"Gorgel Clownface was his Christian name..."

[katernater]

In an attempt to waylay further social ostracization, I finally relented and let Todd coax me into watching Snakes On A Plane. I will always equate that movie with this thread in Vicodin which, in turn, will always make me think of how it would feel to kiss someone during the climax of this song. arriterre? makemerun? Congratulations. You, along with ripped green ties and underage French supermodels, have woven yourselves into the significant fabric of my formidable years.

Honestly, vicodin_rpg might be the best game that I ever played in. The writing was superb, the players were top notch, and the overall atmosphere -- which could go from "Spanish soap opera" to "Merchant Ivory production" in a matter of two posts -- had me hooked for over a year and a half. I think I did some of my best writing over there. And, sure, it was a small community. Not many -- if any -- people saw it. That's the question I get most often, when I'm asked why I write in such small forums: Kate, you're wasting your time. Nobody's going to see this. Nobody who matters, anyway. Don't you think you should quit the kids' stuff and write something that'll earn you a buck? Sure, I'd love to. I'd love to crack out a novel in thirty days and have it picked up by a major publishing house. I'd love to write complex theses and analyses of pre- and post-modern literature. I'd love to have a column in the Times. But this? Right now? Is fun. This is for me. This is the release valve that I need to tweak every once in a while, when the real world seems padlocked by convention and sterility and blah blah blah did you remember to put a cover on your TPS report? So maybe it's a stall; maybe it's me flexing a mental muscle so it doesn't atrophy. Writing -- writing well -- is the greatest high that I experience. I'm grateful to the people who share that passion with me (arriterre, gleam, makemerun, mirorelle, awesomesquared, highlander_ii among them), because they seem to be in it for the same reasons.

-- Aaaand that was a suspiciously defensive paragraph. I can't imagine to whom I was trying to justify myself.

Comments

[another-myself.livejournal.com]

<3 Always, sweet. I can't even begin to count all of the good and amazing times we've had together through it. I'm glad that you're enjoying it, and really? That's all that matters. That you're exploring something you love, growing more every time you do it.

I sound like a self help book, don't I?

But regardless, it means so much to me that we've been able to write together the way we have, that no matter what we just continue to come back to that place together. I still remember when we were talking about doing the private storylines, just things between the two of us, and how you told me that all that mattered was that we were both writing from our hearts and that was what meant the most. You made me feel like I was part of something special, and it brings me so much comfort and joy to know that even now, after this good amount of time has passed, we're still doing that together and still enjoying it.

I woke up this morning and realized I hadn't finished the thought in my mind, so I had to come back and do it now. But really, dear, it all means the world. I'm so glad we still have it, and even more glad that you still find enjoyment in it.

[arriterre.livejournal.com]

Oh Kate, if you knew how much pleasure you and your time have given me. Think how much time we spent with each other: hours and hours. That alone says that we did something worthwhile. It had to have meant a lot to us or we wouldn't have spent that kind of time together. It goes beyond obligation to an online community or to a friend: it's the pure enjoyment of an activity and a person.

I think every day: I wish I could sit down and write with Kate. No House thing we ever do will match Vicodin -- we've always known that, I think -- but we should never stop spending time writing together. Ever. As soon as we land on another shared fandom we should create a game as soon as can be.

We're both busier adults, (or less idle children) now, but I'm not going to let that stop me updating whatever we're doing whenever I can. Perhaps it's a bit too much to hope for that we can spend the hours we used to just perpetually posting. But that needn't stop up our happiness.

[msconduct.livejournal.com]

Quite apart from the fact that if it's fun it's entirely justified in itself, nothing makes you a better writer than writing. It's Proper Serious Writing Practice. So you have all the bases covered.

[highlander_ii]

Indeed - I RP for fun. And, b/c I have the attention span of a goldfish (that's why I like running two or three threads at a time). I used to write fic, but I rarely ever finished them. I have several completed, and several in various states of completion. I have snippets everywhere.

I thought about taking up drabble writing, but that's almost harder than writing full-length fics. Vignettes would work, but they never 'feel' complete to me. So, RP is far more satisfying for me from a writing perspective. 1) b/c I can see the results right there and I know at least ONE other person is reading and 2) I don't have to write ALL of it myself - b/c it's so much more fun to share! :)

[inlaterdays.livejournal.com]

Dude, even published writers still write fanfic and enjoy RP.

*cough* including me, though I suck at all three things. There are much better examples.

As other people said, it's great writing practice. I think it helps you improve faster than practicing on your own, actually, because you get instant feedback and reaction: you don't have to wait for weeks or months to maybe get some boilerplate letter from a publishing house or an agent.

And - you really have talent. You and another_myself are fabulous writers.

[angelic-oni.livejournal.com]

That thread was so well written. I think I'm a little envious of you. I'm still looking for a game in which things just click and I find more than two or three writers who work well with me. I have fun in all my games, I'm just not always left satisfied and that's frustrating.

If RP is something you really enjoy, you should keep on with your RP. You're a brill writer and maybe there'll be a book or a column or something down the line, but the most important thing is you having fun with your writing.

[awesomesquared.livejournal.com]

Right back at you, my dearie. ;) You are truly one of the most talented writers I have EVER come into contact with. I remember when you first sent me your APP for Underworld and within three sentences i was like "I must have this person in my life."

I can't wait to see where Sorina and Rowe go next. :)