Writing meme
Apr. 9th, 2006 08:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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fandom_me
What draws me into a fandom?
Usually, there's something about the fandom that reflects an interest I already have. In the case of Once Upon a Time in Mexico, I grew up watching spaghetti westerns with my dad, and OUaTiM caught those memories and updated the genre in one big, happy gunfight. Plus, the ending begged for more resolution--what happened then?! Or, the movie itself may not be that great *cough*Equilibrium*cough*, but my compulsive-writer side wants to fill in some of the yawning plotholes. Or...most of my fandoms have been movie related, and it's probably not difficult for someone scanning my story list to figure out that I follow certain actors. I got into Equilibrium solely because somebody pointed out the presence of someone I find tasty. Which led to other tasty things, but you get the idea....
What draws me to a character?
The chance to develop them more than they were to begin with. I love trying to figure out what events created a particular character's quirks. What's his/her background? (I'll happily write backstory until mooing is heard in the near-distance.) What was his/her childhood like? Traumas? Mentors? Favorite hobbies? How did they get to where they were at the beginning of the story, and what happened afterward? (I once wrote a ghost story that way--the character was only onscreen for a few minutes before dying, but I gave him a purpose in his afterlife...)
As for a specific type of character...I tend to favor The Hermit in tarot, and my characters are often loners. Sometimes they'll work with others to get the job done, but for the most part, they're independant and decisive. The main characters are, anyway: I also adore sidekicks and supporting cast and the occasional innocent bystander.
What draws me to a fic?
A different approach or point of view. Something that hasn't been done to death, particularly in the mega-popular fandoms. In Pirates of the Caribbean, any mention of a tavern wench/poor orphan/female pirate captain with a treasure map/amulet/mysterious past/amnesia will make me tack in the other direction. (Likewise the words bold, spirited, fiery or proud in describing the OFC.) Yawn.
I'd rather see a look at supporting characters, or the main character as perceived by someone else, or a fresh look at what thoughts or motives may have inspired someone. Show me something that fits canon, then goes somewhere unexpected--the canon universe with OCs is great if I believe your OCs. But whatever it is, if the summary says "I suck at summaries"--I *ain't* gonna read it. Period.
I don't read a lot of other people's fic, because so much of it is so ineptly written. Sometimes their technical ability is lacking, but they'll have a really good idea. When I find something like that, I try to be supportive--especially when the writer seems tentative. I think technique can be acquired, but the imagination to bring forth something original is a wonderful thing and should be encouraged. In particular, if they've had an idea I wish I'd thought of.
What draws me to a pairing?
Are we talking about romantic pairings, or crossovers? I can go either way.
For the most part, I don't write canon femmes in any of the canons I've been active in; I tend to prefer to create my own. They may contain elements of my personality, but none of them has been ME. (Possibly an idealization of the Me I would like to be....) Looking over my fic list, they're mostly canon that either didn't have a central female to begin with OR she didn't survive the story, leaving me free to take liberties. In the case of my most prolific fandom, OUaTiM, I have several different offshoots going--an AU slashverse, a canon slashverse, a garden-variety sequelverse that happens to be het....
I admit, since my love life is nothing to celebrate, I tend to live vicariously through my characters. There's plenty of Love At First Sight. I'm trying to work past that, and introduce more Snark At First Sight. *shrug* Still working on it.
Crossovers, on the other hand--! I get a charge out of having worlds collide: Once Upon a Time in Mexico and The Silence of the Lambs, Blade Runner and Pitch Black, Goldeneye (James Bond) and Assassins.... At the moment, I'm contemplating a slash crossover of two sidekicks who are going to make *such* a cute couple *and* I'm throwing in characters from a couple fandoms othan than the ones they appear in. (All I have to do is write it down....)
fandom_meWhat draws me into a fandom?
Usually, there's something about the fandom that reflects an interest I already have. In the case of Once Upon a Time in Mexico, I grew up watching spaghetti westerns with my dad, and OUaTiM caught those memories and updated the genre in one big, happy gunfight. Plus, the ending begged for more resolution--what happened then?! Or, the movie itself may not be that great *cough*Equilibrium*cough*, but my compulsive-writer side wants to fill in some of the yawning plotholes. Or...most of my fandoms have been movie related, and it's probably not difficult for someone scanning my story list to figure out that I follow certain actors. I got into Equilibrium solely because somebody pointed out the presence of someone I find tasty. Which led to other tasty things, but you get the idea....
What draws me to a character?
The chance to develop them more than they were to begin with. I love trying to figure out what events created a particular character's quirks. What's his/her background? (I'll happily write backstory until mooing is heard in the near-distance.) What was his/her childhood like? Traumas? Mentors? Favorite hobbies? How did they get to where they were at the beginning of the story, and what happened afterward? (I once wrote a ghost story that way--the character was only onscreen for a few minutes before dying, but I gave him a purpose in his afterlife...)
As for a specific type of character...I tend to favor The Hermit in tarot, and my characters are often loners. Sometimes they'll work with others to get the job done, but for the most part, they're independant and decisive. The main characters are, anyway: I also adore sidekicks and supporting cast and the occasional innocent bystander.
What draws me to a fic?
A different approach or point of view. Something that hasn't been done to death, particularly in the mega-popular fandoms. In Pirates of the Caribbean, any mention of a tavern wench/poor orphan/female pirate captain with a treasure map/amulet/mysterious past/amnesia will make me tack in the other direction. (Likewise the words bold, spirited, fiery or proud in describing the OFC.) Yawn.
I'd rather see a look at supporting characters, or the main character as perceived by someone else, or a fresh look at what thoughts or motives may have inspired someone. Show me something that fits canon, then goes somewhere unexpected--the canon universe with OCs is great if I believe your OCs. But whatever it is, if the summary says "I suck at summaries"--I *ain't* gonna read it. Period.
I don't read a lot of other people's fic, because so much of it is so ineptly written. Sometimes their technical ability is lacking, but they'll have a really good idea. When I find something like that, I try to be supportive--especially when the writer seems tentative. I think technique can be acquired, but the imagination to bring forth something original is a wonderful thing and should be encouraged. In particular, if they've had an idea I wish I'd thought of.
What draws me to a pairing?
Are we talking about romantic pairings, or crossovers? I can go either way.
For the most part, I don't write canon femmes in any of the canons I've been active in; I tend to prefer to create my own. They may contain elements of my personality, but none of them has been ME. (Possibly an idealization of the Me I would like to be....) Looking over my fic list, they're mostly canon that either didn't have a central female to begin with OR she didn't survive the story, leaving me free to take liberties. In the case of my most prolific fandom, OUaTiM, I have several different offshoots going--an AU slashverse, a canon slashverse, a garden-variety sequelverse that happens to be het....
I admit, since my love life is nothing to celebrate, I tend to live vicariously through my characters. There's plenty of Love At First Sight. I'm trying to work past that, and introduce more Snark At First Sight. *shrug* Still working on it.
Crossovers, on the other hand--! I get a charge out of having worlds collide: Once Upon a Time in Mexico and The Silence of the Lambs, Blade Runner and Pitch Black, Goldeneye (James Bond) and Assassins.... At the moment, I'm contemplating a slash crossover of two sidekicks who are going to make *such* a cute couple *and* I'm throwing in characters from a couple fandoms othan than the ones they appear in. (All I have to do is write it down....)
