New chapter for the WIP

[gwyn]

Finally... an update for the WIP, such as it is. I can't believe that after this much lag time and all the sturm und drang it took to write this, it's so empty and devoid of substance, but at least it's done and I can move on to chapter 6. :: hangs head in depressional avoidance::

You Could Be Home Now is here. Pretty short, under 5,000 words. Thanks again to sweet_ali for the beta reading!

See? This is why I want people to discourage me from frivolous vid ideas!

Ali, I'll send you an e-mail about my choices so this makes some kind of sense.

Comments

[umbo.livejournal.com]

You know, the last time you posted a new story, I was out of town, and now you've posted when I'm *way* too tired to even comprehend anything more complex than, say, a repeat of a show I've already seen. So I've bookmarked it for future reading. And I know it's going to be awesome, because your writing always is.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

One would almost think I'm doing it on purpose! Sometimes though I think I shoot myself in the foot in terms of readership; I'm always posting these things on weekends and no one sees that I've updated or posted a new story... kinda dumb!

[umbo.livejournal.com]

Well, I finally got caught up, and I am thoroughly enjoying this--I realized when I went to read that I was actually behind by several parts--not sure how that happened. But excellent work as always!

[sweet-ali.livejournal.com]

Hee, okay :)

[db2305.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I ever started on this WIP, but I love this chapter and I vow to go and read it, since I love all your writing!

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Hopefully some of this will make more sense, then! I hadn't realized it till I was posting, but this chapter references so much of the previous stuff that you must have been wondering what the heck was going on!

[amerella.livejournal.com]

Well, I don't think this is empty and devoid of substance. Sure, there's no *huge* forward momentum as far as the plot goes, but this certainly isn't filler. I just love the way you've written Spike's interactions with everyone, especially with Xander. I'm so tired of Xander going after Spike with a mallet or what have you in fic where Spike returns. His anger is understandable, but it's often taken too far. This, on the other hand, was just right. Very subtle and very nicely written.

I'll definitely be following this. Thanks.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you! I have this feeling that Spike will end up being friends with pretty much everyone by the time this is finished -- the trick will, of course, be in making that believable, and not a fakey, fangirly way. ;-)

Re: updated fic

[darkwoods.livejournal.com]

Just the news that you'd updated this fic sent me back to your site to re-read it. I'd forgotten that most of it was posted a year ago. And wow, I'd forgotten how great it is and how much I enjoyed, and am enjoying it again. You have nailed these characters in such a profound way. On every level. The casual everyday interactions, (I love the Spike Giles stuff with a love that is beyond all loving)the insights they have about each other,(here I'm referring to Angel's assessment of Spike and why it doesn't surprise him that Buffy could love him because he is such a survivor) Even the unconsious world of Spike's dreams is revelatory. It all just resonates. I love your work. Keep on trucking.

Re: updated fic

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Wow, thank you so much! That is most kind, especially because I'm felt such ambivalence over this piece -- partly because I've never allowed myself to do a WIP before, and partly because while I can see where it ends in my mind, I haven't always known how to write it to get there, and so I keep stalling. It really means a lot to me to know that someone's enjoying it so much -- makes it easy to keep going!

[blue-larkspur.livejournal.com]

You have such a marvelous gift for writing these characters. I went back to reread the whole thing, and I found my heart aching for Willow and Spike, and loving the scenes with Angel's gang, and now the most recent chapter which you say is empty to which I say "pshaw" -- it's got so much going on. I love your Xander & Spike interactions, Dawn and Spike, and the end with Buffy and the "ew" -- there's something so... accurate and true about your dialogue.

And as I look back on this I think I have violated every post you've made about grammar, etc. Oh well. I'm a fan girl, what can I say. :)

Thanks for this chapter, can't wait to read what happens next.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! I'm going to try very, very hard not to let this daunt me and get the next one going -- I started it, but didn't like it, but I think I'll just try to plow on and see what happens, reshape as needed. Gotta get that old gang together!

[onetwomany.livejournal.com]

Ah, man, that was so not devoid of substance - it was thick with emotion and almost tore my heart out. Poor Spike. Beautiful interactions between Spike and Dawn and Spike and Xander, absolutely true to the characters and the show. I can't wait for the next chapter. This is absolutely one of my favourite WIPs by far :)

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank you, that is ver sweet of you to say! I'm really hoping now that I've got past this mental hurdle I can keep the momentum going!

[ruddigore.livejournal.com]

This was worth the wait, even though I was tapping my foot the entire time. :) In fact, I re-read from the beginning just so that I wouldn't miss any nuances. Thanks so much.

[gwyn-r.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much! I know, I know, I need to be speedier, but I confess that when life or other art become larger in my world, I push this to the back -- it's such a different style for me, that it's easy to avoid it out of fear. Hopefully not such a long delay this time!

[ruddigore.livejournal.com]

I was just teasing! *taps foot impatiently* :)