I'm junking this story.
It's not over, but I'm junking it anyway.
I began looking over the fic from the time I first posted this chapter and realized it wasn't working out well AT ALL. Everything felt aimless, boring, and generally unfun. When writing using a text that isn't even your own is a slog, there's definitely gotta be something underfoot.
I'm in the process of rewriting (similar to what Dreams2Paper11 is doing with Haunted Memories) to quash out a few glaring flaws, and I thought you'd like to know the ones I hate the most in particular:
-The length. Holy Jesus, the LENGTH. 161,022 words in and we're still only on the fourth episode. I spent a good 50,000 on the first episode alone. Titans Phantom, which I believe is the farthest into canon, just clipped Season 3 and it has 281,477 to its name. I don't know if that says anything about my writing style, or the fact that I have to squeeze in as much as I possibly can, but this definitely won't do. I want things to be substantial but I don't want a 500k+ or *shudder* 1000k+ dedicated to this one fucking crossover alone. There are better things I can be writing for; and besides, shorter is sweeter as is. That means I'll have to take out...
-The subplots. I don't know about you, but in a story focusing on the main character, shouldn't the focus be, well... on the main character? I know I should be putting elements from both canons into the mix, yeah, but not to the extent that half the time is being dedicated to aimless expeditions (in the Nuva's, Gresh's, and Malum/Akhmou/Lobo's case) or boring character studies (Kiina's.) They're unnecessary. They have to go. I'll find some way to work everything in that doesn't involve Lewa's PoV being sidetracked.
-The characters... yeah, it was pretty obvious I hadn't watched TT in a while. All of the Titans' new lines and actions felt very inorganic. I've since watched Teen Titans Go! (which is a great show if you ignore the fact that it's not Season 6- ignore the haters and at least give it a try-) and I feel I've gained a good grasp on them again. Hopefully from now on I can keep writing them with their voice- blegh, I am not having Cyborg, BB, or Starfire act like that again.
-The fourth-wall-breaking and meta jokes, which again aren't necessary. Yes, this story IS in the Humour category, and I intend to keep it that way, but admittedly none of the Chronicler's actions were funny. In the interim since I've last written it's become incredibly clear that I need to rein in the comedy, let the story shine, and- god forbid- raise the stakes. Having the omnipresent self-insert author comment on the potential autism he's accrued by jotting down stolen scripts and editing them slightly is not doing much to change them.
-The romantic angle- completely inane- and the asinine character relationships. Fuck 'em.
-A general lack of focus. Lewa has joined the Teen Titans- okay- but what exactly is he doing? Commandeering everything for himself? Tagging along as the others' chew toy? I had a plan at the start- go through the series with him tacked on- but as I wrote I kept adding things that didn't mesh with it; it showed my total lack of skill. From here on out I have my own story, and I'm stickin' to it.
-My erratic writing schedule and the lack of a beta to keep it in check. Thanks to CIF-lover for offering to help me out.
-The plagiarism- no way, Jose, not happening again. I'll actually WATCH the series this time, even if it takes me ages to get things right.
Sorry for any inconvenience- or rather lack thereof, as I've barely gotten any reviews. Hopefully I can come up with something that both makes sense and is fun to read through at the same time. I'm writing a Danny Phantom/Scooby-Doo: Mystery Incorporated crossover, as I mentioned on my Tumblr, and I have plans to write two general fics- a purely Bionicle story and a purely Teen Titans one; maybe those will catch your interest instead? Expect the first revised chapter of this story soon. I promise. I've seen the light.
Later days!