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I was re-reading Linda Bedroll's Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife for the millionth time last week, and I'm wondering if it's strange that I want fanfic for this ~~fanfic~~ book? I want Hannah/Goodwin fic to be specific. Because...yes. That would be awesome. And despite the idea for a fic circling in my head, I have neither the writing time nor the period knowledge to do it justice. So, the search begins. I am already sure it is futile.

Speaking of reading... my kindle just arrived! Why don't more of you have your stuff up on AO3? Hmmm? It's time to fill this sucker with a metric ton of fanfic. Oh yes. *rubs hands together* What do you have on your kindle/eReader?

And last, but not least: another writing lesson I refuse to learn, or rather, am forced to relearn over and over again. When I am writing a fic, there is often a passage (or ten, depending on the length) that I absolutely love, one I feel completely encapsulates the point of the fic, that therefore becomes the default fulcrum of the fic. But, to put it mildly, I revise. I mean, the similarities between my first draft and my final posted draft are very few. (I swear, I should post a before and after one of these days. I think it might amuse you all.) So, I revise. I rewrite sections, I move scenes around, futz, futz, futz. And there is always this point where everything stalls out and I am trying to work that Perfect Passage back in to the Perfect Spot and it just isn't working and I begin to assume 1) my writing mojo on this story is stalled out, 2) the fic sucks, or 3) that I just need to let it sit and marinate for a while. But then after much hair-pulling and swearing and bitching to Trout on IM, I usually realize that it is Perfect Passage that is holding everything up. That Perfect Passage is stating the blatantly obvious that is better off NOT being said. Yet, the fic never could have evolved without it, and Perfect Words are rare and special and it is SO HARD to actually delete them, even for the betterment of the fic. So I am forced to remember all over again: the delete key is your friend. (As is the backup draft.)

*goes off to delete stuff*

Threaded | Flat

OMG yes that Perfect Passage...but you're better than I am, I don't delete. I cut and paste into a new file just in case it's needed somewhere--if not in this fic then in another.

Sometimes the best advice when it comes to that Perfect Passage...

Let it go, Annerbhp, just let it go.

But yeah, at least you write that Perfect Passage. I sometimes will have the Perfect Scene that I'm dying to write... seriously, it NEEDS to go in there... only to get to it and can't find a way to make it fit. *pouts* And so the scene lies in wait within my head, slowly draining down to a fizzle that no one will ever see. A mere shadow of the story, hunkering down until it's eventually forgotten...

Or to make a long drama queen filled story short, we just have to learn to let it go.

Besides your end results always seem perfect to me! Your stories are good enough without them.

And as a last reort? You could always post that Passage separately and mark it as a deleted scene - which now that I think on it was something I did once upon a time with my story, Tangled Alliances. And it was a success based on the feedback. So go for it!! Who doesn't love deleted scenes?

That Perfect Passage

It kills me EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. And it is almost always the last thing to go. AFter which the fic practically writes itself. Dammit.

(It's possible I had a moment just like the one you describe above last night. Only I haven't quite deleted the Perfect Passage yet. I'm working up the nerve. Really. *whimpers*)

My answer to the Perfect Passage, when I finally come to my senses, is "If it's really that great, I'll remember it. Delete!" I think there's only been one time when I had to go back and recreate it.

Getting to that point, now. That's another story.

Sometimes you just gotta murder a few darlings.

Man, I HAVE to get my fic on AO3. *feels vaguely guilty she hasn't already done so*

Its depressing to delete even for betterment but...I still have to say Amen lol

Woohoo! You joined the kindle cult...

Okay, I must admit, some of the stuff on my kindle is not so great, but yet perfect for reading as I'm trying to go to sleep. But since it's private, you totally don't have to be embarrassed and if it really sucks, you can just delete it! Also rereading old authors who've left fandom - always a good read and you never have to worry about it disappearing.

If you find something good on Fanfiction.net, you can use this website to create a ebook out of a story. Connect your kindle over USB and drag them across. http://flag.erayd.net/

If you want your stuff, I have almost all of them in eBooks *blushes*, but I also have about 47 pages of other Sam/Jack eBooks I could send over email to you.

Preach it, sister! I have bumped into that problem so many darn times. I think I have a word doc somewhere with all the bits of fics that just didn't fit in sadly but that I like too much to get rid of. Pretty sad, huh?

Oh, my dear, dear writing friend. You don't have to delete it, at least not forever. I have a file called "unused bits" with some of the best snippets of writing I have ever produced. Ah, well, I thought they were that good. They, however, like to think of themselves as "sentences still looking for a home." ;) One day they'll mortgage out and take up residence. Until then, I'll appreciate them in silence.

And since you're the proud new owner of a Kindle, let me introduce you to the most freaking-awesome program ever. FanFictionDownloader. http://www.fanfictiondownloader.net/ Two little clicks and the entire story from FF.net is plopped onto your computer ready for transfer. Twisting the Hellmouth allows you to convert directly from the site from your computer or your Kindle. Yeah, I love my Kindle too.

Happy reading!
Eleri