Featured Member Q&A November 2013: Darkrivertempest
I had several moments of incoherent spazzing when phlox emailed me and told me I'd been nominated to be the featured author for the month of November! Truthfully, I'm still giddy and it hasn't properly sunk in, but standing around with my jaw dragging the floor is unattractive, so I'll stop that now and say a tremendous thank you to everyone that voted for me! It's an honor and a privilege to nominated, I'm beside myself with gratitude. Thank you!
How long have you been in fandom? How did you get into fandom?
It’s rather embarrassing, but I’ve been in one fandom or another since… god, 1977 with Star Wars. That progressed to the Alien franchise, then it went on to where I became deeply involved in the Beauty and the Beast tv series from the late 80’s. I wrote for that fandom, but all the fanfic was lost, so it was never published. I was laid-up from an ankle surgery in January of 2007, where I made use of my free time by watching the whole of Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, where I was sucked in and wrote for the Spuffy ship (Spike/Buffy).
Now, I’d always been enamoured of the Harry Potter series, but I hadn’t even thought of reading fanfic for it, let alone writing anything approaching a coherent story. But around January/February of 2009, I naturally progressed from Spike and Buffy (platinum blond vamp, snarky gal) to another duo much like them - Draco and Hermione. I even dragged my Spuffy betas with me, and they became engrossed in the Potter fandom as well. I think the first fic I read was Heavy Lies the Crown, by the most awesome floorcoaster, which led me to the community she was running at the time, Luvlikerocketz. It was during their 2009 Valentine exchange, and they needed a pinch hitter. I waved my noob flag and I was given the task of writing a piece based on a prompt by the lovely lynnec114. Again, being a noob, I’d never written a short piece, so I wrote this long (too bloody long) one-shot for her: Sonata, where I indulged in every cliché and trope you could think of. But she liked it, bless her cotton socks, and since then, I’ve never really looked back.
Was D/Hr your first ship?
In Harry Potter? Absolutely. They were my gateway drug. LOL
Do you read/write any other ships?
Yes, because that’s the beauty of the Potter fandom-there’s so much potential and endless possibilities with all the characters Rowling created. I pretty much stick to non-canon pairings, though. I don’t think I’ve ever became involved in a fandom where I shipped the main pairing (except Beauty and the Beast). I write a multitude of het and slash pairings in the Potter fandom, Spike/Buffy in the Buffy fandom, and will dabble in Torchwood, Sherlock BBC and Hannibal.
What is your writing process like?
It’s not anything remotely linear. I go from point G to point M, then back to C, and wind up with Q. See? Like one of those Spirograph pictures! Outlines are the Devil’s plaything. Mostly it’s just me having flashes of insanity (oh look! A shiny new plot-this is how it ends, now figure out the beginning and middle!) at the most inopportune times. Rarely, an idea for a story will seize me, and I’ll have to sit down and bang out at least the first 5-6K, then I’ll be blank for like a week, then it’ll start back up again at like 2 AM and I’ll be typing away when I should be sleeping. God bless my betas (unseen1969, delphipsmith and ssddgr), they are so tolerant of my quirks and provide such amazing feedback, I’d be so lost without them. They smack me around (I like that sort of thing) and demand that my ramblings make sense.
How do you come up with plots?
Honestly? Inspiration and prompts… from YOU! Exchanges are like crack for me, because I love to work with ideas where I can twist canon or spin a unique view on an old trope.
What is the most important thing to you while writing fic?
Music! Every story I write has a soundtrack that I listen to while writing. If I don’t have music, I can still focus, but it’s harder. Characterization-making Draco as fluffy as a Kneazle or Hermione slutty and vapid will only happen if I’m writing crack… on purpose.
While reading?
Either Draco or Hermione calling each other ‘baby’ will ensure I hit the back button. Multiple POV’s in the same paragraph (you can’t tell whose dialogue belongs to whom) frustrates me to no end - pick a POV and stick with it! I can forgive a lot in the SPaG area if the plot is intriguing. Substance and plot over smut-I won’t usually read PWP’s.
And, when I’m reading, you might as well write me off for dead, because you’ll get no response from me. I totally immerse myself in a story, and if you pull me out before I’m ready, I’ll snarl and complain until you let me dive back in. Best just to leave me alone.
What is something you aim to achieve in a story?
One of three things: to make you laugh; to make you gasp or cry; to show you ways of looking at something that you hadn’t thought of before.
What do you try to stay away from in your writing?
PWP’s: I like smut/sex, don’t get me wrong, but a story that has Draco and Hermione going at it every 5 minutes (unless for a very specific reason) does nothing for me when reading, so I’m not likely to write a PWP either. I need a valid reason why they’re together. I dislike OOC, teeth-rotting Fluff. Yes, we all have those days where we just need something positive. I gravitate towards humor to alleviate that sort of stress, so you’ll maybe find one or two of my utterly disgusting examples of mild fluff in the form of romantic comedy. Otherwise, as the label suggests - dark and mind-bendy fics for me, please.
What are your favorite things about this pairing?
That they’re versatile. Draco can be written as snarky and funny in one moment then brooding and dark the next. Hermione can be positive and uplifting in one story then full of despair and be completely shut off in another.
Do you have a favorite story that you've written, or one that holds a really special meaning to you?
It’s a toss-up between They Are As Legion and Weary In Wiltshire. Both were written during times of tremendous stress and pressure, so the impressions they left were quite deep. The research for Legion was extensive and trying to keep a light atmosphere while wallowing in angst with Wiltshire was taxing. Both made me cry and laugh in turns.
Working on anything now?
I just finished working on Dramione_duet, where I received a most awesome present from liafic! I’m also working on Granger Enchanted’s Malfoy Christmas Exchange, but I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to play with Draco or Lucius this time. A couple other projects in the works, plus co-moderating the Luciusbigbang, which starts on November 5th!
If there's anything you have a question about, don't hesitate to ask! Again, thank you for this immense honor!
Stories
A Certain Step
Amistlemour
Diabolical
Of Life, Interrupted
Sonata
The Master's Tool
They Are As Legion
Truth of the Matter
Weary In Wiltshire
How long have you been in fandom? How did you get into fandom?
It’s rather embarrassing, but I’ve been in one fandom or another since… god, 1977 with Star Wars. That progressed to the Alien franchise, then it went on to where I became deeply involved in the Beauty and the Beast tv series from the late 80’s. I wrote for that fandom, but all the fanfic was lost, so it was never published. I was laid-up from an ankle surgery in January of 2007, where I made use of my free time by watching the whole of Buffy the Vampire Slayer series, where I was sucked in and wrote for the Spuffy ship (Spike/Buffy).
Now, I’d always been enamoured of the Harry Potter series, but I hadn’t even thought of reading fanfic for it, let alone writing anything approaching a coherent story. But around January/February of 2009, I naturally progressed from Spike and Buffy (platinum blond vamp, snarky gal) to another duo much like them - Draco and Hermione. I even dragged my Spuffy betas with me, and they became engrossed in the Potter fandom as well. I think the first fic I read was Heavy Lies the Crown, by the most awesome floorcoaster, which led me to the community she was running at the time, Luvlikerocketz. It was during their 2009 Valentine exchange, and they needed a pinch hitter. I waved my noob flag and I was given the task of writing a piece based on a prompt by the lovely lynnec114. Again, being a noob, I’d never written a short piece, so I wrote this long (too bloody long) one-shot for her: Sonata, where I indulged in every cliché and trope you could think of. But she liked it, bless her cotton socks, and since then, I’ve never really looked back.
Was D/Hr your first ship?
In Harry Potter? Absolutely. They were my gateway drug. LOL
Do you read/write any other ships?
Yes, because that’s the beauty of the Potter fandom-there’s so much potential and endless possibilities with all the characters Rowling created. I pretty much stick to non-canon pairings, though. I don’t think I’ve ever became involved in a fandom where I shipped the main pairing (except Beauty and the Beast). I write a multitude of het and slash pairings in the Potter fandom, Spike/Buffy in the Buffy fandom, and will dabble in Torchwood, Sherlock BBC and Hannibal.
What is your writing process like?
It’s not anything remotely linear. I go from point G to point M, then back to C, and wind up with Q. See? Like one of those Spirograph pictures! Outlines are the Devil’s plaything. Mostly it’s just me having flashes of insanity (oh look! A shiny new plot-this is how it ends, now figure out the beginning and middle!) at the most inopportune times. Rarely, an idea for a story will seize me, and I’ll have to sit down and bang out at least the first 5-6K, then I’ll be blank for like a week, then it’ll start back up again at like 2 AM and I’ll be typing away when I should be sleeping. God bless my betas (unseen1969, delphipsmith and ssddgr), they are so tolerant of my quirks and provide such amazing feedback, I’d be so lost without them. They smack me around (I like that sort of thing) and demand that my ramblings make sense.
How do you come up with plots?
Honestly? Inspiration and prompts… from YOU! Exchanges are like crack for me, because I love to work with ideas where I can twist canon or spin a unique view on an old trope.
What is the most important thing to you while writing fic?
Music! Every story I write has a soundtrack that I listen to while writing. If I don’t have music, I can still focus, but it’s harder. Characterization-making Draco as fluffy as a Kneazle or Hermione slutty and vapid will only happen if I’m writing crack… on purpose.
While reading?
Either Draco or Hermione calling each other ‘baby’ will ensure I hit the back button. Multiple POV’s in the same paragraph (you can’t tell whose dialogue belongs to whom) frustrates me to no end - pick a POV and stick with it! I can forgive a lot in the SPaG area if the plot is intriguing. Substance and plot over smut-I won’t usually read PWP’s.
And, when I’m reading, you might as well write me off for dead, because you’ll get no response from me. I totally immerse myself in a story, and if you pull me out before I’m ready, I’ll snarl and complain until you let me dive back in. Best just to leave me alone.
What is something you aim to achieve in a story?
One of three things: to make you laugh; to make you gasp or cry; to show you ways of looking at something that you hadn’t thought of before.
What do you try to stay away from in your writing?
PWP’s: I like smut/sex, don’t get me wrong, but a story that has Draco and Hermione going at it every 5 minutes (unless for a very specific reason) does nothing for me when reading, so I’m not likely to write a PWP either. I need a valid reason why they’re together. I dislike OOC, teeth-rotting Fluff. Yes, we all have those days where we just need something positive. I gravitate towards humor to alleviate that sort of stress, so you’ll maybe find one or two of my utterly disgusting examples of mild fluff in the form of romantic comedy. Otherwise, as the label suggests - dark and mind-bendy fics for me, please.
What are your favorite things about this pairing?
That they’re versatile. Draco can be written as snarky and funny in one moment then brooding and dark the next. Hermione can be positive and uplifting in one story then full of despair and be completely shut off in another.
Do you have a favorite story that you've written, or one that holds a really special meaning to you?
It’s a toss-up between They Are As Legion and Weary In Wiltshire. Both were written during times of tremendous stress and pressure, so the impressions they left were quite deep. The research for Legion was extensive and trying to keep a light atmosphere while wallowing in angst with Wiltshire was taxing. Both made me cry and laugh in turns.
Working on anything now?
I just finished working on Dramione_duet, where I received a most awesome present from liafic! I’m also working on Granger Enchanted’s Malfoy Christmas Exchange, but I haven’t decided yet if I’m going to play with Draco or Lucius this time. A couple other projects in the works, plus co-moderating the Luciusbigbang, which starts on November 5th!
If there's anything you have a question about, don't hesitate to ask! Again, thank you for this immense honor!
Stories
A Certain Step
Amistlemour
Diabolical
Of Life, Interrupted
Sonata
The Master's Tool
They Are As Legion
Truth of the Matter
Weary In Wiltshire