Taggeth, I was...

[misscam]

One thing I love about winter - staying in bed on a Sunday morning and watching the biathlon. Biathlon is one of my favourite sports (it's cross country skiing and shooting, if you didn't know) and it's particulary lovely watching from the warmth of one's own bed. The biathloners wear themselves out for my entertainment, I wonder if I'll have bacon for breakfast. It's love.

drakyndra and other meanies tagged me for a bunch of stuff, so one great meme gather post for the disinterested to skip.

The instructions: List seven songs you are into right now. No matter what the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, but they must be songs you're really enjoying now. Post these instructions in your livejournal along with your seven songs. Then tag seven other people to see what they're listening to...

1. James Blunt, "Goodbye My Lover". I am a dreamer but when I wake / You can't break my spirit - it's my dreams you take / And as you move on, remember me / Remember us and all we used to be
2. Dido, "Don't Leave Home". Oh how quiet, quiet the world can be / When it's just you and little me / Everything is clear and everything is new / So you won't be leaving, will you?
3. A-ha, "White Dwarf". Everything's expanding in a constant state of change / Everything's demanding in a constant state of pain.
4. Kings of Convenience, "Parallel Lines". What's the immaterial substance / that envelopes two / that one perceives as hunger / and the other as food?
5. Supernaturals, "Smile", I feel like a Dalek inside / Everything's gone grey but used to be so black and white / See the lines around my eyes / See the sarcasm in my smile
6. Sondre Lerche, "It's Over". Systems reveal their construction these days / as we escape to drift further away / We know the stars go out one night / but I can't tell you anything you wouldn't know / So nothing has been lost
7. Nick Cave, "There She Goes, My beautiful World". All the words you said to me / Still vibrating in the air / The elm, the ash and the linden tree / The dark and deep, enchanted sea / The trembling moon and the stars unfurled / There she goes, my beautiful world

In your LJ, write 5 things that make you happy (in no particular order) and then tag 5 others to do the same.
1. Biathlon.
2. My cat.
3. Norway.
4. Feedback.
5. Chocolate

I tag for both: Whoever comments with the word "Dalek" to this entry.

Fic analysis meme. Pick 3-10 of your favourite fics/drabbles and talk about them. Why you wrote them, what you were feeling when you did, what inspired them etc...

1. The Official Fanfiction University of Middle-earth (Lord of the Rings)
Right, what to say about the fic that tends to be my claim to fame in Lord of the Rings fandom and usually whatever fandom I go to, there's always someone who knows of it? Well, the idea for it was born as I was trying to beta infamous badfic "My Inner Life" and cursing a lot about the general state of fanfic. I didn't as such have a grand plan for it, I just figured it would be something amusing for me and a few friends. And yeah, it kinda exploded pretty fast and I did meet some of my favourite LotR fanfic authors through it. I wrote it pretty much on the go during a mad half-year in Australia (stuck on dial-up, poor me). The Lina/Gimli romance was inspired by reviewers who said "ew, Gimli!" to a scene where Lina got drunk and started thinking Gimli a bit attractive and I figured 'I'll show you ew...' Lina was mostly based on a few friends of mine from RL, while Miss Cam is clearly the bitch version of myself. I'm not that bad in RL, trust me. Though I often get people IMing me as if I am, which can be amusing, but also a little tiresome. Grammar and spelling could've been better in it, but it does seem to have a certain lasting charm, given that I still get reviews for it pretty much weekly.
2. East of the Sun, West of the Moon (CSI)
Definitely one of the fics I'm most proud of. But really an excuse to send part of the CSI team to Norway because I'm hopeless like that. I intended to use something Norwegian for the title all along as well, and it ended up being a fairytale title. Written while my brother was staying with me for a while and half of it was written on the bus to and from Uni, it feels like. I researched and plotted this story way in advance, which isn't as common with me. Felt a bit like writing a little novel, in fact. It's Grissom/Sara, Catherine/Warrick tilted, but I did do a POV of all CSI characters and headdesk'ed a great deal on Nick's. I was expecting people to whine more for a sequel with the open ending I did, but people seemed fine with it. Which just goes to show you can never predict your readers. It's a bit slow-paced and takes a while to get moving, but it is really a character piece above all.
3. Fall Into Sky (CSI)
Didn't get as much noticed this little one-shot, but it's one of my favourites. It's a very simple little story about eight days on a road-trip, not many complications, but I wrote it for a certain mood and it never fails to get me into it re-reading it. And it's one of the very few titles I'm totally happy with. I often fight long and bitter battles with titles, but sometimes, there is victory to be had.
4. The Passing of Seasons (CSI)
Wrote this for a request by Lynn. I rather based it around Norway's seasons, which are very distinct and have a certain feel to them, and thus it became rather natural to make it four parts, one for each season. Wanted to see how much I could play with that concept and make each part feel distinctive, yet part of a whole. Originally, it was intended to have Sara POV as well, but somehow, it was always Grissom I wrote. As I was writing it, I got hooked on Doctor Who, which might've influenced the style some. It also made me write it rather disinterested and as these things go, it then became the CSI fic I've had the most praise over. Hum.
5. Song For Rose (Doctor Who)
One of my recent pieces, this. And perhaps the one with the clearest theme running through it. I always try to find something to anchor a story to beyond just a plot (might try too hard at times, even) but this is one of the stories where I most satisfied with how it worked out. There's also a lot implied in the story that people readying it carefully should spot and get a little extra for. It's nice with stories that might work on more than one level, at least to me. The story is also a little lovesong for Rose, not just from the TARDIS, but from me too. I enjoy her character quite a lot. And proof it is possible to use lyrics in a story without ruining it.
6. Butterflies Mate in Spring (CSI)
Theraphy. That's what this story is, really. On one level, it's about Sara dealing with what happened with her parents and abuse that is slightly implied in the show. On another level, it's about me trying to deal with the aftermath of violence. It's not a story about me in any way, but there are certain lines of it that I'm trying to make myself believe. Some wrongs have no right. There is no new life to get when something terrible happens. And still the seasons do pass, scars fade, glue holds and the butterflies mate in spring. I did not write this in a happy mood, but like almost all my stories, it seems to have a layer of hope still. I guess I'm just a hopeless optimist at heart.
7. Never a Choice (Doctor Who)
What can one say about a fic that is really about Rose shagging two versions of the same guy at the same time? It's insane. But really, it's an attempt at dealing with the sadness of losing Nine and the excitement of new Ten at the same time, and when you're stuck loving two fellows, why not love them at the same time? The bunnies for this was born during "River Run" writing and then was fed until bursting point by my flist. All of which was just a handy excuse for me wanting to write it simply to see if I could. The verdict is still pending. Probably to date the fic I've felt the weirdest writing, and this from the woman who wrote mini-Balrogs playing cricket.

Meanwhile, GAFF has exceeded its bandwidth? Eeep.

Comments

[speshulduck.livejournal.com]

First of all, Never a Choice was fabulous (really not trying to flatter you for more OT3 fic, honest), so I don't know what you're on about "the verdict is still pending" ;)

Second, how did I not know you wrote OFUM?

Dalek

[misscam.livejournal.com]

The verdict from me is still pending :P I never judge one of my own fics until it's been a few weeks or months, then go back and re-read.

You didn't pay attention...? :P But see what I mean, wherever I go, there's "hey! OFUM!" Never fails. First post to T&C, happened then too.

[speshulduck.livejournal.com]

Eh, that's probably a good call. I do that though and I can't stand any of what I've written. I suppose that should tell me something.

I guess I really didn't pay attention. [shrugs] Oh well, just confirms that I do love your writing. Also, the Talking One Ring was OMFG the bestest ever.

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know the feeling. Though what I've written this year doesn't give me hives, which I suppose is progress.

Snerk. I suspect the Ring was really a bit of a slasher and it learned common to write touching Sam/Frodo fics to unleash upon the Internets.

[speshulduck.livejournal.com]

Dude, if I'd spent all that time hanging on a chain around Frodo's neck, I think I'd be a Frodo/Sam slasher too. I could only take being smushed against Frodo's chest so often when they hugged...

Damn, there's an idea. Why don't I occupy myself by rereading LotR. [wanders away]

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

(really not trying to flatter you for more OT3 fic, honest)

I will very happily pick up the slack on that. *flatterflatterhopehope*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*glareglare*

[evilstorm.livejournal.com]

*bigshinypuppy-eyedgrin?*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

*stoneface*

[aervir.livejournal.com]

And proof it is possible to use lyrics in a story without ruining it.

I second your verdict on "Song For Rose", but I think I already told you that you managed to persuade me from my resolution to never, ever read a song fic -- and even enjoy it.

Probably to date the fic I've felt the weirdest writing, and this from the woman who wrote mini-Balrogs playing cricket.

:)

Do you actually know the cricket rules, by the way?

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Think you did, but I have a horrid memory. I did make a lyric-less version for posting on ff.net, though, if you're ever bored, you can read and compare.

Damn straight I do. Lived two years in Australia and all. Though actually I learned them on the way over, being stuck in a hotel in Heathrow for a Saturday with nothing to do and nothing on telly except cricket and march of the Orangemen. I thus learned the rules. Wickets, runs, overs and all. Yay. Or not.

[aervir.livejournal.com]

Damn straight I do. Lived two years in Australia and all. Though actually I learned them on the way over, being stuck in a hotel in Heathrow for a Saturday with nothing to do and nothing on telly except cricket and march of the Orangemen. I thus learned the rules. Wickets, runs, overs and all. Yay. Or not.

Heh. You must be a faster learner than I am (or maybe the march of the Orangemen was simply the perfect incentive for understanding this sport really fast).

The teacher of the Englidh conversation class I regularly attend (a Brit from Newcastle) once tried to introduce us to the joys of cricket. As far as I can remember, none of us actually got those weird rules. And Dorothy Sayers' whodunit Murder Must Advertise, which features a chapter-length description of a cricket match, still seems to me as confusing as hell. But I do know what "playing for the ashes" means and that it involves Australia.

Um, I'd better stop rambling now...

/random sports blathering

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Watching a march of grumpy old men makes even cricket seem lively, lemme tell you. Though I think I can safely say even with the added excitement of learning the rules, it's quite possibly the dullest hours I've spent upon this Earth. Now if the sodding airline had bothered informing us some about the fact that they wouldn't get us on a flight before Sunday, I could have gone into London and had some fun. But nooooo, leave me stuck watching the cricket and protestants being contrary in "the same procedure as last year".

Bastards.

Australia lost the Ashes this year. Shock and horror.

[drakyndra.livejournal.com]

We was robbed! Robbed I tell you!

[aervir.livejournal.com]

Though I think I can safely say even with the added excitement of learning the rules, it's quite possibly the dullest hours I've spent upon this Earth. Now if the sodding airline had bothered informing us some about the fact that they wouldn't get us on a flight before Sunday, I could have gone into London and had some fun.

Do you really think that London would have been more exciting than the wonderful world of afternoon television and cricket?

Airlines and airports = not so much fun, most of the time.

Australia lost the Ashes this year. Shock and horror.

They did? OH NOES!1!!

(Hah. Our English teacher would have probably been gloating. :D)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Do you really think that London would have been more exciting than the wonderful world of afternoon television and cricket?

Let's have a thing - YES. Hell, listening to Fred Phelps rant would have been more interesting than that. At least then I could have made up ways to shut him up in my head.

Quite the horror, lemme tell you. First time in decades. Simply unheard of.

[chunkylimes.livejournal.com]

I love all of those that I've read.

Plus, your Dalek icons are winning at life.

Doubleplus, you have good taste in music.

Miss Cam is officially doubleplusgood!

[git-the-goddess.livejournal.com]

The Dalek icons win at introweb pron, too.

Not that i've been reading that. Honest.

*hides*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Do your parents know of this naughty, naughty habit?

[git-the-goddess.livejournal.com]

Well, it [i]could[/i] explain my dads' sudden trip to the hospital with heart problems last year, but there's so much in my life that would produce the exact same result...

However, my mother certainly doesn't know. Hopefully it'll stay that way. I really hate having my name in her bloody 'prayer circle'...

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Daleks win at everything.

[hellga.livejournal.com]

I love biathlon too, even though I haven't been able to watch it for six years, since moving to the US. You Norwegians are lucky to have Ole Einar Bjoerndalen, but we still manage to beat your once in a while. And in women's races. :)

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Not in in the relays this week, hah. Double victory to us.

[fondued-jicama.livejournal.com]

Holy crap, Sheridan looks young in your icon. oO;

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Before the beard and all, you know.

[fondued-jicama.livejournal.com]

And when he was still dying his hair. XD

[munchkin62.livejournal.com]

I loved your OFUM fics.

The Lina/Gimli romance was touching and sweet. I quietly said, "Ew, Gimli" and was changed by reading. I can imagine him like you wrote and find him kinda cute now. Lina was the girl I wanted to be: strong, outspoken, funny.

And after the years that LOTR came out (and no new one to look forward to, along with the end of the year), I finally have an LOTR icon.

Isn't he beautiful? minerva_fan made it for me!

[misscam.livejournal.com]

Aaaw. I did probably go for a more romanticied Gimli than Canon in itself really has, but I figured it countered a little bit of all that fic where he gets bashed into oblivion. Ack.

Very pretty indeed, though not my favourite ;)

[falena]

Oooh...now I feel terribly like rereading EotS, WotM but I don't have the time to do that!*weeps*

[misscam.livejournal.com]

It's indeed a looooooooooooong fic. Perhaps best read on a boring train ride.