Help me

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29 September 2011 @ 05:38 pm

Help me

OK, so I need your help. I've been veeeery busy lately and pretty stressed out too, and it isn't even exam week yet at the uni. So I have a few hard choices to make here, especially considering that I want to participate in Nanowrimo in November again, and will be especially busy at that time.

I feel like I should try to diminish the time I spent online/making things for online communities, even though I love that so much :/ Specifically:

farscape_land will start a new phase very soon so I have to quickly make up my mind if I want to participate or not. The first phase was very fun and I love the people and challenges there, but it's also a bit stressing because I'm a perfectionist and feel bad whenever I fail to be 100% perfect at something. Especially when it's not just my own success, but the team's too! I KNOW I TAKE FUN GAMES TOO SERIOUSLY D: I could stay there and just try to take it easier and see if I have time for it. But it feels a bit cheap, like I'm taking someone else's place in a team, so instead of a very active member they get me. D: I don't know.

farscape_20in20 is another community that I love but that takes a lot of my time, as I have started to spend more and more effort and time on my icons there. My perfectionism is reaching new heights, as every time someone else posts their icons I take a look at what I've made and go all 'omfg, I must start over, this isn't HALF as good as theirs, I CAN'T post it', so... a lot of extra time spent :'DD I'm especially certain that I won't be able to do make icons on November when I have to concentrate on writing.

Anyway, about NaNoWriMo - why do I have to write THAT much, you might ask, wouldn't it be easier to just customize myself a smaller-scale challenge? I don't work like that, sadly. I'm lazy and very, very routine-oriented. If I take something specifically into my daily routine, and have to keep 'officially' track of it (like we do on the nanowrimo page), it will probably get done. And if that element is missing, I get NOTHING done. I've finished two nanos, so I know I can do it, but it does take almost all my free time (depending on my courses at school too). I haven't written anything for a long time, except for a few little oneshots, so it would be awesome to write once again, but at the same time I'm very sad about the possibility of not having time for icons again, because I've become to love this new hobby SO MUCH. But maybe a break would be good to give me new inspiration, since I did have trouble coming up weith anything new on the last round of 20in20. I don't know.

So please answer the following poll and it would be awesome to hear comments about WHAT THE FRELL TO DO :D

Poll #1782607

Open to: All, detailed results viewable to: All. Participants: 5

What should I do??

View Answers

Leave farscapeland

0(0.0%)

Take a break from farscape20in20

0(0.0%)

Don't do nanowrimo, stay in both comms

0(0.0%)

Try to do everything, it's perfectly possible if you stop being such a perfectionist about it

2(40.0%)

Try to do everything and if it's impossible then leave something out

1(20.0%)

Leave both comms at least for the nanowrimo time, then come back

2(40.0%)

Current Mood: busy

busy

19 comments | Leave a comment

19 comments —

( 19 comments — Leave a comment )

virkatjol on September 29th, 2011 03:04 pm (UTC)

I can't tell you if it's possible to do it all. I know that I'm NOT doing Nano this year because I can't do it again. I'm gone the first week of November and then again from the 17th to the 21st for FS con. So that's that many days when I can't write well. I don't write well if I don't have quiet. I require concentration. IDK. I'm a terrible multitasker.

I DON'T WANT YOU TO LEAVE FSL!! If you feel like it's too much just take a Hiatus. BUt don't worry about taking anyone's spot because everyone who wants to play HAS A SPOT. :) We don't turn anyone away.

I"ve been lazier on my FS20in20, I think my icons are pretty boring but doing it makes me have to look at FS CAPS!! HOW HORRIBLE! LOL I've been getting mine done last minute. I just need to Actually make one a day. LOL

I totally understand if you need to drop FSL, but I'm sad about it.

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nebari_rebel on September 29th, 2011 03:19 pm (UTC)

virkatjol, you're making me feel like I shouldn't leave (not in a bad way ;)...it is a lot of fun, but I feel like I'm doing a half-assed job - I do my best on all my challenges, but I feel like I don't do enough challenges, IYKWIM. And I really want to write, but I should be able to do both...ARGH.

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virkatjol on September 29th, 2011 06:15 pm (UTC)

You can always go on hiatus instead of leaving outright.

I do know because I'm on 4 landcomms and have major guilt on one of them cause i don't do challenges... LOL I do the minimum it makes me feel like a fail on that team but our team loses badly every challenge sooo... THERE MUST BE A LOT OF US ON THERE> hahahaha

Maybe just do a couple challenges. We try to have ~easy ones always going so people that just want to hang out and be a little active have something fun and simple to do to meet the requirement. Or on Hiatus you get to stick around and not have to do anything. :)

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 07:14 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the good comments! I feel like I should probably try to do it all at first and not stress so much, but at least I'll be on hiatus for November, if that's okay. Please host all the best challenges before or after it and try to come up with really sucky ones for November so that I won't miss anything cool ;)

So I'm still considering, but there's a chance I'll try what you adviced and just take it easier. Maybe. We'll see :)

And I'm a terrible multitasker too, lol! That's why I almost dropped out of the rewatch chats, I just couldn't figure out how people do it all at the same time, but thankfully others taught me ^^

Your icons aren't boring AT ALL!! ^^ I'm a last-minute icon maker as well. I mean I do start them very early, but then I turn most of them down and end up making a big bunch of them just before the deadline. Which isn't in any way better, and wastes much more icons and time than your style, so... if the last-minute thing works for you, no need to change it, I'd say :)

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virkatjol on September 29th, 2011 07:19 pm (UTC)

What ever you need to do, just let us know. :) We're here to accommodate. <333333

I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's easier for to multitask on rewatches. If it's for the first time I don't do as well.

dizzydame and I are watching Primeval and it's so quiet cause we both 1. LOVE THE SHOW and 2. have never seen it. hahah

Your icons aren't boring AT ALL!!

<333333333333 I'm glad you think that. I just was voting and seeing them next to the others... well I just went BLAH. Last minute works well for me on a lot of things. I think having to do NaNo and being so behind when i started last year actually helped me. I usually have people give instant feedback when I write and I didn't get that for NaNo last year and it was hard, really hard. I found that after I got to 25k though It was much easier. I was over halfway and it just seemed to come to me.

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 07:45 pm (UTC)

Ooooh the voting part. It's always the hardest to see your own icons there with the rest. I feel exactly the same... That's why I initially hesitated for so long to join the community, even though I had made icons for a few months, I felt I couldn't deal with the voting part. I honestly feared that I would be the only one to never receive any votes and everyone would make fun of me or something cause I didn't know how nice you all are :DD But then I was like 'frell this, I WANT to make icons and if none of them ever win anything it doesn't mean they suck, it just means all the icons are pretty'. I'm glad I talked myself to overcome this complex cause it's been SO MUCH FUN :D

You like instant feedback? Wow, I NEVER show anything in progress to anyone, cause I'm so ashamed of it. I have to polish it completely and most importantly finish the story before letting anyone see it!

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nebari_rebel on September 29th, 2011 03:22 pm (UTC)

I couldn't answer the poll yet because I think you have to ask yourself what you enjoy most of all - what gives you more satisfaction, writing or iconning or landcomming? Even with perfectionism as an element, what do you light up when you think about?

For NaNo, I get having to do it all or not do it at all. That's why I'm skipping it this year and focusing on writing as much as I can, but not in that context because that way lies madness.

I'm staying in FS20in20 and would miss you there so much! But I understand if you have to take a break. FSLand I'm really torn about - I want to do it, but as I said, I want to write, and do the 20in20, and keep up with my picspams. And while the Land Comm is fun, it's down on the list of personal satisfaction. I need to feel like I'm accomplishing something for me, and not trying to do that while playing catch-up with challenges, no matter how fun they are.

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 07:20 pm (UTC)

Thanks for the advice! Yeah, the hardest part is to figure out which things I want to do the most, but I SUCK at prioritizing. I want to do everything; the icons, writing, programming, the land comm, and still work hard for school. And watch tv, just hang around online, and maybe even have a tiny bit of social life IRL occasionally... How the frell do I prioritize these things D: But hmm, I guess I 'light up' the most about icons. But ever since I found iconing I've been writing SHAMEFULLY little, so I feel like it's my duty to complete Nano. Which is probably the wrong attitude. Hmm.

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sayuri_x on September 29th, 2011 04:18 pm (UTC)

Ahhh, don't leave FS20in20 altogether. It's cool if you don't participate in every round but if you didn't sign up occansionally I'd be gutted. Please, you know I love your icons!

I was thinking about having a hiatus in December anyways because peeps are always so busy then. I was going to do a poll! LOL.

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virkatjol on September 29th, 2011 06:17 pm (UTC)

We could just do the holiday exchange then. Then YOU aren't required to do much but post the icons when they come in. Well and give out the secret santa's. LOL

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 07:28 pm (UTC)

Oh, there's no way I'm leaving the icon comm for good. I love it way too much :D It's just the November I'm thinking of skipping. Could November have a very nasty and uninspiring theme? Something like 'make 20 icons as ugly as you can' or 'icons of fake-bearded John'? That would make me feel better skipping it :D December however would be a great iconing month for me. I never get it why people are so busy on holidays, that's the least busy time for me (but then again I'm a nerd with little social life so maybe that's why...). I'm with Jo, the holiday exchange thing would be really fun.

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vinegar_dog on September 29th, 2011 04:46 pm (UTC)

Don't feel stressed out...you are meant to have fun! I know it is easier said than done, but if it is of any interest to you I voted that you do everything even if not in a perfect way! :) That's provided of course you enjoy all of the various commitments you have. I am a perfectionist too so I know where you are coming from...however I am working very hard on being more relaxed!

Maybe we should start a land comm together...HOW PERFECTIONISTS CAN DO HALF ASSED THINGS AND STILL ENJOY THEMSELVES! ;D

Since I am only a member of FSland, I can only say that the great thing about it is that you can do a challenge every few and still be a fully fledged member! I know you are not on my team but I also know that your team members DO NOT MIND if you only do the odd challenge, so stop feeling guilty or I will hop on a plane and come hit you on the head! :D ...that is just an excuse of course to see beautiful Finland again!

Whatever you decide, do it with a light heart but if you leave FSland, you will be missed! Also you'd better not leave the re-watches, I can't wait for your comments when Scorpy finally appears on the scene! LOL

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 07:33 pm (UTC)

Thanks so much for the advice!!

Maybe we should start a land comm together...HOW PERFECTIONISTS CAN DO HALF ASSED THINGS AND STILL ENJOY THEMSELVES! ;D
Lol, great idea. I do wonder how many people it would attract with marketing statements such as 'results are meant to be half-assed so don't expect to see anything fancy here' :DD

And you're always welcome to visit Finland ~~but preferably without hitting me on the head~~ :D

And yeah, you're stuck with me on the rewatches (unless something horrible happens and everyone else leaves them). Anxiously waiting for Scorpy goodness. I can say this much in advance: there will be exclamation marks. In large quantities. ^^ ^^

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flo_nelja on September 29th, 2011 04:51 pm (UTC)

What will be your NaNo about?

If you can stop the comms only for Nevember and get back after, maybe it would be better? My second choice would have been "Try to do everything and if it's impossible then leave something out"

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 07:38 pm (UTC)

I will most probably continue my last year Nano (my ideas are always so grand-scale that I NEVER finish any of the actual stories even though I get the 50k written. That's one of my biggest problems as a writer, I always try things that are way too big for me...). It wasn't actually a novel, but a draft for a tv show. I wrote a couple of episodes. I know it's silly, but I actually liked what I wrote and was supposed to continue it after November... but then I found iconing and developed an addiction. I still love the concept though and would very much like to write the next few episodes ^^

Will you participate this year? (I feel like you've said that you will, or that I've gotten that impression somehow, but I'm not sure!)

I will probably do exactly what you suggested. Thanks for commenting!

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flo_nelja on September 29th, 2011 08:18 pm (UTC)

What is the subject of the tv show? It seems cool!

I'm not sure I will. I have already done it, in 2008 and 2009, but well... basically, I have no idea for a novel which would not require a ton of research, and I always think "I should really do this research" too late, when I have planned a lot of fanfics...
But I will certainly do a number-of-words challenge in November, to enjoy the emulation. Only, not just one story, and probably not 50000. ^^

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jsfunction on September 29th, 2011 09:25 pm (UTC)

I'm always a bit shy to talk about my works in progress, but let's just say that it's a scifi thing set a few decades into the future, and it's pretty much a dystopian setting. It explores many political and moral themes and the main plot is kind of dark. Ok, that's really vague, but I don't know how to describe the plot itself in short :P

Hey, there's still time for research :D It would be cool to know others are going through the same as I, but it seems many people I know are going skip this year.

I love that I get my inspiration from the 'research' I do on a daily basis, namely from my studies and also the science/educational books I read on my free time. My first Nano year was 2009, I started planning the novel on August(!!) because I got so incredibly inspired by a science history book I read about working at an observatory :D And this tv show thing, it does need a lot of research on a number of different fields, but I get much of that info at school and also just reading news. And the best thing is that every time I hear something depressing about pretty much anything, I get an idea for an episode. Seriously. I wonder if this show is a bit too dark if only negative stuff inspires me.

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nymeria_55 on September 30th, 2011 02:33 pm (UTC)

My reply to the poll would be halfway between nr. 4 and 5, i.e. try to do what you can, and enjoy yourself while doing it.

I understand that you might feel this compelling need for perfection (hey! you're NOT NamTar in disguise, are you? LOL LOL) but as a newbie in landcomms I believe the goal is to have fun. Points gained for your team are an incentive, granted, but that's just icing on the fun - if you'll allow me the mixed metaphor.

Leaving anything out (either one or both landcomms or your NaNo endeavor) might leave you with regrets, so try and... juggle everything and leave something by the roadside only if and when you realize that all your work is suffering.

My 2 cents... :-)

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jsfunction on October 1st, 2011 12:54 pm (UTC)

Great 2 cents! That's exactly what I'm leaning towards right now... I feel like I might stay in the communities, but take a hiatus for November and try to take it less seriouslY if I can't participate in every challenge. I know winning isn't the point... :D

And I am totally NamTar's reincarnation D:

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