Keira's World

Jilly Asks: 1) Last words: strategies for getting to the end and writing a good ending.2) How to avoid “and then” (sort of related to #1)3) Thoughts on cliffhangers as endings (also sort of related to #1)4) First words. I find the first paragraph to be the hardest writing in the story. What’s that process like for you and how do you approach what to write first?5) Have you ever abandoned a story? What’s the process you go through in making that decision? Tonight's So Far Unseen (in public) Required Short Pitch: Ten bodies later, you still don't have an ending and you hate yourself.

I realized after the show last night that I didn't quite finish Penumbria's question. So, part 2 of the question:Original questionPenumbria asks: What kind of process do you go through when writing in a new fandom? How do you pick it? What kind of canon research do you do? I know you just started writing Hobbit this year. How do you make that decision? At what point do you usually decide how much of canon you are ignoring and what you want to change, major and minor?Also, I think this show dovetails nicely with the show below: Déjà vu: Same Character, Different Reality

Penumbria asks: What kind of process do you go through when writing in a new fandom? How do you pick it? What kind of canon research do you do? I know you just started writing Hobbit this year. How do you make that decision? At what point do you usually decide how much of canon you are ignoring and what you want to change, major and minor?Time in a Bottle by AstolatFreedom is Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose by synecdochicImperfections by DashaCarving by SunryderFlowers for Yavanna by Soaba

Akane asks: How is third person omniscient different from head hopping? I’m reading a book YA called The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner. Personally, I feel like the author is head hopping like a motherfucker, but maybe it’s third person omniscient? Even after listening to your latest podcast this morning, I’m still not sure what the difference between the two are.Rogue53 asks: I have to agree with Akane, I’m still not really sure about the differences between all of the 1st person and third person writing. I can’t even tell what I’m writing in, let alone anyone else.Quick & Dirty Tips: First, Second, and Third PersonThird Person Omniscient

Jilly asks: Have you ever been in the middle of a story and decided to replot?This had happened to me for two reasons. 1) I just didn’t like the way the story was going. and 2) I’d written the character in such a way that keeping them in character no longer lined up with the plot.So, how do you go about stepping back, taking a critical view, and replotting from where you are?

I'm going to bitch about stuff.Tonight's Required but so far unused Short Pitch: Tonight's Episode is Brought to you by the letters F and UJohn Oliver on Internet Harrassment

Question from Ask Me Anything: penumbria asks: How do you write the same characters in different stories and stay true to their canon personas (so they aren’t OCs with the name of the canon character) but still keep them different without becoming Mary Sue or Gary Stu? In your head, what do you do to separate them from story to story. Like Harry in War Mages versus Harry in Serpent King vs Harry in Phoenix. Or Snape in War Mages, Serpent King, Unspeakable Plot, Soulmate Bond, and Phoenix? Or Elizabeth where some stories she is awesome (Sentinels of Atlantis) and others not so much, the same with Keller. How do you keep it straight in your head without falling into a rut that makes stories all the same with only a few details different because the characters are the same and react to each other the same way? How do you keep your personal head canon from bleeding all over every story in a fandom? It is something I know I struggle with. I’d love some advice because your stories handle it well.Tonight's Required but Not Used Short Pitch: Déjà vu is usually a glitch in the Matrix.

Calia asks: When writing how do craft the original character you are writing? Do you decide on their voice first or their overall interaction with the fandom known characters based on your outline of the story? Strange shoes: https://liduvinadesign.wordpress.com/2012/03/27/those-strange-shoes/

Moonstar48 asks: How do you go about encouraging a young writer to write? I try and support my daughter as a writer but sometimes I feel like I should do more. Then I feel like I am pushing her to write when she might not want to. What is the line that I shouldn’t cross while giving the most support. 1 thing I know not to do is I have asked to see or read any of her writing without her permission. I wait and let her ask me to read something. Two Psychotic Chickens: http://keiramarcos.livejournal.com/123636.html

Dark Evanescence asked: So I was listening to the podcast, it was awesome BTW. And at the end you were talking about the lack of development in Ginny and Ron. I know you totally hate them both. But is it because of who they are in the book, or because you see what they COULD have been and it pisses you off. And could you ever see your self writing a redemption of one of them?