LOL, oh ff.net, why so wacky?

[ratherastory]

*scratches head*

So it's not exactly a secret that I am usually pretty happy to get plot bunnies/prompts from people, with the caveat that 1) I may not be able to write them if they don't strike the right cord, and 2) I may not get to them right away. In fact, sometimes it's months before I can get to a prompt.

Someone pinged me on ff.net and asked if I'd be willing to write for their prompt. I answered with the above. I then received the longest prompt to ever be prompted (no, seriously, longer than rainylemons' longest prompt ever, I'm not kidding), which was basically a point-by-point summary of an amulet fix-it fic, complete with a request for a letter from Sam to Dean explaining everything before he dies at the end of 5.22, and a further request that it be made clear that Dean finally understands all of Sam's suffering, etc.

Now, I am a fan of amulet fix-it fic, don't get me wrong. I've written a couple myself. I just couldn't write the prompt as it was given. For one, I don't think either of the Winchesters are the type to write overly long, soulful letters before they die. I don't know what was in Dean's "suicide" note, but I doubt it was particularly soul-searching, that's not how the Winchesters roll. ALSO, while I do like the boys having epiphanies about each other, I'm also not a huge fan of fics in which one brother realizes that they are the sole douchebag in this relationship who doesn't understand the other's pain and suffering and anguish.

Therefore I pinged the prompter, and 1) asked if they would be okay with my taking liberties with the prompt (because I would not be able to write it the way it was outlined), and 2) mentioned that I was swamped with other commitments and that it might be a while before I got to it.

So then the prompter asked me for an ETA on how long it would be before I got to it. Which, frankly, how the hell should I know? I'm working on multiple Big Bangs and a handful of challenges, and occasionally I crank out some fic that's not directly related to a challenge or whatever. I once again wrote back and explained that it might be months.

At which point the prompter thanked me and told me she'd be looking for someone else to fill her prompt more quickly.

Part of me is relieved, and another part of me is a little appalled at the tone of entitlement the prompter adopted through the whole thing. Dude, I am my own person, there is no need to get pissy if I don't fawn all over your prompt.

Comments

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

LOL

Hey, my Steve/Danny story that's posting on March 18th is practically tailor-made for you, if I understood your tastes correctly. ;)

[zortified.livejournal.com]

WHY IS IT NOT MARCH 18 YET?

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Because I have to find someone to beta this stupidly long fic in which I basically do nothing but whump Danny? ;)

[zortified.livejournal.com]

...

You know, I could beta.

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Would you? That'd be awesome. I'm actually pretty pleased with the overall plot. It just needs to be cleaned up by someone who is not me and who has a good grasp of the English language —my French syntax needs to be beaten out of me— and maybe checked so that the Danny-isms feel right.

You're okay with gratuitous amounts of whump, right?

[zortified.livejournal.com]

I can force myself through gratuitous amounts of whump, for a noble cause. Email the file to me at gilafied at gmail dot com as a word doc (or openoffice) and I can use track changes to mark edits.

Also, since today is my day off, I may even have it back to you today. ;-)

[ratherastory.livejournal.com]

Awesome! It's about 13k, though, so don't feel pressured on the turnaround time.

*runs off to tidy up the fic one last time*