On WIP's (tl;dr on Drow)

[drusillas_rain]

There have been a few posts about WIP's on my flist lately, some of which I commented on, others of which I just didn't know what to say.

See, I have a WIP that effectively became the reason I withdrew from HP fandom.

The background
I swore I would never ever post a WIP. I have binders and files of unfinished stories. I never participate in those "what's in your WIP folder" memes, because it would take way too long for me to list everything. I'm also a fairly slow writer. But then I came up with the idea for Drow - it was inspired by some art, and was only going to be a short one-shot, which then grew. I outlined it. I posted 3 times a week. And it totally worked.

Until I realized it was a trilogy.

The second part went pretty well - I wasn't posting as frequently, but with the outline, I was able to get through it.

Then came part 3, which is where it all fell apart.

It's all outlined. I still think about it at least once a week, even though it's been over 4 years since I last posted. At the time, I was going through a really rough time and as a result had really bad writer's block that last 2 years. When it finally cleared I wanted to write again, but Drow was there and I couldn't let myself write anything until it was done. Except, Drow still wasn't happening. So, I switched to original fiction. The occasional drabble. I've done 2 fests, that I never linked to my lj because it felt like a complete betrayal to the readers of Drow.

Betrayal?
The last chapter of Drow was posted in 2006 and I still get the occasional anon comment of "so, you gonna finish this or what?". It breaks my heart every time, because I hate when it happens to me as a reader. I've also distanced myself from HP fandom, which honestly makes me sad. I mean, I still participate in the online HP community, but in a "I care about your existence" kind of way. I've also embraced new fandoms.

Look, I know Drow isn't the best story in fandom. But it was the first story that I really let myself explore the kind of writing I wanted to do. I used to even discuss the plot points with a non-fandom friend over dinner and he was fascinated by the twists and turns, as were the readers.

So what now?
TLDR from above - wtf do I do now? How do I fix this?

Over the past year I've been working really hard on my output as a writer, both in fandom and original fiction. I wrote a holiday fest fic that's even been recced on crack_broom (so I guess it means it doesn't totally suck) that was over 10K. I'm working on submitting a 2nd original story to my RL critique group and that I hope to submit to a mentoring program for new writers. I'm blogging more in various places. But, I feel that if I ever want to move on and really be able to feel free to write, I need to finish Drow.

Your thoughts here
I want to finish Drow. I want to take the folder with all my notes in it which has lived on my desk since 2006 (even through a major renovation of my study) and do something with it.

But, how? Do I go back and re-edit what was posted and then re-post it chapter by chapter?
Do I just leave the chapters where they are and start posting it again section by section?
Or do I finish it and then just post it all in one big chunk on AO3?

Thoughts? Opinions? Rants? Hugs? All would be appreciated.

--

Ok, this is surprising. I actually feel lighter having written this all out. That kind of soul-bearing relief doesn't usually happen to me. But I want to make things right with the world and with fandom. Thanks for listening <3

Comments

[mordyn4]

I still think about it at least once a week, even though it's been over 4 years since I last posted.

This makes me so sad.

Question: Do you want to write it? Or do you want to finish it? Because if you don't actually feel the desire to write it, I don't think you'll finish it no matter how much you want to. I'm glad I friended you because of that fic, but I will not feel cheated if it's not finished.

[elfflame]

as someone who has a few stories that never got finished before they were jossed, and a few that i finished regardless, I say, do what feels most comfortable as far as getting it posted--if you want to. Don't push yourself.

I also want to say that I loved Drow, and I'd very much love to see more of it. Always made me smile. *snugs* So I'd love to see you finish it.

But I think the most important reason to finish it is because *you* want to. And not for any other reason.

[stasia]

I have a couple of WIPs that I also want to finish. I know mostly what happens in the main one, but I'm stuck at a bit and the characters aren't cooperating and writing time is more limited (but it shouldn't be, so I'm working on that), and ... yeah.

I say, do what makes you happy. Write one scene a month and let yourself have the rest of the time as original work?

Stasia

[tripperfunster.livejournal.com]

Isn't if funny how we punish ourselves? I haven't read Drow. Sounds like it might have been posted before my time in fandom.

I am a massive procrastinator (must be an artistic/creative trait, eh?) So I feel your pain.

If it were me, I would probably post a note and the beginning and end of the fic(s) saying that it is a WIP, and due to life circumstances, it may or may not get finsihed. You could also post a summary of what happens, for those people who cannot live with lingering questions, but under a cut for those who don't want to know.

That way, you've fufilled your 'obligation'.

First and foremost, fandom is supposed to be FUN. don't let this ruin it for you. <3

[lusiology.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, Drow. *hearts* I'd never heard of them until you started posting your fic, and such a terrific plot line it was and still is. I have thought about it over the years, especially when I've read an original m/m that featured dark skinned elves, and can honestly say that I'd love to read more, but only when/if you want to write it.

I'm not surprised you had problems with book 3 because what you were going for in terms of multiple POVs, Draco's own identity and that of the drow he'd become was pretty complicated stuff, at least I thought do at the time.

Definitely tackle writing or editing it in bite size chunks then what you want to achieve won't seem so overwhelming. You could always link folks back to the start when you post new chapters so folks can refresh their memories. Most importantly, do what you want to do. As for those anon comments, they're anon so fuck 'em.

Remember, I also have a WiP - Beautiful Twilight, my Auror Harry mystery - that was started in 2006 and not finished.

ps, always available to beta for you bb.

[aliaswestgate.livejournal.com]

I have to say its definitely up to you on whether you keep going. I have two no, three WIPS. One for the Saiyuki fandom, which is more or less crack. The other is for Merlin, which has been on the 'backburner' in my head since 2009, sadly. Real life went nuts that year, and i haven't been able to pick it up since. Thankfully Arthur's still hellbent on telling me what i need to do, so its not totally lost. He's just being shouted down by someone else at the moment. ^^;;

My other one, which you might know is my Hawaii Five-O/Dresden Files AU fic, Kahuna. Right now, i want that finished before i go back to the Merlin one at the very least. The big thing is that i WANT to go back to the Merlin one, Saiyuki was my first fanfic writing fandom, but i don't really have anymore presence there nor followers about it. Nor any impulse to complete that cracky little jaunt that helped me jump into the joys of being a fanfic writer.


I tend to write chapter by chapter myself, mostly as the details find their way to my head and i do my researching outside my RL job.

[dbassassin.livejournal.com]

I feel that if I ever want to move on and really be able to feel free to write, I need to finish Drow.

Why?

Is it because you don't like leaving something unfinished? Do you feel somehow "obligated" to fandom to finish it? Do you feel that you need to write to be "truly" part of the fandom? Do you feel the need to "fix" it because it doesn't meet the standards that you now set for your work? Or is it because you find the story still compelling in some sort of way?

The last reason would be the only one I'd be responsive to. I know it's hard to let go of unfinished business but I think you need to give yourself permission to let it go unless you still find the story itself truly compelling and really want to continue telling it. Don't feel that you need to bow to fandom's expectations or the entitlement issues of strangers.

Just my 1.3 pence's worth. :)

[enchanted-jae.livejournal.com]

I would love to see you finish Drow, but don't force yourself. Fanfic is meant to be fun, not a chore.