blue_bells (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
blue_bells) wrote2011-04-13 07:37 pm
blue_bells) wrote2011-04-13 07:37 pm
Off Topic += Muse Guilt, Mine and Yours
Despite occasionally empathising with character's plights in fanfic, when was the last time you actually sat back after writing something and thought, "Huh. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I think I feel... douche-y"?
I don't mean in an intellectual way because you know the difference between right and wrong, because you know that if such-and-such were to happen in real life that it would be reprehensible. Writing and reading is escapism, so the rules are different. I mean that feeling you get when somebody - whose opinion you care about - looks at you like you've betrayed or disappointed them and you didn't see it coming.
I hit 44k on my big bang last night and was left with this feeling. I'm calling it muse guilt. I was so bemused that I had to stop halfway through the afternoon and write to one of my friends about it. Don't worry, this is not actually keeping me up at night, but I wonder what it means that I haven't had this experience writing in the last six months on the myriad of other stories. I know I'm lingering on this a day later because I'm running on two hours of sleep, we've had an abrupt change to colder weather, and I've been living and breathing these characters for over three months.
I know this happens to a lot of people through the course of their writing. It's not quite contrition, but it's still fascinating.
So, when's the last time you had muse guilt? What were you writing at the time?
And since turn about is fair play, here's a meme I ganked from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
ravenspear.
The problem with the internet is that we might think we know each other, but there are plenty of things we miss. Here's your chance to ask me anything you want to know. It can be big or little, about the past or opinions or unimportant little extras. Whatever it is, just ask!
I don't mean in an intellectual way because you know the difference between right and wrong, because you know that if such-and-such were to happen in real life that it would be reprehensible. Writing and reading is escapism, so the rules are different. I mean that feeling you get when somebody - whose opinion you care about - looks at you like you've betrayed or disappointed them and you didn't see it coming.
I hit 44k on my big bang last night and was left with this feeling. I'm calling it muse guilt. I was so bemused that I had to stop halfway through the afternoon and write to one of my friends about it. Don't worry, this is not actually keeping me up at night, but I wonder what it means that I haven't had this experience writing in the last six months on the myriad of other stories. I know I'm lingering on this a day later because I'm running on two hours of sleep, we've had an abrupt change to colder weather, and I've been living and breathing these characters for over three months.
I know this happens to a lot of people through the course of their writing. It's not quite contrition, but it's still fascinating.
So, when's the last time you had muse guilt? What were you writing at the time?
And since turn about is fair play, here's a meme I ganked from
ravenspear.The problem with the internet is that we might think we know each other, but there are plenty of things we miss. Here's your chance to ask me anything you want to know. It can be big or little, about the past or opinions or unimportant little extras. Whatever it is, just ask!
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Fantasy-wise:
- George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series is fantastic, even if it's not done yet and hugely mean to its characters.
- Milorad Pavic's Dictionary of the Khazars is weird, fantastic and intrigues me.
- Storm Constantine's Wraeththu series. It's...a different kind of story. I recommend it because it's an interesting read and fun to check out.
- Glen Cook's The Black Company series - it's gritty fantasy, nifty though.
- Michael Swanwick's The Iron Dragon's Daughter. It's dark and original take on fantasy, imho.
- Susanna Clarke's Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - it's a big fantasy novel that's just...it handles fairies incredibly well, in their original style - that is, nasty and weird beings that humans can only hope they aren't annoying.
Sci-fi wise:
- Peter Watts in general. He's dark and awesome. I've read Starfish three times, and should read it again. (Even better - they're available for free on his website in a variety of formats.)
- Charles Stross in general, too. Halting State is a mystery set inside a futuristic MMORPG written in a cool style. Accelerando is also amazing. :D
- S. Andrew Swann's Moreau series is fantastic. It's somewhat mystery, somewhat action, sci-fi, and has amazing characters. :D (Nohar <3)
- Anything by Issac Asimov.
- A Fire Upon the Deep by Vernor Vinge for absolutely fascinating aliens.
....*so tempted to go reread a host of those*
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