Here are titles and brief summaries of my
various LJ entries on aspects of writing or
fanfic. These are not all entries, by any means, only
those I think might continue to be of interest to some. Most
recent at the top. If you're
looking for the History Meta, find it HERE.
Aiding the Willing Suspension of
Disbelief (or Why Research Matters) 5/3
Research is important for literary reasons, not just so the author can
avoid looking foolish (or to please the nitpickers). Speculative
fiction authors have understood for a while that the more fantastic the
setting or unbelievable the elements in a story, or the more realistic
the rest needs to be in order to make the impossible seem possible.
The romance
iconoclast gets brutally honest (or Things That Make Me Laugh)
(2/18)
A
little list of things that throw me out of a story -- especially a
romantic story -- even with characters I love ... all served with a
side dish of snark because the flu made me cranky. But it's a
good guide to Common Beginners Errors to avoid like the, er, flu.
Poll Results:
Is it Self-Promotion or Arrogance (1/25)
results of the poll I conducted about how authors present their work on
comms, archives, their own LJ, etc., and how others perceive their
choices ... when does simple self-promotion spill over into arrogance
in the eyes of others?
Writing
[Talented] Original Characters in Fanfic (without creating a
Mary Sue/Gary Stu) (1/15)
A discussion about creating not just good original characters, but good
original characters that have unique talents -- because real people
sometimes do -- without turning them into an unrealistic Mary
Sue. It is possible to create believable characters who are
special. Writers do it all the time.
Random Thoughts on Meyer's Twilight (1/6)
Not particularly well-organized, but a collections of thoughts as they
came to me about the series as a whole, not just the Indians, including
my 'issues' with the character of Bella and why I find the Bella/Edward
relationship ultimately unconvincing, and perhaps even harmful to
teenaged girls' ideas about 'true love.'
The
Glory of Plot (1/5/2008)
A plot is a journey on which the writer takes the reader ... an
explanation of what plot is, why it's not scary, and why it IS
necessary in fiction, with some handy "how-to"s for those interested in
trying their hands at writing especially longer stories in
fandom. Just as applicable to writing original fiction, however.
Indians
and (Stephenie Meyer's) Twilight
(12/26)
For those familiar with the vampire YA novels by Stephenie Meyer, which
feature some native characters prominently, this is my own reactions,
as a native person, reading the series. Some things I liked, some
I didn't, but most of my complaints were errors of omission rather than
comission.
Six
(often unconsidered) Things That Kick Me Out of a Story
(8/26)
A somewhat random collection of things that aren't fandom specific that
will cause me to quit reading a story, ranging from bad formatting to
stilted dialogue and run-on sentences. A "beware" post for fandom
authors.
The
Author is God, or Avoiding the Runaway Story (8/15)
What happens when a plotline suddently mutates on a writer? When
is that a good thing -- when is it a problem? How do we, as
writers, avoid the "runaway' story? Living stories are wonderful,
until they become little dictators. In the end, the author must
remain in control of her project. This is some advice on how to
do that.
Bringing
the Native Funny (8/11)
Done for International Blog Against Racism Week ... a slightly
different take on the theme, where I give some various examples of
specifically native humor. Some of it could be offensive to those
with high sensitivity to such things. Indians are more inclined
to tell it like they see it than worry about offending people. ;>
Cedric
versus ... Cedric? (7/26)
A short discussion about writing different 'versions' of the same
character, whether it's Scott or Cedric ... of interest for the
comments from other writers on why they enjoy writing multiple versions
too.
Agitatin'
... or Why Cho Chang's Behavior in Book 5 is NOT Overly Weepy
(5/22)
Speaking from my experience as a former bereavement counselor, some
observations on Cho Chang's behavior in Book 5, The Order of the
Phoenix, and why it is NOT either unusual or excessively "emo."
Dialogue
Framing (4/26)
Some advice not on dialogue itself, but on the framing of dialogue within
narrative.
...
yet another entry in the fanfic-profic debate (4/10)
the lure of the RISK of fanfic for the professional author. Can I
do it again? Can I sell you my fic again, without my name,
without any context? It's both the challenge and danger of fanfic
for the pro author.
Symbol, Cypher
and Foil: will the real Cedric Diggory please stand up?
(3/7/2007)
A thorough discussion of just what we can know about Cedric from the
canon -- which is more than you might think, but still not a lot.
Discusses only canon Cedric, the base I've used to build my character
from. Also includes, at the bottom, a collection of links to
Cedric-centric communities on LJ.
Rockin' the
Casbah: or, so I complained about Beginning-Writer Errors, What
about Experienced Authors? (10/11)
All writers commit errors, it's just that as time goes on, they tend to
be different kinds of errors. So this involves errors I've seen
writers make, who've been writing a long time.
Develop,
Develop, Develop: or random observation the eleventy-second on
Beginning Writers' errors (10/6)
Pacing problems among beginning writers -- overtell and undertell --
cause the story to move too slowly, or too fast. Discusses the
importance of letting things develop.
Why Hufflepuff is not Consonant with "The Pushover
House" (9/20)
Watch Min get her rant on about how Hufflepuff is commonly
misunderstood
and why the best adjective to describe Hufflepuff is not loyal or
patient or honest ... but STRONG.
So You Want to
Write to an Author? (9/2)
Some common-sense suggestions for those who want to write, but aren't
sure what to say to an author (fanfic or profic) and fear Committing
Squee. (Authors rarely mind squee, but some readers worry about
sending it.)
The
Question of Fan Ownership: Logical vs. Specific
(8/13)
A semi-response/dialogue with Mo's entry about Beyond Plagiarism:
discusses inspiration and legitimate borrowing in fandom. What's
just a logical extension of canon in fanfic 'fanon,' as opposed to what
can be traced to a specific fan author?
Crafting the
Hook: a pragmatic writer's guide to snaring reader interest (8/10)
The beginnings of stories are the most important part because they
determine whether a reader will read the rest. This entry offers
points on how to craft a good beginning ... and some common errors to
avoid.
Quick-and-Dirty
Tutorial on (North) American Indian Magic, for HP writers and
interested others (7/17)
Designed to help authors of HP fanfic in particular if they wish to
write about American Indian magic -- with an emphasis on how Indian
religion and magic differs from traditional Western views -- but usable
by anyone.
The
Lure of Cedric and Hermione (6/18)
Or how the famously canon-fixated goes for something completely off the
wall. Why on earth did I get snared by a pairing between two
characters who never even talking in the book (or film), much less had
anything resembling UST? essentially my manifesto on why I think
this pairing works.
X3
and the Art of Adaptation (6/10)
My review [finally] of X3 ... what went wrong and why it, ultimately,
flopped as a whole, even if parts of it were fun to watch.
A
Love Letter (to my betas, editors and image people)
(5/22)
Just what it says. Done for the Fandom Appreciation Challenge, I
thought it high time to recognize some of the people who make my
stories better.
Unreasonable
Dislikes and Bulletproof Kinks (5/11)
Some things in fiction that either really turn me off or really turn me
on (and I don't mean in an erotic way).
"My Cedric" Character Meme
(4/19)
Following the pattern of the "My ___" meme, a summary of how I
see/understand Cedric Diggory (especially as in Finding Himself, but not
exclusively).
The Fine Art of Pacing
(4/6)
This is something of a repeat of some things I wrote in an entry below,
but again, addresses the sometimes difficult matter of pacing a story
(especially a longer story) so as not to lose reader interest.
Well, Fuck (or, She Seems to Have a New
Fandom) (4/1)
My 'coming out,' if you will (g), into the Harry Potter fandom. An
explanation as to why Cedric Diggory ran off with my brain ... and I
haven't seen it since.
The Iconoclastic
'Shipper (3/30)
"When I say ''ships,' I mean relationships of all kinds. Friendship,
romance, familial ... it's all fair game for me. I could care
less (well, within reason) about WHO Character A is involved with
rather than with WHY."
Thinky Thoughts on ... (gasp) Harry Potter
Pairings (3/8)
This attempted to explain why I find the idea of Ron/Hermione dubious
in the long-run ... without either disliking Ron or wailing about
Rowling's 'betrayal.' I should add that I have no trouble with
R/Hr short-term. I just wonder if they wouldn't be heading for
the Big D by 30-something?
Fandom: What Draws Us In?
(2/24)
Written for the Cereta's "Notscapade" meme on fandom discussion for
those unable to make Escapade, this entry explores what draws me (and
people generally) into a fandom. Branches off from a look at why
I wasn't pulled by SGA, but was by X-Files and X-Men.
The Novel, the
Novella and the Short Story in Fanfic (2/9)
There was some discussion of a support group for novel writers to
encourage more fanfic novels. As a novelist, I tried to discuss
why short stories are the most common fiction form in fanfic, and how a
novel, or even a novella, is essentially a different animal, not just a
'longer short story.'
Play,
Perfection and Process After Release (1/22)
Another post on why write fanfic from a slightly different
perspective. Discusses the importance of doing things for fun,
not profit (even if one could do them for profit), as well as the
unique dialogue between the creator and audience.
Writing
Sinew (1/5.2006)
Writing "and then time passes" sections of fiction can be harder than
it seems. An entry with a series of tips of things I've found
that work for me, to make these sections smooth.
Hmm [X3
Trailer], X3 Rumors and
Speculation: Storm & Cyclops, More X3 Meta
(12/5-7)
A series of posts inspired by the release of the X3 trailer that
discusses the lack of Cyclops, all the rumors about Marsden's (and
Berry's) part in the screentime of Cyclops and Storm, and some general
speculation on X3.
LJ Fandom, the
Artificial Beast (11/13)
Fandom has, in recent years, moved -- at least partly -- onto Live
Journal. What used to be email list communities have become LJ
list communities. But the Balkanization of LJ and the rise of
multifandomness there can lead (I think) to some false impressions
about both fans and fan status.
Choosing a
Point of View: Advantages and Disadvantages of Each
(9/18)
A discussion of first, third and omniscient points of view in
narrative, why, when and how they should be employed.
'Ask them a
question' Character Meme (8/13)
A meme that invited readers to ask questions of various characters in
my novels, and I answered for them 'in character.' This seemed to
garner quite a number of questions from readers.
Disabilities,
Mutations and the X-Men (8/2)
A fandom-specific discussion in response to a metafandom
discussion about dis/abilities in fandom, and why we don't see more of
them. I find it interesting, that in X-Men, the creator of the
X-Men and the field leader are both 'handicapped' in some capacity.
The (not
necessarily pretty) Confessions of an Artist
(7/29)
'We live our lives through our work.' A discussion of the
tendency among artists of all kinds to obsess, and to migrate from
interest to interest, following the needs of whatever project/piece is
currently in the offing.
When is
Fanfiction not Fanfiction? (7/28)
Thoughts on definitions of fanfic, and maintaining characterization.
Miscellaneous,
Idle Thoughs of Fanfic and Ownership (6/27)
Written partly in response to the Robin Hobb/Lee Goldberg anti-fanfic
rants, some thoughts about the ethics of fanfic, and how the (very)
various nature of our source material may be more important that
sometimes credited in these debates.
Death,
Genres and Sacred Cows (6/3)
Some commentary on various X3 spoilers, and why they make me nervous
(beyond the fate of favorite characters and other sacred cows, etc.)
Fanfic and
Frustration (5/13)
There are films and TV shows that I like, even like a lot, but don't
read fanfic for. This was a relatively short (for me) exploration
of just what it is that pulls me into a fandom.
Critique,
critique, critique (4/7)
Constructive criticism versus negative feedback -- what's the
difference? How do we know to whom we can give it?
Stereotypes
and 'Ethnic Ownership' in Fiction (3/2)
Who has the 'right' to write ethnic characters? Periodically, the
issue of 'not enough ethnic characters in fanfic' is sounded.
This discussion was a take off on that, about the problem that "ethnic
ownership" can impose on those who want to write ethnic characters, but
who don't belong to the ethnicity in question.
Writing
Relationships, Censorship and Authorial Responsibility
(2/2/2005)
In response to a request to write about " fanfic giving younger readers
a rather skewed idea of what real relationships entail."
The eternal problem of weighing responsibility versus creative freedom.
X-Men's
First Couple (10/5)
Written for the LJ community Ship Manifesto, this is a dissection of
the Scott/Jean pairing ... why it works, and why it might not. A
thumbnail overview.
Handling
Trauma in Fiction (9/15)
Using Special as an example, I made some attempt to talk about how
authors might approach trauma in fiction (whether fanfic or not).
It's dangerous, if powerful, subject matter, and deserves respectful
handling.
Write What you
Know (8/12a) and Daughter
of Write What You Know (writing realistic sex for women)
(8/12b)
Two different essays, the furst that take on that old saw 'write what
you know' and explores what that REALLY means, and the second that puts
that a bit into practice with a look at how to write the loss of
virginity realistically.
Be aware that the second essay is quite graphic.
Power of
Narrative versus Power of Subject (or the Approach of the
Approach of Splendor) (7/24)
It's not the what, it's the HOW that makes writing strong. Why
milking trauma doesn't necessarily make a good writer, and
'deviant' behavior and shocking topics won't necessarily yield a
powerful story.
Jean ... or
Scott? (4/29)
A response to an interview question:
Your acknowledged favorite character is Jean, but the narrative
voice in your work is more often than not that of Scott's. Any
particular reason for this?
The Big Easy
(no date)
A trip report designed for fanfic authors (especially of Gambit) who
write about New Orleans.
Graciousness
in the White Tower (3/4)
Overflowing irritation at a panel respondent at an academic
conference. My thoughts on surviving (and being respected) in
academia.
Please Pass Some Crisis with the
Peas (Writing Short Isn't Necessarily Easy)
(2/20)
Discussion of story length (short versus long), flash fiction,
vignettes, and why writing (very) short stories is harder than one
thinks
Character Depth
(1/4/2004)
Prompted by a question, a discussion of the use of backstory in
creating character depth -- even if a lot of that backstory never makes
it onto the actual page.
Vocations,
Occupations and Hobbies (11/25/2003)
"Why I Write Fanfic," from a professional author, in response to the
popular assumption that Real Writers Don't Write Fanfic.
Doing Research
(11/16)
How do writers go about doing research for their stories? What
are their main tools and where does one go to find this
information? (Additionally, the comments include further
pointers/suggestions from a couple librarians.)
Analysis of a Poll on Readers and
Fanfic (11/12)
How and what do readers personally choose what constitutes 'good'
writing in fanfic? What's important to readers?
Why
Writing Good Girls and Boys is Subversive (10/3)
"Well-behaved Women Seldom Make History," or so said Laurel Thatcher
Ulrich,
but what, precisely, did she mean? And why is it that
'well-behaved'
characters are perceived to be boring in so much fanfic (and fiction)?
And
why is my form of 'misbehavior' to write them anyway?
Appearances
& Reality
-- the Scott of Special (9/29)
I've been asked a couple of times how and where I came up with the
twist I put on Scott's origins in Special:
the
Genesis of Cyclops, so I made some attempt to explain.
Getting Published (8/30)
I was asked for some pointers on getting published.
Ethnicity, and Specificity
in Writing (8/20)
In response to an interview question about how my ethnicity affects my
writing, I did a little essay on issues of ethnicity and specificity in
fiction
writing.
When is a Story Successful? (8/15)
How does one measure the 'success' of a story, whether profic or
fanfic? Can success ever really be measured?
The Art
of Pacing (6/26)
How
to manage pacing and avoid pitfalls so that stories neither drag, nor
move too quickly.
Editing
(or Beta-Reading) (6/19)
Some (brief) helpful hints on editing.
Story
Reflections: "Micky Blue Eyes" Duo
(5/21)
Briefish reflection on the series.
Min's
Review of X2 (5/3) and Scott's
Reaction in X2 (5/11)
The first is a detailed review and critique of the film, and the second
is a discussion of Scott's reaction at the very end from the point of
view of a former bereavement counselor. Spoilers, ahoy!
Feedback,
Feedback (4/23) and More on
Feedback (including Victoria's survey)
(4/23)
Just what it says, a discussion about feedback, decreasing feedback and
the theory of diminishing returns, with reference to a discussion begun
by Peggy.
Story
Reflections: "Idle Musings" & "After the 49s" (3/31)
Brief
reflections on two of my favorite short pieces on the site.
Fanfic
Marketing (3/28)
Some
tips on how to increase story distribution and readership.
Drafts,
Revisions & Editors (3/26)
Discussion
of the editing process.
The
Audience (3/15)
Tips
on keeping the reader reading, aimed a bit more at the professional
market, but applicable to fanfic as well.
Social
Stratification and the "BNF" Phenomenon (2/16)
Pretty
much what it sounds like -- a quasi-academic sociological inquiry into
the phenomenon of the so-called "Big Name Fan."
Better
Description in Fiction Writing (2/1/2003)
Guide
to writing better descriptive passages, both in fanfic and profic, and
how fanfic description differs from profic.
What
Makes Good Fic Good? (10/22/2002)
The
criteria that myself use to evaluate fanfic (or any fiction) in terms
of quality for awards
Dilettantes
and Connoisseurs: Critique and the Marketing of Fanfic (8/28)
Just
how hot should we get under the collar about fanfic quality ... and why
(or why not)?
Following
the Big Fin: Outlines, Storyarcs and Plotting (8/16)
Comments
on the usefulness of outlines in story writing.
Good Writing, Bad
Writing and the Slash / Het / Gen Question (8/9)
Is
one "type" of fanfic inclined to be better than another? I don't
think it's ever that simple.
The
Three Tiers of Editing (8/25)
Comments
on the levels of editing in a story.
Style
and Heart
in Narrative
(7/6)
What
I call "style" and why I consider it secondary to having "heart"
Storytellers
versus Cathartic Writers (6/28)
Why
do we write? Not just write
fanfic, but why do we write?
Reclaiming Philia (6/20,
updated 6/29/05)
Western
society's penchant for sexualizing intense relationships that aren't
familial, and how that affects writers
Responsibility
and Compassion in Fiction Writing (6/9)
The
responsible handling of traumatic events in fiction, with side dips
into PCism and gentilezza
Writer's
Block (6/4)
Some
tricks that work for me, overcoming writer's block
The Lure
of Angst
(5/3)
'Mundane
grace,' or why powerful scenes don't always require something dire
Issues
in Style:
Sentence Length (4/14)
How
something as 'insignificant' as sentence length can affect the shape
and pacing of a story
Vaguaries
of
Feedback
(4/4/2002)
Thoughts
on feedback: what I find useful, why people send (or don't send)
it, and the fact that it's a two-way street
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