Revenge of the Exchange Bears
Jan. 15th, 2020 02:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
rheasilviaI 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![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
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.)
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.)
no subject
Date: 2020-01-16 09:51 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2020-01-17 02:57 am (UTC)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.