Friday Update

[clevermanka]

I tweeted yesterday (I know! What's the world coming to?) that I found my new laptop wallpaper, but then qikiqtarjuaq came back with these additional pictures from Zhu Yilong's Harpers Bazaar China photoshoot and that first one is now my wallpaper. I am curious how much this will diminish my productivity.

Speaking of productivity, I finally, finally, finally figured out how to work the sex scene (the one I've been trying to write for A Week). Basically, if the scene isn't work for me, it's not working for my characters either so why not just incorporate that into the scene? So I had them talk (well, Zhao Yunlan is talking since Shen Wei is literally incapable of speech) about it. Literally inserted a "this isn't working for me" line. I'm feeling pretty good about it and will definitely finish it today. And then I can start Crimson Lotus! I'm SO EXCITED. What perfect timing.

And speaking of writing, someone left a lovely comment on Lollipop yesterday. It really is nice to get comments on not-new stuff. I should do that more often.

The past couple days have been nutty with mckitterick getting ready to leave for a wedding in Houston, followed immediately by his trip to China. CHINA! I'm so...envious? wistful? idk. I told him that I was pretty sure Bai Yu would fit in his suitcase, so if he ran into him... I want to go so much (so much!) but no way am I physically capable of an international trip, now or in the foreseeable future. le sigh He is, still, actually, getting ready to leave even tho he planned to leave yesterday. Good thing the wedding's not until tomorrow. Right now he is looking for (extra) scarves.

But soon I'll have the house to myself for nearly two weeks. Oh, and speaking of having the house to myself, I wound up ordering another Diva Dophin to replace the vibrator that died. I didn't have the energy/finances to spring for something else that might or might not work for me. I'll look into some of the other suggestions at some point (maybe after I start making money again), but for now I need something that I know works for me, you know?

Ah, he just left. I'll give it a few minutes to see if he comes back for something he forgot, but...time to light the scented candles and crank some music! eta: wow, I didn't even have time to do either of those things before he came back (for...pillowcases?) but I think we're in the clear, now.

Comments

[trobadora]

OM!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing those Zhu Yilong pictures. I've been missing my daily dose of Zhu Yilong since zhu-yilong-shrine stopped updating.

I told him that I was pretty sure Bai Yu would fit in his suitcase, so if he ran into him...

Hee! :D

[clevermanka]

You're welcome! Twitter is picking up the pretty slack that's sometimes lacking from Tumblr, that's for sure.

I just realized I should have (seriously) asked him to pick up any Harper's Bazaar China copies if they're that issue...well I guess that's what texts are for!

[trobadora]

I haven't done Twitter in years because it stresses me out too much, so I depend on people bringing things over here. ♥

I just realized I should have (seriously) asked him to pick up any Harper's Bazaar China copies if they're that issue...

Oh! YES, you totally should. We all need more Zhu Yilong in our lives. :D

[clevermanka]

Well then I shall continue to post my Twitter finds here!

[trobadora]

:D :D :D

[umadoshi]

I just realized I should have (seriously) asked him to pick up any Harper's Bazaar China copies if they're that issue

That's sure what I'd be doing in your shoes! ^_-

[clevermanka]

Email sent!

[asya_ana]

Those new ZYL pics ended me! How very dare. I'm glad you made some progress on your fic, and hooray for a comment on one that you posted a while back! I typically get comments in the first 1-2 days of posting, and kudos for 3-4 days, and then the fic is pretty much over. lol Maybe people are reading it, who knows? But if so, for whatever reason, people don't seem to leave anything after as early as a week. And how dare your sig other go to China! Did you tell him to pose in front of various ZYL and BY cardboard cutouts and take selfies? Is he going to bring you back some merch? I'm jealous! :D

[clevermanka]

RIGHT? THE VERY NERVE. qikiqtarjuaq was on the money with the fact that Harper's Bazaar is coming for our lives.

Continued kudos and comments is a great reason to drag more people into the fandom, right?

He's gonna look for Guardian merch, but...honestly, I have no idea what would even be available that's, you know, a solid, tangible thing to be purchased.

[asya_ana]

Hm, well, magazines to start... I think they might have plushies and stuff but I have no idea where... I think the books might be in bookstores, and definitely he should make trip to KFC *laugh/crying emoji*

[clevermanka]

I wonder if he'll even notice the advertisements. He's not very good with recognizing faces of people he doesn't know. On top of being easily distracted and often oblivious. *sigh*

[asya_ana]

You're going to have to make him wear a live-stream body cam ha ha

[clevermanka]

Oh my god that would be both tedious and hilarious.

[winter_blossom]

I think I'm just gonna stop reading your updates on Ghost Story, seriously, because you know how I was like, "Okay, now I know the ending, so I can put my insatiable curiosity to rest for the next five months!" just three days ago? Well, hahaha joke's on me, cos now I'm making up increasingly less plausible theories about what's Not Working and how they get around it, and... Just kill me now XD I had to stop following ratbones' latest fic, All Consuming, chapter-by-chapter for this same reason: the tendency to come up with prediction upon prediction re: every cliffhanger was driving me to distraction. (My brain on WIP's, man! Oh, and this rant is totally a compliment - to both you and ratbones - not at all a complaint ^_^) Good to know you finally reached a point where you're satisfied with things and can move on to the rest, though!

Ooh, but those photos are something else!

I told him that I was pretty sure Bai Yu would fit in his suitcase, so if he ran into him...

LOL!

[clevermanka]

HA! Well if it helps ease your agony, I can assure you that you were absolutely on track with what we talked about re: the ending of Ghost Story. What wasn't working was that I wanted a certain type of sex scene for various story issues (narrative, pacing, ~mood~) as well as my own id let's be real but that type of scene just did not fit with the (necessary) conversation that happened previously. So everyone (including me) just needed to step back and work out how to get from point A to B in an emotionally satisfying way.

UGH. EMOTIONSSSSSSSSSS /o\ I vastly prefer dealing with them through fictional characters, tho.

[extrapenguin]

Congrats on having the house for yourself! And the productivity.

It really is nice to get comments on not-new stuff. I should do that more often.
Co-signed. I do try myself, but ... it's occasionally hard to make words happen.

[clevermanka]

I'll make a pinky promise with you to comment on the next, uh...three out of five things we re-read? Or, if you find something you haven't read yet (which is becoming increasingly rare for me).

[extrapenguin]

Pinky promise!

(It's slightly easier for me, as I don't have the time to read the tag that often between my job, ficwriting, and various other fandom-y things I want to do. So there are things I haven't read yet! Constantly being produced!)

[clevermanka]

[umadoshi]

That photoshoot is unbelievable, even for Long-ge. *_*

I'm feeling pretty good about it and will definitely finish it today.

*high-fives* I hope it came together well! And I hope you enjoy your well-earned read of Crimson Lotus!

[clevermanka]

I finished it at 6:52pm CST and it clocked in at three-thousand, three hundred and eight words long.

That is one long damn sex scene. *laugh-cry emoji*

[umadoshi]

That is one long damn sex scene. *laugh-cry emoji*

It really is! ^_^

[write_out]

TWO WEEKS OF SOLITUDE!!! I hope you enjoy them! And I hope McKitterick has a good trip as well and can bring you back goodies. :)

[clevermanka]

It's gonna be amazing. I hope to make up for some of the 10k words I expected to write this month but lost due to my writing funk.

[jo_lasalle]

Literally inserted a "this isn't working for me" line.

That makes me look forward to it even more!

I understand going with what works. *g*

[clevermanka]

Zhao Yunlan might not be able to talk about his emotions, but he sure can navigate a conversation to achieve better sex! =D