LMH sequel question

[emmagrant01]

I'm working hard on the sequel for Left My Heart, and my plan right now is to start posting sometime after the beginning of the year. I had originally wanted to post chapters weekly, as I did with LMH, but I need to make sure most of the fic is written before I can do that. I don't want to commit myself to something I won't be able to do.

But then I wondered what the people who are actually going to read it would prefer. I'm pretty flexible here, honestly. I could possibly post a chapter in the two weeks, if people wouldn't mind waiting a month for the next one. So tell me what you think! What I'll post will be a preliminary draft, like LMH was, and a final version will eventually go up after some serious thought and reviewing of comments on the LJ draft. I'm not so concerned about getting it perfect the first time, so it's less a question of it being "ready" as one of posting it in a timely and reader-friendly fashion.

Please tell me what you think! Leave comments on this entry, if you want.

[Poll #390606]

Comments

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

That seems to be the consensus! I liked it, too, honestly. It was really motivating for me, and I gained so much from having people reading it so regularly.

[thalia]

Do whatever you want; I'll wait till it's finished to read it. [g] I will say that on those rare occasions that I read WIPs, I tend to prefer stories that are at least well thought out, if not mostly written, to those where the writer is obviously flying by the seat of her pants. So to speak.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. That's why this one hasn't been posted yet... *coughs*

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

You know, I still think of Tuesdays as "Left My Heart" day.

Even though I wail and rant against WIPS elsewhere, I always am willing to cut you slack, because you're regular and consistent and the fics are so worth it.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you! It looks like the weekly posting option is winning. That's my preference too, honestly!

[jexay.livejournal.com]

Yay LMH sequel! (pls. see icon) ;D

There is a gen WIP fic I'm reading now that has updates every 2 weeks. The chapters are shorter but the frequency of the updates is enough for me to not be too 'hungry' for the fic. I've read WIPs that don't update for months and those I tend to forget about- good as they are. *shrugs* I used to have a WIP fic link list on Word but it was too tedious (or I'm too lazy) in upkeep. E-mail reminders are great if it doesn't take too much of your time.

If you update a little less frequently and chapters are not as long, you'll have the time to make it as good as you want it to without depriving us fanhounds of your lovely writing. *grins*

I'll read anything you write, hon. LMH is dear to me. It introduces me to H/D, made me absolutely love post-Hogwarts and a muggle-smart Draco. Good luck!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! At this point, it looks like weekly posting is the way it's going to be. My preference was definitely for something regular, whether it was weekly or otherwise.

[angelofmercy.livejournal.com]

Just please whatever you do, be consistent in posting...not that that seems to be an issue...

I was hoping for a now! now! now! option, but I'll settle with whatever you choose :p

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I'll definitely be consistent! I'm not going to start posting until I'm absolutely sure I can post regularly and finish it.

[nickeldeuce]

Yay! I can't wait for the LMH sequel! I still think of Tuesdays as LMH day xDD Just pleeeaaase whatever you do, make it somewhat regular. I'm still emotionally scarred from the lack of Shoebox updates.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Regular it will be! :-)

[ms-mindfunk.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a great way to start off the new year. Yay! I'll be loking forward to reading the sequel.

I voted for regualr installments. There's something really satisfying to know that we'll get a fix at the same time every week. I like having that to look forward to with a great story, and I know this is gonna be great. :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I liked it that way too, and it looks like that option is the one most people would prefer. Thanks!

[jedirita.livejournal.com]

Just wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten my homework assignment! By the end of the week!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

*bounces* :-D

[tvillingar.livejournal.com]

This is just my opinion, but I'm not too fond of mailing lists for one particular fic/writer. I just can't see the point. If the writer is posting the story on some mailing lists already and an LJ, that should be enough. So my reasoning is that I'm trying to avoid signing on hundreds of lists.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I agree. I think it's a bit pretentious to have a mailing list, to be honest, but I can see why people who don't update regularly would want to have one. Since it looks like I'll be updating regularly, it doesn't look like I'll need one!

[luahoana.livejournal.com]

At first I thought, "Oh no, the beginning of the year? That's soo far away!"
But then I realized - it isn't!
God, doesn't time just fly by? ;)
...well, I hope it will until Tuesday (or whichever day you choose) becomes my favourite day of the week again! :D

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's coming up, isn;t it? *wibbles* Thanks!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Looks like weekly is what people would prefer! :-)

[kirili.livejournal.com]

MAKE YOUR ICON KISS MAKE THEM KISS
Anyhoo, UPDATE. In chunks would be good so I don't have to read every chapter then shoot myself waiting for the next chapter

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

In chunks -- how is that different from weekly chapters?

fanfiction author alert

[riding-pegasus.livejournal.com]

was wondering: are you going to submit it on ffn? because I put you on author alert there and getting a mail if you post something there anyway. but if you post it somewhere else first, would like to get a notification .. thanks for this generous offer (if it is one .. ;) ..) can't wait to read the sequel .. how about a 2nd cookie? pleeeeease?? *hopeful.look* :)

Re: fanfiction author alert

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Well, the problem with putting it on FFN is that it will be rated NC-17, which is explicitly not allowed in their TOS. I respect the fact that they don't want NC-17 fic posted there, so I don't plan to do it. I'll be posting the first draft here on my LJ, and when it's finished, I'll polish it up and then post it in a few places (my web page and Skyehawke, at least). I'll announce a starting date for it here pn my LJ sometime in early January, so people will know it's coming. Another cookie? I may post another cookie with the announcement! ;-)

[stefanieg.livejournal.com]

*de-lurks*

Mmm..hello, you don't know me, but I loved LMH, and am excited for the sequel. I voted for the manageable every two week schedule, but really I think you ought to do whatever is most comfortable for you. I mean, it is your story.. You don't owe us readers anything.

That's my two cents anyway..

*runs back to the safety of anonymous lurking*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks for de-lurking! It looks like people prefer the weekly installments, so that's the plan at this point! :-)

Recent poll

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't see the poll before so I'm answering here. I kept up with the original on it's weekly basis last time. It worked well that way, but personally I'd rather the story be finished. Give yourself the time to get it the way you want it. Don't rush it and then have to go back and fix a whole bunch of problems. Most of the time I save WIP and read them AFTER they are finished. I know that YOU will finish your story, but some authors leave you hanging for years. I hate that.
In the end it's your choice and what you choose will be the right thing. We will still be waiting, either on a regular basis or to till it's done whatever the decision is.

Waiting patiently no matter what.
Kim

Re: Recent poll

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I totally understand your perspective! There are a lot of unfinshed WIPs in this fandom that, remarkably, keep showing up on people's "top ten fic" lists, depsite being incomplete. I'm just not going to do that, and that's why I haven't started posting yet. I want to be at a point where I know I will be able to post weekly and finish before I start posting.

Good things come to those who wait.

[flowerfunleah.livejournal.com]

It sounds like you're going to go with the weekly updates and I'm releived, I didn't want to have to wait am month between chapters.

I didn't read your fic until it was all finished and I have to say, I'm in *love* with it! I would have to say your fic rivals the Harry Potter books themselves, I've read it three times and each time (like the canon books) I notice something new. Finally, since staring a computer screen so long is bad for your eyes, I just printed the fic out and made a folder for it!

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lady_katheryn_nightingale/detail?.dir=7ecd&.dnm=c713.jpg&.src=ph

The folder is made out of denim and if you click next you'll see the cover I made for the story using Sherants work.

Again! Great fic, an absolute favorite, and I'm happy you're thinking about doing it weekly, I love to read regular work.

~Leah

Re: Good things come to those who wait.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, squee! I love it! Can I put the jeans one on my website?

sequel

[gloriousgentry.livejournal.com]

Yay! I am sooo ready for the sequel to begin. I am with everyone else on the weekly posting thing. I rarely read WIP's because it seems that everytime I get really involved in a WIP, the author just stops updating. It is heart wrenching, really. I know that you are not that kind of an author, so I am excited for the weekly installments to start!

Gloriousgentry

Re: sequel

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Yeah, weekly installments it will be.

[amirine-7.livejournal.com]

*follows stephanieg and also de-lurks*

Hi! My name is Nykoel and once again, you don't know me. But a girl I know directed me your way one night when we were talking about good fiction! I read LMH and I loved it! I'm so excited that you're writing a sequel! And I see that the consensus is weekly updates, but I'm good with anything as long as there's more great work to read! :) Have a good night!

~Nykoel

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks so much! It's fun to hear that people have recced my fic! :-)

Guess who's in The City?

[ixchelmala.livejournal.com]

Want any pictures? I in in travel shutterbug mode here and well this is where I have family, specifically in north of the park near Ocean Beach. I'd love to get some shots for you... it's been right foggy these past few days too.

Let me know:)

Re: Guess who's in The City?

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, really? Any shots of stuff in the Castro would be fabulous, if you're planning on going by. :-D

Wow!

[danishgirl.livejournal.com]

*Heh*, if you do decide to start a mailing list for posting notices of updates of the fic, then please email me! My mail is: kirabech@sol.dk!
Can't wait! ^_^

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I don't think I will. What I'll do is decide on a start date and make an announcement about it here, and then I'll post weekly. I think that will make it easy for people to keep up with it.

Thanks!