What to write next?

[luzula]

I have almost finished the draft of chapter 29 of my current long fic, and after that, there's only one more chapter to go! \o/ So this seems a good moment to consider what to write next…

Poll #28814 My next Flight of the Heron fic

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 15

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What should I write?

View Answers

A Temeraire fusion (gen like canon)
11 (73.3%)

An AU where Ewen is a werewolf (Keith/Ewen)
8 (53.3%)

An AU where Ewen is transported and Keith saves him (Keith/Ewen)
3 (20.0%)

A sedoretu AU of my first poly fic (with Keith, Ewen, Alison, OFC)
3 (20.0%)

A fairy tale AU (Keith/Ewen)
6 (40.0%)

A crossover with Flemington (Keith/Ewen + Flemington/Logie)
3 (20.0%)

Some more about these fic ideas:

• I think I could have a lot of fun with the Temeraire worldbuilding in the 1740’s! I don't remember the Temeraire books doing anything with how the dragons interacted with British history in the 17th and 18th century, but dragons have long memories. They would remember the Civil War, the union between Scotland and England, etc, and probably have opinions about it. And how do dragons interact with the clan system in the Highlands? In my head, this would not be a terribly long fic, perhaps 20K or so. I already replotted the course of the ’45 once, and though I'm sure it would be fun to do it again with dragons, I'm not sure I'm up for it (at least I say that now, ha ha).
• The Ewen-as-werewolf AU is one of my oldest ideas, that I haven't written yet. Actually it's pretty much the same kind of werewolf worldbuilding as in my due South werewolf fics, just in a different canon. The plot would be that of the book, but modified, because werewolves.
• In this story, Ewen goes to trial in Carlisle, and is sentenced to transportation. Later on, Keith is posted to the colonies, comes across Ewen, buys his freedom, and they later return to Britain. There’s a lot more of the story in my head, of course. It would require research, but the real difficulty of the story is that Keith’s work would be defending the interests of the British government in a colony where there's slavery. : (( I mean, not that the same issue isn't present in, say, a Regency romance where the rich characters are probably making money off of slavery in the background, but it would be more, uh, immediate.
• The sedoretu story would be an AU of an AU, but I'm not above that! *g* This would also have lots of fun worldbuilding, but realistically, I'm not about to write this next because I just wrote a long poly story and would like something where I'm not juggling multiple romantic relationships.
• The fairytale story is not very settled in my mind yet, but it would involve Ewen bargaining with the fairies to save Keith’s life at Morar, and the fairies, as payment, taking Keith away to fairyland.
• I feel strongly that there should exist a FotH/Flemington crossover, but unfortunately I don't have a good plot for it yet! Just some small ideas which haven't coalesced into a whole.

Comments

[chestnut_pod]

These all sound fun to write and read! my own choice would be a Temeraire fusion, because there are never enough for me!

[luzula]

I already wrote a Temeraire fusion in due South, which was a lot of fun! Agreed, there should be more of them. : )

[sanguinity]

Oh, these all sound fun!

Is the Temeraire fusion with FotH, with Keith and Ewen as characters?

I can't BELIEVE you limited me to THREE choices. The only reason I didn't click sedoretu (beyond your CRUEL and UNREASONABLE limit to THREE choices) is because you said you almost certainly wouldn't write that next and I didn't want to throw away a vote. Please know that despite the lack of click I am very much interested in reading that one someday.

[luzula]

Yep, the Temeraire fusion would have the FotH characters, but with the dragon worldbuilding (no actual characters from Temeraire). Keith's small courier dragon (somehow startled by a heron??) is wounded near Loch Lochy, and they are taken prisoner by Ewen...

I can't BELIEVE you limited me to THREE choices.
Nobody said life would always be easy! : P If I didn't limit the choices, it might not provide me with much guidance...

Please know that despite the lack of click I am very much interested in reading that one someday.
Noted! : D

[sanguinity]

Ah, in that case... *readjusts my vote*

I suppose with the alternate evolutionary history that led to dragons, there might be some other kind of creature that lives in/near the loch, capable of startling Keith's dragon. Given the Temeraire worldbuilding conceit of making this-world mythic creatures real... Maybe a water-horse?

[garonne]

The sedoretu option was actually the very first one I clicked, but then when I read your notes, I decided there was no point throwing away one of my votes on that one just now! :P

[luzula]

Well, it's good to know that it has an audience! : D

[regshoe]

I think you should write the werewolf fic first, since it's an idea you've had for so long and also such a cool one! But I would also love the fairytale AU and the Flemington crossover—perhaps give those ideas a little bit longer to develop and then write them next... :D I don't know Temeraire, but would happily read a fusion AU based on it.

[luzula]

It's good to have ideas to choose from, anyway! Perhaps I'll try to outline the werewolf fic a little, to see if I can connect the various ideas I have for it into a coherent whole.

I don't think you'd have to know Temeraire to enjoy the fusion! You just have to like dragons. : ) The attraction of this one for me is that it would (probably) not grow into a monster length...

[regshoe]

Perhaps I'll try to outline the werewolf fic a little, to see if I can connect the various ideas I have for it into a coherent whole.

:D *encourages*

Honestly I'm not the biggest fan of dragons as such, but I'd like to see the FotH characters dealing with some excitingly new fantastical setting details (hence also the fairytale AU...).

[hyarrowen]

a) These all sound delicious

b) I can't believe you're still going strong with the writing and the bunnies! You put us all to shame!

[luzula]

Aww, it's not a competition! And thanks for the encouragement. <3

[ysilme]

A Temeraire fusion sounds like a terrific idea to me! I've wanted to re-read the books since ages, and haven't checked out fic about them, but anything working with that concept sounds really fascinating and very promising as a storytelling base.

[luzula]

Yes, I might reread the first book (where the worldbuilding about dragons in Britain should mostly be) and then see if I feel inspired to go on to write the story!

And do reread the books if you feel like doing that--they're just so page-turney and fun.

[ysilme]

I remember how much fun they were! Re-reading would be my first time in English, too: the first time was in German as Siljan also wanted to read them and he prefers to leisure read in German, and my own English proficiency wasn't where it is today by far, either, although I had read several naval fiction books already and at least was familiar with a lot of nautical terms. I already got the first two books as english ebooks as I'd planned a re-read in the original since a while. But once again it'll likely will be a while until I get to it - I'm reading an embarrassingly low number of books since several years as I'm mainly reading fan- or transformative fic and do a lot of re-reading of favourite books for comfort, but I'm also reading much less than before since I started to write seriously. I'm working at reading more new books again, and am currently lost in the Shardlake-series by C.S. Sansom (I'm at vol. 2 of 7). ;op What I really need is a time-turner, although I suppose I won't ever get back to the times when I read about 50 books a year or more... (I just checked; the last time that happened was the year before I joined my current fandom online. XD ) I also still haven't read Flight of the Heron. /o\ But reading your and others' posts about read books, or like this one, always increases my motivation which I'm really grateful for.

[luzula]

Reading comes and goes! If you're doing other things that are worthwhile instead (such as writing), that's fine too. But yeah, I see what you mean--one can have reasons for not reading as much, and still miss it…

Aww, I hope you enjoy Flight of the Heron if you ever get around to reading it!

[feroxargentea]

Arrrrgh, I've been humming Norway's Eurovision song Give That Wolf A Banana (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adCU2rQyDeY) for days now and I've just realised it's your fault!

Not sure I told you but I really like your teeth
That hairy coat of yours with nothing underneath
Not sure you have a name, so I will call you Keith...

(Are you a Eurovision fan? You seem possibly too sensible :D )

[luzula]

What, is that really the lyrics?

I have been known to watch Eurovision on occasion and found it fun, but I wouldn't describe myself as a fan! : )

[feroxargentea]

Those are the lyrics, yes :) The lyricist admitted he chose the name purely because it rhymed with teeth.
(Sadly the other wolf in the band is called Jim not Ewen)