2008 in fic

[lucathia]

Year in fic once again. Last year's is over here.


January

♠ This Universe We Cannot Control (The Golden Compass, drabble ~483 words) - for 31_days. My fic resolution for the year was to write a little something everyday...but I only kept it for three days.

♠ Conjoined by Mystery and Fate (Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, drabble, ~472 words) - for 31_days. A short ficlet about when Ike and Soren first meet. I haven't cross-posted this one in my journal, because I always thought I'd expand on this. It's been a year...I guess unless I finish Radiant Dawn soon, this will be left like this.

♠ Sins of a Different Generation (Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance, drabble, 100 words) - for 31_days. Pointless drabble that I didn't bother cross-posting here. I should add these two Fire Emblem fics to my fic masterlist.

♠ Memories of the Future chapter 11 (Mekakushi no Kuni, multi-chap, ~2672 words) - for 30_kisses. This is shaping to be a fic I will never finish. My year in fic last year had this under January too.

February

♠ Memories of the Future chapter 12 (Mekakushi no Kuni, multi-chap, ~1929 words)

March

♠ Twin Stars chapter 10: seeing your photos isn't enough (Shaman King, multi-chap, ~1516 words) - I have a lot planned for this AU...I can't believe I didn't write anything for it in 2007. I really need to finish this fic. It's an idol AU. So many series (like Skip Beat, Charisma Doll, etc) remind me of this fic.

♠ Memories of the Future chapter 13 (Mekakushi no Kuni, multi-chap, ~2010 words) - Getting some progress here!

April

♠ Birth of a Shaman King (Shaman King, oneshot, ~1312 words) - a missing scene from my long fic Hoshi ga Hoshii desu. My attempt to get back into that fic universe. Didn't quite succeed.

♠ Twin Stars chapter 11: food shows no boundaries (Shaman King, multi-chap, ~1700 words)

May

♠ Twin Stars chapter 12: lost before the concert (Shaman King, multi-chap, ~1700 words)

June

Nothing! I never seem to write anything during summer.

July

♠ Twin Stars chapter 13: the concert (Shaman King, multi-chap, ~1600 words) - This is THE SCENE I wanted to write since starting the fic. The scene that spawned the fic. Guess that's why I sort of lost steam after this chapter.

August

♠ Those Left Behind (Bokurano, 15 oneshots so far, ~9000 words) - for 31_days. I finally tried to carry out my goal of writing a little bit everyday. The goal for August was to write for all 31 themes...but I died off after reaching my semi-goal (the theme "As I break this chair" for the 15th) and classes started again. Olympics were also very distracting.

September

Entirely died off from LJ. There's only one post in September, and it's not fic.

October

♠ Mysterious Phoenix Wright (Apollo Justice) fic for the PW Kink meme. Over 2000 words written so far. Unfinished though!!

♠ Another mysterious and anonymous Phoenix Wright kink meme fic. Both fics are very PG and almost gen. Around 2000 words written of this one too. Unfinished as well. I need to finish these darn fics. I can never seem to finish fics.

November

♠ Memories of the Future ch. 14 (Mekakushi no Kuni, multi-chap, ~1853 words) - I was once again in danger of getting dropped from 30_kisses. I went back to polish chapter 14 that I never posted here. Added on quite a bit. I also suggested a MnK section at ffnet. They were very fast with adding the new category.

♠ Memories of the Future ch.15 (Mekakushi no Kuni, multi-chap, ~1257 words) - My actual update...not very well written. Style's kind of different too.

December

♠ Faux Fairytale (Skip Beat, oneshot, ~2860 words) - for Yuletide 2008. One of my harder fics, since I'm not all that familiar with Skip Beat. I directly took words from my other fic in this.

♠ Tension (Bakuman, oneshot, 1366 words) - for Yuletide 2008 as a treat. The prompt looked fun~. But I didn't quite pull it off right. There was also another Bakuman prompt that I thought was interesting (Shujin and Saiko 10 years later) but this one was easier to write under the limited time.

♠ Mysterious The World Ends With You fic for the TWEWY exchange. Reveals aren't up yet, so I'll have to edit this in later.


Hm, I chipped away at my ongoing fics but still updated them less than I'd have liked. 9 updates for ongoing fics. Most everything I wrote was for some community or fic challenge. I wanted to write a little everyday, but I only kept that up for three days at the beginning of January. I tried again in August...only lasted 15 days.

Fic goals for 2009:
-finish Memories of the Future
-finish Twin Stars (these two have been on my list to finish every single year)
-finish those two mysterious PW fics (these shouldn't be much more longer)
-continue Bokurano oneshots until I finally finish the 2008's August themes
-possibly continue the FE fic about Soren
-participate in fe_drabble and 31_days

...it's mostly all about finishing the fics I started. I have other fics I want to start, but my ongoing fics have been dragged on long enough already.

Total word count for 2008: ~36800 words

Not bad compared to last year!

Comments

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

I'm glad to write with you again, too :>

I see, I haven't been that much on LJ lately, either, but now I'll try to make a comeback. *lol* I even heard that LJ has problems and probably won't be able to exist in the future? o_O;
Why, I thought a ficlet was a short one! XD It's about 1000 words, I think. And no, it's actually in english ^^ I just can't imagine TWEWY in german. When it was published here, it was in english, too (not that that mattered, I downloaded it anyway <3). I've actually uploaded it on DA recently, so if you're interested... : http://stillarium.deviantart.com/art/Pink-n-Blue-108430880

Ohh, thanks for the nice recommendations. I saw those sites on your TCG page once, but it's hard to judge just by the looks. I especially picked starcrossed back then because I thought as a LJ community it wouldn't be closed so soon. =/

Hmh, do you think the people left back would be interested in a new community if lys decides to not continue? And yeah, I never thought about that. =/ Personally, I like character-based themes as well, it's difficult to make themes and then decide which characters to put into the deck and which ones not, etc. But must TCG sites I've looked through are either too big to join in comfortably (because there are already too many cards and you can't possibly catch up as a newbie) or not very active.

Aw, yeah, that'd be nice, but yeah, not too many people know PW and co, I think. Shonen Jump centric would be nice as well... and maybe 50/50 anime/manga -> games? XD

[lucathia]

I hope LJ won't go down. =/ They recently laid off (or maybe fired??) a lot of their design department in San Francisco. I've looked for other journal sites, but none have as large a fanbase as LJ right now. Inksome seems cool, but you need invite codes for that, and it's relatively young so who knows if it'll be around in a year? Greatestjournal is already gone! D:

Oh, about 1000 words? I consider anything above 1000 words a oneshot. XD; Huh, I've never posted fics on DA before. I'll leave you a comment there~.

I recommend Trading Academy especially (if you have a lot of series you like). But since there are over 500 decks already, it might be a little hard to start. But there are always members like me who are very loose with their trading sections. X3;;

I like character-based TCGs a lot too. I'm not sure how much interest there would be for another general character-based TCG though. I asked Lys if she'd consider a co-owner or handing Starcrossed to someone else, since if we started a new place just like it, it'd be competing with Starcrossed. What a waste. D: TCGs are a lot of work though. I like playing them better, and making little contributions. X3;;

I was thinking if it's a series based (or some kind of theme, like Shounen Jump, or anime only / manga only / game only) you could have different types of decks like character based decks, chapter based decks, etc. Series-only TCGs usually die pretty fast though... ): Rahenna over at Moonlight Legend (a Sailormoon TCG) was going to open a Phoenix Wright TCG, but she never did. So even if I wanted to start one, I'm not sure if I'd be overstepping her plans if I did...

Her Sailormoon TCG is very active though (unlike other series based TCGs). :O Too bad I'm not into Sailormoon!

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Wow, I haven't heard of that. Sounds pretty bad x-x; I wouldn't even know where to start, LJ was such a great place for fanfictions, etc. with great quality! I once read someone's claim that LJ is practically a paradise for slashers and the female masses... guess whoever said that was right. XD I think I've never heard of inksome and greatestjournal before. Hmh. Most pages besides LJ that I know of are pretty boring blogs, where you get to write with other users, but it's always pretty skin-deep.

I'd probably call everything with only one chapter which is longer than a drabble oneshot. xD But I heard that short oneshots are also called ficlets...? Ah, I'm not sure. XD

The academy looks fine to me, but kaze said she doesn't really like it. And it's much more fun to start somewhere together with people you already know. %D

Oh, and what did Lys say? *_* I think that would've been the best solution, but yeah, only if she agrees... I mean, it wouldn't really be a competition anyway if starcrossed would just stay... erm, on hiatus or "closed". =/ I prefer playing as well, but I think with communities like starcrossed it would've been also possible to distribute the work. I mean, many mods were overcharged, but if everyone had just 1 or 2 games to moderate and could participate in those games of the others, it'd be fine and more fun... I guess. Plus, there are usually a lot of people interested in making deck suggestions or even making the decks, so... xD

I hadn't thought of chapter based decks yet, hrm. =3 Yeah, I think series-based TCGs are hard, because there is only a specific amount of people who'd be interested. Personally, I think it's more fun to have different fandoms, where people's interests are more diverse, so they probably get enough cards they don't care about and are more willing to trade. Otherwise the cards probably don't circulate well, but that's only a theory xDD

[lucathia]

It does sound pretty bad, doesn't it? D: Well, if LJ ever goes down, I'm sure everyone will find somewhere to migrate to together. Haha, I think most of fandom on LJ is female. XD

I call fics less than 500 words drabbles, and fics between 500 and 1000 words ficlets. XD; I'm sure other people call things differently though.

Starting together is fun! Maybe try tcg_exchange if you want to try another LJ based TCG? Or try Canon? That one is a Death Note TCG that hasn't opened yet. Still in the prejoining stage.

When I asked, she said she'd think about it and see how January goes. She doesn't want to see Starcrossed run without her, so she probably won't let someone else run it. So, it's back to waiting to see what she decides in the end with that. I think it'd be great if she decided to start again and could get lots of people to help so she won't have to do too much. Maybe I should ask again? =x

It is fun to have different series. The fun part with series based TCGs is how you can be more in depth, but with general TCGs you can discover new series too~. Haha, your theory about card circulation makes sense. XD;

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Hehe, you're hopefully right. It's a strange thought to have no LJ in the future, but then again I didn't know LJ until a few years ago, so... xD

Yeah, I only recently learned that drabbles should actually have exactly 100 words, that's the official definition of the term! But most drabbles I know have definitely more than 100 words. xD

Oh, it'd be great if you asked her again! :> I think starcrossed will remain my only big cardgame obsession for a while xD It's hard to find something that you absolutely like and can happily be obsessed with. *lol* tcg_exchange and Canon both look nice, the ideas (scenes, relationships, etc.) of Canon are also interesting. But starcrossed with Lys in charge and enough people helping out sounds so nice *-*; It's strange to think that it's already been almost a year / half a year since it went on hiatus o,O;; At least I seem to remember it became less active during spring/summer... °° Maybe my mind is just playing tricks? xD

BTW, have you finished TWEWY? ^^ I've almost finished Shadow Dragon! XD But then I lost interest and somehow restarted Final Fantasy Tactics Advanced 2. I'm currently looking for a strategy game where you can actually rename your characters and maybe even create them, like Disgaea. Do you by any chance know anything that'd fit? *_* I sometimes just want to make own creations instead of using the given characters xD FFTA would be perfect if you could actually choose their names! >.<;

Haha, yeah, I actually got into Code Geass because of trading card games! `w´ I think that I'd probably be bored with a series based TCG after a while, because usually one deck of my favorite character is enough. xD I think it would kind of spoils the uniqueness for me if there were several decks of just one character... or maybe the idea just seems strange to me because I haven't tried it out yet? XD

[lucathia]

I've been on LJ for whoa, 4 years. Not nearly as long as some other people, but long enough. XD

Oh yeah, drabbles should be 100 to be exact. But mine usually go over.

I asked again! Hopefully she'll reconsider. I was really obsessed with Starcrossed too. Man, time passes so quickly. :O

I have, but I gave up mastering my pins. I can never keep track of what pins need mingle PP. I haven't finished Another Day either. Still need to do that! Coolness, do you like Marth? :D I like using Marich in Shadow Dragon. Hm, I know you can hire extra characters in Wild Arms XF for the PSP. You can name them and choose their classes. It's a strategy game that's a little like FFT.

I still need to watch Code Geass. XD; I have both seasons on my computer. I've never tried a series-only TCG either...they're never active enough. But I think decks on chapters or scenes sounds pretty interesting.

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Wow, I just checked and I've been here since 2005 as well. XD But I was never really active, I created the account to join communities and write comments... X'D

100 words is so short ;-; When I read drabbles, they mostly feel unfinished to me or just like a fleeting thought xD

Oh, yeah, I hope so too! *_*

I never knew exactly what pin needs what PP, either. Actually, I've only heard about the different pin evolutions after I already finished the game. I think I played it almost 2 times + the special chapter before I lost interest... but I guess now that time has passed, I'd definitely be interested in playing again. xD

I like Marth >D Uh, who's Marich? The names are different in german, I guess. I like the myrmidone, Nalbarn. >:3 Or Wolf, the cavalier!
Wow, Wild Arms looks nice, I just watched a clip of it on youtube. XD Guess I'll download it if I can find out how, etc. I've got Crisis Core + Dissidia on my PSP right now, hopefully something else'll fit, too!

Oh, Code Geass is nice ^^ especially the first season, I guess. Many people compare it to Death Note... :3 I don't feel quite happy about that, though. xD (Lelouch and Raito are kinda similar... but well.)

[lucathia]

You've been here a long time too then. XD I'm not all that active either. I made this journal to post fics, but I haven't been doing that much.

I find drabbles so hard to write. They need to have an impact in 100 words!

I left my DS on all night once to get alien encounters for mingle PP since there's no one to mingle with for TWEWY around me. But I only got 2 alien encounters all night. D:

Marich's the mage. I always like using mages! Nalbarn was very cool too, though I didn't get him promoted until way later.

Wild Arms has great music too. :D Feels very western. I haven't finished the game...I don't know if I'll know what to do anymore. XD;; Dissidia! How is that? :O Hm, and you download games for your PSP? I don't think I can for mine since I have the newest firmware. ):

Oh really? Guess I'll find out if I feel they're similar or not when I watch it.

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me neither. XD I've posted my NaNoWriMo contribution, but that was probably it... I made faaar more comments then journal entries.

I only wrote one drabble that had exactly 100 words xD I prefer fanfictions or oneshots :O

Aww =/ I don't remember, but can you go online with TWEWY? I know a few people who play TWEWY, but I've only mingled with 2 or 3, I think. But it was cool, you could buy stuff from the other one had equipped (and he would get a percentage of the money).

Oh, yeah, he was named Merrich or something like that in german. xD The mages are really powerful in Fire Emblem! I don't think I'll promote Nalbarn. I heard that the stats of many units will become worse if you promote them too soon. =/ I like him as myrmidone XD

I love the opening of the Wild Arms Opening for PSX! Where they whistle, it feels so nostalgic even though I don't know the game itself. (that one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VVOFibwVMw0 )
Um, I've only got two games for the PSP. The original Crisis Core and downloaded Dissidia. I'm not sure how it works, it was a present from a friend (the PSP, too) and he already had it cracked. :3 <- but I heard it can go wrong and damage the PSP... personally, I probably wouldn't have done it XD

[lucathia]

Whoa, NaNoWriMo? That's intense!

I don't think you can go online with TWEWY. My brother and his friend play TWEWY too, but I don't see them a lot. I've never tried mingling before! :O Buying equipped stuff sounds cool. My shops are still not at 100% yet.

I love using mages. XD; I had Chainy (the shape changer) change into Marich to I'd have two of him. ^^;; You should promote your units only after they reach level 20. When they reach level 20, that's the max level they can get to, but after you promote them, they'll be able to level up again. :3 Nalbarn was so strong after being promoted! Even deadlier.

I looove the old Wild Arms opening, the very first one. The opening for the second game was nice too, but the first one will always be my favorite.

Ah, I see. Yeah, I've looked into PSP homebrew stuff, and I always see that homebrew works best with firmware 1.50, which I'm waaay past (...downgrading sounds very dangerous). I think my firmware is over 5.0, something like that. I didn't want to update my firmware, but when you put in new games, the games automatically update the firmware. ): I had wanted to use PDF readers too so I could read ebooks, but I don't think those programs work on my PSP with my firmware.

[stillarium.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I haven't even corrected the whole story yet °°; But it was fun writing >D

I've never tried going online with the DS yet, but I think TWEWY is more fun if you just go multiplayermode. xD Some of my shops weren't 100% either. =/ I have to play again sometime...

Oh, I liked the shapeshifter ^^ With time, there were more mages anyway, but Marich was also my favorite. Too bad they had bad defense, sometimes they got killed with one hit (and I had to reload, because I want all of them to survive xD)
Yeah, I've heard of that! But lately, I've been playing FFTactics Advanced 2, I'll probably continue with Fire Emblem afterwards... because the pace is much more faster than FFTA2 and playing TA2 after FE would be so boring XD Have you finished FE? ^^

I've never played Wild Arms, but the soundtracks seem to be awesome =D

Hmmh, I'm not even sure which firmware I have. But it's probably something new as well, since I can play Dissidia. =/

[lucathia]

Whoa, sorry for the lateness. I had a busy week! And now I'm sick. ):

I've only gone online for the DS with Pokemon Diamond. I traded some pokemon with people from Japan even. XD;; I didn't have to interact with anyone though...just picked from a list.

One day I need to play FEDS and kill off troops to get to the side chapters. XD; The game is cruel in that you have to sacrifice characters if you want to play the entire game! I usually never let anyone die.

Oh, FE is faster paced than FFTactics? I didn't know that. Yup, I finished FE~. The last chapter was pretty easy. =/

The soundtracks for Wild Arms are all so pretty. I really like the western feel and the whistling. When they didn't have that for the...opening for the...5th game (I think) I really missed it!

Oh yeah, Dissidia is so new. But do you use an actual game to play Dissidia? If not, maybe you don't need the newest firmware?

[lucathia]

...I caved and started my own TCG. Unfortunately, it's Prince of Tennis centered, so I don't know how much interest you'll have in it. But if you're ever interested, I'd love to be able to trade with you again!

The website is here and the community is called twistserve_tcg.