Featured Member of April: everythursday
HEY! My name is Sage, though I also go by everythursday, and I'm one of the many writers in this lovely ship. I've written about 16 stories, with more than half being written the past year and a half. I'm honestly surprised everyone isn't sick of me at this point, but it appears I'm the Featured Member for April. I want to thank everyone who nominated and voted for me to be featured this month -- it means a great deal, so thank you all!
How long have you been in fandom?
I'm not sure, haha. I know I entered the ship before HBP came out, and I started writing in 2005, so we'll go with that.
How did you get into fandom?
*cough* To be honest, it was my friend and not me who was into Harry Potter like crazy. I went on a website to verify something she said, and saw something about fan fiction. I had no idea what it was, but it led me to fanfiction.net. The first story listed was Draco and Ginny, and I was like whaaaat, read a paragraph, quickly exited. I pondered for a second, and thought the only person I wanted to read with Draco Malfoy was Hermione Granger. And my love held strong through all the terrible stories that initially brought. XD
Why did you get into fandom?
Interest in the pairing. I loved the dynamic, the possibilities, the characters, the world. I wasn't really involved in fandom, though, outside of writing and reading. At least not until last year.
Was D/Hr your first ship?
First, last, only! Mostly. I've given some thought to other ships, and I've read a few drabbles of pairings from friends. But the furthest I stray from D/Hr is when they're with other people in the beginning of a story, or D/Hr/B, which I get in the mood for sometimes.
Who is your favorite character to write? Why?
Hermione. Draco. Hermione. I go back and forth between them. Usually, I fall into Hermione and we have awesome times together, but those times would never be as awesome without Draco. And what's the banter without both of them yelling in my head?
If it's Draco or Hermione, who is your favorite character to write besides either of them? Why?
Pheeew. I don't know. Neville? Lavender grew on me a bit, and Justin as well. But writing Neville, even for a paragraph, will never fail in making me smile. He's like chocolate goodness with a hazelnut at the center. I love a strength that's quiet, but still solid when you test it. I think the scene with Neville in DH was one of my top three favorites in the entire series -- I hadn't even been aware of how much I was behind him until that moment.
You're trapped in a room for seven days. Before the door slams, you yank one person in there with you: Draco or Hermione?
Draco! I love Hermione, but I think she has that sort of personality where I wouldn't like her until I was forced to see that I could. I have a friend who reminds me a lot of Hermione, and though I love her greatly, seven days would dfjgndf kill me. Don't get me wrong -- Draco as a racist? We both might be dead by the time the door opens. But I'm also the sort of person who needs my space, and I think Draco would ignore me better, while still entertaining me with arguments. Plus, the view. Though bathroom calls would be pretty awkward. Hm.
What is your writing process like?
Ahahahah. WELL. It's changed a bit recently. I used to just open up a document and go for it. Now I get a little plot idea, or maybe even just a scene or two in my head, then write it out. Then, after writing, I'll draft out the next couple scenes. Something easy, like "Hr goes to the store, looks for fruit, runs into D, argue over the merits of cherries" and maybe a couple lines of dialogue. That's what I'll write the next day. I write the outline as I go, and usually only have a weak idea of how the story will play out. Then I basically beast it out until the story is done, and know whatever estimated word count I have, it will probably double. A month into any story will find me with ink stains all over my hands, notebooks littering the floor, and about 40 post-it notes, flashcards, and pages taped and tacked to the walls.
I write every day when I'm on a project -- if I don't, I fall out of the groove, and it's a lot harder to get back into it. Sometimes I hit a cold vein, so I try to just stick to drafting that day so I don't lose the tone of the story. Other times, I switch over to a different story, but that can be difficult to come back from. I'm one of those people who go at things with a single-minded determination, so there's no straying for me -- if I lose the path, I am flying at full speed in a completely different direction.
How do you come up with plots?
A lot of pacing. XD Anyone who lives me would think I was insane, because I'll come up with a tiny thing, and then pace around while muttering questions under my breath. Then randomly break into a deranged grin while running for a pen. Scenes in themselves can be more difficult.
How do you cure writer's block?
I usually pound my head into a wall until the answer becomes clear. Sometimes you have to get on the verge of madness before shit starts making sense. If I'm stuck, it's usually always a scene or a collection of scenes before I know where I'm going again. So, if all else fails, I skip them. Usually, I just sit there tapping my pen against paper until it hits me. I find "watching" a show in the background, something mind-numbing, usually helps. Nothing intriguing enough to be distracting, but something that eases any frustration with staring at white paper while half of my brain is still thinking.
What is the most important thing to you while writing fic?
I was going to say characterization, but that's not something I actively think about with a story, and I just write them as they are in my head. So, I guess, it's that it means something. I don't like just writing crap, though I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who think I do just that. ;) I also hate getting them together too quickly, which means I either feel that I'm doing so, or other people are going to think I'm dragging it on for far too long. Sometimes there's a strong desire to say, "Well, I realize how right you are for one another, so surely you two realize that by the third time you meet after fighting on different sides of a war, and are about to desperately declare how much you need one another." But if I ever do that, I'd like to punch myself before promptly bowing out of fandom. Drunk sex not included. ;D I think when you've written and read them clearing all those hurdles so many times, sometimes it's exhausting to put that on repeat, or keep in mind just how difficult it should be.
While reading?
Characterization! I make a lot of exceptions for things when I read stories. If D and Hr are falling in love by 5k, I might cringe and keep reading if the rest is good. I will read a plot that's a little ridiculous. I will read stuff that is strictly sex or fluff. I will read stuff where the SPaG is not so good, as long as it's not bad. But there's nothing that turns me off from a story more than reading two people I don't recognize when I'm looking for D/Hr -- I'd rather read one of those unopened books waiting on my shelf. And I definitely realize that characterization is different for people. We've all jumped into a popular story only to say, Wait, whaaat? (though that's not always due to characterization), and we've read through enough stuff to know people have different definitions. Your home plate might be my outfield, but as long as it's in the ballpark, it's acceptable to me.
I can't read while I write, though, so I don't read much lately.
What is something you aim to achieve in a story?
That people take something good away from it, whatever it is. Like I got a review recently where they said they can't eat bananas without thinking of D/Hr after they read Parade. And it's not anything world changing, but that's a very awesome thing. Or I get those reviews/emails from readers that tell me their opinions on some conversation D and Hr had in the story, or what the story made them think about, or what class they were late for the next day because they stayed up all night. Those sort of things keep me on a high for weeks. I don't want to write a story people forget about the second they close the browser.
What do you try to stay away from in your writing?
"If someone had told her a year ago that she would be kissing Draco Malfoy, she would have hexed them until they were numb for a decade", etc, etc. Haha, I'm pretty sure I've used that at some point, BUT NO MORE. I don't know why that line (or some variation of it) bugs the hell out of me, but it's EVERYWHERE.
Repeating myself. I went on this crazy streak of writing the past year, and there's only so many arguments Draco and Hermione can have before they're saying the same thing in a few stories. I don't read my stories, so it's hard to say, but I'll just go on pretending it hasn't happened.
What are your favorite things about this pairing?
Everything. Am I allowed to say that? I think if I didn't love everything about the pairing, I wouldn't have stuck around as long as I have. I'VE BECOME A VIRUS. Even the things that can drive me crazy, I still love.
Your least favorite?
I suppose if I had to choose something, it would be the gap between them due to their pasts, the choices that were made, the beliefs that were followed. And they're both so damn stubborn and clinging to pride. Closing that gap can be brain-frying, but it's also a big part of the draw, so it depends on the day.
Do you have a favorite story that you've written, or one that holds a really special meaning to you?
I debated this one for awhile, and lost a few arguments with myself before I decided the clear winner was The Fallout. Most of my stories mean something important to me, in their own ways, but Fallout is really it for me. I was talking to a friend of mine in the ship who has been writing a story for a couple years, and we were discussing what that's like -- to try keeping a story what it should be while writing it over a significant period of time. And I told her that The Fallout has sort of become another limb for me, and even when I've finished using it, it's still going to be something attached. There's no severing it without cutting off a part of me as well. I've gone through a lot of things over the years, and TF has been a constant, and a place I never write coldly in. It means more to me than I can say.
What inspires you to write?
Everything. The shape of a tree, the pressure of wind, the way someone phrases a sentence, a stray thought, a need that seems to come out of nowhere. Stories can come to me in the shape of a rock -- my muses are often promiscuous, and I am rarely selective. Not to say that I don't get burned out, because I do, I am, but I'll still write down a little paragraph of thought to save for later.
And, of course, readers. I'll always be a writer, but it's nice to come home to something too. Even the "UPDATE" reviews mean something, because you're doing something right for someone. As long as you do update, haha. I don't know where I'd be as far as my writing if it weren't for the support I've been given through this ship, and that's something I'll always be thankful for.
Working on anything now?
AHAHAHAHAHA *sobs brokenly in the corner* I'm actually not doing too bad compared to a couple months ago. I currently have just two fandom stories in the works, along with completing my revisions for The Fallout. Then I shall be taking a very long break.
I don't know if there is anything that can possibly be asked after that ramblefest, but if you want to ask me something, go for it. :D:D
I was going to add random little factoids to the below list, but decided I've blabbered on enough. My stories at H&V:
Alphabet
The Burning
Creatures of the Wind
Elephant Walk
The Fallout
Finders
A Fruitless Year
Parade of the Sun
A Place Called Home
Sugar Water
The Symmetrical Transit
How long have you been in fandom?
I'm not sure, haha. I know I entered the ship before HBP came out, and I started writing in 2005, so we'll go with that.
How did you get into fandom?
*cough* To be honest, it was my friend and not me who was into Harry Potter like crazy. I went on a website to verify something she said, and saw something about fan fiction. I had no idea what it was, but it led me to fanfiction.net. The first story listed was Draco and Ginny, and I was like whaaaat, read a paragraph, quickly exited. I pondered for a second, and thought the only person I wanted to read with Draco Malfoy was Hermione Granger. And my love held strong through all the terrible stories that initially brought. XD
Why did you get into fandom?
Interest in the pairing. I loved the dynamic, the possibilities, the characters, the world. I wasn't really involved in fandom, though, outside of writing and reading. At least not until last year.
Was D/Hr your first ship?
First, last, only! Mostly. I've given some thought to other ships, and I've read a few drabbles of pairings from friends. But the furthest I stray from D/Hr is when they're with other people in the beginning of a story, or D/Hr/B, which I get in the mood for sometimes.
Who is your favorite character to write? Why?
Hermione. Draco. Hermione. I go back and forth between them. Usually, I fall into Hermione and we have awesome times together, but those times would never be as awesome without Draco. And what's the banter without both of them yelling in my head?
If it's Draco or Hermione, who is your favorite character to write besides either of them? Why?
Pheeew. I don't know. Neville? Lavender grew on me a bit, and Justin as well. But writing Neville, even for a paragraph, will never fail in making me smile. He's like chocolate goodness with a hazelnut at the center. I love a strength that's quiet, but still solid when you test it. I think the scene with Neville in DH was one of my top three favorites in the entire series -- I hadn't even been aware of how much I was behind him until that moment.
You're trapped in a room for seven days. Before the door slams, you yank one person in there with you: Draco or Hermione?
Draco! I love Hermione, but I think she has that sort of personality where I wouldn't like her until I was forced to see that I could. I have a friend who reminds me a lot of Hermione, and though I love her greatly, seven days would dfjgndf kill me. Don't get me wrong -- Draco as a racist? We both might be dead by the time the door opens. But I'm also the sort of person who needs my space, and I think Draco would ignore me better, while still entertaining me with arguments. Plus, the view. Though bathroom calls would be pretty awkward. Hm.
What is your writing process like?
Ahahahah. WELL. It's changed a bit recently. I used to just open up a document and go for it. Now I get a little plot idea, or maybe even just a scene or two in my head, then write it out. Then, after writing, I'll draft out the next couple scenes. Something easy, like "Hr goes to the store, looks for fruit, runs into D, argue over the merits of cherries" and maybe a couple lines of dialogue. That's what I'll write the next day. I write the outline as I go, and usually only have a weak idea of how the story will play out. Then I basically beast it out until the story is done, and know whatever estimated word count I have, it will probably double. A month into any story will find me with ink stains all over my hands, notebooks littering the floor, and about 40 post-it notes, flashcards, and pages taped and tacked to the walls.
I write every day when I'm on a project -- if I don't, I fall out of the groove, and it's a lot harder to get back into it. Sometimes I hit a cold vein, so I try to just stick to drafting that day so I don't lose the tone of the story. Other times, I switch over to a different story, but that can be difficult to come back from. I'm one of those people who go at things with a single-minded determination, so there's no straying for me -- if I lose the path, I am flying at full speed in a completely different direction.
How do you come up with plots?
A lot of pacing. XD Anyone who lives me would think I was insane, because I'll come up with a tiny thing, and then pace around while muttering questions under my breath. Then randomly break into a deranged grin while running for a pen. Scenes in themselves can be more difficult.
How do you cure writer's block?
I usually pound my head into a wall until the answer becomes clear. Sometimes you have to get on the verge of madness before shit starts making sense. If I'm stuck, it's usually always a scene or a collection of scenes before I know where I'm going again. So, if all else fails, I skip them. Usually, I just sit there tapping my pen against paper until it hits me. I find "watching" a show in the background, something mind-numbing, usually helps. Nothing intriguing enough to be distracting, but something that eases any frustration with staring at white paper while half of my brain is still thinking.
What is the most important thing to you while writing fic?
I was going to say characterization, but that's not something I actively think about with a story, and I just write them as they are in my head. So, I guess, it's that it means something. I don't like just writing crap, though I'm sure there's plenty of people out there who think I do just that. ;) I also hate getting them together too quickly, which means I either feel that I'm doing so, or other people are going to think I'm dragging it on for far too long. Sometimes there's a strong desire to say, "Well, I realize how right you are for one another, so surely you two realize that by the third time you meet after fighting on different sides of a war, and are about to desperately declare how much you need one another." But if I ever do that, I'd like to punch myself before promptly bowing out of fandom. Drunk sex not included. ;D I think when you've written and read them clearing all those hurdles so many times, sometimes it's exhausting to put that on repeat, or keep in mind just how difficult it should be.
While reading?
Characterization! I make a lot of exceptions for things when I read stories. If D and Hr are falling in love by 5k, I might cringe and keep reading if the rest is good. I will read a plot that's a little ridiculous. I will read stuff that is strictly sex or fluff. I will read stuff where the SPaG is not so good, as long as it's not bad. But there's nothing that turns me off from a story more than reading two people I don't recognize when I'm looking for D/Hr -- I'd rather read one of those unopened books waiting on my shelf. And I definitely realize that characterization is different for people. We've all jumped into a popular story only to say, Wait, whaaat? (though that's not always due to characterization), and we've read through enough stuff to know people have different definitions. Your home plate might be my outfield, but as long as it's in the ballpark, it's acceptable to me.
I can't read while I write, though, so I don't read much lately.
What is something you aim to achieve in a story?
That people take something good away from it, whatever it is. Like I got a review recently where they said they can't eat bananas without thinking of D/Hr after they read Parade. And it's not anything world changing, but that's a very awesome thing. Or I get those reviews/emails from readers that tell me their opinions on some conversation D and Hr had in the story, or what the story made them think about, or what class they were late for the next day because they stayed up all night. Those sort of things keep me on a high for weeks. I don't want to write a story people forget about the second they close the browser.
What do you try to stay away from in your writing?
"If someone had told her a year ago that she would be kissing Draco Malfoy, she would have hexed them until they were numb for a decade", etc, etc. Haha, I'm pretty sure I've used that at some point, BUT NO MORE. I don't know why that line (or some variation of it) bugs the hell out of me, but it's EVERYWHERE.
Repeating myself. I went on this crazy streak of writing the past year, and there's only so many arguments Draco and Hermione can have before they're saying the same thing in a few stories. I don't read my stories, so it's hard to say, but I'll just go on pretending it hasn't happened.
What are your favorite things about this pairing?
Everything. Am I allowed to say that? I think if I didn't love everything about the pairing, I wouldn't have stuck around as long as I have. I'VE BECOME A VIRUS. Even the things that can drive me crazy, I still love.
Your least favorite?
I suppose if I had to choose something, it would be the gap between them due to their pasts, the choices that were made, the beliefs that were followed. And they're both so damn stubborn and clinging to pride. Closing that gap can be brain-frying, but it's also a big part of the draw, so it depends on the day.
Do you have a favorite story that you've written, or one that holds a really special meaning to you?
I debated this one for awhile, and lost a few arguments with myself before I decided the clear winner was The Fallout. Most of my stories mean something important to me, in their own ways, but Fallout is really it for me. I was talking to a friend of mine in the ship who has been writing a story for a couple years, and we were discussing what that's like -- to try keeping a story what it should be while writing it over a significant period of time. And I told her that The Fallout has sort of become another limb for me, and even when I've finished using it, it's still going to be something attached. There's no severing it without cutting off a part of me as well. I've gone through a lot of things over the years, and TF has been a constant, and a place I never write coldly in. It means more to me than I can say.
What inspires you to write?
Everything. The shape of a tree, the pressure of wind, the way someone phrases a sentence, a stray thought, a need that seems to come out of nowhere. Stories can come to me in the shape of a rock -- my muses are often promiscuous, and I am rarely selective. Not to say that I don't get burned out, because I do, I am, but I'll still write down a little paragraph of thought to save for later.
And, of course, readers. I'll always be a writer, but it's nice to come home to something too. Even the "UPDATE" reviews mean something, because you're doing something right for someone. As long as you do update, haha. I don't know where I'd be as far as my writing if it weren't for the support I've been given through this ship, and that's something I'll always be thankful for.
Working on anything now?
AHAHAHAHAHA *sobs brokenly in the corner* I'm actually not doing too bad compared to a couple months ago. I currently have just two fandom stories in the works, along with completing my revisions for The Fallout. Then I shall be taking a very long break.
I don't know if there is anything that can possibly be asked after that ramblefest, but if you want to ask me something, go for it. :D:D
I was going to add random little factoids to the below list, but decided I've blabbered on enough. My stories at H&V:
Alphabet
The Burning
Creatures of the Wind
Elephant Walk
The Fallout
Finders
A Fruitless Year
Parade of the Sun
A Place Called Home
Sugar Water
The Symmetrical Transit