I am not a lizard

[la_marquise]

I seem to have transformed, over the last few days, into a character from a Somerset Maughan novel. Specifically, one of those frail women who droop over chaises longues, in states of perpetual fragility and weakness. It is, quite simply, both too hot and too humid. I can cope with one at a time, but both together... No. Nothing is getting done, I can't concentrate.
Dizziness, headaches, lethargy... If you want me, I shall be reclining on the daybed, cologne-soaked handkerchief in hand.
(It's not heat-stroke. I know the symptoms -- been there, done that -- and how to avoid it. I'm just no good at this kind of weather.)

Skirt of the day: long blue cotton.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

Hmm. Well, I disagree with your beta. You are a fine writer.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

Well, it's partly that she did ask to see first draft and therefore has been getting too-sketchy chunks which take account of re-writes she has yet to see. Also, as Ina points out, my writing style tends to the oblique -- I like to hint and hide -- and some people have trouble with that. Finally, I have only really started understanding the emotional arcs in this story in the last couple of days... not, that I suspect, she'll like the characterisation any more when she sees the finalish re-write.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

First drafts can be messy, but she should realise that, really.

[lil-shepherd.livejournal.com]

It is not a good first draft and I am still undecided whether to submit the current draft to the comm mods in eight days time (deadline) or to tell them that I will post it later when I am happy with it. It is 54,000 words and needs to be longer, and it has been written far too quickly.

However, this particular beta has just been rather rude. So, on the off-chance she is a brilliant fan writer whose criticisms I should just accept, the way she wants, I went looking on the internets. Only to find she has never written in this particular fandom (and how a character who already has at least four very different canon versions out there but has not yet appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe so has no canon characterisation there can be written out of character by me beats me.) Recently, she has pulled all her fanfic from the internets in a fit of pique, but those I found were not particularly good.

I am now trying to decide whether, when I finally post, to credit her as a beta (which would be pretty petty of me as she hates the fic) or not. I think I will, as I have happily accepted a couple of lines she suggested.

[http://users.livejournal.com/la_marquise_de_/]

I probably would, too.