imbecamiel (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
imbecamiel) wrote2008-12-31 12:54 pm
imbecamiel) wrote2008-12-31 12:54 pm
Entry tags:
- art,
- meme,
- musings,
- randomness,
- writing
Thoughts on writing and art.
Wow, there has been a lot going on for me in both writing and art over the last year.
My favorite story this year (of my own): Huh, kinda hard to say... Thing is, I pretty much always loathe my own stories by the time I've finished writing them. (Well, usually before that, too.) I actually tend to hate them less when I give it some time, and go back and re-read them later, but at the time... yeah. This year, though... I want to say my SGA one, One Alone, Without Companion, just for the sheer accomplishment. My longest story evar - yay! *g*
My best story this year: I seriously cannot judge the quality of my own writing, or even tell if it's getting better or worse. According to Neffie, however, I just recently finished maybe the best one I've ever written - By Chance. (Um, the title, not a commentary on how I managed it. Though that too, I guess. ;P ) And nope, you don't remember that one. Because no one I know except for Nef has seen it. Because... yeah, because a lot of reasons. Heh heh. But anyway, I had lots of fun with it.
Most fun story: He, again, I think this might be By Chance. The Alahn story I just finished and Black, White, Gold (both fanfic for Neffie's book) are also definitely contenders, though. Actually, I've just been having a lot more fun with writing in general, lately. Which is a change I'm very happy about. :D
Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters: Er... I don't have any characters of my own. *cwies and is despondent* Actually, yes I do! *brightens* Yay, me! LOL, but considering most of them I wrote only quite briefly, or intentionally kept to very minor roles... Eh. *shrugs* Can't think of anything to say, here.
Biggest Disappointment: Bleh. My own pathetic slowness at writing? The story I'm stuck in the middle of, just when I got to the place that was the whole point of why I wanted to write it? Meh. Not gonna talk about it at the moment. I refuse to make myself depressed. ;)
Biggest Surprise: I like writing! Hehe. Actually, it'd be that I actually started writing a book. Like, really, a book. Of my own. Not something I ever expected to be doing. Non-fiction, too, even - and about writing. Yipe. Oh, and my other biggest surprised: I has been published for the first time! Hehe, yep, did I mention I'd gotten an article published in Regenerate Our Culture? *is very happy*
Most unintentionally telling story:Um... *scratches head* I... don't know? Not really sure what to say to this. Maybe the story I actually got really depressed while writing, even though the story itself wasn't actually depressing, just because of how much I got into the whole feel of it all? (That'd be The Smallest Ghost.)
Hardest story to write: Gah, no question: One Alone, Without Companion. It just got sooo looong, which is definitely not something I'm used to, and all kinds of unexpected developments kept popping up, and by the end I was really desperate to just have it finished.
Easiest story to write: Mmm, I'd say definitely the as-yet-nameless Alahn story I just finished. Because it was short, it was fun, and it just kinda... happened, pretty much without any real trying on my part.
Looking back, did you write more than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted? Oh man. Well, let me put it this way... I believe I wrote about 71,000 words this year (unless I'm forgetting about something obvious... :P), not including all the pages of notes and ideas and scraps that don't fit with anything yet. Now, to put that in perspective for all y'all (Huh. That just... came out.*blinks and turns to stare at Kelsi* ) really productive people out there - that is nearly three times what I wrote last year. Yep, really. So that makes me very happy, in my own little way. ;D (Hehe, and y'know what, now that I think of it... I've probably written at least that much again just in comments and reviews on others' stories. Possibly more. O.o I should really try adding that up, sometime.)
What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January 2007? Oh yeah, definitely a surprise here. I... um... *hesistates* Well, it's about the last genre I thought I'd be interested in, much less write, but - a Western. Yes, I've written one, and am in the process of writing another. Very unexpected.
Did you take any writing risks this year? ROTFL. *nods* Trust me, every time I set pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) in a creative endeavor, it is a daring and risky procedure, as well as a test of endurance. :P
This year's theme and the story that demonstrates it most: Theme? Me? Er... I don't think I'm really that deep in my writing. Possibly... family, both ones you're born with and otherwise. I don't know, that seems to be a part of a lot of things I write. *shrugs*
Do you have any writing goals for the New Year? Hmm... *ponders* Well, it'd be really cool if I wrote more again next year than I did this year, but I hesitate to make that a goal. I guess, to keep learning, and improving my knowledge of writing and hopefully, in the process, my skill. But more than that... to honor God with my writing, both when I'm explicitly talking about "spiritual" things and otherwise.
Aaand from writing to art. Now here, it's a little easier for me to see improvement in my work. Because yes, I know my art had changed in a lot of ways just in the last six months, never mind the last year.
I've learned to draw catlike/furry animals! I've learned to draw animal faces in 3/4 views - and some of them from straight on! My sketches have gotten more detailed, and, I think, more three-dimensional. I've started drawing griffins - which I absolutely adore. :D I've started shading more of my drawings, for pretty much the first time since I stopped taking art lessons. I learned to draw on the computer! I've experimented a lot more, both with subject matter and poses/angles. Generally, I'm just feeling much more confident about my art. Still nowhere near where I'd like to be, but I really have a sense of improving.
So, just for the fun of it, a few pictures. Not all the hardest ones, or even all necessarily what I think are the best, but just... a few of the ones that, for whatever reason, I'm most happy about. :D
I don't know why I love this one, but I do. Even more so because I started it in the car, and hadn't expected it to turn out at all.
And this one - yes, my first real shaded dragon! Nowhere near perfect, but... *is happy*
And yep, I know I've mentioned it before, but this is probably my favorite, of the griffins I've done. I couldn't believe it actually worked!
Hehe, and my second-ever all-photoshop one must've been about the most infuriating piece of artwork I have ever worked on.
And, for anyone who's actually patient (or bored?) enough to read through all that... A new picture, which I don't think I'll be posting on SNWCG! Yeah, I haven't tried drawing a horse in years... and now I remember why. :P Most definitely an exercise in insanity. But... at least it did end up resembling a horse in the end?
And now... I'm going to stop talking! Yep, finally. *bg*
Happy New Year, everyone! *hugs all around* :D
My favorite story this year (of my own): Huh, kinda hard to say... Thing is, I pretty much always loathe my own stories by the time I've finished writing them. (Well, usually before that, too.) I actually tend to hate them less when I give it some time, and go back and re-read them later, but at the time... yeah. This year, though... I want to say my SGA one, One Alone, Without Companion, just for the sheer accomplishment. My longest story evar - yay! *g*
My best story this year: I seriously cannot judge the quality of my own writing, or even tell if it's getting better or worse. According to Neffie, however, I just recently finished maybe the best one I've ever written - By Chance. (Um, the title, not a commentary on how I managed it. Though that too, I guess. ;P ) And nope, you don't remember that one. Because no one I know except for Nef has seen it. Because... yeah, because a lot of reasons. Heh heh. But anyway, I had lots of fun with it.
Most fun story: He, again, I think this might be By Chance. The Alahn story I just finished and Black, White, Gold (both fanfic for Neffie's book) are also definitely contenders, though. Actually, I've just been having a lot more fun with writing in general, lately. Which is a change I'm very happy about. :D
Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters: Er... I don't have any characters of my own. *cwies and is despondent* Actually, yes I do! *brightens* Yay, me! LOL, but considering most of them I wrote only quite briefly, or intentionally kept to very minor roles... Eh. *shrugs* Can't think of anything to say, here.
Biggest Disappointment: Bleh. My own pathetic slowness at writing? The story I'm stuck in the middle of, just when I got to the place that was the whole point of why I wanted to write it? Meh. Not gonna talk about it at the moment. I refuse to make myself depressed. ;)
Biggest Surprise: I like writing! Hehe. Actually, it'd be that I actually started writing a book. Like, really, a book. Of my own. Not something I ever expected to be doing. Non-fiction, too, even - and about writing. Yipe. Oh, and my other biggest surprised: I has been published for the first time! Hehe, yep, did I mention I'd gotten an article published in Regenerate Our Culture? *is very happy*
Most unintentionally telling story:Um... *scratches head* I... don't know? Not really sure what to say to this. Maybe the story I actually got really depressed while writing, even though the story itself wasn't actually depressing, just because of how much I got into the whole feel of it all? (That'd be The Smallest Ghost.)
Hardest story to write: Gah, no question: One Alone, Without Companion. It just got sooo looong, which is definitely not something I'm used to, and all kinds of unexpected developments kept popping up, and by the end I was really desperate to just have it finished.
Easiest story to write: Mmm, I'd say definitely the as-yet-nameless Alahn story I just finished. Because it was short, it was fun, and it just kinda... happened, pretty much without any real trying on my part.
Looking back, did you write more than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you'd predicted? Oh man. Well, let me put it this way... I believe I wrote about 71,000 words this year (unless I'm forgetting about something obvious... :P), not including all the pages of notes and ideas and scraps that don't fit with anything yet. Now, to put that in perspective for all y'all (Huh. That just... came out.*blinks and turns to stare at Kelsi* ) really productive people out there - that is nearly three times what I wrote last year. Yep, really. So that makes me very happy, in my own little way. ;D (Hehe, and y'know what, now that I think of it... I've probably written at least that much again just in comments and reviews on others' stories. Possibly more. O.o I should really try adding that up, sometime.)
What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January 2007? Oh yeah, definitely a surprise here. I... um... *hesistates* Well, it's about the last genre I thought I'd be interested in, much less write, but - a Western. Yes, I've written one, and am in the process of writing another. Very unexpected.
Did you take any writing risks this year? ROTFL. *nods* Trust me, every time I set pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) in a creative endeavor, it is a daring and risky procedure, as well as a test of endurance. :P
This year's theme and the story that demonstrates it most: Theme? Me? Er... I don't think I'm really that deep in my writing. Possibly... family, both ones you're born with and otherwise. I don't know, that seems to be a part of a lot of things I write. *shrugs*
Do you have any writing goals for the New Year? Hmm... *ponders* Well, it'd be really cool if I wrote more again next year than I did this year, but I hesitate to make that a goal. I guess, to keep learning, and improving my knowledge of writing and hopefully, in the process, my skill. But more than that... to honor God with my writing, both when I'm explicitly talking about "spiritual" things and otherwise.
Aaand from writing to art. Now here, it's a little easier for me to see improvement in my work. Because yes, I know my art had changed in a lot of ways just in the last six months, never mind the last year.
I've learned to draw catlike/furry animals! I've learned to draw animal faces in 3/4 views - and some of them from straight on! My sketches have gotten more detailed, and, I think, more three-dimensional. I've started drawing griffins - which I absolutely adore. :D I've started shading more of my drawings, for pretty much the first time since I stopped taking art lessons. I learned to draw on the computer! I've experimented a lot more, both with subject matter and poses/angles. Generally, I'm just feeling much more confident about my art. Still nowhere near where I'd like to be, but I really have a sense of improving.
So, just for the fun of it, a few pictures. Not all the hardest ones, or even all necessarily what I think are the best, but just... a few of the ones that, for whatever reason, I'm most happy about. :D
I don't know why I love this one, but I do. Even more so because I started it in the car, and hadn't expected it to turn out at all.
And this one - yes, my first real shaded dragon! Nowhere near perfect, but... *is happy*
And yep, I know I've mentioned it before, but this is probably my favorite, of the griffins I've done. I couldn't believe it actually worked!
Hehe, and my second-ever all-photoshop one must've been about the most infuriating piece of artwork I have ever worked on.
And, for anyone who's actually patient (or bored?) enough to read through all that... A new picture, which I don't think I'll be posting on SNWCG! Yeah, I haven't tried drawing a horse in years... and now I remember why. :P Most definitely an exercise in insanity. But... at least it did end up resembling a horse in the end?
And now... I'm going to stop talking! Yep, finally. *bg*
Happy New Year, everyone! *hugs all around* :D