You have reached dracoqueen22's journal, an archive and discussion of all of her fanfiction and original fiction.

Any of the following will be discussed here with an open mind. Intolerance is not permitted: homosexuality and heterosexuality, manga, anime, writing topics, and anything else I'll add later.

My writing is intended for mature persons. I don't write children's books. I write serious tales that adults will enjoy. I will attempt to keep all posts that are improper for a child's eyes locked.

JOURNAL DISCLAIMER: All characters depicted in sexual situations in this post/fanfiction/fanart (including material in the comments) are fictional and are intended to be and considered to be by the author of said material of the legal age of consent in the United States, regardless of what age these characters may be in the material they are derived from.

I just received the first major edit of Infinity's End back from my beta and I must say, the story is WAY better than I thought it would be. Like immensely. I found myself laughing through it. Felt my chest clench in anticipation and tension. Found the characters enjoyable. I feel like it might actually be a good story. And I'm hoping that my fans can enjoy it, too.

I plan to start posting it this Saturday, to keep in line with my fanfiction updates and so that I don't forget to update everyweek. There are... 24 chapters, and yes, the main pairing is het. But, the story is more about plot than their romance, and there is a side splash of some yaoi/shounen-ai as well. I couldn't help myself. 

I'm actually rather fond of the main character as well. Ione, despite being female, is very different than how I had originally imagined her. She's spunky, but not perky. She is unashamed of her tomboyishness, but still holds a femininity that identifies her as a woman and not a girl wishing she were a boy.

Well, you'll see what I'm talking about when the first chapter comes out.

Until then!

For the sole purpose of amusing myself at 1am, I decided to take this personality test. I must say: I am pleased with the results!

Your result for The Fan Fiction Personality Test...

The True Fan

OOC is blasphemy, canon is everything.

Take The Fan Fiction Personality Test at OkCupid

I so think it fits!

"Goodbye Chains"....

Where to start? Goodness, I don't even know. I can't even remember how I found it in the first place. Mayhaps following a link while browsing through "Vampirates" -- another online comic I'm not sure how I found. But that's neither here nor there. 

After only a few pages of "Goodbye Chains" I was hooked. The drawing is crisp and concise, the characters attractive without being overdone or overblown. Each character seems simple and one-sided at first, but the creators do an apt job at pulling them out layer and layer. And if there's one thing "Goodbye Chains" is doing well, it's keeping you guessing and not skimping out on reality. I simply adore them for that.

What's the story?

Eh heh. It's hard to say. So I'll just copy and paste from their own site: Colin Lord is a cheerful Boston Communist, and Banquo White is a cranky half-Mexican with no philosophy beyond hedonism. Somehow they have become partners in crime, spreading a reign of terror and dialectical materialism across the plains of Colorado. Follow their adventures with explosives and ladies--and, possibly, men.

Does that really tell you "Goodbye Chains" in a nutshell? Not hardly! There's so much to be discovered here. It's hilarious and serious, surprising and thoughtful. And the art! It's simply gorgeous. Her use of shading is exquisite, as are all the tiny details. The relationship between the two main characters will keep you enthralled, even when those annoying little side characters stick their noses in.

I would recommend this comic to anyone who enjoys reading them. And who can resist a comic that warns for "fantasy cannibalism"? 

The site is www.goodbyechains.com and I would suggest you head on over and catch up to what's going on. They usually update about three days a week, and believe me, each wait is worth it.

So it's... twelve? days into the New Year, and how have I been progressing? Pretty well I think!

I finished that Sora/Riku 30K hit request. The oneshot's title is "In Spite of All the Damage" and it will be released this Saturday. I'm both proud of it and not too happy with it, if that makes any sense. It didn't turn out like I wanted to, but it's still kinda sweet and fluffy. *shrugs* We'll let the masses decide on Saturday, I suppose.

And now the Mori/Kyouya Ouran piece that was due in October for a birthday (yes, yes, I am SO late) is finally getting worked on. Titled "An Overlap of Coincidence" it is a series of short chapters, about four pages a piece, that detail their relationship and how they get together. It was supposed to be an oneshot, but for some reason I'm having a hard time writing an extended oneshot. So a bunch of little chapters it is then.

I also got some work done on the Tseng/Sephiroth request piece. It's a series of interrelated ficlets, not really chapters since each could be read on it's own, but I figure this thing doesn't have a set number or ending. It's just whenever I get an idea, I'll add one. Right now, I have two, "Wet" and "Watching", one from each character's POV. More will probably come in the future.

And then I even started the Byakuya/Ulquiorra request/trade piece. It's started and well, it's going to end up being a series of drabbles in the Seireitei Monogatari Universe with other related pairings (including GrimmjowxEveryone, ShunsuixLisa, KiraxNanao, StarkxUkitake, HitsugayaxHalibel, IchigoxAdult!Nel and someone with Urahara but I can't remember what...). Talk about crack.

I'm in the process of co-writing a fic with my second beta. A fic where Mayuri gets what's coming to him and learns a lesson in the process and Nemu... well, Nemu gets laid. (Go Nemu!) But not by Mayuri because that would be gross. Heh.

So yes, I've been quite the busy bee. And that's only the fanfiction. I'm also working very hard on my original pieces, with Infinity's End due to be released on a chapter-by-chapter basis in a few weeks and a canon oneshot that I'm in the midst of writing.

I promise, a review of something will be forthcoming. Probably that online comic I fell in love with. Stay tuned!

Yay! It's 2010!

I don't know if I'm too enthusiastic about that. Hopefully, it will be better than 2009. Which, 2009, wasn't that bad. But it wasn't great either. Just kinda... blah. I mean, I did welcome a nephew so that's something to celebrate. Right? 

Anyway, on to writing news, that's what's important here. I really need to get back in the habit of my story/manga/fanfiction reviews. And I'll probably start with the fanfic reccs too since I know a lot of awesome writers that need a hell of a lot more attention. *grins*

Ahem, firstly, Chronicles of Valentine is COMPLETE. Finally! At a whopping fourteen chapters + epilogue and prologue. And I must say, I'm rather pleased with how it turned out. I didn't manage the Vincent/Squall since I turned Vincent more into a father figure for Squall -- isn't it strange how much Squall resembles a cross between Reeve and Vincent? 

Instead, I ended up with a Vincent/Seifer pairing that works and I really don't know how, but it's awesome. I almost want to write a bit more with them. Who knows? Maybe I'll get a oneshot idea or something.

In other news, I'm kinda hop-skipping around to see what I should work on next. I finished another chapter of The Butterfly Effect and two chapters of Hourglass for the WOTA series. Edits have begun on Infinity's End Part One so I should start offering that soon. And edits have begun on Prisoner of Conscience as well.

I'm working on several drabbles for the Seireitei Monogatari series, some of them HOT. And the requested Sora/Riku oneshot for my 30K hit on the site. All in all, I'm a busy little bee and I hope to continue this success as the New Year comes in rather slow and tediously. I spent it at work. Not so fun.

I promise to bring some kind of review in the next few days or so! Don't know of what yet, but it'll be of something.

It's the story that won't die, argh! lol

Yeah, so here I am, wading through chapters thirteen and fourteen, when I expected this durned thing to finish at chapter ten. I had to rewrite the epilogue because the pairings didn't go the way I had originally intended... and I sneakily rewrote the prologue (well, removed a sentence and changed a color) to reflect the vagueness in who Vincent eventually ends up with. But I'm so close to the end. Just gotta finish these two scenes and then I can slap a complete on the bastard. Phew.

In the meantime, I've finally found an editor for the Erland duology (that's Prisoner of Conscience and Best Intentions for those unfamiliar). Now I can get it spic and span so I can start sending it off to publishers. Hmmm, what to do next then? 

I think I shall start editing Aftermath and trying to finish up some requests and other stories. Huzzah!

So... I've just signed the contract for The Requiem of Janus and sent it in. 

I am so EXCITED about this. I feel like I've been given some validation as a writer.

I mean, I know that I'm rather popular in fanfiction. I've built up some renown for my FF7 and Bleach stories. That I will admit because it's true and any sort of modesty would just be fake and rather immodest of me. I know I have at least five fans that read everything I write just because I wrote it and that's so flattering one wouldn't know how I feel about that. Geez, just knowing that I'll write it and they'll read it is enough motivation to press fingers to the keys, even when I'm feeling uninspired.

BUT, that is fanfiction. And my original fiction has not quite taken off like my fanfiction. I push and push and try to drive people to read it, but I can't seem to entice anyone. As a result, it doesn't get updated nearly as often as my fanfiction and that's partly my own fault. I keep saying that I'm going to focus on my original fiction, but I'm so enamored of the notice I get for my fanfiction that I always end up back focusing on it rather than the stuff that's mine alone. A quandary.

Admittedly, I have a hard time reading original fiction myself. One, because it tends to be so cliche and awful that I'm turned off by it. Two, because I have a hard time picturing the characters and I don't already see the ties that could be between them. It makes me a rather lazy reader, I suppose. So I can see why original fiction would be something difficult to sell.

Anyway, with that long tangent, what I'm trying to say is that I haven't received any validation as an original writer which has always made me question my ability to create something new and interesting enough to invite readers to partake in it.

But now, I'm beginning to believe that my original works might actually be interesting. That a publisher is willing to take a chance on The Requiem of Janus (after I have already suffered one rejection) is a wonderful thing. And it may only be an e-book, but for a slashy fiction, that's the best medium, I think. That cuts down on costs.

So I hope (all my fingers crossed) that I can sell some copies of this book and prove the publisher's faith in me. I'm going to do my damnedest to promote this thing. Pushing and pushing and writing side stories to try and entice readers. I really want to prove that I will be an asset to them rather than a regret.

So, in an effort to better meet my writing needs, I'm working on whatever the hell I want...

And whatever the hell I want right now is Chronicles of Valentine for some reason unknown to me. I'm determined to finish this damn thing.

And yet, here I am, in chapter 11 and 12 (heading into 13) when I fully expected it to end at chapter 10. And gah, but it's not going where I want it to either. Apparently, the muses wanted something more than what I planned for two years ago.

I asked for Vincent/Squall. I get Seifer/Vincent.

WTF?

Instead of bringing Squall out of his shell, Vincent has become like a surrogate father to the oblivious Squall, helping pave the way for the Zell/Squall that's creeping in here ahead of schedule.

Which means I'm going to have to rewrite/alter the epilogue. Dammit.

It's the story that won't end. Though I have a feeling my readers won't be complaining.

This oneshot is based on my "Walking Delusions" universe. It is a prequel to that particular story, taking place at least a decade before the main storyline.

There are elements of slavery in here (general slavery not limited to any particular race or species), slash (oh yes, much boyboy kissing), slight bondage due to the presence of shackles, and a bit of domination to mix things together and make them interesting. If you've read "Walking Delusions" then you'll understand the characters more, but it is not necessary.

Also, this is self-beta'ed. All mistakes are mine and mine alone.

( Read more... )

Wahooo! I submitted yesterday night (early this morning) and confirmed my 81K manuscript. Yes! I am finished.

Admittedly, it needs LOTS of works and there are plotholes so big you could drive Optimus Prime through them, but still, it's done. Now I can take a break and return to something else. Namely finishing up some of these random and waiting projects.

To Do List:

1) Finish The Sweetest Downfall
2) Write the Byakuya/Ulquiorra trade
3) Write Birthday Gift Fic for Ariel
4) Start Seph/Tseng drabble series for Margyy
5) Finish Chronicles of Valentine

Them be my goals for December. Wish me luck!

Also, I think I will begin posting The Sweetest Downfall on here, as well as future new fics. I hope to eventually post on lj alone and nowhere else. We'll see how successful I am.

So I'm at 77K and approaching the end. I'm looking forward to stamping a COMPLETE FOR NOW on this beast. It's led me on a wonderful chase of highs and lows. It's going to need massive re-editing, and I'm still not fully satisfied with it.

Perhaps because it's het and not shounen-ai? Maybe that's it. I just don't like women all that much. And while I'm fond of my characters, I don't think the story is nearly as dark as it could/should be. Or nearly as amusing. I feel it's just blah....

Hmm, well time will tell. Once I get it ready for human consumption, I'll start posting it on here. Not anywhere else, but here. I'm trying to shift a lot of my activities to one site to save me on time (which I have little and little of every day). So we'll see. I dunno.

Here's hoping I can cross the COMPLETE line before the 30th!

So I passed the mark. Now I just need to actually finish the damn thing. I'm worried I won't make it. I may have to cut some scenes, moving them to the second book. Some scenes are stalling me, so I move on. I'm concerned the story sucks. I mean, it is the first time I've written a het romance. And it's not even focused on the romance, it's more of a plot fic with romance attached. I think the romance moves too fast, that it's only a side note and when it does come, it slams the reader in the face.

I'm sensing many, many revisions in my future. And Aizen, but I hate revisions.

Still plodding along...

Already at 30K which means I'm right on schedule. Work is kicking my ass though, making it harder to stay on schedule. Oh well. I shall prevail!

I've discovered that my plot is too long for one book, so ta-da!, Infinity's End is now two books, with a possible third. I've had to go back and add to the beginning and divide it right down the middle. My goal is to finish at least one for NaNo and start the second, keep on writing up until the final day of NaNo with however many I get.

Ah, so good.

November 1st!

As of right now, I have 5126 words. I've finished the first chapter and I'm going into the next. Why so many on the first day? Because work is a bitch and a drag, and who knows how Iong I'll have to work on it when I'm exhausted from Real Life. So on my days off, I'll rack up the numbers and slack during the days I have to work. And Monday through Friday will block me good.

So I decided to go with my Minutes to Midnight remake -- retitled Infinity's End -- and I'm actually pretty proud of it. I'm interested in this and I must admit Ione is pretty awesome and Gale is darn right cute and my other characters are neat too.

I have the feeling this is going to be longer than 50K. It's already plotted to be about sixteen chapters long... so I'm thinking 100K?

Here's hoping!

I've updated. I'm lazy. I'm not bothering to list them all here because I'm pretty sure no one's following this so... this is more for my benefit really. I like to use my livejournal to focus my thoughts

ANYway, today marked the last round of updates until December. For the entirety of November, I'll be on hiatus as I focus all my attention on NaNoWriMo. I'll definitely need it for the plot I cooked up.

The original Minutes to Midnight finally has a name! Big thanks to my beta who has provided for me the wonderful title "Infinity's End". I also have names for the main characters and a cemented plot. Also, a synopsis. Here it is for your reading pleasure:

The war between the rebels and the nobles is still in its infancy, both sides building up forces, both sides convinced they are in the right. Trapped in the middle is Ione, a woman neither rebel nor noble, who holds secrets of her own. She, too, has been trained in the so-called "dark arts" that divides the lines in the building tensions.

When her own allies do the unthinkable -- call for her imprisonment and likely execution -- Ione flees into the solitude of the wild, thinking only to escape, and winds up in the hands of her enemies. There she discovers another side to the war and a truly hideous secret that her very own allies had been scrambling to hide. Mass murder and destruction, strange disappearances and even stranger happenings.

Ione finds her sympathies shifting even as she falls for her enemy, the smooth-talking Gale, second-in-command to the rebels.

I can't wait for NaNoWriMo to begin! I've got a great plot and a great drive to write it. This will be my first time writing a purely heterosexual story, though I will have a faintly homosexual pairing in the background -- Kieran and Azriel, which are Urahara and Aizen respectively.

I'm sure success will be all thanks to Azar.