LET'S GET INTIMATE WITH SHIZUKANAI......
THIS SEGMENT ALLOWS US A GLIMPSE INTO THE WORKING OF SHIZUKANAI, HER THOUGHTS HER INSPIRATIONS BEFORE WRITING THE STORIES AND GIVING US THE FINISHED PRODUCT WHICH MAKE THEIR WAY INTO OUR HEARTS WHERE I MIGHT SAY REMAIN FOREVER.....
SIT BACK RELAX AND ENJOY THIS LONG INTERVIEW ......
PART 2
WRITING FAN FICTIONS
TINA: How and when did you decide to be a fanfic author?
YOO: It was around the time when I was fifteen. I always liked writing, but never considered doing it outside of school until I started to read a few SiHan and YunJae fanfictions and started to imagine some scenarios myself which I really wanted to write down.
TINA: What made you to sit down and actually write something?
YOO: I was having so many plots in my head which I wanted to read about but couldn't find anything amongst existing works which had everything I wanted as a combination, so I was like 'Oh what the heck, I'll just write it myself.' and started writing stories to create my own world under my own conditions.
TINA: What is the first fanfic you completed?
YOO: Marry Me! It was a SiHan story with only a subtle cameo by YunJae. I was more into SJ and SiHan back then, to be very honest. It was a horror style-wise and grammar-wise, but I feel proud of it nevertheless because I managed to get it done.
TINA: How did you get your idea for your first fanfic?
YOO: I don't even remember, but I'm pretty sure it was triggered by what I read, watched or saw. I tend to imagine a whole storyline after taking in something which gets me interested, even a few words people near me exchange.
TINA: Have you had any prior experience of writing before your first fanfic?
YOO: I've only written two or three short stories for my German lessons prior to that.
TINA: Have you ever plagued by doubts on your storyline?
YOO: Quite often, actually.
TINA: How did you promote your fanfic to readers?
YOO: I didn't do much 'promotion' until I discovered tumblr and twitter for myself. I then started to post about my stories there.
TINA: Have you ever been anxious about how the readers receive your story?
YOO: Yes, especially when plot twists were involved.
TINA: Thoughts on how you felt when you see the first comment on the first story? Do remember who is the first commenter?
YOO: I felt super excited and happy that there was someone who actually took the time to read my work and even leave a comment on it. I also felt relieved because comments also meant that someone cared and appreciated your work. I think it was a winglin user named followurdestiny. She was the first on the list of commentors I thanked at the end of my first fic and I always made my list by going back to the first comment and write down the commentors' names one by one starting from there, so I'm fairly sure it was her.
TINA: How do you prepare yourself before writing a fanfic?
YOO: I don't really do preparations most of the time. I just sit down and write when I'm in the mood for it. Although, when I plan an all-nighter, I drink lots of coffee beforehand to keep myself awake.
TINA: Do you work out plot line or do you prefer to see where your ideas or inspiration take you?
YOO: I just start writing with a basic idea in mind and then continue based on spontaneous ideas.
TINA: When and how does your inspiration or muse come to you?
YOO: At very different times and in forms of very different things. It can be during the morning when I get up and feel something I want to share with the help of someone else taking my role in a story, during the day when I'm out buying groceries and spot something or hear something which triggers a whole conversation between two characters in my head, during the evening when I'm out having dinner with friends or during the night when I'm lying in bed reading or watching something.
TINA: What is the weirdest place you were struck by inspiration for your fanfic?
YOO: I don't think I ever came up with an idea at a weird place. Not that I am aware of, that is.
TINA: How much research do you do for your story?
YOO: I guess not too much but not too little either. I mean, it's different for each story. When I feel the need to look things up, I do it thoroughly and end up doing more research than actual writing in one day.
TINA: What is the easiest part of writing?
YOO: To me, describing emotions in detail.
TINA: What is the hardest part of writing a story?
YOO: Sorting your thoughts as you try to find the right words to use.
TINA: The writer’s worst nightmare the dreaded writer’s block.
When is the worst writer’s block you ever had? How did you overcome it?
YOO: I think it was shortly before and also a while after graduation. I was so stressed and spent weeks sitting in front of the computer without actually typing down anything. I tried to relax as best as possible because I knew that the more I pressured myself into writing, the less I'd actually enjoy it. I distracted myself by doing things which were not fanfic-related and just enjoyed simple things which made me feel at ease. It was like a vacation for my writer-self and after a while, I was starting to want to write again.
TINA: Any useful tips on how to overcome the writer’s block?
YOO: Do not pressure yourself. Forget the deadlines you set in your head and enjoy life a bit. Sometimes, you are just too stressed out to write and need a while to relax and find inspiration.
TINA: Have you written any collaboration with other author’s? If yes name of the fanfic.
YOO: I once started a project with an author on winglin. I think the fic's name was 'Key To My Heart'. I also started a project with dgskjump. It's a series named 'Ichigo Aegi' and is about Yunho's and Jaejoong's life as a married couple with their twin sons.
TINA: How do you describe your writing style? Do you think you have your own personal writing style?
YOO: I don't really know how to describe my writing style. The only word I can think of is 'detailed'. I think everyone has their own writing style by default, like a part of who you are.
TINA: How do you think you have evolved creatively throughout the years? Do you notice any change in the way you write?
YOO: Well my grammar has gotten much better I suppose and compared to how I started, I am much more detailed in describing everything now, especially the emotions of my characters.
TINA: LETS TALK ABOUT YOUR STORIES IN DETAIL:
TINA: Tell us about the tear jerker "BROKEN BEYOND REPAIR"(thoughts, inspiration and how readers accepted the story?)
YOO: Oh yeah that story was so much fun to write! I'm more of a fluff-writer and normally don't do angst to that extent so it was something new and exciting to work on. Halfway through it, I actually felt sorry for both, Jaejoong and Yunho although Yunho was a very horrible character at the beginning and I know that many readers did not approve of Jaejoong getting back together with Yunho, but that's how reality can work out. There are people who have been hurt by another person to the point of breaking and yet they somehow end up going back to that person because of love and willingness to start anew. Their love in that story is not perfect at all and that's okay. There was a point where I thought that getting them back together was not going to work out - Yunho was originally supposed to die during the shootout- , but as you can see, I have found my ways around the bitter ending. Having Yunho drop to the very bottom was a must to avoid the bitter ending because if he wasn't going to lose the life with his love and his child, he had to lose everything else as compensation. And once he lost practically everything, he had to suffer his way back up the top, whereas the top was not his status as an heir or wealth and power but Jaejoong and Moonbin. I think that when it comes to the view on Yunho, readers can easily relate to Junsu. He started off hating Yunho to the point of finding joy in seeing him suffer and even with how things ended later on, Junsu never gave Yunho an ounce of trust or forgiveness he didn't earn the hard way. And gosh, did I love writing kickass Junsu. He is by far my favorite character in the story. I really don't remember what actually inspired me to write that fic because inspirations for my fanfics come and go so randomly. They are mostly fleeting thoughts and by the time I start writing the fic, I have most likely forgotten what actually inspired me to write that plot down. I didn't excpect for readers' reaction to be that explosive. I think it is my most commented-on fic on AFF and LJ, though you can't see the comments on LJ anymore because I moved the fic from my community to my journal. BROKEN BEYONG REPAIR is also the only story of mine which ever got featured on AFF, so I was overwhelmed by how well that story was received. I'm planning a small gift for readers of that fic to show my gratitude, by the way. Thank you so much for the breathtaking support!
TINA: Your story HOMELESS is recommended in every list i ever saw..thoughts about that and few words on that unique story line.
YOO:I feel super honored and happy, seriously. Having your fic recommended is the best feeling ever! I was and still am super surprised by how loved it was or is . It was just a small idea I had after reading that old interview where Junsu told us about JJ giving a stranger a place to stay for the night and suddenly so many readers started swarming in and also many ideas for the fic. I guess that shows how important even the smallest ideas are. So if you ever get an idea that just won't leave you alone, don't let anything hold you back. Just go for it!
TINA:Few words about story "PATHS DESTINED" have you ever been in a position between choosing two people.
YOO:Never. I wish my love-life was that interesting. But the story is pretty much based on something probably many people have wondered about at some point: "What if I had decided differently back then?" Me having wondered so myself and me being a YunJae author brought us this story.
TINA:Apart Yunjae which pairing would u like to write the most..
YOO:Gosh I've fallen in love with Kurtbastian (Kurt x Sebastian) lately. It's a non-canon ship from the show Glee. Some of you may have heard about it. I never watched that show. I only saw snippets of Klaine (Kurt x Blaine), THE canon guy x guy pairing on the show and somehow, while watching Sebastian and Kurt fighting over Blaine, I kind of had the thought that Sebastian and Kurt could be one powerful pair. They are both witty and quick with words, knowing just how to keep up with each other and I think that they had potential.
TINA: Let's not forget about the awesome fic "THE WIDOWER"..it's took such an interesting turn in the end..how did u come up with this idea?
YOO:I was addicted to series such as Criminal Minds, The Closer, NCIS and Major Crimes at that time (and I still am to this day) and then came Jaejoong's BNT photoshoot where he was wearing that black coat and hat and he looked like a detective from the 20s and everything combined suddenly brought me the idea of Jaejoong as a detective and boom! A new fic was born. Also, I really wanted to try writing a crime fic and see whether I can play around with my readers' mind well enough to surprise them in the end.
TINA:lets talk about your recommendation list..it is as famous as your master list.so how often u read fanfics in between writing and how did u get the idea to start your own recommendation list.
YOO:I didn't know my rec list was that well-known, so wow. Well lately, I barely have time to do anything else than studying and working, so my time for reading is limited. I will work on updating my rec list as soon as I got some time to relax and be away from work and university. I started to make a rec list because many people have been asking me for fanfiction recs and I kept forgetting to name a few awesome fics so I thought 'Just make a proper rec list so you can link them to it!'. Also, I wanted to spread the awesomeness of the fics I've read.
TINA: How important are readers and their comments?
YOO: Endlessly important. They are the constant push which brings me forward because they remind me that I'm creating something which makes others happy.
TINA: I have been a silent reader for few months before taking the steps to comment..Any words for silent readers?
YOO: Enjoy the stories! And don't pressure yourself into commenting if you don't want to. It's true, that comments do make us authors happy, but we all know we got silent readers somewhere out there who support us authors just as well as the ones who do comment by simply reading our stories. Sometimes, when us authors don't get any comments, we feel discouraged, but I personally have reached the point where I just take the lack of comments as a challenge for myself to do things better the next time and lure a reaction out of people.
TINA: Do you read other yunjae fanfics? If yes name of the fanfic you loved?
YOO: There are so many! But to name two which really had my heart going: Falling For You by lunarrays and Back in Time by Mianhechii
TINA: Are you friends with any other author’s?
YOO: I'm friends with quite a few, amongst them are kas2umi and sumiko.
TINA: How do you make your stories standout when there are heaps of other stories with similar plot lines?
YOO: Never thought about this, to be very honest.
TINA: Has anyone stole your story and published under their name?
YOO: Well there were some who copied my stories posted them as their own ones or provided DL links of my fics without my consent.
TINA: Thoughts on others stealing your work?
YOO: That's just low.
TINA: How do you manage your time between your daily activities and updating stories?
YOO: I do everything I need to do during the day and then try to write during the night when no one bothers me or wants me to do anything.
TINA: DO you have any favorite time of the day to write stories?
YOO: The night. The author within me works better at night.
LET'S TALK SMUT AND YUNJAE TABOO:
TINA: So tells us why are we so interested to read the taboo topics when it comes to yunjae?
YOO: I think all of us got certain kinks in mind which we would never ever consider exploring in real life but since we know it's only fictional in fanfics, we allow ourselves to get interested and intrigued and since we trust authors to make it right for Yunho and Jaejoong, it's alright for us to read about it because fanfictions give you freedom to sink into a world you cannot or do not want to live in for real.
TINA: How difficult or easy is writing smut?
YOO: Very difficult. I'd almost say I dread writing smut because you can only write so many different ways of making love before you run out of ideas.
TINA: Do you blush or get embarrassed while writing smut?
YOO: I used to get embarrassed, but now I'm like “Alright, let's get this over with.”
TINA: How do you write the sex scene? What is the inspiration?
YOO: The inspiration is the situation within the fanfic itself. If the situation calls for it, you will get inspiration for sex scenes, be it love making or rough sex. I imagine two people in that very situaton I've created up until the sex scene and then write down whatever I think a person in the situation could do and how one character acts while the other character reacts. It's a no-brainer from there.
TINA: Have you ever watched GV before writing a smut scene?
YOO: Yes, I have.
TINA: Has any family member or friends have ever walked on you while writing a sex scene?
YOO: Several times, actually. For example, my computer was once broken and I had to write the smut scene on the computer in the living room and my father kept pacing around behind me while searching for something and it was just horrible because the words flashing on the computer screen screamed 'porn'. But he didn't pay attention to whatever I was doing so I was saved from embarrassment.
TINA: Thoughts after writing your first ever sex scene?
YOO: “I can't believe I wrote that!”
TINA: What is the secret of writing a sex scene that turns on your readers?
YOO: I suppose it's the description of the character's feelings ( especially pleasure) while they are having sex. The better you describe, the easier it is for readers to get emotionally involved in the scene.
TINA: Still writing or you stopped now?
YOO: I'm still active although it doesn't seem like it.
TINA: Future yunjae projects?
YOO: I got a lot of projects in mind, but for now, I want to finish my ongoing projects first.
TINA: Have you anytime in future have plans on deleting your journal?
YOO: Not ever. If I ever stop writing, you guys can be sure that I'm not deleting my journal or aff account if I can help it.
TINA: Any words for the readers?
YOO: Thank you for sticking around and supporting us authors. I don't know whether you are aware of it, but any kind of support you show us, gives us strength. Sometimes, an author will feel down and have a writer's block or consider to stop, but it's your guys' support which reminds us that or work means something to someone. So, thank you for everything.
End of part 2.