The world in a grain of sand.
No clue how that title relates to this entry, it just popped into my head.
The Fic Meme, snagged from ellyfanfiction.
1. How about a brief introduction?
Courtney, or Court, or C, or the Mad Poet to darkmuse_ic. I work in social services, and cohabitate with The Boy and a small menagerie in Chicago (South Side FTW!). I'm a movie nut and a bibliophile, which lend themselves well to fandom. Graphic designer on the side, brown fangirl (and proud), unrepentant Pepsi addict. And I use the word "glorious" at least twice a day.
2. What got you into fan fiction (and/or adopting muses)?
I started as a reader. The Boy actually discovered fanfic before I did, as a DS9 devotee. He's since given it up, but he stuck around long enough to significantly alter life as I know it. The first bunny bit a little over four years ago, and before I knew it, I'd hammered out my first prologue (for epic!fic that still isn't finished, but that's neither here nor there). And the rest is a tiny, insignificant part of history.
3. What kind of fan fiction do you write?
I started out writing ship-heavy UC fics. It was a way to fix all the flaws in my fandom, if only in my own head. I leaned heavily on the crutch of canon early on, and really had to work at actually plotting. Now I kind of wish I could go back. :) I've since discovered a rabid love of gen and UST, but I still seem to favor the epic.
4. What is your most popular fic/muse and why do you think people like it so?
If I had to guess, I'd say the "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" series. At least, it's the one that draws the most "update, whore!" torches and pitchforks. It's one of the aforementioned canon clutchers, but I think people enjoy it because it's working within canon without changing it (which, given the flaws of the show as it went on, frankly sucks). Favorite non-WIP would have to be "Daydream Believer (For All The Waking World)".
5. Forget other people, what is the fanfic/post/prompt you've written that you're most proud of?
If this were asking about the fic I hate most, answering would be so easy. I have an irrational soft spot for "Definition as a State of Being", which is short, sober Mal. It was the first thing I ever wrote that sort of sprung fully-formed from my skull without hemming and hawwing and hyperactive editing. Everything just sort of gelled, and I still smile when I read it.
6. Do you find writing easy? Hard? What aspects do you struggle with?
That all depends on what I'm writing (and if the muse is feeling cooperative). Firefly comes deceptively easy, which I still can't understand. There are facets of the process that are much easier than others. For me, the easy parts always revolve around the characters. Internalization, dialogue... those are things I don't stress over. Plotting is my kryptonite, even now, when the bunnies multiply like tribbles.
7. Do you write for the same pairings/characters?
I've become a bit of a flighty ficcer. I spent two years writing in one fandom, with two oft-appearing pairings. Now, I write in about twelve. I never seem to have many pairings in any one fandom, though, and I tend to stick to my favorite POVs. They're usually male. Go figure.
8. Write a few sentences of your favorite pairing or character.
Oh see, that's not fair. I posted fic today! Does that count?
9. Are there any fanfiction trends/clichés you hate?
It wouldn't be fair to say "fluff". It's the attack of the schmoop that I generally can't stand. That "everything's puppies and rainbows and happily-ever-afters" genre. My hate list isn't that long - OOC and Mary Sue fic, POV plug-and-play (no, sticking a character's thoughts in between the existing dialogue does not a fic make. If I wanted to read the book, I'd read the book.), cavalier rape as a plot device, and UC that completely discounts canon. People can love more than once in a lifetime, and just because X now loves Y doesn't mean he/she never ever loved (and now loathes) Z.
10. Are you guilty of any of the trends you hate?
My first fic (the aforementioned almost-finished epic) has come dangerously close to that last one. The past love is still acknowledged, but the loathing is in full force.
11. What was the first fandom you wrote for? Do you still write for it?
Roswell, and yes. Sort of. But not at this exact moment. My goal right now is to finish my WIPs on that front. After that, we'll see.
12. Name your OTPs and explain what it is about them you love to write.
I never quite realized until now how many of my pairings are crossover couples. Huh. Guess this will be fairly short.
Roswell's Michael and Liz. It's all about Michael, really - I'm actually not a huge fan of Liz's. She was great for me outside of Max, but how often did that happen? Over the years, it's been more about fanon Michael than anything. Fic Michael kicks canon Michael's ass, every time. Ship-wise, they worked for me from nearly the beginning. They're similar in ways that were never acknowledged or explored by the show. That's what fic is for, I guess.
Firefly's Mal and Kaylee. She brings out a side of him, something so soft and vulnerable and little-seen, that is irresistable to my UC-loving heart. It's almost as if he's made her the touchstone for the humanity he tries so hard to suppress. And he makes no apologies for it, which is so Mal.
Everwood's Ephram and Amy. My single canon OTP. There's such realism in their relationship, and so much respect... I'm a sucker for bonds of friendship before love, and they had it in spades. Plus, I love that you shouldn't love them together, given Ephram's emo and Amy's teen queen melodrama, but they just fit.
Smallville's Oliver and Chloe. OTP Numero Uno. And I used to be such a diehard Chlarker. *sigh* Chloe is my go-to girl - I'll ship her with just about anybody (she's my female equivalent of Charles Gunn. I'd attempt Gunn/Chloe, but I'm pretty sure it would break my brain.). But after all the character assassination she's taken from the writers, not to mention seven seasons of Clana, the Chlark shine has worn off. Enter Oliver Queen, knight in shining green leather. One of my biggest weaknesses is a hero who's entirely human (Bats, I'm looking at you), and Ollie is that weakness personified. I love that he's snarky and flawed and constantly questions his own worth (net worth notwithstanding). More than anything, I love that he recognizes and acknowledges that Chloe is her own person, with gifts of her own to bring to the table. And writing them together is heaven. Death by banter. So lovely.
13. What would you call your writing style?
Indulgent. LOL. I would love to say that it's stark and sparse and straight-to-the-gut, that no-frills perfection that so many authors I know possess, but I'd be lying. I'm wordy, and that rubs off on the characters - give me two snarky boys, and I'll let them banter for hours. I write paragraph-length sentences, stretch punctuation to its limits, and am a bit of a twisted metaphor whore. And I cannot resist alliteration, no matter how much I try.
14. Do you read other people's writing? If so, what do you find yourself reading the most?
I read whatever I'm not writing at the moment. My brain is a steel trap, and I'd hate to absorb and appropriate. These days, most of my reading is of the Supernatural variety. Gen and angst, mostly.
15. Name one thing you'd love to write but have been too afraid or too shy to do.
Did I mention the Gunn/Chloe? I'm dying to write darkly funny and slightly angsty Jack Harkness/Simon Tam, but as a slash virgin, it's intimidating. Perhaps someday... Or somebody could write it for me.
16. Do you feel uncomfortable taking criticism? Or worse, do you have the dreaded bloated ego?
Criticism is always welcome. It becomes a challenge set and a goal to meet, like trying to prove Simon Cowell wrong (and get him to admit it). Anything that makes you a better writer, right? As for the ego, I think I'm guilty of being too confident on the aspects I think I have down, mostly because I have weaknesses I'd rather be working on. One day it'll bite me in the ass.
17. When you write, is there anything that helps?
Silence. Complete and utter silence. I used to write to music (I'd make playlists for each of my fics) and wonder why I wasn't exactly prolific. Could it be all the singing along impeding my thought process? If that was your guess, you get a cookie.
18. What inspires you?
Great writing is the biggest kick in the ass out there. Even aspects of great writing which are not so great in me. Creative jealousy is a hell of a motivator. Also, kalenodonnell in general.
19. Lastly, how would you sum up your fan fiction/RP experiences and you as a writer?
It's been an interesting ride. Sometimes I feel like I'm abandoning fic, since the original ideas and spec stuff has invaded and the muse has become quite the turncoat. But I still get the bunnies, rabid ones, that want me to open Word and start typing, now, now, now. My muse is a fickle mistress. But I've met some of the greatest people in the world through fic and fandom, a few that will be with me all the days of my life, and I am forever grateful.
The Fic Meme, snagged from ellyfanfiction.
1. How about a brief introduction?
Courtney, or Court, or C, or the Mad Poet to darkmuse_ic. I work in social services, and cohabitate with The Boy and a small menagerie in Chicago (South Side FTW!). I'm a movie nut and a bibliophile, which lend themselves well to fandom. Graphic designer on the side, brown fangirl (and proud), unrepentant Pepsi addict. And I use the word "glorious" at least twice a day.
2. What got you into fan fiction (and/or adopting muses)?
I started as a reader. The Boy actually discovered fanfic before I did, as a DS9 devotee. He's since given it up, but he stuck around long enough to significantly alter life as I know it. The first bunny bit a little over four years ago, and before I knew it, I'd hammered out my first prologue (for epic!fic that still isn't finished, but that's neither here nor there). And the rest is a tiny, insignificant part of history.
3. What kind of fan fiction do you write?
I started out writing ship-heavy UC fics. It was a way to fix all the flaws in my fandom, if only in my own head. I leaned heavily on the crutch of canon early on, and really had to work at actually plotting. Now I kind of wish I could go back. :) I've since discovered a rabid love of gen and UST, but I still seem to favor the epic.
4. What is your most popular fic/muse and why do you think people like it so?
If I had to guess, I'd say the "Fumbling Towards Ecstasy" series. At least, it's the one that draws the most "update, whore!" torches and pitchforks. It's one of the aforementioned canon clutchers, but I think people enjoy it because it's working within canon without changing it (which, given the flaws of the show as it went on, frankly sucks). Favorite non-WIP would have to be "Daydream Believer (For All The Waking World)".
5. Forget other people, what is the fanfic/post/prompt you've written that you're most proud of?
If this were asking about the fic I hate most, answering would be so easy. I have an irrational soft spot for "Definition as a State of Being", which is short, sober Mal. It was the first thing I ever wrote that sort of sprung fully-formed from my skull without hemming and hawwing and hyperactive editing. Everything just sort of gelled, and I still smile when I read it.
6. Do you find writing easy? Hard? What aspects do you struggle with?
That all depends on what I'm writing (and if the muse is feeling cooperative). Firefly comes deceptively easy, which I still can't understand. There are facets of the process that are much easier than others. For me, the easy parts always revolve around the characters. Internalization, dialogue... those are things I don't stress over. Plotting is my kryptonite, even now, when the bunnies multiply like tribbles.
7. Do you write for the same pairings/characters?
I've become a bit of a flighty ficcer. I spent two years writing in one fandom, with two oft-appearing pairings. Now, I write in about twelve. I never seem to have many pairings in any one fandom, though, and I tend to stick to my favorite POVs. They're usually male. Go figure.
8. Write a few sentences of your favorite pairing or character.
Oh see, that's not fair. I posted fic today! Does that count?
9. Are there any fanfiction trends/clichés you hate?
It wouldn't be fair to say "fluff". It's the attack of the schmoop that I generally can't stand. That "everything's puppies and rainbows and happily-ever-afters" genre. My hate list isn't that long - OOC and Mary Sue fic, POV plug-and-play (no, sticking a character's thoughts in between the existing dialogue does not a fic make. If I wanted to read the book, I'd read the book.), cavalier rape as a plot device, and UC that completely discounts canon. People can love more than once in a lifetime, and just because X now loves Y doesn't mean he/she never ever loved (and now loathes) Z.
10. Are you guilty of any of the trends you hate?
My first fic (the aforementioned almost-finished epic) has come dangerously close to that last one. The past love is still acknowledged, but the loathing is in full force.
11. What was the first fandom you wrote for? Do you still write for it?
Roswell, and yes. Sort of. But not at this exact moment. My goal right now is to finish my WIPs on that front. After that, we'll see.
12. Name your OTPs and explain what it is about them you love to write.
I never quite realized until now how many of my pairings are crossover couples. Huh. Guess this will be fairly short.
Roswell's Michael and Liz. It's all about Michael, really - I'm actually not a huge fan of Liz's. She was great for me outside of Max, but how often did that happen? Over the years, it's been more about fanon Michael than anything. Fic Michael kicks canon Michael's ass, every time. Ship-wise, they worked for me from nearly the beginning. They're similar in ways that were never acknowledged or explored by the show. That's what fic is for, I guess.
Firefly's Mal and Kaylee. She brings out a side of him, something so soft and vulnerable and little-seen, that is irresistable to my UC-loving heart. It's almost as if he's made her the touchstone for the humanity he tries so hard to suppress. And he makes no apologies for it, which is so Mal.
Everwood's Ephram and Amy. My single canon OTP. There's such realism in their relationship, and so much respect... I'm a sucker for bonds of friendship before love, and they had it in spades. Plus, I love that you shouldn't love them together, given Ephram's emo and Amy's teen queen melodrama, but they just fit.
Smallville's Oliver and Chloe. OTP Numero Uno. And I used to be such a diehard Chlarker. *sigh* Chloe is my go-to girl - I'll ship her with just about anybody (she's my female equivalent of Charles Gunn. I'd attempt Gunn/Chloe, but I'm pretty sure it would break my brain.). But after all the character assassination she's taken from the writers, not to mention seven seasons of Clana, the Chlark shine has worn off. Enter Oliver Queen, knight in shining green leather. One of my biggest weaknesses is a hero who's entirely human (Bats, I'm looking at you), and Ollie is that weakness personified. I love that he's snarky and flawed and constantly questions his own worth (net worth notwithstanding). More than anything, I love that he recognizes and acknowledges that Chloe is her own person, with gifts of her own to bring to the table. And writing them together is heaven. Death by banter. So lovely.
13. What would you call your writing style?
Indulgent. LOL. I would love to say that it's stark and sparse and straight-to-the-gut, that no-frills perfection that so many authors I know possess, but I'd be lying. I'm wordy, and that rubs off on the characters - give me two snarky boys, and I'll let them banter for hours. I write paragraph-length sentences, stretch punctuation to its limits, and am a bit of a twisted metaphor whore. And I cannot resist alliteration, no matter how much I try.
14. Do you read other people's writing? If so, what do you find yourself reading the most?
I read whatever I'm not writing at the moment. My brain is a steel trap, and I'd hate to absorb and appropriate. These days, most of my reading is of the Supernatural variety. Gen and angst, mostly.
15. Name one thing you'd love to write but have been too afraid or too shy to do.
Did I mention the Gunn/Chloe? I'm dying to write darkly funny and slightly angsty Jack Harkness/Simon Tam, but as a slash virgin, it's intimidating. Perhaps someday... Or somebody could write it for me.
16. Do you feel uncomfortable taking criticism? Or worse, do you have the dreaded bloated ego?
Criticism is always welcome. It becomes a challenge set and a goal to meet, like trying to prove Simon Cowell wrong (and get him to admit it). Anything that makes you a better writer, right? As for the ego, I think I'm guilty of being too confident on the aspects I think I have down, mostly because I have weaknesses I'd rather be working on. One day it'll bite me in the ass.
17. When you write, is there anything that helps?
Silence. Complete and utter silence. I used to write to music (I'd make playlists for each of my fics) and wonder why I wasn't exactly prolific. Could it be all the singing along impeding my thought process? If that was your guess, you get a cookie.
18. What inspires you?
Great writing is the biggest kick in the ass out there. Even aspects of great writing which are not so great in me. Creative jealousy is a hell of a motivator. Also, kalenodonnell in general.
19. Lastly, how would you sum up your fan fiction/RP experiences and you as a writer?
It's been an interesting ride. Sometimes I feel like I'm abandoning fic, since the original ideas and spec stuff has invaded and the muse has become quite the turncoat. But I still get the bunnies, rabid ones, that want me to open Word and start typing, now, now, now. My muse is a fickle mistress. But I've met some of the greatest people in the world through fic and fandom, a few that will be with me all the days of my life, and I am forever grateful.