Something that I normally do at the beginning of December is make what I call “the list.”
What is “the list,” you might be asking? Well, it’s my list of fics that I really really want to finish by the end of the year. Most years it’s short, maybe one or two fics that I would love to finish or at least update. Last year it was longer as I was knee deep in working on fics for that discord’s Advent challenge.
This year, I have ten fics that I’d like to at least update, if not complete. Yeah, it’s a lofty goal. Yeah, it’s probably not going to be finished in December, especially since I lost a lot of my writing time while being sick, and I literally just made the list last night instead of sleeping.
But let’s go over it, because why not? It’s content.
The Immortal Genius
Last year I started a sequel/spinoff to my Criminal Minds / The Old Guard crossover series. I crossed in 9-1-1, starting with the tsunami and going forth from there. It’s had a decent reception, especially since I think that Buck and Spencer Reid would have a good friendship if they were ever to know each other in reality.
I had always envisioned the 9-1-1 portion to be a trilogy event. An introduction, a compilation fic in the middle of major moment, and a conclusion that wrapped up Buck’s main arc (accepting his immortality and the thought of eventually leaving his found family) while also leaving it open for Buck to return as a background character should I decide to continue with the larger story.
Well, that was until Whumptober 2022, when I decided to do a two part fic instead of that conclusion that continued Buck’s story without ending it. I enjoyed writing both fics, even if they weren’t very well received.
My goal for the end of 2022 is to hopefully find a way to wrap up the side story. This one may be put on the back burner depending on how I do with the other fics that I really need to get finished with.
The Adventures of Buck and Audie
The fun little series where Buck has a therapy dog that has a funny personality. This is a series that I come back to when I have writer’s block. There’s no real “end” to it. I somewhat want to add one more story that can be something of a finale, if only to leave a somewhat satisfying conclusion. (And I’d like Aislinn the dog sitter to finally make an appearance, especially since her only part of series with her character is that her school really likes to lose her transcripts.)
BuckTikTok
I had only just started working on this fic when everything started going down in the 9-1-1 fandom (yes, I’m keeping it brief for a reason). I ended up posting it about a month later, not entirely satisfied with what I’d written, but wanting to get it out into the world so that I could move on.
It went over very well. So well, in fact, I ended up writing a sequel. And now it’s time to conclude the trilogy. The project had always been conceived as a three part series. The only problem is my notes have vanished (my notepad decided to grow legs and wanted away). I’m hoping in the next few days to come up with something that will be a good conclusion to this little fic.
Fire!Fam DigiDestined
This is a maybe/maybe not addition to the list.
My 9-1-1 / Digimon series was my first fic in the fandom, but it has been tainted by everything that has happened to me in this fandom. I did end up writing another fic at the end of July (post drama).
The conclusion of “Chance Reunion” is pretty good. I could say the series is done and not feel back about it. But I also feel like I can write another fic that could tie things up more. I’m not really sure. We shall see.
Back Again from Beyond
“Once Was, Is Now” was a labor of love for over a year. I had started it while still on that discord, but someone claimed the prompt out from under me, and I let it go. Nearly a year passed with it in my head and the other person never posting their claim. So, back in July, I finished and posted the fic, with an explanation that I waited on posting out of respect, but it had been over a year and I was done waiting.
When I dropped that fic, I realized that I had to write this as a trilogy. The set up and two conclusions, one with Buck and one with Carlos (as May would be with Buck’s ending). I’ve since written Buck’s conclusion and now I have to write Carlos’. I can always write them with a more open ended finish so that if I want to come back and add to it, I can, but the goal has always been three.
This one is on the list for sure.
“Next in Line” / “Late Night Knocks”
I opened a can of worms with “Next in Line”, because I discovered that in my exhaustion I’d forgotten to include a line that didn’t make Bobby come out to be a terrible person. So I wrote “Late Night Knocks” and included that explanation, but I also left it open for a finale.
I would really like to give the three fics a good finish, tying them up without leaving anything to chance. With Jay Halstead out of Chicago PD, this is this is the time to do so. If I can finish it this December, that would be brilliant.
“Held Back (What a Detriment)”
I have a slight wish to continue this fic, as I think the premise I set up in interesting. My biggest issue is that I’ve never been a fan of writing “shifter” fics, which is somewhat of a problem considering the fact that the fic is about shifters (prompt fic during Writer’s Month).
I’d like to give it a second pass to at least finish up my thought process. If I can finish it during December, that would be a plus. If not, that’s okay too. it’s just something I’d like to work on.
Life Saving Magic
I pulled “Life Saving Magic” out of nowhere during my cleanup for Whumptober. I seriously don’t even know where the idea popped in my head. I just wrote a triple drabble and sent it out… and got a few messages asking me to continue. So… I guess I will one of these days.
This is one that, if I get to it this month, I won’t be updating until the end of the month. I need to plan first.
Friends Helping Friends
How do you annoy people? Make Buck and TK friends and have them still be friends long after the crossover episode. Yeah, I did that, no I don’t care. “Far Reaching Friends” was one of my most popular Writer’s Month fics that absolutely demanded a sequel, which I wrote during Whumptober.
I’d like to wrap up Buck’s impromptu trip to Austin with one more fic. It wouldn’t take much to tie this little trilogy up with a bow, even if it wasn’t originally planned from the get-go. I can probably knock that out in one night if I sit down and do it.
Taken Away
This one is majorly important for me to at least get the next chapter out. I’ve been sitting on this since the beginning of Whumptober.
“Taken Away” is the sequel to “Kidnapped Away”, which was written during Febuwhump 2022. The basic premise is that TK is kidnapped by the Cabbie Killer in New York City and Carlos and Owen must work together with the NYPD Crime Lab and Reed Garrett, Mac’s stepson and TK’s only real friend back in NYC, to get him back.
I posted the first chapter during Whumptober that set up the background to the story, while “Kidnapped Away” serves as basically the first chapter of a sort. It’s high time I sit down and just knock out at least one chapter.
…That Seems Like a Lot
It is. That’s ten fics that I want to work on, most of which need to be longer than just 500 words or so. But actually typing this out has helped me come up with some semblance of a plan to attack this , with some things being regulated to the back burner as necessary, while others are needed to be updated/completed in an more immediate fashion.
As for now, I’m going to spend tonight planning and prepping to move forward with this, along with everything else I already have on my plate. This is shaping up to be a very busy end of the year…
Until next time!
[Edit: sorry this is so late, apparently I can’t have a healthy week this year, to top off why 2022 still sucks…]
