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

[christev.livejournal.com]

I LOOOOVEEE! King of Swords. When I saw the subject material, I was a little unsure, but you have written a compelling story. I was also quite surprised to see the gaps in time between posting, because I felt it read very smoothly. I'm so glad it's coming easier for you, because I'm VERY eager to see how it all works out.

Congratulations on being featured, but it's well deserved! You're telling the story in an unusual manner, and the whole concept of mirrors is really interesting.

[machshefa.livejournal.com]

*grins

Thank you! I just now saw your review on OWL. It's difficult material. Psychologically complex and not linear... so I'm really glad that it's compelling to read. I can see the shift in my writing over time, but it's a relief to hear that it doesn't read unevenly. WOOT!

Chapter 14 wants to be written, it's swirling around waiting for me to sit down to write it down. Since I am not paralyzed with anxiety with each chapter like I used to be, I think that helps with the better flow of writing (process).

There will be more soon! And I do have a sense of where it goes and how it gets there--I'm just a pretty organic writer so I have to be told by the story and characters... *bats eyelashes at them :)

*hugs

[christev.livejournal.com]

Does it help or hinder your writing process to know that, as I quickly skimmed your reply here, I thought you wrote, "I'm a pretty orgasmic writer..."?

In all seriousness, though, one of the main things that draws me to it is the originality of your premise. It's nice to know that all the fanfic permutations are not yet written. :)

[machshefa.livejournal.com]

ROTFL. Yes, that too. }:)

I'm surprised to see that this premise hasn't been explored. I do wonder if it's been done in other pairings or gen... It might be that it's just not been done in the SSHG world yet. But it's very Jungian. Oh, which reminds me -- if you're interested in seeing how these themes play out with regard to Animagus and Patronus images, I encourage you to read Tree of Life. It's finished :)

*grins