Survey for fanfic authors

[tangofiction]

A survey for fanfic writers from the Xena Online Community board (source thread is here). Saving my replies in a fit of narcissism. Also adding some Phantom stuff.

LadyKate's Survey for Fanfic Authors

1. How long have you been writing fanfic? Are you still writing?

On and off for about six years. Yes, I'm still writing.



2. Have you written fanfic in fandoms other than XENA? Was XENA the first fandom in which you wrote?

X:WP was the first, and the only fandom in which I would say I write genuine fanfic. Lately I've switched to "The Phantom of the Opera", but that feels more like original fiction to me, since I'm not deeply emotionally invested in any pairing or any one character.



3. Have you written original fiction as well as fanfic? If not, do you plan to write original fiction someday?

I've been writing poetry since before I can remember, but I never really had an interest in writing prose -- mainly because I never felt I had much to say on any specific subject. I did try writing a piece of Fantasy fiction sometime in 1999, long before I even thought of writing fanfic. I didn't finish that story, but it was a good writing experience and I still have it.



I do plan to try my hand at original fiction one day, but I don't imagine for a moment that I could make a living that way, and if I'm going to write for fun, I'd rather write fanfic and share it with other fans.



4. Do you have favorite characters to write? If so, which ones? Are there characters you find hard to write or have no interest in writing?

Xena is definitely my favourite, but I also enjoy writing Livia and Ares, although it took me a long time to learn to write Ares in a way that I was happy with. Writing Gabrielle tends to be a bit boring, but on the other hand, it's easy. I've never written Joxer because I don't find him the least bit interesting to write about, much as I like his character on the show. Same with Callisto -- both of them are so obvious and complete that there is no real challenge for the writer except to restate what has already been shown.



In the "Phantom of the Opera" fandom, my favourite character is probably Madame Giry, but I enjoy writing all of them for different reasons. Generally I don't find any one character more difficult to write than another, perhaps because the canon is tiny compared with X:WP, and so the characters are largely my own interpretation.



5. What do you most like writing and find easiest to write: (a) romance, (b) action/drama, (c) comedy, (d) angst, (e) no preference?

I like a bit of everything, but I find comedy incredibly difficult (and scary) to write, because there is just no way to tell whether the lines that crack me up will be as funny to someone else. I tend to stick to drama, with a bit of angst and romance thrown in. I don't know how to write the kind of romance that ties your stomach in knots as you wait for the characters to get together, so I don't write that kind of thing. I also try to restrain myself when it comes to writing angst: angst is by far the easiest thing to write, but it's definitely best used sparingly. I'm working on that.



6. Do you write: (a) ubers, (b) classic Xena stories, (c) Conqueror/Alternate Universe stories, (e) more than one genre?

I've written everything except Conqueror Xena, but since she appears for five minutes in a Hercules ep, I don't think that's unusual -- after all, i've never written about "Welthea-Xena" either.



7. Do you write explicit sex scenes? What about graphic violence?

Yes, and yes. Well, somewhat explicit and somewhat graphic. I don't set out to write an explicit scene, but if it feels right to do it, I don't shy away from it.



8. Are there things you absolutely will not do or even consider doing in one of your stories? E.g., kill off a character, or have Xena (or Gabrielle or Ares) sleep with someone other than who you think they should be sleeping with, or depict sexual violence or abuse.

The main thing I would never do is violate the integrity of a character -- if I don't like a character, I just don't write them. I would never "reinvent" a character the way I think they should be written, or force them into a situation that does not naturally arise from the story and from their personality.



I don't think that there are any subjects that are taboo for me in and of themselves, although there are some that must be handled very carefully. I would never, ever write a story with a gratuitous or self-indulgent treatment of violence (that includes blood-and-guts horror), because that's an insult to the reader's humanity.



9. Do you have a particular writing "method"? Do you map out the plot in advance, either in your head or in writing? Do you think through some scenes in detail before you write them? Do you edit a lot? Do you have a beta reader/beta readers? Do you ever think about/plot your next fanfic while still working on your current one?

I don't have a one-fits-all method, it depends on the story. With shorter pieces, I write because I have an idea and simply have to put it to paper, and usually those are written in one or two sittings. With longer stories I do try to plan them out as best I can, but generally I know the ending and the rough outline of events with a few milestones along the way, and then try to let the story take me there.



Sometimes I do plan a scene in detail, but usually what I plan are the characters' mental states rather than the events. If it's a plot-driven scene (something happens and people react), I tend to write it quickly and on a burst of inspiration, because figuring out a character's reaction to event X is a lot easier than trying to find an event that would make a character feel a certain way. Both types of scenes are required for a long story.



I do edit a lot, but I avoid editing stories that have been posted. This is one reason why my latest story is being posted chapter-by-chapter: I'm hoping to avoid excessive editing and stick to writing the thing. (With some, limited, success. ) I have a beta-reader, and occasionally other readers who help me to brainstorm ideas.



I never think about other long stories while writing one (in fact I generally swear I'll never write another long one ever again ) but I often think about, and even write, short pieces while working on something long.



10. Do you ever re-read your stories? Do you have a favorite/favorites?

Yes, and sort of. The favourites vary according to my mood.



11. Do you ever wish you could go back and change some things in your stories?

Usually not once they are well and truly finished, but I often wish I'd thought of doing something differently in an earlier chapter. I don't tend to dwell on it if it's something I can't change, and I'd never pull a published story to do a complete rewrite. What's done is done.



12. What do you think are your main strengths and weaknesses as a writer? Are there things you'd like to learn?

Oh, there are always things to learn. My weaknesses would be dialogue (especially slang) and humour, and occasionally pace. My strengths are probably desсriрtion and style, although I'm arguably not the most objective judge of this.



13. Have you written fanfics that you haven't posted, for whatever reason? Have you had story ideas that you like but probably won't get to write, for lack of time or other reasons?

I've posted everything I consider worthwhile. I haven't posted my very first one-page fanfic, which I wrote solely for my pleasure -- it has no literary merit whatsoever. I also have a couple of unfinished pieces -- an uber collaboration, and another old classic-Xena fic called "Lethe", which was my practice piece and is never going to see the light of day.



I've had other story ideas for X:WP fics, but not anything that has intrigued me enough to compel me to write it. I feel that I've pretty much covered all the emotional ground for myself as far as X:WP fics go, so I probably won't be writing any more.



14. What advice would you give a beginning fanfic writer?

Avoid the Mary-Sue, use a beta-reader, and don't write anything you don't believe in, even if it "sells". Also, don't forget that your mother/first-grade teacher/child could be reading your work, so think hard before writing a scene that you would be uncomfortable to discuss with people you know and respect in real life.