I have 2 documents in my Popcorn Redemption folder, one called McHanzo Notes and one called Story Divisions. These are the two documents where Popcorn Redemption was conceived. I wrote out a list of the movies I definitely wanted to include, and a list of events I wanted to happen. Then I filled out the story based on that. All the chapters are laid out in a 1 paragraph summary along with the tie-in for the movie. Then, at the start of each chapter I write a list of bullet points I want to address that chapter, even if I don’t know where exactly they fit in. As I complete a bullet point I delete it from the list. Some bullets end up migrating to the next chapter.But, essentially, I have an extremely short plot planned out but all the details grow organically as I write. I make notes of side stories that I start that I think would be worth developing in later chapters or continuations after the main plot.

no no omg the fact that you don't just glaze over details and actually address stuff like time change and how some characters react to being in a different place.... it makes your fic so much more real? sometimes i feel it's way more realistic than any fic i've ever read and that's just awesome!! as someone who loves little details, popcorn redemption has been so satisfying to read -- your time researching hasn't been wasted or gone unnoticed and i'm sure a ton of people agree!

Sorry it took so long to get back to this, I haven’t been on tumblr all day!

That’s so nice to hear, seriously. Sometimes it feels like paddling up-river, you know? I think fandom is often a place of instant-gratification on some things. People want to get to the juicy climax of a story, people want to WRITE the juicy climax of a story, and how you get there is incidental. Which I totally understand because fandom and writing mean different things to different people. And I’ve tried to write like that, believe me I’ve tried. Things I want to write as one-shots sit with a growing list of ideas that would make a one-shot impossible. Remember back in Chapter 1? I think it was like 15 pages? The last chapter was 62 (I think) and this next one is shaping up to being close to 70. Even when I try to write one-shots they end up growing and growing.

The point being...I’m not sure if I had a point. But it’s nice to hear. I guess cause it’s really hard to get a bead on what the readers are responding to? When you write something that’s 60 some odd pages a chapter, you get a wide range of responses on what people connected with. Whereas with a little fic, you get “oh hey I loved that part where they kissed at the end!” (no offense to those fics cause they’re cute af). Not that I would really change the way I write one way or another, but when I get a good comment where someone liked a certain thing, I might push it a little more, write a little more in that section next time it comes up. Which might also explain the expanding word count...

considering all the effort and work it takes to plan out each chapter im really surprised you’re able to write them so quickly!! it’s cool getting an “insider’s look” to how you write, thx for sharing <3

Awww thanks! It doesn’t FEEL quick, that’s for sure. To tell you the truth, I agonize over it a lot. As my writing buddies will gladly point out, I’m a bit of a stickler for continuity and have a lot of trouble just hand-waving over details. Like, for an easy example, when it comes to mission locations, I have to research exactly how long it would take for a carrier to get from Gibraltar to, say, Honduras. Then how long they need to be on the mission, and what the timezone difference would be for Jesse and Hanzo, etc etc etc. It may seem like an inconsequential thing to most readers, but for me it is a big deal. If I am reading a fic and there is some detail that is impossible without “the magic of storytelling” it takes me right out of the experience.

omg happy birthday!!!! hope it’s a nice one <3