"Turn Again" fic progress!

[dbskyler]

I've joined an awesome community on Dreamwidth called writethisfanfic, and they held a WIP challenge in November. The comm allows you to name your own challenge, and so I pledged to add 1,000 words to my WIP by the end of the month. Things were looking dire as of around a week ago, as I had an official word count of -70 (yes, negative 70, achieved by editing out more words than I had put in). But the combination of a successful fic_rush weekend and a supportive writing buddy who allowed me to PM her with my daily progress has allowed me to meet my goal!

As of tonight, "Turn Again" has 1,013 new words! That's the most progress that I've made on this fic since August of 2009.

I'll be doing the WIP challenge again next month, and if I'm similarly successful, I might be able to finish this current chapter by the end of the year. However, given how long it's been since the last chapter was posted, I'm hesitant to post any further chapters until the entire fic is finished. I'm thinking that it might be best to keep holding off and then when the fic is done, post the last pieces of it on consecutive days.

On the other hand, I'll be so excited when this next chapter is finished, I will probably be disappointed if I don't get to post it. And I wonder if there are people who would like to read it even without knowing when the rest of the fic might appear.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Should I a) post the next chapter as soon as it's ready, b) hold off until the fic is finished and post all of the remaining chapters in close succession, or c) stop looking ahead to when the chapter is finished and just write it already, and ask what to do about it then?

Comments

[charamei]

Whoo, go you!

It really comes down to personal preference, but I'm increasingly finding that I prefer to wait until the whole thing's finished before I post a multi-chapter fic:

• It makes it easier to edit out continuity errors or retcon in foreshadowing for plot points. (I'm a bit of a pantser: YMMV.)


• You don't end up feeling guilty if you abandon a fic that nobody's ever heard of anyway.


• A lot of people won't read anything with a WIP tag on it, so waiting until you've got them is manipulative but useful. Likewise, posting it all at once means people don't have time to forget what it is in between chapters...


• The anticipation is in some ways as sweet as the actual reviews, and making yourself wait definitely gives you an incentive to finish the dratted thing.

But, you know. This strategy is also the reason I've not really posted anything in two years while I wrote First Steps at a snail's pace, so.

[dbskyler]

Good points. I am definitely going to think twice about ever posting a WIP again! I really did not expect to get as stalled out on this as I did. But on the other hand, if I didn't already have some chapters of this posted, I would probably have abandoned it by now. A few people have recently told me they want to see it continued, and that's been a huge motivator.

On the other other hand, anyone who hasn't been keeping up with my journal is probably under the reasonable impression that I have abandoned the fic. Given how long it's been, I would hate to see them disappointed if I stall out again after this chapter is posted but before the fic is finished.

But I think you're right; waiting until it's finished is the best all-around strategy. I just need to find something else besides reviews to keep me slogging through to the end! (Unfortunately, anticipation is nowhere near as sweet as reviews for me.)

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

I'm tempted to say (c)!! :D

And you know you can PM/email me any time about the fic... That's what your beta is there for - amongst other things...

Anyway, congrats on having written so much - SO looking forward to re-reading the whole thing and KNOWING it's finished!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I think "c" it is . . . :D

Thanks for the reminder that I can PM/email you about the fic! I will definitely keep doing that, and I'll keep sending you the latest pieces (especially if I decide not to post until the whole thing is finished). The writethisfanfic writing buddy was more like month-long fic_rush partner -- she gave general support and encouragement (despite having no fandom in common), and it helped to send her my daily word count during this last push to meet my goal.

[persiflage-1.livejournal.com]

*grins*

And you're welcome for the reminder... And please DO send me whatever you feel like sharing, or just PM/email me to moan, rant or even rave!! :D I might not respond very promptly once my mad hours start on Dec 4 (as I don't have net access at work) but I WILL respond before the end of my day...

[tempestas-inu.livejournal.com]

To be honest, I don't care so long as I get to read more fic! So.... either a or c for me!

Good to know you're making progress though :D

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

Progress on this fic definitely feels good! : )

[thisbluespirit]

Heh, that's great! I think the decision is up to you, but it's great that you're making such progress!

[dbskyler.livejournal.com]

I think I'm leaning towards waiting, to be honest. I think I got spoiled by my first big multi-chapter fic, which went swimmingly, and so I was completely blindsided when this one stubbornly refused to be written on a reasonable schedule. As much as it would motivate me to get reviews for the next chapter, I would feel absolutely horrible if I happened to get stalled out again before the end. So I'll probably wait to post, but keep bugging my flist with reports of my progress. :D