[ghettoelleth]

I'm writing a story, my first, and it's eating me alive. My treatement for the story (cuz I have a tendency to meander) Is called "The Plot Bunny From Hell". It's a story that spans a humongous period of time beginning in 1,000/3a and goes into the future. Daunting endeavor to say the least. I've thought about drowning it but it looks at me with puppy eyes and insists on getting done so........
I need help. I need a mentor/sounding board/critic/shoulder with knowledge of Sil and HoME, espeically book 4, who is interested in being used by a novice in a shameful way. I don't need any beta at this point, just advice and a kick in the butt. Applicants must have an open mind regarding all aspects of fanfiction.
Can anyone rescue me?????? I'm drowning in conflicting research!

[VanatheEverYoung]

I don't think I would be any help, as I'm a newbie myself, but I'd like to offer my support I also have experienced what you're feeling. I'm working on my second fic right now. It's considerably more challenging than my first (and much better, IMO).

The way I keep my sanity is to "block" my story. Usually, I use action/emotional scenes as starting/ending points. Your fic sounds like blocks of years would be a good way to approach it. Point A to B is all I think about until my characters are at Point B. Then, I'll think about B to C. And so on ... I tend to focus on the quasi-endings instead of the actual end. The story I'm working on now turned into a monster. The most I've ever wrote is 13 chapters. Well, this one is 27 and I have at least six more chapters to write.

That's just how I do it. I'm sure some people would get off track with that theory. Actually, my Beta is one of those people. Every time we discuss story line, she asks me if I plan on writing that down. Of course, I don't. Then, she's amazed when I remember it while writing.

Okay, so I went a little off topic. The point is, I sympathize. If you ever need to scream in frustrion, you can send a PM in all caps my way.

[SpaceWeavil]

I may not be the most knowledgeable (sp?) Silm / HoME expert out there, but if you need any historical research help I might be of use. Depends what sort of stuff you want to do with your story, but I do know a lot about European history from my old job, and what I don't know I tend to have books about

If that's of any use, feel free to PM me. I know a fair bit about the Silm, but I have to say I don't have HoME book IV yet (Shaping of Middle Earth, right?) I'm still working my way through buying the lot, and that is one I still don't have.

[inglor]

I had one of those once, Marty Stu set in Nargothrond. It got so big I felt like one of those guys throwing the telephone pole in the Highland Games.

If you get a good beta, be prepared to get wet, cause its going to get bloody. My first fic that I had betaed got cut to shreds and I grudgingly did what was advised. Later I was glad I did b/c it turned out very well.

If you are already a skilled writer it should be no problem but be prepared to do some hard work if you are new at writing stories. From the sound of your fic it should get the attention of some of the better betas.

And don't get discouraged, it takes several iterations before a proper story emerges.

RL doesn't allow me much time to write much less beta but you are welcome to use me for bouncy issues and I have a fairly good grasp of ME history. (Not in the same area code as some here but in the same Time zone)

Inglor

[BittenBuggy]

I would be happy to offer my services with any questions that you feel so stupid asking anybody else pertaining the Silm Chances are, I've had them too - and asked, and now I know. Cant beta - no time, but as far as facts/timelines I am marginally adequate. I could go ahead and volunteer the most qualified among us, but I don’t want to put her on the spot Though, her initials are Andreth.

[VanatheEverYoung]

[inglor]

[ghettoelleth]

Thanx, to everyone who has answered this so far, for all the wonderful advice and encouragement. I've actually got two pages now, with words on them and everything! I've got me a tough cookie who has graciously agreed to take me in hand. I've never been so thrilled to see red ink in my life. It's funny but I never thought that I would actually ENJOY being beta-ed but it's been wonderful.

Anyway, thankyou again. Vanna, you rock, Spacey, I'll be coming soon so dust off the tomes and in the meantime, ahem, next chapter of Bodysnatcher? Afterall, a girl needs somewhere to go when she's having a Sil meltdown.
Cheers ,
Jes

[Andreth]

I've kind of been skimming the new posts recently and I missed this thread. Aren't you guys so sweet. Look - - I'm blushing. I'm not all that great, just the culmination of a few decades of Tolkien reading combined with what my husband calls a mutant memory.

I've gone back to work and have been using my free time to hack away at my original work (which I hope someday soon will amount to an actual novel), so I don't have time to beta or be a story idea bouncer. But PT, if you have any specific questions you need answered, just post them here or drop me a PM and I'll tell you what I know. And I warn you, I'm very long winded, so you'll probably end up with the actual answer to your question buried in a lot of ramblings.