Stupid questions time, aka, Flist, I need you!

[blamebrampton]

Let's just begin with me pointing out that I am very smart at some things, and very stupid at others.

One of the things I appear to be stupid at is fandom archives. They appear to make a whole lot of sense to people who are already there (and probably to young people today), but I am continually coming up with questions that I can't find answers to.

For example:
* When considering posting to FanFiction.net, how do you manage to include characters they do not list? Because none of the DH people were about in their drop-down menus last time I checked and I could not go for an 'other'; is it just my browser, are they haters of Book Seven and refuse to acknowledge its existence? Is EWE their bible? Am I just thick?

* Lovely anthimaeria subscribed me to Skyehawke. I cannot log in. Not even when I copy and paste my subscription details from the "Hi, you're subscribed!" letter. The mods have had to deal with a huge implosion of tech over there, so I don't want to email them again, but could it be a browser issue (I'm on Camino) or is it just the internet saying "We know your Luddite ways, spinning girl! No owner of an abacus will ever be truly part of us!"

* Is there a guide to what works at which archive? And this question is both from a reading and writing perspective. I've tried ambling about but seem to spend an awful lot of time reading first paragraphs and running away in horror, or else finding very well-written stuff for story lines that, alas, just don't really grab me.

* Finally, is it kosher to post an old story to the ASS Ship? Because I think SoTF would like an outing there at some point.

Thanks for any help. It's 11.30pm, I have a flight to Tasmania at 8.45 in the morning and I need to write a garden story, pack, write a bit more of my WIP and finish betawork on a brilliantly clever piece for someone great plus shower, sleep and dress in between. Easy!

Sadly, cassiphone, I'm off to Launceston, not Hobart, or I'd be offering beverages! anthimaeria and jadzialove, I will be sending postcards. Anyone else who reads this in the next eight hours can add their names and addresses, too, but I can't guarantee being able to log in between leaving Sydney Airport and arriving at my friend's goat farm. Oh the glamorous life ...

Comments

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

YOU CAN'T DRIVE?

You amoeba, you!

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I am both poking out my tongue and making rude hand gestures!! (but with love)

In my defence, I have spent my entire life living either in the country where I could ride my horse or bike everywhere, or in inner cities where I could walk, ride my bike, public transport or cab everywhere with far less fuss than driving. I do not do suburbia.

My American friends are always scandalised, but I swear I have never felt the lack of a licence. My Australian friends are all fine with it once I explain that I know enough theory that I COULD take them to the nearest hospital in the event of far rural snake bite, provided they did not care deeply about the state of their car's engine afterwards.

Many of my English friends also do not drive!

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Sadly in England the primary deciding factor on whether people drive or not is if they can afford the petrol. It costs me over £50 (115 Aus dollars) to fill my car up, and that does about 300 miles. The public transport netweork is so bad that I don't have any other option, although I'm currently saving the planet by not working at all and thus not driving anywhere.

:)

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I know, it's shocking! What city are you in? I was always v lucky in that all of my life was Tube-handy in London, or mediaevally connected at my grandparent's farm (ie, everything was within a solid walk or a pleasant ride).

I blame the mix of skyrocketing housing and centralised industry. I'm sure we can still blame Thatcher for it (my record collection is not the only part of my life unwilling to let the '80s go!)

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Sorry - didn't mean to be patronising. I didn't know you were an ex-pat or had lived here.

I live almost in the centre of England, less than 20 miles from Birmingham. My job is in Warwick, but I have to drive across the county to a lot of meetings and such, and there's not a bus or train handy for all that.

They reckon the housing market is finally turning. The news last week is scaremongering about mortgages, and how many borrowers won't be able to get new mortgages when their fixed-interest terms are up. It's all bloody worrying.

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

Not patronising at all! You're hardly likely to be psychic ;-) I grew up between my grandparent's horse farm not far from Lewes and dad's place in Knightsbridge, then a raft of share places in London before moving out to Aus in stages and stayed after meeting the One True Man (who does drive, he's a rural Aussie, I believe his testicles would have been removed if he'd not wanted to!)

You *are* in the dead zone for good public transport. It's all fine if you're an OAP with all the time in the world and a bag of knitting to see you through, but yes, useless for business.

I'm comparatively lucky, even in a city as sprawling as Sydney my whole world (work, fave shops, friends) is within five miles, so I can just walk during strikes. Roads here are so dreadful that it's actually easier. I used to ride a bicycle, but I'm just not up for another six-month rehab period! (They drive like LUNATICS here. It's all the heat and humidity.)

I have a small house in Kent that I was left by a great-aunt. At the rate things have been going, I think it currently represents my whole retirement. Madness. Fingers crossed sanity returns soon, I plan on being one of those 80+ doyennes of the editing world who refuse to retire!

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Perhaps I should start cosying up to you now because even a rabbit hutch in Kent is well into 6 figures.

I love Sydney. Me and the other half spent a month in Australia a couple of years ago, a week of which was in Sydney. LOvely restaurants - haven't ever eaten so much sea food!

Are Aussie men really as sexist as they're made out to be?

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

I know, it's insane! Twenty years of savings and superannuation and such and one piece of luck made all the difference. The lesson I learned is to always be patient with elderly relatives ;-)

Sydney is still that good for food, and most Australian men are really not that bad! In fact, most of my male friends here are more open and less sexist than those back home. However, the worst Australian men are so awful they make you feel warm and caring towards football hooligans with multiple asbos. Luckily they are few and far between and tend to congregate in known areas that can be avoided (I am happy to provide a map if you come back!)

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

My partner has relatives in Brisbane, so when we went to Oz we did a bit of travelling around. Sydney, Uluru, Cairns and Brisbane - a week in each as good as. God, we loved it - could definitely see ourselves living over there. The people were universally lovely, although I have to admit I found Alice Springs really disturbing. You get to see the massive social divide between the Aborigines and the settlers. I know the issues are complex and long standing, but it's shocking to see people in such a developed country looking diseased and filthy. It was very distressing for both of us.