arkhive

I remember a while back (a lonnnng while back), there was a sudden burst of stories with the same plot: someone gets wishes, make wishes, there are loopholes in wishes, oops?
After a while they all got old and tired, but that's not the point here!
The point is, it really does stinks when something comes true, but-oops-there's a catch-22.
Snap. (And now I've exposed myself as a US left-coast-er)
So the muses did come back, after their long, extended vacation. And they did help with the beginning- of the wrong story!
Blood pressure rising...(Deep breathes, deep breathes)
So here I have an amusing, interesting beginning with the tone perfect for the one that I'm working on. Trouble is, the main characters involved in that beginning has nothing to do with the characters in this story. They're not even the same specie.
*Twitch*
Frustrating. Very frustrating.
I'm tempted to abandon this story and use the other one with the self-made beginning instead...but this one that I'm working on (working title: iffy) has a more original plot, more solid world-building and greater character dimensions. I really like the characters. And they know that I like them, so they're abusing this fondness with their refusal to cooperate with each other to make the beginning work.
...I need coffee. Or tea.
(A spot of tea please?)

Now that that's out of the way...
Anyone interested in creating a critique group specifically for urban fantasy? Or maybe looking for a critique partner?

Oh oh!
Temporary insanity.
I'm going to try to do a 100 Theme Challenge (because the pile of work on my desk isn't driving me crazy enough).
What is this? Well, basically you come up with a list of 100 themes, and you draw something or make an art of something for each of the theme. Wild, isn't it?
So I need suggestions for the 100 themes.
(I'll probably make another post about this later, but I need to get this typed down somewhere so that I won't forget.)
I have:
1. Once Upon a Time...(Introduction or something that sounds similar)
100. The End.
Now I just need 98 more.
Hmm...

So I'm stuck at the beginning of the story. Again.
Wait. No. Add another "again" to that.
That's right, this is my third attempt at reconstructing the beginning of the story that I'm currently mulling over.
It's a bit unnerving, just because beginnings usually flow the easiest for me. The characters usually bring the introduction together themselves and all I have to do is fill in the plot holes.
Now this time, this set of characters are being difficult. And no threats of erasing their existence will make them work together.
So now, I'm trying to figure out the problem du jour. Should I try switching over to third person instead? Would that smooth things out?

I've always been more comfortable writing in first person than third person, because a) first person means that the narrative will be limited, so the plot twists can be less obvious, and b) it's just a habit that came from early childhood and constant journal-keeping.
While I enjoy writing short stories or vignettes in second person, a novel written entirely in the second person sounds like a snorefest.
Now about the third person...for NaNoWriMo this year, I ended up writing in third person, which worked out nicely for that story, but now I can't seem to get back into the habit of writing in first person. Problem is, I don't believe that I'm comfortable enough writing in third person yet, so I will be risking a certain air of awkwardness if I do decide to go ahead to write in the third person.
(...I feel like banging my head against the wall right about now.)
And because writing is an obsession, it is constantly in my thoughts. This is going to keep bothering me until I get a nice start to the story and finally decide to stick with that.
Needless to say, that's not good. I need to retain the ability to function and complete my other tasks even while working on the story.
Someone call my muses, I need them back from their vacation. Now.