As part of the celebration of North and South I am contributing my review of Master of the Mill by Cate Toward.
Caty and I had a chat awhile back discussing her take on Thornton.
I started reading this story when it was first serialized and the way she wrote Thornton had me visualizing Armitage as Guy of Gisborne.
When it was published last January I was able to read it all the way through and appreciate her take on the story.
We find ourselves at the beginning of this story in Northern Milton. Margaret has lost her mother, Mr. Hale his wife and they are in dire straits due to the loss of Mrs. Hale’s annuity. Nevertheless Margaret is determined to supplement their income instead of relying on relatives. Mr. Bell had suggested Milton but left for the West Indies upon their arrival.
This is the North and South that will shock Mrs. Gaskell
“what are you doin’ here?”
This story has the infamous incident of The Master beating a worker portrayed in the 2004 BBC adaptation written by screen writer Sandy Welch presumably to advance the plot and make the instant dislike of Margaret clear. And of course Margaret challenges him, dislikes him instantly but recognizes an odd sensation she can’t place …
“He looked like the Angel Gabriel, dressed in black, tall, commanding, powerful, ready.” from Ch 1
This is the North and South where Mr. Thornton isn’t a virgin nor a monk!
We meet Thornton in a liaison with Lydia Slickson, the renamed Ann Latimer from the adaptation, written in for plot purposes. Our master has found a way to blow off his stress 🙂
“He looked critically at her evaluating the pleasure she offered against the time wasted away from his work.” Ch 2
This is the North and South where Margaret gets to work in the mill, … under cover 😉
Margaret decides it isn’t below her to find quarters amongst the mill workers and she becomes rapidly friends with Bessie as neighbor and companion. It’s Bessie who suggests it could be done for her to work without the master taking notice.
“To get one over on a master, tis a fine joke. Provided ‘e don’t take offence if all is discovered.” Ch 4
This is the North and South where there is a ball!
A ball!! Who doesn’t love a ball?
“You dance well, sir” He laughed, raised an eyebrow and leaned in to her, whispering, “I have not stood upon your toes yet, I count that a small victory against nature.” Ch 9
This is the North and South where we have intrigue!
Because I don’t want to be any more spoilery you’ll have to read it but I thought it a clever even if familiar twist.
What makes this a fun read, is when the imagery of the adaptation comes in my mind. I certainly recognize some scenes and lines but sometimes the context is different.
Caty’s authentic use of the workers dialect gives the story weight. I only wished we had more back story in setting up Thornton differently as most of us know him or making Margaret’s circumstances slightly more believable.
I encourage you to follow Caty’s writing adventures on Wattpad , her current work in progress, While Christ and His Angels Slept, a Sparrow Sang. Occasionally she tweets as well.
I hope one day she will publish Ricky Deeming’s story The Road
So the North and South watch is behind us and I think we can call it a success thanks to excellent moderating skills of @ArmitageWatch no doubt we started a yearly tradition, hopefully if you missed it this year you can catch it next year or you can join us for future watching.
This whole idea came out of a conversation on twitter and since, this mantra occasionally pops into my cRAzy head:
I hope you find the opportunity to join any of the coming RAwatches! Check out the Armitage Watch Calendar, look for a time that suits you and if uncertain how we go about: check this out. Note: take advantage of the Google feature to import each calendar into your personal one. For your convenience you can follow and LIKE our posts on Facebook
In case the word watch throws you off a bit I included the listed definition:
watch ———>>>
verb (used without object)
1. to be alertly on the lookout, look attentively, or observe, as to see what comes, is done, or happens: to watch while an experiment is performed.
2. to look or wait attentively and expectantly (usually followed by for ): to watch for a signal; to watch for an opportunity.
3. to be careful or cautious: Watch when you cross the street.
4. to keep awake, especially for a purpose; remain vigilant, asfor protection or safekeeping: to watch with a sick person.
5. to keep vigil, as for devotional purposes.
6. to keep guard: She was assigned to watch at the door.
LOOK WHO”S KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR?
Fridays I’ll be looking forward to #GuyWatch : 2 episodes every friday starting on the hour.
Once Spooks has finished in the fall #GuyWatch will double up ; meaning 2 episodes each Friday AND Saturday!
Guy of Gisborne
Saturdays we have #LucasWatch : meaning Spooks from Season 7 down to the 9 : 2 episodes each Saturday.
Lucas North
But that is not all we plan to have more weekend events: if you check out the calendar they are already there: #HarryWatch #MonetWatch and more!!
A couple of rules might help everyone along the way. We are pretending the show is starting on the dot; so set your clocks. It will be impossible to count down or for everyone to be exactly at the same spot.
I thought about this a lot, I wish I could have talked it over a lot more since we’re dealing with four episodes.
For that reason I’m suggesting the watch at the specific times, those who choose to view all 4 in one go could, those who choose to do 2 per night can as well.
So to keep at least this post simple I”m posting the US prime times:
(my plan is to post a multiple timegrids for Europe, UK, US for instance I’ve done a Persuasion watch with Europe in the afternoon when it was evening there)
EST: 8pm : ep 1 US EDT: 6am : ep 1 UK BST : 11 am : ep 1
EST: 9pm : ep 2 US EDT: 7am : ep 2 UK BST : 12 pm : ep 2
EST: 10pm: ep 3 US EDT: 8am : ep 3 UK BST : 1 pm : ep 3
EST: 11pm: ep 4 US EDT: 9am : ep 4 UK BST : 2 pm : ep 4
Sunday June 3rd
EST: 6pm : ep 1 US EDT: 4am : ep 1 UK BST : 9am : ep 1
EST: 7pm : ep 2 US EDT: 5am : ep 2 UK BST :10am: ep 2
EST: 8pm : ep 3 US EDT: 6am : ep 3 UK BST: 11am: ep 3
EST: 9pm : ep 4 US EDT: 7am: ep 4 UK BST: 12pm:ep 4
For the UK and Europe I’m suggesting Sat and Sun eve so friends (from the US) who want to connect and share the experience with them could view in the afternoon. I’m working on my sisters to get together 🙂
A dedicated blog and twitter account has been established:
When finally Caty appeared on Wattpad I was very pleased, I had read her Ricky Deeming story two years ago on livejournal ; a character from George Gently first episode. Fanfiction is for me a way to explore a character that is least shown and developed on screen, Ricky is where I started.
I’m too sexy for my gloves, too sexy for my bike, too sexy for the screen by far!
I had previously asked and explained the technically benefits which straight away went over her head. Of course was I tickled pink reading her commentary when she discovered she could be downloading a story via the application on her phone instead of the mobile browser!
LOL Kudos to Wattpad, recently a pop-up appears on your mobile screen with the option to open the story in the app, it can’t get anymore easy (sometimes it doesn’t link the first time)
What that means is that one doesn’t need internet access beyond the initial download of the story. And for those unfamiliar with how Wattpad works. Once you make an account and fan an author you will get notified when a new chapter has been posted. All that is needed is hit the update button on top of your library list and WOOSH you watch a new chapter streaming into your story. That singular moment one needs internet access.
When I contact her for a little chat she checked out my blog posts from last year, I almost forgot the most important question and discover some surprises!
whatcatydidnext: Hello sweetie, just been laughing at the vids. At the mo I’m sort of caught up in work stuff and quite exhausted by RL. I had an accident about six months ago and broke a couple of vertebra, still causing a bit of a problem. I can’t sit for very long, stupid really. And I don’t mind having a chat, but remember I do talk far too much.
Fanny: hope laughing is not painful with your injury 😦 I’m guilty of talking too much myself so no fear! Maybe we need to spike our coffee! How DO you like your coffee?
whatcatydidnext: It’s my firm belief that laughter cures ills, brings down tyrants, and if you’re really lucky, makes not winning the lottery easier to live with. It’s included in my physio therapy…
Ooooh, spiked coffee, delicious. At this point I should prob say clever things about ‘Arabica beans’, ‘slow roasting’ and the like, but in all honesty it’s two teaspoons of whatever instant you’ve got, a dash of milk, no sugar, thank you. Oh, have we started? I can do ‘sensible’?
Fanny: We have! And please leave sensible at the door & keep your madcap on!
whatcatydidnext: Good, because sensible can be a bit of a strain…
Fanny: LOL good thing me and sensible don’t get along very well either! Perhaps that’s why I loved The Road so much? If my memory doesn’t fail me (which it does often these days) it was my first fanfic .
WhatCatydidnext: Really, oooh, sorry. It was a wee bit umm…rude.
Fanny: LOL I’d call it straightforward 🙂
whatcatydidnext: Ricky is possibly my favourite RA character. We actually see so very little of him, but his personality is writ large, there’s just a feast of possibilities with him. I did go a bit OTT with the Russian thing, but it was meant to be a lot longer. Hari, Ricky, and Piri were supposed to go into a Cold War spy thing. Complete with daring escape over the Berlin Wall. But it became obvious that it was really a dysfunctional love story.
Fanny: I certainly wouldn’t mind reading a follow up on Ricky’s adventures LOL what a tease you are! I’m so glad you finally figured the app out on your phone! Can I feature you as my techy guinea pig? That was my main motivation for spreading the news in the RA fanfic world ; Wattpad’s mobile’s reading convenience .. meanwhile you have found your way around the community on Wattpad.
whatcatydidnext: Wattpad, what can I say? Interesting.
I do think they need to sort out their categories; the historical one is more hysterical than historical!
It’s my bugbear with this site, maybe I’m just too anal, but I do like things where they ought to be. It’s not history just because the women wear long frocks and all the men are knights. I think ‘The Tudors’ has a lot to answer for!
There is some excellent work on Dreamer fiction, so many really good stories that you don’t see anywhere else, it’s a shame. I can never fathom out how it works. Some writers are so good, professional quality in fact, but they don’t get mentioned in the blogs. Bookishy for instance, brilliant stuff…
Fanny:I remember the historical fiction category was created fall 2010 not long after Charlotte and other RA fic writers started posting. But as you say it’s not strictly monitored – not enough Wattpad ambassadors for that. How do other sites monitor those things?
whatcatydidnext: Lots of people put in stuff on willy-nilly though. It worries me, anything that’s as unregulated as it seems to be, is heading for something unfortunate. Copyright laws have ignored fanfics because no money is made, but once people are getting paid, however little, accountants will come out of the woodwork. Could spell the end of a very pleasurable activity.
Fanny: Anyway to get back on topic you choose to write RA characters with a dark slant versus a soft romantic one – particularly John Thornton in “Master of the Mill” was shocking! *note the hysteria in my voice* LOL
WhatCatydidnext: Oh, yes, John. I heard recently that it upset a few people. I’m so sorry about that, I just saw him as a man of the world. He kept his family inviolate, didn’t use his factory girls as a sexual resource, as some did. John was an honourable man, but he was very much a man. I just gave him an ongoing and fairly commitment free affair with the more than willing Ann. I possibly loosened him up a wee bit, in the book, he’s proud of his self discipline, but not self-righteous. I reasoned that it meant he had an outlet. I also thought a 30 plus male virgin living with his mum, with the weight of the world on his shoulders, would be more a candidate for a breakdown, than a romantic hero. As I remember Mrs G didn’t specifically make him a virgin, nor did the writers of the TV version. And darling do you think an inexperienced man could have kissed Margaret that way…Hmmm?
Fanny: LOL no that was not just a peck!!
whatcatydidnext:It was not! Took a lot of work to get just right if the interview was anything to go by.
Fanny: Yes! “that was a bit of fun” if I recall well, is what Danielle said 🙂 Actually I liked how you fleshed out Ann a bit – made her a perfect opposite of Margaret.
WhatCatydidnext: From the look on her face at the meeting on the street, the party, and then clinging to John’s arm outside the church? I just thought, she likes to be seen. Fanny with more umph! (If you’ll pardon the comparison dear?)
its whats under those pettycoats that matters
Fanny: btw I embarasingly discovered she’s not in the book while at a bookclub meeting – I obviously hadn’t made it to the end of the book then – though I had finished the book a year before – typical confusion between book & adaptation .. Anyway you’ve been writing a long time now I think and have been hoping to get yourself published. Best of luck for the future!
whatcatydidnext: An embarrassingly long time actually, I might get good sometime soon…Might have another go at the publishing thing. Might try Kindle, I do have a completed contemporary romance sitting in my dump file. Funnily, it’s not at all dark, rather fluffy in fact, and it ends happily. Now there’s a thing!
Fanny: self-publishing is the thing these days and with social media at your hand you would be iressistable not to buy 🙂 FLUFFY and funny you say? I don’t believe it!! LOL
I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or wordprocessing
What’s your preferred time of writing?
whatcatydidnext: Ummm, well, I write longhand in little notebooks first, then type it up, about four or five times till it sounds right. As I work early, late and night shifts, there really isn’t a preferred time, it’s just a matter of my head and the time being in conjunction.
Fanny:Sure! In hindsight I almost forgot one important question : what got you started with writing and is RA based characters your first foray into fan fiction ?
whatcatydidnext: I was talking to my sister about this a while ago; she said she could remember me writing a story for ‘The legend Jesse James’. It was a TV series starring Christopher Jones, in the early 1960’s I think. As I’m 59 now, I would have been in my early teens then. Took my time with that fanfic!
So, Christopher Jones actually started it, but it’s RA’s interpretation of the characters he plays that has fuelled my imagination. It wasn’t North and South that got me hooked, I had seen Robin Hood, thought his double act with Keith Allan was the most interesting thing in it.
GiZ, you’re gonna pay for that tooth!
Then I was off work with a cold and stuck being miserable in front of afternoon telly. ‘Moving On’ came on, and that last speech was a stunner. That was it, watched everything I could find. Then I came across Bookishy’s ‘Fallout’ on the net and discovered fanfics, it was all downhill from there…
take me with you
Romana55: John Mulligan : You’re heart is as black as night
Fanny: Wow! I had to sit on that info for awhile .. Mulligan was the drop that spilled your literary bucket .. again! Have to say that twinkle in his eye that completely died at that last scene … stunned me too. Would it be fair to say you are very skilled honing in to the dark side of things?
Have to say I’m not holding my breath for my youngest sister who entertained us with pages of storyboard about princes Gwendoline 🙂
whatcatydidnext:Keep your eyes on Princess Gwendoline, she might turn into something else!!! Don’t know about skilled, but I’m fascinated by what draws people together. Sometimes it’s not pretty, but these people fit, they don’t make each other happy, they make each other whole. And no bad boy is going to become a ‘new man’ for the love of a good woman. That’s a concept that has kept women marrying the wrong men for centuries. You can’t change a person, but they can grow. New experiences bring new insights, new understanding. I like to think my characters grow up as their story goes on. And I don’t think you can have a happy ending, as nothing actually ends. Personally, I want to know they’ll go on loving, having fun, building their lives, fighting fortune for their little bit of heaven, that’s not an end. I want to look through their eyes and see a future.
For some reason Harry Kennedy and John Standring, although they are utterly charming men, don’t ring my bells, too nice I suspect. I can remember someone once asking why Harry left London when he did, was he an accountant for a crime boss or something???? Sorry got carried away again…
Liked the vid, there’s a Nine Inch Nails one that I think says it all about Guy.
warning: explicit lyrics
Principessa55: Guy of Gisborne Closer Season 3 (Robin Hood BBC)
Fanny: Amen to that! I’ve heard some speculating about that too though in VoD he was still working in London on the weekends. The kindle project could easily get started after fanstRA – but what tickled me pink is witnessing when you discovered the use of the Wattpad app! LOL Finally the reason why I invited you and others before – how long have you been reading on your phone now?
whatcatydidnext:Seem like forever now. I remember you trying to explain it to me…I am such a technophobe. when I got the smartphone my son laughed and posted photos on Facebook of me using it! Mind you he did that when I shaved my head. I think they may have a book running on what MrsT will do next, where the pen. name comes from ;))
Fanny:Thanks for a great chat, look forward to spreading the news about your publication whether its wicked OR fluffy! I”m usually very sweet and nice but I can’t resist ending with a wicked fanvid 🙂
Kitsunify: No Regrets – Guy of Gisborne
Sunday, March 18th
Last, but definitely not least! Freeform: Agzyshares with us her favorite Armitage paper doll •Ana Cris examines Lucas North’s tattoos through Maori tattoo culture • Jas Rangoon premieres her new John Bateman fanvid • In fandom, jazzbaby1thinks RA fandom is just groovy! • C.S. Winchester asks “naughty or nice?” in a picspam • Mrs. E.B. Darcy thinks about Armitage’s future after TH to wrap up the Hobbit chain • Jo Ann offers the last King Richard Armitage post, on Richard III and the Tudors • Infanfic, Maria Grazia reviews and compares works by the authors she’s interviewed • Gratiana Lovelace wraps up the event with a guest post by Melissa the Mouse! • Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day
I spotted Womblingfree on twitter via mutual friends much later after Spooks S9 aired and of course a new RA aka Richard Armitage writer on Wattpad had my fanfic feelers right away on alert. There are so many RA character based stories on Wattpad now I can’t keep up but I know there always is something to look forward to. I finally had a chance to read something by her when she posted Santa’s New Toy this past holiday season.
Fanny: What character did you meet first, but first how do you like your coffee?
Womblingfree: How do I like my coffee? Plentiful – I drink far too much of the stuff but am quite boring – white, no sugar!
First character I met – Harry Kennedy, and I thought “Mmmm, maybe…” I remember seeing ads for Robin Hood & Strikeback and thinking “Must watch that” but never getting round to it. Then Series 9 of Spooks started and I began to see the light!
phew! I didn’t bump my head!
Fanny: Yes, I did not see the light right away when I caught the first Season of Robin Hood on BBCA . That is quite a gap of time there between airing of Robin Hood or did you caught those adds for Season 3 perhaps? Did you also realize the same actor was in them?
Womblingfree: Yes – I realised it was him. He was kind of vaguely on my radar but not quite getting to ‘crush level’ for a few years. Then S9 Spooks started and I stumbled across a thread about him on a chat forum and after a few days of chat, reading interviews and lots of YouTube viewing l realised I had regressed to be about 13 again : )
Guess again who I am!
Fanny: Oh wow S9, you must have been in a mad rush catching up on Spooks S7 & 8 ! I know about the regressing – I’ve named it “aging in reverse” 😀
So would it be fair to summarize you got caught in the mad fan rush of anticipating what was to happen with Lucas? Is your screen name “womblingfree” a representation of Armitage Mania impact? 🙂
Womblingfree: I’d watched series 7 & 8 as well but for some reason, although I liked the character and RA’s acting I just didn’t get ‘that‘ feeling. I think the Russian dialogue in the first episode of S9, and perhaps the slightly ‘hunkier’ look in the wake of Strikeback might have tipped the balance a bit!
No, I’m not John Porter as Lucas under cover, I just borrowed his jacket
Womblingfree is my name by default really. It was a name I used on another site a couple of years ago so I used it for Twitter too and then it came with me when I signed up on Wattpad! (twitter log in feature on Wattpad)
..as for mad rush to catch up – the only other thing I’d seen him in was the Vicar of Dibley at that point – I really should have shares in Amazon now!
Fanny: The anticipation of Spooks S9 got me engaging on twitter with other fans – like you via an account I had made for another fandom as a way to follow updates. Lucas S9 character brought out a lot of feelings in the fans: Season 9 had him featured more and attempted to show more of the man behind the mask. Did you discover his character in Strike Back stirred similar feelings, since there is a similar contrast between physical strength versus emotional strength? Or perhaps a conflict about choices and decisions?
Womblingfree:Although their jobs are similar I’ve always felt that as men Lucas and Porter are very different characters. I like to think that Lucas/Bateman was not a bad man, but inherently weak, hence the Dakar situation and making a series a wrong choices from then onwards. I guessed the outcome a few episodes before the end of the series so although I was a bit deflated, I wasn’t too surprised.
my bloody nose is itching!
I had much stronger feelings about the demise of John Porter. I think there was so much potential to develop him further, and even though they couldn’t do that without Richard on board, to just kill him off as quickly as possible without tying up so many of the loose ends from Series One I felt was a real disservice both to Chris Ryan’s character and to Richard’s fantastic portrayal of him in the first series.
I only watched the first 40 minutes of Project Dawn and was thoroughly hacked off for a good couple of weeks afterwards, to be honest.
I may go backwards at some point and write my own version of what happened after Series One – I have an idea in mind but it’s on the back-burner at the moment.
Fanny: Oh that idea sounds good – let me know if I can help turn that burner on 😉 a little JP picture perhaps?? I think about Lucas/Bateman the same way – inherently weak – Hence I enjoy reading fanfiction keeping those characters alive – same for Porter : I happily live in denial of their demise.
Womblingfree give me a juicy ending! I’ll do whatever it takes!
Womblingfree: I haven’t really read any Lucas fanfic apart from The Gruinard Project, and haven’t felt inspired to write any either which is strange I suppose as it was ‘him’ that got me hooked.
I was just reading your blog about Lords of the North – it really is brilliant isn’t it? I’ve almost finished the first book in the series and was talking to a friend today about writing a short Uhtred fanfic at some point.
Wallpaper by Vivayn
Fanny: That is a fellow blogger who’s post I tweeted : yes Lords of the North is brilliant, even more your idea to write a short fic. I have to confess to harbor a wish for Monet fanfic – now that’s a crazy notion 😀
I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or word processing
What’s your preferred time of writing?
Womblingfree: I use my laptop, although I’ve always got a couple of notepads or folders to hand where I can make notes or sketch a rough draft if for any reason using the computer isn’t possible.
I tend to write late at night, as with a job & a family to factor it is tricky, particularly as I have to be on my own to write. I was lucky to be able to rearrange my working hours last year though, so now I have a day ‘home alone’ during the week. I try and get the household chores out of the way so I can use it for writing if I’m working on a specific project.
Fanny:Thanks for having a chat with me and wishing you lots of inspiRAtion!
Saturday, March 17th
It’s almost over, oh noes! In fandom, Phylly3celebrates her second blogiversary! • In the Hobbitchain, Antonia Romera compares trailers for An Unexpected Journey in three languages •CDoart‘s the King Richard Armitage blogger, writing on the relevance of the character in times of questionable justice • In fanfic, Jo Ann finishes her story • fedoralady traces the evolution of her “sloth fic” series • In freeform, Gratiana Lovelacerescreens her Armitage birthday vid • Fabo casts Armitage in Hollywood musical remakes • C.S. Winchester takes on Armitage in period costumes from N&S and Miss Marie Lloyd •Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day
Emma: I need coffee with my job, training to be teacher as it helps me get through my day. Yes, I met Richard through north and south. Somehow the man had an effect on me, when watching his proposal to Daniella; it was so passionate and his eyes … I was a gonna lol
I must remember to bring my gloves, I must remember to bring my gloves, ..
And today I’m chatting with a writer who shares a taste for coffee and whose enthusiasm jumps off the page 🙂
Yelloweeee: Hey. I remember all the various fun graphics blogs and fanfic marathons from last March, and even though I didn’t take much part in them, I enjoyed reading/looking at them!
Fanny: I’m about to finish my last drop of coffee 🙂 How do you like your coffee?
I clearly remember reading your touching short story My John. Was Thornton your first Richard Armitage character on screen?
Yelloweeee: I like coffee milky and warm but with a lot of flavour! It’s a great way to wake yourself up or wind down!
Thanks for your comment on “My John”, i am glad you enjoyed it.
Yes, Thornton was my first, and I have to say I hadn’t heard of RA before that. But as those four episodes played away on my screen, I slowly became caught up with his voice, his facial expressions, and he was getting handsomer by the hour!
Those ladies sure can write about me!
Fanny: Ive taken to Hazelnut coffee which can vary much by each brand in flavor. On occasion I even love the exotic flavors of chai!
You say Handsomer by the hour? LOL were you still breathing by the end?
Is this story your first foray in fanfiction?
Yelloweeee: My favourite coffee flavour is vanilla. I had it the other day with some extra cinamon…..that’s nice!!
And yes he seemed to grow on me a lot during the four episodes. When we first see him standing in the mill, looking way too serious, he didn’t seem that good looking, but then we get know him more and the reason for his attitude towards his workers, and you start to respect him. And then you see the good in his heart, and just how hard his life has been, and then he starts to fall in love and you are rooting for him just as much as he is. And then he gets rejected and your heart breaks with him, and then he is really down and……you get the picture!! LOL
Shall I stay or shall I go, will she have me or won’t she
I think by that last scene I was amazed at how gentle and caring he was with her, which was probably the icing on the cake, if you know what I mean. So after that I wanted to find out f there was anything else this really good actor had done, and hey presto!!
“My John” was the first ever time I had written something remotely fan-ficcy. Then “Milton’s Master” wasn’t far behind that. I had read various bits of fanfic on the net. C19 and the IMDB North and South boards . There was something I read that was really different. A short story about a situation where Margaret has died and John has a daughter he calls after her. And I thought “I want to write something along those lines.” So I did!
Yes, Fanny I love your purple dress!!! It’s such an enticing color, hope Margaret has some in her hope chest…
Fanny: Love Vanilla as a flavor & scent I might have to try that WITH the cinnamon and then of course top it off with whipped cream 🙂
So if your John story was a first fic thing am I to understand you are comfortable writing prose?
That story you mention sounds good! I would love to link to that. It’s fascinating how people can elaborate on a character and storyline in surprising ways sometimes.
Yelloweeee: Yup you should try it 🙂
Am I comfortable with writing prose? To be honest, it kinda just comes out when I sit down to write, so I suppose I only write things when I am comfortable anyways.
The link to the story I was telling you about is here …
Fanny: Haha yes I certainly do! And have added her too my favorites on fanfiction 🙂 but really it can’t be that simple to sitting down and getting comfortable? Here a chair … Get comfortable 🙂 what pic gets you going?? 😉 we do need an illustration ..
Yelloweeee:
Chocolateismydrug is great isn’t she? I love her stories!
Ok, maybe there is some more thinking involved than just getting comfy in chair and typing away! There is no picture in specific that inspires me, to be honest. It would usually be an idea of a scenario that comes into my head. I would elaborate on it in my head, and sometimes write a plan down. So once I have sat down to write, I already know what I want to happen in the chapter.
There is a fave pic I have of Thornton tho which is from the tea scene
Yelloweeee come back to me!
Fanny: Love that picture! You since started writing other RA character stories. I was wondering if there was a difference in writing another RA character.
Yelloweeee:Depends What you mean by difference? If you mean how I approach the writing then no, no difference. I would still think up a scenario and write it. Of course the characters themselves are different, and react in different ways to things, and the language they use will be different. Between John and Lucas, for example, there is a difference in them in my stories. With finding each characters voices, I think each one has a special place for me, if you know what I mean, so each one means something in the story I’m writing. It makes the visualization of them easier
Fanny: I have 2 more questions I’m asking everyone: what’s your preferred mode of writing: Pen & Paper or wordprocessing. What is your preferred time of writing?
Yelloweeee: When I’m writing it’s mostly typing on Word, but there were a few times when I hand wrote it first.
I can only really write when I’m not disturbed, so in the night is the best, when the rest of the house is asleep!
Fanny: I loved our little chat, thanks!
Disclaimer: all picture captions by John Thornton
There is plenty more fun to be had in the FanstRA tagteams!
Thursday, March 15th
Half over, already! In King Richard Armitage,Servetus admits to (gasp!) stray thoughts while lecturing • In fanfic, Margaret Hale guestposts atJohn Thornton‘s on why she loves him • Jo Anncontinues her story • In freeform, Jas Rangoonjokes about potential reproductive partners for Mr. Armitage • Itsjsforme reveals another Guy of Gisborne PSA (still not safe for work!) • Gratiana Lovelace needs more help captioning “Whimsical Moments with Deadly Serious ChaRActers!” • Infandom, IngeD3 focuses on Ricky Deeming •Fabo confesses her Richard Armitage eyelash fetish! • In the Hobbit, it’s calories galore asAntonia Romera discusses fingerlicking at the Hobbit table • The Queen takes on Hobbit cakes• Rose Gisborne describes her Armitage day. Links to all FanstRA 3 posts appear here at the end of each day
I’ts not as cold here but am overdue for cuddling up on the coach with a warm drink and somehing delicious! North & South is a favorite winter watch. We’ve hardly seen any snow this year so next time the flakes twirl down my mouth will drop open like Margaret’s!
Warning!! This might prove to be too romantic for the cynics amongst you …
First off, I might as well link this channel http://www.youtube.com/user/salazarlp i love all her song choices! Her Switchfoot – You – North and South fanvid tops it for me but i love all her Snow patrol choices as well, not to mention “Built to last” and “The Reason” in fact all hers could easily be my number one; mainly for the song choices.
Meanwhile I’ve been laboring over this list and have had to pull out a lot because quite a few would get blocked in other countries. Two of my favorites by Melodia are not even on YT any longer. Avid viewers might remember her “Closer” and “She’s got no Time”
Some of these entered my library not so long ago and I’m curious which one’s are surprises, which one’s you miss on this list. I did have to work HARD to trim it back to 10!! YouTube’s restrictions made it ironically easier …
10. Margaret: into Dust by Mandy; another recent surprise being a fan of Mazzy Star i just love this and her take on the character
DistRActed in ReAlity 