Fic help.

[Nikki Alexander]

The Atlantis Expedition had several members from other nationalities and I assume those people were at least trained and/or instructed on what to expect (off-screen), which most likely took place at the SGC or off-world, via the SGC. Could always go that route and then have your OC stay at the SGC for some reason. Or have someone from the infirmary hire the nurse, as they do need nurses there and we know they employ civilian doctors who are really good, so perhaps one of the civilian surgeons took their nurse with them, as they have been working together for years in the OR and that was this specialist's condition upon joining the SGC or something.

I had thought of a reason that she could end up working at the SGC, which is actually part of one of my fic ideas, but she had the ATA gene, and I know it's rare for people to have been born with it, so there wouldn't be that many people at the SGC with it. But I do quite like that idea Fems, I'm still working on the idea and working out kinks, but I'll definitely have a think about that.

[BruTak]

The SGA novel "Halcyon" by Jim Swallow has a squad of British SAS troops assigned to Atlantis as part of an exchange program.

[Nikki Alexander]

I think I have that one, or maybe I used to. Will have to have a read. But thanks for the help.

[BruTak]

I think I have that one, or maybe I used to. Will have to have a read. But thanks for the help.

It's the one where Carson head butts a Wraith, then has a brief what-the-hell-did-I-do-that-for? moment.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Thanks! Do you happen to remember whether it was his SGC office or the one at HWS/HWC?

SGC.

I honestly have a problem with the commonly-used characterization of Jack as being not terribly bright or that he is lacking in academic skills.

Actually, I think of him as being like my older nephew, who is extremely bright but can't do math for the life of him. He had to give up the idea of being a history-economics major because he couldn't do the math (although he understands all the theories and can talk your ear off about them). In addition, his grades never reflected his intelligence.

Translated to Jack, this would make the engineering degree hard, but the master's easy. ETA: And his grades would keep him out of top of the class.

Seaboe

[Nikki Alexander]

So I'm working on where to start my off-world fic, I know that I'm going to set it about three years after they first got stranded, SG-3, Daniel and Sam, and then flashback to the beginning and explain how they ended up stranded, but I can't decide whether to start sort off from the end (which I quite like the idea of) and have them have just unburied the Stargate, but because the DHD is broken they can't dial out. Or should I work up to that point and maybe start slightly in the middle but near the end. Once I've got that sorted I might actually be able to start writing it.

[Seaboe Muffinchucker]

Nikki, go ahead and write it from beginning to end (straight line). Then rearrange it into the various timelines and decide which one works best. That way you know you haven't missed any details.

Seaboe

[Nikki Alexander]

So start from when they first arrive and get stranded, I didn't really think of that way actually, currently I only have a little bit of the beginning worked out in my head and a bit of the end, but yeah I think I will. But yeah, I think I will. Thanks.

[Whytewytch]

Seaboe--my teen is like that. Tests into all Advanced Placement courses, smart as a whip, as my gramma used to say; however, grades are barely squeaking by. Seems these demanding teachers actually want them to do classwork and--hold onto your hat!--turn it in!

Nikki--write however you write best, but realize that you will have to keep track of your details in some way. You could have a "notes doc" like I do or a notebook with various parts of the details in separate sections or whatever. Personally, I write both ways--fan fic I write in a straight line because I never know what's going to happen next (I'm horrible at plotting); my original fic has me jumping around like a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs (another gramma-ism ).

[Sparky She-Demon]

What do you do with an AWOL beta reader?

[Whytewytch]

What do you do with an AWOL beta reader?

"Fire" them and find another. I've had it happen, unfortunately. You want to wait for them, but you can't keep your fic on hold indefinitely. If you're in the middle of a novel-length, you may have to get someone to just check out grammar and spelling until they can get caught up.

[Sparky She-Demon]

"Fire" them and find another. I've had it happen, unfortunately. You want to wait for them, but you can't keep your fic on hold indefinitely. If you're in the middle of a novel-length, you may have to get someone to just check out grammar and spelling until they can get caught up.

Would you say that my SGA story is novel length?

[Whytewytch]

Would you say that my SGA story is novel length?

How many chaps do you have done? How many more are you planning?

[Sparky She-Demon]

How many chaps do you have done? How many more are you planning?

I've got 16 chapters. 15 really, because the first chapter is a prologue. And I'm planning on three to four more chapters.

[fems]

So I'm working on where to start my off-world fic, I know that I'm going to set it about three years after they first got stranded, SG-3, Daniel and Sam, and then flashback to the beginning and explain how they ended up stranded, but I can't decide whether to start sort off from the end (which I quite like the idea of) and have them have just unburied the Stargate, but because the DHD is broken they can't dial out. Or should I work up to that point and maybe start slightly in the middle but near the end. Once I've got that sorted I might actually be able to start writing it.

I usually only write from beginning to end, but I have used something that had happened in the past throughout one story. Guess you could call them flashbacks but I incorporated them into dreams (characters were infected with something and during that time they started remembering past events) with just a few paragraphs per chapter tops. What they were remembering/dreaming was from one particular event, which I had written out (from beginning to end) in a separate document so that the whole event was clear and detailed for me, but I simply picked certain moments to use in the actual story and the rest was just for my personal use.

That way you don't overlook anything.