The SPN Summer gen fic written for me was depressingly good. [link]

Depressingly, because I feel unworthy, as mine was an 11th hour, "Gah! What I have written is made of suck! And boring! Must. Scrap!" effort. But it's seriously awesome, so y'all should read it.

I did read it, and I loved it! Everyone else should read it too.

I'm sure yours will be received with glee and gratitude.

Oh, that was good.

... I am really beginning to think that anyone writing a story set during the Stanford years should be required to use a California beta, because I'm sorry but you can't smell the ocean from Palo Alto, people. There's a coast range in the way, and the bay is mostly mudflats and salt ponds there (besides, that's East Palo Alto, an entirely different animal).

I agree (as you know). Hell, I've used maps to demonstrate. [link]

OK, so... how do people feel about backing out of a fic challenge? Specifically, I want to, but don't know how not to feel guilty about it.

signed, why is it so hard to write about Vegas and porn?

As a mod, it's the most frustrating experience ever to have someone who's agreed to participate back out for any reason, though generally it's more accepted if there's a big unavoidable thing--real life issues, for example. Whatever the trouble is, as a mod, I'd say suck it up and write it, because you signed up to participate, and you're still going to be getting a story in return when your recipient either won't get one or will have to wait or will get a pinch hit.

As a participant, there are any number of reasons I haven't made the deadline--real life, memfault, deadline problems. But I've never backed out of something because I didn't like the prompt. You have to make it work for you as best you can, IMO. I've written stuff--especially for Buffy--that I would never have done on my own, or even felt comfortable writing, because that was the recipient's request, and it might be just as challenging for someone else to write what I've requested. But I still have Tara/Anya and Giles/Oz and Faith/Dawn at the end of the day, despite how not-me it was. *shrug* It's the nature of the beast. IMO.

Well, this isn't a "write a story for someone" kind of challenge. It's just a "here's a thing, go write something!" sort of challenge. I don't know anyone involved in the challenge (which is a crap reason to think I can back out, I know, but it's on the table), and no one even ever responded to my comment of "I'd like to play" (also, a crap reason).

Gah and blah. I shall think more, I guess. And not try to go too overboard (which is what deep-sixed the last two story ideas).

It's just a "here's a thing, go write something!" sort of challenge.

If you're not writing for a specific person, then the mods won't need a pinch-hitter and there won't be a recipient bummed that they don't have a story when the challenge goes live. If you need to back out, these are the best possible circumstances for doing so.

In agreement with shrift.

[link]

Fantastic SGA AU. Mckay/Sheppard. Where Sheppard is a homeless lifeguard and McKay is running away, and it is so much better than my undersell here.