marzipan77 | Entries tagged with snowflake challenge 2020

With two original novels written, and the third and fourth started, it's time to attend to the business of being an author. It's time to query agents and see if I can get representation which is the MOST stressful, confusing, daunting challenge I've faced during my writing career. So. Since there are so many naysayers out there, eager to tell new writers that "you have no chance" "Just self-publish" "you'll never get representation" and, best of all, "If you don't have this giant list of things already no one will even listen to you", I was thrilled to come across some great resources that are different. Encouraging, even!

These are the psyche-saving sites I've found:

How to Write a Query Letter - via the 'Mad-Libs' method. If you've been reading EVERYTHING on the Internet about how it must be perfect and unique - but not too unique - and follow all the rules except for when it doesn't and blah blah blah, then this site is for you!

blog.nathanbransford.com/how-to-write-a-query-letter

List of Agents Searchable by Genre - you still have to research, see who's open to queries and if you like the agency's website, etc, but you don't even have to join or sign up for anything to use this site!

aaronline.org/Find

Last but not least - Writer Beware. This blog warns of dishonest/disreputable "publishing" companies, pay-to-play companies, and agents who have reputations for not giving the writer her due. I'm checking every Agent I find on the previous site against the Beware List. It's so helpful.

www.sfwa.org/other-resources/for-authors/writer-beware/agents/

Let's try to build each other up instead of repeating all the negative rhetoric we hear about the "impossibility" of traditional publishing. Even JK Rowling started somewhere.

snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/48222.html

Current Mood: optimistic

Once I found fan fiction on FFN, I was thrown head-long into a new world. A world where other people felt the way I did about my fandom. About the characters. About how the dialogue and action should have gone. About how different some fans thought of the characters than I did. How I hated seeing the characters written. How I resonated and felt joy about reading new stories about the Jack and Daniel I saw on the screen.

I found my voice by listening closely to others' voices, whether I agreed with them or not.

I found my love of writing by loving their words and how they were put together. And by knowing what I didn't love.

I found my confidence in my own story-telling by watching the way they spun their stories. Taking the good, and leaving the bad.

I found Betas who would be honest with me when I was honest with them.

I was challenged by their ingenuity and passion, and found the passion that had always been inside of me.

eilidh17

sg1jb

darcy3011

oneofaradia

samantilles

I fell in love with the stories, the writers, and the fandom because of these beautiful, smart, welcoming women.

snowflake-challenge.dreamwidth.org/47994.html

Current Mood: thankful

Challenge #9

In your own space, promote at least one canon that you adore (old, new, forever fandom). Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so.

My forever fandom, OG Stargate SG1.

It's team as family - dysfunctional family. It's heroes in this world without superpowers, people like me (only bet-ter!) who have to make horrible decisions and carry the weight of the world. It's many different people coming together to make it work. It's clever, commanding Jack O'Neill, questioning, sincere Daniel Jackson, brilliant, stubborn Samantha Carter, and strong, guarded Teal'c. It's Hammond of Texas and Master Bra'tac who calls earthlings footstools. It's a tale of human loss, grief, and how friendship can heal wounds. It's aliens and time travel and ingenuity. This show grew, it expanded, it told stories about slavery and trafficking, sacrifice, and standing your ground even in the face of your best-loved friend putting himself on the Other Side.

It's Jack and Daniel. At the heart of it - two very different men who argued and fought and laughed and always had each other's backs. They MADE IT WORK.

Stargate SG1 gave me my non-blood sisters in this world. My chosen family. We still do rewatches, we argue about the meanings behind words, the trivia that no one else notices. We love each other across the miles, over oceans, and pray for struggling children and aging parents. We are different and are anchored by love. Just like SG1.

Give some stories a try. Watch some episodes. For those of you who have lived within the Stargate fandom at one time, warmed by the virtual hugs and nourished by the cookies, come back! Read, leave kudos, send some encouraging feedback. And WRITE. Write a short piece that has been on your mind for years. A tag that you always wanted to see. A behind the scenes snippet. Give us the gift of your fannish heart - vid, art, anything you love.

We're still here. We're still watching and listening.

Promotional banner depicting a snow-covered green bench in a snowy park. Text: Snowflake Challenge: 1-31 January.

Current Mood: nostalgic

These authors inspire me, hit me in the sweet-spot of my favorite tropes, favorite friendship/relationships, and have unique insights into a fandom that has been covered by fanfic fairly thoroughly. Beautiful stories. Great characterizations. Long. Plotty. Lots of Severus and Harry GEN interaction. This is my jam. I hope you read and leave comments for the great authors.

WARNING: The first story isn't finished. Yet. (I hope the author finds a place and time and peace of mind in order to continue it. It would be a rare gift to the fandom.)

Crime and Punishment by mlocatis on fanfiction.net. Crime

Author's summary: "Harry is accused of burglary. The Dursleys leave him to rot. Dumbledore sends Snape to remedy the situation. Harry finds himself in the care of an irate Snape. Not slash, gen-fic w/ focus on Sevitus-like relationship. Angst galore. Warnings: some language, mentions of abuse/neglect, alcohol use."

Angry, misunderstood Harry. Nasty, disbelieving Snape. That's the combo I love. Gradual - and I do mean gradual, it's 122,000 words without being finished - change in attitudes. I keep re-reading it because I have to!

Harry Potter and the Problem of Potions by Wyste on AO3.
Potions

Author's summary: "Once upon a time, Harry Potter hid for two hours from Dudley in a chemistry classroom, while a nice graduate student explained about the scientific method and interesting facts about acids. A pebble thrown into the water causes ripples. Contains, in no particular order: magic candymaking, Harry falling in love with a house, evil kitten Draco Malfoy, and Hermione attempting to apply logic to the wizarding world."

Complete rewrite with a unique voice, a complex Harry without a lot of the usual baggage, a Draco that is believable - and that's saying a lot since I usually don't like Draco-redeemed arcs - and a Snape who never breaks character. Holy Moses this one is freaking genius. Oh, and did I mention that Ron has an actual role and is useful?

A Marauder's Plan by CatsareCool (Rachel500) on AO3.
Marauder's

Author summary: "What if Sirius decided to stay in England and deliver on his promise to raise Harry instead of hiding somewhere sunny? Changes abound with that one decision...Covers alternative 4th Year/Goblet of Fire and therefore does not follow canon religiously. Pairings: Harry/Hermione is the main pairing. All others are surprises so read at your own risk - although I will say there are a number which follow canon. There are many warnings - please read them."

One of my favorite ways to think about HP is this: what if the adults actually acted like adults? What if they helped the students, talked to them, made them part of the entire struggle with knowledge and appropriate roles? This Sirius is marvelous. Tough and cool and utterly ruthless. Long and meaty and with plenty of time for everyone.

I am in awe of these authors. If you're an HP fan, please take a look. But clear your schedule first because you aren't going to want to put them down.

Current Mood: bouncy

Challenge #6

In your own space, make a list — anything between one and ten things is a sweet spot, but don't feel constrained by that! - of things that you wish existed in fandom or elsewhere, or that you'd like someone to make for you. Are you dying for podfic of your writing? Do you need icons for a character that doesn't get much fanart? Is there a story you want to read? Are you looking for new canons to get into? Would you like a collaborator for a project?

I'd love to see:

More Bros
More Friendship fics
More Team as Family
Fewer Romances, stories that exist simply to get two MCs together with no other plot
More Plots

I'd love more Harry Potter fics that focus on his friendships, on the adults' teamwork and friendships, on getting the job done without sidetracking into any love life. I'd love more Harry and Severus interaction, more Harry and Draco interaction. If you know of these fics and where is the Gringott's vault in which they are hidden, please, please point the way!

I'd love more episode-like SG1 stories. Take the team through the wormhole and give us all a ride without goo-goo eyes of any type or flavor. I miss this show, the team, the characters and stories, so having that back would make me do a Snoopy dance.

Marvel stories wherein the MCs forbidden love is not the central issue. Give me smart-sh!t Barton dealing with Captain Honesty, leading Thor on wild rides through NY, and variously fighting/bonding with Stark over their distrust of authority.

Thank you to all the fanfic authors who have stoked my enthusiasm for great Bro stories in the past. It is my sweet-spot and it is harder and harder to find them.

Current Mood: pessimistic

Challenge #1: In your own space, introduce yourself!

It's a new day, a new year, and interesting changes are on the horizon.

It's query time for my original fantasy novel and series. Finished book #1 a year ago, finished book #2 a week ago. Now comes the truly scary part of sending out letters. So much advice out there, so many people who want to tell you what's wrong with your query, or with your book, or with your characters, or with just about everything. Very little encouragement for trad publishing among the groups I frequent. It all becomes a bit soul-crushing which is why I've balked at this stage before. Pushing through this time. This time, I'm going to allow agents to tell me if something's wrong with my query/story/first chapter, and not let my own fears refuse to let me move forward.

Fandom stories will continue. Nothing will ever change that, I hope! I learned to write writing (and reading) fanfic. I acquired sisters of my heart and soul, met dazzling celebs, connected with such a wide range of people that's opened my eyes to other worlds. And learned about myself, too. Not always a consequence I met with grace, I'll tell you.

Goals: Finish the series The Ascended Adventures of an Interfering Archaeolgist. archiveofourown.org/series/1236320 I'm writing the last piece now. Daniel is almost ready to descend back to the SGC, he just has one more person to help. Then it's off to rewrite SG1's The Ark of Truth wherein Jack O'Neill is back with the team in the place of Vala. After that? I have had a desire to rewrite Rowling's HP and the Deathly Hallows after rereading it lately. Too much Dumbledore in that story for me. This should be Harry's story, not Dumbledore's. (spoiler alert: I love Remus and Tonks, but not how they were written.)

Doctor daughter is in her last year of residency. She's amazing - and very helpful with medical truths. Next year her story changes, too. She's stepping out from the sort-of comfort zone and going abroad be a Medical Missionary in Africa. For my own soul's sense of peace, I must learn and grow through this. Learn to support her instead of fearing for her. I am joyful and terrified by turns, but so warmly proud of her dedication to help others.

Here's to 2020. It's a day for resolutions, but being true-ish to myself means I don't make them. I have goals. I have interests. I have wishes for myself, my family, my friends. I would like to be kinder, more humble, less quick to speak.

We'll see.