Real Life vs. Fiction

Title: Theories on How Danger Finds Us
Rating: R
Genre(s): Romance, Humor, Drama, Action/Adventure
Spoilers: Books 1-7, except for the epilogue
Warnings: Strong Language, Character Death, Blood, Smut (maybe)
Characters: Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Pansy Parkinson, Ginny Weasley, Original Character
Summary: Ginny goes off for her first year at college, where she is forced into a rather dangerous situation. D/G

( Theories on How Danger Finds Us - Chapter 1 )

[mood| contemplative]
[music| "D.A.N.C.E.- Justice]

Dear dgficexchange,

You and I have had a pretty good relationship in the two times that I've participated in your wonderful exchange of fic (and occasionally art). The first time was a bit of a rocky start, but hey; most relationships aren't always perfect. The second time around, however, I was confident in both my choice of prompt and the final result. What made it even better was that I was nominated 4 times. Four times! For it being my second time writing for an exchange of any kind, I was both honored and excited. I didn't win, but I was still happy to have produced a fic that people felt it had to be nominated and voted for.

I now approach my third round of your exchange and, up until this round's theme was announced, I was pretty excited. I've always loved the mods for the exchange and the layout they've created for this upcoming round is gorgeous. However, when I read the entry regarding this coming round and the new rules established, I became a bit concerned.

While I understand that people dropping out has always been a previous problem, I don't like the idea of limiting the amount of participants to 50. My policy on something like an exchange is that I don't sign up unless I know for certain that I will be able to participate. So, unless someone has a real life issue happen to them after they've signed up, I think it's silly for anyone to sign up if they know that they won't be able to stick to the time constraints. Not only that, but I feel that limiting the number of participants is a bit of a hindrance to the exchange. I'm the type of person that feels that if you want to participate, then you should be allowed to participate. By allowing past participants to sign up first before newbies is a disadvantage to the newbies, but I also think that just because you're a past participant doesn't mean that you produce fantastic products, or that there's a higher chance of you not dropping out (the latter may, or may not be true). Because, honestly, some of the fics by authors who have participated before aren't always the best ones. Or even ones that I personally enjoy. I feel that the fic produced may not be that author's personal best, but because of their name alone and the importance attached to their name that people adore it more.

I also have a bit of an issue with the theme. The theme itself asks for the author to think of a prompt that allows for an in depth look at the characters' respective psyches. If they can't, then oh well. And while I love the theories and concepts practiced in the field of psychology (hell, I wrote an entire fic about it), a vast majority of the stories I've read that features a character practicing in the field is usually more dramatic than humorous in nature. Of course I've seen fics that have a character acting as a psychologist that have been humorous, but well. I don't know. Rio and I feel that because it is the Spring Exchange that the theme should be a bit more light-hearted since it seems as though many authors might come up with fics in a more dramatic and/or angsty vein. I hope that I'm wrong, but it is a very likely possibility.

Please don't take this the wrong way, dgficexchange. I still plan on signing up and (hopefully) participating, so just take my comments for what they are: comments. I did not write this to bash you or the mods for, like I said previous, I think they are fantastic and I have nothing but respect for them and all that they do. I hope that this round is absolutely amazing. :)

With love,
xalexandriam (Alexandria Malfoy)

[mood| accomplished]

First: Stats homework is no fun when sick. Especially when the wording of the textbook is so convoluted that the normal amount of brain hurting is amplified when groggy and stuffed up. La-ame. :(

Next: So. I have this idea for a D/G one-shot, but due to said congestion, I have no freaking clue how to start it. I have a specific scene in my head that I quite like, and I've thought of a couple of beginnings but, well. Nothing is suiting my tastes right now.

( Scene That Is Stuck in My Mind )

Thirdly: Since I responded adelagia's entry about her response to the icon meme that's been going around LJ like the plague, I decided to play. :)

( Icon Meme! )

Fourthly: Like a Boss by The Lonely Island. I have been patiently waiting for them to make a music video for this song every since I heard it on their album. SO. EPIC.

And, Lastly: Speaking of The Lonely Island, I watched Role Models online today (it was my second time seeing it. The line about Quidditch makes me laugh every time), and I completely forgot that Jorma was in it! He was acting like the spaz that he is; which just makes me love him even more. He even did bad karaoke in it! Even though he can actually sing pretty decently! He's my favorite. Hands down. :D

xoxox

[mood| happy]
[music| "Heartbeat" - Scouting For Girls]

[EDIT] Chapter 8 is on Portkey. [/EDIT]


So I finished chapter 8 of Theories on How Danger Finds Us faster than I originally thought. Probably because I think where I ended it is rather appropriate and I didn't want this chapter to be redonkulously long, like it might have turned out to be if I wrote out all of the events. Much like chapter 7, chapter 8 seems to have turned out to be one of those chapters that just moves things along and sets the stage for some more important events.

I know pretty much exactly how I'm going to write out chapter 9, which is rather rare considering that I usually have just a vague idea of what I'm going to write in each chapter. Nope. Not this time. I know exactly what I want to write and how the events of the day are going to progress. Depending on how long Ginny's date with Gareth is once written, I might put her coming home in chapter 10. Maybe. I'm not sure yet.

Anyways, I've sent out chapter 8 to my beta, so, hopefully, she'll get it back to me as soon as possible. I'll post this chapter to Portkey tomorrow since I'm rather tired from writing and today's activities (ie. shopping. Wears a girl out, yo). I'll post the link to the chapter on Portkey and on FIA once they're on those archives.

In chapter 9, though, here are some things to look forward to: Gareth speaking German! Ginny gaining some insight into Gareth's family! and, possibly, Pansy, Blaise, and Draco being sneaky and listening into Ginny's conversation with Gareth once she gets back from her date! That last part might be in chapter 10, though. We'll see. :)

[mood| excited]
[music| "Great DJ" - The Ting Tings]

I decided to work on Theories on How Danger Finds Us before I drove up to Tallahassee today at 2 pm. :) This section gets a bit serious, but it doesn't stay that way for long and this chapter is far from finished. I have a lot more to go, so don't expect it for a while. Especially because I have three papers and some tests coming up before I'm done for the semester at the end of April. After that, I have the entire summer to relax and work on all of my stories some more (I haven't worked on The Prince or Every Season in ages! Plus! New round of the dgficexchange!).

But, for now, I shall give you all a bit more of chapter 8: ( Some More of Chapter 8 )

Thoughts would be wonderful. :)

xoxox

[mood| creative]
[music| "Ohh La La" - Goldfrapp]

[EDIT] Chapter 7 of Theories is up on FIA! Show it some love, please. :) [/EDIT]

I've just been a lean, mean writing machine for Theories these past few days. If only the same could be said for the some odd other fics I have sitting in WIP limbo right now. I really should work on one fic at a time. Pfft. Like that's every going to happen. XD

Anyways, I've written a little over a page for chapter 8 and I'm probably going to write some more before I go to bed. And for some odd reason, there's a crap-load of parenthetical remarks in this chapter thus far. I don't know why, it just worked out that way. I guess Ginny had a lot to say that could only be conveyed in parenthesis.

Here's what I have so far: ( Part of Chapter 8 )

Thoughts por favor. :)

xoxox

[mood| tired]
[music| "Everyone's At It" - Lily Allen]

Chapter 2 of Through a Long and Sleepless Night is up on both FIA and Portkey.

It's shorter than the first chapter, but, hopefully, they'll be a bit longer from now on.

Enjoy! :D

[mood| calm]
[music| "Poker Face" - Lady GaGa]

So I was cleaning out the nifty LeSportsac messenger bag that I use for school today and lookie at what I found! (You can click on it to make it bigger.)



Yes, you read that correctly. Scientology, the religion of Tom Cruise, Will Smith, John Travolta, and the Beckhams, has found its way to lil ol USF. I guess I had gotten the paper in passing to a class and stuffed it my bag without really looking at it. Good thing, too, otherwise I might have laughed at the person who gave it to me. I'm sorry, but I don't consider something based off of the works of a science-fiction writer to be a true religion. No offense to those who DO practice it; what may work for one person may not work for everyone else and, granted, Scientology has helped a rather decent amount of people, but still. The mere mention of the religion make my friends and I lolz.

Here's my nifty bag for those curious:



By the way, because I just feel like it, I did something that I remember talking to turkeyish about. I don't remember when, exactly, but I remember her mentioning that she had considered writing a story out of order, depending on what point in the story she felt like writing about at the time, and then putting the thing together like a jigsaw. Well, I had a semi-strange dream a couple of nights ago that, well, inspired me to write it out. Basically, I skipped ahead in the time line for Theories on How Danger Finds Us since I've had the story planned out since the beginning 'cause when I woke up the next morning I couldn't help thinking that the events of the dream would fit so perfectly with Theories. (This will probably be the only time I'll have a Stephenie Meyers moment.) I haven't written the entire chapter out yet, hell, I don't even know what chapter it would be, but I've decided to post some of what I've written, taking out the one little spoiler bit:

( Theories on How Danger Finds Us, Chapter ??? )

So I happened to look to the side of my screen just now and what advertisement do I see that LJ has bestowed upon me? THE OFFICIAL TOM CRUISE WEBSITE. I see what you did there, LJ. Coincidence? I think not, LJ. I think not.

[mood| pleased]
[music| "Mushaboom" - Feist]

Since the D/G Exchange has presented its master reveal, I give you all my exchange fic, written for kaygina. Enjoy! :D


( Naptime Should Never Last This Long )

xoxox

[mood| irritated]
[music| "Circus" - Britney Spears]

I'm working on chapter seven of Theories on How Danger Finds Us and I'm at this scene with Draco and Ginny (by the way, chapter seven is chock full 'o D/G interactions), and they're not at the stage where they're attracted to each other yet (well, honestly, Draco kinda is, at the very least, interested by Ginny, but unsure of how he really wants to categorize her), but my brain keeps screaming at me to write that they make-out and whatnot and argh!

THAT'S NOT SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN YET, DRACO AND GINNY! Patience is a virtue for a reason, and there will be plenty of time for snogging. I promise. *headdesk* -_-

I'm also really tired, so my brain could just be doing that simply out of habit. I dunno. We'll see what happens.

xoxox