Well - summer is finally here! And I’m amazed at how much time I have now. That means I’m finally able to get back to reading, reviewing, beta-ing, and even writing! So what’s in the works?

I’m going to write a Mary-Sue fic. Who me? Yup. And I’m not ashamed to say so. It will be stereotypical, containing all the essential elements of Sue-ness and Suefics. The basic purpose of it will be to see if it’s actually possible for a canon character to fall for Mary Sue. If you’re interested in this little experiment of mine, I’ll post a link as soon as I actually post the story/study. I’m kind of excited about this - it will satisfy my curiousity, and also give me an excuse to write a Suefic

And I’ll finish writing up my SG-1 western, now entitled The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You. Which is, by the way, the first line of the University of Texas’ fight song. I thought that was funny, and for lack of a better title I used it.

Anyway, that’s what’s happening with me and fanfiction for now.

Well, in case anyone was wondering, I’m still alive. Haven’t had any time to write at all this year, though I have been posting bits of The Walls Between. I will have at least one new story before the summer (probably due to the fact that one of my final papers is writing an Arthurian romance) and hopefully will be able to do more writing then.

In the meantime… I’m doing some beta work (extremely slowly, unfortunately) and reviewing what few fanfics I read. Sorry about not keeping up with the new Narnia fic - reading and reviewing is rather time-consuming and I haven’t had the time for any recreation reading at all, much less fanfic. But if I do read something on a whim, I’ll review it for you.

Less than two months until Prince Caspian comes out!!! Who’s excited? I know I am…

Take care,

Val

Wow…. it’s done. The Tempest is finally posted, packaged, up and ready for download. Can’t believe it…

 If you do download the text, please let me know if there’s any typos, etc. I’m pretty sure there are some mistakes in it… I’m not too organised when it comes to cutting and pasting things. And also leave a comment if you download it…I’d like to know how many people/who is actually reading this stuff.

And, if you’re a regular reviewer/reader, look for you name in the acknowledgements page!

Well, I’m back. What was I doing on my week off? Heh heh. Not telling. Since it had nothing to do with fanfiction, I’m not writing it here. Suffice it to say that I’m back now, with a few plans.

 1) Finish the last few chapters of The Fanfiction Letters.

2) Finish posting The Tempest.

3) Do final edits on The Walls Between, and start posting it agian (it’s been 40 days since I posted - I think!)

4) Decide whether I want to finish the SG-1 western (which is a lot more likely now that I’m finally able to watch som Stargate) or start the Star Wars piece.

5) Finish formatting the story download page so that it actually looks nice and works.

 6) Survive at school…

And that’s about it. I’ll still try to read and review most of the new Narnia fiction (unless it’s slash, incest, MarySue, etc) but I can’t guarantee I’ll follow a story. Unless you happen to be Andi Horton, elecktrum, or my sister (hint hint).

Since music is such an integral part of my writing, I’m now posting the links to the songs… mostly on YouTube. I don’t like some of the video that goes with them… but it’s the song that matters.

The Tempest:

Fang’s Theme: Falling Inside the Black, by Skillet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=–j402Bmvxs

Tanya’s Theme: The Steward of Gondor, by Howard Shore: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2KrhjfFslo

Part II Theme: Whispers in the Dark, by Skillet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ct6RiJDyQ

Part III Theme: The Last Night and Yours to Hold by Skillet: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzOmZ-L4UkM&feature=related and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUitFjcsW44&feature=related

In the A/N: Dive, by Steven Curtis Chapman: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=098PwlqHD-o

In the Story: On My Own, by Barlowgirl (with Narnian pics!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5vcgzQYNNw

Narnia Quartet:

Night’s Song and Knight’s Song: Whispers in the Dark, by Skillet (yes I love this song but not the vid): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_ct6RiJDyQ

Knight’s Song: A Narnian Lullaby, by Harry Gregson-Williams: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5QAXcF_hmc

Sun Rise and Son Rise: Ready to Fly, by FFH: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dv7uc_REkSI

The Walls Between:

To Be Announced (evil grin). Send me your best guesses.

Perspectives:

Perspectives, by Kutless: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OONh8MTgcHI

Many other fics are likely to be inspired by this amazing, amazing song.

And yes, most of my fics are written while listening to my ‘favorites’ playlist - which consists mostly of Skillet (no! you’ve got to be kidding), Kutless, Barlowgirl, and Switchfoot. Oh, and did I mention Skillet?

Well, it’s Boxing Day, so I’m going to pull out the categories and try to cage up these plot bunnies.

Here’s what’s (hopefully) in store:

Narnia:

Prequel to The Walls Between:

The story of how Narnia was lost to the Witch. Told in true high epic style - I hope.

Death Knell or something similarly dreary
This is the song of a nation - the story of Calormen, a poem of two brothers, of love and hate, of pride and passion, of a family destroyed and the treachery of a woman - and the rebirth of a demon.

Cor/Corin fic:

No outline yet - just crazy twin brother stuff, probably. With Aravis, most likely.

Yeah, that crazy one I’m doing with ED…

A POTC/Narnia crossover:

We all know the Telmarines were pirates who settled down on islands and fell through to Narnia - what if  these pirates were the same ones we all know and love/hate?

and

Undisclosed Giftfics

Depending on what I want to do after I finish Walls Between, I’ll either start on the prequel, the Calormene one, or take a brief break for a few one-shots and other fandoms.

Stargate: SG-1

I’ll finish posting Such a Time as This and The Uncanny, then get back to work on …

The Western

SG-1 goes to Texas! They meet up with Ba’al, the Ori, rattlesnakes and rodeos. Yee-haw!

and also

Wait for the Beep

Sam is never at home - she’s busy working with Orlin to save the earth from the Ori plague. But matters get worse when she finds her neices have tested positive! Also, meet Recarter - I like her/him/it so much I may have to copy right her/him/it/ whatever.

Then, depending on how much Season 10 I’m actually able to watch, I may or may not have more to write.

Star Wars:

Yes, I’m going to be writing for Star Wars! I’m so excited! Because I made the grand mistake of reading the Thrawn Trilogy (and I absolutely love the character of Winter) I’m going to be writing this:

As-of-yet Unnamed Spy/Action Thriller:

So, we all know that Mara Jade tried to assassinate Luke Skywalker during the episode at Jabba’s palace - and she failed. Why did this happen? Here’s the real story - involving massive spy vs. spy and of course, good vs. evil. Starring: the usual gang, plus Winter, Mara, and possibly Rogue Squadron and OC’s.

I can’t wait - it was mentioned in the Trilogy that Winter did intelligence work, but it never went into details - and guess how much fanfiction there is about Winter? Maybe four or five, and all romance. Bleah. Waste of a great character.

Lord of the Rings:

Nothing much here - I may finish up a short one-shot I haven’t looked at for months, and unless the Teitho prompts spark any inspiration, I probably won’t do a lot of writing here.

Maximum Ride:

Finito! No more! Booo, James Patterson! You killed what started out as a perfectly good series - I hope you’re happy.

I will finish posting The Tempest, of course.

Original Fic:

Nothing planned at the moment. If and when I’m in the mood (and more likely so if money is offered as a prize of some sort) I’ll write.

Well, I finally have time to buckle down and do some serious writing! Posting… well, I can’t promise that.

 I’m pretty excited about the Prince Caspian trailer, too, and the upcoming movie. Besides my usual gripes that Caspian is too old, has an accent, Susan and Peter are still too old, and the dryads don’t look right at all - I love it! I think it’ll be a great movie, and I must applaud the way the River God looked in the trailer. And even I get carried away now and then, so I made a bit of a graphic for one of my favorite scenes in Prince Caspian - except, of course, in the book it’s at night.

Anyway, as far as writing is concerned, I’m still working on Walls Between, as well as two or three giftfics. I may do something for the December Teitho contest if inspiration strikes. But right now I’m quite absorbed in Narnia, though if I get bored I may finish my SG-1 Western.

 But other than that my fanfic life will be on hold while I enjoy Christmas, my family and friends, and RL as it should be.

 Merry Christmas!

 Val

Been flamed by me? Feelings a little roasted? Please bear with me and read the following:

 1) Definition of Flame:

to “flame” someone is to viciously insult them or their work in a manner that has little or no redeeming value. Note that “flame” is a general-usage netword, and is not appreciated anywhere…especially not in writing/creative groups.  - The Fanfiction Glossary. 

Given this definition, I do not flame. I sincerely hope that my reviews are never considered rude or of an insulting nature to an author. If I don’t know you, why should I insult you?

Well then, if I don’t flame, what do I do?

2) Harsh - but constructive! - Criticism

This would probably be as high as I go in my reviews.  I may complain about a fic and give several hints that I wish it had never been written; however, I have resigned myself to the fact that people will write trash, and on occasion I will read it - usually by mistake, though. And my personal policy, at least where Narnia is concerned, is to review everything I read. Bar none.

3) General Form of Review

I’ll probably start out by rolling up my figurative sleeves and grousing about how I hate to have to write long reviews to writers of poor fanfics. I may apologise in advance if I’m in especially nice mood. Then I’ll probably start picking it to pieces. Oh joy. I type slower just at the thought.

These are usually areas I will touch on: plot, grammar, spelling, content, characterisation, canon, Mary Sue/Gary Stu-ness of a character, unoriginality of the piece, poor flow of writing/events, and misunderstanding/misrepresentation of C.S. Lewis’s works/worldview.

I will do my best to point out specific examples and suggest how to fix them. On only a very few fics will I blatantly recommend instant removal from the site.

I will never personally insult an author. I will never use a swear word in any review. But if a fic is bad, I will let you know.

4) Understatement

I will use understatement in my review. A whole lot of it. So if somehow you can’t understand that, a sentence like ‘your grammar could use a bit of work’ probably means that it’s a wreck and you should re-take all your high/junior highschool English courses. (This only applies in flames/harsh reviews; in normal reviews, I don’t use understatement as much, since they’re usually shorter and easier to misinterpret). So if you think I was being nice…. read it again. I was probably being civil and polite, but I won’t be nice to bad fic. Understatement of the year.

5) Where’s the Constructive?

 I make a point to include at least one, if not several, constructive comments. If I don’t - my mistake. Please let me know. Politely.

6) Why I Do It

Because I’m a cynical, mean-spirited girl who enjoys inflicting pain on fellow authors. No, not really - as cheesy as it sounds, I do it because I care. About you personally? Perhaps. God grant me the grace to - but mostly I do it out of love for Narnia and respect for Lewis. I also do it out of the (mostly) vain, idealistic hope that somehow my comments might help reform a writer.

I can’t bear to see Narnia and its inhabitants mutilated and otherwise disgraced by bad writing and perverted imaginations. I also dislike seeing Lewis’s beautiful work ruined by people who couldn’t write their way out of preschool. I don’t like writers who have no respect for the author and the time and effort he put in to his works. I could go on.

7) Wanna Gripe? PM me.

Link’s on the side of the page under ‘my fanfiction’. Click on it, then click ’send message’. Gripe. Moan. Complain. No cussing, please. I’ll get back to you.

Well, it’s about that time of year again… and I really do have so much to be thankful for. My alter-ego Val does, too…

 I’ve got to say, first of all, that I’m thankful to God for giving me the ability to write. And also for the inspiration to write, whether it comes from other people’s stories, random events, songs, poetry, the sunset and stars, or just ideas that come from out of nowhere.

More specifically I’d have to thank Ted Dekker, for always making me excited about writing - his books are AMAZING, which of course you’ve heard from me already. A huge thank-you goes out to my friends at The Lion’s Call - Dearheart, Petraverd, Cherokee, Squeaklebeep, Gleeblecheep, Kristi, Deanalynn, etc., etc… and everyone, including the awesome writers elecktrum and Lickitysplit who drop in for Writer’s Group now and again.

And then I thank God that I have time to write - it’s not much, but it’s enough! I’m so glad that The Tempest got finished, and that I’m finally publishing The Uncanny and Such A Time As This. I’d also have to say thanks to WhiteWolf1 for nominating Double Blessing for a MC award - as well as for her friendship and her awesome story Trolls and her crazy plot bunny.

And I’m sooooo thankful for C.S. Lewis and the wonderful world of Narnia that we fanfic authors get to play around in. Thank you, thank you, thank you! It’s been a blast.

I’m thankful for God’s incredible gift of music, and for the inspiration I get from it - especially, of course, from Skillet. Comatoseis the world’s greatest album. Ever. At least four stories of mine would be nowhere without it. Thank you also to BarlowGirl, Switchfoot, Kutless, and Casting Crowns. Y’all are only slightly less amazing than Skillet.

Thank you to all the wonderful people who take time to review my stories - especially Andi Horton, elecktrum, floppyearsthebunny, kassandra not cassey, Jacky06, BubbleBlower, etc. You all rock! Thank you also to everyone who has honoured me by placing me and or my stories on your favorites list.

And finally, both me and the fanfic-writer part of me would like to thank God for chocolate, my cool laptop, strong wireless connections, beautiful leaves and brilliant stars, the amazing people that He’s placed on the earth, my awesome roommate, Stargate: SG-1, and the colour green.

THANK YOU, JESUS, for my salvation, above all else. Because I would have quit long ago if not for You.