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catscradle Oct. 17th, 2002 12:40 pm)
catscradle Oct. 17th, 2002 12:40 pm)God only knows why I showed up at work today. I'm tired on three hours of sleep and yet again queasy. Got a few more sick days, so I'm thinking they're using some brain beam to compel me to go to work. . .
Well, I'm not doing much, as you may note by my answering a fannish survey I got from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
stakebait:
1) When you have a new idea for a story, do you begin to write it immediately or do you let it sit and mellow a while before you start on it?
Sometimes I write out the main idea and outline, but I rarely ever just begin writing. I let the idea stew for a while - anywhere from a week to several months.
2) Word processed or handwritten?
Word processed. I can't even begin fathoming hand written anymore. Sometime if I'm not around a computer I'll scrible some ideas down so that I remember - but other than that, no. Hand cramps at the thought of using a pen ;)
3) Do you write fic in a fandom because you're wanting to write fic in that fandom? Or do you start with a general theme or idea you want to explore,and then select the characters and fandom that best suits to explore the concept?
Because I want to write a fic in that fandom. No matter how great the theme, if the characters don't call to me to write about them, then I can't write it. If a theme doesn't fit the fandom I want to write in, then I consider that for original fiction.
4) Do you talk about the story as it unfolds, or do you keep it tightly held to your chest until it's finished?
I only normally discuss stories with a few close friends I think might care.
5) Do you write out large chunks of the story and then go back to edit it, or do you write small sections and polish them one by one?
Both. I polish as I go and then after a large section is written, I go back and polish again.
6) Do you have to have a title before you can begin to write? Or do you chose your title afterwards?
Titles get chosen on their own sweet time. Sometimes I know it from the beginning - but mostly they come to me in the middle or at the end of the writing.
7) How much research, if any, are you likely to indulge in before beginning a story?
It depends, some stories don't need any - other times I look up a few facts to make sure I get technical stuff or historical dates and events right. I don't typically write research intensive stories though.
8) What is your writing strength, and what is your weakness? How does knowing your greatest strength and weakness affect how you plan your story/ the direction the story takes?
My strength is more toward writing around ideas rather than plot - mostly gen fics with some slash elements. I don't think I plan my stories around that - I just tend to write them that way.
I had a weakness with blocking and details - but I think I'm much better at that now. So I guess I did intentionally start paying more attention to writing detail - but I don't think I planned anything, I was just aware that it would make a better story.
Plot is also a weakness that I don't think I quite got over. But then, I don't like to read plot intensive stories either, so. . .
9) Do you write to music? If so, how much does the music you are listening to affect the mood of your story?
Sometimes I do - I have a few fics that were completely influenced by music in mood. I don't write songfics, if that's what you mean, though. It's aways completely mood. Occasionally I make a list of songs I think would make a good soundtrack and I'll make a tape to go along with the fic. Then there are the times I prefer complete silence when I write. If I noticed I"m getting side tracked, I'll turn it off.
10) Do you try to incorporate quotes, snippets of song lyrics, poems, etc. at the beginning of your story? If so, why? How do you choose them?
Again - sometimes. It's not something I insist on doing or page through a book of quotes looking for the perfect profound thing. Occasionally a song, poem or quote will stick out in my mind if it reminds me of what I'm writing about. If that's the case, I'll included it at the beginning of the fic.
11) If you are about to write a story about a character or pairing that you have never done before, and are not particularly familiar with other stories written in the same vein, would you avoid stories written about this pairing until your story was complete, or read everything you could find to see how other handled the idea?
I'd ignore the other stories and write based from the canon. Unless it didn't occur to me to write the pairing till I read a fic that used them. But I've never based my view of the pair on someone elses writing. I've even stopped reading a good fic because I didn't want to be influenced while I was in the process of writing a fic that used the same pair.
12) Do you have a muse? Is it an evil muse? Or are you museless?
I have a few muses. I don't think they're evil, but that's just my opinion ;)
13) Who is the first person you are likely to show your story to? Is there someone who's opinion means more to you than anyone else?
damoyre
14) If there is a character that you particularly dislike, do you try to write a story about that character? If so, how does your dislike affect characterization? Do your feelings about the character change after you have written about them?
I don't go out of my way to write them, but I try to be fair to the character if I need them in the story. I hate bastardizations - always ruins a story for me.
15) What are you doing answering this not-survey when you should be writing fic!? Shoo!
Can't write fics at work - they take too much concentration. This however. . . ;)
Well, I'm not doing much, as you may note by my answering a fannish survey I got from
stakebait:1) When you have a new idea for a story, do you begin to write it immediately or do you let it sit and mellow a while before you start on it?
Sometimes I write out the main idea and outline, but I rarely ever just begin writing. I let the idea stew for a while - anywhere from a week to several months.
2) Word processed or handwritten?
Word processed. I can't even begin fathoming hand written anymore. Sometime if I'm not around a computer I'll scrible some ideas down so that I remember - but other than that, no. Hand cramps at the thought of using a pen ;)
3) Do you write fic in a fandom because you're wanting to write fic in that fandom? Or do you start with a general theme or idea you want to explore,and then select the characters and fandom that best suits to explore the concept?
Because I want to write a fic in that fandom. No matter how great the theme, if the characters don't call to me to write about them, then I can't write it. If a theme doesn't fit the fandom I want to write in, then I consider that for original fiction.
4) Do you talk about the story as it unfolds, or do you keep it tightly held to your chest until it's finished?
I only normally discuss stories with a few close friends I think might care.
5) Do you write out large chunks of the story and then go back to edit it, or do you write small sections and polish them one by one?
Both. I polish as I go and then after a large section is written, I go back and polish again.
6) Do you have to have a title before you can begin to write? Or do you chose your title afterwards?
Titles get chosen on their own sweet time. Sometimes I know it from the beginning - but mostly they come to me in the middle or at the end of the writing.
7) How much research, if any, are you likely to indulge in before beginning a story?
It depends, some stories don't need any - other times I look up a few facts to make sure I get technical stuff or historical dates and events right. I don't typically write research intensive stories though.
8) What is your writing strength, and what is your weakness? How does knowing your greatest strength and weakness affect how you plan your story/ the direction the story takes?
My strength is more toward writing around ideas rather than plot - mostly gen fics with some slash elements. I don't think I plan my stories around that - I just tend to write them that way.
I had a weakness with blocking and details - but I think I'm much better at that now. So I guess I did intentionally start paying more attention to writing detail - but I don't think I planned anything, I was just aware that it would make a better story.
Plot is also a weakness that I don't think I quite got over. But then, I don't like to read plot intensive stories either, so. . .
9) Do you write to music? If so, how much does the music you are listening to affect the mood of your story?
Sometimes I do - I have a few fics that were completely influenced by music in mood. I don't write songfics, if that's what you mean, though. It's aways completely mood. Occasionally I make a list of songs I think would make a good soundtrack and I'll make a tape to go along with the fic. Then there are the times I prefer complete silence when I write. If I noticed I"m getting side tracked, I'll turn it off.
10) Do you try to incorporate quotes, snippets of song lyrics, poems, etc. at the beginning of your story? If so, why? How do you choose them?
Again - sometimes. It's not something I insist on doing or page through a book of quotes looking for the perfect profound thing. Occasionally a song, poem or quote will stick out in my mind if it reminds me of what I'm writing about. If that's the case, I'll included it at the beginning of the fic.
11) If you are about to write a story about a character or pairing that you have never done before, and are not particularly familiar with other stories written in the same vein, would you avoid stories written about this pairing until your story was complete, or read everything you could find to see how other handled the idea?
I'd ignore the other stories and write based from the canon. Unless it didn't occur to me to write the pairing till I read a fic that used them. But I've never based my view of the pair on someone elses writing. I've even stopped reading a good fic because I didn't want to be influenced while I was in the process of writing a fic that used the same pair.
12) Do you have a muse? Is it an evil muse? Or are you museless?
I have a few muses. I don't think they're evil, but that's just my opinion ;)
13) Who is the first person you are likely to show your story to? Is there someone who's opinion means more to you than anyone else?
damoyre14) If there is a character that you particularly dislike, do you try to write a story about that character? If so, how does your dislike affect characterization? Do your feelings about the character change after you have written about them?
I don't go out of my way to write them, but I try to be fair to the character if I need them in the story. I hate bastardizations - always ruins a story for me.
15) What are you doing answering this not-survey when you should be writing fic!? Shoo!
Can't write fics at work - they take too much concentration. This however. . . ;)
