Workshop: "Writing AUs" by Bradygirl_12

[jij]

Alternate universes give writers and readers a chance to see their favorite characters in different settings. In years past, DC called these stories ‘Imaginary Stories’, casting their well-known characters in unusual settings (‘What If Superman And Lois Were Married?’, ‘What If Lois Was Blind?’, What If Krypton Had Never Exploded?’), and now they

Comments

[bradygirl_12]

I think that the best A/Us are able to balance that pretty well. I mean, no one wants to read an A/U where the characters are completely unrecognizable, but on the other hand, if you have an A/U where the character is exactly the same, it's kind defeats the purpose of writing an A/U, I think.

Exactly, Pervy! AUs are always that balancing act (like Dick on the high-wire ;) ). I like seeing what charcteristics remain in my favorite characters and what must adapt to the different surroundings.

This was a great look at writing A/Us, bradygirl! Thank you so much for sharing it with us.

You're very welcome and thank you kindly! :)

[jij]

I think that the best A/Us are able to balance that pretty well. I mean, no one wants to read an A/U where the characters are completely unrecognizable, but on the other hand, if you have an A/U where the character is exactly the same, it's kind defeats the purpose of writing an A/U, I think.

AUs strike me as a sort of...fanfic algebra, in a way. I always liked algebra, despite loathing math, because I liked the sense of balance--if one thing shifts on one side of the equation, something had to shit on the other side. My favorite AUs all change as little as possible about the character, but there are clear key differences as well, and it's always fascinating to watch the mind of the author at work, adjusting and calculating. There's a very elegant beauty to it.

[bradygirl_12]

AUs strike me as a sort of...fanfic algebra, in a way. I always liked algebra, despite loathing math, because I liked the sense of balance--if one thing shifts on one side of the equation, something had to shit on the other side. My favorite AUs all change as little as possible about the character, but there are clear key differences as well, and it's always fascinating to watch the mind of the author at work, adjusting and calculating. There's a very elegant beauty to it.

That's an interesting way of putting it, Jen! *says the math-phobic* :)

I do find balancing an interesting study. Could be why slash interests me so much besides the smut! ;)

But AUs are a wonderful opportunity for that balancing. You try very carefully to keep the essence of your characters but allow them to be truly of their world, and even those characters who are plunked down in the middle of a strange new world tend to take on some characteristics of it, if even just for survival.

[magnolia_simms]

This is a great look at AUs. I've been struggling with an AU story for a while... it's mostly AU, but one character has remained the same.

On the practical side, I would suggest taking copious notes. While many writers do that for stories that are not AU, it is really helpful to do so as you’re dealing with different details and you might have a range of original characters as well.

This is so true. I started out my AU story with no notes, just flying by the seat of my pants, but as the story went along, I found I needed notes... I needed to map out where this was going to end up... so I started an outline to help with that. And it has helped... just hasn't cured my writer's block. ;)

Thanks for this! Great job!

[bradygirl_12]

This is a great look at AUs. I've been struggling with an AU story for a while... it's mostly AU, but one character has remained the same.

Yes, one character can be the building block for everything else!

On the practical side, I would suggest taking copious notes. While many writers do that for stories that are not AU, it is really helpful to do so as you’re dealing with different details and you might have a range of original characters as well.

This is so true. I started out my AU story with no notes, just flying by the seat of my pants, but as the story went along, I found I needed notes... I needed to map out where this was going to end up... so I started an outline to help with that. And it has helped... just hasn't cured my writer's block. ;)

LOL! Flying by the seat of your pants isn't uncommon, after all. :)

I think your writer's block might eventually be eased by that outline, though. I find that when I'm blocked to write that organizing my thoughts sometimes helps.

Thanks for this! Great job!Thank you for your

[saavikam77]

Fantastic workshop, bradygirl! ^_^

One thing I was wondering about: How many things have to be changed from canon before a story is considered AU? Is there a clear cut line between the two? For instance, for my fic, Aftermath, I changed a lot of the back story for Lois and Clark, basically turning the history in SII upside down. Does that make my story AU? I stuck with everything in SR for the set-up, though... *shrug*

Thoughts?

[bradygirl_12]

Fantastic workshop, bradygirl! ^_^

Thank you! :)

One thing I was wondering about: How many things have to be changed from canon before a story is considered AU? Is there a clear cut line between the two? For instance, for my fic, Aftermath, I changed a lot of the back story for Lois and Clark, basically turning the history in SII upside down. Does that make my story AU? I stuck with everything in SR for the set-up, though... *shrug*

Thoughts?

That's a very interesting question! I guess it could be a case-by-case basis. You said you changed a lot of backstory for your story. It's almost like it's a hybrid: using "SR" for your set-up but creating a different backstory.

[taro_twist]

Wonderful essay Bradygirl! I really liked the Nature vs. Nurture point you brought up--I'd never thought of AUs putting that theory to the test before, but they really do when you have to figure out how much of a character changes when you throw them into a different environment, and which parts are so essential to their nature that they'd remain the same.

Good tip about the anthropological research, too! The imagination can come up with a lot for AUs, but truth really is stranger than fiction oftentimes--it's fascinating what ideas for an AU society you can come up with just by looking around at ones that already or have existed in the real world. :)

Anyway, thanks for writing this and sharing! It's a great stepping off point for writing AUs. *grin*

[bradygirl_12]

Wonderful essay Bradygirl! I really liked the Nature vs. Nurture point you brought up--I'd never thought of AUs putting that theory to the test before, but they really do when you have to figure out how much of a character changes when you throw them into a different environment, and which parts are so essential to their nature that they'd remain the same.*nods* It's an old debate in the scientific/sociological world and it's put to the test so wonderfully in fiction! It's like, would Clark still be sweet and caring if he'd been found by an abusive, selfish couple instead of the Kents? Probably, but he'd be a very psychologically damaged person instead of the strong, healthy man Jonathan and Martha raised

[saavikam77]

It's like, would Clark still be sweet and caring if he'd been found by an abusive, selfish couple instead of the Kents? Probably, but he'd be a very psychologically damaged person instead of the strong, healthy man Jonathan and Martha raised.

Oh noes!!!! Plot bunny!!!! O_O

*headdesk*

:p

[bradygirl_12]

Oh noes!!!! Plot bunny!!!! O_O

*headdesk*

:p

Yay! :)

[bradygirl_12]

I very much feel the part about taking notes. Seriously. When my brain was being eaten alive by Slade'Verse, it was all I could do to keep track of who was whom in which universe Canary was going between.

Yes, the head spins without those precious notes! :)

Well done essay.

Thank you kindly, Merfilly! :)