A Random Tag

This Wednesday: snippets, slices, and scenes from my work in progress. A tag. The kind of thing I do when I'm stuck for writing but I still love my story.

I found this one on a friend's blog: "Random Writer's Ramblings".

Story: Theta Tau

Synopsis: If there's any child he can't stand to watch cry, it's this one. But now, stopping the tears may have incredible consequences. Silence might even fall.

Less vague synopsis: The Doctor has a son with River, but this boy - Theta Tau - is medically unstable. And there's only one place the Doctor can take him to make sure he lives.

The one place he thought he'd never go again.

Fine, I'll give you the spoiler. It's Gallifrey.

1. What's your word count?

     14,937 words, including a scene or two that will almost definitely be cut.

2. How long until you finish?

     Hopefully not too long. I'm desperately hoping I'll finish in June. Pessimistically speaking, I'll probably still be slaving at it when the school year rolls round again. The balance of truth is most likely between those two.

3. If you have finished, how long did it take you?

     I actually don't even know when I started! Let me check.

Oh, no way. I've been going on this since February?

4. Do you have an outline?

     Yes, yes I do. I'm looking at it right now. It's this maze on a piece of paper - really, a flurry of cause-and-effect - upon which I tried to figure out how I was going to get to the climax. But I think I have it sorted now.

5. Do you have a plot?

     Yup!

6. How many words do you typically write a day?

     If I had to make an average, accounting for all the days I haven't written anything, it would be like, three words. Probably less. Right now, I'm writing a couple hundred a day, if it's flowing. Sorry, I write slow. When I write fast, I write crap ;) Well, mostly crap. Get-the-writing-done-don't-stop programs are good, but I never have time to come up with anything really creative or atmosphere-invoking.

7. What was your greatest word count in a day?

     I wouldn't know. Of recent times, somewhere around 1,064.

8. What was your least impressive word count in a day?

     I'm so amazing that I pulled off zero words once. Twice. A zillion times. Not to brag but I've probably written less words in a day than you.
       What do you mean that's not a good thing?

9. What inspired you to write?

     Another short story I wrote, called "Darillium", had a lot of reviews begging me to do a fix-it for it. Voilà, Theta Tau was born.

10. Does your novel/story have a theme song?

     Doooooooo weeeeeeeeee ohhhhhh… eeeoooo ooo da da da daaa dada …

11. Assign each of your major characters a theme song.

     The Doctor's theme - it fits the story amazingly, but it also works for Nine, Ten, and Eleven in general - is "Iridescent" by Linkin Park. It works insanely well. And I don't really feel like doing more theme songs right now. Maybe some other time. Sorry, I sound grumpy. I've just got some stuff to do and it will take me a while to find the right music for everyone.

12. Which character is most like you?

     Rory, probably, simply because he's the most normal person out of everyone I'm using.

13. Which character would you be friends with?

     The Doctor. If he'd want to be friends with me. *fangirls* adfsh;dfajshk; that would be the time of my life. Also, I'd love to get to know the TARDIS, because she's beyond awesome.

14. Do you have a Gary Stu or Mary Sue -like character in your story?

     If I created the character of the Doctor, I'd never get away with it. But his flaws are written so well, that, even though he's good-looking, funny, brave, and brilliant, we can never forget for too long that he's selfish and arrogant. Here's to hoping I'm able to write that okay.

15. Who is your favourite character in your novel/story?

     The Doctor. I love the TARDIS, as well, but she's so minor in this story.

16. Have your characters ever done something completely unexpected?

     I guess it wasn't utterly out of the blue, but Rory faded into unimportance. Which is odd, because, since I dislike Amy, you'd assume I'd use him more often. But I can't really nail down his character. Amy's just easier to write, for me.

17. Have you based anything in your novel on personal experiences?

     Minimally. I know how to hold and treat a baby, but that's about it. Google has helped more than actual experience has, so far.

18. Do you believe in plot bunnies?

     What, story ideas that pop up and won't leave? I don't believe they're unconquerable, but I do believe they come. I mean, of course they do. And they are so tempting. So very… very… *drifts off to write Wholock fanfic*

19. Is there magic in your novel/story?

     Meh. It isn't really magic. More like really out there sci fi elements.

20. Are there any holidays in your novel/story?

     Not that I can think of.

21. Does anyone die?

     Wouldn't you love to know ;)

22. How many cups of coffee/tea have you consumed during your writing experience?

     One or two, probably. I don't drink a lot of warm things like that. And when I do, I usually have hot chocolate.

23. What is the latest you have stayed up writing?

     Two thirty AM or somewhere around that. Fun, fun, fun, fun, fun!

     No, I'm serious. I love staying up.

24. What is the best line?

     Hate to be a fun-killer, but I'm really not sure what my favourite line is. I had one, a piece of dialogue, but then I got worried that, maybe, I couldn't actually hear the character saying it. So I'm not sure about it anymore.

25. What is the worst line?

     If I knew about a terrible line, I hope I'd fix it! There probably are a bunch, I'm just not sure of their exact location.

26. Have you dreamed about your novel/story?

     Not that I know, woe is me.

27. Does your novel rely heavily on allegory?

     No, it doesn't. Not like you'd think. I guess every hero is an echo of Christ, but not past that.

28. Summarize your novel/story in under fifteen words.
     "Silence is falling and lives are slipping away. But he hangs on desperately."
     I'm so cheesy.

29. Do you love all your characters?

     The only character I honestly love is the Doctor, but I'm fond of writing all of them. As characters, I don't love Rassilon and I don't love Amy and I'm not bananas for Rory (apologies). There's this one character, the main villain, who I'm trying to make more likeable. But, again, all of them are really enjoyable to write.

30. Have you done something sadistic or cruel to your characters specifically to increase word count?

     I guess I could cut all the terrible things I'm going to do to the Doctor, but that would decrease word count too drastically. So I suppose! But it's mostly because I'm brutal when it comes to characters I love.

31. What was the last thing your main character ate?
     He's eating right now, at the scene I'm on. Some kind of Gallifreyan bird.

32. Describe your main character in three words.

     Oh, no. Umm... brave, selfless, and arrogant. Which makes for interstingness. Oh, BBC, I love you.

33. What would your antagonist dress up as for Halloween?

     Every time I fill this out, and I have to leave this blank! Why don't I ever have antagonists who dress up? It's just out of character for all of them!

34. Does anyone go to a place of worship?
     I don't think so.

35. How many romantic relationships are there?
     None, really. There's established Rory/Amy but they don't get screentime.

36. Are there any explosions in your novel/story?
     Unfortunately, no.

37. Is there an Apocalypse in your novel/story?
     Another no...

38. Does your novel take place in a post-apocalyptic world?
     Again, no.

39. Are there zombies, vampires or werewolves in your novel/story?

     Heck no. Time Lords for the win! Who needs creepy 107-year-old stalkers who watch you when you sleep when you can have a 907-year-old watching you while you sleep because he cares about you  and because he's come to say goodbye? And then giving up his life to save your world, even though no one will ever know?
     No, I should stop. I could go on and on comparing the Doctor to Edward and watching Edward melt. Even if the sun's rays only make him sparkle, I'm sure the blinding awesomeness of the Doctor can still send him up in flames.

40. Are there witches, wizards, or mythological creatures/figures in you novel/story?
     You know fairy tales. The good wizards always turn out to be the Doctor.

41. Is anyone reincarnated?
     I thought about it, but I didn't have the courage to lose Eleven.

42. Is anyone physically ailed?
     Yup! Theta needs two hearts, but he only has one.

43. Is anyone mentally ill?

     I might include the Master, who seems to fall under that category.

44. Does anyone have swine flu?
     HahahhhaahahhaNO.

45. Who has pets in your novel and what are they?

     Well, I can't think of anyone who has pets, though what Karen Gillian said about the Doctor's companions being his hamsters might apply.

46. Are there angels, demons, or any religious references/figures in your novel/story?
     Again, most heroes are Christ-figures in some way, but otherwise, not really. There may be a chant later on that seems a bit monk-like, but not really. Oooh, I should include some Angels. The Weeping kind. Perhaps.

47. How about political figures?

      Yay! I can finally answer one of these questions with an affirmative. There's a Lord President and a Council to help him.

48. Is there incessant drinking?
      You'd think, what with it being a British program, they'd never put down their "Keep Calm and Carry On" mugs full of strong English tea. But in actuality, they only have one or two sips of the stuff. As for alcohol, it hasn't come up. *shrug*

49. Are there board games?
      No. There's Perudo, though, which is the dice game they play in "Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Spot", and that my family has been playing since before that movie came out, and which the Doctor has been playing since before Rome fell.

50. Are there dream sequences?
      There are going to be sequences of vivid simulations, visions, dreams, whatever you want to call them - but the victim is still conscious, so, to quote George from "Night Terrors", "It wasn't a nightmare, I wasn't asleep."

51. Is there humour?
      A bit. I hope.

52. Is there tragedy?
      Tragedy and angst are the cornerstones of this project, in my mind.

53. Does anyone have a temper tantrum?
      No ...I'm running various characters through my head as they freak out. It's kind of funny. Just because it's really out of character for a lot of them.

54. How many characters end up single in your novel/story?

      Everyone except Amy and Rory. And they weren't single in the first place.

55. Is anyone in your novel/story adopted?
      Not that I can think of.

56. Does anyone in your novel/story wear glasses?
      

...but not during the story itself.

I love how this is the only question I used gifs to answer, and then I used two.

57. Has your novel/story provided insight about your own life?

      Meh. Other than the fact that a) I'm lazy b) I'm really lazy and c) I can't stop the procrastination, even when there's a big "STUDY YOU IDIOT" note written on the back of my hand. I have to fill out tags instead -- other than that, not much insight.

59. Has your novel/story inspired anyone?
      It has inspired me to get writing things (other than one-shots) again, so that's good. I'm quite happy about that.

60. How many other people have asked to read your novel/story?
      I don't know. Not many. A few indirectly asked, by suggesting I could write a fix-it for my other story, "Darillium". It's okay, though!

61. Have you drawn any of your characters?
      Yeah. I never stop drawing the Doctor. Except when I'm on Tumblr. Then I just stop everything.

62. Has anyone drawn your characters for you?
      Not for me, no, but a lot of people have drawn my characters! I think some people get paid to draw my characters. Writing fanfiction is just that awesome.

63. Does anyone vomit in your novel/story?
      Not yet. I don't think anyone really will, either.

64. Does anyone bleed in your novel/story?

      What's an angst/whump fic without blood? But seriously, have you noticed how little blood there is in Doctor Who? I'm not calling for gore, but it would be nice to have a little more. Because it frankly just pops the fictional bubble when Melody, who has just been shot by Hitler, and has just been worried over by Rory, who muttered, "Gotta stop the bleeding!', stands up and is completely without bloodstains. Anywhere. I can't even see a bullet hole. But now I sound kinda sadistic so yeah.

65. Do any of your characters watch TV?
       Not during the fic. They do crossword puzzles. Choose the healthy alternative (imagine if I followed my own advice. I'd be writing crossword puzzle fanfiction).

66. What size shoes does your main character wear?
       Size ten. But he should warn you, he has very wide feet ["The Rebel Flesh"].

67. Does any of the characters in your novel/story use a computer?

       Not unless the TARDIS monitor screen counts as a computer.

68. How would you react if your novel/story was erased entirely?
       Oh, I would be mad. And I would cry. Probably. Then give up - like, I mean, I could never re-write it all.

69. Did you cry at killing off any of your characters?
       Why would someone do a crazy thing like that?

70. Did you cheer when killing off one of your characters?
       I haven't killed anyone yet, but there's this one that I've got my eye on. I don't know if I'll exactly cheer when they pop their clogs, though.

71. What advice would you give to a fellow writer?

       Though it's been said many times, many ways, "Keep Calm and Carry On."

72. Describe your ending in three words.

       "Despair! No, actually!"

73. Are there any love triangles, squares, hexagons, etc?
       No. Though, if I can say a word on those: they've been totally brought down by Twilight. But I've seen them done EXCELLENTLY - there's this little series floating around called something like "The Hunger Games" that made me cry... in the bookstore... just because of its love triangle. It wasn't even an emotionally charged scene. It was just introspection. And I was sitting there tearing up on a beanie bag chair in the "Kids and Teens" section of the store.

74. On a scale of 1-10 (1 being least stressful, 10 being the most) where does your stress rank currently?
       Probably about a seven, because there's this little voice going, "You do realize it's due on Friday, right? The exam and the essay? And are you planning on pulling that reading percentage grade up to from 93%? At all? No? Just going to sit there?" in the back of my head.
       What? You didn't say it had to do with the story.

75. What odd things have you researched for your novel/story?

       How to kill a chicken. Also, how to do CPR.
       Not on a chicken.

76. Was it worth it?
       What, writing this tag out? Well, it was fun. But I think everyone's probably had enough of my griping about my exam, so I won't say anything along those lines.