Meme: On writing fanfic...

[magnetic_pole]

I've had this journal for almost six months now, and I love reading this meme, so it's time for a little self-assessment. This post is about my writing, mostly for my own purposes but here for those of you who are interested in the writing process

Comments

[lupinspatronus]

Haha I love reading about what goes on behind-the-scenes.. well, somewhat.

I am with you about being shy about your own writing.. I don't really write fic, I write music.. and everytime I let someone hear it for the first time, especially if it's someone really qualified and/or an expert, I feel my innards cringing with - what is it, shyness? embarrassment? Haha.

before I start posting to other communities and archives. I'm not at that stage yet. Time to start, Maggie!!!

The 'parent' generation of HP is my favourite too. The richness of characters and relationships between them, plus the whole drama and politics about the first war etc etc (and I wouldn't say no to reading about baby Harry).. it's practically the most fertile ground for fic-generation! Culturally, interesting things were taking place during that timeframe too. Plus canon provides guidelines, but doesn't impose too many rules. What more could you ask for? And it's great that you love ruminating over social and class issues, culture, politics.. because I love reading about them! Nothing like a good long fic to sink your teeth into (and to tell yourself that you're doing something intellectual at the same time..).

You're lucky in that you don't suffer much whilst writing.. are you a perfectionist? I'm an incurable one, especially when it comes to writing music, so I have a sort of very strong love/hate relationship with it because it causes me SO much stress and yet brings so much fulfilment. Heh. Artists are all crazy, I think.

And lastly, just out of curiosity - do you find that your best ideas are usually accidents? =P

[magnetic_pole]

and every time I let someone hear it for the first time, especially if it's someone really qualified and/or an expert, I feel my innards cringing with - what is it, shyness? embarrassment?

Me, too. It's painful. It's a big part of the reason I started writing here on LJ, incidentally, because I figured I had to get over my fear of showing my work to other people. It's a terrible thing to say--because I do work hard on my fic and care about it, really!--but I've been able to relax and let go, not obsess so much over my writing, and not fear the reader's response quite so much. What do you do to get over it?

By the way, writing music is so interesting, LP. *mulls that over* That's creative, obsessive, intense work--much more so than writing, I'd imagine, which can be deceptively like talking sometimes.

The richness of characters and relationships between them, plus the whole drama and politics about the first war ... Plus canon provides guidelines, but doesn't impose too many rules. What more could you ask for?

Exactly! So well put. I need to write this down somewhere.

I don't know where the ideas come from, do you? *smile* If you do, tell me! It's actually a little frightening for me, since I like the structure and predictability of work that doesn't involved much creativity--for me, research and library work and note taking. Writing is always essentially creative for me, no matter how many diagrams I draw, and I hate having to stop being analytic, visualizing the whole, and letting it take shape in an unpredictable, irrational way.

Thanks so much for stopping by to comment! As always! Maggie

[lupinspatronus]

Hm I think that as long as you feel proud of what you've produced, the feeling of fearing an audience's response will naturally go away after the first showing, because you believe strongly in your work and that's what really matters. Of course feedback is very very useful - especially in pointing out things I didn't realise, both good and bad - but if something someone says doesn't resonate with what I believe then I will struggle with it for a while, then eventually decide not to heed that person's advice. There's always some sort of struggle, though, haha, where I try to convince myself that I'm more correct.

Ideas.. appear randomly! Hahahaha.. sometimes they stem from being inspired by someone else's work, but I always have to tread carefully because one runs the risk of plagiarism this way! I always find that for me the hardest point is STARTING (I can agonize over it for days then finish the rest in a much shorter time). Sometimes the idea will just write itself, which is kind of freaky if you think about it. But I find that's when I produce my best work! Do you find that too?

Haha sorry for all this rambling, I love talking to other people who are passionate about creating =P

[magnetic_pole]

This is rushed because I'm about to head out of town, but I wanted to reply. You have an amazingly healthy attitude towards feedback criticism! I'm impressed. It's the one I aspire to myself.

I have a terrible time starting, too. And a hard time keeping at it until I feel like I'm immersed in the material--at which point I stay up all hours and type till I'm done. I just can't seem to write on a 9:00 to 5:00 schedule, the way some of my academic colleagues can. Does the same thing hold true for the people you know who write music? That some people are simply more methodical about the whole thing?

I'm off now, but I can't wait to hear from you again when I get back home. Enjoy these last few weeks of summer, and I talk to you again in September! Maggie

[lupinspatronus]

Haha I think the attitude towards feedback criticism takes time to settle into. Also, having guidance from a mentor really helps too. I used to be really protective of my work but at the same time really insecure! Then I realised there was no point in being so if I was really happy with my work as it was. Haha.

I agree with you completely about the whole immersed in the material thing! I work the same way - inspiration really plays a big part in keeping me going, as I have terrible discipline, but once I'm 'into it' I don't want to stop (partly also because I recognize that this is a relatively rare productive span of time and I don't want to waste it!)

I think writers and composers are very very similar in many respects, and you're right in thinking that different methods of writing hold true for musicians too. I can't set a fixed range of time to sit down and write either, because if I'm not inspired but force myself to churn out something I end up throwing the whole lot away the next time I look at it! But I know some people who can be disciplined and go about effectively with a fixed schedule. I think there must be a way to put yourself into the 'inspirational' mode because if not it'll be terribly difficult to meet deadlines all the time and still feel satisfied.. But sadly I have yet to discover what works for me. Haha.

You enjoy your summer too! =)

[magnetic_pole]

Then I realised there was no point in being so if I was really happy with my work as it was. This is so true. *ponders*
M.