I HAS A QUEZTIONS

[hoosierbitch]

[Poll #1764255]If you have specific ideas for hooks/unresolved issues to address in any of those sequels, that would be awesome. Or if you have any tips/thoughts about writing sequels in general, I would love to hear them. :-)

Comments

[4sakenmyself.livejournal.com]

My sister had a netbook. It was good, but the cord decided to die within three months of her owning it. Its also a pain for those who actually like full-sized keyboards (ie me). But it does have the benefit of being light weight and useful, so I really dont know what to say to you. I also dont know if it was just her or the cord really just sucks on those little netbooks...

And as for the sequels, darling if you are fighting the good fight but it is just not coming thru, dont hurt yourself. The things you write are of course gonna be requested to get a sequel, because the characterization and plots you think up are just so superb and awesome that we cant let them out of our minds, but some dont need to be sequel-ed.... (dont mind me i just finished surgery yesterday and am still on drugs so I blather on a lot when on vicodin)...

Do what you need to do, and if that happens to mean you strike out into new waters, well, I (and tons of others) are gonna love you for it anyway. No need for apologies, either.

All my love.
(dont mind my spelling probs today)

[lionessvalenti.livejournal.com]

I love my netbook. It is my primary computer these days because my desktop is very slow and old. I do everything except listen to music and watch videos on it (well, stuff on VLC, I watch all my streaming video on the netbook because, again, desktop is slow). I don't know that I could function these days without it. Okay, I probably could if I never had it, but I have it. I love it.

I could see where it wouldn't be suggested to have it as your primary computer, but it's functional. Especially if you, like me, don't put a lot of stress on it. I'm pretty much a browser-open-and-that's-it person. It does the job. And they're a great value. I've had mine for a year and a half and it's great.

[photoash.livejournal.com]

I would say don't get a netbook. You can get affordable regular laptops that are relatively light and fast for the same approximate price.

I just sent you a few emails of websites to check for deals and some things to consider that I'd typed up for afiawri :) hope it's helpful!

[elrhiarhodan]

Netbooks are cheapie cheap - and light and easy to carry. I'd suggest an entry level macbook air - but they are 3x more than the average netbook. Except they weigh less. Seriously - the Air weighs less.

You can use OpenOffice instead of Microspooge and you'll be fine.

I also have problems with writing sequels. Series are fine - but part twos and threes tend to stump me.

[scatteredgray.livejournal.com]

Netbooks can be back unfriendly if you have a tendency to hunch to peer at the screen. I did this on my (14inch) laptop. So if you're going to be writing a lot on it, and back pain is a concern?

[kelly-girl.livejournal.com]

Commenters will always want more. I always reply that I never say never. A sequel bunny has hit me a few times and I've written them but trust me, you're a great writer so people will keep saying, 'sequel please,' or 'add more to this verse.' You just have to ask yourself if you have anymore to write for that particular circumstance.

[elainasaunt.livejournal.com]

I voted for more sequels but what I really mean is that I want more of the Dr Who OT3. I will read anything you write in any of the other 'verses but I really want to know what happens after the Dr Who one. (And I just typed Dr Ho, so there you go.)

[tj-teejay.livejournal.com]

Do you need a CD/DVD drive? Because netbooks don't have them. I'm pretty sure you know this, but I just thought I'd mention it again. :o)

I was faced with a similar decision two Christmasses ago, and in the end I went for a sleek, leightweight 13.3" laptop. Mainly because I didn't want an external DVD drive and something that could do more than 1024x600 pixels screen resolution. I think the netbooks these days do a better resolution, but since I do a lot of photo editing, I knew I had to go for something even better than what the usual 13-inchers did. (Mine does 1600x900, btw.)

But since money is an issue for you, I can't recommend the laptop I ended up buying (Sony VAIO Z5). It cost more than a Macbook. Which is probably slightly crazy, but it really was the best option for me. And I'm really really happy with it (except that you can't make the stupid DVD drive codefree -- Matshita sucks ass, and I wish I had known that earlier).

I personally would not buy a netbook if it was my only computer, mainly because of the DVD drive, the screen resolution and computing speed (maybe also hard drive space). Then again, it depends on your needs and expectations. I probably do more elaborate things with my computers (I also still have a desktop, but it's from early 2008), like image editing, webdesign, occasional audio and video editing, etc.

My laptop battery in "stamina" mode does up to four hours, which is pretty darn good. But again, the laptop was way more expensive than what any sane person should spend on such a thing. I weighed the decision back and forth for a long time, but in the end I asked myself the two important questions: 1) Do you really want it? And 2) Can you afford it? I answered both with yes, so what was stopping me? So I hit the Sony website, and about five weeks later, I held "Mackenzie" (which is what I named him) in my hands. And I'm typing this on sweet, little Mac as we speak.

But I gotta say, even though for a subnotebook it's very lightweight (under 2 kg), it's still not as portable as a netbook. Like I said, it really depends on what you want and what you need.

[rabidchild67.livejournal.com]

Regarding sequels: I write a lot of them, and then I write a third chapter and suddenly, i've got a series on my hands. The question you need to ask yourself when you're cosidering writing one is whether or not there's more story left for you to tell. Do you want to see what happens next? More importantly, do you feel like writing it - do you have that little excited feeling in your belly when you're all jazzed up for developing a story?

If I may be so bold as to use the examples you've offered, IMO, the ice skating AU is ripe for a sequel if not an all-out series, because there are aspects from canon as well as characters that you can add that would only make for a richer overall narrative. What's El's role here? (which you've already started - go and post that to your journal post haste, m'dear), but also, you'd mentioned someone's parents in the orginal - how's that go? What role might you assign Kate if you brought her into it? How might she complicate things (prolly not much, since Neal's gay in this tale, so maybe she's his sister? Maybe she's disappeared in this AU too - how does he deal with that?). How would you add Adler to the tale? There are many, many things that can make that story richer for your readers, and more importantly get you excited to write it.

Now, taking the Klaine story as counterpoint: I'd say that's the perfect oneshot. I was not left wanting more with that one. Well, that's a lie - I was wanting a whole lot more of *your* perspective on these two characters, but not necessarily *that* particular incarnation of them. You told the story you set out to tell - Kurt's sexual awakening and Blaine's total and loving acceptance of him. (And also: hot porn.) What more is there to say? Where would additional conflict or character development come from? I'd be hard pressed to find it - the story is complete.

The same can be said for Broken Road - the story was well and truly concluded on a hopeful note in the final chapter and your readers will fill in the happily ever afters, but *you* don't need to. You've fulfilled your obligation by taking it to the logical ending for *you*. Would I enjoy more? Absolutely, but I am not left wanting for it, which is the difference.

This is all very subjective, of course. It's really up to you - see above re: belly-feelings. But remember that in many cases, readers can fill in their own blanks, and leave you out of it ;)

[speccygeekgrrl.livejournal.com]

I would strongly advise against getting a netbook as a primary computer. They're basically useless for anything besides browsing the internet, and most of them don't even do that very well. A small laptop would be a better bet if you just want something little and portable.

[backinblack.livejournal.com]

I don't have a netbook of my own but I use a Dell Inspiron mini ALL. THE TIME. here at my friend's house (like, more than my own comp at this point). It serves me well? I don't really listen to music on it, but I've been known to watch vids, and I keep open two browsers with 10+ tabs each and run AIM and other apps at the same time. It's a little slow here and there, but any comp can get bogged down like that.

Re: writing, for me it's just "wow, you're awesome, write always" AND "I really want to see more in that particular verse." Honestly any work is good work.

[bandearg-rois.livejournal.com]

For laptops, I'd say anything but Dell. At least new Dell. And Alienware is completely out for the same reason: Dell owns it. Toshiba, Acer, Sony, those are the way to go. not sure about size but I have a 16" that's fairly lightweight and works for all of my needs (I dl a lot of movies and have had this comp for almost a year and finally broke down and got an external HD, and I also play some graphics-intensive games, plus all my writing).

As for stories, I'd have to say that some of them I'd like to see sequels for, but Sore? That's more of a 'I like what you did thar, more in that vein' kind of thing. Like more McKirk lol. and more punishment. Lots. lol

[secretsolitaire.livejournal.com]

I don't think you should write anything you're not inspired to write. While I loved Sore and would be thrilled to see more in that 'verse, you're right that it stands perfectly well alone. Honestly, while readers usually mean well, I think it's kind of rude to ask for a sequel because it can make an author feel obligated or wonder if the story didn't feel complete in and of itself. I generally will only cheer sequels on if the author has already expressed a desire to write one.

So write new stories if you want to, or sequels if you're inspired. But I don't think you can force either.

[joiedumonde.livejournal.com]

I love my Asus laptop that I got at Christmas for school work. It's an i5 processor and 4gigs of RAM, and it does relatively well regarding battery life (4-8 hours depending). It is not light, as I opted to get a large screen, but it does have a full keyboard, including a separate 10 key pad. I paid about $750 after getting a wireless mouse and a case for it.

Mostly I love that it has 3 USB slots and a firewire port, so I can leave my wireless mouse adapter in and still have room to attach periphrials like my external HD or my phone/mp3 chargers.

[coffeethyme4me.livejournal.com]

No idea on netbooks. Hopefully, you'll get some rockin' advice from others on that. As far as what to write: write what you love. Period. I want ALL OF THE ABOVE, sequels and new stories BOTH, so whatever you write is good with me!!!! Whatever speaks to you most. I'll read it. I'll devour it. :-D

[aisle-one.livejournal.com]

*raises hand* I second this.

[smokexscribbles.livejournal.com]

I had a netbook and love telling people what to do, so you're in luck. It takes a bit to get used to because the keyboard is smaller. If you're a touch typist, which I'm guessing you are, it's really disorienting. I would hit the wrong keys a lot, expecting them to be in a different place. The other thing is that as small as you're expecting the screen to be, I promise you it's actually smaller.

However, I got very used to both these things, learned to type on the keyboard, stopped noticing the screen size, and carried the damn thing everywhere. They ARE very light and if you get the right one the battery will last for ages. They're cheap and mine is still functioning without a hitch about three years and one hackintosh later.

I'd say get it if you're really in need of a computer/broke. I had a Dell Inspiron. Oh, but if you're going to be watching movies/storing music/saving basically anything, DEFINITELY get an external hard drive. When they tell you how much space the computer has they often exclude the space needed for the OS or for essential programs. The memory on a netbook is minute and you probably won't be able to store anything of note to your hard drive.

[smokexscribbles.livejournal.com]

However, definitely don't get a netbook if you are ever planning to use, say, Photoshop, or watch a DVD, or install a program that you bought from a store legally.