Fanfiction survey
I've decided to use this LJ strictly as a fandom tool. In other words, I will no longer be posting personal ramblings on this LJ anymore. I've decided to properly compartmentalise my online lives, so to speak. This pseudonym windchijmes is strictly for fandoms. It has no bearing on my real life whatsoever - I have another identity for that. I think it's important because my fandom activities belong strictly to me. No one in my life knows about it and I intend to keep it that way. It's my own personal thrill, so to speak.
Here I've dug up an old survey that I did back in year 2010 - and re-did it. I actually had a 3-year hiatus from writing fanfiction that started in 2010 and ended at around February 2013. The reason was I lost complete interest in all the fandoms I was in at that time, and it took me up to 2013 to find another that I want to write for. I still enjoy fanfiction. It's an indulgence and a hobby for me. When I write fanfiction, I forget about the shit that RL often deals to all of us.
Anyway here we go!
When did you first start reading/writing fanfiction? 2003
What was your first fandom? Gundam Wing (anime)
First ship? Duo Maxwell / Chang Wufei, or 2x5. We referred to the pairings in numerical terms because of the way the characters were named. I still remember that fondly. Bottom!Wufei, or uke-Wufei is my favourite. Seme. Uke. Yaoi. *sighs nostalgically*
What fanfiction website do you use most? It used to be FF.Net and Mediaminer. Now it's Archive of our Own. AO3 is the BEST, hands-down. Functionality, user-friendliness, tagging, formatting, EVERYTHING.
What do you think of Fanfiction.net? It used to be something. Now I remember it as clumsy, entirely user-unfriendly and just plain annoying. I have stopped posting in it. Not even worth half the effort.
What fandoms have you written in? Gundam Wing, Naruto, Fruits Basket, Saiyuki, Yami no Matsuei, Tennis no Oujisama, Get Backers, Rookies...and currently [The Hobbit]. It will be just Hobbit fanfiction for now (and in the near future).
What pairings have you written? 1x5, 2x5, 3x5, SasuNeji, NaruNeji, Haru/Kyou, Sanzo/Gojyo, Silver Pair, Echizen/Dan, Kazuki/Juubei, Tatsumi/Tsuzuki, Aniya/Mikoshiba. Ok, now for Hobbit fanfiction, I have a huge and all-encompassing love for bottom!Fili, which is then closely followed by Dwalin/Thorin and bottom!Dean (as in Dean O'Gorman RPF). Yep, I have a tendency to be very specific with my preferences. Rarely do I have gray areas. I either like or I dislike a character/pairing.
Do reviews affect how you write in any way? Who doesn't love reviews? I do. But I'm not neurotic about it. I consider every positive review an encouragement, and constructive criticism as valuable learning points (I have gotten those and some have been blunt). Thus far, I have not received singularly negative reviews, nor have I been flamed, which I am thankful for. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I write for readers, and more importantly, for myself. By enjoying the process of writing, I think somehow it is translated into my writings.
Do you use a beta? No. I see the benefits of having a beta-reader, but I do not use one. Unless I am writing to earn money, in which case I definitely need an editor, having a beta for just fanfiction is too much hassle. That being said, I do take the time to edit my own writings before I go public with them. I don't catch every mistake, but I do correct those that I have spotted.
What ratings do you read/write? General to Explicit, and everything in between.
What warnings have you used in your writings? This is an interesting issue. Having spent 10 years in fandoms, I have noticed there that is an increased sensitivity to trigger warnings. That is good. After all, readers should be warned of potential triggers. When I was younger, explicit smut was the furthest I went in my writings. Now however, I have covered even more graphic smut, non-consensual situations, as well as mild deviations into bondage, crossdressing and explicit language.
Do you have any squicks? I will absolutely not read/write mpreg, genderswap, watersports, scat and extreme torture.
Have you ever stolen something from another person's work? I don't plagiarise. But I have re-used themes, ideas and imagery from just about everywhere (TV, books, other fanfics, magazines, etc), within the context of my own writings.
Favorite fandom to write/read? Currently [The Hobbit]. I have no plans to delve into other fandoms for now. I barely have time for just one.
Favorite pairings? Dwalin/Fili, Bard/Fili, Thorin/Fili, Kili/Fili, Dwalin/Thorin. Gormitage. Aidean. ArmiTavish.
Do you write/read drabbles? Let me say now that I do think there ARE excellent drabbles out there. I just don't read any because I like longer stuff. And my definition of longer is anything that is 800 words and above.
What do you think of Mary Sues? I have an affectionate loathing for them.
Have you ever flamed someone? I have not flamed anyone, but I have given very detailed constructive criticism before. I am not sorry I did, though. I believe that in publicising your works, you should be able to handle the good - and the bad. I write too. I'm also subjected to the possibility of getting criticised/flamed. It's part of the whole package of publicising fanfiction.
Here I've dug up an old survey that I did back in year 2010 - and re-did it. I actually had a 3-year hiatus from writing fanfiction that started in 2010 and ended at around February 2013. The reason was I lost complete interest in all the fandoms I was in at that time, and it took me up to 2013 to find another that I want to write for. I still enjoy fanfiction. It's an indulgence and a hobby for me. When I write fanfiction, I forget about the shit that RL often deals to all of us.
Anyway here we go!
When did you first start reading/writing fanfiction? 2003
What was your first fandom? Gundam Wing (anime)
First ship? Duo Maxwell / Chang Wufei, or 2x5. We referred to the pairings in numerical terms because of the way the characters were named. I still remember that fondly. Bottom!Wufei, or uke-Wufei is my favourite. Seme. Uke. Yaoi. *sighs nostalgically*
What fanfiction website do you use most? It used to be FF.Net and Mediaminer. Now it's Archive of our Own. AO3 is the BEST, hands-down. Functionality, user-friendliness, tagging, formatting, EVERYTHING.
What do you think of Fanfiction.net? It used to be something. Now I remember it as clumsy, entirely user-unfriendly and just plain annoying. I have stopped posting in it. Not even worth half the effort.
What fandoms have you written in? Gundam Wing, Naruto, Fruits Basket, Saiyuki, Yami no Matsuei, Tennis no Oujisama, Get Backers, Rookies...and currently [The Hobbit]. It will be just Hobbit fanfiction for now (and in the near future).
What pairings have you written? 1x5, 2x5, 3x5, SasuNeji, NaruNeji, Haru/Kyou, Sanzo/Gojyo, Silver Pair, Echizen/Dan, Kazuki/Juubei, Tatsumi/Tsuzuki, Aniya/Mikoshiba. Ok, now for Hobbit fanfiction, I have a huge and all-encompassing love for bottom!Fili, which is then closely followed by Dwalin/Thorin and bottom!Dean (as in Dean O'Gorman RPF). Yep, I have a tendency to be very specific with my preferences. Rarely do I have gray areas. I either like or I dislike a character/pairing.
Do reviews affect how you write in any way? Who doesn't love reviews? I do. But I'm not neurotic about it. I consider every positive review an encouragement, and constructive criticism as valuable learning points (I have gotten those and some have been blunt). Thus far, I have not received singularly negative reviews, nor have I been flamed, which I am thankful for. Ultimately, at the end of the day, I write for readers, and more importantly, for myself. By enjoying the process of writing, I think somehow it is translated into my writings.
Do you use a beta? No. I see the benefits of having a beta-reader, but I do not use one. Unless I am writing to earn money, in which case I definitely need an editor, having a beta for just fanfiction is too much hassle. That being said, I do take the time to edit my own writings before I go public with them. I don't catch every mistake, but I do correct those that I have spotted.
What ratings do you read/write? General to Explicit, and everything in between.
What warnings have you used in your writings? This is an interesting issue. Having spent 10 years in fandoms, I have noticed there that is an increased sensitivity to trigger warnings. That is good. After all, readers should be warned of potential triggers. When I was younger, explicit smut was the furthest I went in my writings. Now however, I have covered even more graphic smut, non-consensual situations, as well as mild deviations into bondage, crossdressing and explicit language.
Do you have any squicks? I will absolutely not read/write mpreg, genderswap, watersports, scat and extreme torture.
Have you ever stolen something from another person's work? I don't plagiarise. But I have re-used themes, ideas and imagery from just about everywhere (TV, books, other fanfics, magazines, etc), within the context of my own writings.
Favorite fandom to write/read? Currently [The Hobbit]. I have no plans to delve into other fandoms for now. I barely have time for just one.
Favorite pairings? Dwalin/Fili, Bard/Fili, Thorin/Fili, Kili/Fili, Dwalin/Thorin. Gormitage. Aidean. ArmiTavish.
Do you write/read drabbles? Let me say now that I do think there ARE excellent drabbles out there. I just don't read any because I like longer stuff. And my definition of longer is anything that is 800 words and above.
What do you think of Mary Sues? I have an affectionate loathing for them.
Have you ever flamed someone? I have not flamed anyone, but I have given very detailed constructive criticism before. I am not sorry I did, though. I believe that in publicising your works, you should be able to handle the good - and the bad. I write too. I'm also subjected to the possibility of getting criticised/flamed. It's part of the whole package of publicising fanfiction.