A Tangled Blog

Did you guys ever do this growing up? One person starts the story, it goes to the next, they write a chapter, then to the next...

I know we're all super busy right now but I want to try this! Who knows? It might get all those creative juices flowing again.

I forgot to mention in my last post: I've started reading The Blythes are Quoted. I got it for Christmas. And...I kind of HATE it. I thought it was interesting, the way Maud was experimenting with different writing styles and forms of storytelling, and I liked some of the teasing moments between Anne and Gilbert but I'm not a fan of LMM's short stories in general, and these are not even her best. The working of the Blythes into every story seems really uncomfortably forced, and there are a few moments with Walter that are just too much (Walter: I hope I meet a friend like that someday. A Voice no one hears: You will. And his name will be death.) !!!

But anyway. One of the most surprising things I found, leafing through the book, was that LMM mentions several of Anne and Gilbert's grandchildren. There's Gilbert Ford, who was mentioned in the Road to Yesterday, who seems to be somewhat of a ladies man, and Walter Blythe, Jem and Faith's son, who is a poet like his namesake. But apparently there is also a Jem Jr, a Di Meredith (Nan's daughter), a Rilla Ford (Rilla and Ken's daughter), and an "Anne" whose parents are not given. There are more grandchildren, whose names aren't given, but it is mentioned that "several" of Dr. Gilbert Blythe's grandsons are going away to fight in WWII.

I've always tried to have a Walter Blythe and Gilbert Ford in all of my stories about the third generation, seeing as I kind of sort of considered The Road to Yesterday to be canon. But even though The Blythes are Quoted is being billed as #9 in the Anne series, I don't know whether I consider it canon enough to include these characters in my works. I kind of don't want to, as I don't like the book--but also because to have another Di, Jem, Walter, Gilbert, Anne AND Rilla would be a little confusing!

What do you think? Do you feel that you must stick to LMM's works as she set them out? Or are you not worried about it?

I am using some of my time off this week to outline a rewrite of my Blythe By Name story and plan for the sequel, Blythe By Nature. And I am having the HARDEST time dealing with all of these characters! The adults AND their children. With all of the Blythe, Meredith and Ford second generation and all of their children AND the Golden kids, I've got something like 30+ primary and secondary characters to deal with!

I am thinking of paring things way back, by making Sally an only child and taking the Cam, Walt, and Helen characters and making them cousins, giving them away to Jerry and Nan and Rilla and Ken. It goes against canon, since LMM mentions Walter Blythe in The Blythes are Quoted and The Road to Yesterday, but think it makes sense that Jem and Faith would only have one child, given the fact that both Jem and Faith are devoted to their careers. And that way, the other characters could be mentioned from time to time without having to have a major role.

What do you guys think? How do you handle so many characters (especially Adrienne--I think TTTT has the most amount of characters any of our stories!)

Argh! I really want to write this story because I want to write a more "realistic" sequel, but I am feeling so frustrated by this story, I'm seriously considering just abandoning it all together. But the story I have for Sally and Harry is one that I really want to write. So I don't know.

Are you all working on anything lately?

... don't read any Downton Abbey fan fiction.  They've made it through five episodes of Series Two in England, and the reading material has definitely shown how much has gone on since we last saw our Crawley family here, in the U.S.  I will say that from what I can tell, they're at least being true to the sense of WWI by not everyone returning or returning in tact.

Do you guys think it would be cheating to write a LMM fanfic that didn't have a romance - that was, in fact, somewhat the opposite, where the girl has the chance to get married, but chooses independence in the end?

Because I toyed with the idea of leaving Gwen single at the end of her series, but I've been setting her up so nicely for romance, and really, she IS the perfect match for someone in her life, and I would have a guilty conscience if I kept them apart.

But that's made me think how much I would love to write one where the heroine does not end up settling down with a husband and family, but chooses instead to pursue her other loves. Except I don't think LMM ever did that, and I'm not sure - it almost feels wrong to deviate so drastically from her usual pattern.

On the other hand, I've already made Rilla out to be not so great in the Gwen stories, and shattered the whole "Blythes are a perfect family" idea, so I suppose it would really only be taking it one step further.

What do you think? Would you feel cheated, reading an LMM fic that didn't end with True Love?

This says a lot, I think.

Notice Sybil is in a nurse's uniform.  I cannot wait until this comes out! 

Did you guys see this article about the sisters? I think they look stunning (especially, paradoxically enough, Edith)!

And oh! I am so excited for the next season.

One of my book blogger friends posted this link about her thoughts on Emily of New Moon and I thought you guys might enjoy it! She just read it for the first time and had some interesting things to point out about it.

http://bookssnob.wordpress.com/2011/06/28/emily-of-new-moon-by-l-m-montgomery/

I also wanted to post that I've been reworking Blythe By Name lately, as a writing exercise...I need to get into writing again and I thought I might fix some of the things I DIDN'T like about the first draft. For instance, I thought the children were too cruel in their treatment of Irene. I think the new story will be less about trying to get Irene out of the family and more about coming to terms with change, the way you do when you're on the cusp of adulthood. Shirley's marriage to Irene will represent for the children (Sally especially) that life brings unexpected issues and challenges.

It's coming along, and I might post some of the rewrites, soon. I really love this version of the third generation, they are my favorites so far! I want to do their story justice and am having fun revisiting them again.

I posted the last chapter (more of an epilogue than a full chapter, really) of The Summer Between this morning. The story has actually been complete for a while, but I just got lazy about posting it until I got some very annoyed reviews wondering if I was ever going to update again!

It will probably be a little while before I work at all on the next Gwen story. Original writing has kind of taken over my time lately (as it should be, I guess), but I hope to come back to Gwen eventually.

The final chapter is here. I hope you guys enjoy!

I haven't written in so long that I feel like I've forgotten how! I was so busy, but Baby Anne is sleeping better and I need the creative outlet. Only I can't seem to get started! I don't know whether to jump into something new or revise something old. Either way, I need to get myself back into the swing of things. I've been thinking of revising Blythe by Name since I wrote it so quickly the first time around. But I'm just not sure...

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6348040/16/

Even though nothing much happens in this chapter, I think it's my favorite in the whole story.

There are only four chapters left to post after this one - I'll try to get them all up expeditiously. I did start Gwen's WWII story already, but didn't get beyond the first few pages. Not that there was anything wrong with it, but I think I need a little break from fanfic to work on my original stuff. Not for too long, I'd imagine! I like Gwen too much to abandon her forever.

Since ff.net for some reason won't let me sign in to review there, I'll do it here.  It was wonderful reading this chapter!  I can't wait to read more!  I do hope that Ruth and the baby are both ok, and I JUST realized who the Wentworths are!  I love, love, love Persuasion, but it just never registered in my feeble little mind.

I worry that Tryg or someone close to him is ill, but I'm amused at how Gwen can now barely tolerate Oliver's presence at all.  It's a far cry from how things once were.  I like Hayden and Ava more and more, and can't wait to see the completion of their story.

I don't know if any of you ladies "like" Downton Abbey on Facebook, but they've been posting still pictures while they film Series Two.  This particular picture should give you something to think about.  Just look at what Lord Crawley is wearing.

http://www.facebook.com/home.php?src=fftb#!/photo.php?fbid=193588587348421&set=a.191698764204070.45524.148714591835821&theater

I've made it tonThe Somme in "Brave Battalion.". Reading is a little slow going, because I'm going over Rilla at the same time, and also haven't had too much reading time. Anyway, I thought you might be interested in this page. I hope it can be blown up for you to see it.



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I've been "casting" for my still-in-the-planning-stages Di story, and I need opinions! I have two (both mostly unknown) actresses I'm contemplating for Di, and I can't decide which I like better - or if I ought to pick someone else entirely. I know it doesn't really affect the story one way or the other, but I do like to have that mental image when I'm writing these characters. Funny, I don't need that at all for my non-fanfiction stories, but I do for these.

So, the options:

Olivia Hallinan

















Or:

Josie Taylor

(In case you need a twin reference, I picked Gemma Arterton as Nan)





















What do you think?

This week I happened upon a military writer who  has written many books about the Canadian experiences in WWI and WWII.  First off, I'm reading "Brave Battalion,"  by Mark Zuehlke and taking notes for my Nan stories.  Then I plan on eventually reading almost all of his other other military books to give me inspiration and information for TTTT.

I am highlighting and note-taking like crazy on this thing.  I have dates of departure, time spent at Valcartier, time spent at Salisbury Plain, and other facts that will come in very handy, especially in letters from Jerry and Jem to Nan and Co.

I have a feeling that once I finally finish Nan's stories, I'll have to rewrite my others some time too.

So, while I was so sick this week I managed to finish up the first season of Downton Abbey. (Confession - I watched FOUR episodes yesterday!)

So, now I'm eager to discuss it with you ladies! What are some of your thoughts on each episode? Favorites characters, favorite parts, things you disliked? As Davy would say, I want to know!

Have you guys had a chance to read anything yet? I'd love to start a convo on some of the edits, even if they're small. Maybe we could talk about the first few chapters?

We're about live through either Snowmageddon or Icepocalypse, so I think I may need new reading material. Suggestions???


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I'm having a problem.

I'm almost done with The Summer Between, and I was planning on going right into the next chapter in Gwen's story, which would be the war.

However, between reading the original edition of Rilla of Ingleside, and watching Downton Abbey, I am finding myself increasingly drawn to writing something set during that period - which would mean a Diana story, her life at Redmond during the war years.

Unfortunately, I've only done the vaguest plotting for that period of time, and don't really have a real story set out at all for her. Should I keep going with Gwen's story, or follow my current whim and start writing Di's tale, even without knowing where exactly it's leading?

I know that two of you watched Downton Abbey last night.  What'd you think?