ClosetFMAFan In reply to AmyNChan [2015-10-11 05:08:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you darling!!!!

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AmyNChan In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2015-10-12 19:54:37 +0000 UTC]

No prob~!  *^_^*

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to BlueMoon4601 [2015-04-26 20:57:14 +0000 UTC]

Hey! Its fun to see you here too!

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BlueMoon4601 In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2015-04-27 10:52:14 +0000 UTC]

I was soooo happy to find you on here, I was fangirling so hard. 
your story has ruined me. now I can never write my own AlMei fanfiction because yours is practically canon to me.

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to BlueMoon4601 [2015-04-28 22:58:27 +0000 UTC]

Hahahahahahahaha. no! that's awful I ruined it! What happened the little blond AlMei boy! Don't let me ruin it for you!! I mean I'm totally crazy flattered that my story has made such an impact on you, but you should totally try writing it. AlMei needs and deserves every inch of contribution it can get.

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BlueMoon4601 In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2015-05-04 02:35:55 +0000 UTC]

I guess you're right   it is very underloved

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to BobsCookie [2015-03-09 00:34:14 +0000 UTC]

No of course I don’t mind at all! In fact you have no idea how incredibly flattered I am by you asking.

The only problem with trying to figure out how actual writers actually write is that every writer has their own style. I personally think that a lot of writing is actually figuring out HOW you as an individual writer write best. That’s one of the things that Fan Fiction has helped me out the most with. It’s helped me explore my style and what works for me and what doesn’t. And yes, the answer to how to do that is practice and trying out different styles.

I started writing GFTS with a basic idea how I wanted things to go. I had already been thinking about writing a story about this for months before I actually did I – I have rough drafts scribbeled on the back of English notes to prove it – so I knew more or less the basic way I wanted to do things. I knew that I wanted him to come to Xing as an Ambassador and for him and Mei to get very close before going off to explore the Eastern countries together. *SPOILER IF YOU HAVENT READ PAST GTFS* I knew that they were going to eventually get married with Ling’s support, have trouble having children, then adopt two children and have one.

You’ll probably notice that the most you read it, the more really “plot-ish” it begins to get. And first it really is just a conglomeration of one shots. I had little to no conception of how I was actually going to move forward with the story at first – that’s why you’ll se random AUs in GTFS, because I really truly thought that it was just going to be a one shot collection and AUs made sense. Towards the middle though I started developing more of a plot and real story arc for it. That’s when it changed into less of one shot collection into more of a story told through oneshots. It’s why I got rid of the AUs in the rest of the stories (ASOH and RFD).

When I started developing more of a tangible plot, I started to organize everything into a massive timeline that I have saved in an color coded Excel sheet and figured out dates more precisely. I also started more extensive planning for the future plot and figure it out bit by bit as I went along. By the time I got to the end of Refuge From Darkness, I had pretty much figured everything out. So GFTS is a bit of a unique case, partially because it started off as a one shot collection and partially because I had no clue what I was doing with it for half of the story XD

In my other stories, more traditionally formatted ones, I tend to be a bit more focused in my plans. I like to have timelines so I don’t run into continuity issues or physiological issues like someone having two babies four months apart. And I personally thrive on Chapter Outlines. It means that when I sit down to write a chapter, I know what has to happen in that chapter. And in my chapter outline I’ll usually have notes about how to slip in anything about sub plots or anything like that.

Some people really don’t like having Chapter Outlines, they say that it strangels their creativity and they like to just write. Personally I don’t think that lends itself very well to the fan fiction genre because you’re positing chapter at a time and if you don’t know what you’re doing from the very beginning you don’t have the ability to plant clue and there’s more chance of continuity issues. But then again, one of the most amazing FMA trilogies I’ve ever read, the “Elemental Chess” trilogy by Lady Norbert, was written completely by the fly of her pants, which totally worked for her. Like I said, it’s all about figuring out what works for you.

And of course, whether you’re planning everything out or just making it up, there is the point where it’s simply time to simply sit down and write. What probably helped me more than absolutely anything writing the AlMei Interconnected Oneshots was having a deadline. I updated every single week on Sunday. That meant that every Sunday after church I got to work working on a chapter and I had about 8-10 hours to get one up. If I hadn’t promised myself that, Good For the Soul probably would have died after the first five or six chapters. Instead, it grew like crazy and turned into a 125 chapter monster cotton candy fluffy ball.

I hope that any of that helped. I’m not sure if it was quite the information you were looking for. If it wasn’t, don’t feel bad or afraid to tell me and ask a more specific question. I’ll be happy to try again XD Or if you just have any other questions.

Thanks so much for asking though! I’m seriously so flattered you asked

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BobsCookie In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2015-03-11 16:31:49 +0000 UTC]

What I liked about GFTS was that it started out as a one-shot collection (even included CoS!AlMei, I love that!) but then morphed into a concrete story. (I didn't mind the occasional AU breaks in between; kinda like watching TV when one of your favorite comercials come on. xD) But it was great to have a solid continuation of FMA: B that focused on AlMei, so I was happy with the sequels. Except for that one chapter where that one thing happened that my mind refuses to process.. what was it...? oh yeah- I think something died. But that was forcebly erased from my memory. so it never happened. Nope. But everything else was great.

Anyway~ because of how GFTS started and transformed, I thought making a one-shot collection of my own would help me warm up to the actual story I'm working on.. but I only made, like, three one-shots and never started any of the actual plot.

The thing is; I have the idea, plenty of drafts, but I don't know how to convert them into a written story. . So that's why I'm seeking help.
Chapter outlines-that's a good idea! I'm going to try that.
The pressure of a deadline-I don't currently have internet at my house, so that one's doomed to fail. xD (I guess I could try a personal deadline.)

There are plenty of times when I sit down and write, but I have two main problems:

Problem 1: (I don't think you can help with this one, but maybe you can relate.)
The story/ideas/pieces/shards and bits do not come to me in chronological order! No! I'll get an idea for something that happens in Amestris to one of Ed's kids -then next thing I know- I'm writing out an incident that happens to Al back when he first arrived in Xing. So I had made a huge ass timeline (that's when I realized I wanted to write this all out) to keep my madness in order. But I'm always going back and forth; I can't focus on writing out the beginning first. (I have drafts over the whole thing, so I know what's happening when.)
Like.... I'll write out a part from 1920 when Al, Mei, and the newly de-chimerafied Zampano and Jerso are traveling further East. Then I'll skip to 1930 and write out parts of when Al takes his little boy, along with two Xingese nephews, to Amestris and they interact with EdWin kids. Then I'll jump back to 1918 when EdWin's first child/son is born (on Mei's 16th birthday-lol I think that would be hilarious. xD) But then I'll jump to 1944 when AlMei's oldest son is accused of being a Xingese spy.. (Al's kinda the main character 70% of the time -he's my favorite- 20% it's an AlMei bebe or nephew/niece and the other 10% is everyone else haha though I am trying to change that and focus a little more on other characters, too)
I don't know if there's anyway to get me to write it out in order.... TT_TT
Do you ever have this problem? If so, is there anything that helps you focus on the part you're suposed to be focusing on?
Because my heart says, "Yes!" but my mind says, "lol-NO."

The second problem is I'm terrible at describing how things look; clothes, locations, expressions.. I'm a cartoonist, not a writer. I can easily DRAW out what's happening, but not WRITE out what's happening. If Al is upset, I know how to show exactly how much upset I want him to be. But I can't DESCRIBE how much upset I want him to be.. I'm ok at writing actions, I have no problems writing dialogue; but all those little details a writer adds that make a story so compelling are just lost to me. My descriptions are usually BLUNT and boring. But when I realize I'm being blunt, I often start over describing things like a redundant human dictionary and the end result is even more boring. I can't seem to find a happy medium. I'll be rereading one if the "detailed" parts of my story (most of these are in script format) and I'll be thinking to myself how many details are lacking. Because in my head I know exactly how I want it to come along, but I realize the reader (if there was one) can't see inside my head, and the right details aren't there to put the right images in their head.
I think maybe I just need a Beta Reader-isn't that what they're called? Someone to read my crude attempts at story telling and point out the weak points and flaws and tell me what to fix. Do you know any who might be interested in helping me? Heck, if you're interested that'd be awesome! Though I understand if you're busy. I'm not trying to pressure you, and honestly, I'm thankfull for your time and the tips you've already given me.

And you're probably wondering why I don't just draw it all out~ Well.. I have a shit load lot of rough drafts. Not just a lot; TOO MANY. It started as a simple "Alphonse adventure in Xing" type-thing, but it soon escalated into this long, never ending story that I eventually realized would take me ten years (at least) if I ever hoped to draw it all out the way I want it. I love making fan art/comics, but I don't want to devote that much time into characters whom I dearly love but aren't mine. (since I have my own characters and comics I'm trying to work on)
One day.. maybe I will get it all drawn out, but I don't see that happening anytime soon. In the mean time, I want to write it out as an actual story.
I DON'T WANT IT TO CONTINUE TO SIT IN A BINDER like it has for the past three plus years. (during which time I've continued to add more notes and drafts)
¿¿What's the point in writing stories no one's going to read, right??

Because you're a good writer and you're so devoted to your stories-and AlMei-I figure you're the perfect person to ask. Because I want to share my story with the world~ especially since it has a lot of AlMei and there're not enough AlMei stories to begin with. Honestly, if it weren't for you and arl-phonse keeping it afloat, the AlMei ship would have sank long ago. Y'all are the Captain and Admiral of the AlMei ship, and I'm just the lowly cabin boy, greatfull for y'alls contributions, and wanting to contribute as well.

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to BobsCookie [2015-03-13 05:34:59 +0000 UTC]

I find it interesting that you mentioned Problem 1, actually, because honestly, that happened to me all of the time while I was writing GTFS and its sequels.  I don’t know if you noticed that there were a bunch of chapters that I started off by saying “I’ve had this chapter written for a long time” or “I’ve been planning on this chapter” or any variation thereof. That's BECAUSE I would do that all the time. If I didn’t have inspiration for the chapter I was supposed to be writing but I really wanted to write another particular scene, I would just type up the image/scene that was in my head for that, save it, and try to move on with what I was supposed to be writing.

That’s actually one of the biggest differences between me and my best friend in our writing styles. She writes everything in complete chronological order, from the beginning to the end. But I write out of the order all the time. And we both think the other one is crazy! XD. She doesn’t understand how I manage to get anything down writing out of order like I do, but if I wrote everything from the beginning to the end, a lot of the time I simply wouldn’t write because I wouldn’t know how to start it. The only problem is when I write the scene that I want, get it out of my head, and then never come back and turn it into something post-able.

So yes, I actually struggle with that problem a lot.

(Also… AlMei’s oldest son being accused of being a spy? Dude. That sounds AWESOME.)

Have you considered not writing it out in order?

I wrote in order because I wanted things to develop – the chapter where *ASOH SPOILER* Mei tells Al that she’s pregnant again was actually one of the first chapters I wrote before I even posted GTFS, but I knew that I wanted to write and post the chapter that you have removed from your memory before I posted that one so people would understand the impact – but I originally didn’t plan on that. It was only when I started posting that I decided that I wanted things to develop like that. I used to give ages at the beginning of every chapter because I was writing “out of order” only in chunks. Then things ended up being in order all the time, but…

You could try doing something different from me (which would probably be good in the first place just so you have something more original) and make it a more legitimate one shot collection BY writing things out of order. That might be really interesting and would probably help you will your problem.

The only trick to that would be that you’d have to know your timeline pretty well and not giving away all your big plot points right at once XD

As for your second problem… I’m afraid I’m not really sure how to help you there. The only thing I can tell you there is to keep practicing and keep reading – find a book or story that you think does a really good job with the descriptions and try to copy that style. Make sure to make it your own though, which you can only do by writing.

Annnnddddddd

OH MY GOSH I LITERALLY STARTED SPAZZING OUT WHEN I READ YOUR LAST PARAGRAPH. ADMIRAL IS CATCHING ON  

And actually, she and I were having that exact conversation just a few days ago. That there just isn’t enough AlMei love and we seem to be the only people who care SO YES. CONTRIBUTIONS. THEY ARE GREAT. WE MUST KEEP THIS SHIP ALIVE AND WELL. And hey, cabin boys have been known to become Captains. Just saying. It’s been known to happen.

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to thaliangel [2014-09-26 22:39:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!!!

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to Amozon28 [2013-05-21 22:27:08 +0000 UTC]

THANK YOU

No problem whatsoever! I was just waiting for someone to ask. I already have it up, the link is [link]

Hope that makes it a little easier! Enjoy and thank you very much!

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to AvatarAlchemy [2013-02-09 20:27:34 +0000 UTC]

Already left a response. LOVE IT SOOOOOOO MUCH! THANK YOU!!!

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AvatarAlchemy In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2013-02-09 23:02:23 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to mei-d [2012-12-18 22:51:11 +0000 UTC]

Yeah, I am I love writing AlMei and am constantly coming up with more of the stuff

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mei-d In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2012-12-20 20:56:46 +0000 UTC]

OH goodie! I can't wait

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to RabidFowlFan [2012-09-16 00:16:19 +0000 UTC]

Well, as long as you have now corrected your mistake

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RabidFowlFan In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2012-09-16 00:30:51 +0000 UTC]

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to paper-rust [2012-06-24 15:51:13 +0000 UTC]

IT'S SO GOOD!!!! Full thoughts have already been commented

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to RabidFowlFan [2012-01-13 01:29:50 +0000 UTC]

No I'm not off my compy, I'm doing my homework on my computer. I was taking a break... and have been for the past few hours... hehe... I was trying to find this for a friend and then realized I had a bunch of mail and... yeah. I'll get to work now... have you made her watch it yet?

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RabidFowlFan In reply to ClosetFMAFan [2012-01-14 02:58:48 +0000 UTC]

:3

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to NeverMidnight [2011-10-31 00:16:49 +0000 UTC]

No problem! It was a really good sketch.

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ClosetFMAFan In reply to cutebutdeadlychan [2011-10-23 20:49:17 +0000 UTC]

No problem!

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