A Tangled Blog

Story in the round?

2012-01-11T17:56:00.002-06:00

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.

Bound by canon?

2011-12-28T19:24:00.002-06:00

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?

Too many people!

2011-12-28T18:06:00.004-06:00

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?

If You Don't Like Spoilers....

2011-10-25T15:48:00.000-05:00

... 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.

Cheating, Or Being Bold?

2011-09-07T19:39:00.000-05:00

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?

Downton Abbey Series Two Cast Photo

2011-07-29T09:19:00.000-05:00

This says a lot, I think.

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

The Sisters of Downton Abbey

2011-07-11T06:15:00.000-05:00

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.

Emily of New Moon and Blythe By Name

2011-06-28T23:10:00.003-05:00

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.

The Summer Between, Complete

2011-06-25T07:33:00.000-05:00

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!

Working my way back into writing

2011-06-12T21:29:00.001-05:00

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...

How do you guys break through that dry spell? Where do you look for inspiration, when you just can't seem to get the words to flow?

Summer Between, Chapter 16

2011-05-12T07:16:00.000-05:00

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.

The Summer Between: Chapter 13

2011-04-11T15:13:00.000-05:00

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.

A Peek At Downton

2011-03-14T07:27:00.000-05:00

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

The Somme

2011-03-08T21:22:00.001-06:00

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.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Actress for Di?

2011-03-02T15:51:00.001-06:00

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?

Brave Batalion

2011-02-18T16:38:00.000-06:00

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.

Downton in Detail

2011-02-12T09:09:00.000-06:00

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!

The New Rilla Reading Group

2011-02-07T23:29:00.001-06:00

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?

Recommendations???

2011-01-31T19:35:00.001-06:00

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

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Dilemma

2011-01-29T12:34:00.000-06:00

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?

OK Ladies

2011-01-27T09:06:00.001-06:00

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

Downton Abbey

2011-01-12T13:12:00.000-06:00

I had been waiting for this to air on PBS for a few weeks, then forgot about it. However I just went ahead and bought the first season on iTunes last night, because now that I have an Apple TV, I can watch it much easier. So far, I think I love it. I wish I could have watched this some during the time I was writing Comfort and Joy. Though this takes place in England from 1912-1914, I'm hoping it will help serve a little as inspiration for Nan, which I'm wanting to get back to writing and finish this year (unofficial resolution).

The New Rilla

2011-01-12T11:04:00.004-06:00

I got my copy today, and I've been sitting with it and my old paperback Rilla going through, marking with pencil the new spots. Nothing too exciting yet, but some things that I wouldn't mind discussing with you ladies!

I am really glad to have the book in hard copy, but there is also a free Project Gutenberg link online to the unedited copy. It's here: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3796/3796-h/3796-h.htm

You can tell it's the right one by searching for Boer War--that was never mentioned in the 1921 version. Here for comparison: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/montgomery/rilla/rilla.html

I just wanted you guys to know! Maybe we could read a chapter or two a week or every few weeks and discuss the edits?

Rilla of Ingleside

2011-01-10T07:34:00.001-06:00

Oh My Goodness.

Did you guys know that about 20 - TWENTY - pages of text were edited out of the paperback edition of Rilla of Ingleside? And that there is a new hardcover edition available through Amazon.ca that has them, as well as historical notes on WWI, and a whole heap of other cool things?

Rilla of Ingleside

Three months ahead of time isn't too early to order myself a birthday present, is it?

Dick Winters, Band of Brothers

2011-01-10T06:39:00.000-06:00

I haven't watched Band of Brothers myself, but I know a lot of you have, so when one of my friends posted a link to an article about the real Dick Winters passing away, I knew I had to share it with you all!

Dick Winters

Funny Coincidence

2011-01-07T09:41:00.000-06:00

There's a chance of snow Sunday into Monday here, so I've been getting calls from all sorts of places wanting to either sign up for an account to post closings or for me to resend their info because they can't find it. I just took a call from someone at the Hobb's State Park Conservation Area, and the person who called was named none other than Josephine Barry. Just had to share.

Word Count

2010-12-13T17:40:00.000-06:00

Right now, it's looking like The Summer Between is going to end up at somewhere between 40,000 and 50,000 words, but most likely closer to 40,000 unless I add in a bunch of unnecessary filler. I would really like to have it be closer to "proper" novel length, meaning at least 60,000 words, but I'm not really sure how I can make that work given the story I'm trying to tell.

What do you guys think about WC? Do you aim for a certain amount, or just write until it seems good? And is worrying about this sort of thing just plain silly for fanfiction?

Cup of Joy, Finished

2010-12-04T07:49:00.000-06:00

Hey, I just wanted to let everyone know that I finally (finally, finally) put up the last chapter of Song of Joy.

This story ended up being a bit of a disappointment to me - I had so much fun starting out with it, but by the time I was done I was sick to death of Jane in all her superior-ness, and just ended up shoving through the final five chapters or so, just to get it done. A lesson in finishing my stories more quickly, I suppose, instead of letting them drag out so long!

At any rate, even though I don't think the final few chapters are as good quality as I am capable of writing, at least they are done, and the story itself is done, and I can go back to just reading about Jane and enjoying her that way. Let's face it, it's much more enjoyable reading about someone growing a backbone and finding her place in the world than writing about that person after she's found herself and is already established!

(And I am still working on The Summer Between, I've just hit a bit of a slump in the plot and am trying to fill in the lag without it looking like fill-in, plus with holidays (and children) writing has taken a back burner. But I'm not sick of Gwen yet, and I hope I never get there!)

Review Response to Ruby/Connie

2010-11-09T12:25:00.000-06:00

I would so like to know more about the adults in this story-Nan and Jerry's struggles, how Betty married into the family, the intriguing rivalry between Rilla and Di. You have created such a tangled web of bonds and rivalries and love and grudges that feels so much like a real family. I just can't get enough of it!

I'm so glad you left that review, Ruby/Connie - I have a lot of backstory in my head regarding the middle generation, and because it is all clear to me, I'm always afraid writing about them will end up coming across as muddled! So hearing that it just reads like a real family is nice.

I am considering writing a story that centers around Di, Nan, and probably Persis during the War, which would fill in a lot of those details - but we'll see if it ever happens! In the meantime, I'll probably just keep dropping little tidbits into Gwen's tales.

About the Short Review...

2010-10-27T14:55:00.000-05:00

Elouise82, I want to expand my comment that I just made on Chapter 5 of "The Summer Between." I just couldn't write more in the review, because those two words were more than enough. I like Tryg, and I look forward to seeing more of him.

I liked Gwen and Grandmother's frank discussion regarding Jack and Lynde. It's so easy for people on the outside to see things more clearly.

I feel sorry for Van, because Fanny is most likely just using him.

Thoughts So Far

2010-10-22T08:46:00.002-05:00

It's been a while since I've been a regular poster of Fan fiction. So, I wonder what do you guys think so far?

The New Nan

2010-10-19T11:43:00.000-05:00

Since the construction is basically finished at work, I can work on important things again. :) So, I thought I would give a gift to a friend who can't do much right now and start posting the chapters of the new and improved "Nan of the Island."

Cecilia Meredith

2010-09-25T20:53:00.003-05:00

I'm planning out my plot for Blythe by Nature, and I had the thought that at some point, I wanted to provide some backstory for Cecilia Meredith. Do we know what she died of? I always had some vague idea it was in childbirth, but now that I'm reading Rainbow Valley again, I've realized that she was quite recently dead when the Merediths moved to the Glen.

Do we ever find out for sure, or is this something I can take some creative license with?

Sneak Preview of The Summer Between

2010-09-22T12:00:00.002-05:00

“West House

“Glen St. Mary, PEI

“May 17, 1938

“Dear Gwen,

“How are you? Are you in the throes in final examinations? Goodness, I can’t believe that you are seventeen, and that next September will mark the start of your final year of high school. Have you decided on a college yet, or even if you are going to go on for further schooling?

“You think your aunt is being awfully chatty, but really, I’m just trying to soften you up for the request I’m about to make.

“You heard, I’ve no doubt, that I had a little cold this spring. It wasn’t anything serious, so I thought, but apparently there have been some complications as a result and the long and the short of it is that your uncles have confined me to my bed or, at the most, the sofa, for the duration of my pregnancy.

“I have reluctantly agreed, because although I think they are being paranoid, I don’t want to do anything to endanger this lovely surprise baby! The only question now is, of course, how to manage for the next four months? Winnie is still a harum-scarum, and though Ruthie is a gem, she is only seven, and it is entirely out of the question for her to take care of the house, me, and your Uncle Bruce. Mother Meredith, Aunt Anne, Lynde, and even Mary Douglas have all offered to come help out, but they of course all have their own homes to attend, as well. Besides—

“Well, I’m embarrassed to admit it, but I don’t really want any of them. All of them have their own way of doing things in a home, and I have my own way, and I can’t help but think that it’ll be far worse for my health for me to be upstairs in bed, fretting over having things done differently from how I want them. Bruce doesn’t agree, of course, but what do men know of these things?

“So I have resorted to shamelessly begging my favourite niece to come take pity on me. I know (because I taught you!) that you can cook, and any child raised by your mother can at least keep a house tidy, and the girls adore you. I could tell you exactly how I wanted something done, and I could trust you to do it. Lynde, I know, would do it her way regardless of what I said, because she is convinced her way is best (and it likely is, but it’s not my way); Mary wouldn’t even listen to me, and Mother Meredith and Aunt Anne would both try, but it would distress them terribly to try to change their ways now.

“Would you be willing to sacrifice your summer to help me out, Gwen? I know it’s a terrible thing to ask a young girl, but it wouldn’t be so bad; you’d still have plenty of time to go running down to the harbour as you loved to do two summers ago. Jack won’t be around, but Lynde is, and Oliver and the rest of your Owls, I know, have missed you dreadfully.

“If you’ve already made plans for the summer, or you’d rather not come out, please don’t hesitate to say so, and I will just make the best of what I have. If you do decide to come, though, the girls are already airing out the guest room for you.

“Write and let me know, and whichever way you decide, know that I’m always your loving,

“Aunt Ruth.”

&&&

“Kingsport, Nova Scotia

“May 21, 1938

“Dearest Aunt Ruth,

“My bags are packed! Tell the girls not to fuss too much about my room; that will be my job when I get there. My train comes in on June 2. If Uncle Bruce is busy, I’ll just make my own way to West House. I am so looking forward to ‘bossing’ you all about for an entire summer! Tell Uncle Bruce I expect him to toe the line.

“Give Winnie and Ruthie hugs for me, and a special pat to Baby. I will see you soon!

“Love always,

“Gwen.”

Season of Song

2010-09-21T13:29:00.002-05:00

I have so many things I want to discuss about Season of Song, which was finished a few weeks ago. I really feel, Louise, this was your best work yet, though I have loved all of your stories. Gwen and Co, though, seemed so real to me, and so complex. The gray areas in this story reminded me so much of the Anne books. You wanted things to be perfect, but they weren't always, and that was so much more satisfying than if they were.

Some things especially I enjoyed:

The strained relationship between Di and Rilla, stemming from Walter's death. People in families don't always have to get along and I know that we all (me in particular) tend to make the relationships in the Blythe, Ford, Meredith clans a real love-fest. This way was bittersweet, but ultimately more realistic, IMO.
The relationship between Gwen and Oliver. Again, it's easy in fanfiction to telegraph who will end up with whom, romantically, from the beginning, or to set things up very early on. I really have no idea whether or not Gwen and Oliver Grant will take things forward that way, or if Tryg will feature or not, and I like not knowing.
The fact that Gwen didn't stay. Oh, I wanted her to! Just like I wanted Anne to be able to go to Queens at the end of AoGG. But Anne never would have left Marilla in the lurch, and Gwen never would have left her family. Neither of them would be half so loveable if they did.

What I'm looking forward to in the next installment:

Seeing Gwen and the Blake kids interacting with their parents, and seeing what life in Kingsport is like for them.
Seeing the relationship between Gwen and Chloe grow and change
Romance! :)

Louise, can you give us a preview of where the next installment will pick up, and what it will cover? Pretty please?

Off with their heads!

2010-08-25T18:15:00.002-05:00

I'm thinking very seriously about killing off one of the second generation in my Blythe by Nature story. Not a tertiary character like Carl or Bruce Meredith, or even, to a certain extent, Di or Nan, but a right up there, in-your-face main character. I don't know how people will react to this, though, but part of me thinks that it might be imperative to the story, to theme of keeping Blythe, always, to have this happen.

I think it will probably change the course of my events in Blythe as Always, the WWII sequel. I have planned a big death, there, but don't know if I could have two happen to my little family that I love. It means I will have to rework my outline a great deal, so I'm not quite sure yet. But I keep thinking...

I know we've all killed off various characters in our time, but they tend to be those on the fringes--John Meredith--or those of our own making. Have you guys ever considered have someone in the inner circle die in one of your stories?

WWII Research

2010-08-24T12:06:00.000-05:00

I just finished drafting an outline for a Gwen-WWII story, which deals with men working on the home front, and women as Wrens, and military scientists, and I was starting to get bogged down with all the research it was going to take to adequately portray all these different aspects of the war. I got to cheat a bit with Meg by having her removed from much of the immediacy of the war, but I find that Gwen is a bit more insistent about being involved.

Don't get me wrong, I adore research, but the amount of work it takes to even find the right books, or the right websites, sometimes gets to be too much. By the time I've weeded through all the lousy information out there, I'm exhausted, and usually have a child or two (or a husband) clamoring for attention.

So, I thought, Why not pool our resources? Do you ladies have any websites or books in particular that have really helped you in your WWII-era research? If so, I'd love to hear what they are!

Season of Song, Complete

2010-08-17T06:59:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I typed the final chapter of "Season of Song." I have never finished any story this length, fanfic or original, this quickly. I'm still sort of in shock, actually.

I haven't decided what the next season in Gwen's life will be - whether I'll pick it up again before WWII, or if I'll wait and start the next story during the war years.

I quite thoroughly enjoyed this different approach to the Blythe family, and I am so fond of Gwen. I kind of wish she was real, so I could get to know her and watch her grow from a girl into a woman. I know I can do that in a way through writing her story, but it's not quite the same.

I'm looking forward to publishing the rest of the chapters of ff.net, and finding out what you all think of how Gwen's story plays out. It had been an enormously fun ride for me!

Faith Across the Miles

2010-08-13T13:05:00.000-05:00

I'm just inviting any of our followers who might like to join an online Bible Study we're starting to visit here. You don't have to if you don't want to, however you're more than welcome!

Some of us work eight+ hours a day, then we go home and work until bedtime every night. Some of us are stay-at-home moms who spend their days and nights writing "living epistles," rarely getting time for fellowship with women their own age. Some of us are without a church home yet still crave fellowship. Some are just taking the first steps of faith. All of us desire a place to share our struggles, our fears, our joys, our blessings, and our faith.

This is not a traditional Bible study in the sense most us are used to. We'll get a book, do our "assignments" by a certain date, and post responses, thoughts, prayers, and requests along the way. Maybe at some point we'll have Skype conferences. The point of Faith Across the Miles is to offer Bible study to some people who for one reason or another, don't have access to a traditional one but want one. It you'd like to join, visit http://faithacrossthemiles.blogspot.com/p/join-faith-across-miles.html .

Buttons!

2010-07-29T12:00:00.000-05:00

We're a community here, so I've decided to create a few very rudimentary buttons that we can all use to show we belong, to sort of advertise, and such. You can get them here.

Planning An Event

2010-07-29T09:01:00.000-05:00

I have a proposal, dear friends. Our family has just recently gotten very interested in Skype, what with Bart's brother in Afghanistan. Anyway, I propose that some time this fall, we schedule a Skype Conference Call, a sort of Tangled Blog Virtual Conference. We can discuss anything from the books, to the fan fictions, to any other number of things.

What do you think?

A new "Blythe by" sequel.

2010-07-22T07:09:00.004-05:00

I am having so much trouble with Blythe By Nature--I think because I don't know my characters well enough yet to get them through the war years. Blythe By Name is so episodic that I never really got a chance to sink in and explore my character relationships. A few days ago, I started writing a series of vignettes for my own benefit, just to flesh them out a little more. And to my surprise, I started to like the story!

The plot I was toying with was that Jem gets an offer to fill in as an adjunct professor at Harvard Medical School for a year, so he and Faith and the kids have to move to Cambridge. Sally and Walt and Cam and Helen are all in their midteens, and they each have something they are moving toward in their lives that will end up being important if I ever get around to writing another sequel. And they are excited to be able to get to see their summertime chums, the Goldens, year-round.

So I think I will post this story soon; I'm calling it Blythe by Nature, and the second sequel will be Blythe as Always if I ever get to it.

And because she is going to be such a big character in this piece, and the rest of the Blythe by stories, I thought I would post my pic for Sally at this age (14-15) or so. The actress is Mia Wasiskowska, and she looks exactly how I picture Sally to look!

Response to Cathy's (Ruby Gillis's) Review

2010-07-13T07:13:00.000-05:00

I'm sort of sorry that Rilla's kids are such brats-but part of me loves the
probability of drama that will follow (I love fictional drama, but hate it in
its other forms!) Chloe really is a little beast, but it rings true-you can
see all of Rilla's worst traits in her. I kind of hope you don't reform her!

I wonder how much of their attitude is based on the fact that Rilla always
seemed to sort of resent Di's closeness to Walter? It's an interesting rivalry
I never considered before, that she might pass on to her own children, and
vice versa.

I'm so, so excited you picked up on this, Cathy (and another example of "kindred spirits," I suppose, that you figured out the background without me having to say much of anything at all).

Chloe is, to me, Rilla without the tempering effects of her family and the War. Kenneth, too, is portrayed as a somewhat selfish, self-indulgent character (or at least that's one way to read him), and so in their three children I see all their worst traits coming together. I think I can safely say without fear of spoiling anything, that while some reformation happens to one of them, they won't really change much throughout the story. I do think that, if I write a war-years sequel, we will see that Chloe does have some strengths to her character, and that even some of her flaws can be turned to good use, but she'll never really be reformed.

But back to the part that really excited me, that you caught - the rivalry between Rilla and Di. I only started thinking about it with this story, that the two of them must have had some issues after Walter's death. First Di was his favorite, and then Rilla, and both must have felt some bitterness toward each other. Plus, their personalities are so very different, as are their priorities. I've also imagined that Di must have harbored some anger toward her parents for not letting her go overseas to work as a VAD, whereas Rilla might (just might) have been a little bit smug when they all returned home, about HER virtue in staying with her parents and comforting them while Nan and Di were "gadding" in Kingsport. Nan would have shrugged this off, because Nan is able to ignore those sort of pricks, but Di, already frustrated about not being able to do what she wanted, would have resented it.

So basically, I see a fairly fundamental gap between those two just widening and widening over the years, and while Di and Jon are very careful to never say anything negative about their siblings around the children, Rilla is not so cautious.

So there's the backstory! One of these days I might even write some Di stories, from the Rainbow Valley days through the war years, and expand on that a little bit. It's so fun taking established characters that I've already used once, and turn them around and make them different, while still trying to remain within what LMM wrote regarding them.

Out of the Shadows

2010-07-08T07:31:00.000-05:00

I just posted what is my favorite chapter so far in Season of Song—my favorite because it starts with a scene between Gilbert and Gwen, and I really, really loved showing more interaction between them. Gilbert is such a marvelous character, and as many of us have noted before, he gets hardly any "screen time" in the series, so it was fun to show a really close scene between him and Gwen.

One of the chapters I just finished writing (it won't be published for a bit) featured Rosemary Meredith. I had originally intended for her to be sort of peripheral in it, but suddenly there she was, demanding to have a more central role, and I was really pleased (and a bit surprised) with how it came out. She's another one who has a really promising beginning to her character, but then LMM never goes anywhere with her. We see practically nothing of her in Rilla of Ingleside, except as "Bruce's mother," when one would have thought she and Anne would have been visiting with each other regularly, and helping each other endure their sons' departures (well, step-sons, in Rosemary's case).

It's been so much fun taking some different "sideline" characters in this story (rather than the ones I used in Meggie's tales) and bring them to the front.

Who are some of your favorite seldom-mentioned (in canon) characters to bring to life?

Happy Canada Day!

2010-07-01T12:34:00.000-05:00

In the U.S, we may be celebrating our country this weekend, but today is Canada Day in the homeland of Maud!

Blythe by Nature

2010-06-21T11:31:00.003-05:00

...is up at the blog! Please let me know what you think of the first chapter!

I've been reading a lot of epistolary novels lately, and I thought I might try that with this one. It's a lot of fun trying to develop a lot of different voices, but I'm not sure I'm doing it super-successfully yet. We'll see!

Season of Song, Begun!

2010-06-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

With six chapters written, I decided I was okay to start posting:

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6049036/1/

Story soundtrack?

2010-06-09T14:40:00.003-05:00

Do you guys have songs you listen to again and again while you are writing, songs that are forever part of that story, that inform how you write? I am working on the first chapters of Blythe by Nature now, and there is one band I keep going back to while writing it.

This isn't the first time I've "used" this band for inspiration--when I was writing my GWTW fic, I listened to this song on repeat as I wrote Scarlett and Rhett's reunion scene.

What about you guys? What songs are associated with your stories, if any?

A Title!

2010-06-09T14:15:00.000-05:00

I came up with a title:

Season of Song

It's taken from Song of Solomon, the verse that says: "Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing is come the cooing of doves is heard in our land." (Song of Solomon 2:12) Spring is the time of youth, of hope, and of promise, when everything is possible and life really does seem like a song.

So, since my heroine is fifteen, and WWII has not yet started, and the story is pretty much a coming-of-age tale ...

Season of Song it is.

And the heroine, Gwen Blake, looks something like this:

Urgent! Need a Name

2010-06-05T17:48:00.000-05:00

For our weekend project, Lucy and Dory's doghouse. It's going to be red with white trim. The only thing I can think of so far is Retriever Run. I want to make a sign to hand on it some time, maybe with some house rules like:

You may only enter if:

You have webbed toes.
You like belly rubs.
People mistake you for an amphibian.
You have long, flowing butt hair.
And you can carry an egg around in your mouth without breaking it.

New Story, New Characters, New Everything

2010-06-04T19:25:00.000-05:00

I have been trying to work on either Leigh's story, or the vignettes from the Blythes, but nothing seems to be coming together for me. I think I burnt myself out on Meg's world.

So, I took a page from Connie's book, and just started thinking about a different family tree, a new set of characters, and before I knew it, an entire plot came sweeping together for me.

I'm excited about it: it's set in 1936, just the world has started going (back) to hell in a handbasket, and when young people would (I would imagine) be very concerned about what sort of a world they're coming to adulthood in.

I just finished outlining the plot for myself, and I hope to get at least the first few chapters written and up on ff.net in the next few weeks. In between all the traveling for weddings we'll be doing, that is. I have a laptop now, maybe I can write on the road? We'll see!

As others see us

2010-05-26T23:28:00.005-05:00

Originally, when I began writing Blythe By Name I had a whole story arc planned out for Claire Meredith and Sally that would continue in Blythe By Nature, and it was really very touching, I thought. I wanted their friendship to be rather enduring and sweet and strengthening through their shared turmoil. But as I started writing Claire, she became more and more catty, somehow. And then I started getting reviews about how you guys weren't so sure of her, and I realized that I wasn't either. And I decided that her and Sally's relationship would grow a little more troubled than I planned--and the cousins naturally began to grow apart from one another, from there.

I have to admit it was kind of a relief to write a character who was descended from the Blythes but kind of a brat. It's freeing, somehow, to have an imperfect, flawed character descended from the Holy Blythes. I don't know what it is about this story--am I jaded?--but I find that I keep testing the "practically perfect in every way" Blythes in ways that I never imagined I would. But...I kind of like doing it! I never really liked Nan and it's wickedly fun to take those frustrations out on her daughter. And it's making the story a little more fun to write!

Have you all ever changed--purposefully or inadvertently--a character's personality, because of how your reviewers reacted to him or her? Did this change the plot of your story at all? Were you sorry you changed him--do you wish that you had stuck with your original conception of that person?

_________________________________

I have a few more chapters of BBName to post, and then I have to think for a while on BBNature and how I want it to be. I am having so much fun writing this story, and I really hate Kevin Sullivan for holding the rights so I can't try to submit them as sequels to AoGG. I was thinking that if I changed some of the copyrighted details and reworked a few places, and did a little more historical research that they could be standalone stories, sort of an Eight Cousinsish kind of series. Which is super-odd for me, because I never, never thought I would write YA, or even wanted to!

Congrulations, Connie!

2010-05-23T08:15:00.000-05:00

INSTRUMENTAL_Graduation_-_Pomp_and_Circumstance_March

Found at: - FilesTube

It's been a long and winding road, not without fear, tears, and frustrations. However, this weekend one of our own is doing something very spectacular. She's graduating from law school!

Connie, I feel like we've been right there with throughout most of this experience. You've been in our prayers constantly and will continue to be so in all of your future endeavors. We love you, congratulations on this momentous accomplishment!

Monkey Face cookies

2010-05-13T11:01:00.002-05:00

I was researching for a new chapter of Blythe By Name today and I came across this recipe for monkey face cookies! Could this be the one Susan Baker might have used?

1 c. sugar
1 c. molasses
1 c. shortening or oil
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. spice
1 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. cinnamon
5 c. flour

Mix sugar, molasses, shortening, and spices together. Dissolve baking soda in 1 cup of hot water then add to mixture. Sift in flour a small amount at a time, mixing well. Drop on a greased cookie sheet 1 teaspoon at a time. Bake at 350 degrees.

They sound really good--and REALLY unhealthy! ;)

Are there any other LMM recipes we can think of? Now that exams are over (I'll be a lawyer in 10 days!) I'd like to start cooking again, so my poor husband doesn't die from too much take out. Why not start with dessert?

Missing???

2010-04-24T16:44:00.000-05:00

OK, I'm sure something has been posted at some point about this, and I've forgotten. However, I decided today that I wanted to reread Ruby's "Alice" stories and can't seem to find them on ff.net. I miss them. I'm trying to get into a modern Anne state of mind.

Missing in action

2010-04-20T20:18:00.003-05:00

I have been so remiss about updating and reviewing and posting here, lately, because I am in the weeds of my final final exams. I have two thirty-page papers to write and an exam to take, all by May 16th! Besides that I am applying for jobs and everything is just too crazy!

The good news is that I graduate on May 23rd. After many setbacks and challenges: HALLELUJAH!

I'm working when I get a chance (hardly ever) on Blythe By Name and its sequel, but I can't promise any updates until next month. Elouise, I loved the end of Meggie's story. I'm going to go back and read the whole series, starting with Shirley of Avonlea, when I get the chance.

Just wanted to explain myself and why I'm gone. Ladies, how are you doing? I hope you're well. If you wanted to send any prayers for inner peace and strength my way, they would be vastly appreciated.

Finished

2010-04-16T07:41:00.000-05:00

I posted the final chapter to The Sound of the Sea today. And ... I don't know whether to be happy or sad. I'm satisfied, and glad to be able to move on to other projects, but on the other hand ... I think I'm going to miss Meg and Will.

Ah, the travails of being an author!

Sneak preview of Blythe by Name

2010-03-30T14:38:00.004-05:00

My latest chapter of Blythe By Name is not turning out the way I wanted it, so I decided to rest my brain and work on Blythe By Nature for a few days. Here is what I've come up with for the start of the first chapter, which takes place in October 1939. No spoilers--let me know what you think! This is only a first draft.

Here's the link: http://somebodytalked.blogspot.com/2008/09/blythe-by-nature-chapter-1.html

Hmmm

2010-03-24T09:00:00.002-05:00

We have so few readers, I wouldn't consider this for us, yet. However, Connie, you might be interested in this: http://buzz.blogger.com/2009/12/blogger-integrates-with-amazon.html

Oh No!

2010-03-16T09:56:00.000-05:00

A redhead wearing pink! :) Sorry, I had to do that.

Happy Birthday

2010-03-14T07:55:00.000-05:00

Happy birthday to Elouise! We wish you a blessed day!

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch.

Based On a True Life Dog Monday

2010-03-12T06:51:00.003-06:00

Response to Ruby(Connie)'s Review

2010-03-08T08:45:00.000-06:00

I love Angharad--she is perfect for Johnny. I'd like to hear how they fell in love, if you can manage it. I bet there is a good story there, and she would have to be special to win reserved John Blythe's heart!

I haven't been able to fit Johnny and Angharad's love story into this tale, but I will try, when I get around to writing the collection of family vignettes, to work their history into it. Johnny is one of my favourite characters, so it made me very happy to give him such a nice conclusion to his troubled youth!

Rainbow Valley

2010-03-05T15:54:00.003-06:00

Pictures of the tulip fields in Holland right about now. That's what I call "scope for the imagination!"

I Hate Her (Spoiler)

2010-03-05T09:22:00.000-06:00

Elouise, you did such a good job writing Aurore that I hate her in a way I don't know I've ever hated a character before. I say, good riddance to her. I still think that she should die of some painful venereal disease.

Sequel!

2010-03-04T20:20:00.003-06:00

I'm sure you all have gotten by now that I plan to write a sequel to Blythe By Name, when it's finished: I'm not done with these characters yet. I'm thinking of calling it Blythe By Nature, and all day as I've been studying for this midterm that is certain to kill me I've been planning the plot in the back of my mind. It's going to be a challenge to try and make it different from Cecilia and Alice and Bertha, but I think I can do it! I hope I can!

Anyway, because Bess Golden is going to be a big character in Blythe by Nature, I thought I'd give you my pic for her. This is how I think dear Bess would look at eleven: like child actress Jolie Peters.

I have great plans in store for Bess and all the Goldens and Blythes. This story has been coming to me rapidly, but with the sequel, I plan to take my time and do it right. Now, to let things percolate a bit!

It. Never. Fails.

2010-03-04T13:11:00.000-06:00

Is it just me (probably) who has the problem of whenever I plan to hammer out at least a couple chapters of my stuff in a week, I don't get much chance to? I mean, I could be working on it right now, but I've tried a couple of times already today and work keeps getting in the way. You'd think I was sitting at my desk or something

To clarify, I have one of those jobs where it's either feast or famine. Often I get my work completed early on in the day and have plenty of time for whatever. Not the case this week. I'm not starting again now, because lunch is in just a few minutes, either.

So, while I'm stuck, tell me which two cousins/friends of Tenny and Cecilia should they take with them on an extended trip to England? Or should they take anyone at all, because they're going to be spending several months there. Actually, where you'll start is after they've arrived home, but at least a couple of chapters will be devoted to Hope telling of the trip to her family.

My Nerves Are Shot

2010-03-02T18:06:00.000-06:00

I just posted the next chapter of TSotS, and I'm so, so nervous about people's reactions. I know perfectly well that it is implausible, over-the-top, and never would have happened in real life ... but it also is the only possible way this character's story could have gone, and I have been planning it ever since, I think, "Diana of the Island."

But I'm still nervous about people's reactions, because it is definitely a little soap opera-ish.

So, once you guys have read it, could you let me know what you think? If it really, really won't work for you, I can try to do some editing to make it more plausible, but I don't want to sacrifice it if this is just me being overly cautious!

Errors, errors, everywhere

2010-03-02T10:18:00.000-06:00

Has anyone else been having problems with fanfiction.net the last couple of days? It won't let me upload any documents, keeps telling me there's an error with converting the file. I thought at first that maybe it was having a problem with the Word app on my Mac, so I emailed a copy of the doc to Carl's PC, and tried it from there, and it still wouldn't take it. Then I tried uploading some older files, ones it has actually accepted in the past, and it still won't take anything. So now I'm intensely irritated, because Meg's story is all done and yet I can't post any more chapters!

Mrs. Miniver

2010-03-01T09:56:00.002-06:00

I watched this wonderful old movie this weekend, bit by bit, when Bart was upstairs grading papers and such. I just love it so much for it's portrayal of how things were in the early days of WWII. Then I remembered that I own a very old copy of the book. The book is of course very different than the movie. It starts much earlier.

Also, since I sort of have a phobia of old books, (they're nice to decorate with, but I like new books with only my germs LOL) I found it online to read. It's such a quick read and so short, that I want to finish it before I progress any more with TTTT. It shouldn't take me too long.

PS , I'm just now to the part where they get their gas masks.

A "nuts and bolts" question

2010-03-01T09:27:00.000-06:00

How do you all work out your plots? Is everything meticulously planned beforehand, or do you just go with it as the writing happens? Do you find that sometimes the plot direction changes partway into the story?

When I started writing "Meggie of Green Gables," I had actually planned for Meggie and Johnny to eventually marry. The more I wrote about them, though, the more I sensed that they would not be at all well suited to each other. I hadn't decided who would replace Johnny, though, until partway through "Weeping May Tarry," when Will arrived unexpectedly on my pages, and I realized I was looking at Meg's one true love.

In "The Sound of the Sea," I'm working on the final chapter now, and even though I had pretty much every major plot point mapped out beforehand, I veered away in some big ways: one major character who was supposed to die I just couldn't let go; one who was supposed to have a romance informed me in no uncertain terms that s/he much preferred being single; and an unexpected reconciliation happened a few chapters back that really pleased me, but was not planned at all until I started writing the chapter.

So now I'm curious: does that happen to you? Do you find your heros and heroines, like Anne's Averil, "unmanageable," or are you able to keep them reined in and obedient to your dictation?

Third, Fourth Time's the Charm

2010-02-26T16:21:00.000-06:00

This is the final version of my fanfic, "Through These Trying Times..." It took me a week to get the Prologue the way I wanted it, no kidding. I hope you like.

A Little More Connected

2010-02-23T12:12:00.002-06:00

We now have several Google Friend Connect tools added to our blog, to make our community stronger. Now, I think I'm through playing webmaster, because I'd like to write a little. :)

The Cast of Blythe By Name

2010-02-22T17:47:00.005-06:00

Y'all know this is my favorite thing to do, and I couldn't resist any longer! Since Adrienne mentioned it the other day, I can't stop thinking of Irene (Howard) English as Elaine Hendrix, the evil stepmother from the 1998 version of The Parent Trap!

Right now, the only other two characters I have a clear idea on are Bonnie Wright from Harry Potter as Sally, and Elle Fanning (very bottom) as Helen.

We Are Connected

2010-02-22T16:51:00.000-06:00

Good Monday to all of you! As you can see, I got a little creative with our neglectedish little blog and gave it a makeover. I hope it meets everyone's approval, at least a little. Also, if you will notice to your left, we now have a Facebook Page and a Twitter Account! Hopefully I have it set up to where every time we post here, it posts on Twitter, and Twitter will post on Facebook. I, for somoe reason, want us to be "out there." I'm going to drop the old Facebook Group and direct everyone to the Page and eventually to our updates.

Words of praise indeed.

2010-02-22T14:14:00.003-06:00

Today I got the kind of review that always makes me go "O...K?"

I really like your stories--they all pick up after ROI and generally tie
together at least a little.

*scratches head.* Thanks, I guess?

Do you guys ever get reviews that make you go "hmmmm?"

Name Ideas

2010-02-21T13:56:00.000-06:00

I may be focusing more on Hope in my latest version of "TTTT..." but I have decided that we need another girl living in Seagate, beside Hope and Cecilia. Gracie is still too young, and Maddie still can't afford to go to college. I don't want to change any of that. So, I've decided to create a granddaughter of Phillppa and Reverend Jo. This is obviously going to be someone chatty and well, quite blunt. She's going to call things as she sees them.

She's the daughter of on her Phil's boys. Now, remember that Phil's daughter Rebecca is married to Shirley, and is was through an acquaintance of theirs that the kids found Seagate. So, in my opinion, it makes that much more sense to have this character. Now, she needs a name, and I don't want to use Phillippa. I've just been running a fever and my head is very foggy right now, so I need some assistance.

Blythe by Name

2010-02-18T13:59:00.002-06:00

I've posted the first chapter of my new story on ff.net! Here's the link: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5757472/1/

Opinions

2010-02-17T16:56:00.000-06:00

OK, last year I started a rewrite of "Through These Trying Times" because I felt I needed it to be more in depth and centered. Then, of course, when I really started getting into my writing groove again real life went kind of crazy, what with extended family issues and then that wonderful, scary, yet short time I was pregnant and the holidays took my attention. Anyway, after everything that has gone on, I decided that I wanted to do things and complete things again. I have obviously been given this time for reasons, and I intend to use it.

That said, I've decided that I'm scrapping (in a way) the "TTTT" rewrite and starting over again. This time we will be even more Hope-centric for many reasons. First, it's easier to keep up with things that way. Secondly, if I want to some time I can delve more in depth into the other characters in later stories.

Also, I want to start the story a little earlier in Hope's life than the original, just a year. Actually the prologue starts four years earlier, but then the rest will start in 1937. I'm still having a large group go off to Redmond. I'm not making them any older, just that they attended Queen's for three years and could go earlier than if they had needed to attend four years of high school. This way we just get another (fictionally speaking) year of getting to know our characters and stories to tell.

I'm going to have Hope's relationship with Hans, the Nazi last longer and be even more painful.
We're going to get to see Tenny's heart get trampled on by Dory Campbell.
We're going to see Walt and Maddie bicker long before they declare their love.
Cecilia will be the one who thinks that she is in love with Bryant, this time.
We will see little David be born (in a way).
We'll see Gilly date even more girls, and his sister Gracie be less than graceful even more, LOL.
A LOT will happen in that first year, and it will be even more interesting in 1939 when they join up after the war starts.

So, what are your opinions?

The Sound of the Sea

2010-02-16T19:26:00.003-06:00

I am so enjoying Elouise's latest Meg story, The Sound of the Sea, and I hope she won't mind me creating this thread to discuss it, like we used to at the old forum.

Some things in particular I'm digging:

The fact that Grey Harbour isn't a typical Avonleaish place, and that Meg and Will are having to struggle to find their footing there. It would be nice if everything for our characters always went perfectly nicely, but there's tension in struggle, and I look forward to great satisfaction when they finally are accepted.
The glimpses of other members of the family we got in the first few chapters. Can't wait for them to visit and see the new place, especially Polly!
This might sound weird, but I appreciate the fact that you had Will lose his arm, Elouise. To try to explain: I know I tend to give my heroes more picturesque war injuries. But losing an arm is serious, and life-changing, and I like that you show Will struggling with his disability, trying to come to terms with it, because he would, wouldn't he?

Some things I'm looking forward to:

Matt coming home (will he ever fall in love?)
More Grandmama Irving! I'd like to see Meg stand up to her once and for all!

Great work so far!

The Road to Yesterday?

2010-02-16T19:19:00.005-06:00

I mentioned to Elouise that since I've finished my Cecilia stories I don't know where to go next and that I might write a new series with an entirely different set of third generation characters, from scratch (as another account?) and as soon as I had typed it, inspiration hit. I've been daydreaming about writing a story that follows Faith and Jem and their family, sort of an Eight Cousins kind of set-up. I also want to focus on Faith as a new wife and mother, and her relationship with her own mother, through memories and flashbacks.

But as I was planning things out, I realized that I had used all the possible permutations of names and I've been racking my brain to come up with new ones! Suffice it to say, if I do write this fic, none of the kids will be named after relatives because I've used them all up.

Here's what I've come up with so far:

Faith and Jem's kids: Walter (canon), Cameron (I'm making it Faith's mother's maiden name), Cecilia (Sally), and Helen.

Jerry and Nan's kids: Claire and Avery

Rilla and Ken's: Gilbert (canon), Amy, Selwyn, and Rachel.

What do you think? Do they sound appropriately Blythe to you?

Interesting Article

2010-02-14T09:09:00.001-06:00

I found this interesting article this morning on Mental Floss. http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/46902 .

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPod Touch.

Christmas Memories

2009-12-19T14:18:00.001-06:00

ff.net is apparently being disagreeable again, but if they ever get their notifications working, I'll post a link to my latest story, a series of disconnected Christmas one-shots scattered throughout the LMM world. (I suppose I ought to say, scattered throughout my LMM world, since the first chapter is about Di and Patrick.

Edited to Add: Title will now link you to the story.

Well, I did it

2009-12-15T12:48:00.002-06:00

I started posting "Through These Trying Times" on fanficiton.net again today.

Anne meets Star Trek

2009-11-17T10:40:00.003-06:00

One of my friends just sent me an email with this passage from Anne of the Island.* It took me a couple readings before I caught the error, and then I busted up, and knew I had to share it with you all!

Lover's Lane was a dear place that night, still and mysteriously dim in the pale radiance of the moonlight. They loitered through it in a pleasant chummy silence, neither caring to talk.
"If Gilbert were always as he has been this evening how nice and simple everything would be," reflected Anne.
Gilbert was looking at Anne, as she walked along. In her light dress, with her slender delicacy, she made him think of a white iris."I wonder if I can ever make her care for me," he thought, with a pang of self-destruct.

*online version--forgot to mention that before!

Lack of Progress Report

2009-10-29T09:50:00.000-05:00

Between adopting Miss Dorothy Gale, and then the drama that has ensued in light of my sister's pending divorce, I haven't really felt particularly creative lately. Actually, I'm feeling it some now, I've just had to spend too much time talking to people. I hate wasting time on the phone.

I also took down my me.com websites, because I really don't want to pay $99.00 a year right now for Apple's Me.com stuff. Also, I can't really justify it to Bart when we have another mouth to feed who really likes to eat, and I talked him into paying another $20.00 a month to finally get a DVR.

That said, it looks like at least for a while, I may be having a little more free time at work, and now that Dory has learned to run to the door and let us know that she needs to potty rather than just squatting in the floor, I can focus on other things. The girls play amongst themselves so much, I do have a little more freedom. Lucy alone, was a bit of a needy, clingy girl.

I seriously pray for continued lack of drama so I can get back to enjoying my time imagining things to write.

Because Connie Asked

2009-10-29T08:22:00.000-05:00

So, status report for my stories:

The Sound of the Sea is on Ch 10 and progressing nicely. I work on it every time I'm supposed to be studying. Isn't that the way of it? If I was supposed to be writing I'd want to study.

Cup of Joy is stalled. It's all plotted out, but quite frankly I'm sick of Jane. PLus I have a tendency to get sick of my stories near the end and rush them to a conclusion, and I'd just as soon not do that here, so I'm waiting until I feel a little friendlier toward Superior Jane.

I'm tentatively planning a final story in my Anne series, a collection of vignettes mostly about the great-grandchildren, mostly to give people an idea of what direction each of the families takes. That won't be tackled until after tSotS (gosh that looks weird) is done, so who knows when I'll get to it!

And just in case anyone is curious about my Jane Austen story (Her Own Manner of Devotion) I am planning on finishing it, but it actually takes a somewhat exhausting amount of research for mere fanfiction, so I can only tackle it when I've plenty of time for searching out obscure details. I do intend to write epistletory sequels for at least Northanger Abbey, Emma, and Persuasion once I've finished with this, and I'd like to do all of them provided I can think of good enough plots.

Progress report time!

2009-10-28T14:33:00.002-05:00

No pressure because I know you ladies are busy, but I am craving more of your stories and so I wondered if we could post where we are at with all of our works? Just to keep everybody in the loop.

Here's mine:

Where the Brook and River Meet: I have planned out the end of this story and I just need to get to writing it. I feel like I've written Nancy and Lee into a corner and need to find out how to back them out, so that's kind of bugging me now.

Five Summers: I'm having a hard time thinking of how to move Di from her current position, still reeling from Walter's death, to new storylines. I've never lost anybody close to me suddenly like that so I don't really know how long it should take and I'm ruminating on this.

Stella of New Moon: I'm just not inspired by this right now, so it's hard for me to write on it. But I definitely haven't given up Stella and her crew.

Rilla-my-Rilla: Haven't given up on this, either--it's just slow-going.

And I really need to sit down when I get a chance and repost my Alice stories. They were somehow deleted from my account, with a lot of my older stories (the Pat ones, the Story Girl ones). I'm not sure if I did something wrong here or if my account was hacked and someone is giving me a really thinly-veiled critique of what they thought about my earliest attempts at fanfic. If it was the latter it's my own fault because my password was my username. Yup. Smart. Luckily, I have the Alice stories saved on my hard drive.

All About Anne

2009-10-27T09:02:00.002-05:00

I love reading things at Mental Floss. Today, guess what I found?

All About Anne

The In Between Years

2009-10-14T11:47:00.000-05:00

OK, so Cecilia of Red Apple Farm is finished again, and Where the Brook and River Meet is coming along swimmingly. Now I know that when you started Where the Brook and River Meet, you said it would probably be your last Cecilia story. However, I can't help but be very curious about her remaining years in college.

Kindred Spirits or Joseph's Race?

2009-10-14T11:25:00.000-05:00

I've been thinking a bit about the whole concept of "The race that knows Joseph" lately--some ideas that I want to work into my story, and I thought I'd toss them out here first, to see what sort of discussion springs up (look at me mixing my metaphors!).

I think that in some ways, the whole "Joseph's race" idea can become a snobbery, as in, we can only be friends with people who think like us and act like us. It wasn't that way with the original concept of "kindred spirits." There it seemd that Anne made more of an effort to find something kindred in everyone she meets and because of that is able to befriend almost anyone.

Later on, though, it just acts (in my opinion) as a dividor: "Well, he's not of Joseph's race so we can't ever be good friends, end of story." And how boring is it to only be friends with people who think like you? How are you ever going to be stretched and challenged, which is one of the blessings of friendships?

Look at all of us on here--we all come from wildly different backgrounds, beliefs, ideals, etc., and yet we are able to be friends. That is how I think of kindred spirits--those who can be friends despite many differences because of one common spark--call it the spark of humanity, if you will!

And I suspect that's how LMM originally intended it, but the message seems to have gotten muddled in later books, as though perhaps the second generation didn't quite understand and just took the term "Joseph's race" as a way to distinguish themselves from the rest of the world.

Or maybe that's just my flawed interpretation. What do you all think?

Anne makes a discovery!

2009-10-13T22:29:00.002-05:00

I have the latest chapter of Where the Brook and River Meet up on ff.net (http://www.fanfiction.net/secure/story/story_preview.php?storyid=5321474&chapter=19/) and not to give anything away, but it contains a similar idea to one Adrienne used in her first version of TTTT... I wanted to post mine here, and say that I hope they are different enough so she's not offended and doesn't feel encroached upon. Adrienne, if it is, let me know, and I will revise it with no hard feelings. I wanted to re-read TTTT before I posted but couldn't because it's not up anymore. Let me know.

And because all the cool kids are doing it, I wanted to post some pictures for other characters in WTB&RM.

Blythe Meredith: Teddy Dunn

Manon Delaroux Meredith: Julia Stiles

Lee Goddard: Gareth Lewis

Nancy Blythe: Rachel McAdams

The Sound of the Sea

2009-10-12T11:04:00.000-05:00

I have a confession to make ... I actually have the first six chapters of Meg's next story written! I am determined not to post anything until I have at least half the story written, though, because I don't want to get bogged down in the middle and leave the readers hanging, or have issues trying to make first part and second part reconcile if it ends up going a different direction than I originally expected (both problems I had with WMT).

I also finally have a name for it: The Sound of the Sea, taken from a poem of the same title by Longfellow.

I also have a few pictures of some of my characters, and since you laides have been kind enough to share some of your character choices, I thought I would do the same. Consider this your teaser trailer!

Meg, as played by Hayley Atwell

Will, as played by JJ Feild

Aunt Cass Thornton: Ruth Wilson

Leigh Thornton: Georgie Henley

Aurore Pichot: Alexis Bledel

Natalie Pichot: Anna Popplewell

Ta-Da!

Found at last: the perfect Marshall.

2009-10-06T23:11:00.004-05:00

I want to say that while looking up some of the characters that Adrienne posted, to see what they'd been in, I found my perfect pick for Marshall Douglas, FINALLY. It's Matthew Goode:

And because he can't be married to a magazine cover, I am going to pick young Liv Tyler as my final answer for Cecilia:

I think she looks like she could be the daughter of Shirley and Una. Woo and hoo! Thanks, Adrienne!

Red Apple Farm?

2009-10-03T12:00:00.005-05:00

I was looking up pictures of PEI houses today, and as soon as I saw this one, I thought "Red Apple Farm!"

Is it even close to your mental image of Cecilia's home, Cathy, or am I just WAY off here?

(If you click on the picture itself it shows up larger.)

Casting for Inspiration:

2009-10-02T20:10:00.002-05:00

Illness and other things have kept me from being able to sit down and write any lately, but that doesn't mean that I haven't been thinking of my characters in Through These Trying Times

Tenny Blythe - Matt Dallas

Maddie MacGowan- Younger Jennifer Garner

Walt Blythe - Simon Woods

Hope Blythe - Kelly Reilly

Gracie Ford- Blythe Dallas Howard

Wills Darcy - Tom Welling

Cecilia Meredith - Rachel Bilson

Gil Ford- Jason Segal

Nathaniel Meredith- John Krasinski

Jacob MacGowan-Josh Hartnett

John Blythe - Adam Gregory

Lucy McGowan - Jessica Stroup

Lizzie Darcy - Hayley Atwell

Hans Weber - Trevor Donovan

Elliot Douglas - Matt Lanter

Bryant Douglas - Zac Efron

Nelle Douglas - Blake Lively

Cecilia Actors?

2009-09-19T10:49:00.001-05:00

Cathy, I'm sure that you selected actors/actresses to play the characters from your Cecilia stories on either the old forum or the really old forum but I can't remember who they were! So, just out of curiosity, who do you "see" as your characters? (You don't need to post pictures if it's too much work or you just don't feel like it--just their names and we can look them up!)

Weeping May Tarry

2009-09-17T20:51:00.002-05:00

Elouise's Weeping May Tarry came to its conclusion this week, and I thought we could discuss it, here. Any reflections? Anything you'd like to see in the sequel?

I'll leave mine in the comments.

The tea rose.

2009-09-16T21:31:00.002-05:00

I just read Chapter Two of Adrienne's updated TTTT. I really love the parts added about Una and Hope's relationship as step-mother and -daughter. It got me to thinking: all of our Unas are very different. I like to make her happy in my stories because she's my favorite and I think she deserves it after such a hard life (Though MANY people don't like that at all and think she should have stayed true to Walter). A few other people, including lovejag, if I am remembering correctly, have her do somewhat of the same thing (end up with Shirley). In Adrienne's stories, she is very much like the traditional Una of the LMM books, only stronger and more secure, more spirited. Elouise's Una isn't a main character, but sticks to the shadows most of the time (as does kslchen's Una) and that suits her, I think--it's a very real interpretation of what would have happened if she never got over Walter or if he never found his way home.

Iffie makes her spirited, faerie5 has her taken up by the other girls and nurtured, while she nurtures them, AmericanGirlAnne makes Di and Una better friends than most people consider them to be.

All of these are such interesting, varied choices, and I thought it might be cool to talk about why we've "made" these choices for our dear Una.

About the Changes....

2009-09-15T20:48:00.000-05:00

I'm loving the revamped Cecilia of Red Apple Farm, thought it's not like I didn't adore the original. I'm very interested in your bringing Leslie Meredith into the mix and wonder what will become of her as a nurse. I also love that you're mentioning Jims more often, though I'm sort of missing some Marshall.