Calling All Of Beloved's Readers

[spikes_heart]

Good day, Gentle Readers. Now that we've posted the latest chapter - Homecoming - in our little saga, liliaeth and I would appreciate your input in the way Beloved's storyline continues.

[Poll #920125]

Don't worry about hurting our feelings - we're simply at an impasse and you're just helping two writers get a clearer picture. Which is why we're not telling you which choice is who's.

It would also be cool if you'd expound on your choice in the comments. We'd like to know why you feel as you do.

Many thanks in advance!

Comments

[gillo]

Slight cheat here, I suppose, considering our various conversations, but I really feel we need to see how this trauma works out. Not necessarily another 40 chapters to do it in, mind you, but enough to explore its impact.

But I think you knew that...

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

Thanks, Gill... always good to hear you weigh in.

[samifidler.livejournal.com]

Having voted for #2 , I feel I must add that a pinch of #1 wouldn't be an altogether bad thing. It would be unrealistic to assume that there would not be fallout, and there is a large cast of worried folks involved but another 15 chapters of angst would be hard for me to take. Considering that there are at least 10 adult characters, all of whom are closely connected to and worried about Will, not to mention the little ones, there is a very real possibility that an in depth explanation could very well go on that long and I wouldn't mind as long as it's not unremitting angst. I'm also really concerned with the Buffy aspect of the recovery, and what happens to her as well. I'm I was just going to say "both' but that's not very informative, thus the longwindedness.

Sami

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

Oh lord! I don't think that either liliaeth or I would survive another 15 chapters of nothing but angst. We're not masochists, believe me.

There will be Buffy, there will be other pov's... and the sun will come out, tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar... oh well, you know the rest. *grins* Thanks for taking part in the poll.

[juliet-desires.livejournal.com]

Andrea, just wanted to let you know that I should already be in your flist from ages ago when I first opened the journal. Just friend back and it's all set. :D

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

All said and done - sometimes I lose track of all the multiple journals people have and just who is whom. Especially when I have an attack of sieve-brain. *grins*

[megan-peta.livejournal.com]

Oh believe me, I know exactly what you mean! I'm thinking going to this other journal and cutting the fat--in a revolting way of saying things--might help me get more involved and caught up with the people I care about. It takes me forever to get through my other flist and I'm sure people's posts are missing too. Your journal is gorgeous, btw.

[angelic-amy.livejournal.com]

#2 - all the way. Will has just gone through a massive trauma and even though he's safe now there's going to be a ripple effect. There's gotta be. If you were to jump forward it would almost seem as if this ordeal was being pushed under the rug and both Will, the other characters, and us readers don't deserve that! We need an explanation. Jumps in time, say a snippet from his first day home, first week, first month, etc would help speed up the process if that's what you were worried about, but jumping a year in advance would be too much. That's my opinion.

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

Thanks for participating in the poll and letting us know your opinion, sweetie. I'm sure when all is said and done, [Unknown site tag] and I will come to a reasonable compromise that will do well by the story and its characters.

[green-maia.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure which way to vote, because my answer is: both!

I do think you need to show the consequences of what's happened to Will, for him and for everyone.

But I don't think you should linger on it too long, either. I think you should move the story forward, but deal with the impact of what's happened at the same time.

Try to weave portraying-the-emotional-consequences into moving-the-story-forward.

(Does that make any sense?)

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

You're not alone, Maia. A lot of folks seem to want aspects of both choices... which in the end, the tale will tell. A nice compromise. And yes, you made boatloads of sense.

[cordykitten]

Hard choice.. I didn't take the poll. I want William's suffering to end and yet I want the story told properly, not rushed. Does this make sense?
Tell the story you want to tell (feels that have to be told) and not let yourself pressure into changing what you think right.

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

Join the club, cutie. It's a hard choice to make as most people want bits and pieces of both. We'll get there, and hopefully you'll be happy with the road we've taken in the end.

It's just nice seeing what everyone thinks, and that we're not totally wrong-footed in our assumptions.

[joyful-dayz.livejournal.com]

I voted for #1. We know he is badly traumatized, expounding too much on it traumatizes me too. :-/ Some of it must be explained, of course. After being abused like that, I don't think anyone is ever the same again, but I so want him to feel peace and heal as much as possible. btw - beautiful story.

[spikes_heart.livejournal.com]

Thanks for pinging in with your choice, hon. We're fairly sure which road we're going to travel down at this point, and I think it probably speaks to both factions.

**blushes at your praise**

[joyful-dayz.livejournal.com]

I'm glad, as I noted that more people voted for #2 than #1. :)

provides access

[(Anonymous)]

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[(Anonymous)]

Thank you for taking the time to make that clearer.