Rant--Writing RPS

[cupidsbow]

One of the newer friends on my flist, the lovely shoshannagold, made me rant yesterday, because she foolishly asked me a question about writing. Specifically about writing RPS. Hence my rantiness, coz as you all know, get me going on that topic, and you can't shut me up

Comments

[arabia764]

I think the great thing about RPS is that we all write slightly different versions of them. I have my own Elijah which I pretty much stick to -- it's probably how I'd like him to be. I know other people have a different version in each of their fics, sometimes the change is only subtle but it's there

[arabia764]

Sorry about posting this here, but I wonder if you can help. I joined lotr_squee but I've come up on the watched by list, not the friends one. Any idea how I get on the right list as I want things that are posted to appear on my friends list?

[cupidsbow]

Sorry it's taken me a while to reply. Have you tried going to the user info page for the community, and clicking on the "To join this community, click here" bit? You might need to click the "leave the community" bit first and then rejoin.

Let me know if that works. If not, I'll put my thinking hat back on :)

[arabia764]

I tried leaving and joining loads of times but I still come up in the 'watched by' group which means Lotr_squee doesn't come up on my friends page. Sorry to be a pain, but any ideas???

[orlileithian]

Oh wow I was thinking about this today too. I’ve found myself doing a little more research than I would like for the current fic I’m working on. It combines real life pictures with a completely made up story that creates juxtaposition. So I had to know when the pictures were taken, the number of days between the pics and a few other factual details but I think it’s very important to realize when to let go of the reality and let the story take control

[cupidsbow]

Thanks for the interesting comment; I'm fascinated at all the different ways people write.

I always research Viggorli more than Orlijah.

That's so interesting! Isn't it wonderful how out minds can have two different ways of tackling similar things?

doing research isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Oh, I totally agree. The main reason I don't do much is because I don't have time. Slash is for fun with me, so I don't get too het up about it. :)

[unstealthy]

Oooh, slash navel-gazing. What fun.

I'm surprised to learn you don't do much research. Diff'rent strokes, and all that! For my longest, plot-driven RPS story I did *loads* of research - interviews, pictures, the Versaphile LotRiPS canon was really helpful, etc etc etc. I didn't just want to get the people right, I was using such a long time line (nearly 3 years) I had to put in actual events for it to make sense/be convincing.

Now I come to think of it, all my stories are usually inspired by a picture, or an event, or an interview, or something along those lines. I like basing my stories on stuff that's actually happened to them, I like the intimacy of going 'behind the scenes' or inside their heads at that moment. The whole 'public persona' thing I actually used in All I Want, as I think it's a really interesting area to explore - the fact that they're actors, and anytime they do a PA they are playing a role, even in the most candid-type interviews.

Ho hum! Sorry for waffle.

[cupidsbow]

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my rant.

Now I come to think of it, all my stories are usually inspired by a picture, or an event, or an interview, or something along those lines.

I love that you are inspired by these kinds of things! I can totally get where you're coming from, now that you've made me think about it. 'Behind the scenes' is kind of a seductive idea.

Maybe I'll give it a try sometime, once I've finished the dreaded PhD.

[shinywhimsy]

I started writing fanfic a loooooong time ago. I used to write het boyband fics *cringes* They were horrible, full of cliché and totally Mary-Sue-ish. For those, I actually researched a lot. I tried to write them as close to their public image as possible

[cupidsbow]

They were horrible, full of cliché and totally Mary-Sue-ish.

I think everyone who'd ever written fanfic probably has a Mary Sue moment hidden in their deep, dark past :)

I found your comments comparing FPS with Popslash and Lotrips really interesting--your point about the 'holes' in HP is a perfect articulation of what I meant by FPS being kind of limiting.

I don't really have a writing process I think too much about. I see it as a hobby and I basically just go with the flow

Yeah, that's pretty much my take too :)

[vegetariansushi]

[cupidsbow]

I can't handle looking through the creepy paparazzi pics myself.

*shudder*

I so know what you mean. Ew. I liked the ones you sent me though. Very lickable! :)

PS--Are you okay? You've been very quiet lately.

[vegetariansushi]