how finished is 'finished'?

[tielan]

I've been wondering: when it comes to needing my sgabigbang being finished the 14th, just how finished is 'finished'? Anyone know?

I should probably post this on the bigbangfreakout comm and ask there. But I'm so tired I can barely keep my eyes open right now.

big bang count: 41,400
sections to go: 7 - Rodney, Ronon (short), Carson (short), Rodney (short), Elizabeth (short), Teyla (short), John, John, John, Teyla (epilogue).
days left: 16
mood: tired and slightly frustrated. The Teyla section split itself into a bunch of other characters and their observations on the situation. And I'm not sure that the in-Atlantis personality conflict is going to happen after all. At least, not as I envisioned it.

Things that make me happy: people have started posting their John-and-Teyla Thing-A-Thon entries!
Things that worry me: now I am tempted to read them! Must resist until my own is done!

Comments

[saeva.livejournal.com]

Well, technically, the standard is "You wouldn't die of embarrassment if it was posted publically." But I know you and your perfectionist ways!

Basically, it needs to be a complete story with an actual narrative structure and a concluded plot (or, I suppose, a place of conclusion within the plot if you're setting up for sequels). The beta, not knowing you, has to be able to follow the chain of events enough to give coherent feedback. Basically, all but the "Oh, shit, is that paragraph even English?" needs to be done.

Edit: Also, what is with all these people getting their ficathon entries in on the first day? We have until next Sunday! I'm amazed, astounded, feeling a little inadequate. *grins* I know what my goal is today, I suppose.

[tielan]

I was wondering if sections of scenes or missing elaborations counted.

At this stage, I'm pretty sure I can have the whole thing done by the 14th, but for some bits where I really need/want to elaborate on what's happening, or bring in a new theme.

I guess some people just have it done early! :) I think we've got about 6 entries in, which is about 1/7 of the respondants. It'll be interesting to see who has it in by the end of this week....

[beatrice_otter]

I don't think it has to be polished, necessarily, but a definite beginning, middle, and end. A full draft, even if not the final one. Not in need of major revisions.

[tielan]

Okay. So a few missing scenes and some things that need elaborating won't break the bank?

Because I have yellow 'comment' notes in all over my copy where I want to elaborate on things or write in small details.

[beatrice_otter]

Mm. Missing scenes would be a much bigger deal than "elaboration needed."

And I dropped out, remember, so it's been a while since I looked at the rules. But it's not going to get posted for a while, right? AFAIK, it's going to the artist next. It has to be finished so that a) they don't end up creating art for a story that never actually happens and b) they don't end up creating art for a story that ends up getting drastically changed by the time it's posted so the art doesn't fit anymore.

[tielan]

It wouldn't be major missing scenes. It would be 'possibly scene here to elaborate on X'. Or 'insert thoughts on yaoi character Y here'. That kind of thing.

The story isn't going to change, the scenes themselves aren't going to change - some of them might elongate to add other angles (like the suite of scenes I'm working on now), but the story could go out as it is and be readable.

I'd just be very dissatisfied with it.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

RE: the Teyla section splitting into more sections - You poor thing! You have my sincerest sympathies. Thinking you're nearly done, only to have the writing magically multiply itself into more work is one of my biggest writing pet peeves. When I was in grad school I had this one paper that was supposed to be 5-8 pages long, only it would not fucking end and it turned out to be 20 pages long. And my prof accepted it, even after (or maybe because) I called her up at home at 9 pm one night crying my eyes out because of that damn thing. Bless her heart.

But you're almost there! Just hang on!

[tielan]

Well, I just finished Elizabeth's bit, although they're getting longer DAMN THEM. Now for Teyla's section, before we switch to John and the grand finale.

I just hope I've filled in all the blanks I need to fill in. There's so much to include and no time to include it... ARGH!

[saeva.livejournal.com]

Well, technically, the standard is "You wouldn't die of embarrassment if it was posted publically." But I know you and your perfectionist ways!

Basically, it needs to be a complete story with an actual narrative structure and a concluded plot (or, I suppose, a place of conclusion within the plot if you're setting up for sequels). The beta, not knowing you, has to be able to follow the chain of events enough to give coherent feedback. Basically, all but the "Oh, shit, is that paragraph even English?" needs to be done.

Edit: Also, what is with all these people getting their ficathon entries in on the first day? We have until next Sunday! I'm amazed, astounded, feeling a little inadequate. *grins* I know what my goal is today, I suppose.

[tielan]

I was wondering if sections of scenes or missing elaborations counted.

At this stage, I'm pretty sure I can have the whole thing done by the 14th, but for some bits where I really need/want to elaborate on what's happening, or bring in a new theme.

I guess some people just have it done early! :) I think we've got about 6 entries in, which is about 1/7 of the respondants. It'll be interesting to see who has it in by the end of this week....

[beatrice_otter]

I don't think it has to be polished, necessarily, but a definite beginning, middle, and end. A full draft, even if not the final one. Not in need of major revisions.

[tielan]

Okay. So a few missing scenes and some things that need elaborating won't break the bank?

Because I have yellow 'comment' notes in all over my copy where I want to elaborate on things or write in small details.

[beatrice_otter]

Mm. Missing scenes would be a much bigger deal than "elaboration needed."

And I dropped out, remember, so it's been a while since I looked at the rules. But it's not going to get posted for a while, right? AFAIK, it's going to the artist next. It has to be finished so that a) they don't end up creating art for a story that never actually happens and b) they don't end up creating art for a story that ends up getting drastically changed by the time it's posted so the art doesn't fit anymore.

[tielan]

It wouldn't be major missing scenes. It would be 'possibly scene here to elaborate on X'. Or 'insert thoughts on yaoi character Y here'. That kind of thing.

The story isn't going to change, the scenes themselves aren't going to change - some of them might elongate to add other angles (like the suite of scenes I'm working on now), but the story could go out as it is and be readable.

I'd just be very dissatisfied with it.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

RE: the Teyla section splitting into more sections - You poor thing! You have my sincerest sympathies. Thinking you're nearly done, only to have the writing magically multiply itself into more work is one of my biggest writing pet peeves. When I was in grad school I had this one paper that was supposed to be 5-8 pages long, only it would not fucking end and it turned out to be 20 pages long. And my prof accepted it, even after (or maybe because) I called her up at home at 9 pm one night crying my eyes out because of that damn thing. Bless her heart.

But you're almost there! Just hang on!

[tielan]

Well, I just finished Elizabeth's bit, although they're getting longer DAMN THEM. Now for Teyla's section, before we switch to John and the grand finale.

I just hope I've filled in all the blanks I need to fill in. There's so much to include and no time to include it... ARGH!