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Sara Crewe was totally a fanfic writer
I have other things to post, like the continuation of my 30 Days of TV Meme, among other things.
But this is it for now:
REASONS I WRITE FANFIC
Bold any reasons that apply to you, strike out any that don't (if you feel like it), and add three reasons of your own to the bottom.
1. To explore themes that I don't get to see in mass media using characters I love.
2. Because it's fun.
3. Because mass media does a crappy job of representing myrace and sexual orientation gender.
4. Because I can get more people aboard my ship writing a story than a manifesto.
5. Because TV science-fiction doesn't explore its science-fiction premises in enough depth.
6. Because it's a gift I can give a stranger and know they will enjoy it.
7. Because I resonate emotionally with the characters what I read and watch, and want to find out why by writing about it.
8. Because every tale is a universe, often with fascinating nooks and crannies that the original author never explored.
9. Because I've made some of my best and dearest friends through this very wacky hobby.
10. Because the world the creator made is vast, and I want to see more of it.
11. Because writing as a communal experience is amazing.
12. Because I can.
13. Because I get so much enjoyment from reading fan fiction that I want to contribute to the community by providing enjoyment for other fans.
14. When I become interested in particular actors and/or characters, sometimes I want to explore them in different contexts than their canons would ever allow.
15. I enjoy writing but I feel ambivalent about trying to get published; writing fan fiction frees me by removing the pressure to sell from consideration.
16. Because of 'tribbers copies (I didn't have a lot of money so I contributed drawings and stories to zines I wanted free copies of.)
17. Because I had a talent for writing humor, even for not-very-humorous shows, and I loved it when people laughed.
18. Because I was once part of a fun fannish clique of talented women who encouraged me to write, talked story with me, and applauded what I wrote.
19. Because my ship will never be canon, no matter how much I might like it to be, and therefore if I want to see it I'll just have to write it myself. [This was my original reason for writing fic, waaaaaaay back in the day.]
20. Because the writers are not going to devote a chapter or an episode or an entire movie scene to my favorite character's hobbies and pastimes, and I like writing that sort of thing.
21. Because it's writing which is fun and relaxing for me to do in the free time when I'm not working on my original fiction and/or trying to get published.
22. Because sometimes, when I'm waiting for a new episode or book or whatever, all my ideas about what will happen next keep running around in my head, and I have to get them out somehow.
23. Because these characters grab a hold of me and make me want to know them as best I can.
24. Because I am a creative person who is inspired by other creative people.
And my add-three:
25. Because it's a way of exploring the aspects of a canon that I love while ignoring, critiquing, or undermining the ones that I find offensive, boring, or unimaginative.
26. Because I love the idea of perpetuating a community in which love and gifts and critical-thinking and fun and community are the driving forces, not money, fame, or power.
27. Because the original writers told me to. [Joss, our relationship may be a bit rocky right now, but you got this one thing absolutely right.]
And I just want to say this one thing: writers always use the "My characters are my children!" defense. Which I get. I feel that way about my original characters as well.
But here's the thing. Should I ever have kids, I want to rear them to be thoughtful, compassionate, interesting, educated, respectful people. And then? I want them to go out into the world and have all kinds of relationships with people who aren't me. Most of those will be platonic. Some of them will probably be sexual. And as long as they don't tell me about the sexual ones? I'll be fine.
Also, Ms. Gabaldon and Mr. Martin, now that I know that you feel that way about your characters, those sex scenes you wrote? About your children? Are now kind of creepy. I wonder what your children would think of their parent writing porn about them..../snark
And that is why I'm perfectly fine with the idea of people writing fanfic of my work (the idea that my work might be so beloved one day is thrilling!), despite also feeling that my characters are kinda like my children.
:P
But this is it for now:
REASONS I WRITE FANFIC
Bold any reasons that apply to you, strike out any that don't (if you feel like it), and add three reasons of your own to the bottom.
1. To explore themes that I don't get to see in mass media using characters I love.
2. Because it's fun.
3. Because mass media does a crappy job of representing my
5. Because TV science-fiction doesn't explore its science-fiction premises in enough depth.
6. Because it's a gift I can give a stranger and know they will enjoy it.
7. Because I resonate emotionally with the characters what I read and watch, and want to find out why by writing about it.
8. Because every tale is a universe, often with fascinating nooks and crannies that the original author never explored.
9. Because I've made some of my best and dearest friends through this very wacky hobby.
10. Because the world the creator made is vast, and I want to see more of it.
11. Because writing as a communal experience is amazing.
12. Because I can.
13. Because I get so much enjoyment from reading fan fiction that I want to contribute to the community by providing enjoyment for other fans.
14. When I become interested in particular actors and/or characters, sometimes I want to explore them in different contexts than their canons would ever allow.
16. Because of 'tribbers copies (I didn't have a lot of money so I contributed drawings and stories to zines I wanted free copies of.)
17. Because I had a talent for writing humor, even for not-very-humorous shows, and I loved it when people laughed.
18. Because I was once part of a fun fannish clique of talented women who encouraged me to write, talked story with me, and applauded what I wrote.
19. Because my ship will never be canon, no matter how much I might like it to be, and therefore if I want to see it I'll just have to write it myself. [This was my original reason for writing fic, waaaaaaay back in the day.]
20. Because the writers are not going to devote a chapter or an episode or an entire movie scene to my favorite character's hobbies and pastimes, and I like writing that sort of thing.
21. Because it's writing which is fun and relaxing for me to do in the free time when I'm not working on my original fiction and/or trying to get published.
22. Because sometimes, when I'm waiting for a new episode or book or whatever, all my ideas about what will happen next keep running around in my head, and I have to get them out somehow.
23. Because these characters grab a hold of me and make me want to know them as best I can.
24. Because I am a creative person who is inspired by other creative people.
And my add-three:
25. Because it's a way of exploring the aspects of a canon that I love while ignoring, critiquing, or undermining the ones that I find offensive, boring, or unimaginative.
26. Because I love the idea of perpetuating a community in which love and gifts and critical-thinking and fun and community are the driving forces, not money, fame, or power.
27. Because the original writers told me to. [Joss, our relationship may be a bit rocky right now, but you got this one thing absolutely right.]
And I just want to say this one thing: writers always use the "My characters are my children!" defense. Which I get. I feel that way about my original characters as well.
But here's the thing. Should I ever have kids, I want to rear them to be thoughtful, compassionate, interesting, educated, respectful people. And then? I want them to go out into the world and have all kinds of relationships with people who aren't me. Most of those will be platonic. Some of them will probably be sexual. And as long as they don't tell me about the sexual ones? I'll be fine.
Also, Ms. Gabaldon and Mr. Martin, now that I know that you feel that way about your characters, those sex scenes you wrote? About your children? Are now kind of creepy. I wonder what your children would think of their parent writing porn about them..../snark
And that is why I'm perfectly fine with the idea of people writing fanfic of my work (the idea that my work might be so beloved one day is thrilling!), despite also feeling that my characters are kinda like my children.
:P
no subject
It's interesting 'cause I know you've felt uncomfortable with writing humor, but that in just chatting, you go to those places yourself with the humor and mockery. But maybe you pull back in writing it? I think when you write, you write with sincerity at its heart. And humor is irreverance that almost appears to belie its sincerity, but it's actually a way to show the truth of who funny people relate. "Love and Blackmail" had loads of great humor! And the character revealing poetry in "Ars Poetica" especially when you have Buffy saying Giles will like hanging with Spike 'cause he's spouting Shakespeare and Giles is British--hilarious!
So maybe that's key the key. Character humor like Community.
no subject
Yeah, I know what you mean. A few people who are close to me think I'm hilarious and are always laughing at me--but most people I know would definitely not rate humor very high on my list of qualities.
But you definitely pull it off in your writing. There's a glee behind your humor as well, and it's never got a hint of cruelty or condescension or bitterness like some comedy does.
And humor is irreverance that almost appears to belie its sincerity, but it's actually a way to show the truth of who funny people relate. I think you're right. That kind of irreverence is difficult for me. I take the world very seriously, I think, because I feel very, very deeply, so even joy is something to be taken seriously, I guess? I need to think about this more. It's nothing I'd really considered before, but it's awesome that you're pointing it out. You often point out things in my writing that I don't notice, and it's such a wonderful gift you have.
So maybe that's key the key. Character humor like Community. Definitely. I know that's the reason that show speaks to me as much as it does. That and the clear affection the writers have for their characters.
no subject
A few people who are close to me think I'm hilarious and are always laughing at me
Yeah, I tend to act silly and self-deprecating a lot. And some of my friends write it off as me being dorky. I don't think they realize I do it deliberately because being silly is fun to me. I had good friends in college who understood that side of me though, so I was glad for that. It's kinda sad though when someone you're close to doesn't see your humor. But then we all have different tastes.
But you definitely pull it off in your writing. There's a glee behind your humor as well, and it's never got a hint of cruelty or condescension or bitterness like some comedy does.
I think the key to humor like that is character. How do you put the characters together in such a way that they play off each other? How do you point out a truth exaggerated to the point that it becomes ridiculous? Which is all to say that I think you're so incredibly insightful when it comes to understanding character that I think you can, have and should write humor. But I already pointed out the instances where you've written hilarity! Like Buffy treating Giles as a British cliche--that humor is totally grounded in her character. I mean, just look at your Topher fic compared to Composition. The humor of that situation, perhaps the prompt itself, demanded irreverence and you delivered it in spades, but with enough sincerity of feeling that it wasn't crack!fic.
But I also love how seriously you imbue your stories with feeling, so don't think of it as a weakness! It's a gift, a strength in being able to express powerful emotion. I just think you have all the ability to write humor--character love, irony--that you need only employ.
no subject
You do the best things for my self-esteem, seriously. This made me flush red! And it also made me feel better about maybe trying some more comic stuff in the future!
And I know you think you aren't talented in the angst area, but I think you absolutely can be, particularly because you understand the characters so well. Like the scene in TYSK where Buffy sort of shuts down for a bit because of how responsible she feels for the attack on the Slayers? Yes. That is so Buffy (and it honestly solidified my suspicion that you do, in fact, know more about the character than the S8 writers). And angsty. I'd really love to see what you did with a S6 piece. I think your insights into her at that time in her life would be really, really awesome.