A question for anyone who's been reading Into the Fire

[only_more_love]

I've a question for anyone who's been reading Into the Fire.  I don't care if you've left feedback or not.   Please give me your honest opinion.  Take off the gloves and be as blunt as you want.  *g*  Answer anonymously if you're worried I'll bite. 

So I recently finished writing a bunch of 200-word ficlets in response to a table of prompts from drabble123 .  It was fun, and I think I did a decent job.  However, I recently signed up to write 20 300-word ficlets for the sex table.  I've written five so far, and I'm in two minds about whether or not I should continue. 

That's why I'm soliciting your opinion.  Yes, I absolutely write for myself.  Yes, I know ultimately I have to decide for myself whether I should drop this or not.  No, I'm not trying to write by committee.  But sometimes you're too close to your own work.  I'm curious what you think; sometimes hearing other opinions can help crystallize one's own thoughts. 

There was a time when I disliked drabbles and ficlets.  Over time, I've come to love them -- as a reader and a writer.  Short writing doesn't necessarily equal "bad" writing.  

But is it different when it comes to writing about things involving sex and sexual desire -- whether because it's just the nature of the beast OR because I simply am not a strong enough writer to do it well at this point ?  Am I not providing enough texture, context, or something else in the ficlets I've written for Into the Fire?  Are they not fun to read?

In other words, do you think I should stop writing these?  (No, I'm not talking about stopping writing entirely.  That's not happening.)

Obviously I can drop the challenge and just write longer pieces using the given prompts.  Longer pieces might allow for more immersion in the stories.  But ignore the question of whether longer would be more fun to read and tell me how you feel about the ficlets.  Love them?  Hate them?  Feel indifferent?

I don't expect you to have any answers; just tell me what you think, please.

Comments

[joyreader.livejournal.com]

Issue 1: Into the Fire is different from your other fic. Although undeniably well written, there is something off about them. At first I wondered if they were just boring (no) or empty/OOC (no). What I finally realized was that they had a maturity to them, and to the Booth/Brennan relationship, that is beyond anything we have seen in the show or are likely to see in the near future. This makes your fic bittersweet, and me incredibly sad. See, I would love to see moments like this happen on the show. This series even more than anything else you write. Add this to the fact that we haven't had any new eps in such a long time, it's hard on a fan. I think you've taken these characters to such an amazing place that you're starting to surpass the show. The writer's strike opened up a lot of opportunity for you, but at the end of the day, you don't own these characters. And because of how well you've been handling them and the unlikelihood of seeing this on the show, it makes me sad.

Issue 2: I think the very point of a writing "challenge" is to challenge you. If you don't want this challenge, don't do it. I think there's potential there for you to try some new things out. I think it requires a lot of imagination, but I know you are totally capable. Also, you're established enough that people will come to you to see what you have to say, and go easy on you if something is less than a masterpiece.

That said, I love this series. Keep writing please.
-Personal opinion. No offense intended for any parties.-