layers, and originality, and accurate IC characterization. For me, it's a heck of a lot more work and effort and care for me to manage all of that, and drabbles eliminate 90% of those complications.


I'm also just starting to write again. I did write Myst fanfic years ago and a tiny bit of LOTR, but I've really not written anything except academic papers in so very long that I feel like I've atrophied. Drabbles help me flex the teensy tinsy muscles, but there's some bigger ones that need to relearn the art.

I'm not sure. I know drabbles help some people take a brain break from writing their longer stories. I guess I feel as if, since they're a "break" or breather, they're relaxing on the one hand (I know the feeling!) but they're not quite of the same flavor and quality.

However writing like yours and cupcake's puts the lie to it being in any way inferior in quality!

[mneme-forgets.livejournal.com]

Well thank you for the high compliments. :) But when I say a break I sort of mean, a break from doing the same thing, because I like getting odd requests and I find they are quite a challenge actually and that paring down words is another sort of challenge too - it may not *take* as long, but I think it puts a writer to the test all the same. I think of drabbles like poetry in a way. They show the strengths and weaknesses of a writer up under a microscope.

But I think you write short pieces well, very well. You are so poetic with your language that a short piece by you can be much tighter and more poem-like and I like that sometimes. :)

You are likely right that in some ways they are 'fast food.' Heh, also I am shirking some other fanfic duties in doing this. But it helped me get started again? Hee.

Could I ask you for a platonic Auron/Lulu supposing that they met up in the Via Purifico before they found Yuna.

[trekqueen.livejournal.com]

Heh you already know my thoughts on the drabble stuff.

As for writing them... how about we trade the Trek and LOTR fics we were talking about? ^_^ I can get you a Picard and Beverly one I've been meaning to write anyway... this will just get my butt kicked into gear.

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

B5, you say? May I humbly request Ivanova fic? Perhaps Ivanova in season 5 -- either off on her own or during an AU season five with her on the station. Any rating, any subject. Sigh, Ivanova. I still miss her.

You raise some good points with your reservations about the current drabble exchange madness. I started to respond to them here and it turned into a monster comment; I think I may just post my thoughts instead, when I get a chance. ;)

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Hey, just wondering -- did you delete your response to my post on this subject, or did I somehow delete it by mistake? I got the notification email and was all ready to respond to it, and then it was gone. (If you removed it that's fine; I just want to make sure I didn't accidentally wipe it out somehow!)

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Sorry, yeah, I deleted. I decided I was being longwinded and self-indulgent and mostly repeating what I said in my original post, instead of responding more directly to your own post.

You said wise things. :)

[owlmoose.livejournal.com]

Heh, thanks. :)

I do agree with you, that much as I love all the feedback I get on the quick stuff, the works I truly love and have really poured myself into are the three long ones (my Auron novel and the two Crimson Squad collaborations), and the fact that they don't get nearly as much attention gives me a little pang as well. (In case I haven't made this blindingly obvious already, I am so, *so* thrilled that you are reading DSHnD. :D )

*blinks at you*

[heyheyrenay.livejournal.com]

I think you creepily read my mind. I will now go into Project Mode!Renay and pounce!

The Read and Review Monday idea? Was like an idea I had a long time ago but never put into place. Are you a member of bangonfic? Because I would totally be for working up a project like this for there, so it could touch a lot of fandom, rather than just the FFX branch. Just having it would be excellent, because then it would be optional for people. For us, I always find opt-in works better for projects. A reminder post every Monday with what it's about, and people could also maybe share the stories they read and reviewed that day in the comments for like a little weekly rec post?

Okay, I'm geeking out, I'll stop, but really, if you want to expand that idea I would be totally willing to help and promote and such. I won't steal the idea and run with it. xD

Drabbles - the Fast Food of Fanfic. Hee, that's great. I agree with you! I do. I like reading shorter pieces but they're quick little bites and I always end up wanting more. You know I did this drabble request meme the first go around? You know how many words I wrote? I'm still writing, actually, I'm not even done with the requests. 4,398 words. Four stories; none of them under 500 words, the maximum word count to be considered in the drabble arena. I'm right with you on being a writer who likes to write longer pieces. ;)

Re: *blinks at you*

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Oh, by all means steal the idea and run with it! I'm not up for organizing much right now...my A/L shrine and my efforts to read/review a lot of people's work are my modest contributions to the fanfic community. :)

*checks your bangonfic*

Aha, cool!

The trouble is I'm hanging out here because I'm playing hooky from YEARS of moderating online communities, and my last job -- it was a job -- I was on 3-10 hours every day for a year, running and overseeing and mediating a several-thousand-member LOTR community's activities. I stepped down too late, found I was totally burned out, and almost can't bear to hang out in a place where my friends and my heart were.

As a result I'm currently skittish of any sort of rules or obligations that turn fandom fun into a chore. Like, even little things like maintaining a consistent story header format. I'm trying to write full headers now to help people, but, er, I'd have to go REWRITE all my headers to fit bangonfic's particular standards, which aren't the same format as pyre_flies standards, which...oh, whatever. Not gonna happen.

So if bangonfic would be okay with someone who doesn't necessarily write full headers exactly like all your detailed instructions... *wry grin* ... I'd be happy to stop by. I read and review about 5-10 pieces every day, including drabbles, because ... oh, i know how much it means to have people read and comment! And it's fun. But it's also important.

Re: *blinks at you*

[heyheyrenay.livejournal.com]

I reworked some of the requirements--thank you for the feedback. It's hard, when the fandom doesn't have standard header requirements. The extra stuff? Is specific to a feedback community. I left those two things because someone who wanted to post a feedback communtiy would usually be willing to add those two tags in order to get the most from people who respond. :) The community is aimed at concrit but also more about making people think about reviewing and being reviewed, as well as writing, which is why I think that project would be great for a weekly, optional thing. Just to be there, you know? The longer it was there, the more often it cropped up, the more people would partake of it, perhaps!

I'm sorry you got burned out. :( That's terrible. I understand where you're coming from. I've always done everything voluntarily, so when I start feeling overworked, I just stopped. Harder with a job, I gather. I don't want you to get too burnt out on us! So really, just stomp on me when I pounce you and suggest ideas. :)

Re: *blinks at you*

[rustehroll.livejournal.com]

We're happy.

Come play with us.

We use strawberry-scented lube.

OH MY RISQUE!

Re: *blinks at you*

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Risqué? With this crew?

Say it ain't so. :)

Gosh, why have I been so crabby today? Sorry bottle_of_shine!

See, I still have a few obligations left on the place where I was an admin, and I'm failing to discharge them, and I suck. A lot. So I'm hiding and feeling guilty a lot these days.

Bah. ANYWAY, back to drabbles!

[saharasnow.livejournal.com]

I'm currently in some weird mood, so.... hehehe.

Fandom: LOTR
Character: Legolas
Theme: Comb
Rating: up to you.

Since I already made my requests, I'll post this up at my journal later.

[muggy-mountain.livejournal.com]

I've had some of the same thoughts on drabbles. Thus, I prefer writing drabbles of things I wouldn't normally touch on in my "main" story.

I actually prefer longer works, though I admittedly read less of them, in an attempt to juggle story arcs. When a ficwad/fanfiction chapter update appears in my inbox, I go off to read it with the same enthusiasm as I felt on new comics day as a kid.

It's fun to keep with the same story for months.

I'd support you fully if you wanted to this with aulu. Did you get bottle_of_shine's recommendation of having an AuronxLulu month, similar to the current WakkaxRikku month?

I don't think I'll repost the drabble offer on my LJ, at least not this round.

However, I have no qualms about requesting them. I'd like to read something smutty between Yunalesca and Auron. Yes, really.

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Oh. My. Gods. And. Little. Fuzzy. Llamas.
Now I'm scared, because I have an idea.

Hmmm.
Suppose I could post it on aulu as a suggestion rather than a requirement. :) Thanks!


I saw the AuronxLulu month suggestion and went "eep, oh nooooooooooooooooooooo" because I'm a lazy bum and don't want to have to write a drabble a day, let alone review 'em all (because you know I'd try), plus I love the stuff people are already churning out for Aulu and want to encourage you to keep writing Red and Black, and Trekqueen on Necromantia, and...oh, some folks have said they're gonna do longer Aulus sometime, and I don't want to give people more reasons not to. :)

On the other hand, people love drabbles. It might be fun to do it in a few months.

[muggy-mountain.livejournal.com]

Haha. I had a seedling of a YunalescaxAuron, before cupcakemonster requested AuronxThatothervillain and thus got most of the Auron torture out of my system, for a while. I am, however, anxious to see what you'd spin out of the two.

Yeah, I think an Aulu month would be a good thing to try, but not right away. And there are other options besides drabbles!

We could probably make our rules that would allow for flexibility, anyway.

Not everyone's a writer, for example. Most, but not all. We could incorporate reccing/reviewing/fanart into it, perhaps.

Just tossing out suggestions.

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

Oh, i like that idea! Just a little more flexibility to allow for flakiness and still inspire people.

There, I wrote an actual drabble. Possibly a longer scene would've allowed for a bit more development; I was fighting word count. One can however pack quite a lot of ow into 100 words.

[lynnxlady.livejournal.com]

Drabbles are horribly addicting. They're so easy to write, and for...oh, probably a year, I haven't had the focus for anything longer. (And yes, it lets me avoid my One True Weakness: plot. Which is why most of my finished longer fics are at least partially in-game FFX fics.)

Request: Could I get some Wakka & Rikku? As platonic or romantic as you'd like, I like them interacting in any way. :D

[auronlu.livejournal.com]

I'm always up for a bit of Wakka/Rikku; they fit well. (Speaking of which, I wonder if rikkuxwakka has a link to your yummy old fic on ff.net...)

Re: *blinks at you*

[heyheyrenay.livejournal.com]

We have Absolution. If there's more, I to find it, quick like. *drools*

[lynnxlady.livejournal.com]

And I learn something new: there's a rikku/wakka community? *goes to join*

[trekqueen.livejournal.com]

trekqueen Picard/Beverly (er, wait, now I'm confused, I think I asked you for Picard/Beverly, you asked me for Elrond/Glorfindel, I wrote Glorfindel, and now...um...?)

Yes I did ask for Elrond/Glorfindel before and you did give me one with them (and I gave you Pegaeae). That means I should think of something else... hmmm... how about another smutty thing with Glorfindel assuaging Turgon's grief. :D Glory's always there for his lords. ^_^