Post by azalea3 on Apr 27, 2009 8:22:29 GMT -5
How often do you think about fan-fiction?
Right now I am writing stories again. I want to explore stories in four fandoms Star Trek, Stargate Atlantis, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I am only actively reading Stargate Atlantis stories. I hope to read more Star Trek stories after the new movie breaks.
When I decide I want to write stories, I do an insane amount of research on the universe. I read many novels and books outside of any fan-fiction consideration ( it’s a job related necessity,) but I often choose books that are be useful to story writing. This of course severely limits my fan-fiction writing time, and time I can spend on line reading fan-fiction. It’s always a difficult choice, because there is never enough time to do everything. Part of the reason I’m participating in this forum is because my friends have told me I need to get my ideas (weird as they might appear) on record. It is not that my perspective is unusual or enlightened, I was a marginal fan at best, but I was there at the beginning, and know things about the beginning of fan-fiction fandom that are being lost.
I’m reading lots of Stargate Atlantis stories at the moment. I usually investigate a fandom by reading the award winners, and then I seek out recommendations and follow the links. I do not have the time to read all the stories, so I must be selective. Certain kinds of stories attract me more than others as do certain styles of writing. Since I’ve been reading fan-fiction for almost forty years I know what I like and that’s what I read. I try to write short recs or LoCs to every writer whose stories deeply move me.
When I am structuring a story I want to write I analyze it in my mind trying out different strategies, trying to think through as much as I can before I start typing. If I can corner one of my friends I will usually fly the idea by him or her, if they don’t think it is completely hopeless then I will start writing. I know fairly quickly if the idea is a bust or not. Mostly my efforts wind up clogging my hard drive as unsuccessful experiments. I find the process of writing them more interesting then the end product. This is probably because I starting writing in an environment where there was no feedback and I got into the habit of indulging myself. Not necessarily a good thing for producing taut fiction. My writing has an experimental edge to it which also isn’t a plus in fan writing, and I have a penchant for enjoying stories outside of the mainstream of fan taste. For instance I like metaphysical stories, stories with an OC (original character) point of view, and stories that explore scientific paradoxes and intellectual conundrums. Or more succinctly I prefer stories that explore ideas. Human relationships are always a part of my stories but I need to a broad canvass for them to act upon.
As to thinking about artificial universes, I love that. It is the closest I actually get to fantasizing in the sense most people here are using the term. I’ve never had a crush on any fictional character. I love them as creations of talented people who make their characters live and breathe. Whether actor or writer, I admire the artistry, that goes into their creation and I want to unravel the tricks and see how they are made to work, and when I discover them (occasionally) I like to mirror that back in my fiction. This is an intellectually and emotionally soothing exercise for me. Below is a famous quote from Jorge Luis Borges (intro to the ‘Book of Sand’) and it pretty much sums up my feeling about fan-fiction writing.
"I do not write for a select minority, which means nothing to me, nor for that adulated platonic entity known as 'The Masses'. Both abstractions, so dear to the demagogue, I disbelieve in. I write for myself and for my friends, and I write to ease the passing of time."
Right now I am writing stories again. I want to explore stories in four fandoms Star Trek, Stargate Atlantis, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings. I am only actively reading Stargate Atlantis stories. I hope to read more Star Trek stories after the new movie breaks.
When I decide I want to write stories, I do an insane amount of research on the universe. I read many novels and books outside of any fan-fiction consideration ( it’s a job related necessity,) but I often choose books that are be useful to story writing. This of course severely limits my fan-fiction writing time, and time I can spend on line reading fan-fiction. It’s always a difficult choice, because there is never enough time to do everything. Part of the reason I’m participating in this forum is because my friends have told me I need to get my ideas (weird as they might appear) on record. It is not that my perspective is unusual or enlightened, I was a marginal fan at best, but I was there at the beginning, and know things about the beginning of fan-fiction fandom that are being lost.
I’m reading lots of Stargate Atlantis stories at the moment. I usually investigate a fandom by reading the award winners, and then I seek out recommendations and follow the links. I do not have the time to read all the stories, so I must be selective. Certain kinds of stories attract me more than others as do certain styles of writing. Since I’ve been reading fan-fiction for almost forty years I know what I like and that’s what I read. I try to write short recs or LoCs to every writer whose stories deeply move me.
When I am structuring a story I want to write I analyze it in my mind trying out different strategies, trying to think through as much as I can before I start typing. If I can corner one of my friends I will usually fly the idea by him or her, if they don’t think it is completely hopeless then I will start writing. I know fairly quickly if the idea is a bust or not. Mostly my efforts wind up clogging my hard drive as unsuccessful experiments. I find the process of writing them more interesting then the end product. This is probably because I starting writing in an environment where there was no feedback and I got into the habit of indulging myself. Not necessarily a good thing for producing taut fiction. My writing has an experimental edge to it which also isn’t a plus in fan writing, and I have a penchant for enjoying stories outside of the mainstream of fan taste. For instance I like metaphysical stories, stories with an OC (original character) point of view, and stories that explore scientific paradoxes and intellectual conundrums. Or more succinctly I prefer stories that explore ideas. Human relationships are always a part of my stories but I need to a broad canvass for them to act upon.
As to thinking about artificial universes, I love that. It is the closest I actually get to fantasizing in the sense most people here are using the term. I’ve never had a crush on any fictional character. I love them as creations of talented people who make their characters live and breathe. Whether actor or writer, I admire the artistry, that goes into their creation and I want to unravel the tricks and see how they are made to work, and when I discover them (occasionally) I like to mirror that back in my fiction. This is an intellectually and emotionally soothing exercise for me. Below is a famous quote from Jorge Luis Borges (intro to the ‘Book of Sand’) and it pretty much sums up my feeling about fan-fiction writing.
"I do not write for a select minority, which means nothing to me, nor for that adulated platonic entity known as 'The Masses'. Both abstractions, so dear to the demagogue, I disbelieve in. I write for myself and for my friends, and I write to ease the passing of time."