Planning a subtotal rewrite

[ardwynna]

I know there aren't too many AeriSeph fans left reading this space but it may be of some interest to those of you still around. Last night/this morning I opened up Path of Seduction for my first reread in I don't know how long, too long, and came to the conclusion that it reads like it was written by a 19 year old. Because it was. I do want to finish it, but stylistically it wouldn't match because I don't write like that anymore, and couldn't and wouldn't besides. I've decided not to do a full rewrite because life needs living and that fic took everything I had to give while it was active. So I'll be going back over the chapters and doing some serious editing at some point, and clearing up some rough points that I've learned to recognize over the years.

The plot won't change, major events will stay the same, I'll just be reworking some of the prose. Because it's not all bad, on occasion I come across a phrase and think, "I wrote that? Neat." But Chapter 1 in particular does not represent what the fic could be by its conclusion, and Chapter 1 is how you put butts in seats, fic-wise. This might seem like complaining about nothing because it's that same Chapter 1 that worked for so long. But it doesn't feel like me anymore, so Project Path Update is on the table, being stared at long and hard.

Comments

[caterfree10.livejournal.com]

I think it's a good idea. I mean, it's not like it's a professionally published work, so it's fine to go back and edit/rewrite/what have you when something you wrote bothers you. And hey, I can think of at least two others doing similar for their fics (including another AeriSeph one, admittedly heh), so you'd be in good company. x3

[ardwynna-m.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the support! I'm just hoping I don't get bogged down in rewrite country and forget to actually finish, you know. ;P But it's still my biggest and dearest plot idea so I want to do it justice in the end.

[lenine2.livejournal.com]

Hooray! I have recently re-read The Mission, and now will look forward to re-reading Path.

[ardwynna-m.livejournal.com]

Yay! Also about The Mission, I swear I didn't mean for this huge gap to happen. I looked at my dates the other day and realized it's been over a year, good god, how did that happen. I mean, I know how, but time's just been flying over here! Anyhow, today's a lazy day, I'm finishing After the Fall because it's past halfway, better to finish the short fic than let it join the WIP heap.

[lenine2.livejournal.com]

You've got plenty of reasons to have let RL take most of your attention.

BTW, I have started playing FFVII on Steam! It's been - what - a dozen years, at least. It's honestly like playing it for the first time, except I have had so many spoilers there will be no surprises.

[madcap-minstrel.livejournal.com]

Definitely a good idea, though you're preaching to the choir here. ;) 13 years is a huge gap that involves a crap-load of growth and you're going to be better at a LOT of stuff after that much time. Might as well take advantage of that.
Besides, the 20th anniversary of FF7 is a couple years away, and there could be a revival, much like there seemed to be back in '06(which I refer to as the glory days).
I'll always hold out hope for a light-hearted anime/game/manga reboot(like they did with Evangelion) where our favorite characters get to stick around on the corporeal side of the Lifestream. Until then, there's fanfiction.

[ardwynna-m.livejournal.com]

I expect the fic will bloat a bit as I work out those rough edges and slow down things that I think I rushed, but if I can make a better fic for it, I'm all go.
I've been keeping my fingers crossed for some renewed interest too. :D 2011 seems to have been the last year when things were really kicking.
Lighthearted FFVII is the whole reason the marriageverse exists, occasional crapsack events aside. No 'verse where Seph has a magic lawnmower could be all tears.

[madcap-minstrel.livejournal.com]

Yeah, leave the gut-wrenching stuff for canon. :P Worst thing that happens in my universe after their adventures end is when Aeris unexpectedly goes into labor with Sera(who has a summoner horn) and can't get to the hospital quickly enough. I like to consider myself a semi-merciful writer, but Sera's horn is the reason those two didn't get to "20 Kids & Counting" proportions. :X
A magic lawnmower? For some reason, I think of that scene in "Honey I Shrunk The Kids"...

[ardwynna-m.livejournal.com]

Damn, that sounds pretty bad. D:

When Seph realized he had to take over the Manly Man duty of mowing the lawn, he went to Reeve and they cobbled together a workaround.

[jaymee goh (from livejournal.com)]

Totally understood, and looking forward to the newly-written version!! It warms me that AeriSeph is still around <3

[ardwynna-m.livejournal.com]

The last time we had a real conversation I was triggered and ended up in a pretty bad negative spiral for four days. That's why you're blocked from all my accounts now and why I've been keeping my distance. Your activism is not worth more to me than my mental health. You're welcome to read the fics if you're interested, but please don't speak to me again.