I Think I'm Going To Be Sick

[teddy_radiator]

I've just re-read not only my recipient's prompts but also their hopes and dreams for their prompts. I feel completely inadequate. I had felt quite confident, until I read a few of the comments below. Now I'm sure I'm going to be sick.

Comments

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

Hopes and dreams??? Um... these are supposed to be stories, right? It's supposed to be fun? It sounds like maybe they're taking it a TAD bit too seriously. Don't let it make you crazy. Write what you and your Muse come up with. Or, if it's no longer fun for you, don't do it.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I know, I know. I should never read people's opinions. They addle my brain. DMuse is not amused. Keeps saying, "What am I here for?" You know how he gets.

[mimimanderly.livejournal.com]

SMuse is the same way. He always seems vaguely disappointed in me when I worry about whether I'll be able to write/draw something "good enough". He damned near gets a charlyhorse in his eyes from rolling them at me!

[karelia.livejournal.com]

*hands you glass of wine*

Most of us feel that way every now and then about the exchange, and when it's all over, we grin and say, "How much fun we've had!"

When I got my prompt I went from squee to panic faster than a Porsche hits 60. Excellent prompts, but oh, my, major panic because my writing is way too inadequate for the recipient. Alas, I'm writing and giving my best and having fun all the way to the reveals.

If you need hand-holding, I'm happy to oblige. :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Lady, for always being a force for good. I was actually okay until I read all the comments under the prompts themselves, then I had complete performance anxiety. My prompts could not play more to my strengths and the mods were right in giving them to me, but I feel the same way - my writing is way too inadequate for the recipient.

I'll be okay, and once I've sat down and listened to my Muse instead of panicking, I'll be fine, but if you feel a cold, clammy, shaking hand slip into yours, you'll know it's me!

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

You have an outline with some knowledge of what to avoid...that said, take a deep breath, take your considerable talent and write where you are led. I am confident that I, personally, can't wait to see what you come up with!!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you shell, for always believing in the best of me. I may go down in flames, but I'll give it my best.

[sandlappershell.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's what friends are for! And you haven't proven me wrong!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

*Big hugs to the Carolina girl!*

[kribu.livejournal.com]

That's a feeling the overwhelming majority of us get at some point! In the end, all we can do is do our best, and it will be good enough, believe me.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I hold my recipient in great esteem and my only wish is that I can make said recipient happy they got me.

[kribu.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling the exact same way about my recipient. And going through quite a bit of wibbling and feeling that my story just won't be as good as the prompt deserves, and not as good as I wanted it to be, and not as good as my recipient deserves to get, and... Well, all I can do is to keep writing!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

feeling that my story just won't be as good as the prompt deserves, and not as good as I wanted it to be, and not as good as my recipient deserves to get,

Glad to see I'm not the only one. You're absolutely right, though - all I can do is write!

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

I don't know what prompts you were reading or what comments but all I saw was someone who said they'd be happy with anything you were moved to write and whose prompts play to your strengths.

Just think. It could be so much worse. You could have to write for me and do humour.

Now get writing!

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

Smirks

I'm sure teddy found that pep talk very reassuring

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Actually, I did, in a BDSM kind of way.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Yes, Miss. Sorry, Miss.

I know. I have occasional crises of faith; the Hubs says its a sign I'm not too big for my boots and it will keep me humble. I think it's because I'm afraid of completely disappointing my recipient, whom I hold in great esteem.

I will conquer, I will rise. And I'll get back to writing *creeps back into corner and picks up quill and parchment to proceed*

[shiv5468.livejournal.com]

She puts her pants on the same as the rest of us, one leg at a time.

[ayerf.livejournal.com]

Don't worry. Most of us (including me) do have moments where we feel inadequate. All we can do is our best, and I'm sure your recipient will be delighted with the result.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thanks, sweetie. There are times when you just want to be the best you can be, and this is one of them, and I'm terribly afraid of disappointing my recipient.

[laurielover1912.livejournal.com]

Don't worry about it! Just get on with it and things will fall into place. You write very well, that's what matters. Sometimes it's actually easier with limited options.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thanks, babe!

[irishredlass.livejournal.com]

LOL welcome to the exchange darling. We all go through this periodically. You will do beautifully.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I hope so! I have good ideas, but getting them down on paper and making them sound good there worries me.

[rivertempest.livejournal.com]

I totally understand your wibbling.

I wibbled too, last year. I mean, I got Droxy right out of the starting gate. *spazzes*

But you know, you're such a fantastic author, you could write cotton-candy sweet Severus and BAMF Hermione and I would still love it. *nods*

So, take a deep breath... focus, and write. ;)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Wow, that is so kind of you, River. That was a really sweet thing to say. I know what you mean - there are some recipients you really want to impress and I have one of them. I just want to make this a good one and play to my strengths, and I have to just dig in and write.

Thank you for being such an encourager. Coming from such a fine writer as yourself, that means a lot.

[droxy.livejournal.com]

It was BRILLIANT!!!!!! Plus I met a new friend!

[rivertempest.livejournal.com]

*luvres Droxy* I think you're biased. ;) But I love that you are.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

In a class by herself...

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I know - he's sending over a crate of it this morning ;)

[justpinkpastel.livejournal.com]

You will do fanstastic. Everything I have read of yours has been fantastic, and I am positive this will be, too.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thanks, babe. I just have a bit of worry, because I really love my prompt and want to do it justice. I'm sure I'll be fine, and once Dahlra starts priming the pump (steady!) I'll get it going.

[scatteredlogic.livejournal.com]

I feel completely inadequate.

We all go through that. I always have at least three stories started every exchange (one for each prompt), because the prompt I initially thought I'd write doesn't seem to be working, so I wibble and wobble, trying to decide which one to do, or maybe I should combine them, or maybe I should just throw up my hands and run away where no one can find me, but that wouldn't work because I'm a mod and people know where I live and Shiv would hunt me down and kill me, and by that time I'mjustrunningaroundandflailinglikeabeheadedchickenbecauseit'salltoomuch!

And then one of the prompts clicks into place and I calm down. ;)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

LOL. I'm not quite at the I'mjustrunningaroundandflailinglikeabeheadedchickenbecauseit'salltoomuch stage, but almost. I just have a lot of respect for my recipient, and want to impress them.

I'll calm down eventually, remember that I'm not that bad a writer and I'll get down something, then decide it's not too bad, then decide it's the greatest work I'll ever do and turn it in a week early.

Well, that's the plan. Or I may just throw my hands up and run away where no one can find me ;)

[droxy.livejournal.com]

You have a bad case of wibbles. I was so bent on my first exchange fic. Turns out it wasnt so bad and did not suck. This is me hon, the bareley adequate writer.

My propmts are challenging me in new ways. I know that whatever you write it shall be wonderful and you will get squees. Have faith in your betas.

Just keep slogging at it.

I spend about an hour a day on my prompt right now. I am less than 20% done with it.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I know. I just feel like this is a bit of a proving ground, and I am Gryffindor enough to really want to prove myself.

My recipient has provided me with a great prompt. I just want to be worthy of it. I'll settle down and get it eventually.

[madeleone]

I would take any comments with a grain of salt. You have their prompts so you know what they want, they wrote the prompts after all. Just do what you do, write wonderful stories. Sometimes I think the list of likes and dislikes makes things more difficult as some of us feel compelled to try to meet every single one of them which is totally impossible. Just write, sweety, you'll do fine, spectacular in fact. ;-)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

thank you, madeleone. You are such a supportive, encouraging friend. I love my prompts, and I truly just want to do a great job with them, so I'll trust that I can deliver the goods, but the kind and encouraging words help an awful lot. I'm sorry to be so needy, but I have always needed a bit of prodding!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you SempraLove, I have not forgotten our project. You must remember that the majority of it is written, it just needs to be updated, so I hope to have that to you soon - all these KEWL projects going on.

Naked Sleepy Snape - now that is inspiration... I would love to rock him to sleep ;)

[m-mcgonagall-65.livejournal.com]

The people in the fandom whom I've met have been very gracious people. The chances are that your recipient (no matter how experienced she may be) will be delighted if you follow your Muse and write a story that plays to your strengths.

*hugs*

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much - I just love how people support one another, and I've been on the receiving end of that so much this year - it's been truly awesome. I hope to write something that will not only please my recipient, but give other people pleasure as well.

[aurette.livejournal.com]

Breathe breathe breathe. When this is over, I will tell you about the absolute insane freakout I went through. It was epic.

If you need hand-holding, I'm here.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Well, same here. We'll get through this together. Somehow!

[andyissadangel.livejournal.com]

Naaaah, Teddy, you'll br awesome, like always. Just let the DMuse do his job =)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Blue. It helps to feel the love! <3