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Post by Lady Lasa on Mar 23, 2009 18:32:39 GMT -5
This is a chance to get to know the writers on the board. Here, there is a set of questions to ask a particular author about his or her fanfiction. The interview has a couple of different parts. The first part is a general "About the author" section. The second will be a set of questions regarding one of the author's fanfics.
After those two sections have been completed, then other members on the board can ask the author questions. I figured we can keep that going for a couple of days to give people time for Q&A and then the author will pick the next person to be interviewed.
Each time a new author is chosen, he or she will answer the standard questions and then the process continues with open Q&A. Once we have cycled through all of our authors, we can start over with a different story. The first story must be one that is posted on this board, but the next round can be about any of the author's stories.
If there is any confusion, feel free to send me a PM and I'll answer as best as I can.
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Post by Lady Lasa on Mar 23, 2009 18:42:03 GMT -5
Since I'm starting off the interviews, I get to pick the first author Muahaha!
So, our first one is going to be...
Suhaila (fierysue) regarding her story "Deadlock"
General
1. When did you first take interest in writing?
2. What is your favorite genre to write (romance, angst, action, etc)?
3. Do you have a particular atmosphere that helps you write (For example: music, silence, brightly lit, dark, etc)?
4. Do you use Original Characters (OC)? (if No, skip to #8)
5. Do any of your OC resemble you?
6. Can you relate any of your OC to one of the regular characters (appearance, attitude, etc)?
7. What is your favorite OC to write and why?
8. How many words does an average chapter consist of in your stories?
9. Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chapter stories?
10. Do you write anything other than fan-fiction?
Regarding the story
1. What was your inspiration behind this piece?
2. Have you thought about continuing it or writing a sequel (Kevin comes back either good or evil, consequences, etc)?
I'm going to leave the rest open for other members to ask their own questions.
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Post by fierysue on Mar 24, 2009 9:35:33 GMT -5
*Is so flattered* Thanks Lasa! General 1. When did you first take interest in writing? I've always loved creating little fairytales of my own but I never really considered writing as even a hobby until I discovered fanfiction. It was love at first sight, because I'm so opinionated and I always want to write up my version of 'what happens' next. And now I can't seem to get enough!2. What is your favorite genre to write (romance, angst, action, etc)? Ooh, that's tough!
Action is such a hard genre to write for, which is why I admire authors who can write action (Lasa included).
I think it would have to be romance (partly because I read that the most and am most influenced by romance - Melanie may have something to do with that when it comes to B10), although I love angst as well. In angst, there are more ways to develop emotions, which is something I love to do. After all, angst deals mainly with emotions, and there is something about the imperfectness of a written situation that makes it so poignant and emotive. It is sometimes pretty hard though, not too overdo the angst!
But I'm going off topic now. Back to the questions...3. Do you have a particular atmosphere that helps you write (For example: music, silence, brightly lit, dark, etc)? Particular atmosphere? Not really. I usually just sit in front of my computer and type away. However, sometimes I play some music that I think relates to the situation I'm writing about.
For Deadlock, I had 'Decode' by Paramore on. I seriously think I need to write a songfic to that for Gwevin. It's a song I think relates to them very well, especially with a Kevin-gone-bad. Unfortunately, I'm hesitant to do so because I've already written a songfic like this for another fandom.4. Do you use Original Characters (OC)? (if No, skip to #8) I try not to, actually, unless I can't see any other way to write the story. Most of my stories use the fandom characters. An Alien World is the first one I've done using OCs as part of a main plot, partly because there are too few girls in AF, and because all the girls in AF already have a specific role, in my opinion. I think it's because it's really difficult to write good OCs (I should ask Lasa to teach me this).5. Do any of your OC resemble you? The OCs I have so far are Valeria, Alexia, Camellia and Natalia Gallagher. None of them resemble me AT ALL. Not even in personality!  I haven't really described them, but all of them have pale golden hair, and Valeria is the only one who has green eyes, like Gwen (the other sisters all have gray eyes). She looks like Gwen as well because of her heart shaped face and the expressions of her features on her face.
(I, on the other hand, am tanned, with dark brown hair and dark brown eyes. I do have a heart shaped face, but so does like, a million other people in the world.)6. Can you relate any of your OC to one of the regular characters (appearance, attitude, etc)? Oh, Valeria is very much like Gwen in appearance, and to a certain extent, they have similar personalities. However, due to her upbringing, she (as well as her sisters) are extremely naive.
I just realized that Natalia is similar to Ben in what they say sometimes, though.7. What is your favorite OC to write and why?
Natalia. Smart-tongued characters are always fun to write, although it is generally a challenge to come up with witty lines!8. How many words does an average chapter consist of in your stories?
According to fanfiction it's generally 2000-5000 words, although I do write up to 10000 words in a chapter, depending on how much I want to put in into a chapter. I try to keep it consistent for a chapter, though, although prologues and epilogues may be significantly shorter.
9. Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chapter stories? One shots. I tend to lose interest after a while, and multi-chaptered stories I plan to write are always long (I remember one unfinished story on fanfiction had up to 30 chapters - although I only posted up to chapter 16). It's easier to keep it short and sweet, although I still plan to finish a complete multi-chapter with An Alien World. I admire authors who can finish multi-chapter fics (Alexa).10. Do you write anything other than fan-fiction?
I do, but, like my multi-chapter fics, they never seem to be completed!  Regarding the story1. What was your inspiration behind this piece? I wanted to write a story about how Ben and Gwen would react if Kevin betrayed them. Granted, Kevin was kind of under duress, but I wanted to explore the emotions with the characters, specifically Ben and Gwen, although I think I didn't develop Ben well enough.
At any rate, it was supposed to be a Gwevin fic at heart. It was supposed to be a continuation of In Perspective, but i thought it would be better if the fandom was left to decide.  2. Have you thought about continuing it or writing a sequel (Kevin comes back either good or evil, consequences, etc)? Oh yes! An Alien World is supposed to be a continuation of sorts, although I'd prefer to leave it as a stand alone fic with the random deciding what they would like happen for themselves, i.e. get the creative juices flowing! |
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Post by perhapsormaybe on Mar 24, 2009 9:41:09 GMT -5
How do you keep your characters in-character? Especially facing a situation you've never seen them handle in the show?
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Post by Lady Lasa on Mar 24, 2009 13:15:55 GMT -5
What are your pet-peeves when reading fanfiction and have you ever caught yourself doing any of them?
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Post by fierysue on Mar 25, 2009 6:43:18 GMT -5
How do you keep your characters in-character? Especially facing a situation you've never seen them handle in the show? That is really tough. I try to make sure I don't stray from the basic character outlines, and that goes not only for fanfiction, but for original fiction as well. I find that writing down all the characteristics at the beginning and how the characters grow throughout the story helpful. However, since I tend to do future-fics (for some reason, I'm stuck to the future, what-if cliches for fanfiction), it becomes a little more difficult as everyone has a different interpretation of how a character would react.
Of course, when in doubt, see whether you can youtube previous episodes (doesn't really work for B10, but it does for some other cartoons like MSB), and fanfiction is always great inspiration.What are your pet-peeves when reading fanfiction and have you ever caught yourself doing any of them? Over the top OOCing (I may be guilty of OOCs, but I don't think I'm THAT bad when it comes to it). Also, bad grammar and spelling. I have to edit some of my previous stories to correct the grammar, even if it hasn't been as terrible as some I've seen on fanfiction, but my spelling has been fine - so far. I also dislike reading stories where they are not very well-structured, i.e. where the paragraphing seems to be off. The story doesn't flow as easily. An example would be like this:
She was walking and it was dark.
Suddenly she saw an evil man and he was scary and she was scared. She moved quickly away, but there was nothing now -
Silence.
I'd rather it be:
She was walking and it was dark.
Suddenly she saw an evil man and he was scary and she was scared. She moved quickly away, but there was nothing now -
Silence.
I don't know how to explain the difference, but I'm sure you guys can appreciate the difference. It seems easier to read, anyhow, in my opinion. |
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Post by Lady Lasa on Mar 25, 2009 6:51:28 GMT -5
How are you affected by reviews? Do they inspire you to continue writing or do you continue to write regardless of the amount of comments?
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Post by perhapsormaybe on Mar 25, 2009 11:17:43 GMT -5
How do your ideas usually come to you?
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Post by Lady Lasa on Mar 28, 2009 19:03:15 GMT -5
How often do you write? Do you have a set period of time each day or just when inspiration strikes?
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Post by fierysue on Apr 20, 2009 21:07:38 GMT -5
How are you affected by reviews? Do they inspire you to continue writing or do you continue to write regardless of the amount of comments?Reviews are always inspiring. Even if it's a simple ' ' at least it tells you that people appreciate your work. It doesn't really affect how soon I update, but it certainly is a motivating factor. However, when you've got a case of writer's block, nothing can cure it except time, although the reviews do motivate you and pressure you into thinking about them day and night, and may help with a sticky part. I love well-constructed reviews which help you improve your writing. I take this as an opportunity to improve my writing skills. Of course, the old saying that 'you can't please everyone, so you've got to please yourself' (actually, it was from a song) is true, but there are always some truth behind criticism. That being said, I DESPISE FLAMES. I haven't had the misfortune to get one, but I've read some awesome fanfics, but because they didn't agree with the general consensus, they were flamed. There was an awesome Mary/Colin fanfic (Secret Garden), and half of the reviews were flames, even though the grammar was impeccable and the plot was well-constructed. These just annoy me to no end (although they might make me cry - unfortunately, I'm sensitive), and I'll just be shouting expletives at the flamer in my head, before writing the next chapter that would only annoy me more. How do your ideas usually come to you?I have no idea. Sometimes, it's a song. Sometimes it's a dream (sorry if that's too Stephenie Meyer for you). When I was young, I'd give my own retelling of events, and retell stories (and I still do); I would write the stories on paper and illustrate them, if you can believe that, and this got me into fanfiction and writing, as I said before. Another time, it would be me thinking about a situation in real life that I'm facing and how another character would cope with the situation. I guess fiction CAN imitate real life. It's a whole lot of things. Anything can be inspiring, if you think about it long enough and look carefully for the details. How often do you write? Do you have a set period of time each day or just when inspiration strikes?I am one of those many who write when inspiration strikes. If I try and set a time period, my words don't seem to flow as easily and it's a larger challenge, which can be why multi-chaptered fics are hard to write. I have another friend from fanfiction, though who's inspired me and influenced me in how I write. She writes the outline of the story and how she wants it to go, and constantly refers to it when she writes. She's very disciplined in how and when she writes and I admire her a lot. Any more questions? 
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Post by Lady Lasa on Apr 21, 2009 8:18:40 GMT -5
Have you ever used an outline for a fic?
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Post by fierysue on Apr 21, 2009 20:07:31 GMT -5
Have you ever used an outline for a fic?
Yeah, it makes it easier to write. I don't set it in stone, though. It, is, however, a good idea to have outlines, because most of the time (for me, at any rate), authors tend to get stuck in the middle of the story. It's like a plan of action.
Most of the fics I'm still continuing didn't have an outline, unless it's the later ones, so it's more difficult for me to start (these fics are so long ago, like, way back since forever).
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Post by fierysue on Apr 28, 2009 11:47:47 GMT -5
OK, if there are no more questions, I'd like to invite - perhapsormaybe (Melanie) to talk to us about her story Mask... Shoot away! |
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Post by Lady Lasa on Apr 28, 2009 12:11:43 GMT -5
Great idea! I'd love to know where this particular idea came from. Don't forget the general list of questions |
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Post by perhapsormaybe on Apr 28, 2009 13:48:17 GMT -5
General
1. When did you first take interest in writing?
Around 2nd grade or so. Teachers made us write fiction then, and I found out I was talented at it and enjoyed it.
2. What is your favorite genre to write (romance, angst, action, etc)?
Romance and/or humor. Both have their appeal for me. I tend to really love love stories, so that's what I usually write.
3. Do you have a particular atmosphere that helps you write (For example: music, silence, brightly lit, dark, etc)?
When I'm writing the story in my head, there's usually a song there. For "Mask", it was mainly the final song from Phantom of the Opera.
4. Do you use Original Characters (OC)? (if No, skip to #8)
On occassion, but rarely as a main plot point.
5. Do any of your OC resemble you?
Fell out of that habit a long time ago.
6. Can you relate any of your OC to one of the regular characters (appearance, attitude, etc)? Nah. The only one I had thought up for a B10:AF fanfic was quickly discarded, since her power was very very boring.
7. What is your favorite OC to write and why? Not really using them...
8. How many words does an average chapter consist of in your stories? Too lazy to look it up, but I believe it's around 1,700 or so.
9. Do you prefer writing one-shots or multi-chapter stories?
Oneshots, when I can close them effectively. I like knowing that I can post it and not worry about having to finish later.
10. Do you write anything other than fan-fiction?
Lately? No. I've got a lot of fiction stories I need to finish, but most end up boring me after a while (or I run into the problem that one of my friends figures out what character is based on them and gets stupidly obsessive about the story, so I can't write it anymore because that friend wants to know what's going on with the character that's based on them, and insists I got them out of character...apparently "based on" now means "direct clone")
Okay, there are the general questions. Any other questions?
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I haven't really described them, but all of them have pale golden hair, and Valeria is the only one who has green eyes, like Gwen (the other sisters all have gray eyes). She looks like Gwen as well because of her heart shaped face and the expressions of her features on her face. 
