How do you write? And other stuff of little importance to anyone but myself...

[odysseaia]

For days I've been positively dazed by the response from the Big Bang posts. I'm amazed, really and I can only say that the experience of taking part in the SPN-J2-Big Bang has been incredible. It's not just that I've gotten to know a couple of people who are plain and simply awesome, but I feel it has also helped me develop my style of drawing. I

Comments

[ancastar]

Ooh! You're the multi-talented sort. :-)

How do I write...

I normally start with one scene that for whatever reason has taken up residence in my head. The story then takes shape around that scene. How did the characters get there? What happens afterwards? Why does the story exist --what do either the characters or the readers (or both) learn (because the character should change from beginning to end--at least one of them--otherwise, what reason is there for the story)?

My background is theatre, so I tend to see the scene play out in my head and then I transcribe what I see and hear. The plus of this technique is that it's very detail rich. The negative is most readers don't care about all those details. :-) I always end up with way more stuff than I need, and I tend to overwrite. I have trouble writing shorter stories because the idea the come to me usually lend themselves to full blown stories. The technique (which is not anything I've ever learned--I'm not a trained writer) is also very improvisational. So sometimes the characters in my head go off on tangents that don't contribute to the story as a whole and I have to rein them on in.

I envy the hell out of callistosh65. I've read her stuff across fandoms, and for me she gets more out of less words than anyone I know. It's remarkable. Her SPN stuff is great, she has a nice handle on the guys and their relationship (whether it be gen or slash). But her Pros stories blow me away. Maybe it's because that was the first fic of hers I'd read. But I recommend reading her work to see how it's done.

And of course you know about Debbie. ;-)

Best of luck with your writing! I truly look forward to it. You're such a wonderful addition to the fandom.

[odysseaia]

Pfft, "multi-talented". I'm more the impertinent sort who tries everything, regardless of skill ;)

I normally start with one scene that for whatever reason has taken up residence in my head. The story then takes shape around that scene.
Another approach I've never even considered but it does sound exciting. Did your current BB-story start out like this? I think I need to try this one, too.
Additionally, I love your point that a character should change or grow during a story. Too many published works neglect that point and that's always something I bemoan. A character starts out perfect and remains that way, merely dealing with the tragedies life decides to throw into his or her way yadda yadda yadda (you can tell I've been reading an installment of Preston & Child's Pendergast-series, can't you? ;))

I tend to see the scene play out in my head and then I transcribe what I see and hear.
That's exactly what happens to me. I see what's playing out and then I end up being annoyed, because I can't find the right words to "tell the picture" so to speak. On the other hand, I suspect this is a matter of practice. Funny enough, my background is medicine, so this really doesn't explain my approach to fiction.

I adore Debbie and Callistosh65 sounds awesome as well. I'll definitely drop by her journal. And also once again you note the thing that impresses me so much in authors. Some of them can say so much with so few words (big problem for me. I rant like crazy). Some have such an elegant style *looks at Debbie for instance*

Thanks for wishing me luck! I've finished the rough draft for my summergen-story. I'm leaving it untouched for the night, then tomorrow I'll do my "read it loud" and "love your dictionary"-routine ;)

Once again, thanks for the tipps. I'll use them :)

[ancastar]

With Redemption, it was the power inequity that got things rolling. I love stories where one of the pair is at a disadvantage--be it monetarily, due to status, or emotionally. I share with Debbie a definite kink for strong/together Dean/Jensen and a more vulnerable (but not wussy!) Sam/Jared. It's a type of fiction you don't see much in SPN. Most writers (and readers too!) seem to favor Dean/Jensen as the wubbie. I'll read that (I almost have to--I'd have a heck of a lot less to read otherwise), and some of it is excellent, but it's not my preference.

I completely understand what you mean about not having words to describe what you see. I ran into that in one of the latter scenes in Redemption, so much so I literally stopped for a minute and said out loud, "What's happening? What do you see? Just tell the reader what you see." I think I was getting confused/distracted by the emotional component.

Callisto is awesome. Debbie, she and I all know each other from Starsky & Hutch. I actually met Ms. C. in Pros. She is still active there (and running their BB). I still love the pairing, but SPN has stolen all my attention. Deb doesn't do anything in Pros because it's almost exclusively a slash fic fandom. I've gradually lured her into Wincest and J2 (laughing evilly all the way), but she isn't ready to take on a pairing she knows nothing about when she has been assured it's all slash all the time.

When it comes to Callisto's fic, check out these two:

http://callistosh65.livejournal.com/122353.html#cutid1
(this is a marvelous Gen SPN fic and one of the stories she's happiest with)

And then try this Pros story. It's slash, but not graphic at all. You don't have to know the characters to appreciate what she's done. Just be aware they're British agents and Bodie is former military. This story is short and makes me cry every time.

http://community.livejournal.com/discoveredinalj/121611.html#cutid1

Enjoy!

[odysseaia]

...a definite kink for strong/together Dean/Jensen and a more vulnerable (but not wussy!) Sam/Jared. It's a type of fiction you don't see much in SPN. Most writers (and readers too!) seem to favor Dean/Jensen as the wubbie.
Actually this preference of many people to see either of the boys vulnerable or downright hurt (limp Sam comes to mind) surprises me. I always enjoyed a certain vulnerability in the boys but mostly am impressed when they're strong (especially emotionally.) I love it when they're in a no-win situation but, by using their wits and determination, manage to make it out of it - against all odds.

But back to Jensen/Dean as wubbie. I've got a theory that this preference might have something to do with the mere fact that Jensen is such an outstanding actor. He does emotion incredibly well and certainly can cry far more easily (and aesthetically) on command than I can. In fact, I think this preference even makes its appearance in the show as Dean's suffering is shown stronger (or at least that how it comes across to me) than Sam's. Quite possibly because Jensen really has a way of drawing the watcher in and suffering right along with him (whereas I love Jared in action scenes). Whoa. Completely off-topic now.

I think I was getting confused/distracted by the emotional component.
This is another one of these things I noticed about writing. Even more than when I draw, writing makes me emotional. It's downright ridiculous at times but the stories I write (few as they may be), tend to draw me in more deeply than any picture. Consequentially, I can imagine that harsh critique can be more difficult to deal with when one has written as story as opposed to draw a picture. So in contrast to the popular opinion that a picture is worth more than a thousand words, I think emotionally I made different experiences. Seeing that you're doing art as well, I'd be interested how you feel about this.

I've been following your link to Callisto (*great* username, by the way) and was overwhelmed. such a difficult topic, handled so beautifully and realistically. I left her a glowing review and bookmarked her fic-index. This is something to go back to and read and re-read again and again. Thanks for making the connection :)