Come on in!
Also, before you click, once I post the final chapter of What Fates Impose, I'll post an open forum here on the blog and answer as many questions people have about Fates and the writing process involved. I may even share embarrassing stories about mxpw.
In 2009, I took a trip with my best friend from high school. We'd both been out of college for a couple of years, working in jobs that surprisingly we went to college for (I was in New York, she was in Chicago), and we had a two week window between her busy season and mine, so we grabbed backpacks and headed to Europe, a dream trip we'd been planning since we were 15 and poring over atlases and travel books at her kitchen table.
Guys, it was probably one of the most magical times of my life, worth every meal I replaced with a peanut butter sandwich in order to afford it. We wandered all over and I saw some amazing things, but one of my all-time favorite places on the trip was in Italy. Yes, I went to Riomaggiore and Cinque Terre where Chuck and Sarah and Casey are now. Even more impressively, I went three years ago. To the day. May 1, 2009. Since it was Labor Day, it was PACKED. But it was AMAZING.
The places Chuck mentions in Chapter 65 are real (though some of the spellings may not be). You can't actually get to Riomaggiore without either taking a boat or the little train that connects the five towns.
That's Riomaggiore, where my friend and I stayed. In fact, I kind of stole the view from my window there and gave it to Chuck because let's face it, as a writer I'm not that creative.
I think we were actually on the third level and Chuck and Sarah and Casey are all on the second, but it hardly matters. The building (and church) that Chuck finds at the top of the town are real. My friend and I, when we were wandering around at sunset, pointed at the tallest building we could find, and said, "Let's watch the sunset from there." It ended up being Il Castillo. This ended up being our sunset view:
I wish I could go back, so I kind of did. But with Fates because right now, that's much cheaper.
Anyway, I just really, really wanted to share these pictures and this experience with you. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and that you'll like the remaining two or three.
Thanks,
Frea
PS - that's my shoulder, backpack strap, and ear in this picture. Gosh, I'm adorable.
aaand you stole my dream trip, jajaja. You know? you did an amazing job describing it in fates, because when i saw the pictures, it was just the way i pictured while i was reading it! aanyway , i hope to be able to be there someday, if i do, i will think of you, or fates, i don't know, je.
ReplyDeleteReally good work, never drop a review on fates, but that's because i'm lazy and don't have an ff account, but i reread the hole thing three times and i still enjoy it as much as watching the show. Just wanted to say: awesome work frea!! hope it was as worthed writin' it as it was reading it =) thumbs up from Argentina.
This place (and walking around Pisa, of all places) and a couple of other spots on the trip are emblazoned in my brain so hard that sometimes I just sit and imagine them. I hope you can go on this trip someday, as "dream trip" really describes it well. And hey, if you happen to think of Fates as you do so, I'll be pleased. Hopefully you'll think good thoughts!
DeleteThank you very much for the kind compliment! Question: how would you say "What Fates Impose" in Argentina? *very curious*
Really good toughts! You are an amazing writer (even do my English it's somehow basic) I remember when I started reading your story, and fanfiction in general, I expected a much more 'amateur' job, but you created a really well written , well rounded pice of work, so...good toughts, always, je. By the way , answer: "Lo que destinos impone" ;-)
DeleteThank you. :) The truth is, I AM an amateur. I'm still working every day to improve my writing, and I suspect I'll be doing that for the rest of my life. I am perfectly okay with this.
DeleteLo que destinos impone? Oooh, I like the way that sounds. Particularly destinos. Now I just need to start asking others what Fates is called in more languages! Aerox, Crumby, help a girl out?
:)
jaja, maybe you should get it translated to severe languages? , destino is 'fate' in spanish, no wonder you like it, it adds a mistique to it all ^^
DeleteHaha, well seeing as I'm only comfortable ordering beers in three languages and that's about the length of my being a polyglot, that's going to have to be a fan-driven campaign. It'd be neat to see what Fates might look like in French, Spanish, or German, but damn, would that be a labor of love.
Deletehmmm i don't know about the whole thing, i'm no translator jaja, but hey! pick your favorite chapter and maybe i can get it back to you as a really long comment as a parting gift of sorts before the last chapter is up!
DeleteLate to the party, but for those who didn't see the tweet, here's the Henry VI quote in French:
Delete"Ce qu'impose la destinée, il faut que l'homme le supporte. Il est inutile de vouloir résister contre vent et marrée."
At least, Kindle says so. A more literal translation of "What Fates Impose" could be "Ce que la destinée impose". :)
My desire to go to Italy just multiplied 50 bajillion fold. To see that sunset in person must have been a special kind of magic.
ReplyDeleteNot a very creative writer? Please, you're sensational. Own it. It's okay to be arrogant sometimes.
Fates nearing its end is bittersweet. It's a special piece of work. The piece that got me addicted to fan fiction, in fact. And it introduced me to this awesome community of Chuck fans and writers, for which I'm truly grateful. It'll be hard to not see anymore of this fantastic world you've created. Luckily, I can reread it whenever I want. Or, you know, when I have a free week or two.
And, I'm sure many of us will pay handsomely to hear embarrassing stories about Max.
The funny thing is that that was the second sunset in three of the most magical sunsets of my life (the one from the next day, I'll share with the next chapter, as it's more relevant, and we had the most stunning sunset in Pisa the day before this).
DeleteAnd the truth of the matter is that I don't consider myself overly creative. Everything I write is gleaned from research or my own experience, so to me, there is a feeling of the mundane about it, and I have a harder time being impressed with that. But thank you for the compliments nonetheless. Fates ending IS a little bittersweet, I suppose, though mostly I just welcome it with open arms. It will be a bench mark in my life: the longest thing I have ever written and completed, and something I can hopefully look back at and say, "Yeah. I did that. That was me."
And just so we're on the same page...when you say "pay handsomely," how much are we talking here? :)
Don't sell yourself short... Neil Gaiman has said:
Delete"You get ideas from daydreaming. You get ideas from being bored. You get ideas all the time. The only difference between writers and other people is we notice when we're doing it."
However you get your ideas, I think you're pretty good at transferring them to paper.
Jam, I ADORE Neil Gaiman. The man just writes so eloquently and has a writing quote for everything, so to see this quote really makes my day. :) And thank you very much for the compliment. Though I doubt you'd say so if you knew what my handwriting looked like.
DeleteEver since reading the Sandman he has been one of my favorites too. :)
DeleteI really need to reread American Gods. I was tickled pink when the title character drives through Southern Illinois and visits all of these towns around St. Louis. So fabulous.
DeleteI hope that you don't mind if I start with a remark, it's "Castello", not "Castillo" (which is Spanish).
ReplyDeleteAnd I wouldn't have pointed it out, if you had not described so well those places, that after all are "my" places (not far from where I live) that I love so much.
Anyway, thank you for sharing the story and the pictures, and I hope that you will be able to come here again... :)
Thank you very much for pointing that out! I've made corrections in both published chapters (my trip journal, which I referenced often while writing this chapter, I'll leave alone, as that's now considered historical). But rather like I misspelled Kaninchen, I'm a little embarrassed this time. :)
DeleteYou are very blessed to live in a beautiful part of the world! Seriously, my friend and I agreed that it was the prettiest part of our trip by a long-shot. I am mildly jealous, and a tad nervous that I'm going to screw up the Italian customs in the next two chapters.
As for coming there, I hope to! I could spend weeks longer in Italy. My dream is to find another secluded spot, gather my notebook, and while away the hours in that stunning Italian sunshine.
"Remaining two or three?" Does that mean Fates is almost over?
ReplyDeleteYep. Chapter 67 may be the last chapter, or Chapter 68 might be. Chapter 66 is written, 67's halfway done. :)
DeleteWow, that must be a huge relief for you. Disappointing for us, though :)
DeleteI'll finally get rid of this monkey on my back trying to strangle me, yep. :) I know we never want things to end, when we're reading them, but a good ending can be just as much fun as not knowing what the ending will be.
DeleteHopefully I can provide a good ending.
Europe is awesome for traveling. Granted, I've only ever been to one place in the US (NYC) but just walking through quaint little towns... I dno, it just has something appealing to it. Prague still remains magical, especially at night (and if you can get past the copious amounts of prostitutes lingering around on the streets) and Italy ranks there as well. Besides, the contrast between busy touristy spots and quaint towns is great to see as well. Although those houses/flats transcend rules of cities and are just found everywhere in Italy.
ReplyDeleteFor me, I'm hoping to go back to Prague or take a tour in Prypiat. So much to see, so little time left. Ughhh.
Europe is amazing. I want so badly to go to Prague (and have plans sort of quasi-made for 2013, but a friend is begging me to road trip across Australia instead, so those plans might be pushed to 2014). When we went on this trip, we squeezed this town in between Edinburgh (where we only had a day) and Venice, and we found we much preferred the Cinque Terre region to Venice. Granted, I was excited to be in Venice for research purposes. It's always been my dream to write a book about a city where the streets are made of water.
DeleteI hope you make it to Prague and Prypiat! Travel is one of the best things on the planet, even if jetlag is a bitch. :)
They're both in the same timezone for me, so that's a massive plus. And yeah, Prypiat. Apparently it's the most silent place on Earth. Can't wait to experience that.
DeleteThank you so much for sharing those photos and memories. I was wondering if that area described in the latest Fates chapter was real. Other than Italy, the other geographical names were unrecognizable to me. But I've never been to Europe and I doubt I will ever be able to afford it. But your description of the area was wonderful.
ReplyDeleteTo me, there is something special about a coastal town. They just seem so peaceful and beautiful. And I'm hopefully headed to one in about two weeks. It's in the US, not overseas but it's just as special to me.
Thank you again for sharing those photos. It's great to actually see the place. And Fates is ending in two or three more chapters???? How the heck are you going to wrap up everything in two or three chapters? I'm looking forward to finding out. And maybe I'll find out while I'm at my favorite coastal town!
And a question: in an earlier blog in which you posted unknown facts about "Fates," you noted that you had cut many scenes or ideas from the story, one being Chuck seeing Jill again. If any of your deleted scenes are in draft form or written up, would you consider posting "unseen Fates" chapters or having an eBook or PDF of that to download? I'd love to read that! Thank you again for sharing these memories and for writing "Fates."
Hey, Anonymous,
DeleteYeah, coastal towns really just sparkle with something, don't they? I ended up in a landlocked state, and the first couple of years, I was a little disgruntled about that. When I moved out to the easternmost point of Long Island, things got better, and relaxed (until summer hit), so I totally understand where you're coming from with the magic of small towns. I hope you have a wonderful trip.
As far as the cutscenes, there IS a document hosted on Google docs located here if you want to read some of the scenes that got cut or rewritten. And I'll be releasing the full Fates: The Ebook From Hell, along with a special announcement coming soon. Make sure to check the blog after Fates ends to see an open Q&A I'll hopefully remember to host after the final chapter.
Thanks,
Frea
Wow! Awesome pics Frea! Reminds me of Middle Earth and Minas Tirith.
ReplyDeleteMy LOTR knowledge is insanely limited. I need to go look up Minas Tirith. :) Thank you, though. The pics are only, like, 1/1000th of the beauty there.
Delete"Between Lerici’s alps and Turbia’s
DeleteThe most deserted and most shattered rockslide
Compared to this is a free breezy staircase."
Dante's Purgatory, Chant III, 49-51
(My inner literature geek forced me to post that...)
http://images.wikia.com/lotr/images/e/e4/Minas_Tirith.jpg
DeleteOhhhh okay. I remember that from the movies....vaguely. :)
DeleteWow! Great photos and great story! Fates is ending? Oh my gosh! I can't believe it! I'm happy and sad at the same time! What will you do next? Will you do other Chuck fan fiction? Or will you finish "Curtain Call" or continue with "Romeo and Juliet" or others? Or are you going to get out of Chuck fan fiction completely?
ReplyDeleteHey, Anonymous! Thanks for the compliments!
DeleteAnd yep, we're near the end of Fates. My plans change regularly, with absolutely nothing set in stone. Best case scenario, I'll finish everything I have on my plate in Chuckfic (though some things may take time, like R&J). But I do need to start focusing on my original fiction again, so...
When you say original do you mean a novel/book that isn't based on anyone else's work? If so I wish you good luck.
DeleteP.S. Fates is awesome! One of the best literary works I've ever read, though being a high school senior that doesn't carry as much weight as I would like it to.
I do mean that, yep. And thank you. I'm going to need all the luck I can get!
DeletePS - don't sell being a high school senior short. Some of my favorite books to this day were ones I read when I was 15 and 16. And thank you for the compliments!! ;)
I wouldn't if any of the last few books we read for English class were any good,however the only one that could be considered a classic(though I found it to be boring and rather anticlimactic)was Ethan Frome. Though to be fair I do live in Israel so maybe I shouldn't have expected to read anything all that great.
DeleteFor me, the worst book I had to read in senior year was Invisible Man, though it taught me loads about symbolism that I've carried over into Fates. Some of the classics I've read, I'm glad I didn't have to read in school, as that would've ruined them for me (for instance, one of my favorite writers LOVES A Separate Peace, which I abhor with a passion, as picking a book apart because you have to for class always kills it). I think mxpw would recommend reading Tristam Shandy; I'm an unapologetic Austenite, myself.
DeleteCool but i didn't read those books this year.I didn't read any books for English class this year because I've finished the course though i have to tell you that I hate having to look for symbolism.I recently read 'The Great Gatsby' and it was alright as far as the dialog goes but having to analyze the book for the symbolism, which everyone told me made it a better read,was dull. I read to travel into someone else's world.Not analyze it. sorry if this comes of as an annoyed rant just trying to express my opinion on literature. and thanks for the recommendation.
DeleteWhat was the FatesBot all about?
ReplyDeleteCharah.
DeleteD'oh!
DeleteYou walked right into that one.
DeleteI wasn't sure if I could place a review on ff.net without an account, but, after reading 65 (which is one of my favourite chapters so far), I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed Fates. I came in at about Chapter 30 and have been an avid reader ever since. I love the writing. So, congratulations, Frea, for 65(+) chapters of awesomeness and thank you - you've actually made Chuck better for me.
ReplyDeleteHey, Hayley!
DeleteI've got unsigned reviews turn on in Fates, so anybody who wants to can review. :) I'm thrilled to hear you're enjoying Fates and ecstatic, of course. Fates kept me around even when I actively loathed the show (some of my reviews in S4 and S5 devolve into what mxpw likes to call "Frea in all caps"), so to hear that I've helped somebody out is amazing! And you've been around for quite awhile if you came on at Chapter 30. Feels like years ago. ;)
Fates is awesome. fantabulous! You're amazing, yadda yadda yadda... (;))
ReplyDeleteWhat I want to know about this trip of yours is, were the men, como se dice... Gorgeous? Sexy? Handsome? Stallions? Did you like?
Get back to me when you can, MBO. With picture preferably...
PS: These pics are purrty. Color me jealous.
Hahaha, there were some very handsome men. Some of the pictures inspired events in 66, so after I post that chapter, I will of course share and let you determine how sexy the men are. ;-)
DeleteHee. 66 has been posted! Show me them handsome men, please. :)
DeleteDid you get tipsy like Agent Walker in Italy, too? If so, you should also share that! Those are always fun. Heh.
Heh, that Rose Walker speech you quoted in chapter 66 always reminded me of Sarah. :)
ReplyDeleteThe first part that you left out fits seasons 1-3 canon Sarah nicely imo, and the part that you used here was perfect for Fates.
Great chapter.
Now that chapter 66 is out, I will post it here too (if Frea agrees, in case feel free to delete it): http://www.apiedema.com/
ReplyDeleteIt's in Italian only, but go to "Foto", then, as Frea said, multiply 1,000x, and there you are... :)
Thanks for sharing these pictures with us, Frea. :)
ReplyDelete