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starwatcher_fic.
Early in 2006,![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
alyburns conceived the splendiferous idea of TS fandom celebrating the tenth anniversary of the first showing of the pilot episode of The Sentinel -- IE, March 20, 2006. She suggested that anyone who cared to, could write a story / create a songvid / create some new artwork in honor of that anniversary, and it would all be hosted on a permanent website. Shortly after that, we had a new sentinelsecrets challenge, and the same theme was selected. I liked the idea from the first go, and I really wanted to write a true 'anniversary' story. But the ideas wouldn't come. I toyed with the idea of Jim and Blair celebrating Blair's 'x'th anniversary of being a cop, but that's just not something that a couple of buddy-guys would do, in my opinion. For Jim and Blair to celebrate an anniversary, I think it would have to be slash, and I'm writing in that area is not one of my strengths. One day the idea of Joel having an anniversary popped into my head, and it seemed to fit. He's always seemed somewhat older than the other characters to me, and could well have been married long enough to have a 'big one' approaching. And that nicely included the rest of the Major Crime gang as they planned the festivities, so I was all set. After that, the story sort of flowed; when Blair gets involved in something, he just doesn't quit. *g*
My thanks tojessriley for help with Megan's contribution to the poker night pot-luck. I originally conceived of something that would be 'typically' Australian, would taste good, but would look kind of icky. Couldn't find anything on the net, so I emailed Jess for suggestions. While I waited for her answer (time differences often have one of us asleep while the other is awake), it occurred to me that, in trying to make Megan's offering something that the others would ridicule, I was falling into unthinking fanon. Why does everything about Megan have to 'not quite fit'? So I emailed Jess and asked her opinion about that idea. As I continued to write and wait till Jess woke up, I decided that my second instinct was better; Megan should bring something tasty, that everyone would enjoy, and she could shine at. So, I researched some goodies, and emailed Jess a third time, asking which selection would be most 'Australian'. By the time Jess was able to get back to me, I had argued the situation with myself, made the decision, and solved the problem, except for the exact dessert, which she supplied. *g*
I found it interesting how just writing to another person can clarify one's thoughts and help you work through a problem. And that -- for anyone who thinks writers know what they're doing before they go into a story -- is a demonstration of how it can twist and evolve from the initial idea.
My heartfelt thanks also tocaarianna for looking over this story after it was finished, giving me some suggestions to improve it, and assuring me that it wasn't too sappy. *g* It was also she who unwittingly gave me the idea of the present for Joel and Salima, because she was on a Mexican Riviera cruise as I wrote. Ripples from pebbles tossed in the stream of life -- I would never have thought of it without that example before me.
Now, for those who want to read the other stories and see the artwork, songvid links, etc, you can find it all at [I'll look it up> Lasgalen. There's some great stuff showcased there; enjoy.
.
Early in 2006,
alyburns conceived the splendiferous idea of TS fandom celebrating the tenth anniversary of the first showing of the pilot episode of The Sentinel -- IE, March 20, 2006. She suggested that anyone who cared to, could write a story / create a songvid / create some new artwork in honor of that anniversary, and it would all be hosted on a permanent website. Shortly after that, we had a new sentinelsecrets challenge, and the same theme was selected. I liked the idea from the first go, and I really wanted to write a true 'anniversary' story. But the ideas wouldn't come. I toyed with the idea of Jim and Blair celebrating Blair's 'x'th anniversary of being a cop, but that's just not something that a couple of buddy-guys would do, in my opinion. For Jim and Blair to celebrate an anniversary, I think it would have to be slash, and I'm writing in that area is not one of my strengths. One day the idea of Joel having an anniversary popped into my head, and it seemed to fit. He's always seemed somewhat older than the other characters to me, and could well have been married long enough to have a 'big one' approaching. And that nicely included the rest of the Major Crime gang as they planned the festivities, so I was all set. After that, the story sort of flowed; when Blair gets involved in something, he just doesn't quit. *g* My thanks to
jessriley for help with Megan's contribution to the poker night pot-luck. I originally conceived of something that would be 'typically' Australian, would taste good, but would look kind of icky. Couldn't find anything on the net, so I emailed Jess for suggestions. While I waited for her answer (time differences often have one of us asleep while the other is awake), it occurred to me that, in trying to make Megan's offering something that the others would ridicule, I was falling into unthinking fanon. Why does everything about Megan have to 'not quite fit'? So I emailed Jess and asked her opinion about that idea. As I continued to write and wait till Jess woke up, I decided that my second instinct was better; Megan should bring something tasty, that everyone would enjoy, and she could shine at. So, I researched some goodies, and emailed Jess a third time, asking which selection would be most 'Australian'. By the time Jess was able to get back to me, I had argued the situation with myself, made the decision, and solved the problem, except for the exact dessert, which she supplied. *g* I found it interesting how just writing to another person can clarify one's thoughts and help you work through a problem. And that -- for anyone who thinks writers know what they're doing before they go into a story -- is a demonstration of how it can twist and evolve from the initial idea.
My heartfelt thanks also to
caarianna for looking over this story after it was finished, giving me some suggestions to improve it, and assuring me that it wasn't too sappy. *g* It was also she who unwittingly gave me the idea of the present for Joel and Salima, because she was on a Mexican Riviera cruise as I wrote. Ripples from pebbles tossed in the stream of life -- I would never have thought of it without that example before me. Now, for those who want to read the other stories and see the artwork, songvid links, etc, you can find it all at [I'll look it up> Lasgalen. There's some great stuff showcased there; enjoy.
.