Completed Fics | Random | Help | Search | Log In | |
    |
Is there anything you'd like to share about yourself? (Family, hobbies, pets, etc)
I'm an only child, and I've never lived in any part of the country with family besides my parents. I currently live in California and am enrolled in college, so yes, I am in fact, quite young. (Going on 19 to be precise) I do have a pet, an adorable white cat, whom I love very much. She is named not only for the color of her fur but also because I was born in North Dakota, so you see, "Snowy" fits perfectly.
Some of my hobbies include art; drawing and painting, reading; which is not so much a "hobby" as it is an obsession, writing; which is something that I can't seem to ever stop doing, and singing; which I've enjoyed doing since I was a little girl.
I suppose another "hobby" of mine would be cooking and baking, both of which I enjoy and am very good at. I love to bake.
How long have you been writing, and what made you decide to start writing fan fiction?
I've been writing ever since I began reading so that's quite a chunk of my life. I suppose I started when I was 5 or 6 and went from there. I've always been encouraged to explore my talents and over the years I'm happy to say that I've vastly improved.
How did you discover fan fiction?
Sadly, it took quite a while for me to discover fan fiction... I always enjoyed reading, or watching movies rather than TV shows, but I began getting very into Gilmore Girls when the show first began and so I went on-line to look for spoilers and things. Lo' and behold, I discovered fanfic! Shortly afterwards I discovered fanfiction.net and realized that there were hundreds of fandoms to explore.
Do you have any writing experience outside of fan fiction?
I don't have any writing experience outside of fan fiction as of yet... But it's a goal of mine to put some original work out there, and I'm currently working with a friend (whom I met through fan fiction actually) so that we can both get our original works written.
What is the writing process like for you? Do you find any part of writing difficult? (Coming up with ideas, narrative, dialog, etc.)
One of the worst things about me as a writer is my lack of discipline. I come up with ideas for new works ALL of the time and flit back and forth and all around, which has ended with me never once truly completely a fanfic. In that respect, I am a truly excellent one-shot/short-story writer... Though I am doing my best to correct that particular vice. Regardless of my flaws, writing is something very much essential to me, if only for my love of the written world. I read to explore worlds beyond my own, and while I generally stick to works of fiction and fantasy, one of my greatest dreams is to share some of my own "worlds" with others. Where do you get your ideas or inspiration? Do other people ever suggest the ideas for your stories?
To be honest, while some suggestions have definitely sparked my interest and gotten me on the road to beginning a story, it's truly rare that my writing comes from anyone other than me. Once I get an idea is seems to twist and twine until I'm writing from another place entirely... I'm very good with prompts, and coming up with ideas for stories... I truly enjoy bouncing ideas back and forth and planning a plot, whether it's mine or someone else's.
I draw inspiration from just about everything, but I think the bulk of it comes from my own imagination which has been nurtured by everything from movies to fanfics (and most definitely books). I think that being an only child has actually helped me in that respect, since I am almost always daydreaming or finding ways to occupy myself.
What draws you to a particular fandom, character or couple? Is there anything in particular, or any common threads, that explain your interest?
I have to admit that while I've contributed quite a few short stories to Harry Potter, and I began writing fanfics in the Gilmore Girls fandom, most of my heart lies in the Labyrinth camp. It's not only because of the fantasy/mythological bent to the Labyrinth, but the varying freedom of moving within the fandom. One of the main characters is never truly explained, and the other is a girl on the journey to growing up. Those aspects really caught me when I began reading, not to mention the wonderful authors that were involved in the fandom. I've met many interesting and wonderful people through fan fiction, but Labyrinth was my branching point. The irony being that I "discovered" it through an entirely different fandom, and through a fanfic author that has, in the years since, become an incredibly close friend.
Do you have any favorite authors (original and/or fan fiction)? I have many favorite authors in both fan faction and original authors and the list is constantly growing. I especially love YA (young adult) books, like The Farthest Away Mountain by Lynne Reid Banks, Ella Enchanted by Gail Carson Levine, The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts, and Bruce Coville's Into the Land of the Unicorns, all of which I read in elementary school. I was in middle school when I discovered L.J. Smith (Lisa Jane Smith) author of at least five YA series, and I still adore her books.
I was reading authors like Laurell K. Hamilton and Garth Nix's "Sabriel" series in middle school and began reading the Harry Potter books when it had just gotten popular in Europe and had yet to begin the HP CRAZE here in the states. It greatly amused me to see people that had given me strange looks at my reading material go out and buy them after about a year.
Nowadays I am still reading Ms. Hamilton's work, especially enjoying her "Merry Gentry" series though I do have a couple complaints (as do most) about her more recent books in general. I also read Charlaine Harris' "Sookie Stackhouse" books, as well as Mercedes Lackey and Robin McKinley. I also greatly enjoy Nora Roberts' books, though I am cringing slightly while typing that. ;)
Phew, that's quite a bit there and there are some names I didn't even mention!
As for fanfic authors there are quite a few that I greatly admire so I'll only mention the ones that truly influenced me in the very beginning.
Baloo, for her LJ Smith and Labyrinth fics, Scattered Logic, for Labyrinth, Xmen and then HP, K.L. Morgan, for Labyrinth (naturally!), Saxonny, for Labyrinth and Xmen... Kei (Kei Tree), for Labyrinth, the Trifectaly gals, for Gilmore Girls... I could go on and on forever, though I WILL mention that everyone that I've gotten to meet and connect with through Live journal is definitely included on the list of those that I greatly admire and respect.
Are there any particular themes that you find recurring (intentionally or unintentionally) in your stories?
I know that one of the things that I'm really drawn to, (so it ends up being a recurring thing) is having the male romantic lead have a lot of layers. I like when there's more behind the character than the way they portray themselves. I also tend towards "shipping," with a certain pair of characters being the main focus. (Which doesn't mean that I don't love reading about well constructed OCs (original characters) when I'm pointed toward one.)
Are there any special things you do for inspiration? (Read certain books or fics, listen to certain music?)
Surprisingly, no. I can write just about anywhere, though I will readily admit that I usually end up writing most of my fics when I'm alone, or late at night.
Sometimes I find that listening to music can really help the mood, or influence a project, but generally I just listen to the voices in my head. ;)
Do you have any advice for people thinking about writing their first fan fiction?
I can't honestly think of any concrete advice... I enjoy fan fiction for the perks of feedback, the imagination behind taking something everyone knows and making it your own, and just the practice of writing something for others to read and enjoy. Plus I've met many truly fabulous people because of it. The only advice I feel absolutely comfortable in giving is to take time with your work, and make it your own. If you came into the fan fiction world to practice your craft and get feedback, you'll get it, even if it takes a couple of tries first. Just enjoy yourself.
I suppose I have another bit of advice... If you have a particular fanfic writer that you really look up to, or you really love their work, then don't hesitate to email them, or write a review. As long as you don't act completely fan-crazed, (a big "no-no") you have the very real possibility of making friends. I did and it really paid off.
Do you find any particular genre (angst, romance, humor, etc.) more difficult to write? Do you prefer to write any particular genre?
I enjoy all the different genres from parodies to angst, with no real preference between any of them... It just depends on my mood, and the characters that I'm working with. I always include romance, (what story is without a little romance?) but the irony is that TRUE romance is harder for me to write than anything. My utter lack of experience in love makes things both easy and difficult. Easier for me to spin a very romantic-gushy tale, and incredibly difficult to portray any realism. Since I don't particularly care for the sickeningly sweet romance, (or love scene for that matter!) it takes a lot of cringing, wringing of the hands, and anxiety for me to write overtly sexual scenes.
Almost every writer at some point or another suffers from writer's block. Have you ever had that problem and if so, how do you get past it?
Yes, and sometimes I've worked through it, other times I decided to start work on a new piece telling myself that I'd just "get back to it," and sometimes I actually did... But most of the time I ended up stopping. One of my biggest problems is actually something quite positive. I began writing fan fiction at 15 or 16, and I began to learn and refine my technique immediately; as my writing changed, (sometimes only subtly) I found it very difficult to go back and capture the same feeling in my earlier unfinished works and have ended up leaving most of them alone.
Something that did help me when I was in a non-writing funk was to do one-shots, short stories, or respond to challenges. It helped me write, and feel better about completing something even if I was still blocked on my other work.
What do you find most and least enjoyable about writing fan fiction?
I can honestly say that one of the best rewards of writing fan fiction are the reviews, especially the ones from reviewers that enjoyed your story, though I'm a firm believer that constructive criticism is worth it's weight in gold. Knowing that people are enjoying your work... Maybe even waiting for you to continue is a wonderful feeling.
The least enjoyable thing for me, hmm. I would have to say that I become more and more discouraged with fan fiction when the people amongst their fandoms squabble over silly things or leave authors flames (unkind reviews). Sadly we know that we must take the sweet with the sour, but it's still a let-down when you find fellow writers up in arms over things that don't really matter in the grand scheme of things.
Another thing that I really dislike lies in my own inability to return to some of my previous work. I literally just can't seem to get back into character, or their plots seem so silly to me now. I hate knowing that they will just sit there unfinished. But I also know, with little doubt, that they WILL continue to sit.
Do you find love scenes more difficult to write than other types of scenes?
God, yes!! They are the absolute hardest for me! Though, uh... I did already mention why. ;) I've written one lemon. ONE. And it was incredibly difficult for me, but now that I've gotten past my first, I may do some more... It's quite a challenge for me. But I think a well-written love scene would also be an incredible accomplishment. It's not just about sex in the writing world, love scenes can have a lot of power, and in more ways than one. It's definitely something that I hope to work on, and IMPROVE on, lol.
What do you do with snippets of story or scenes that you write, but that don't make it into the fan fiction? Do you save them? Delete them?
I have written several snippets of fan fiction, most of which are on paper, and saved in a notebook. I often get ideas, or get bored and begin to write random scenes, and when I was in high school I was a very typical student: I was bored OFTEN. I've racked up a lot of snippets and I enjoy looking over them, adding to them, or just enjoying them for what they are, and the time that I wrote them.
Was there ever an instance where you had solid ideas for a story but the characters refused to cooperate? If so, what did you do?
Yes I have definitely experienced this. I've found that I can be very adaptable. I'm constantly thinking, and steering my story towards it's destination while I'm writing, but sometimes the characters or the plot will take over. I've found that it's much better to just let them, and then revise my plans or let the story take me where it will... After all, I can always revert back to my original idea. And when a story takes YOU for a ride, it's usually something special. My favorite fanfics that I've written have always been the ones where the characters and the story seem to take on a mind of their own.
Have you ever been flamed or received negative feedback regarding your stories? How do you handle it?
I'm fortunate enough to have never been flamed, or received negative feedback, but I do have very firm ideas regarding one of the most unsavory parts of putting your work out for others. I've also noticed that most flames are themselves some of the most crappy examples of writing I've ever seen. "Yo! Your story sucks @$$!" "She shouldn't be with that %@^!%$! She belongs with _____!!! _____ and _____ 4 ever!" Should you take these types of reviews seriously? HECK no.
I say that you should take the time and energy to mock the idiots that leave behind snivel like that. Then shoot off an email to a bud and mock the review TOGETHER.
The way I see it is that you can either let the reviewer get to you, or you can ignore it and move on, because for every crappy reviewer, there are at least two that will tell you that they enjoy what you're writing.
And if while in the process of ignoring the rudely issued feedback you should mock the person that left it for you? More power to ya! ;)
(One thing that I'd like to bring up however, is that while constructive criticism, points out errors or flaws in a polite, or at the very least direct way, it can help you grow as a writer. Don't mistake a kindly phrased negative remark as an insult... Mull it over. It's usually pretty easy to see when someone's trying to be helpful and when someone's just trying to be an ass.)
Is writing sexual tension different from writing smut?
Definitely. As uncomfortable as I am with smut, sexual tension is another animal completely. It's something as simple as a brush of fingertips over skin... Or a slide of lips over a cheek, or something as blatantly sexual as a caress across a woman's breast. Sexual tension can also be angry or sad or uncomfortable... The very fact that it can be expressed in so many different ways makes things as a writer so much more interesting. Does a story draw you in when the two main characters engage in a dry conversation and then begin to suck face at the end? Or is it more interesting when one character is sullen and antagonistic while the other does their best to provoke the first? They can both culminate into kisses or sex, but which would you find more fun?
How has your writing evolved since you first began? Has it become easier with experience or more challenging?
Since I began writing young I can state rather adamantly that my work has definitely changed for the better. There's more behind my words now; my writing has matured with me. I've also worked very hard to make my writing better and so far I'm pleased with my progress.
In certain ways things have become easier, I've always been a reader so just by continuing to read I've picked up more language, more pop-culture references, Just MORE. I have more to work with now than I did when I began.
It is definitely more challenging. Everything has grown more intricate as I've gotten older; from plots to dialog, to the characters themselves.
My instincts as a writer have also sharpened. Now, I know how much to reveal about a character and how much to leave for the reader to pick up on their own... Sometimes it's not just telling a tale, but allowing readers to make their own conclusions about what's going on; not everything needs an explanation, sometimes it's infinitely better without one.