Time for a new fanfic challenge! Your assignment: Write a story based on a Dickens novel that you like but have never written from before. (Characters that you wrote about in the group fanfic don't count; you can have written a scene with, say, Estella for that one, and still write a Great Expectations story.) It can be as short or as long as you like. I'm going to do an Our Mutual Friend story (just as soon as I finish a David Copperfield one I'm working on!).
By the way, this reminds me: I never gave the name of the novel I quoted from in the crossover challenge! It's The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë.
Well I didn't write anything for this contest...(is guilty), but I have written three new fanfics! (Or rather, finally typed them up since I actually wrote them last August. XD)
http://www.fanfiction.net/~wickfield
And I was also wondering if I could take this opportunity to ask my fellow Dickensian writers about a Uriah Heep fic. I'm trying to write a version of Uriah Heep's history (four parts), but can't decide which POV to use - first person, third person, or something like this:
http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5299014/1/Foolish_Romanticist
Tips?
Posted by: Nina | May 24, 2011 at 04:59 PM
You mean you didn't write anything for the "Something new" challenge? It's only been up for two days. No one's written for it yet, not even me. :-) *removes guilt*
Second person fics (like the one you linked to) are interesting, but I find that they start to feel gimmicky and strained after a while. You might try first person and see how it goes. You're good at getting into Uriah's head. Personally, I find the inside of his head a rather unpleasant place to be, but I promise I'll read it anyway!
Posted by: Gina | May 24, 2011 at 09:01 PM
I haven't written much Dickens fanfiction, but I'd suggest 3rd person for Heep (and most villains). Third person is more flexible (IMHO): your story can still portray his POV without being limited by it.
I started a Little Dorrit story for "Something new"...hopefully it'll be finished sometime this week. :)
Posted by: Marian | May 24, 2011 at 09:36 PM
You haven't written an LD story before? I thought you had -- must've been thinking of someone else. Can't wait to read it! :-)
Posted by: Gina | May 24, 2011 at 10:40 PM
No, only Nicholas Nickleby and Bleak House. So far. :)
Posted by: Marian | May 24, 2011 at 11:02 PM
Well, after struggling with writer's block, I finally finished the LD story today:
http://tulgeyforest.blogspot.com/2011/06/arthur.html
Comments & criticism are appreciated. :)
Posted by: Marian | June 25, 2011 at 01:32 AM
It's wonderful, Marian! I love this: "They are strange, beautiful eyes—they have seen brighter places and better people, have known goodness and kinder words; but their expression is stifled by a deep sombreness." And this: "it is a comforting thing, merely to watch him and know that such eyes exist." It's splendid to get Amy's point of view of that moment. And natural that she would be surprised.
I haven't finished mine yet. I do have a new DC story, though: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7098429/1/Miss_Betseys_Namesake
Posted by: Gina | June 25, 2011 at 07:57 AM
That's a great story! :) Love the picture of Aunt Betsey, her change of heart, and getting ready to meet the baby girl.
And thanks for the feedback!
Posted by: Marian | June 25, 2011 at 11:03 PM
Gina is entirely right. That paragraph about Arthur's eyes is perfectly magnificent and lovely. I also love the bit about his restraint or conquering of his fear:
"But his rigid brow has long since conquered the fear; now it guards the remnant emotions within, except in flickering instances when his gaze—set directly upon his listener—shines so warmly that it seems to have words of its own, and can't quite keep them back."
Very telling. I always want to know what Arthur was like as he grew up in China, how he grew into such a kind person, and how he summoned up the courage to oppose Mrs Clennam.
Posted by: Christy | June 26, 2011 at 07:53 PM
Thanks for emailing the link to your story, Gina. You did a great job! ^_^
Posted by: Nina | June 27, 2011 at 04:56 PM
"That paragraph about Arthur's eyes is perfectly magnificent and lovely."
*blushes* Thanks! :)
"I always want to know what Arthur was like as he grew up in China, how he grew into such a kind person, and how he summoned up the courage to oppose Mrs Clennam."
Me, too; it'd make an interesting prequel. There must have been some good friends or influences in his life.
Posted by: Marian | June 28, 2011 at 12:15 PM