30 Day Fanfiction MeMe in 3 Days - Day Three
My answers to the last ten questions.
21 - Sequels - Have you ever written a sequel to a fic you wrote, and if so, why, and if not, how do you feel about sequels?
I've never written a sequel. I'm not against them as long as they aren't just being written for sequel's sake. That is, if the characters can still evolve and if there is a story to tell, that's great. If not, then things are better left as they are. (Does that make sense? I was up late last night and I'm off caffeine.)
22 - Have you ever participated in a fest or a Big Bang? If so, write about your favorite experience in relation to one. If not, are there any you've thought about doing? And if not, why not?
I'm not really sure what a Big Bang is, so I guess I haven't. lol. For me, writing is a solitary process. I don't like letting other people in and I especially don't enjoy deadlines. Joining a ficathon would feel like having someone watch me while I shower. There I am naked and this person is staring at me, tapping his watch. I'm extremely introverted by nature, so that's probably why I don't thrive on the big community efforts. However, I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for those who do. I wish I could be like that.
23 - When you post, where do you post to? Just your journal? Just an archive? Your own personal site?
I post on my journal, fanfiction.net, Spuffy Realm, Bloodshedverse (when my fics fit the guidelines; TGwFH does not), and Elysian Fields. I've thought about posting on the various LJ Fic Communities, but I feel like that would just spam my flist every time I update.
24 - Betaing - How many betas do you like to use to make sure there aren't any major flaws in your fic? Do you have a Beta horror story or dream story?
No beta horror stories. I've been very fortunate in that respect. When I work on original fiction, I always have someone I trust look over the story before I send it out. Lately, with fanfiction, I've just been posting the chapters as I finish them. I do know my work is better when I have an editor, but fanfiction is a hobby and I prefer to save the really stressful editing for things I sell. (I'm not exaggerating when I say the editing process worries me to the point of physical sickness. I truly, truly hate it. Reviewer criticism, even when it's harsh, never bothers me to such an extent. I have no idea why this is.)
25 - Music - Do you listen to music while you write? Do you make playlists to get into a certain "mood" to write your fic? Do you need noise in general? Or do you need it completely quiet?
I do listen to music to get me in the mood to write, but when I'm actually writing I prefer quiet. If there is background noise in the room, I'll play music to drown it out. Otherwise, I don't. I have playlists for all my stories.
26 - What is the oddest (or funnest) thing you've had to research for a fic?
Victorian porn, I guess? lol. Since William's sexuality came so much into play in FtTP, I'll admit I read a certain amount of Victorian erotica to see what was going through men's heads at the time. One thing I found really fascinating was that despite the constraints placed on female sexuality, men seemed fixated on sexually powerful women. It was a frequent theme in erotic novels of the time: a young gentleman (in some cases, almost a boy) is seduced by an experienced older woman, usually an authority figure like a nurse or governess (or mother, but let's not go there). Those women didn't just teach their charges about sex, they taught them about really naughty sex, and the fellows only respected them more for it. Of course, things also ran in the other direction. The Way of a Man with a Maid and The Lustful Turk began with rapes instead of seductions. But after the women acquiesced (and of course they did, because women always secretly want to, dontcha know) they became seducers in turn, helping the protagonists with their other conquests. It was an interesting history lesson,to say the least. ;)
27 - Where is your favorite place to write, and do you write by hand or on the computer?
Sprawled across the sofa. Depending on my mood, I'll write either on my laptop or in a leather journal. I prefer my laptop, but sometimes Google proves too much of a distraction.
28 - Have you ever collaborated with anyone else, whether writing together, or having an artist work on a piece about your fic?
I've never collaborated on a piece of writing, but I've been very fortunate in having a number of talented artists create banners for my fanfiction.
29 - What is your current project or projects?
The Girl with Flaxen Hair and A Hundred Visions and Revisions. Both of them "William" tales despite the fact I said I'd never do another one after FtTP. Famous last words. ;D
30 - Do you have a favorite fic you've written? What makes it your favorite? And don't forget to give us a link!
Whatever I'm working on at the time becomes my favorite, so just now it's TGwFH. However, I do admit to being very fond of Winner Take All. It's just a few hundred words of silliness, but I had a lot of fun writing it.
21 - Sequels - Have you ever written a sequel to a fic you wrote, and if so, why, and if not, how do you feel about sequels?
I've never written a sequel. I'm not against them as long as they aren't just being written for sequel's sake. That is, if the characters can still evolve and if there is a story to tell, that's great. If not, then things are better left as they are. (Does that make sense? I was up late last night and I'm off caffeine.)
22 - Have you ever participated in a fest or a Big Bang? If so, write about your favorite experience in relation to one. If not, are there any you've thought about doing? And if not, why not?
I'm not really sure what a Big Bang is, so I guess I haven't. lol. For me, writing is a solitary process. I don't like letting other people in and I especially don't enjoy deadlines. Joining a ficathon would feel like having someone watch me while I shower. There I am naked and this person is staring at me, tapping his watch. I'm extremely introverted by nature, so that's probably why I don't thrive on the big community efforts. However, I have a huge amount of admiration and respect for those who do. I wish I could be like that.
23 - When you post, where do you post to? Just your journal? Just an archive? Your own personal site?
I post on my journal, fanfiction.net, Spuffy Realm, Bloodshedverse (when my fics fit the guidelines; TGwFH does not), and Elysian Fields. I've thought about posting on the various LJ Fic Communities, but I feel like that would just spam my flist every time I update.
24 - Betaing - How many betas do you like to use to make sure there aren't any major flaws in your fic? Do you have a Beta horror story or dream story?
No beta horror stories. I've been very fortunate in that respect. When I work on original fiction, I always have someone I trust look over the story before I send it out. Lately, with fanfiction, I've just been posting the chapters as I finish them. I do know my work is better when I have an editor, but fanfiction is a hobby and I prefer to save the really stressful editing for things I sell. (I'm not exaggerating when I say the editing process worries me to the point of physical sickness. I truly, truly hate it. Reviewer criticism, even when it's harsh, never bothers me to such an extent. I have no idea why this is.)
25 - Music - Do you listen to music while you write? Do you make playlists to get into a certain "mood" to write your fic? Do you need noise in general? Or do you need it completely quiet?
I do listen to music to get me in the mood to write, but when I'm actually writing I prefer quiet. If there is background noise in the room, I'll play music to drown it out. Otherwise, I don't. I have playlists for all my stories.
26 - What is the oddest (or funnest) thing you've had to research for a fic?
Victorian porn, I guess? lol. Since William's sexuality came so much into play in FtTP, I'll admit I read a certain amount of Victorian erotica to see what was going through men's heads at the time. One thing I found really fascinating was that despite the constraints placed on female sexuality, men seemed fixated on sexually powerful women. It was a frequent theme in erotic novels of the time: a young gentleman (in some cases, almost a boy) is seduced by an experienced older woman, usually an authority figure like a nurse or governess (or mother, but let's not go there). Those women didn't just teach their charges about sex, they taught them about really naughty sex, and the fellows only respected them more for it. Of course, things also ran in the other direction. The Way of a Man with a Maid and The Lustful Turk began with rapes instead of seductions. But after the women acquiesced (and of course they did, because women always secretly want to, dontcha know) they became seducers in turn, helping the protagonists with their other conquests. It was an interesting history lesson,to say the least. ;)
27 - Where is your favorite place to write, and do you write by hand or on the computer?
Sprawled across the sofa. Depending on my mood, I'll write either on my laptop or in a leather journal. I prefer my laptop, but sometimes Google proves too much of a distraction.
28 - Have you ever collaborated with anyone else, whether writing together, or having an artist work on a piece about your fic?
I've never collaborated on a piece of writing, but I've been very fortunate in having a number of talented artists create banners for my fanfiction.
29 - What is your current project or projects?
The Girl with Flaxen Hair and A Hundred Visions and Revisions. Both of them "William" tales despite the fact I said I'd never do another one after FtTP. Famous last words. ;D
30 - Do you have a favorite fic you've written? What makes it your favorite? And don't forget to give us a link!
Whatever I'm working on at the time becomes my favorite, so just now it's TGwFH. However, I do admit to being very fond of Winner Take All. It's just a few hundred words of silliness, but I had a lot of fun writing it.