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catscradle Aug. 19th, 2002 11:17 am)
catscradle Aug. 19th, 2002 11:17 am)Of fanfic surveys, I think this one has some great questions for writers to ponder. Got it from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
thebratqueen
Do ideas come in little tiny pinpricks and then get expanded, or do they start great big and scopy and then get refined?
Most of my ideas start small and then expand. Many start out as barely ideas at all. I just start writing and a character will take the reigns. Two of my stories started out as huge monsters and got widdled down to smaller size (still big by my standards) - Winding Down the Day and Devil's Minion. All the rest have been pinpricks.
Why do people choose to write in present tense, or first person POV, and/or why did they choose these particular styles for particular stories?
I write third or first person, past tense. I think I wrote one original story in the present tese, first person to give the story a sense of immediacy. I really can't begin to explain why other people use present tense - about 90%of the time it's inappropriate to the story - it's jarring and it detracts. I think maybe people use it to experiment with style.
First person I'll use if the character is a chatty type or if a particular characters has something urgent they need to say and I feel I can get into their heads well enough to accomplish the task. I can nail Daniel (VC), Duo (GW), or Quatre (GW) first person, but Armand (VC), Trowa (GW) or Heero (GW) I can't begin to get inside their heads, so I'll either tell their story third person or through another character. For instance, I told Trowa's story about a cat through Duo in The White Cat. In GW, it's Trowa I write about the most - but there's something about his character that just doesn't allow for a first person story. I don't think he's the type that would just offer up a story from that deep inside. It's hard to crack through the surface, so his stories are better told through the eyes of another or in the third person limited omniscience. Same with Armand - I guess because these are suppose to be enigma characters in the canon - it helps carry that through if we don't get so deep inside their heads. Some thing about them screams "GET OUT" - they don't want you there. I've never read a good first person Trowa fic. Same with Armand - that includes Anne Rice's own The Vampire Armand.
Music that inspires?
Any music can inspire - anything from acid rock to gospel with the exception of country western.
How does one brainstorm what comes next in a story?
There's no method to brainstorming. I think the point of brainstorming is to go beyond method. Step outside and clear the head - take some NyQuil, take a shower, go for a run, doodle during class. Read a book.
What do you do when you hit a road block?
I look to see if I hit it because the idea sucked or because I just need a new perspective on the idea or if I'm just burned out and need to rest. If the idea sucks, I'll put it on the back burner for about a month, go back to it to see if it still doesn't work. If it doesn't, I'll chuck it. If the idea is good, I'll see what can be salvaged of it - filet it - and then chuck the bad stuff and keep the good. If it's just a matter of brainstorming, see above.
How often do you end up deleting a whole bunch of already-written stuff, and how hard is it to let that stuff go?
I always delete at least two pages of any story. I've deletes as much as 10 (mind you, my average story is about 8 pages). Depending on what I'm writing, sometimes it's harder than others. But I'm a firm believer that destruction breeds creativity. I have a giant Nataraja Siva (dancing Shiva) in my bedroom to offer the inspiration. You can't give birth to new stories and ideas if you're stuck in old modes of thought.
Do you often take notes longhand?
Not normally, but I have upon occasion. If an idea comes to me in a place where I don't have my computer handy, a notebook and pen can save a story. I forget things too easily - or the perfect dialogue or narrative will come to me on the bus. So in those cases, I do it long hand. But I prefer my computer.
Do you use challenges by other people to inspire you?
Almost never. Occasionally a contest theme will - but those are very general, I wouldn't consider them challenges.
Do you do anything in particular to get you into the right mindset to write a certain character or characters?
I'm almost always depressed when I write Trowa fics - Daniel, I'm either depressed or in a weird mood - Duo and Quatre, I need to be in a specific type of mood - doesn't have to be any one in particular - but I can't write them off the cuff, there needs to be a reason. Anya or Harley Quinn, I need to be in a good mood - usually humorous.
Which characters are easiest for you to write, and WHY?
Daniel Molloy (VC) - because I can get in his head at any minute and write him flawlessly. I've just been writing him for so long he's the most comfortable for me. Trowa (GW) - I have no idea why. He intrigues me. Quiet, dangerous, dark sense of humor - not too fond of people. He's quite possibly the character that changes the most in the canon. He's my favorite in Gundam Wing. Duo - because he's has the ability to sneak up on you and makes you love him. Quatre - he's adorable, polite, brilliant and fights like a madman - interesting psyche behind this one that I can't help but want to explore.
Which ones are hardest, and again, WHY?
Wufei - He's one big ole contradiction I've not managed to grasp yet. It's also very easy to fall into caricaturing him if you're not careful. People tend to write him either too cranky or grumpy or too serine and at peace with himself. He's neither of those completely. He's somewhere in the middle and the balance is difficult to acheive.
Which characters are most like you emotionally?
I'm a lot like Daniel for VC - in GW I'm a mix of Duo and Quatre.
How often do you feel like what you're writing is fulfilling some emotional need - ie, when you're writing comfort, is it because you often feel that you don't get it IRL?
I've never written a story to fulfill emotional needs. Maybe my need to see a certain character more often, but never out of a need of wish fulfillment or catharsis for myself. I have thought up stories that are what you might call self-indulgent, but I've never posted one or have written one to it's completion.
What about writing smut - do you find it easy, difficult?
Difficult.
What kinds of smut are easiest for you to write, and WHY?
Smut that's emotional and important to the plot. The characters just engaging in sex for the hell of it - I don't like to write or read. I guess I'm a typical woman. I need a reason for it. So I'm not writing any PWPs anytime soon.
Which of your stories is your favorite and WHY?
Devil's Minion (VC) - because in form and characterization it's my best story - really dives into Daniel's head and attempts to explain his actions since he encountered Armand to the events right after Memnoch. I think I did a great job with the details and working the canon in with my own creation. Hope I get a chance to finish this one soon.
Zomby Woof (VC) - I just love this fic for reasons I'm not sure why. I know I've written better fics - this one just grabs at me. It's probably my weirdest.
Misted Moon (GW) - It's my first GW fic and possibly my best Trowa fic. Nailed the characterization of both Trowa and Treize. The story itself is sad and angstful - I think it's my first angsty fic as well.
Winding Down the Day (GW) - I wanted to watch the g-boys evolve after the last war - I wanted to see how they coped with peace. I just like the world I created for them. It's also my first Quatre fic - I fell for the boy there - his polite, innocent yet in a worldly way.
The White Cat - This was a successful experiement - used Duo to tell Trowa's story. It's a cute story, a bit melancholy, a little weird - it just works. It won me the award of Best One-Shot in the Nanashi Fanfic Contest - and I'm very proud of that =)
Least favorite?
Of the fics I can look back on with scorn, these fit the bill:
Dark Ages - There are parts of this fic that I like, and other parts that seem to have been written with crow bars and anvils. I love part III, And if the Devil Doesn't Like It and parts of part IV, And the Spirit Moved Over the Waters. Overall the story is a poor attempt to bash Memnoch the Devil. I guess this would be a story of catharsis - so I lied above when I said I never wrote a story for my own emotional benefit. But this is the only one, I swear - and it was over six years ago. . .
Natural Instinct - this fic has no point. Seems to be more of a writing exercise and the writing is awkward in parts.
All Along the Watchtower Failed attempt at a first person Trowa story. Could have been a lot better if I used third person.
Moonlight and Spider Webs - Parts of the story are okay, but it's easy to tell I wrote this is an hour to submit for the fluff contest. My own personal though on the matter - GW fics and fluff do not go hand and hand - need to work at believable fluff for them.
thebratqueenDo ideas come in little tiny pinpricks and then get expanded, or do they start great big and scopy and then get refined?
Most of my ideas start small and then expand. Many start out as barely ideas at all. I just start writing and a character will take the reigns. Two of my stories started out as huge monsters and got widdled down to smaller size (still big by my standards) - Winding Down the Day and Devil's Minion. All the rest have been pinpricks.
Why do people choose to write in present tense, or first person POV, and/or why did they choose these particular styles for particular stories?
I write third or first person, past tense. I think I wrote one original story in the present tese, first person to give the story a sense of immediacy. I really can't begin to explain why other people use present tense - about 90%of the time it's inappropriate to the story - it's jarring and it detracts. I think maybe people use it to experiment with style.
First person I'll use if the character is a chatty type or if a particular characters has something urgent they need to say and I feel I can get into their heads well enough to accomplish the task. I can nail Daniel (VC), Duo (GW), or Quatre (GW) first person, but Armand (VC), Trowa (GW) or Heero (GW) I can't begin to get inside their heads, so I'll either tell their story third person or through another character. For instance, I told Trowa's story about a cat through Duo in The White Cat. In GW, it's Trowa I write about the most - but there's something about his character that just doesn't allow for a first person story. I don't think he's the type that would just offer up a story from that deep inside. It's hard to crack through the surface, so his stories are better told through the eyes of another or in the third person limited omniscience. Same with Armand - I guess because these are suppose to be enigma characters in the canon - it helps carry that through if we don't get so deep inside their heads. Some thing about them screams "GET OUT" - they don't want you there. I've never read a good first person Trowa fic. Same with Armand - that includes Anne Rice's own The Vampire Armand.
Music that inspires?
Any music can inspire - anything from acid rock to gospel with the exception of country western.
How does one brainstorm what comes next in a story?
There's no method to brainstorming. I think the point of brainstorming is to go beyond method. Step outside and clear the head - take some NyQuil, take a shower, go for a run, doodle during class. Read a book.
What do you do when you hit a road block?
I look to see if I hit it because the idea sucked or because I just need a new perspective on the idea or if I'm just burned out and need to rest. If the idea sucks, I'll put it on the back burner for about a month, go back to it to see if it still doesn't work. If it doesn't, I'll chuck it. If the idea is good, I'll see what can be salvaged of it - filet it - and then chuck the bad stuff and keep the good. If it's just a matter of brainstorming, see above.
How often do you end up deleting a whole bunch of already-written stuff, and how hard is it to let that stuff go?
I always delete at least two pages of any story. I've deletes as much as 10 (mind you, my average story is about 8 pages). Depending on what I'm writing, sometimes it's harder than others. But I'm a firm believer that destruction breeds creativity. I have a giant Nataraja Siva (dancing Shiva) in my bedroom to offer the inspiration. You can't give birth to new stories and ideas if you're stuck in old modes of thought.
Do you often take notes longhand?
Not normally, but I have upon occasion. If an idea comes to me in a place where I don't have my computer handy, a notebook and pen can save a story. I forget things too easily - or the perfect dialogue or narrative will come to me on the bus. So in those cases, I do it long hand. But I prefer my computer.
Do you use challenges by other people to inspire you?
Almost never. Occasionally a contest theme will - but those are very general, I wouldn't consider them challenges.
Do you do anything in particular to get you into the right mindset to write a certain character or characters?
I'm almost always depressed when I write Trowa fics - Daniel, I'm either depressed or in a weird mood - Duo and Quatre, I need to be in a specific type of mood - doesn't have to be any one in particular - but I can't write them off the cuff, there needs to be a reason. Anya or Harley Quinn, I need to be in a good mood - usually humorous.
Which characters are easiest for you to write, and WHY?
Daniel Molloy (VC) - because I can get in his head at any minute and write him flawlessly. I've just been writing him for so long he's the most comfortable for me. Trowa (GW) - I have no idea why. He intrigues me. Quiet, dangerous, dark sense of humor - not too fond of people. He's quite possibly the character that changes the most in the canon. He's my favorite in Gundam Wing. Duo - because he's has the ability to sneak up on you and makes you love him. Quatre - he's adorable, polite, brilliant and fights like a madman - interesting psyche behind this one that I can't help but want to explore.
Which ones are hardest, and again, WHY?
Wufei - He's one big ole contradiction I've not managed to grasp yet. It's also very easy to fall into caricaturing him if you're not careful. People tend to write him either too cranky or grumpy or too serine and at peace with himself. He's neither of those completely. He's somewhere in the middle and the balance is difficult to acheive.
Which characters are most like you emotionally?
I'm a lot like Daniel for VC - in GW I'm a mix of Duo and Quatre.
How often do you feel like what you're writing is fulfilling some emotional need - ie, when you're writing comfort, is it because you often feel that you don't get it IRL?
I've never written a story to fulfill emotional needs. Maybe my need to see a certain character more often, but never out of a need of wish fulfillment or catharsis for myself. I have thought up stories that are what you might call self-indulgent, but I've never posted one or have written one to it's completion.
What about writing smut - do you find it easy, difficult?
Difficult.
What kinds of smut are easiest for you to write, and WHY?
Smut that's emotional and important to the plot. The characters just engaging in sex for the hell of it - I don't like to write or read. I guess I'm a typical woman. I need a reason for it. So I'm not writing any PWPs anytime soon.
Which of your stories is your favorite and WHY?
Devil's Minion (VC) - because in form and characterization it's my best story - really dives into Daniel's head and attempts to explain his actions since he encountered Armand to the events right after Memnoch. I think I did a great job with the details and working the canon in with my own creation. Hope I get a chance to finish this one soon.
Zomby Woof (VC) - I just love this fic for reasons I'm not sure why. I know I've written better fics - this one just grabs at me. It's probably my weirdest.
Misted Moon (GW) - It's my first GW fic and possibly my best Trowa fic. Nailed the characterization of both Trowa and Treize. The story itself is sad and angstful - I think it's my first angsty fic as well.
Winding Down the Day (GW) - I wanted to watch the g-boys evolve after the last war - I wanted to see how they coped with peace. I just like the world I created for them. It's also my first Quatre fic - I fell for the boy there - his polite, innocent yet in a worldly way.
The White Cat - This was a successful experiement - used Duo to tell Trowa's story. It's a cute story, a bit melancholy, a little weird - it just works. It won me the award of Best One-Shot in the Nanashi Fanfic Contest - and I'm very proud of that =)
Least favorite?
Of the fics I can look back on with scorn, these fit the bill:
Dark Ages - There are parts of this fic that I like, and other parts that seem to have been written with crow bars and anvils. I love part III, And if the Devil Doesn't Like It and parts of part IV, And the Spirit Moved Over the Waters. Overall the story is a poor attempt to bash Memnoch the Devil. I guess this would be a story of catharsis - so I lied above when I said I never wrote a story for my own emotional benefit. But this is the only one, I swear - and it was over six years ago. . .
Natural Instinct - this fic has no point. Seems to be more of a writing exercise and the writing is awkward in parts.
All Along the Watchtower Failed attempt at a first person Trowa story. Could have been a lot better if I used third person.
Moonlight and Spider Webs - Parts of the story are okay, but it's easy to tell I wrote this is an hour to submit for the fluff contest. My own personal though on the matter - GW fics and fluff do not go hand and hand - need to work at believable fluff for them.
