Author Interview: Tidwell
Author Interview: Tidwell
There are 3 engrossing stories by Tidwell on the House What-If Rec List. You can find her online as Tidwell [FF] / magical24 [LJ].
Please give her a warm welcome and interact in the comments section below.
The What-If Genre
As a writer and/or as a reader, what draws you to what-iffy fic?
If a TV show and its characters are strong enough, many more stories can be told than what we get in canon. And what if your characters take a left turn instead of a right in a story we've seen in canon? How would those characters fare and where would that "wrong" turn lead them? These are the most compelling fan stories to me. They are also the most fun to write and, in my opinion, one of the main reasons fan fiction came to be.
As a Reader
What was the first House fic you remember reading, and why has it stuck with you?
One of the first fics I read was "In the Mouth of Madness" by DIYSheep. This is the writer who originated the "Contract" verse. However, "Madness" is my favorite fic by her. It is strange and daring with some pathos here and there. The whole "strange House" universe had a great deal of influence on my House fanfic writing.
Some of your favorite House fics, and why? (Can be in what-iffy genre or any other type - categorize any way you like.)
I love " The Sleeping Man" by Maineac. It is long but never dull. House's trials through a loss of self are written so well, the story could have been canon. I also love "No Mere Mortal, He" by Slipstream. It is a beautiful "what-if" story that might bring a tear or two if you love the House character.
As a Writer
What do you struggle with as an author?
Discipline. To sit and focus on the act of completing a chapter or getting a rewrite finished is probably the most difficult thing for me. I find that giving myself a time limit (you WILL get this done in an hour) seems to help.
Self-recs - your favorite fics that you've written (and why)?
My two favorite fics of mine are "A Long Slow Fade" and "Rest Stop". These were lots of fun to write. "Fade" is a crossover with the show Medium, which is another favorite show of mine. House is in a terrible predicament in this one. The power of suggestion has enabled him to cut back on his Vicodin use. But as his therapy sessions progress, his need for them becomes stronger than it ever was for his pills. Psychological horror, if you will.
"Rest Stop" is a what-if fic featuring Dylan Crandall, House's old musical buddy. What if House chose music as a career over medicine? How would his life had been different? Cuddy and Wilson both have significant (albeit different) roles in this one.
What genres/works outside fandom have influenced you as a writer?
I love speculative fiction. Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz (when he wrote scary stuff), and Robert McCammon were all big influences on my writing.
What are you currently writing?
I've been working on a novel outside fandom for a long time. It's has to do with aliens who have been living on Earth for eons and have decided now is the time to make this planet their own. I had many chapters done but then my computer crashed. Since I did not save to the cloud (something my daughter continues to give me grief about) I needed to start over. But that's fine. I think having that story set in my head and getting it down again gives me freedom to look at it from different angles. Yes, and this time I'm saving to the cloud.
Describe how you collaborate with other writers to produce fic (co-authoriing, betaing, etc.).
When I was writing most of these House stories, I had the pleasure of working with other writers who liked what I had done and were willing to be my betas. I was able to reciprocate and give them my comments on their work as well. It was a very rewarding experience. If you have a great beta, your story will be stronger for it. Every writer needs another pair of eyes to read their story fresh and find the weaknesses, plot holes, etc., that can bog a piece of writing down.
Favorite House episodes? When did you start watching?
I started watching right from the beginning. The fact that Hugh Laurie, who I knew from his comedy work, was going to play a dramatic role, hooked me from the start.
My favorite episodes? There are so many good ones. I love "Detox", "Three Stories" (of course), DNR. I also love certain arcs: the Tritter arc, the ghost Amber arc. "House's Head"/"Wilson's Heart", "Help Me". The series finale was the perfect way to see the show out so I'll mention "Everybody Dies" too.
Did you write fanfic before you got into the House fandom? What/when were your first fandom(s)?
Yes, I wrote Quantum Leap fan fiction back in the '90s. Those came out in physical zines, which fans would order and have it sent in the mail. My fanfiction writing led me to be pro published and my Quantum Leap novel, Song and Dance, was published by Berkley Penguin publishing in 1998. That was quite an honor!
There are 3 engrossing stories by Tidwell on the House What-If Rec List. You can find her online as Tidwell [FF] / magical24 [LJ].
Please give her a warm welcome and interact in the comments section below.
The What-If Genre
As a writer and/or as a reader, what draws you to what-iffy fic?
If a TV show and its characters are strong enough, many more stories can be told than what we get in canon. And what if your characters take a left turn instead of a right in a story we've seen in canon? How would those characters fare and where would that "wrong" turn lead them? These are the most compelling fan stories to me. They are also the most fun to write and, in my opinion, one of the main reasons fan fiction came to be.
As a Reader
What was the first House fic you remember reading, and why has it stuck with you?
One of the first fics I read was "In the Mouth of Madness" by DIYSheep. This is the writer who originated the "Contract" verse. However, "Madness" is my favorite fic by her. It is strange and daring with some pathos here and there. The whole "strange House" universe had a great deal of influence on my House fanfic writing.
Some of your favorite House fics, and why? (Can be in what-iffy genre or any other type - categorize any way you like.)
I love " The Sleeping Man" by Maineac. It is long but never dull. House's trials through a loss of self are written so well, the story could have been canon. I also love "No Mere Mortal, He" by Slipstream. It is a beautiful "what-if" story that might bring a tear or two if you love the House character.
As a Writer
What do you struggle with as an author?
Discipline. To sit and focus on the act of completing a chapter or getting a rewrite finished is probably the most difficult thing for me. I find that giving myself a time limit (you WILL get this done in an hour) seems to help.
Self-recs - your favorite fics that you've written (and why)?
My two favorite fics of mine are "A Long Slow Fade" and "Rest Stop". These were lots of fun to write. "Fade" is a crossover with the show Medium, which is another favorite show of mine. House is in a terrible predicament in this one. The power of suggestion has enabled him to cut back on his Vicodin use. But as his therapy sessions progress, his need for them becomes stronger than it ever was for his pills. Psychological horror, if you will.
"Rest Stop" is a what-if fic featuring Dylan Crandall, House's old musical buddy. What if House chose music as a career over medicine? How would his life had been different? Cuddy and Wilson both have significant (albeit different) roles in this one.
What genres/works outside fandom have influenced you as a writer?
I love speculative fiction. Stephen King, Ray Bradbury, Dean Koontz (when he wrote scary stuff), and Robert McCammon were all big influences on my writing.
What are you currently writing?
I've been working on a novel outside fandom for a long time. It's has to do with aliens who have been living on Earth for eons and have decided now is the time to make this planet their own. I had many chapters done but then my computer crashed. Since I did not save to the cloud (something my daughter continues to give me grief about) I needed to start over. But that's fine. I think having that story set in my head and getting it down again gives me freedom to look at it from different angles. Yes, and this time I'm saving to the cloud.
Describe how you collaborate with other writers to produce fic (co-authoriing, betaing, etc.).
When I was writing most of these House stories, I had the pleasure of working with other writers who liked what I had done and were willing to be my betas. I was able to reciprocate and give them my comments on their work as well. It was a very rewarding experience. If you have a great beta, your story will be stronger for it. Every writer needs another pair of eyes to read their story fresh and find the weaknesses, plot holes, etc., that can bog a piece of writing down.
Favorite House episodes? When did you start watching?
I started watching right from the beginning. The fact that Hugh Laurie, who I knew from his comedy work, was going to play a dramatic role, hooked me from the start.
My favorite episodes? There are so many good ones. I love "Detox", "Three Stories" (of course), DNR. I also love certain arcs: the Tritter arc, the ghost Amber arc. "House's Head"/"Wilson's Heart", "Help Me". The series finale was the perfect way to see the show out so I'll mention "Everybody Dies" too.
Did you write fanfic before you got into the House fandom? What/when were your first fandom(s)?
Yes, I wrote Quantum Leap fan fiction back in the '90s. Those came out in physical zines, which fans would order and have it sent in the mail. My fanfiction writing led me to be pro published and my Quantum Leap novel, Song and Dance, was published by Berkley Penguin publishing in 1998. That was quite an honor!