I Think I Must Be Crazy

[teddy_radiator]

It's been over 3 years since I participated in thesshg_giftfest. Before that, I had such a negative experience with HP_Promptfest (thank you, madeleone for clearing that up) I vowed I'd never do another big fest again. Three years since I've written Severus/Hermione as a pairing. I have wondered if I have truly done all I can with these characters. But I signed up. And lo and behold, I was assigned someone with some excellent prompts, and I thought, "The minimum is 1000 words. I can do that in a day. Piece of cake."

I've been at it for roughtly 3 days, give or take. 6400 words have been written. Not all of them bad. stgulik has been extremely encouraging. I think I can do this. I'm on the home stretch; its not going to be another Lay Me Low by any means. It won't win any awards for originality, and those people on LiveJournal who have always called me a hack will not not have a change of heart because of this fic, but I don't hate it. I even hold out hope that the recipient will like it.

I'm really looking forward to the hp_halloween assignments now.

Wanna get a free Audible? C'mere. Let me know and I'll send you a code for a free Audible for either Her Minder, or The Chine. Hell, if you'll promise to give me a short, not too brutal review on Amazon, I'll give you both. Seriously, I have a few freebies to give to friends in exchange for reviews. Let me know if you want one.

Comments

[blueartemis07.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry you had such a bad experience, but I'm glad you've joined in.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Me too. I'm enjoying myself as well - it's been a long time and I've forgotten just how fun these fests can be.

[nocturnus33]

Bravo. This place should be a safe one for all to have fun. You while writing, the rest of us while reading your work. I'd certainly had lot's of lovely moments reading your stories.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much. I do feel safe here. One bad experience a long time ago no longer has any power over my ability to enjoy myself here.

[mywitch.livejournal.com]

Hello Lovely!! I'm sure your fic is going to please not just the recipient but all the rest of us as well! It's soooooo nice to have your here again. Now I just have to show up myself once in a while! xoxoxo

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Girl, I miss you! You have got to get yourself out our way soon. I need to see your face and give you a hug. We need to sit out on the patio in front of the firepit and set the world to right.

[madeleone]

I hope your experience it good this year. I thought it was promtfest not giftfest though, but I could be wrong. (I think I remembered PMing you to commiserate as I'd had a somewhat similar experience in the promptfest's first year running.)

I'd love an audible of The Chine. I already have both Her Minder and The Chine in e-book and Her Minder on Audible. It might be a little while before I actually get around to reading/listening and doing a review as I have a huge backlog of books on the TBR pile and some travels coming up soon that will keep me busy for awhile.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I think you must be right - I think the gift fest started after that unpleasantness.

I will be happy to send you a code for Chine. Thank you for buying them all - your support means the world to me. I'll PM you soon with the codes.

[madeleone]

Thanks so much, I'll keep an eye out for the codes. I actually also have an original e-book copy of Her Minder from back when you self published in 2011. But I bought the new version last year on amazon. It will be interesting to read the new rewritten version as well as the sequel.

Support from up here!

[eclecticbv.livejournal.com]

I’m sorry to hear you had a negative experience with any of your wonderfully written ss/hg works! Having read this pairing for many years (literally hundreds on works short and long), you are, without any doubt, one of the great authors for this pairing. Your Severus is spectacularly written, your Hermione comes to life on the page. I’m over the moon excited to hear you are again playing in this sandbox. Shag the haters.

RE: Support from up here!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for your kind words! I am so thrilled you feel this way. Yes, it was a long time ago, and there have been a lot of changes since then, and the people that matter to me have always been loving and supportive and caring. It's all of you that inspire me time and time again. ♥

[delphipsmith]

We're glad you to have you sailing the Good Ship SSHG with us :)

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Well, right now, I'm just shovelin' sand, hoping I can build a halfway decent castle with it!

[hbart.livejournal.com]

Those negative people can stuff it. I, for one, am ridiculously excited that you’re participating in another fest. I have so little time these days that I’m hesitant to read random new stories because if I stumble across a bad one, I’ve wasted all my alloted fandom time. But when a name like Teddy is attached to it, I know it will be time well spent.

I hate to admit, I’ve not yet read The Chine. Not for lack of interest, but I read Her Minder at a time when I was too busy to do so, and I rushed through it. Later I went back to reread when I could spend more time, but still, there’s nothing like the first time you read a story. So, I’m saving myself for when the time is right. Thanks for the audible offer, but I can never listen to audio books without my mind wandering. I’ll stick to the good old fashioned written word. Still, I promise I’ll leave a review when the time comes to read it.

Lets hope you have no fest drama this time so you’ll continue to add to the fandom year after year!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I feel so very welcome and encouraged by everyone on this, and I must say it feels good to get back in the writing saddle after more or less a year of putting it on the back burner. I hope it will be worth your time to read it. As I told delphi - at this moment, I'm just shoveling sand, hoping I can make a halfway decent castle with it.

Thank you for reading Her Minder. I personally think The Chine is a better book, but I have no idea what other people think. It's strange hearing someone read your words aloud. When Evan was reading Her Minder, I practically had to listen with a bag on my head. Since then, though, he and I have a much more frank conversation about fetishes and kink, and I actually enjoyed listening to The Chine. I think he did a great job on it. I understand some folks love audio and some don't, so it's lovely to have both options on the table.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

Glad you've gotten back on the SSHG horse!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Kelly!! It's fun trying to get back into their heads again. It's been awhile.

[too-dle-oo.livejournal.com]

Wait, wait... people on LJ called you a hack? Were they assholes?

Pfft! on them. You’re writing SSHG again! Hooray! I’m glad that it’s been a good experience for you.

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

I have always considered myself extremely fortunate that most of my reviews, etc were positive here. There are a couple of very well-known and influential people on LJ that don't like my writing, and it is what it is. I'd rather have the support of my friends than worry about the few that don't like me or what I do. I can't change their minds, but my true friends are more important to me than them. To be honest, it's been so long they probably don't remember me anymore. I was always a second-rate bit player in their sandbox, anyway.

[too-dle-oo.livejournal.com]

I don’t think I even know who would be well-known and influential here on LJ, but then again, I’m less than a third-rate but player myself! 😂

[beffeysue.livejournal.com]

I am so looking forward to reading all the fest goodies!!! <3 <3 <3 <3 <3

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Beffey darling! I am looking forward to them as well! <3 <3 <3

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

WOW 6400 words in 3 days, congrats!! Doesn't it feel good to go back to fic writing after a long break? I got a similar wild hair and signed up for Smutty Claus, and the fic just poured out of me like an exorcism, ha!

Here's hoping the words keep flowing for you, Teddy. I have no doubt your recipient is in for a treat!

[teddyradiator.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I can't wait to read YOUR fic! Man, I've missed you and your awesome story-telling. I hope you are doing well. It feels really good to be paying attention to what I'm supposed to be writing.