2015 year-end word count closed at:

This year I wrote and posted:
13 stories (or drabble series) for an approximate total of 190,000 words.

Looking back, did you write more fic than you thought you would this year, less, or about what you’d predicted?
Apparently 2015 was a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it year. Time got away from me quite frequently, mainly because life was somewhat turbulent during my day job (that is, pretty much the entire department I worked in turned over except for me). I know I didn’t have nearly as much attention for writing, let alone time. That said, I wrote about what I predicted knowing what the year would be like. Hey, at least I wrote!

What pairing/genre/fandom did you write that you would never have predicted in January?
I don’t think I did anything unpredictable. In fact, it seems all I produced this year was Kirk/Spock/McCoy.

What’s your own favorite story of the year? Not the most popular, but the one that makes you happiest?
Drink One For Me. Kirk makes the terrible decision of keeping McCoy out of the loop during a covert operation. This leads to a painful rift in the triumvirate just when they need to be at their best in order to defeat a ruthless enemy. Plus, I love McCoy angst, particularly when the endgame is increased awareness and appreciation of his character.

Did you take any writing risks this year? What did you learn from them?
I made a brief excursion in the Playtime universe, which hadn’t seen had a new story in four years. Like any series, if the readers likes it well enough, they will be receptive to new material, but the writer has an obligation to maintain consistency. My craft had evolved enough during four years – from perspective and characterization to specific phrasing – that it required two or three re-reads of the old stories for me to feel confident enough to risk returning to Playtime. That said, the result wasn’t too terrible. I am attempting the same thing with the Holiday universe right now.

From my past year of writing, what was….
My best story of this year:
Younger Than Stars. The intensity and pacing of the story was on point. The characters, including the side characters, were dynamic. But most of all, the story paid homage to the men and women of the Enterprise other than Kirk’s alpha bridge crew. It proved that teamwork really is necessary to survive in outer space (and to thwart the schemes of a madman). I also think the story is fully deserving of a sequel, which in my point of view means I did just good enough for the readers to want more.

My most popular story of this year (based on comments/kudos):
Hands down, Lucky in Love on the Starship Enterprise. Somehow Joanna was just too adorable to resist.

Story of mine most under-appreciated by the universe, in my opinion:
No Sad Captains Allowed. This is a post-Operation Annihilate fiction which explores a decision of Kirk’s that leaves him feeling guilty. Spock and McCoy are there to support him. I think it’s a rather sweet glimpse at how well they have come to know each other.

Most fun story to write:
Lucky in Love on the Starship Enterprise, obviously. Joanna ruled the ship.

Story with the single sexiest moment:
From Younger Than Stars:

Leonard set his drink on a nightstand and walked into the adjoining cabin. He stood behind Kirk and laid his hands on the man’s shoulders. “What do I have to do,” he leaned down to drawl against an ear, “to keep your attention?”

Did I mention Leonard wasn’t wearing anything while he did this? Yowza!

Most “Holy crap, that’s wrong, even for you” story:
No shockers this year. I stuck to the tried-and-true of McSpirk.

Story that shifted my own perceptions of the characters:
Goodbye, Holidays. This may be a bit of a spoiler but this story will take an in-depth look at the man beneath Archer’s goofy exterior. We’ve seen him lovesick and badass, obnoxious and playful. But what does he think of himself?

Hardest story to write:
Younger Than Stars. This is a perfect example of a simple plot that gets completely out of hand, sprouts in a dozen different directions which, by the end, one somehow has to tie back together. I lived chapter to chapter. There was no other way.

Biggest Disappointment:
I’m disappointed that I didn’t write more general stories. I did a couple of drabbles and a one-shot but otherwise didn’t attempt anything major that was not pairing-related. Frankly, I didn’t realize this had happened until time to do the recap. I should think up at least one project during 2016 that does justice to stories without romance – or as I like to think of them, great tales of friendship. :)

Biggest Surprise:
Wills and Ways. It’s not my first Spones-comes-before-McSpirk story but it does have an unhampered honesty between Leonard and Spock that usually doesn’t occur until after several chapters of byplay and verbal hedging. That I managed to do it in an one-shot is shocking!

Most Unintentionally Telling Story:
Family Outlives the Season. It was really supposed to be glorious fun for the McSpirk Holiday Fest, but the very first thing I wrote was a scene where Jim is talking to someone as lonely as he is and invites that person to join his “family.” That’s when I realized I couldn’t get away with humorous hijinks that lacked a message. Jim had made it clear to me: while holidays are celebrated for various reasons (historical, religious, political, personal), what truly matters is who you spend them with – like friends and family or, just maybe, people who don’t have anyone to share the holidays with.

Fic-writing goals for 2016:
Last year my goal wasn’t to give up. Would it be sad to say the same thing this year? Actually, let me clarify that. I want to reach 2 million words. That’s been my goal since I hit 1 million some years back. This year I will finally accomplish it. Then I will wait to see what becomes of my future in the fandom!

Related Posts:

• 2010 Writer’s Recap and Survey – from January 5, 2011
• 2016 Fic Recap – from January 13, 2017
• 2014 Fic Recap – from January 2, 2015
• 2012 Fic Recap – from December 31, 2012
• 2011 Writing Recap – from December 29, 2011