Question for writers

[fathomlessspite]

Is it narcissistic to re-read your own fic when writing a sequel/new instalment?  Or is it good practice??  What do the writers on my flist do?

Comments

[winterstorrm.livejournal.com]

No - I would say it was necessary to ensure continuity. Especially if it's been a while!

[fathomlessspite]

This is what I thought too! One of my friends looked over my shoulder whilst I was reading and was like, 'Didnt you write that? Why are you reading it?!'

Especially if it's been a while! - then I definitely need to re-read :)

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I re-read my own stories all the time. Often when I'm in the mood for something specific, I know for sure what story of mine will do the trick. And it's useful for re-reading older stuff and seeing improvements I've made or still need to make.

But I re-read my own stuff more often than I re-read other people's stories - though part of that is I don't always bookmark other stories for later reading. :-)

[fathomlessspite]

This makes me feel so much better :) I do the same! Because when you write you tend to write something that you'd want to read but haven't found yet, so you're bound to come back to it!

I suck at bookmarking so so badly so yes I'm using this reason too :)

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I find that all too often a story I am loving the heck out of and is hitting my buttons will end up going in a direction other than what I'd have preferred - so that I can enjoy the first half but not the second, or something. Which is still a well-written story, but disappointing because the first part was doing so well with my particular buttons then leaves me unsatisfied. As it were. ;-)

So at least when I write it myself, I can make the story continue hitting my buttons!

[fathomlessspite]

Exactly :)

[mysecretashes.livejournal.com]

I think it's absolutely necessary, to make sure there aren't any glaring inconsistencies. I'm writing a prequel for my big bang this year, and I know I'm going to have to reference it quite a bit to get things just right. :)

[fathomlessspite]

Good good, I just realised I'd never asked anyone else what they do before and then someone pulled me up on it and I was like, well duh, of course I'd re-read!
Inconsistencies really bug me as well so this is the best way to avoid them :)

[cassie-black12.livejournal.com]

Nah! I reread my own stuff all the time ;)

[fathomlessspite]

YAY! I feel better :)

[leashy-bebes.livejournal.com]

Definitely. There's a fic I've been trying to write a sequel to on and off for ages (basically since I finished it like..idek, a LONG time ago) and once I re-read it, it started flowing so much easier.

I think it's especially important if you write the fandom regularly. So like I have this HP verse featuring a pairing I've written independently of the verse too. And I absolutely have to re-read bits whenever I write more to get their voices/interactions down.

[fathomlessspite]

Yeah I think I'm definitely going to go back and re-read from the beginning *eyes word count dubiously*

I wish I wrote enough to have a fandom I wrote in regularly!

This one specifically is Doctor Who and the only fic I've written for that fandom (other than a tiny crossover fic) so it shouldn't be too bad. Although I'm finding I've lost Ten's voice but I seem to be able to write Eleven really easily... so I may have to go back and watch some episodes as well... oh the hardship...

[leashy-bebes.livejournal.com]

Ahahah yeah, I'm a bit like that with the verse I was talking about. The actual fic is like 65k or something ridiculous so I tend to just read the outtakes.

Oooh, Doctor Who fic! I'm writing an 11-era DW crossover with Merlin and writing the Doctor's dialogue completely mashes my head. I love it, but he's so physical that it feels tricky to balance between speech and action. I found watching eps in the background or before I sit down to write really really helps.

[fathomlessspite]

Okay, I've only got about 20K to read through, you win :)

OMG DW/MErlin fic ftw :)

I love writing Eleven dialogue! His speech patterns are brilliant :) Although it makes writing other people slightly boring!
I'd try that, but I'm 99.9% sure I'd end up giving up on the fic and watching the episodes...

[elandrialore.livejournal.com]

I reread my fic all the time as well, though I have been made fun of by people when I laugh at my own fic. But a) it's nice to see the kinds of stuff that I've done before - what worked, what didn't - I think it helps me grow as a writer, and b) I know that I write what I like so if I'm in the mood for something specific it's easy to find.

[fathomlessspite]

When I smile at my own fic it makes me wonder if other people got the humour like I did...
Both of your reasons are being added to my pile :) It's nice to know what other people think about this! I kind of just did it without considering why!

[kimberlyfdr.livejournal.com]

You have to re-read your stuff to maintain continuity and characterization. You'd expect your readers to know your universe based off previous stories, so it's only fair you have to do the same ;)

[fathomlessspite]

:) Definitely! As a reader I always pick up on things like that, so I should expect the same of anyone who reads something I write.