King of Swords Featured on TPP... SQUEE

[machshefa]

*glomps mods at The Petulant Poetess

I woke up this morning to discover that the mods at The Petulant Poetess decided to ring out the year by choosing their favorite stories from the year to feature.

King of Swords is one of them.

I am, in a word, gobsmacked.  This story began as part of a PP Challenge (which ariadne1  dragged me into at the same time that she began writing In Spirit... which I consider KoS's sibling :)) back in April, 2008 and was interrupted many times for other writing (and life) obligations.  It's had a small but enthusiastic readership (<3 readers), and seeing it featured means more to me than I could possibly express.

Glomps and thanks to lady_karelia  and the other admins (kittylefish , I see you...I glomp you...) at TPP for choosing King of Swords out of the sea of wonderful stories that posted in 2009.  I've never had a story featured there before--what a wonderful end-of-year gift!

I'm also thrilled to see several of my favorite stories alongside my own.  This Time by subvers  and The Life Unlived by sshg316 were both written for the 2008-09 SSHG Exchange and are marvelous stories.  If you've not read them, run, don't walk!  I've not yet read the other two that are featured but they are on the top of my reading list! 

A word about King of Swords as a WIP. I know that many people don't read stories until they're completed (for understandable reasons!) and that this story's initial publish date is from long ago. However. I have posted six chapters in the last several months (two last week), and Chapter 12 will go up tonight or tomorrow. The story has hit its stride, and the arc is much clearer to me. I'm hoping to have it finished before it's time to start writing the next SSHG Exchange story. How's that for motivation?

Comments

[machshefa.livejournal.com]

*hands you cup of tea and chocolate... and refreshes Lumos

*iz evil but in a good way :)

I just reread from the beginning for continuity and a few details I'd lost. The first chapter or two are definitely written by a writer less sure of her voice. Just know that... it's interesting, actually.

[ciphre.livejournal.com]

I rarely go back and re-read my stories. I cringe every time, because I've learned so much in the process, I'm a very different writer now than then.

With that in mind, I've been absorbing my NaNo glut with an eye toward its future, as some of the internal dynamics have changed (as these things do) from the initial outline. After the first, our normal schedule will re-assert itself, and I plan on writing the rest of the book. I'm looking forward to it, actually.

[machshefa.livejournal.com]

I find the whole developmental writing process fascinating. In my reread, I could clearly see where I'd overwritten and even why. I just hope that between that and the long gaps in posting (until September when it really took off) that I've not chased away potential readers.

Chapter 13 is actually nearly ready to post. The time it takes for each chapter to take shape is getting shorter and shorter. I'm hoping it's a sign of a smoothing out of my writing process and confidence :). I'm sure they're related!

NaNo must be an amazing experience if even just to observe yourself in the process. I'll be interested to hear what you notice as you go back over what you produced.