Revenge of the Exchange Bears

[rheasilvia]

I have now identified the five characteristic phases of my fanworks exchange experience. The process has been the same in all documented cases, so I consider it established fact.

Phase 1: False Confidence.

This seems doable! Sure, so far I have no ideas (and no time to write, either). But, hey! What could possibly go wrong?

Phase 2: Mad Writing.

Annoyingly, time keeps on passing. But no worries: I have an idea! And who needs sleep, anyway. It will work out - it's going to be a short story, after all.

Phase 3: Dramatic Despair!

WHY IS THIS NOT A SHORT STORY. WHYYYY.

Phase 4: A New Hope.

New plan: We're going with an entirely different story! And this one will be short!! Honest! I really mean it this time! (*insert crazed laughter here*)

Phase 5: Ohmygod Look At The Time.

It is done!! Is this story fit to be read and enjoyed by human beings? I have no idea! Is it short? Uhm, kind of? Where will I find the time to edit it? Muahahahaaaa!


Does this sound familiar to you? Or are you among those enviably organized creators who master exchanges with minimal BEARS, and might even juggle several exchanges at the same time?


(This post brought to you by the fact that my sundial_exchange assignment is due on the 18th - this Saturday! Fortunately, I should be able to edit it for another week after I've added it to the AO3 collection, so the situation isn't as dire as it could be. But still.)

Comments

[xparrot]

My Sundial story is actually not too far off from my projected wordcount (like, it should be less than double it? that's amazing for me!)...so far. Seeing as it's not quite done yet...

Fortunately, I should be able to edit it for another week after I've added it to the AO3 collection,

The hope upon which all my ambitions rest, at this point! ^^;;; How is it already Tuesday!? How are these characters still talking!?

[rheasilvia]

Less than double the intended length is definitely right on target! That's only the expected natural expansion of a story in the wild. ;-)

I (more or less) hit that target with my second story, too. And yay, I just finished the first draft - which is definitely calming, considering how Story#1 just would. not. stop.

The hope upon which all my ambitions rest, at this point!

They do talk a lot!! And all that *thinking*... and then they turn the mood on their author suddenly! And insist on being angsty and serious even in a cracky fluffy story!

BUT YES! There is still time! :-) :-)

[xparrot]

That's only the expected natural expansion of a story in the wild. ;-)

Glad we all understand how this works! 😁

Yay for reaching an ending, always a triumph! Though now I'm hoping you might find an ending for the first story too. Fluffy crack that goes serious is one of my favorite things!

[rheasilvia]

Glad we all understand how this works!

I hear that there are some species of stories that actually shrink in the wild, but I have yet to encounter one of these exotic specimen myself.

Indeed, making it to the finish line is something not to be taken for granted... I hope your story's ending is right around the corner, and will be reached forthwith!

BTW: The characters who insisted on bringing the angst into my fluffy crack are actually in the second story. ;-)

[teaotter]

We can edit for another week!?! *checks timeline* *falls over with relief*

I am definitely fully in Phase 5 right now. Where did the time go???

[rheasilvia]

We can edit for another week!?! *checks timeline* *falls over with relief*

YEEES! It is a true blessing. I only discovered it last night, and was *so* relieved. I mean, in a perfect world I'd like the story to not only be finished, but also readable, or even vaguely enjoyable!

Good luck!!!

[china_shop]

Phase 4: A New Hope.

I see what you did there! :D :D :D

I have too much fear of Phase 3 (or never quite making it to Phase 2) to sign up for exchanges, most of the time.

Good luck!! *\o/*

[rheasilvia]

I have too much fear of Phase 3 (or never quite making it to Phase 2) to sign up for exchanges, most of the time.

I knooow! I was the same for most of my fannish life, and pretty much started my current ruinous exchange habit with Guardian. WHY.

But now, at least, a draft exists! So really, what could go wrong? ;-)

[asya_ana]

This sounds very familiar to me, although I don't typically have the overwriting problem, more the errr underwriting problem. I think in my case it's really a 3-step process: the first is joyous enthusiasm about signing up; the second is yay my recipient and their wonderful prompt; the third is straight to despair.

YOU'D THINK I'D LEARN.

[rheasilvia]

Ooh, the rare shrinking story phenomenon! I have heard of this happening, though I have never witnessed it myself. Does it at least reduce the required writing time, and thus the accompanying panic...?

YOU'D THINK I'D LEARN.

It is the Curse of the Exchange Bears. When the next exchange comes around, we will look back full of hubris and think, "hah, I don't know what the issue was last time, but hey - the deadline is far off, and the minimum word count is tiny. What coulkd possibly go wrong?!"

Good luck with breaking out of your three-step process to exchange mastery!

[mekare]

I feel your pain. Some exchanges go well, and some go a bit like you described. This one certainly has for me!

[rheasilvia]

Argh, I am sorry to hear that the exchange bears have been chasing you too, this time around! They have a lot to answer for...

[extrapenguin]

It is done!! Is this story fit to be read and enjoyed by human beings? I have no idea!
This is the exchange writer's eternal lament! (Or perhaps any writer's - it's not like my exchange feelings are that different from my regular feelings.)

My sundial fic only needs a few paragraphs more and is in fact a bit shorter than I projected, so I decided I'll sign up for the Worldbuilding Exchange, and headed off to nominate. *g* Wish me luck?

[rheasilvia]

This is the exchange writer's eternal lament! (Or perhaps any writer's - it's not like my exchange feelings are that different from my regular feelings.)

Good point - this does seem to happen a lot even outside of exchanges. Which begs the question whether the exchange deadline is a good or a bad thing, considering it forces despairing authors to just *finish the damn story*, regardless of whether or not said authors are confident in their creation...

Wish me luck?

Good luck!! I have no doubt you will prevail. After all, what could possibly go wrong!! ;-)

[abyss_valkyrie]

LOOOOL!!!I've had this happen before when I used to take on many things or even just two because...false confidence! XD Mostly had to get extensions but in the end I managed,somehow! HOW DO PEOPLE CREATE WITH MINIMAL BEARS?!O_o

[rheasilvia]

False confidence has a lot to answer for!

HOW DO PEOPLE CREATE WITH MINIMAL BEARS?!O_o

I DON'T KNOOOW!!! It is a complete mystery to me how some intrepid creators regularly sign up for several challenges at once, and appear to come out of the experience with no major psychological scars.

[akk]

Actually, I've given up on challenges / exchanges. I found them entirely frustrating, because you get or choose a prompt and a deadline that never gives enough time to research things, never accounts for all those beautiful plot bunnies that are sparked by - but unfortunately totally unrelated to - the initial prompt, and thus I end up writing a story out of necessity (because I promised) and not because I want to tell that tale at that point. It too often resulted in something I consider mediocre for my standards at best - and thus in something too close to cheap cheating. Since writing should be fun and not make you feel awful... :)

[rheasilvia]

I can definitely relate! The reluctance to end up with a story that isn't as good as it *could* be is what leads to Phase 4, for me. I hate the thought of posting a story that could have been exactly what I wanted it to be, if only I'd had more time.

I do find that in some cases, writing to a prompt can be inspirational, in that it can give me unexpected ideas and have me go off in directions that would not otherwise have occurred to me. But then, prompts don't necessarily have to appear in the context of an exchange. ;-)

[akk]

I hate the thought of posting a story that could have been exactly what I wanted it to be, if only I'd had more time.

If only the prompt had been about the interaction of side character C & D instead of pairing A and B... ;)

prompts don't necessarily have to appear in the context of an exchange

So true, but if a fandom has become very, very quiet that's often the only place where prompts sometimes still come up. I admit, I often browse prompts but then decide just to write them without participating in the challenge, thus taking the time restriction off. I have too much deadlines when writing research papers already. ;)

[rheasilvia]

If only the prompt had been about the interaction of side character C & D instead of pairing A and B...

Oh, this would not work for me at all - if I only want to write about side characters C and D, then I will enter the exchange with everyone agreeing that I will only write about C and D. :-)

Fortunately, all exchanges I can remember off the top of my head allow creators to specify what exactly they want to create. There's no sense in forcing yourself to write about people you have no interest in.

I often browse prompts but then decide just to write them without participating in the challenge

Oh, I do that too! I suspect everyone does. :-) It's still different when you are in an exchange, because then you will not automatically gravitate towards the prompts that immediately appeal to you. I've written stories that I consider among my best works to prompts that I would not initially have chosen.

[akk]

You misunderstood me.

I can get a prompt about characters A & B and accept it to write about A & B, but then the story progresses in my head and the result is that C & D turn out to be much more interesting and A & B are just bland, everyday dish. For me, stories evolve from a starting point - and the evolution is what I explore. Unfortunately, evolution is NOT orderly, hence it seldom complies with prompts. ;)

One type of exchange I used to love is short(est) fics (drabble or double-drabbles), in which you have to fill a prompt with a complete story in 100 (or 200) words. Those were fun and the plot bunnies didn't get enough time to be bothersome. Sadly, once a fandom grows slower, those tend to disappear.

[solo]

And this is why I don't do exchanges.

Phase 4: A New Hope.

You needed one called Phantom Menace in there.

ETA: if you'd like a beta, buddy, I'm here.

[rheasilvia]

And this is why I don't do exchanges.

You are wise beyond your years! Whereas advancing age appears to make me increasingly reckless...

Phase 3 is definitely The Phantom Menace. Jar Jar Binks and all.

if you'd like a beta, buddy, I'm here.

I DO!!! PLEASE!!! Just let me edit this thing without major mishap. Thumbs squeezed.

[dancing_serpent]

I never even reach Phase 1! *g*

[rheasilvia]

I think you are much wiser than I! *g* I don't know why I appear to be growing more reckless with age...

[trobadora]

This is so spot on! *hides from the BEARS*

[rheasilvia]

Oh nooo, are they chasing you too? Good luck!!

[trobadora]

Thank you! I managed to catch my second cold of the year, so everything is going VEEEEERY SLOOOOOOOW. Not helpful when the BEARS are after you!

[rheasilvia]

Bah, I am sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better soon, and both the bears and the germs let you write in peace!

[lauand]

I don't think I've ever entered an exchange I didn't submit late my story for. (Awkward grammar is awkward. I fail at English.)

In any case, PHASE THREE, MAN, PHASE THREE.

I'm working on a story that, 15K words ago I thought was 3K away of being completely finished. Now I think I might need 10K more and it's still growing and growing... Just to give you a reference, my average wordcount used to be around 1.5K. What the hell.

[rheasilvia]

PHASE THREE IS THE SILENT SCREAMING HORROR OF THE ABYSS.

I didn't know that it was possible to submit stories late...? I thought you just - failed out of the entire exchange if you missed the deadline? (In any case, I cannot miss a deadline. I just cannot. It's in my blood, I can't help it.)

Just to give you a reference, my average wordcount used to be around 1.5K. What the hell.

Another bit of proof that this fandom does strange things to people...

[lauand]

The kind of exchanges I've taken part in are small and relaxed and there's usually a calendar for posting where each author gets a certain date. I always have to ask the mods to move my date down and down and, well, I've been known to post after the exchange had finished more than once. That's why I try not to take part, because I suck at deadlines and it's more work for the mods, who are already investing a lot of their time in holding the event (I admire greatly your genetical disposition to fulfill them but, alas, it seems to be the other way around for me).

[geeklover80]

Generally speaking, I get to Phase 1 and that's about it. I'll have a lot of ideas, but actual writing (if it happens) is veeeery slow. Unfortunately, unlike you, I don't even finish on time. I either have to ask for a bunch of extensions or - lately - I haven't ended up finishing at all.

Most of the time, I usually participate in maybe two exchanges/fests at once. This December, it was actually around three at the same time. But, usually, the deadlines for the fests, or at different times.

Stacey

[rheasilvia]

This December, it was actually around three at the same time.

Eeek, you are a braver woman than I! One exchange at a time is already too much for me; I don't think I'd stand a chance to get anything finished if I tried to do more than one at the same time. Too much stress...

Why do we do this to ourselves? Why???

(Yeah, I'm a slow writer myself, and by now I really should know better than to be lulled into a false sense of security by a low minimum word count. I don't think I've ever successfully written something that was close to the minimum. But... hope springs eternal?)

[marycrawford]

Heh, that sounds familiar. Here's mine: The Stages of Writing a Story

[rheasilvia]

LOL! OMG! I knew it!! Yes, that's exactly it!

I am beginning to believe that it's not down to us at all - clearly, this kind of writing mishap is inevitable because of the natural laws governing fannish exchanges. It may actually be impossible to write a story that stays close to the minimum wordcount.

And it's always Phase 3 / Stage 3 that has BEARS.

[tinny]

I think this is normal!

My highest goal is to never write against a deadline. Making art against a deadline is much much easier. The characters don't talk, for one thing. :D

But if everyone thought like me, there would be no more exchanges and fewer stories. So: go you!

[rheasilvia]

It does appear to be normal, unfortunately... which just makes it all the stranger that I am evidently unable to learn from the experience, and just fall for Phase 1 again like a n00b when the next exchange rols around. :-)

My highest goal is to never write against a deadline. Making art against a deadline is much much easier. The characters don't talk, for one thing.

That is a very worthy goal, and I must say that *I hate writing against deadlines so much*. It's really puzzling to me how I keep falling into exchanges!

Oh god, the characters never shut up when the scene needs to end, and never manage to open their mouths when I'm relying on them to convey something.