Thirty Days of Fan Fiction - Days 27 - 30

[elrhiarhodan]

27 – Where is your favorite place to write, and do you write by hand or on the computer?

I do some writing in my office - lunch hour, after hours. I also write at home, too. But I think I do some of my best work at my local Starbucks. I think it’s the sunlight. My home office is in the basement and while the space is lovely, it’s also artificially lit - not a speck of sunshine.

I can write odes to my Starbucks. It used to be a Wendy’s - so it’s big and bright and clean. There are plenty of outlets and tables large enough to spread out on. My favorite table is the one in the corner, behind the entrance. I don’t really care if people are looking over my shoulder at what I write, and if they get an eyeful of Peter and Neal going at it like a pair of horny goats, that’s their problem. But I like the corner because it’s quiet and out of the traffic flow.

I rarely write long hand - which is a huge change in the why I used to write, because I loved the feel of lead and pencil across the paper. I have some physical problems with my neck and shoulder, so my right hand isn’t very strong and begins to ache if I hold a pen or pencil too long.

Besides, I have an embarrassment of technology at my fingertips - if I’m ever struck with a random thought or fic, I can pull out an iDevice and go at it.

28 – Have you ever collaborated with anyone else, whether writing together, or having an artist work on a piece about your fic?

Perhaps one of the most enjoyable writing experiences was the creation of the round robin fic, Easier Things, that I wrote with afiawri, rabidchild67 and hoosierbitch during the Great Chicago White Collar Meet Up in January, 2011. We had always planned to do a round robin writing exercise, and the night before, we went to see “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf”. We had also just watched the Pilot episode of White Collar and wondered just how Neal got his hands on the Warden’s wife’s credit cards.

I am also collaborating with the awesome jrosemary on an original fic (she has been after me to own up to my minor contributions).

I have wanted artwork for some of my longer fics - I had contracted with an artist for Between the Darkness and the Dawn but unfortunately, my artist went AWOL. Which is a pity, because her work was HOT.

29 – What is your current project or projects?

I have too many WIPs languishing to enumerate, but I am proud to say that my “magnum opus” is in beta (rabidchild67 has done a masterful job, and I’m just waiting for elainasaunt to get back to me with her comments, and I’ll be ready to start posting. I should think about cover art...any artists out there interested in a commission?

30 – Do you have a favorite fic you've written? What makes it your favorite? And don't forget to give us a link!

I have a couple of favorite fics - stories that I’m most proud of for various reasons. The top of the list has to be Minutes and Hours. It’s about the actions Peter took to keep Neal safe after the airplane exploded. There were two very specific triggers for that fic - hoosierbitch’s awesome story, Shelter and a very misleading tweet from the White Collar show runner, Jeff Eastin. He said that Season Two would be all about Peter and Neal adjusting to Neal’s work with OPR. Which was a total lie, of course. But it did make for some very interesting plot bunnies.

If I have to pick a favorite piece of porn, it would have to be Take a Seat, Mr. Caffrey. It’s still some of the hottest smut I’ve ever committed to the bitstream.

And then there is Between the Darkness and the Dawn, which rolls up all of the angst I love to write in a nice and tidy package. It’s the story that captures so much of the fanon mythology I’ve created for White Collar, and projects a lot of my hopes and dreams for Neal’s future. It also sets a precedent - it made me realize how much I prefer writing future fic - where I don’t have to worry about my stories being jossed by canon.

There are other tales I love - certain chapters from Danger’verse, ficlets that resonate for reasons I find hard to name.

Well - this meme is done. I’m happy I’ve done it, but I don’t think I’m ever going to commit to another one of these thirty-day things. Just because I can’t be counted on to remember to post them each and every day.

Thank you for reading and commenting and being patient. You are the best flist on LJ.

Comments

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

I don’t really care if people are looking over my shoulder at what I write, and if they get an eyeful of Peter and Neal going at it like a pair of horny goats, that’s their problem.

This is why ILU!

Apologies: RL didn't just interfere this time, it ambushed me, knocked me on the head, tied me up and shoved me in a cave. But after tomorrow I'm all yours.

[elrhiarhodan]

No problem darling. I know you've got deadlines and LIFE.

I actually need to send you updated files. So no need to start until I get them to you, okay?

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

Oh, whew!