Oy, with a side of vey

[gwyn]

I had no idea my insanely long essay would hit such a note with people, but I'm glad that my nonsensical comments did at least alleviate a little boredom for a few folks yesterday.;-) After spending a lot of time writing that, I should probably take a break and rest, but no, of course not, I had to put the finishing touches on the next chapter of the WIP. Maybe this is why I have an excrutiating headache today.

I realize no one's hanging on tenterhooks over this, but chapter two of Measure of a Man is up. Thanks again to Ali for the beta!

A couple people sent mail to me last time asking if it was worth their time to start it. I honestly didn't know how to answer that, because if people ask me if anything I write is worth it, I'd probably say no, blessed with the shining self-confidence that I am. But I think what they were really asking was "where is it going?", and so if anyone's interested in the general story line, I'll cut it away and you can decide for yourself if it's something to invest reading time in.



In a nutshell, Spike travels first to Bath, where he tries to enlist Willow and Giles into helping him turn back into a vampire, since GlowyDemon turned him human. Willow isn't capable of it at that point, so Giles directs him to Wesley in LA, where Spike goes and gets reluctant help from Angel and crew. I'm messing a bit with the timelines on both the beginning of S4 Angel and S7 Buffy, mostly just by pushing things up a little. Wes does, however, find out something very important about Spike's situation, even though he can't find a "cure."

When that doesn't pan out, he goes home to Sunnydale but keeps his distance. He gets a job at Willie's to try to hide the fact that he's no longer part of the demon underworld. His first contact is with Dawn, and they rebuild their friendship, then the others. Yes, Spuffy happens in here. I won't go into too much detail, but things get worked out, and there's even diversons like a road trip (I have a one track mind with the driving, apparently). About that time the Bringers start showing up and Willow returns, and this time she has some better news for Spike -- only there's a huge price, which Buffy isn't willing to pay. Giles also comes back for more hijinx.

Then, um, stuff happens and it gets kinda busy and all the gang are involved and the end. Spike does get his wish, just not right away.

So, that's basically where it goes. Whether it's worth the time... not for me to say.

Comments

[movies-michelle.livejournal.com]

A couple people sent mail to me last time asking if it was worth their time to start it.

What an incredibly...odd thing to ask an author. This is not something that it would have even occured to me to ask someone. I don't know if that's just rude or lazy, too!

And for what it's worth, I always think your stories are worth the time. *g*

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Okay, so it's not just me then! I thought maybe I was a little out of step and it wasn't that unusual. Glad to know. ;-)

[onetwomany.livejournal.com]

I can't say for certain, but my guess is that the people who wanted to know whether your story was 'worth starting' really wanted some kind of assurance that Buffy and/or Spuffy would be in it. I've started corresponding with a couple of the folks who sent me feedback on Offerings, and a number of them have said they don't want to read anything unless it has a happy ending for Buffy and Spike. So it's probably not that unusual a request at the moment!

Either that, or they want confirmation that you're gonna finish, I guess!

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's an ambitious plot arc, my dear! And certianly worth following!

This was a really interesting follow up to the first chapter ... I LOVED how Willow's first reaction to seeing Spike was to assume that he was there to kill her. Loved that. Never would have thought of it myself.

And the little scene where Giles looks out the window and is fine with them being in each other's arms. Very nice.

I can totally see why Spike would realize that Willow couldn't help him. I wonder, though, if you're planning more introspection about Spike's frustration re: being human. He was so helpless in that scene with the vamps, yet you chose to focus on Willow's reaction. How does he feel?

It's funny you posted this today, I was thinking about this story last night and wondering when more would be up. Can't wait for the next installment.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

I figured that since he was going to be the central focus of the story, I'd have some more time to play around with his sense of helplessness and his feelings along the continuum, the longer he has to deal with it. It's going to play a big part in the next chapter, when he has some time alone, but it's fairly well into the chapter, and not an immediate jump into it. Hopefully that may assuage some of your concerns!

It looks like I'm going to have less time than normal to work on the next chapter though. Feh. At least I'll maybe have another story to post in there, sometime. Why can't I be employed as a fan? I would be very good at that job.

[circe-tigana.livejournal.com]

Hopefully that may assuage some of your concerns!

I wouldn't call them concerns so much as idle curiousity :)

I trust in the brilliance of Gwyneth Rhys :)

time well spent!

[(Anonymous)]

Delurking to commend you on your writing: it is *so* worth the time. Keep the stories coming!

Love the essay also.

Oyo

[onetwomany.livejournal.com]

Argh - started reading, started getting spoilt, am therefore skipping the rest of this post, but...

realize no one's hanging on tenterhooks over this, but chapter two of Measure of a Man is up. Thanks again to Ali for the beta

I'm on tenterhooks! Yay!!!

i'm on your side

[criesbella.livejournal.com]

...am bookkmarking CHEZ GWYN in my fanfic file!
so happy to have found you :)

...asking if it's WORTH IT? hello?
that's like asking your friend the chef,
"should i EAT this? is it any good?"

bleh. "how rude!"

xo, a

Chez Gwyn + Chez Brilliant!

[namastenancy.livejournal.com]

How can anybody who appreciates great writing ask if one of your stories "is worth it?" Jeeze. That's like asking if the The Great Wall of China is big. Idiots! Personally, I am so glad to see you writing Buffy. You've written one of fav X Files stories of all time (Surrender Dorothy) and anything by you is simply marvelous!

Too marvelous for words (except that there are words!) YAY words!

namaste SF Nancy

Re: Chez Gwyn + Chez Brilliant!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Hey, someone from the X-Files days! Whee!

Very cool to meet you and thank you for the kind comments. I still wish I could get hit by some plot lightning for a few more XF stories, but they haven't happened for a long time. Really miss those boys. ;-)