ivalee

NaNoWriMo

2017-11-02T04:48:46Z

I'm actually really excited now to do NaNo. Partly because I finally thought of a story idea... still needs lots of fleshing out and plotting, but I think it'll be fun... but mostly because both my daughters have decided to do NaNo, too! They're doing the Young Writers Program where they set their own word count goal. My 12 yo wants to write 9,000 words, and my 9 yo wants to write 6,000. Considering they have to put homework first, I think those are excellent goals. And they both exceeded their word count goal for today! So hooray! 12 yo is writing a dystopian fantasy adventure and 9 yo is writing an action-packed fantasy adventure. We had a lot of fun today talking about their plots and their characters and reading snippets out loud. I'm so proud of them. :-)

I am crazy

2017-11-01T01:14:27Z

I disappeared from fandom for a while there. :-o There's still lots of ACBB fics I want to read, and I hope to get to them in the coming weeks.

This month was crazy busy... For the fourth year in a row, I was in charge of games for my daughter's school's annual Fall Festival. It's a really big job that involves lots of prep work for weeks in advance- besides creating and organizing games and arranging for volunteers, I have to rent inflatables and light towers which means making lots of phone calls and asking for donations which totally stresses me out! Anyway, the festival was last weekend, and even though it was chilly, we had a great turnout and the kids had lots of fun! Now I'm feeling hugely relieved, because it's done and it was my last year doing it! My daughter moves up to a new school next year. Hooray!

So I think because I'm feeling like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I suddenly find myself with more free time than I've had in a while, I did something possibly very stupid... I signed up for NaNoWriMo! What am I thinking? Ha! I've done it every other year for the last few years, and I didn't do it last year, so maybe I just want to keep up my pattern? Anyway, I have no idea for a story, and next week I'm in charge of Book Fair at my daughter's school and have to be at the school all day every day. So basically, dumb. But whatever... I'm going to give it a shot!

Personal word war

2017-04-15T15:19:50Z

My goal was 1500, and I got 1322. Didn't quite make it, but I'm excited about the story again and I think it'll be easier to write a little bit each day again. (Once Easter is over and fun but somewhat stressful extended family time is done!). Thanks for the support, friends!

yesterday's words for my pretend word war

2017-04-13T15:07:31Z

Goal: 1500
Yesterday's words: 84
Total so far: 610

Didn't have much time to write yesterday- I got called in to cover a friend's volunteer shift at the library, and then we spent the entire afternoon/evening at my parents' house. But today I have a bit more time.

Catching up from missed word war

2017-04-12T03:58:49Z

So last week I totally failed on the word war, because I was exhausted from caring for my daughters who were both sick all week. Since I wasn't able to write much then, and since I can't seem to write without a deadline of some sort, I'm pretending the word war is today through Friday. I'm going to post my word count here for accountability. :-)

Goal: 1500 words
Today's count: 526

I also have a question... is there an accepted fandom surname for Mordred?

Black lives matter

2016-09-22T23:08:11Z

I had lunch today with the 12 year old girl I mentor, and some of her friends joined us. At their school almost all of the kids are black or brown, and almost all of the teachers are white. My mentee told me about seeing a girl slam one of her friends against a stall in the restroom, and then, full of bluster because her friends were listening, she told me, “Now I have to fight that girl.”

I tried to point out some other, more constructive ways to handle the situation and was assured by all the 7th graders present that talking simply wouldn’t work.

“If it happens again, I’ll fight her.”

I said, “Couldn’t you go tell a teacher?” and I was met with blank stares.

“What good would that do?”

After school when I picked up my daughters, I asked each of them individually what they would do if they witnessed the same thing. Without hesitation, they both said, “Go find a teacher!”

And there it is…

White children believe the teachers are there to help. They believe with all their hearts that authority figures will look out for them and protect them.

Black children know the authority figures are not there to look out for them.

This has to change.

ACBB goals

2016-07-27T04:48:02Z

The goals I set were...

Monday night 1000 words - check!
Tuesday 3000 words - close... 2400
Wednesday 3000 words - we'll see! I think I can. I think I can.

so behind on ACBB

2016-07-26T00:09:19Z

Every year, I think summertime will be lovely without all the commitments of the school year, but I always forget that summer is full of its own commitments. Multiple camps, VBS, Meals on Wheels, family trips, outings with my mentee and with grandparents and friends. Plus we've been pet-sitting a guinea pig all summer. It's all fun, but whew... It's exhausting! And so I have fallen behind on writing.

I leave for camp with my daughter on Thursday. I had hoped to have my second story finished by then, so I could devote the beginning of August to editing and polishing both stories, but I estimate I still need about 10k words to finish, and so far today, I've written zero!

So I'm posting my plans here to have some accountability...

tonight - at least 1000 words
tomorrow - at least 3000 words, plus grocery shopping
Wednesday - at least 3000 words, plus pack for camp

That won't get the story finished, but maybe it'll help me feel less overwhelmed when I get back from camp on Sunday. Wish me luck!

Descriptive writing

2016-04-18T02:38:48Z

Hi new friends! *waves shyly* I've been thinking I would like to post more on my journal, so here goes...

Last week, my daughter had the flu followed by a sinus infection, so she was home all week, but not feeling up for much but lying around watching tv. So to keep the screen time down a bit, I read her "A Wrinkle in Time." I loved this book as a kid, but I haven't read it in years. As soon as I started reading, though, I was immediately swept back into that world as if I never left. Madeleine L'Engle wrote such vivid descriptions that the reader can't help feeling like they're in the middle of the action.

I do not write vivid descriptions. Or really any descriptions. I do notice that when I'm reading, if the author spends too much time describing a setting or a character, I tend to skim, but I definitely go too far the other direction. In my ACBB fic, there are two OCs who I love, but the other day my artist had to ask for more details about their appearance, because I mentioned nothing. Not even hair color! Yikes!

So this week, I'm going to try some descriptive writing exercises. Maybe a little practice will help me create more vivid scenes and characters!

Fic: Christmas Memories

2016-03-16T13:33:56Z

Haven't posted in a while, so I'm catching up with backdated entries...

for bbcmerlinsecretsanta on tumblr

Title: Christmas Memories
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Merlin and Arthur spend a cozy Christmas Eve snuggled before the fire, reminiscing about past Christmases.

Fic: More Than Just a Game

2016-03-16T13:31:24Z

Haven't posted in a while, so I'm catching up with backdated entries...

reversebb 2015

Title: More Than Just a Game
Rating: PG-13
Summary: When Merlin started his job as game designer at DragonVision, he was excited to join the team creating an RPG about the legends of King Arthur. Soon he was even dreaming about scenes from the legend, even if those were not part of the game. Or at least they weren't planned to be, but on each day after Merlin had a dream, scenes he programmed at work changed, resembling his dreams now. Instead of biting Merlin's head off, though, his creative director, Arthur, supported and encouraged him, even when Merlin's game scenes began to create a love story between the Once and Future King and his warlock.

Fic: Truth, Trust and Partnership

2016-03-16T13:28:55Z

Haven't posted in a while, so I'm catching up with backdated entries...

ACBB 2015

Title: Truth, Trust and Partnership
Rating: PG-13
Summary: DI Arthur Pendragon is assigned to work with the most openly-mocked detective on the Camelot CID. He quickly learns Merlin's "spooky" reputation is well-earned. Merlin believes in magic and mythical creatures, and he seems to spend most of his time with his head in the clouds. But he is also the smartest, most compassionate detective Arthur has ever known. And he is haunted by a mystery from his past that drives him to help victims who might otherwise be ignored. Arthur cannot help but follow him.

Merlin marathon!

2014-09-30T03:53:05Z

So, my first grader was home sick today, and all she wanted to do all day was watch Merlin. Even after big sister got home, they watched another couple. Then due to lack of sleep last night from frequently checking her breathing, I was too tired to fuss with dinner, so we ate sandwiches in the living room in front of the television.

All in all, Little Miss and I watched 14 episodes of Merlin today! And, although Merlin was frequently unable to heal Arthur, I think he helped her. No fever or wheezy breathing tonight!

Fic: Imagine the Possibilities

2014-08-18T03:55:47Z

Wrote this for the After Camlann Big Bang. I had so much fun writing this story. Museums hold a special place in my heart, so naturally, I gave my favorite characters jobs in a museum.

One of the great things about participating in ACBB was getting paired with an amazing artist, aarins_rou. When I first wrote the story, I imagined the museum in your basic modern building, but then my brilliant artist said she sort of pictured the museum as an old castle, and I thought, “Yes! That is perfect! Why didn’t I think of that?” And then every single art piece she created was more lovely than what I had pictured in my head. So a hundred thanks to Rou for your hard work and care and your artistic vision. Also, thanks to Dani for the beta, and thanks to the ACBB mods. I had so much fun with this!

Title: Imagine the Possibilities
Rating: PG-13
Summary: After years of magic being outlawed, the Sorcerers’ Rights Movement is starting to make some progress. Merlin wants to help by creating an exhibit in the Museum of Medieval History showing the beneficial use of magic historically, but two things stand in his way: his boss, Arthur, whose father is one of the politicians leading the anti-magic charge, and the sudden disappearance of magical artefacts from the museum’s collection.

Also, here's Rou's art masterpost. Her artwork for my story literally made me both cry and bounce up and down giggling like mad. :-)

Fic: Mustn't Flirt with your Assistant

2014-04-23T01:52:48Z

I wrote this a few weeks ago for Tavern Tales. Their theme of the month was Letters, Emails, Post-its, and I have always loved the epistolary format. So I wrote this simple little story. There's not much to it, but I like it.

Title: Mustn't Flirt with your Assistant
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Arthur knows he shouldn't flirt with his assistant. But that doesn't stop him doing it.

Fic: A Wrenching Succession of Separations

2014-04-01T12:59:11Z

Heh... I hate to do this to poor Merlin and Arthur, but dealing with my grandmother is wearing me down. Writing this was therapy. Some of the stuff in the story is exactly what she does... over and over and over again.

Title: A Wrenching Succession of Separations
Rating: PG
Warnings/Spoilers: Character death, post 5x13
Summary: Losing Arthur once nearly broke Merlin’s heart, but caring for the man he loves through Alzheimer’s is like tearing off a piece of his heart each day.

new journal and fic

2014-02-19T14:22:03Z

Now that I created this journal, I should post an entry! :-) This won't be a terribly active journal... it is purely for my Merlin obsession. Personal stuff is in another journal that is ages old and hasn't been updated in a couple of years.

I mostly lurk in the Merlin fandom... I love reading fics and will try to leave a comment if I enjoyed a story. So far, I've only been commenting on AO3, but now I can comment on LJ, too. And I started this journal to participate in the After Camlann big bang challenge. So far, I've only written one Merlin fic... I wrote it for NaNoWriMo, and I had a blast, so I thought I'd give it another shot.

Title: And Future
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Merlin is a physician who spends his days healing others and his years waiting for the return of his king. Arthur finally returns, but is dismayed to find that his life has been reduced to tales of fantasy.

The two old friends are becoming reacquainted in this new reality, but when Merlin senses a powerful and malicious magic, king and sorcerer must embark on a quest to uncover its source.

“Leaving home at first light to track down an unknown enemy with Merlin at his side reminded Arthur so much of the old days in Camelot. Perhaps this was why he had returned. To rid the world of this evil. To make the people of his kingdom safe once more.”