GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

RE:

POSTED BY: KAYLEEGIRL
UPDATED: Thursday, September 20, 2007 14:43
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 38539
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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 7:50 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by Steamer:Now here's a question I'd like to pose to my fellow fanficcers:

What do you think of the issue of Mary Sue-ism? Do you consider this much of an issue in the Firefly fanfic community? And what's your opinion of original characters who are not Mary Sues, but still an obvious act of self-insertion? The line between self-insertion and Mary Sue is very fine indeed, but where should it be drawn?

First of all, I have to admit that I had to look up the term "Mary Sue" to find out if I understood what you were talking about -- that's how new I am to the fanfac world!

To get down to the question....I can understand the whole wish-fulfillment thing -- I do that whenever I day dream about being in this verse or any other favorite show -- but in any of my written work?

Because I've been writing other types of fiction (not fanfic) for a long time, I have to say that practically every character in my stories reflects a bit of me. We all can only write what we know, so while a character might not be totally me, I am in a sense every character I've ever created while I'm writing about her, him, or it.

Roger Rosenblatt recently said (on a segment of Charlie Rose), "Writing teaches you what you think." That's how I feel about most stuff I write. I do find myself creating main characters who embody much of my fears, frustrations, philosphies, etc. so I can work those out for myself. And if I can't live it in real life, I can certainly have the experience in the virtual reality of my words on paper! How cool is that! (File that one under "why I wanted to be a writer.")

Fanfic, I find to be a bit different though: I'm writing it for other reasons: to visit the verse for awhile, to keep Serenity flying, and to figure out how well I know the characters Joss Whedon created. Now for me, that last one means that any new characters I add have to make sense in the Firefly verse. They have to be a foil for one of Joss's characters or help move the plot forward. Any new character, as well as any of Joss's, have to stay true to what he's already created. Mary Sues? I don't see them as part of my exploration of the verse.

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 8:08 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


P.S.

On a lighter note...just wanted to say to TamSibling that "Cocoa" was the second piece of fanfic in the 'Sun Room that I read. It was brief but so good, it's still on my mind! I'm eager to read more of your posted work.

(I'd be reading some posting after this if only I didn't have the need for a littel thing called SLEEP...)

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007 8:08 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


P.S.

On a lighter note...just wanted to say to TamSibling that "Cocoa" was the second piece of fanfic in the 'Sun Room that I read. It was brief but so good, it's still on my mind! I'm eager to read more of your posted work.

(I'd be reading some posting after this if only I didn't have the need for a little thing called SLEEP...)

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Saturday, January 13, 2007 10:46 AM

NAUTICALGAL


Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?




I write it because, like most folks here, I wanted MORE FIREFLY and there wasn't any more.

My goal is to write stories that make people keep reading -- stories that make their jaws drop, that make them check obsessively ten times a day for new fic. When somebody read something I wrote and says "Holy crap! I want more of this!" I know I've done what I meant to do, and what I'm trying to do.

To that end, if anybody wants to suggest what would have done more to make the story absolutely completely gripping, well, I want ot know about that.

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Saturday, January 13, 2007 3:57 PM

BEX


1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

Their simply isn't enoff story's about FireFly, their's the movie, and one small, lonely series of The Vers, it's not enoff, their need's to be more.
I've been doing FanFic for meny year's, since I was a teen. I have done alot of x-men/Doctor Who/Movie/book based fanfiction, thow I have not really posted alot I've written hundred's of story's. To date I've done two FireFly story's witch I will not be posting, but I am working on something I'm hopeing to get up soon.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
To expand on the univrse that has already been created. To do justice to the charter's and to write a beliveable story.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Yes, I love constructive stuff, but I hate it when people are just negative and rude, that's no help to me at all. postive commant's are great too, but I like to read what people like about the story, not that it's just great all around :)

Hope that answer's some of your Q's ;)
Bex's
xxx


The Operative: Are you willing to die for your beliefs?
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: I am...
[they draw. Mal fires first, and the Operative is forced to take cover]
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: 'Course, that ain't exactly plan A.

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 6:33 PM

STEAMER


Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
(Writers of the Black? Scribblers on the Rim? We really should have an official name for our Firefly writers group. Any suggestions?)




Hm, how about "'VerseWriters"?



Zoe catches
Wash off guard
"Take me, sir
Take me hard!"
FIREFLY

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Wednesday, January 17, 2007 6:48 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by Steamer:
Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
(Writers of the Black? Scribblers on the Rim? We really should have an official name for our Firefly writers group. Any suggestions?)


Quote:

Hm, how about "'VerseWriters"?


Someone said they see "verse" as meaning all the worlds JW has created. When I say the 'verse, I'm speaking strictly Firefly-speak, though. What do others think about this?

We've also had "Rimwriters" as a suggestion.

Anyway, I guess my next question is: are any of you interested in starting up (or does anyone already have) a bulletin board for the we-who-shall-be-named serious Firefly fanfic writers to form an online writers' group?






If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 5:30 AM

NEWOLDBROWNCOAT


Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
Quote:


Anyway, I guess my next question is: are any of you interested in starting up (or does anyone already have) a bulletin board for the we-who-shall-be-named serious Firefly fanfic writers to form an online writers' group?



I been meaning to ask if there was a thread here where writers hang out, discuss writerly stuff?

And for a name , " Marginal Folk" or "Marginal BrownCoats"?

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 6:08 AM

AGENTROUKA


Oh, fun topic! Who doesn't love answering listed questions? *g*

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

I wrote my first Firefly-based story because I already had some slight experience writing fanfiction from my prior Farscape fandom and Firefly was like oil on those rusted.. uh.. hinges? The complexity of the 'verse and its characters just inspired me and gave me a tremendous amount of creative energy, after my initial avalanche of purely analytical lj posts was over.

Writing about the 'verse is a way of exploring it more deeply. Plus, the added benefit of feeling like I "made something" and getting feedback for that. Interaction, communication, praise!

Inara captured my heart and mind the most, so I wrote "Five Things that Never Happened when Inara Serra Left Serenity" to give a picture of how undecided the 'verse is, how open in a good and bad way. It's not all about Mal. It's all about choice.
Not my best work ever, but it was a start.

Since September 2005, I have written to date, um... 49 finished and separate pieces, both drabbles and a bit longer. And 3 unfinished series of 4 chapters each.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

Two-fold.
One, I want to explore an aspect of the characters in depth, turn it into a statement or thesis about those characters and their interactions and ultimately make a point about humanity in general. (That last one is sort of only a tiny aspect of it, though, hehe.)

Two, I want to progress in my writing, feel the satisfaction of making the words and their rhythm form exactly the kind of emotional picture that I have in mind. "Make something pretty", basically.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

I love critiques, mainly because all my fic has a point (usually, even the fluff) and I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove discussing the show. To death. All opinions are lovely.

I also love supportive comments, because it's a pleasure to know that someone likes your work.


The only kind of comment I don't like are the ones that show that very obviously the person didn't take the time to really read the story. Praise or criticism about something I didn't write... kind of hard to make sense of.



More people should reply to this thread, it's fun to read everyone's motivations!

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 7:09 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:


More people should reply to this thread, it's fun to read everyone's motivations!



Well, it's fun to read, at least.

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

I still writing my first one. I posted the 28th "chapter" last night. Why did I write it? I'm not sure. I kind of just had to.


2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
To tell a good story, one that I enjoy and one that others enjoy.


3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

Ok, this is tricky, and, I suspect, going to make me regret this. In my 'blurb' I always remind readers that I write for my own enjoyment, and that I would prefer comments only from people who enjoy.

Nonetheless - I am not adverse to some critique - or indeed suggestions from those reading it about what they would like to see more of. One of my OCs was named (inadvertently) by one the readers (ManicGiraffe) and I've recieved lots of (unasked for but geniunely, deeply appreciated) advice from several readers (MG again, and TamSibling spring to mind) and ideas for directions the story could/should go in (thinking here especially of LeiaSky and tkid).

If there is one niggling thing destroying a reader's enjoyment, I would be more than happy to try and remedy it (obviously, as long as I can within the parameters of the story I'm telling). I would perfer to recieve those kind of comments in the form of a private message however.

I do wish more people commented. I keep to my own policy and never comment on anything I don't enjoy - whether that's from personal taste or because something is, in a more objective sense, genuinely bad. I don't always come up with comments that I think are insightful or anything (I think BlueEyedBrigidier has the best supportive commenting writing skills ever), but I always get a thrill when I get a notification that someone's commented, and I figure most writers are egomanics and probably do to, so I pretty much always comment, even on very old stuff that I read (though there I might only comment every few chapters or so if they aren't stand alone).

On the subject of OCs

I've seen some very good ones, and some very bad ones. I try not to be too judgemental - I write original work too, and I think in most cases little bits of the author end up in ever truly fleshed out character. Writing is one of the most naked things you can do with your clothes on.

I don't necessarily like OCs, but they can't be avoided: the BDHs have to interact with others, even if only as villians. And sometimes they have to fill a gap on the ship (for example, in my story Simon needs a doctor, so we (I) have to get him one).

I can pass an eye over author insert or author-avatar insert (not the author, but something like the author could/would have been). Done well, that's no worse than knowing that Joss Whedon will probably always insert himself in a Wash/Xander 'everyman' (exceptionally funny everyman) way.

I can even live with ones that occassionally veer into the realm of Mary-Sue like competence. Again, that can happen in the nonfanfic world, and some of those characters are enjoyable enough. I can even live with them if they 'got the girl', or whatever, as long as it's plausible (Tara at points in Buffy might be a real-life example).

What I personally can't bear are the Mary Sues who are always the best at everything, have done everything, got the girl (or guy) and everybody loves, except the original love interest, who has to have an exceptionally antagonistic relationship with the OC. I probably could even live with these stories, but the OC is also invariably the main character, not the BDHs, and he/she just can't be avoided.

Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 7:40 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:

Here's a new question for you and all the others:
What else do you write besides fanfic? Are any of you writers of other genres?



I write a lot of different stuff. Most of it is scifi, fantasy or a little of both; some of it is more cyberpunk. One of them, my nano project is actaully mainstream literature! That was a surprise. But then it was NaNoWriMo, and anything can happen then.

I tend to work as the muse hits - so I rarely only have one project - at the moment it's my fanfic and a fantasy novel.

Oh, and you wanted suggestions of stuff to read...

Try my fanfic! It might not be to your taste, of course, but I think it's good.

Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 8:15 AM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by girlfan:
Ok, this is tricky, and, I suspect, going to make me regret this. In my 'blurb' I always remind readers that I write for my own enjoyment, and that I would prefer comments only from people who enjoy.

Can I just say, because your post makes you sound pretty cool and possibly open to me saying this - I've never read your fic because of that blurb. I go through the blurbs in the BSR hoping to be enticed and drawn in by hints about the story. With yours I get something completely focused on the writer. It makes me, as a reader, feel unimportant and even unwanted. It's jarring. Kind of in my face. (BTW, I'm also put off by the blurb with the yackety-schmackety bit. It tells me nothing about the story, and could easily be put into the fic header. Why oh why is it in the blurb?)

So, girlfan, based on your post here, you clearly are interested in the reader's experience, and open to improving as a writer. Maybe not open to hostile feedback - but who is? So really, that blurb you use is selling you, and your fic, short!

I think you'd get more readers and commenters if you moved the "I write for my own enjoyment, etc" stuff to the inside of the fic. Maybe put it both before and after the story text so everyone will get the idea.

Quote:

I would perfer to recieve those kind of comments in the form of a private message however.
I totally agree with this! I actually do send private mails to writers when I find some silly little thing that detracts (and I consider it a compliment when others do the same for me.) Then the writer can fix it or not as they choose, but my nitpicking isn't there for the world to see.

In fact, I almost sent this whole thing to you privately. Maybe I should have?


-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 8:32 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by mal4prez:
Can I just say, because your post makes you sound pretty cool and possibly open to me saying this - I've never read your fic because of that blurb. I go through the blurbs in the BSR hoping to be enticed and drawn in by hints about the story. With yours I get something completely focused on the writer. It makes me, as a reader, feel unimportant and even unwanted. It's jarring. Kind of in my face. (BTW, I'm also put off by the blurb with the yackety-schmackety bit. It tells me nothing about the story, and could be put into the fic easily. Why oh why is it in the blurb?)

So, girlfan, based on your post here, you clearly are interested in the reader's experience, and open to improving as a writer. Maybe not open to hostile feedback - but who is? So really, that blurb you use is selling you, and your fic, short!

I think you'd get more readers and commenters if you moved the "I write for my own enjoyment, etc" stuff to the inside of the fic. Maybe put it both before and after the story text so everyone will get the idea.

Quote:

I would perfer to recieve those kind of comments in the form of a private message however.
I totally agree with this! I actually do send private mails to writers when I find some silly little thing that detracts (and I consider it a compliment when others do the same for me.) Then the writer can fix it or not as they choose, but my nitpicking isn't there for the world to see.

In fact, I almost sent this whole thing to you privately. Maybe I should have?



No, this is ok. I'm a little nervous of the back and forth on this board, because it's not troll-free. I appreciate your idea, and I will actually switch to that format. I should have realised that it would make some perfectly reasonable fair minded readers feel put off.

Oh, and its just my opinion but the stories yackety-shmacky blurbs ones are often really good, so try not to let the blurb put you off too much (and I do understand what you mean - I've always found that blurb a little off putting - so it was an especially telling example).




Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:00 AM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by girlfan:
Oh, and its just my opinion but the stories yackety-shmacky blurbs ones are often really good, so try not to let the blurb put you off too much.



Hmm. Lesson to me to be more open-minded? Oh yeah.

But, like many readers, I don't have time to read everything. I have to be selective, and that's what those blurbs are there to help me with!

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:03 AM

LEIASKY


That's what the blurb is there for, to draw in readers who might be interested in the content of the story. I like the blurb to actually TELL me something about the story, the pairings, etc. I'll usually skip it otherwise because more often then not, I'll actually click on the story, start reading, and then be turned off because its not something I'm interested in - which could have easily been solved by putting in a description.

"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:05 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:

But, like many readers, I don't have time to read everything. I have to be selective, and that's what those blurbs are there to help me with!



Your point is very well taken, thank you. I'm actually going backwards through my stories to change the blurbs right now.

Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:13 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by Leiasky:
That's what the blurb is there for, to draw in readers who might be interested in the content of the story. I like the blurb to actually TELL me something about the story, the pairings, etc. I'll usually skip it otherwise because more often then not, I'll actually click on the story, start reading, and then be turned off because its not something I'm interested in - which could have easily been solved by putting in a description.



This is another valid point. But what do you do if/when it's not really clear to you (as a writer) what the pairings are or will eventually be? Do you just mark it as it appears in the individual "chapter"?

Also, I sometimes worry that that would be misleading - for example, if I described Roses as Silee, wouldn't most Silee readers find it an inaccurate description? If I say Mal/Inara, doesn't that kind of imply that they've moved further off of the fence then they have in my story (or at this point in my story)?

It's possible that the gulf between what I do and don't know about the protocols of this board and fanfic are skewing my perceptions slightly.

Suggestions on this point will be genuinely appreciated.

Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:19 AM

LEIASKY


Quote:

Originally posted by girlfan:

This is another valid point. But what do you do if/when it's not really clear to you (as a writer) what the pairings are or will eventually be? Do you just mark it as it appears in the individual "chapter"?



It all depends on if I like the story. I like cannon pairings, and rarely, if ever, read any others. If a story I'm enjoying moves off that, I usually stop reading, but it will all depend on how emotionally invested and interested I am in the story.


Quote:

Also, I sometimes worry that that would be misleading - for example, if I described Roses as Silee, wouldn't most Silee readers find it an inaccurate description?


Not until you put one or the other of them with someone else. But, that's just my opinion.

Quote:

If I say Mal/Inara, doesn't that kind of imply that they've moved further off of the fence then they have in my story (or at this point in my story)?


Put 'cannon pairings - if any', would be my suggestion.




Fluffiness is next to angstiness.


"A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned."

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 9:33 AM

MAL4PREZ


Quote:

Originally posted by girlfan:
It's possible that the gulf between what I do and don't know about the protocols of this board and fanfic are skewing my perceptions slightly.

Suggestions on this point will be genuinely appreciated.



I have similar problems, in that I don't think of my fics as being about any particular pairings.

But now we've totally hijacked this thread - sorry KayleeGirl! It's totally my doing! There's a thread about story notes here:

http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=12&t=26124

we could chat more about this there.

-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.

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Thursday, January 18, 2007 10:43 AM

LEEH


Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
I've just started to read the stories in the Blue Sun Room and I have to say I'm overwhelmed at the amount of stuff there is to read.(Any suggestions from you are welcomed!) So far, the work I've chosen to read is really good.
As a fellow writer who belongs to a writer's group where we dig into the hows and whys of writing, I'd really like to get some similar insights into all of you who write fiction for our shiny and beloved verse.

So, for those of you are willing, here goes:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

I've published two and have a third slowly (SLOWLY) progressing. I write stories to answer questions I have--for example, with "Going Home" I wanted to answer the question, "Why didn't Mal just go back to his family/the ranch on Shadow after the War?" When I answer my question, my goal is to develop the character(s) in some way that gives me and my reader a deeper understanding of who they are.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

See above.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

Critiques are as welcome as supportive comments. Writers should always be looking to improve their work, and how else can you do that but by getting feedback? Professional writers get edited; fic writers often don't, so they miss out on the critical comments that an editor would normally be giving.
I have a beta--a very good one--to play the role of editor, telling me what is and isn't working, and maybe making suggestions along the way. I try to return the favor. Writing at its best can be collaborative, as the reader's comments help the writer to come up with new ideas and approaches. That's what makes it more than just mental masturbation!!

Much thanks, in advance, to all of you!




"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."

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Saturday, January 27, 2007 10:26 PM

TKID


>1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story?

Lots of writers at the time were writing Simon as some stuck-up one-dimensional twit, and I wanted to redress the matter. And Firefly rocks.

>And how many stories have you written to date?

Ah. A month after I'd posted my Simon-the-multi-dimensional-character story, I accidentally deleted it from fanfiction.net. And discovered to my horror that I'd somehow deleted from my hard drive also.

So I've kind of written and unwritten one Firefly story.

>2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

Lose weight. Seriously. I wrote a Kung Fu The Legend Continues series where Kwai Chang Caine was chased by giant spiders, and I wound up losing 25 lbs trying to figure out what kind of sounds a giant spider would make, etc.

>3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

Either; both are compliments - someone's taken the time to actually give me feedback and trusts that I won't overreact if the feedback isn't perceived as being positive.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 9:37 AM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by tkid:
I wrote a Kung Fu The Legend Continues series where Kwai Chang Caine was chased by giant spiders, and I wound up losing 25 lbs trying to figure out what kind of sounds a giant spider would make, etc.




Chased by giant spiders? This sounds like a great idea for the continuing adventures of Bill Pardy, a sequel to Slither!

Too bad about your losing that Simon story. I would have liked to read that one. For me, Simon is the most difficult characters to write about because I don't feel too much of a personal connection with him. I need some insight into who he is.





If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 9:47 AM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by girlfan:
This is another valid point. But what do you do if/when it's not really clear to you (as a writer) what the pairings are or will eventually be? Do you just mark it as it appears in the individual "chapter"?



So, you post as you're writing the piece and don't wait until you've written the entire thing? Wow, you're much braver than I am! I tend to write out an entire rough draft, revise, and have someone beta for me before I even think of putting it out there for the world to read.

So...
NEW QUESTION: how many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?








If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 10:02 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:

So, you post as you're writing the piece and don't wait until you've written the entire thing? Wow, you're much braver than I am! I tend to write out an entire rough draft, revise, and have someone beta for me before I even think of putting it out there for the world to read.

So...
NEW QUESTION: how many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?



I think probably for people new to fanfic the lure of the submit button is pretty hard to resist.

Also, it can be both fun and helpful to let reader comments have an influence on the direction of the story.

The comments are a wonderful fuel for the muse, too - the immediate (esque) response to your work is a great reward.

For me, it's partly all of those reasons, but it is also influenced by one more; there was a writer (don't recall the name) who would sometimes type stories in the window a bookshop. As each page was done it was taped up in the window - this is kind of my way of doing that - forcing a sort of continuity on myself. What's gone before can't be rewritten (though I will eventually revise the whole thing). You can only just carry on from there.

That's a pretty fun challenge.




*** *** ***
Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 10:51 AM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by girlfan:
[ there was a writer (don't recall the name) who would sometimes type stories in the window a bookshop. As each page was done it was taped up in the window - this is kind of my way of doing that - forcing a sort of continuity on myself. What's gone before can't be rewritten (though I will eventually revise the whole thing). You can only just carry on from there.

That's a pretty fun challenge.



Harlan Ellison used to do that. One of my favorite writers -- prolific, gutsy, and great. At one convention I attended, he was supposed to lecture, but read us a story he'd just finished writing instead. It was "Shatterday" (which ended up being chosen for the first episode of the new "Twilight Zone" series).

Excuse me for hijacking my own thread for a moment!



If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 11:06 AM

GIRLFAN


Quote:

Originally posted by KayleeGirl:

Harlan Ellison used to do that. One of my favorite writers -- prolific, gutsy, and great. At one convention I attended, he was supposed to lecture, but read us a story he'd just finished writing instead. It was "Shatterday" (which ended up being chosen for the first episode of the new "Twilight Zone" series).

Excuse me for hijacking my own thread for a moment!



I actually did think it was Ellison - but I couldn't remember for sure and didn't want to put misinformation in people's heads.

Anyway, that's where I got the idea. I mean, I might have done it anyway, for the other reasons I mentioned - but that was the deciding factor for me. It is a fun challenge.



Fluffiness is next to angstiness.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:40 PM

DIGIFICWRITER


Hi, Kayleegirl. Here's some answers to your questions:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
As a fan of Firefly from the beginning, I'd long been wanting to see the series continued in some form, so when the chance came along to participate in a virtual continuation of the show (namely 'Virtual Firefly', which the lovely Katie/Arcadia has already so eloquently plugged), I immediately jumped on board even though I was already involved in another virtual series (this one based in the Buffy-verse). My writing credits with VFF, so far, are as follows:
2x04 - Fireworks (co-written with Katie/Arcadia)
2x16 - 'Trap' (tentative title) (forthcoming)

Even though Katie/Arcadia so eloquently plugged Virtual Firefly, I wanted to throw out another reccommendation for the project. As a veteran of a couple of other 'Jossverse' virtual series, I can attest to how closely we on the staff at VFF mimic the style of Firefly in our writing; it's one of the things that we've tried very hard to do, and, for the most part, I fully believe we've succeeded with flying colors. If you're a Firefly fan, you should definitely check out 'Virtual Firefly' at least once.

Answering your question about whether or not it's important to read Virtual Firefly's episode scripts in order, I'd say yes, although it's not AS important in Season 1, since most of the episodes that close out that season are essentially standalones. Season 2, however, has a very tightly planned narrative (mostly thanks to Joss's fabulous 'Serenity' film script[s]).

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
I initially got into writing fanfic as a way to hone my writing skills until such time as I could break into writing professionally. However, since that time I've become engrossed in the production of 'virtual series' (many of them script-based), which has caused me to change my vision of what I want to do, professionally, with the writing talent I've been blessed with, and I now want to become a screenwriter.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Having people critique your work, negatively(so long as they are civil about it), or positively, is one of the best things imaginable for a writer (amateur or professional); it's the only way you know what works and what doesn't, and it allows you to present the best finished product possible.

On the subject of OCs:
Introducing original characters in fanfic (of any genre) is fine, so long as the characters are
A) consistent with the characters already inhabiting the universe to which you are adding them
B) Serve a purpose
C) Are fully fleshed out

I'm proud to say that I've helped create several original characters (both for VFF and a couple of other virtual series), and that all of them have adhered to the criteria I just mentioned.

Take my love
Take my land
Take me where I cannot stand
I don't care
I'm still free
You can't take the sky from me
Take me out to the black
Tell 'em I ain't comin' back
Burn the land and boil the sea
You can't take the sky from me
There's no place I can be
Since I've found Serenity
But you can't take the sky from me

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 12:57 PM

ZZETTA13


Kayleegirl it's been a while since I've posted to this thread and becuase you've added a new question I'll give you a new answer, well a new one concerning why I write fanfic the way I do.

First I am terrible at spelling and all the other things that go with writing a story but once I get an idea in my head it just goes on and on till I have to get it out. My fanfic began with a story called "Spirit of Serenity" about a ghost of an old Firefly captain that was still around after Mal fell in love and bought the transport ship. From that time I've written about 24 or 30 stories. Once I sit down to write I tend to let the story tell itself. There is a general direction I take but as far as having anything mapped out, I didn't do that. I've enjoyed the verse that Joss and company have written so much that I felt compelled to write other stories. I guess it was like going back in history and visiting the cave of a friend who had cave paintings. I wanting to make some cave paintings of my own.

Z

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:35 PM

SOFI


=D hey kayleegirl! shiny thread! here's my answers:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

i guess i wrote my first for a number of reasons. primarily, of course, because i love writing! at that time i was on a writing course n writing every moment of the day virtually! also havin just begun to live on fireflyfan.net i had discovered that my fantasies were not singular n in fact there are a whole load of people out there with fun firefly ideas. the subject of my first fanfiction reflects my undying love of wash/zoe.

since then i've written about 30 fanfics i think.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

i write mainly just for the enjoyment of it. plus i find ideas gnaw away at my skull unless i let them out! i also love other people enjoyin my fiction as well so i guess my goal is just to keep likin writin n to write things that people like!

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

both are good! only constructive criticism though. the other kind sorta just makes me sad. i love reading other people's interpretations and suggestions =D

4. How many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"the legs. oh, yeah. definitely have to say it was her legs. you can put that down. her legs and where her legs meet her back. in fact, that whole area. and... above it..."

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:35 PM

SOFI


=D hey kayleegirl! shiny thread! here's my answers:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

i guess i wrote my first for a number of reasons. primarily, of course, because i love writing! at that time i was on a writing course n writing every moment of the day virtually! also havin just begun to live on fireflyfan.net i had discovered that my fantasies were not singular n in fact there are a whole load of people out there with fun firefly ideas. the subject of my first fanfiction reflects my undying love of wash/zoe.

since then i've written about 30 fanfics i think.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

i write mainly just for the enjoyment of it. plus i find ideas gnaw away at my skull unless i let them out! i also love other people enjoyin my fiction as well so i guess my goal is just to keep likin writin n to write things that people like!

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

both are good! only constructive criticism though. the other kind sorta just makes me sad. i love reading other people's interpretations and suggestions =D

4. How many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"the legs. oh, yeah. definitely have to say it was her legs. you can put that down. her legs and where her legs meet her back. in fact, that whole area. and... above it..."

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:35 PM

SOFI


=D hey kayleegirl! shiny thread! here's my answers:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

i guess i wrote my first for a number of reasons. primarily, of course, because i love writing! at that time i was on a writing course n writing every moment of the day virtually! also havin just begun to live on fireflyfan.net i had discovered that my fantasies were not singular n in fact there are a whole load of people out there with fun firefly ideas. the subject of my first fanfiction reflects my undying love of wash/zoe.

since then i've written about 30 fanfics i think.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

i write mainly just for the enjoyment of it. plus i find ideas gnaw away at my skull unless i let them out! i also love other people enjoyin my fiction as well so i guess my goal is just to keep likin writin n to write things that people like!

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

both are good! only constructive criticism though. the other kind sorta just makes me sad. i love reading other people's interpretations and suggestions =D

4. How many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"the legs. oh, yeah. definitely have to say it was her legs. you can put that down. her legs and where her legs meet her back. in fact, that whole area. and... above it..."

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:35 PM

SOFI


=D hey kayleegirl! shiny thread! here's my answers:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

i guess i wrote my first for a number of reasons. primarily, of course, because i love writing! at that time i was on a writing course n writing every moment of the day virtually! also havin just begun to live on fireflyfan.net i had discovered that my fantasies were not singular n in fact there are a whole load of people out there with fun firefly ideas. the subject of my first fanfiction reflects my undying love of wash/zoe.

since then i've written about 30 fanfics i think.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

i write mainly just for the enjoyment of it. plus i find ideas gnaw away at my skull unless i let them out! i also love other people enjoyin my fiction as well so i guess my goal is just to keep likin writin n to write things that people like!

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

both are good! only constructive criticism though. the other kind sorta just makes me sad. i love reading other people's interpretations and suggestions =D

4. How many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"the legs. oh, yeah. definitely have to say it was her legs. you can put that down. her legs and where her legs meet her back. in fact, that whole area. and... above it..."

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:35 PM

SOFI


=D hey kayleegirl! shiny thread! here's my answers:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

i guess i wrote my first for a number of reasons. primarily, of course, because i love writing! at that time i was on a writing course n writing every moment of the day virtually! also havin just begun to live on fireflyfan.net i had discovered that my fantasies were not singular n in fact there are a whole load of people out there with fun firefly ideas. the subject of my first fanfiction reflects my undying love of wash/zoe.

since then i've written about 30 fanfics i think.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

i write mainly just for the enjoyment of it. plus i find ideas gnaw away at my skull unless i let them out! i also love other people enjoyin my fiction as well so i guess my goal is just to keep likin writin n to write things that people like!

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

both are good! only constructive criticism though. the other kind sorta just makes me sad. i love reading other people's interpretations and suggestions =D

4. How many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"the legs. oh, yeah. definitely have to say it was her legs. you can put that down. her legs and where her legs meet her back. in fact, that whole area. and... above it..."

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 1:35 PM

SOFI


=D hey kayleegirl! shiny thread! here's my answers:

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

i guess i wrote my first for a number of reasons. primarily, of course, because i love writing! at that time i was on a writing course n writing every moment of the day virtually! also havin just begun to live on fireflyfan.net i had discovered that my fantasies were not singular n in fact there are a whole load of people out there with fun firefly ideas. the subject of my first fanfiction reflects my undying love of wash/zoe.

since then i've written about 30 fanfics i think.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

i write mainly just for the enjoyment of it. plus i find ideas gnaw away at my skull unless i let them out! i also love other people enjoyin my fiction as well so i guess my goal is just to keep likin writin n to write things that people like!

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

both are good! only constructive criticism though. the other kind sorta just makes me sad. i love reading other people's interpretations and suggestions =D

4. How many of you post as you go and how many post only after you've finished a story?

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"the legs. oh, yeah. definitely have to say it was her legs. you can put that down. her legs and where her legs meet her back. in fact, that whole area. and... above it..."

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 4:58 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by Sofi:

i have had bad experiances of postin a story before it's completely complete n then gettin a bad case of writers block. i have vowed never to do this again! (but sometimes the submit button is soooo temptin on somethin that i love)

i hope this is vergin on interesting!




Glad to hear from you, Sofi.

That's my fear exactly. It's always easy for me to come up with a great beginning, but often those grind to a halt and get shoved in a drawer,never to be completed. So, I've become cautious, too.

It's only recently that I've gotten into the habit of writing from a rough outline and it's helping a lot. Before that I used to just try to figure it all out as I went -- mostly because I wanted to have the fun of being surprised, as if I was the reader. Now that I've gotten more serious about being a writer, for me that's come to mean I should have a finished product before offering it to the reader. (Having said that, I can't promise that if I get really excited about some idea and want some immediate feedback I might not just break my own rule and post when I haven't finished it!)




If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Sunday, January 28, 2007 6:17 PM

JAMESTHEDARK


Why did I begin to write fanfiction?

I've been writing recreationally for years, but I've never been able to string a story together. Not, at least, until I got into fan fiction. I began my fanfiction writing with Battletech stories (which is the universe the Mechwarrior and Mechassault *shudder* games are set in). The universe was already laid out, pretty much, but it had plenty of wiggle room and I exploited that for all it was worth. You see, I was associated with an online Mechwarrior troupe at the time, and the stories were somewhat based off of their random insanities, and many of the characters were basically the guys we blasted for recreation on a weekly basis. However, during my most ambitious (and sadly neglected) opus, I'd created a plethora of characters based on no living person, people I had utter control over the characteristics of.
You might be wondering what this has to do with Firefly? Here it comes. The characters I'd created, I transplanted. The protagonist of Legacy, Jacob Greyson, was created in my Battletech story as a minor character, ancillary, even. The Kells (Logan, William, and Jessica) were all there, pretty much doing exactly what they're doing here (Pirating, militarying, and bossing Will around, respectively). A lot of my characters come from somewhere else. Of course, in Firefly, I could go much deeper into their characters than I could in Battletech, and eventually I just stopped writing for the latter and focused on the former.

Wow. You're really long-winded, aren't you? Anyway. What are you aiming for?

I have a story planned. It's going to last exactly 4 'seasons', of which, the first two are already finished. When it's done, it's done, no encore. I think. Probably. Well, let's just say there's not going to be a Legacy, Season 5. I'm setting that in stone because for once, I want to be able to write something, have an end in sight the whole time, and know when I've finished it. I've never had that before. Most of my earlier attempts have been abandoned part of the way through. I want to actually finish this one.

Yeah. I'm weeping inside. Anyhoo, are you looking for just the sycophantic applause, or can I get vicious on you?

I'll accept any sort of feedback. It lets me know that somebody's actually reading my work

Great. Another insecure one... So, post as you go, or finish the story first?

If I waited to finish the story, I'd never get it done, strange to say. It's the act of reading what I've already created which spurs me on to create more. Besides, I'm an impatient hun dahn, and I can't restrain myself. Besides, I've got my fan to keep happy. Yes. Fan. Singular.

--------------
I ain't lookin' for help from on high. That's a damn long wait for a train don't come.

98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.

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Monday, January 29, 2007 5:44 AM

AMDOBELL


Just noticed this thread and have had fun reading other people's responses.

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

I wrote my first Firefly story because I was so frustrated with the cancellation of the shiniest series in the 'verse. I wanted to perpetuate and explore the excellent characters Joss had created and push the envelope as far as where they might go from there. As for how many stories I have written, on this site that would be 15 series (going from two chapters in the shortest to the longest, 50 chapters), 16 one-shot stories or shorts and 3 filks.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

To write the kind of stories I would like to read and which I hope other people will enjoy. When people stop commenting I will move on and stop submitting stories. No one should remain on the stage after the audience has gone home.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

While wall to wall praise is flattering it is not necessarily instructive unless the positive comments are qualified with the reasons why a story has worked or a character's emotional development has struck a chord. I welcome any comments that are made providing they are polite and informed and I read all feedback. People who email me privately but do not give a returning email address will not get a reply. I am not ignoring them just unable to respond without it.

I have noticed that some people never read a story that is marked up as a Series which amuses me in the sense that some stories are posted as if they are standalone but as you read you realised they are a sequel to something that the author has previously written which can be frustrating, especially if you pick up on a storyline at a later date then want to read the rest of the 'chapters' from the beginning in the correct order.

Lastly, my thanks to those of you who have so kindly commented on any of my stories over my time here. Feedback is the drug that keeps me writing and I confess to being an addict. Anything to keep Flyin'!



Ali D :~)
You can't take the sky from me...
website: http://unilelu/Alison/Ali00.html

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Saturday, March 3, 2007 2:05 AM

JETFLAIR


1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

Why.......wow, big question. It all started with a thread on this site, a discussion of what became of Mal and Zoe after the war. It led to a discussion of them being held by the Alliance, something there are only tiny little canon hints of.

How long were they held? How were they treated? Were they charged as criminals, or were they POWs? I formed and posted an opinion, thought about it a lot more, and finally ended up fascinated and consumed by the idea of that story.

At the same time, I found myself wondering what happened between the time we see Mal completely devastated at the end of the war and the time we see him, cheerful and hopeful, buying Serenity in OOG.

Those two concepts and a lot of others, little things about Mal and his charater, formed into the concept of a story I very much wanted to explore. Wasn't going to happen unless I wrote it, so.......I did.

I'm still writing that story (The Losing Side). I've written on 15-chapter completed fic, a completed one-chapter fic, I'm 2 chapters into a 3-chapter story, and I'm also in the middle of an ANdromeda/Firefly crossover.


2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

I'm really not sure yet. I think it's an expression of personal fantasy in a way....want more Firefly? Make it up. More time spent focusing on Mal? Make it up. Stories that appeal to you? Tell them. There is too little Firefly, and a lot of gratification in bringing the characters to life in my mind and on the screen - it's a way to spend more time with them.

When I first started writing, it was more for me than for readers....partly because I didn't anticipate having any! But now it's very much about telling a story that moves people, and that grips them or affects them in some way.


3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

It depends. I owe a lot to the people who have posted critiques, for they have made me aware of weaknesses in my writing that I can then address. I also really value hearing how people are perceiving the progress of the story and what they want to see more or less of. I specifically asked for critiques at one point, and several people were kind enough to give me thoughtful and detailed critiques which were very valuable.

It's a double-edged sword, though. I post my story on several different sites, and discuss it with different people, and critques can differ so much they drive me mad.

For example, one person will suggest that the story is dragging and I need more action, more violence, and crank up the angst, because I'm writing an unrealistically fluffy view of life in an Alliance POW camp. So I write and change things and address those issues and then.......

Someone tells me the story is too dark and angsty and I should lighten things up a bit, and play up the more compassionate aspects of the story.

So I've come to be a little iffy on certain types of feedback like that, and rely more on where I myself feel the story should go.

Positive feedback is wonderful, especially the sort that picks out favorite bits or tells me they were moved by some aspect of the story. I'm egotistical enough to want praise, and it's often the thought of reading the comments the next day that pushes me to put in the extra effort to finish up a chapter and post it.

If I don't get as many comments as usual, I get insecure and wonder if I did a bad job and people just don't want to say it, or whether they were just to busy/tired/whatever to leave a comment.

4. Do you write other things?

My Firefly fics are the first fiction I've written since roughly age 13. On the non-fiction end, I have had many articles (mostly on animal training and related issues) published in various magazines.

5. Do you post as you write, before you know what the completed story is?

I post as I write. I would never, ever finish any of these stories without the drive to post chapters for people to see and enjoy and comment on.

For my main story, The Losing Side, I started with a very rough concept and I've been developing it as I go. It gets me into trouble sometimes.....in fact I wrote myself into a corner in the very beginning and had to hurt Mal very badly to get out of said corner, and that early venture into something I never planned changed my whole story in a very fundamental way. But it ended up being a good thing for the story.

I've had a throwaway character come alive into a major character, developed side stories I never planned, and I have parts of the story I now really wish I'd explored in more depth instead of glossing over them. All unexpected, but overall I'm really not sorry about any of it. It would be a different story, probably a more boring one, if I could just go back and change things at will.

~~~~~~~~~~~

"Love keeps her in the air when she oughta fall down, tells you when she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home." .......We love you, captain.

"This is the captain. We may experience some slight turbulence and then.....explode"

www.serenityverse.com - Zoe necklace replicas, Serenity dogtags, jewelry, image gallery w/ custom DVD covers, other goodies!

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Saturday, March 3, 2007 4:21 AM

BLACKBEANIE


1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
Not sure, just felt like it. So far I have only one story posted, but two more are coming up.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
Again, not sure, but it helps improve my grammar, which is useful. But I would say my goal is to entertain.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Anything helps.

4. What else do you write besides fanfic? Are any of you writers of other genres?
I write short stories, longer stories, scripts/screenplays. I don't have a specific genre, but I thrive in horror and fantasy.

5. Do you post as you write, before you know what the completed story is?
I plan it out, but when the chapter is done, I check it over and if I'm happy, I post it.

I just realised, I'm not that deep. Oh well.

The Crow: Serenity
Coming March 2007

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Saturday, March 3, 2007 2:20 PM

ALLIETHORN7


Right... well, here goes!
As to 1...
I first wrote about Firefly... the day after I saw the marathon on Sci-Fi (I hopped on the Bandwagon a few years after the initial folks- to them I bestow the utmost honor!). Why I write it? Just cuz it's there- pretty much. I get an idea, I flesh it out, I post it, and folks tell me whether I'm a moonbrain or not. So far? Series wise, about seven or so, with maybe a dozen one-shots, give or take.
2...
I just want to share my ideas with folk. I think that's why most folk do it- they want to be appreciated for what they can do, instead of what they can't (What the world at large judges most folk by, nowadays). And, to improve my writing skills (I dream to be an author!)
and, 3...
while it feels good to see folk acknowledge me as a good writer, I think that all the goodness in the world won't help as much as when somefolk points out what you got wrong or could do better. Now, critiques, the critical ones, are as shiny as Kaylee's smile. Flames... well, they can go die.
That's about it, I think.
and, 4...
I've written a Book!!! It's coming out, May of '07! Called Those Who Inherit the Will of the Damned. I think it's shiny. I had a limit of 100 pages, so I had to do some MAJOR editing (I had planned for a two fifty+ page story, there!) Please, folks... but it! I'm a poor white boy who need the money. I'll post a blog when it comes out!
And, last for now, 5...
I usualy just write as I go, post when it's done (OR, spellchecked, if'n I'm at school). I have the whole plot in my head, and I flesh out the details when I'm typin'. It's worked out so far- I like to leave room for new ideas. Somethin' cool pops up in my head, then I have the lee way to pop it in.
-Danny


Yeah, and I'd like to be the King of all Londinium and wear a shiny hat.
98% of teens have smoked pot, if you are one of the 2% that haven't, copy this into your signature.

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Saturday, March 3, 2007 3:17 PM

YINYANG

You were busy trying to get yourself lit on fire. It happens.


1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

Well, I'm not done with any, but I finally decided to write one (screen-play style so it feels more like the show, and so I don't have to deal with physical character descriptions). I'm debating whether or not I should put in the Blue Sun Room, or just leave it in my blogs, because I typically avoid fanfiction like the plague (at least, the ones involving any characters that were developed during the show), and I don't want to be a hypocrite (or something).

But, I think that wanting to write is much the same as wanting to make a computer background - the people who have these skills want to put them to use, and I think Firefly inspires them to make something. Artistic people make art, and they do it mostly for themselves, I think (gratification, an acknowledgement of their skills or courage, etc.) - at least, that's why I'm going to be in it.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

To satisfy my urge to create art. To give back. To explore something (I'm not really sure at this point) that wasn't even really mentioned in the series (so that I can take liberties, of course). Ultimately, my goal is a finished product that I can be happpy with.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

Well, when I put it up, I want both. I would like people to say, "Here's what I liked" and, "Here's what I didn't like" so I can better identify my strengths and weaknesses. I'll ask that of everyone, because then a criticism that I see once could be chalked up to the reader (although I would still evaluate what they didn't like), vs. a criticism that I see all the time, which would then be something for me to seriously consider (aside from something like "Do more stuff with the crew," because I don't want to sully the 'verse with my bad character interpretations).

EDIT: Just saw this question, so I'll answer it.

What else do you write besides fanfic? Are any of you writers of other genres?

I did poems for a while (when I was depressed, and needed an outlet for my emotions - or lack thereof), and I've kept journals for my own sake (scared the gos-se outta myself more than a few times, too). I've also done random short stories (because, if I don't write it quick, it's usually gone - I couldn't write a good novel to save my life, lol). I've been writing on and off since at least the 6th grade. (I still have a story my English teacher really liked. Scary.)

I've also done poem/songs, despite the fact that they aren't particularly good. It's like writing is in my blood or something.

---

Now, if anyone could point me in the direction of some short(er), original character fanfics set in the 'verse (like mine's going to be), I would gladly read them. Just, y'know, short - I don't have the drive to read as much as I would like, and so the longest I would probably read is 15 chapters (give or take depending on the length of said chapters). Please?

(Edited again because I'm slightly obsessive-compulsive when it comes to writing.)


Rules and voting: http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=22892

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Saturday, March 3, 2007 4:05 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


Hey, JamesTheDark, sorry for replying after so long a time!

The fact that you brought in characters from another fanfic universe is interesting. A few years back I wrote a novel (got close to getting it published, but no cigar...yet) and one of my characters from that would fit quite well into the Firefly Verse -- although, she may be a bit too much like Mal. Although...maybe that would be interesting. I'll have to think on it a bit more seriously now.



If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Saturday, March 3, 2007 4:30 PM

KAYLEEGIRL


Quote:

Originally posted by jetflair:

It's a double-edged sword, though. I post my story on several different sites, and discuss it with different people, and critques can differ so much they drive me mad.

For example, one person will suggest that the story is dragging and I need more action, more violence, and crank up the angst, because I'm writing an unrealistically fluffy view of life in an Alliance POW camp. So I write and change things and address those issues and then.......

Someone tells me the story is too dark and angsty and I should lighten things up a bit, and play up the more compassionate aspects of the story.

So I've come to be a little iffy on certain types of feedback like that, and rely more on where I myself feel the story should go.



Jetflair, I just wanted to confirm your conclusion on taking the story where you think it should go. Good reasoning!

I've been writing for quite a while and I find that the only time that others can give valid advice on plot, theme, and even tone is after they have read the entire story. Critiques on the first parts of a story are fine if they're about proof reading advice, grammar, consistancy in characterization, fact checking, continuity -- basic stuff. But my philosphy is: If you don't know where a story is going, how can you know what needs to be kept in and what can be taken out? After reading through an entire draft of a story, then valid advice can be given.

Do you have anyone to beta your stories before posting? It helps a lot! (She says, now that she has actually posted.) Of course, it also helps to have a clear idea of your story arc and theme before asking for advice or critique. I've recently started outlining before I write and that really helps me to decide which advice to take and which to ignore!




If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.

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Sunday, March 4, 2007 12:21 AM

SPACEANJL


Can't even load the Big Damn Thread in it's entirety, so I'll just reply straight off to the top.

I started FF-fic about a year back. I'm a wannabe writer anyway, and was going through a period of writer's block. Then I got sandbagged by a really vivid little scene. I'm now four stories (and 90,000+ words)into what may be a six or seven story arc. None of the original ideas will stay in my head with the heavily armed scary man.

The why? I wanted to find out what happened to these people, mainly. My goal is to write something that Joss might read and think 'damn, I wish I wrote that!'. Something that stays true to the vision.

Supportive comments are always nice! You may find that if you don't write a particular strain of fanfic here, you may get ignored.

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Friday, August 31, 2007 10:16 PM

HERMITSREST


I know it's a while since the original questions were posted, but I thought they were just great questions that I wanted to answer.

1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
I've been writing a story for years, but never shown it to anyone but family and close friends. I read the fanfic on this website for over a year and finally thought about writing my own, for a few reasons. One, because I love Firefly and wanted to carry it on. Two, because I wanted to see if people liked my style of writing. Three, I wanted to improve my writing. It kind of spiralled from there. I was keen for each story to be episode length-ish, with the odd longer one (double episode), as it makes it more bite-size for people to read (and for me to write). However, I'm a great believer in the concept of stories never ending, just like real life. It's a relay-race, one thing ends and another carries on.
Since posting my first fanfic, Hun Dan, back in March (07), I have just posted number 14 this August (07). Have already written 15, 16, 17 and 18, but they are in the queue to be beta'd at the moment. After 18 I will stop that series and skip ahead a few years, before continuing, so of course number 18 will be a finale-type of story.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
To have people enjoy a good story that they could imagine happening in the show. To make readers laugh, cry and do a few buttock clenches (if I'm really lucky) at the action moments. That would be my goal in any writing.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Yes, it's good, bad and ugly comments for me, though I prefer it when people express a constructive opinion, rather than just make a passing statement without reference.
Comments are one of the things that help me stay or leave the direction I'm taking. Having a beta also helps the process, as I make sure I'm taking out bad spelling, punctuation and sentenance arrangement. BlueEyedBrigadier is my beta, and he is brilliant. A good beta, in my opinion, does not try and rewrite your story for you, but helps you achieve your aims. It's not an easy job, and I'm very grateful for his efforts. It also helps if they like your stuff as it gives further encouragement to keep going.
Like AMDOBELL's comments earlier, I do this for me, but I also do this for people to enjoy, so if they stopped commenting, I may lose heart and stop posting - though it would sadden me to do so.

First and foremost I love to write and it's great to channel that into something that other people can get instant enjoyment out of. It means that when I do go back to the other thing I've been writing, I know I've improved my style and it's made me a better writer.

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Thursday, September 20, 2007 11:58 AM

WYTCHCROFT





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Thursday, September 20, 2007 2:43 PM

MERRYK


1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?

Mostly because my mind naturally fills in all those gaps that we aren't shown with something, even if I never get them written down. I enjoy writing, though, so they often do. Another factor is writing a point of view or scene or interpretation that I think is underrepresented. I tend to be in the minority in a lot of opinions, so this factor comes into play a lot. I've written too many fanfics to count, but only four Firefly ones right now.

2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?

To satisfy my urge to explore everywhere I want to explore in the universes I love, and also to give pleasure to readers.

3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?

I love when I get feedback. Positive, of course, is good, but constructive criticism warms my heart as well.

--
"My way of being polite, or however...well, it's the only way I have of showing you that I like you. Of showing respect." Simon Tam, Jaynestown

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