[block, shmock]

When I read a poem by e.e. cummings, I seriously think-- seriously-- if I could be just like him, there is nothing else I'd want. There are, of course, many other poets I worship & respect, but only cummings makes my heart clench in paroxysms of hero-worship (leaving Shakespeare alone for the moment, because he is god & I, sadly, mortal). It has a lot to do with surprise, I think-- never knowing what the next line will bring. In essence, the reason I like cummings so very much is that (to quote Pullman) he writes things "I would never in a million years have thought of myself". So perhaps what I want most is just-- to write something I wouldn't have expected. The writer becomes another reader; and maybe this... er, lack of desire to be in control is also a problem.

I do agree with Pullman that there's really no such thing as 'writer's block', only laziness. At the same time. . ..

( ...nothing's ever so simple, eh. )

In conclusion: please someone kill my fic for me before I kill it myself. -.- Or perhaps I should really try ivyblossom's great advice about thinking & plotting the story rather than always having to -write- it if I don't think I can. Though one can tell times are getting desperate when it sounds more fun to write fanfic outtakes for your fanfic than to actually... write your fanfic ^^;;
~~

There's also been a post about apologists vs redemptionistas germinating (incubating? percolating??) in my head recently-- but I dunno if I actually want to get into it. There's a crucial difference, I think, between apologizing for (ie, excusing, explaining away or justifying, whichever) a character's offensive behavior and merely saying it can change if the circumstances changed.

I agree with angua9 that there's a definite polarizing impulse in fandom, a sort of battle between the 'forces' of victimization and vilification, one often leading to the other as a reactionary tactic. I think the one that annoys me more just depends on which one I'm most confronted with that particular day, though maybe I can say that victimization (and apologism) makes me sad rather than upset just 'cause I don't think it's actually helpful to the characters involved to pity them (thus placing oneself on some kind of moral high ground).
    But I realize not everyone has the moratorium on pity that I do. I myself much prefer to either accept characters as they are (offensiveness included), or to look for ways to make them more sympathetic in a natural way, not through argument but through example and self-realization or growth in a story. It's just my natural resistance to any sort of 'moral lesson', I guess. I hate those, man. Yeah, I guess that does make me amoral scum, but eh :>
~~

On a completely different note, attics has a most unique take on drawing Harry and H/D. Also, a_fallen_sister drew this Sirius/Remus sketch that I particularly like even if they're slightly too 'mature' for my tastes. And I really really loved agarfuith's 20s Draco, what with the little walking stick and all. Whee for Watercolor! :D ♥
    And! Omg, 22by7's Harry and angsty HBP!Draco & my favorite Remus in ages, even if he is with Tonks (and also an amazing Sirius, omg). Yes.