How much longer? I can't wait - super curious to know what happens next!!
Author's Response: I'm working on DDD every day, and something tells me that the time is coming soon... ;)
Please, Please, Please, PLEASE update!!
This fic makes me happy, and I am almost as addicted as I was to the actual books!
I love the plot.
Author's Response: Thanks so much!!! :) High praise indeed. And don't worry, I'm working on DDD every day. More will be coming soon...
Oh no, all caught up. >.< And Draco finally returns. Can't wait for more.
Author's Response: He did indeed, and SO much takes place after this turn of events. But I think it will ultimately work out best to wait for the reveal until everything is completely in place. I'm working on DDD every day, and I don't think it will really be that long... ;)
I love how you always respond to stuff, so very thoughtful and involved. (Not sarcasm at all)
Anyways, I was looking at the reviews cause in my current chapter which is about ~checks the other tab~ chapter 54 the author's note said something about details of smutty chapters being outlined in a response to a review in chapter one. No reason at all why I wanted that particular information of course. ~Coughs.~ But anyways, as I was searching for this... outline I came across a few reviews which were complaints about the length. I don't know if they're first time readers of your fanfics or what, but I happen to love the length of your stories, they seem to go on and on and it's like getting lost in another world, I'll look up and it's been hours, but only felt like minutes. Sometimes it can be a bit confusing, but it's usually my own fault because I was trying to skip ahead to Draco bits only to realize something must have happened in that paragraph or two that I skipped because I have no idea what's going on now and I'll just have to go right back. Shame on me for trying to skim, I know. My point is however, that I love your story telling style, I feel that you go over details from canon to make sure we can follow the bread crumbs clearly instead of going 'wtf this is soooo out of character, it's making absolutely no sense at all' which has happened in a ton of fanfics I've tried to read from others many times. And now I feel like I'm rambling and making no sense so I'm going to quit it now and get back to nak-- to chapter 54 happily. Too long, didn't read? In short, I love your stories, I love the length, I love that you care and that I don't feel abandoned the only part I dislike is the wait, but that's cause I'm impatient and because I know yours will be long, I like to give you a giant head start, thus why I'm so far behind or was. :) ~Runs back to chapter 54, knowing this was way too long.~
Author's Response: Thanks! I love long reviews. DEFINITELY not too long. Chapter 54! Yep, you made it through a lot of smut, although a big plot reveal is still to come. There is so much coming from Ch. 98 to the end (well, of Book 1), and I'm working on it every day. So don't worry! It's coming soon. :)
I randomly had an urge to stalk your reviews for this story today (at exactly midnight too, just to add that extra mysterious level), and saw the note you left about DDD. I just wanted to say that while I am, of course, sad that we won't be seeing any updates from you soon, I fully appreciate that need to work at your own pace and not have to worry so much about the 'public' side of things. From your author notes, it seems you have been going through some rough times, so I hope you make the most of that space away from the mad dash to update to take care of yourself and relax a bit.
As for the the whole issue with the length of your fics and the not quite canon nature of it, I seriously applaud you for responding to all of those critiques so calmly - I doubt I would have been able to do the same. The issue here does not seem to be that you write stories that are much longer than others, but that you are not writing the re-hashed versions of HP plot-lines we have all become so used to seeing, and now perhaps even expect/demand. As many have said before me, your stories are amazing for their depth and unique style/story elements. And since I tend to lose interest at about chapter 30 with most 'longer' stories, it is a sheer miracle, and a testament of your skill as a story teller, that I am still with you at chapter 98 and eagerly wondering what will happen next.
I guess what I'm saying is that while I know it is disheartening when you receive a continuous and repetitive kind of criticism of your writing, there are many others who admire your creativity and have no problem with the way the story is going - myself included. That said, I am pleased to see you will continue to work on DDD even if you are not posting it all here straight away. My only request is that you don't abandon this one. I know sometims it can get to the point where you wonder if you have the time/energy or even desire to work on a certain fic anymore, but I really do love this story (and it seems I'm not the only one), I would really love to know how it ends.
Best of luck to you!
Author's Response: Thanks! :) (pictures the midnight hour... when there's no-one else around... that's when my love comes tumbling down... oh, wait; that's Wilson Pickett. We'll be here in the karaoke lounge all week!) Anyway. I always LOVE your critiques, and especially this one, because I feel that it represented so much thought and time. The variety of unique plot elements is what I like so much about your fics as well; you definitely don't recycle the same few variations on what actually happened in canon that we've all seen so many times. I honestly feel that those are kind of played out by now. If D/G fanfic is going to live on (and lots of types do this long, long, long past completed canon-- there's still Jane Austen ff!!), then some new aspects are going to have to be explored.
And DDD will *not* be abandoned. Good news on the medical front, so don't worry about that! I've been working on it every day :) Ginny seems to have a never-ending need to tell me how it all turned out.
Mm Loki so smug about not interfering can't be good news. >>
Author's Response: Ultimately, no, not really. Because there comes a point where we do see him again, although it doesn't happen for quite a while.
how do u come up dialogue between the characters, since you have reach chapter 98! love it!
Author's Response: Well... um.... (looks furtively around) I kind of eavesdrop on what everybody said. You know, Draco and Ginny and the rest, and .... oops, they have the straightjackets now! (starts running)
happy to see another chapie.. i know i behind in reading it... love blaise's personality
Author's Response: I love Blaise too. I'm glad he was there for Ginny at this point.
I'm enjoying it, very much so far, but I am just a bit confused. I just need to focus on what I'm reading more, as always with you, it's in the details. ;)
Author's Response: It's all good. :) Trust me, it all fits together in the end! I'm working on it right now.
Which isn't to say that I won't come back every day to check and see if you've changed your mind. :)
Author's Response: Well... I don't think I will, as far as posting individual chapters. The way it's working out is that I'm kind of working on the whole thing as a unit. It's going to be about 10-15 chapters. But when it's done... ;) Anyway, I might post cookies, if I can find anything that won't be a spoiler. That's going to be hard, though.
I feel like I've eavesdropping reading the comments section... But I wanted to say that I completely understand what you mean about RL complicating things. I told you before that I'd had some medical difficulties myself and so I know what it's like having to worry about the bills. MRIs are EXPENSIVE! And RL in general has been pretty difficult lately. I've completely lost my mojo and admire the fact that you're plodding on in spite of your difficulties.
So take your time taking care of yourself, honey. I know I'll miss you, but I completely understand.
Author's Response: RL can be... complicated. And you'll get your mojo back! (sings) I've got my mojo working... it just don't seem to work on you.... (Muddy Waters of course!) You just need a gypsy woman giving you advice. Like the song says. :)
They should have a Draco Malfoy shot. Chocolatey goodness.
I love what is happening so far. I love how it's from Ginny's perspective. It throws you off when something unexpected that she doesn't know about happens.
I'm really enjoying the PB Ball so far. It's so interesting. Especially the soft places. I don't understand them, but I do. Interesting.
I need to e-mail you. I've been thinking about you a lot lately. I hope you're feeling better, beautiful!
Author's Response: Thanks!:) I'm good... I have another trip to the doctor coming up tomorrow, and then HOPEFULLY no more for a while!! Email me.... if you like....
Ok, that's just ridiculous. I can't believe that you'd stop writing just because two people don't like your style. You don't have to defend your fic and then feel beaten down because those two people have problem with your fics. Who gives a shit? You're an amazing writer. I got introduced to fanfic and the DG world because Jedi Boadicea and (uh I can't remember their name) wrote The More is My Unrest. Right after that it was ANISE. I've told you time and time again that I'm a huge fan of H/G but that doesn't mean you have to write everything as canon. That's why we read fanfics...because it's so different. If people don't like your fics they're more than welcome to dip. But you can't stop writing. You're brilliant!
And honestly, I'm a little annoyed that you'd wanna quit after two critiques! WTF
Now, please continue with your wonderful writing :)
Author's Response: I'm not going to quit writing... but I think that I have to stop posting for now. I'm going through a LOT in RL. There's still so much ongoing with the medical stuff, honestly (especially with the bills! :P) I really think DDD needs to be finished before the posting continues, and it will get finished. I was working on it today. So don't worry. :)
Ok, WTF is going on in the comments section? Don't listen to the lame reviewers, Anise! Send them to Loki's rock deep down underground and never ever let them have anymore D|G goodness again.
Author's Response: I think that really WOULD be too mean to do to anyone... Loki gets his heart torn out by an eagle constantly, you know. ;)
Do you know what my mind did when Ginny took the food from Andy Warhol? It screamed, "DON'T EAT GHOST FOOD!" Little tidbit of advice leftover in my brain from a much previous chapter. That's how well I remember your stories. Even if it wasn't really ghost food.
Did that make any sense at all?
"Don't ever change, Weasley"? What has Draco found that made him say that? I think I'm just as shocked as Ginny.
Author's Response: It does! But it wasn't actually ghost food. Stephen Jay Gould and Charles Darwin were offering Ginny ghost food, but Andy Warhol was offering Ginny food that came from a dessert table and was... handed to her by a ghost. ;) And Draco found something that will change absolutely everything. He's been looking for this for a very long time, and he never understood before just how much Ginny would be involved.
Did you put up two at once? Otherwise, I'm just sitting here trying to figure out how I missed one!
Author's Response: Yep, there were two at once.
Oh no. you are going to leave us with all this suspence and tension for months????
Goes to acorner to cry. Just when things started moving, ichh, and Blaise is talking to Luna, ichhh, and Draco showed up with the sketches, ichh where is my hankie?
Author's Response: It won't be months. I promise! But I think it really, really has to happen. It won't be until the end of the entire thing, but until the end of Part One.
Oh, and by the way: In INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST CHAPTER IT IS WRITTEN THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A LONG FIC. sO WHOEVER DOESN'T LIKE LONG STORIES SHOULDN'T HAVE STARTED READIND IT. aLSO IF A PERSON BOTHERS TO READ CAREFULLY HE/SHE WILL FIND HINTS AND CLUES AND NEW INFORMATION IN ALMOST EVERY CHAPTER .
And i think that it has to be understood that Draco and Ginny have to go a long way in order to be together both because of external circumstances and because they both have to undergo some personal growth in order to be happy together. Those things JUST CAN'T HAPPEN OVER 10-20 CHAPTERS! and if they did than the criticizing would be that it is too rushed.
SO I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND THOSE COMPLAINTS ABOUT LENGHTS. iF YOU LIKE THE SHORTER QUICKER STORIE THAN GO AHEAD AND READ THEM. NOBODY FORCES YOU TO READ DDD. I CAN'T SEE HOW THIS STORY CAN BE MADE SHORTER BY HALF.
Author's Response: Thanks. :)
Astoria and Theodor, now that's a pair! I can't wait to find out what they are up to.
is Ginny going to feel guilty about Dean forever?
Blaise and Draco are more alike than I thought. I'm glad Ginny figured out what happened between him and Luna. Now she will be able to help them get together because she knows a lot about when Slytherins attempt to be noble.
Author's Response: Astoria and Theo are up to... well, a lot. So much going on there. Ginny has a lot of unresolved guilt about Dean, and I think it'll take her a long time to work it out. And I think that Blaise and Draco do have a lot of similarities, although also some crucial difference to be sure. (looks into crystal ball) I do see him and Luna getting back together; I might as well give away that spoiler right now... ;)
Oh MY EFFING LORD! Honestly people, if you don't like long fics or the way ANISE writes than don't read it!! By whining and calling her work "godawful" which by the way is NOT constructive criticism is not helping anyone! What your doing is ruining a great story that many MANY people love by making the writer feel like she has to defend her writing style. FIA clearly say the chapter lengths and amounts and who the author is! SO STOP READING IT IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT AND DON'T RUIN IT FOR EVERYONE ELSE!
Anise you are brilliant and I wish more fanfics were half as good as yours! please keep up the great work and know that you are duly loved. I know it can feel tiresome constantly defending your work to nay sayers but you can't please them all and I will always defend your work because, hey, I love it :D
Author's Response: Thanks. :) It's not that I feel that there wasn't some constructive criticism there... I've thought for quite a while that I might post a much shorter version of DDD after it's all done and posted... but I also think that the length wasn't what was really being criticized, and this was clearly said in the first critique and then backtracked on. And that's NOT constructive and not helpful.
An Announcement
I have decided to stop posting any more of DDD until the entire fic is completed to the end. I probably should have done this a couple of months ago when I originally considered simply stopping 100%. However, I’m doing it now. I just feel too tired and beaten up to want to continue this process of putting it out there anymore at the moment. If anybody wants to know more, I can be reached through email in the author link.
Anise
Omg omg I can feel it! Something big is finally gonna happen!! Can't wait!! Keep up the magnificent work!
Author's Response: Thanks! Yes, there's a lot coming up very soon...
I WANT THE ESSAY THING RANT! X) I love your writhing and hope you never ever change it!
Author's Response: Well, I don't know if we exactly need the rant... but thanks!
Oh Anise. :( No offense to anyone else, because I know we are all entitled to our opinions, but I love your fics. I love that they are super long. I love how in-depth they are. The intricate plots and twists and turns are what I LOVE about them! Your writing style is so unique from other authors, but I view this as a positive thing, not a negative one. If I wanted to read JK Rowling, I will go read one of the HP books. In my opinion, the point to fanfiction isn't to retell the wonderfull stories that JK created, it's to make up your own and expand upon the characters, places, ect ect that she created. I think if you edited down your stories and cut stuff out, they just would not be the same. I love them just the way they are!
Just to clarify: "Basically, anybody is more than free to say that Anisefics are godawful, often hideously long, filled with rabid plot bunnies, etc., etc., etc..." is my main issue, and I agree 100% with what that other person pointed out.
The sticking closer to canon is basically me trying to say that the "rabid plot bunnies" go waaaay off tangent and detract from your story, probably because they add enormous length and weird/unbelievable (imo) elements.
We're not trying to tell you don't write. Rather we're trying to say edit edit edit/delete until all that's left is amazing awesome material. Like you could cut 3/4's of some of your longer stories (including this one) and you'd be exactly at the same point - knowing what you need to know.
Obviously you should do what makes you happy, but reviews include critiques, which are meant with
Author's Response: Most authors ignore critiques and do not respond to them. I have already gone way above and beyond here by responding thoughtfully and engaging with constructive criticism. I am doing this for free, on my own time, and my extremely short recent fics seemed to elicit lots of the same criticism from you too, which is why I responded to the specific issues about being stylistically canon-compliant-- that simply won't happen. I take in all criticism, but I am not defending these fics anymore. I'm through.