catscradle

Okay, I got this from babaca who got this from DaMoyre. And I'm answering it because I think it's got some great questions here in terms of fanfic and some of the problems writers get into quite a bit - plus it also tells a bit of personal history about me and fandom stuff =)

History

1. First fanfic you've ever read?

I honestly don't remember what the fic was, but it was in the DS9 fandom on the alt.startrek.creative bulletin board.

2. When?

Back in 1994.

3. Last fic you've read before doing this survey?

Cassiopiea's Sembazuru and Avarice's Godliness is Next to Cleanliness

4. When?

Two nights ago.

5. First fanfic you've ever written?

My first fic - real fic (one I actually put out to the masses to read) - was called In Death's Dream Kingdom. It was an Armand centered fic in the VampChron fandom attempting to detail his life in diary fashion. It sucked. Bad. I think the only reason people liked it was because it was the first Armand fic and the fourth fic period in the VampChron fandom. It no longer exists. And shut up all you people that still have it on disc somewhere - I know who you are and where you live. . .

6. When?

1995.

7. Last fic you've finished?

My last fic was Half-Time , written with DaMoyre

8. When?

April 2002

9. How many fandoms have you been involved in?

Three.

II. Here and now

10. How many different stories are you currently writing?

I am currently writing five different stories.

11. In how many different fandoms?

Two.

12. Will you finish them all?

Hopefully. It's school that's keeping me from them right now - and lack of internet access during the night (waiting for my phone to get turned on in my new apartment).

13. Do you jump from fic to fic, or pick one and stick to it till it's written?

Normally I stick to one and write till I'm done, then move on. But, due to the fact I'm not really able to write now, I'm scribbling down the ideas as they come to me - hence the reason that since December, I've been working on six different fics (only finished one).

14. How many fandoms do you consider yourself interested it at the moment?

I'm interested in three at the moment, but only participate actively in two.

15. How many of them would you say you're actually obsessed about?

One.

III. Favorites and preferences

16. Favorite fandom?

I don't have one. I like writing the most in the GW fandom currently because the characters really speak to me. But all the fandoms I've been in tire me out. Too much pettiness and in fighting - which seems to happen with any group that gets too close, it seems. I've had the most fun with the VampChron fandom - my lasting friendships are all there and I had a chance to meet most of the people down in New Orleans with they'd visit for the annual gathering for Halloween.

17. Least favorite fandom you've ever been involved in?

Don't have a least.

18. Number of authors who've made you cry with their stories?

Fics/books/written stuff in general don't make me cry - movies can - I'm a visual person I guess.

19. Most memorable line/paragraph you've ever read in a fic?

From DaMoyre's Spring

If I ever get a whiff of freshly baked bread, I'll think of Sister Helen and Father Maxwell. Funny, because they never baked bread. We were lucky if we could get a molded loaf every once in a while. Still, I always think of them when I smell bread.

And then, on spring days like this, I always think of Quatre.

20. Favorite line/paragraph you've ever written?

From Winding Down the Day

I leaned over the bed and kissed him softly. I'm not sure why, I simply felt a need and desire to do so. He looked so peaceful and content, and I found myself in love with him then. I kissed him again, more insistent, more urgent, more filled with passion than could be explained away by the first innocent and chaste kiss. He never protested, only parted his lips, allowing me in. When we broke apart naturally after the moment had passed, he leaned back against his pillow, looking up at me with half-closed eyes. "If anything more happened, you'd hate yourself later," he said. And I knew it was true. I would feel guilt over betraying my wife and Heero, both of whom I loved dearly. Though I could not deny that I loved Trowa, and always had. I think I knew from the moment he walked out of his Gundam and surrendered to me all those years ago. But we can't have everything and we make choices, and I have been happy and satisfied with my life, just as I know Trowa was happy and satisfied with his. I do not regret that kiss, however, nor would I take it back if I had the chance. There was something sacred in it, something I dare not go beyond, but beheld with wonder and a little bit of fear.

"Would you, Trowa? Would you hate yourself too?" I asked.

But he only smiled and took my hand in his. A few minutes later he was sleeping.

21. Are you a OTP person or do you just 'mix and match'?

I really dislike the use of fanon pairing for the sake of tradition. I can't even read 1x2 fics in the GW fandom anymore because of how obnoxious the fanon contention is with them. Not to mention that 95% of all 1x2 or 3x4 fics are nothing more than cardboard cut outs and/or caricatures very loosely based off of their canon counterparts. I can only read very select people when it comes to those pairings.

And personally, I don't see much canonical evidence for 1x2. I think there's more evidence for 1x3, 1x4 and 3x4 than there are for any of the others. Which isn't to say that I don't think people should write 1x2, it's just when they get all fanatical over it to the point where they say all other pairing are OOC that they need to go far, far away.

On mix and matching - no there too. There needs to be chemistry of some sort - something to go on. Not just pulling a name out of a hat and pairing them with whoever.

21. Do the stories you read/write and your involvement in fandom change the perception of the show (FPFic) / the people (PRFic) in question?

No. In VampChron and DS9 I read/watched the canon way before I began reading the fanfic - so my opinions were based solely on the canon. Now I can saw that after writing/reading, I've had some new insights into some of the characters - things I didn't think about before - but that comes with any good discussion in a high school literature class too. Nothing has been radically altered - just little insights. I've never jumped on a fanon bandwagon. If it's not in the canon source, I didin't include it.

In GW I read a few fics before I saw the entire series. The fanon runs WAY rampant in the GW fanon. Most stories just assume variations of 1x2 or 3x4. Then you watch the series and lo and behold, there is *nothing* to slightly suggest 1x2. A little on 3x4, but they're amazingly behind in terms of volume of whats written on them. Then it's full a a whole bunch of fanon details like the concept of the "safe house" as a plot device to get all the pilots together. Are they fighting a war or having a slumber party? It took me reading a good 25 fics before I knew 25% of the actual plot of the show. If it weren't boring to read it'd be cute. It's amazing to see how people can take great complex plot and turn it into super melodramatic soap operas.

So no, the fics I read before see the entire show didn't really have an effect. I don't believe in writing the fanfic till I've had a chance to read all of the canon - as I don't trust anyone elses interpretation of the show. Especially considering that more than half of the GW fandom has never seen all of the show/movies/mangas.

22. If yes, how so?

If it changes my view at all, it's in the negative - a kneejerk reaction against writers that base their fics off other fics. You can seriously tell from about the first paragraph the writers that do that. I guess it causes me to be extra careful on characterization when I write. Because I know what I *don't* want to write like, I keep asking myself questions on the characters while I write. Would they do such and such? If this plot remotely plausible, or am I just being self-indulgent? So, yeah, I guess fanon has influenced me a bit ;)

Yet another survey. . .

Darling...

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