Our BetterMost Community > Creative Writer's Corner
Taking Chances, by E. L. Van Hine and L.H. Nicoll
Kazza:
You know it's weird, but I've got a kind of real post wedding reaction going on.
You know when you're building up to or anticipating a wonderful event, such as a wedding, or a loved ones birthday, something like that, you've got the constant pleasant buzz of anticipation. Then afterwards you have the vague feeling that something is missing - but you can't put your finger on what. I know the event is over, but it hasn't quite sunk in yet.
That's how I feel.
Karen
louisev:
good er, morning everyone. I didn't think I would stay up after 4 a.m. but... I did!
Leslie (MaineWriter) proposed the Laramie Saga Rereading to begin today, so that those who did not get a chance to discuss the early books, would have a forum to do so as a focused rereading. (While you all wait for me to write the next story!)
I think it is a capital idea (as Jeevesy would say) and I'll get the ball rolling.
I started "Taking Chances" and conceived it as something along the same size and scope as my first BBM fan fic "A Warm Wind Blows"
http://louisev.livejournal.com/446.html
which is a short story in 9 brief chapters. At that time I posted on another forum "I do not believe Ennis would ever have a relationship with somebody else after Jack's death." I wrote that, I believe, on the 24th of April.
And I woke up on the 3rd of May and had conceived how Ennis might go about doing this exact thing. And so he walked in the door of a semi-private Billiard Club advertised in a magazine he read at the library: The Red Stallion.
But Ellery, soon to be the main love interest of the story - is nowhere to be seen. My original concept for the story was Ennis would go to the bar, a young pup (Pete, who now has no spleen) would throw himself bleeding and dirty into his arms, and Ennis would come face to face with the ugly realities of the Queer World... help the kid out, learn about the dirty underside of closeted relationships, and make a friend of Pete. Then bid a hasty back to Riverton, profoundly shaken, but wiser from the knowledge that there are other queer men in the world, and that he is not alone. (End of story.)
But that isn't what happened. Ennis had other ideas, and so did Bill. (And so did Pete.)
I don't know if this is of interest at all, but judging from how differently the story unfolded from the way my original plan was, I write purely from inspiration, and that is partly why I do not like to make my living at it. I have been a professional writer in a deadline-oriented environment - and I will tell you right now, it sucks. The entire joy of writing and sharing that writing, is to be uplifted by an inspiration and barrel away at 140 words a minute... and twenty pages later - there is a character there, with a life, and a problem, and a plot, telling me how it is going to be next.
And that is how the Laramie Saga happened.
mariez:
Hello everyone! I found my way here through one of Louise's messages at LiveJournal. I can't believe what I've been missing! I hope you have room for one more! I would love to participate in a re-read of the Laramie Saga. I must admit that I've probably "re-read" many chapters countless times already! I just love that first day that E&E spend together - so may great moments.
I can see that I have a lot of catching up to do! I'm going to go take a look at the "Gallery" now. Do I need to try and read all 500-plus pages that have been posted so far? LOL! I look forward to talking with all of you and, of course, re-reading this wonderful, beautifully written saga. I'm also anxiously awaiting "Dupree's Choice" - I love Jeremy and Nick! - and the other continuing stories!
Marie
MaineWriter:
Good morning, Marie, welcome! We are glad to have you here!
You can go through these 500+ pages if you want...lots of good stuff buried in here. Or you can just dive in now and join us on this re-read journey.
Speaking of re-read, folks, how do you want to approach this? I am thinking we could read five chapters per day. Each day, I could post the link to the first of the five chapters and then you could use the arrows to scroll to the next.
What do people think?
L
christie wood:
Hi Marie and welcome.
I came to the party a little late too and although I intended to read through all the pages never quite got round to it!
I love Jeremy and Nick too, I'm keeping my fingers crossed things work out well for those boys.
In the meantime, re-reading Taking Chances is a wonderful way to pass the time....that first day they met, was wonderful, Marie, I agree, and its always good to go back to something to see how things have come along since then.
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