Come Naval Gaze with me!
Jun. 4th, 2009 02:35 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
lls_mutantI'm sitting here working on Chapter 7 of A Lot to Live Up To (rather than my Star Trek review or my remix or my novel), and I find myself stuck. I can't say much because it really spoils chapter 6, but I'm having to write one of those conversations that's a turning point in someone's life, not much is said, and is incredibly emotional and intense all at once, but stuff has to be said on the surface. If that doesn't make sense, ask me tomorrow who the conversation is between, and it will make total sense. I'm also playing Scramble as a form of procrastination.
However, Scramble is not satisfying my desire for grown up conversation. So. A few questions for you all.
1.) What was one technically (not emotionally) hard scene you ever had to write? Feel free to talk about the process, if you liked the scene when you were done, to post it with DVD commentary, to post it without commentary, whatever.
2.) What was one of the scenes you had the most fun writing? Feel free to talk about the process, if you liked the scene when you were done, to post it with DVD commentary, to post it without commentary, whatever.
3.) What is one scene you've written that you think was intensely powerful, and you are incredibly proud of? Feel free to talk about the process, if you liked the scene when you were done, to post it with DVD commentary, to post it without commentary, whatever.
My answers are beneath .
1.) Well, aside from the scene I'm working on right now, I remember having a terrible time with a lot of Crawling in the Dark (which is also parts of chapters 11 and 12 I think of Accidentally in Love), where Remus and Regulus are running around stealing artifacts. Aside from having to come up with artifacts, figuring out how to break into museums and in and out of the Soviet Union was some fun, let me tell you. Granted, at least I had magic to work with, but still. Although I was really proud of myself for the idea that Rasputin essentially had a rudimentary Horcrux, and the reason Voldemort wanted it was to study it. But those little adventures were tough to write.
2.) I always have fun writing my crack fics, and probably the four I've enjoyed writing the most are A Boy Thing (James loses his powers due to unrequited love), Sparkles and Sugarplums (Sirius and Remus take a young Tonks to see the Nutcracker Ballet, with one of my favorite lines I've ever written- "Deatheaters in tutus."), The Stories We Tell (Baltar is a DM), and Baby Pictures (Gaeta and Hoshi meet Trevor and I laugh my ass off at them. Well, essentially. What- you didn't figure out that I was Mel? ;) )
In the first, the most fun I had was easily when Sirius found out that James had lost his powers and starting teasing him with the bodice ripper novels, and he and Remus started having an "academic" discussion on the subject. The second... I wrote it for![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
rs_smallgifts, and the second I saw thistlerose's request and the idea of Narcissa Malfoy as the prima ballerina was in my head I was having fun, and the entire fic was just a blast to write. (Although I think I got the biggest kick out of the bathroom scene.) The Stories We Tell, I really enjoyed the start, and the conversation that got it going. And Baby Pictures... I liked putting Trevor in there, but I got a good laugh out of the whole scene at the beginning when Gaeta and Hoshi are comparing notes on guys and Roslin's writing all the names down. :)
I like writing humor. It's not something I can do on demand, but when I get an idea, I have fun doing it.
3.) Most powerful scene. Hmmm. Chapter 7 of AIL had some stuff... I think one of my favorites was Sirius's speech to James after James figured out Sirius and Remus were a couple:
“Moony usually dances this part,” Sirius said in a low, husky voice in James’s ear. “No, you’re not pulling away.” His grip tightened. “We don’t go out dancing often, but I love it when we do. You like dancing with Lily like this, don’t you, Prongs? Her body in your arms, her head on your shoulder, and the whole room watching you hold her and knowing that she’s yours, that no one can take her from you, because she’s dancing here with you tonight, in public. It’s a statement when you dance close like this, isn’t it? It means that she’s going home with you tonight and no one else had better lay a hand on what’s yours. Yeah. Well, that’s exactly what it’s like for me, too. We go out dancing at a club like this, and it’s the only time I can put my arms around him in public. The only time he can rest his head on my shoulder, the only time I can stake my claim, in a gay club where no one knows us. You can dance with Lily anywhere. In the Leaky Cauldron, in the club around the corner, at Frank and Alice’s wedding… in the bloody streets if you want. You can hold her hand, touch her hair, kiss her, comfort her, tease her. You can be jealous, you can watch her with stars in your eyes, be proud of her, be hurt by her, make up with her, and everybody fucking smiles at you. They smile at you. You can hover over her bedside, you can worry, you can cry, and damn it, if it was Lily in that bed in St. Mungo’s the world would be rallying around you and I’d be at your side and I wouldn’t sleep or eat or work until I knew you were going to be okay. But Remus is… Remus is….” Sirius’s voice cracked. “The only reason I’m even allowed in the room is because fucking Sommers is a bloody pouf and he knows.”
I also really like the end of that chapter, when Damien catches on and just says "Don't hurt each other."
Another scene that gets me every time, even if it doesn't get everyone else, is from Youth's Final Luxury. It's the scene with Gaeta and Jammer singing on the swings:
They stopped and looked at each other, and Felix saw the frustration, anger and hate he felt reflected on Jammer's face. And suddenly he was very, very tired, body and soul.
The wind blew, and a chain rustled. Jammer turned his head, and improbably, a smile ghosted over his face. "Come on," he said. "I'll race you."
He was off, sprinting towards a playground that had been constructed over a year ago. A part of Felix's mind gaped at the sight, but his own feet were moving, trying to catch up, running until he flung himself onto a swing. The metal was ice cold under his hands, but he pulled on the chains and kicked out his feet, and then he was flying next to Jammer.
"You know what I miss?" Jammer said as they swung. "I miss chocolate."
"Never a chocolate person, but I miss caramel," Felix admitted.
"I miss beer. Real beer."
"I miss scotch. The good stuff like my father used to drink, not the rotgut that's left."
"I miss reading. I've read every thriller I can get my hands on, but that's maybe ten since the attack."
"I miss going to the movies. I used to go every week, before I was assigned to Galactica."
"I miss music. It's been so long since I've heard good music." Jammer said, and then laughed bitterly. "My mom was a singer."
"Yeah?" Felix closed his eyes and tipped back even further, and the swing set shook as his swing went higher.
"Yeah," Jammer said. "She used to sing to herself all the time…" He pulled harder on the chains of his swing and began to sing an old lullabye. He had a good voice, soothing and sure, and Felix found himself picking up the harmony, weaving the music together, their voices climbing as they swung in unison.
"Mr. Gaeta. Captain Lyman." They both stopped swinging suddenly, coming back down to earth as an angry Cavil and an amused Leoben stared at them. "What in the world are the two of you doing? You represent this administration, and you're behaving like children."
"Sorry, sir," Jammer said, and Felix echoed him.
"That's all very well and good, but get off those swings and act like a captain and a Chief of Staff before I really lose my patience and toss you both in detention for breaking curfew."
"Right away, sir." Jammer pulled a mask and an armband from his pocket, and the warmth Felix had begun feeling drained away. Cavil shook his head and stormed off, muttering at Leoben about discipline.
Leoben turned before he left. "I liked the music," he said. "Truly, you were both blessed by God to create something so beautiful."
"He really creeps me out," Jammer said, putting his armband on. He pulled the mask over his face. "Come on. I'll walk you home so you're not in trouble."
I think it hits me because I can picture it so clearly. I have the feeling it's one of those scenes that probably should have been cut- it's a lovely, powerful image, but at the same time it doesn't add much to the story- but I love that scene so deeply I just couldn't bring myself to do it. And I still cry when I read the epilogue of Youth's Final Luxury, and one other scene that, again, I'll talk about tomorrow.
Well, I didn't talk much about process or anything, but I'm curious as to what all of your own scenes you guys like. So, naval gaze in my journal!!! Yay!!!
However, Scramble is not satisfying my desire for grown up conversation. So. A few questions for you all.
1.) What was one technically (not emotionally) hard scene you ever had to write? Feel free to talk about the process, if you liked the scene when you were done, to post it with DVD commentary, to post it without commentary, whatever.
2.) What was one of the scenes you had the most fun writing? Feel free to talk about the process, if you liked the scene when you were done, to post it with DVD commentary, to post it without commentary, whatever.
3.) What is one scene you've written that you think was intensely powerful, and you are incredibly proud of? Feel free to talk about the process, if you liked the scene when you were done, to post it with DVD commentary, to post it without commentary, whatever.
My answers are beneath .
1.) Well, aside from the scene I'm working on right now, I remember having a terrible time with a lot of Crawling in the Dark (which is also parts of chapters 11 and 12 I think of Accidentally in Love), where Remus and Regulus are running around stealing artifacts. Aside from having to come up with artifacts, figuring out how to break into museums and in and out of the Soviet Union was some fun, let me tell you. Granted, at least I had magic to work with, but still. Although I was really proud of myself for the idea that Rasputin essentially had a rudimentary Horcrux, and the reason Voldemort wanted it was to study it. But those little adventures were tough to write.
2.) I always have fun writing my crack fics, and probably the four I've enjoyed writing the most are A Boy Thing (James loses his powers due to unrequited love), Sparkles and Sugarplums (Sirius and Remus take a young Tonks to see the Nutcracker Ballet, with one of my favorite lines I've ever written- "Deatheaters in tutus."), The Stories We Tell (Baltar is a DM), and Baby Pictures (Gaeta and Hoshi meet Trevor and I laugh my ass off at them. Well, essentially. What- you didn't figure out that I was Mel? ;) )
In the first, the most fun I had was easily when Sirius found out that James had lost his powers and starting teasing him with the bodice ripper novels, and he and Remus started having an "academic" discussion on the subject. The second... I wrote it for
rs_smallgifts, and the second I saw thistlerose's request and the idea of Narcissa Malfoy as the prima ballerina was in my head I was having fun, and the entire fic was just a blast to write. (Although I think I got the biggest kick out of the bathroom scene.) The Stories We Tell, I really enjoyed the start, and the conversation that got it going. And Baby Pictures... I liked putting Trevor in there, but I got a good laugh out of the whole scene at the beginning when Gaeta and Hoshi are comparing notes on guys and Roslin's writing all the names down. :)I like writing humor. It's not something I can do on demand, but when I get an idea, I have fun doing it.
3.) Most powerful scene. Hmmm. Chapter 7 of AIL had some stuff... I think one of my favorites was Sirius's speech to James after James figured out Sirius and Remus were a couple:
“Moony usually dances this part,” Sirius said in a low, husky voice in James’s ear. “No, you’re not pulling away.” His grip tightened. “We don’t go out dancing often, but I love it when we do. You like dancing with Lily like this, don’t you, Prongs? Her body in your arms, her head on your shoulder, and the whole room watching you hold her and knowing that she’s yours, that no one can take her from you, because she’s dancing here with you tonight, in public. It’s a statement when you dance close like this, isn’t it? It means that she’s going home with you tonight and no one else had better lay a hand on what’s yours. Yeah. Well, that’s exactly what it’s like for me, too. We go out dancing at a club like this, and it’s the only time I can put my arms around him in public. The only time he can rest his head on my shoulder, the only time I can stake my claim, in a gay club where no one knows us. You can dance with Lily anywhere. In the Leaky Cauldron, in the club around the corner, at Frank and Alice’s wedding… in the bloody streets if you want. You can hold her hand, touch her hair, kiss her, comfort her, tease her. You can be jealous, you can watch her with stars in your eyes, be proud of her, be hurt by her, make up with her, and everybody fucking smiles at you. They smile at you. You can hover over her bedside, you can worry, you can cry, and damn it, if it was Lily in that bed in St. Mungo’s the world would be rallying around you and I’d be at your side and I wouldn’t sleep or eat or work until I knew you were going to be okay. But Remus is… Remus is….” Sirius’s voice cracked. “The only reason I’m even allowed in the room is because fucking Sommers is a bloody pouf and he knows.”
I also really like the end of that chapter, when Damien catches on and just says "Don't hurt each other."
Another scene that gets me every time, even if it doesn't get everyone else, is from Youth's Final Luxury. It's the scene with Gaeta and Jammer singing on the swings:
They stopped and looked at each other, and Felix saw the frustration, anger and hate he felt reflected on Jammer's face. And suddenly he was very, very tired, body and soul.
The wind blew, and a chain rustled. Jammer turned his head, and improbably, a smile ghosted over his face. "Come on," he said. "I'll race you."
He was off, sprinting towards a playground that had been constructed over a year ago. A part of Felix's mind gaped at the sight, but his own feet were moving, trying to catch up, running until he flung himself onto a swing. The metal was ice cold under his hands, but he pulled on the chains and kicked out his feet, and then he was flying next to Jammer.
"You know what I miss?" Jammer said as they swung. "I miss chocolate."
"Never a chocolate person, but I miss caramel," Felix admitted.
"I miss beer. Real beer."
"I miss scotch. The good stuff like my father used to drink, not the rotgut that's left."
"I miss reading. I've read every thriller I can get my hands on, but that's maybe ten since the attack."
"I miss going to the movies. I used to go every week, before I was assigned to Galactica."
"I miss music. It's been so long since I've heard good music." Jammer said, and then laughed bitterly. "My mom was a singer."
"Yeah?" Felix closed his eyes and tipped back even further, and the swing set shook as his swing went higher.
"Yeah," Jammer said. "She used to sing to herself all the time…" He pulled harder on the chains of his swing and began to sing an old lullabye. He had a good voice, soothing and sure, and Felix found himself picking up the harmony, weaving the music together, their voices climbing as they swung in unison.
"Mr. Gaeta. Captain Lyman." They both stopped swinging suddenly, coming back down to earth as an angry Cavil and an amused Leoben stared at them. "What in the world are the two of you doing? You represent this administration, and you're behaving like children."
"Sorry, sir," Jammer said, and Felix echoed him.
"That's all very well and good, but get off those swings and act like a captain and a Chief of Staff before I really lose my patience and toss you both in detention for breaking curfew."
"Right away, sir." Jammer pulled a mask and an armband from his pocket, and the warmth Felix had begun feeling drained away. Cavil shook his head and stormed off, muttering at Leoben about discipline.
Leoben turned before he left. "I liked the music," he said. "Truly, you were both blessed by God to create something so beautiful."
"He really creeps me out," Jammer said, putting his armband on. He pulled the mask over his face. "Come on. I'll walk you home so you're not in trouble."
I think it hits me because I can picture it so clearly. I have the feeling it's one of those scenes that probably should have been cut- it's a lovely, powerful image, but at the same time it doesn't add much to the story- but I love that scene so deeply I just couldn't bring myself to do it. And I still cry when I read the epilogue of Youth's Final Luxury, and one other scene that, again, I'll talk about tomorrow.
Well, I didn't talk much about process or anything, but I'm curious as to what all of your own scenes you guys like. So, naval gaze in my journal!!! Yay!!!
