A repeat Meme from last year. Unlocked for the first time since I’ve been on LJ. My fanfic year end review.
I wasn’t surprised that I wrote fewer stories in 2007 than I did in 2006 (however, I was disappointed). JLU remains the primary fandom I write in, but I also wrote Lois & Clark and Batman focused story this year.
I think that most of you know I never judge the success of a story by how many reviews it got, but instead – how many times it was read. In that regard I had some nice surprises and some ugly ones too this year. But I liked every story I wrote this year and that made it worth while.
I won’t include links to the stories listed because chances are, if you’re reading this, you’ve already read it (or already had a chance to). But if you need (or want) to read it again, go to my site to do so because occasionally JL Unlimited or FanFiction.net will mangle a story despite the best efforts of those in charge. :).
That said, let’s roll.
Stories longer than 100 words: 11, including the last story for the year, …Of a Nail, (Yes, I know it’s 9 drabbles in one story, but I’m counting it as a 900 word story.)
Songfic: 0 Zero. Let the choir say “Amen.” I’m just not good at them.
Favorite story of mine this year: Once Upon A Time in the Future. I have been wanting to tell a story of past lives since I first saw “Ancient History.” (Well, actually since I got over the storyline in AH.) I did a lot of research to make sure I got the language and the race relations/ interactions of 1880 right. I think I did.
Most important story to my personal JL arc this year: Broken Mirror. It was Shayera and Batman and Shayera and Carter. It tied BTAS to BB by using a little girl named Kimmy. It was my most read story of the year.
My most technically perfect (IMHO) story: The Dance of Elephants and Once Upon A Time in the Future. Why? Because neither had a beta and those who mattered liked it. 🙂
Story most under appreciated by the rest of the universe, in my opinion: Tala, Anyone? This story was fun to write and Tala threatening to turn Lois into a rabbit or making her disappear made me laugh. Sadly, this story tanked because it was a Lois & Clark story with a slight JLU crossover. Because it did so badly it was my last Lois & Clark story.
Runner Up: The Return of Red Claw. As one reviewer put it, it was a “let’s beat the bad guys and then go to lunch.” Upon reflection, it was not my best executed story, but it wasn’t quite that bad. I thought it was more like, “let’s beat the bad guys, talk for thirty seconds and then go to lunch.” 🙂
Most fun to write: Father’s Day (It was based on a real life story.)
Hardest story to write: Amoroso. This story wanted to turn into “R” or “NC-17” so badly, but I refused to let it do so. Yeah, it might have been a better story if I had done so, but it wouldn’t have been a story I could tell or one I would have liked myself for telling.
Finally, my most valuable character this year is Lois Lane. I’m referring to the Lois Lane of Lois & Clark. I was able to find the scripts for all of the Lois & Clark episodes. I learned a lot about the character from those scripts and even more about character banter from Lois’ dialogue. (I’m not very good now, but I’d be oh so much worse without that learning process.)
No real theme in this year’s stories beyond my standard mantra of “violent people living violent lives.” Last year I said I’d write a JL Rashomon type story and do a post-A Better World Justice Lords story. Neither of those things happened and they won’t happen in 2008 either.
My goal for next year is to write at least three stories. It’s a modest goal I may be able to obtain if I persevere.
Finally, I happily realized a dream of mine in 2007. I got a chance to co-write something with Merlin Missy who again betaed most of what I wrote. I also got xffan_2000 to beta one of my most successful stories of the year, Broken Mirror. These two wonderful women were the reason I have enjoyed some modest success in this realm.
Next year’s meme, if there is one, will be much shorter. Until next year.