and i am not looking for wreaths or for bells

coloredink @ 2015-08-19T21:27:00

2015-08-20T04:27:41Z

I have a copy of a very useful book called Steering the Craft, by Ursula K. LeGuin, who's one of my favorite authors. The exercises in this book helped break me out of a rut--and they're useful exercises even if you're not suffering from a dry spell--so I thought I'd type them up to share.

The exercises are meant to be used after reading the chapter/discussion, but I'm not going to type up the whole bleeding book, so I'm afraid you'll have to take what you can get. I'll list the examples LeGuin gave, though, so that if you're really industrious you can look them up. She also suggests specific plots/ideas/settings, in case you can't think of something to write your exercise around.

( cut for length )

NOTE: And then I nearly cut off the tip of my finger and had to go to the emergency room, and now it is hard to type, so I'm going to post this and type up the rest later. It will probably be much later, as I'm going out of the country for three weeks, but there's only four more chapters to go!

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[bbc sherlock] send up your name from my lips

2013-10-17T03:10:56Z

Title: send up your name from my lips
Characters: Sherlock, John
Rating: G
Word Count: 2000
Summary: In another life, another universe, Sherlock would have texted him and demanded to know where he'd gone. But in this life, in this universe, Mycroft had not yet provided Sherlock with a new phone, and Sherlock was untethered and unmoored.
Notes: Does this count for trope_bingo for "character in distress"? I'm gonna say it does.

( like a signal flare )

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[bbc sherlock] (I don't want) happiness by halves

2013-09-08T04:24:37Z

Title: (I don't want) happiness by halves
Characters: Sherlock/John
Rating: R
Word Count: 3000
Summary: John Watson is the king of second best.
Notes: Written for trope_bingo for the free square I am dubbing "Pining+" and betated by the inestimable tiltedsyllogism

( nor is half of sorrow what i want )

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[bbc sherlock] No one saw us this evening hand in hand

2013-08-07T05:54:08Z

Title: No one saw us this evening hand in hand
Characters: Sherlock/John
Rating: G
Word Count: 2900
Summary: John woke on the morning of 17 June and knew that Sherlock Holmes was alive, in the same way that he knew he was 1.69 metres tall, that his birthday was July 8, and that the sun rose in the east.
Notes: Written for trope_bingo.

( when I am sad and feel you are far away )

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[bbc sherlock] of a mentionable shade

2013-06-16T06:10:39Z

Title: of a mentionable shade
Characters: Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
Rating: G
Word Count: 1600
Summary: "You make a horrid blonde, you know."
Notes: Honestly kind of a pointless fic.

( they're taking him to justice for the colour of his hair )

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[bbc sherlock] Things Truly Wicked (start from an innocence remix)

2013-05-12T23:09:11Z

Title: Things Truly Wicked (start from an innocence remix)
Characters: Sherlock/Mycroft
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 2000
Summary: Sherlock curls his lip into a sneer he practised in the mirror. "You said we weren't like other people. You told me to avoid sentiment."
Notes: Written for sherlock_remix; remix of Things Truly Wicked by kirstenlouise

WARNINGS: INCEST, NON-CON, UNDERAGE SEX

( challenge accepted )

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[bbc sherlock] on his torn and broken wings (3/3)

2013-02-08T07:25:48Z

Title: on his torn and broken wings
Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6100 (this part)
Summary: Aeon shrugs. "Nothing happens to me."
Notes: Is a fusion with the world of Haibane Renmei/Ailes Grises, but requires no prior knowledge of the universe. Was also once upon a time a crappy kinkmeme fill.

WARNING: The world of Haibane Renmei has very much to do with suicide.

( you won't find me )

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[bbc sherlock] on his torn and broken wings (2/3)

2013-02-01T05:24:09Z

Title: on his torn and broken wings
Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 5100 (this part)
Summary: "I remembered my dream," says Helios.
Notes: Is a fusion with the world of Haibane Renmei/Ailes Grises, but requires no prior knowledge of the universe. Was also once upon a time a crappy kinkmeme fill.

WARNING: The world of Haibane Renmei has very much to do with suicide.

( shooting stars are hard to find )

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[bbc sherlock] on his torn and broken wings (1/3)

2013-01-25T06:59:44Z

Title: on his torn and broken wings
Characters: John Watson, Sherlock Holmes
Rating: PG
Word Count: 6300 (this part)
Summary: "We're born here in adult bodies, with no memories of our pasts, but with prior knowledge of what is required to function in this world--in fact, with more than that. This leads me to believe that we had...previous lives."
Notes: Is a fusion with the world of Haibane Renmei/Ailes Grises, but requires no prior knowledge of the universe. Was also once upon a time a crappy kinkmeme fill.

WARNING: The world of Haibane Renmei has very much to do with suicide.

( born beneath a lonely distant star )

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[bbc sherlock] There is more to a mirror

2013-01-06T02:05:24Z

Title: There is more to a mirror
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2200
Summary: What mattered was finally, now, finding the perfect present for John. It was a matter of pride.
Notes: Written for delugedpapercup for holmestice. Thanks to rubyofkukundu for a swift and thorough beta.

( pay attention to the nail marks in the wood )

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[bbc sherlock] Build me another and call it Jerusalem

2013-01-06T01:59:10Z

Title: Build me another and call it Jerusalem
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 4500
Summary: Fuck it, John decided. His best mate had just come back from the dead. He could decide whether or not it was gay tomorrow.
Notes: Written for godlessflorin for holmestice. Thanks to swissmarg for a swift beta.

Chinese translation available.

( love, for you, is larger than the usual romantic love )

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[bbc sherlock] learn to look at an empty sky

2012-12-30T06:15:26Z

Title: learn to look at an empty sky
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG
Word Count: 2000
Summary: It was selfish and horrible and inhuman of him, he knew, and pathetic and cowardly, besides. But it gave him such a feeling of satisfaction, whenever it happened.
Notes: Written for a kinkmeme prompt that requested Sherlock liking it when people think that he and John are a couple, because then they know that Sherlock is wanted.

( let the more loving one be me )

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[bbc sherlock] the naked truth

2012-11-27T05:47:13Z

Title: The Naked Truth
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1100
Summary: Sherlock knows he's very fit. So then why isn't John responding?
Notes: Pretty sure this was another kinkmeme fill.

( blah blah blah )

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[bbc sherlock] putting his foot down

2012-11-27T05:34:16Z

Title: putting his foot down
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: NC-17
Word Count: 1000
Summary: "I think I'd know, if I had a foot fetish," said John.
Notes: Written for a kinkmeme prompt, like, years ago. I found it and thought it wasn't terrible, so I decided to put it up.

( punny title is punny )

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[bbc sherlock] but for the unquiet heart

2012-10-28T04:48:39Z

Title: But for the unquiet heart
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2400
Summary: John is mad, too.
Notes: I think greywash had something to do with this one. Thanks to anonie and PipMer for assuring me that the story gave them feels.

( and brain )

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[bbc sherlock] ask pardon for one thing

2012-10-23T03:13:55Z

Title: ask pardon for one thing
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 3400
Summary: Sherlock is dressed in a polo shirt and sandals and acting like he and John are married. He asks strangers to take their photos in front of the sea lions and queues up for Ghirardelli ice cream and buys souvenir cable car ornaments for their Christmas tree. It'd be nice if it weren't so fucking weird.
Notes: For callmeishmael, who requested it. Thanks to Otter, PipMer, and Alithea for allowing me to spring a reading comprehension test on them.

( I loved you before )

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[bbc sherlock] with fear, as half-awakened

2012-09-15T21:14:44Z

Title: with fear, as half-awakened
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2200
Summary: "It's just, you know, I wasn't there," John said, trying to keep his voice level and reasonable. "So I'd like to know, that's all."
Notes: Written for this kinkmeme prompt, which requested Sherlock having PTSD nightmares and John helping him through them.

( they return, one, and by one )

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[bbc sherlock] sleep hath its own world

2012-07-11T06:07:02Z

Title: Sleep Hath Its Own World
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: R
Word Count: 8700
Summary: The Sherlock dreams were always an adventure, of sorts.
Notes: Originally a kinkmeme fill for this prompt, which requested John having lucid dreams about Sherlock (and then actually meeting him in real life). Betaed by HiddenLacuna, who noticed all the things I hoped nobody would notice.

( our life is twofold )

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[bbc sherlock] these are the reasons i think that we're ill

2012-07-04T05:35:01Z

Title: these are the reasons I think that we're ill
Characters: Sherlock, John
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 6000
Spoilers: None
Summary: "No cases," says John. "We're on holiday."
Notes: holmestice story for emerish.

( i don't believe him )

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[bbc sherlock] A Study in Orange (this heart now shares in my emotion remix)

2012-04-08T06:19:58Z

Title: A Study in Orange (this heart now shares in my emotion remix)
Characters: Sherlock, John
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4000
Spoilers: PINK
Summary: He wants to know how John gets past all of his defences to make him feel. He wants to know what lies behind John's walls. He wants to know everything.
Notes: Written for Round Two of sherlock_remix. Remix of dweo's A Study in Orange

( did any heart now share in my emotion )

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[bbc sherlock] Of Monarchs and Severed Heads (madman in a blue box remix)

2012-04-08T06:18:27Z

Title: Of Monarchs and Severed Heads (madman in a blue box remix)
Characters: John, Sherlock
Rating: G
Word Count: 1100
Spoilers: FALL
Summary: No, seriously, Queen Victoria, who'd been dead for, oh, over a hundred years.
Notes: Written for Round Two of sherlock_remix; remix of medie's Of Monarchs and Severed Heads.

( there aren't any severed heads in this one though )

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[bbc sherlock] you can't choose your family (but you can choose your friends)

2012-04-08T06:16:30Z

Title: you can't choose your family (but you can choose your friends)
Characters: John, Mycroft, Sherlock (John/Sherlock)
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 4700
Spoilers: S1 and S2
Summary: Of brothers (and sidekicks).
Notes: Written for Round Two of sherlock_remix; remix of chibifukurou's Of Brothers (And Side-Kicks).

( he ain't heavy, he's my brother )

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[bbc sherlock] In love, in faith unbroken dwell

2012-01-19T06:10:47Z

Title: In love, in faith unbroken dwell
Characters: John Watson, DI Lestrade, Mrs. Hudson, Henry Knight, Helen Stoner, and an assortment of others
Rating: G
Word Count: 2600
Spoilers: FALL
Summary: There are so many things about Sherlock that he didn't know. So many things that he might never have known, if they hadn't started meeting like this.
Notes: Written for this kinkmeme prompt. (Prompt is spoilery.) Korean translation available.

( an astronaut could have seen the hunger in my eyes from space )

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[bbc sherlock] just about enough losing things

2012-01-16T08:45:30Z

Title: just about enough losing things
Characters: John Watson, Tenjou Utena, Himemiya Anthy
Rating: G
Word Count: 1600
Summary: "It doesn't matter," he says, very quietly. "I need the Rose Bride."
Spoilers: FALL
Notes: Apparently I respond to Martin Freeman's incredible acting with Utena crossovers. I have no regrets.

( actually, this is a very serious story )

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[bbc sherlock] yellow bark dust on your pillow

2012-01-07T21:13:06Z

Title: yellow bark dust on your pillow
Characters: John/Sherlock
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2000
Summary: He supposed it was romantic, in a bizarre, insulting way. And wasn't that Sherlock all over?
Spoilers: References to BELG.
Notes: Written for this kinkmeme prompt, which requested Sherlock writing John a series of love letters. Part of The Cinnamon Peeler series. Russian translation available.

( you will be known among strangers )

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