when the river meanders to the sea; the dresden files, original fic, and other things.

[templemarker]

Yesterday, upon checking my friendslist, there were quite literally ten posts in a row linking to the Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy trailer.

Allow me to be a gleeful lemming:

Click to view

Oh, that's just going to be brilliant. For a John Le Carre novel set in the era of bad hair, anyway.

--

You may not know this about me, but I am a rabid fan of The

Comments

[mementis]

FWIW, a major reason I am not writing fanfiction is that I am absolutely terrified of getting the characters wrong somehow. When I wrote (which used to be often, if not always well) inventing characters was one of my favorite things. So I don't know if this works in lieu of "wisdom," maybe more as an enticement: just think of it - your characters could be anyone! They could do anything! They can choose not to re-enlist, or stop hunting, or quit their jobs and go mountaineering. Their friends could be anyone. Their cars could be anything. You could even start with a beloved character and call him or her a type then completely reinvent their world and who they are in it. Good luck, and I can't wait to read your work :)

I'm fascinated by this comm you link to, also. I admit, I'm much more leery of non-(semi)pro original fic than I am of fanfic - so if you know of good rec sources or zines or comms or whatnot, do share :)

[templemarker]

But anything is EVERYTHING. THEY COULD BE ALL THE THINGS--how do you choose? At least with Generation Kill, you're making Marines be vampires, but they were originally Marines and everyone gets it when you make your Marine-vampires drink Ripped Fuel-True Blood cocktails.

That being said, it's the challenge of it that appeals, so hopefully I can get over myself and make it happen.

RE: original fic, it's a funny thing because you don't encounter it that often within fandom itself. But when you do, especially when it plays on the tropes and things we love about fandom works, it's exciting to discover. I haven't read much original fic outside of the SSBB, only when I come across it here and there, but here's what's from my memories:

Straight Girls by norah; the tease in this is just hot and so familiar.

Covered in Rain, or How We Really Said Goodbye by scrunchy; it's like a window into celebritas, all the things we try to achieve when we write RPF, only with original characters.

Exog by resonant8 is no longer online because she wanted to develop it

[mementis]

Having read the notes for it, I actually would really like to read Exog - so if you have it somewhere, drop an email or whatever works? Thanks! :)

[templemarker]

And, having said that, I just stumbled across what is basically original fic that just blew me the fuck away this afternoon:

if your heart is a bad, bad thing. by paperclipbitch; God damn. This story is the expression of every person who has ever fallen in love with someone that was a terrible idea but impossible to resist. Run, don't walk; I just. Gaping fish, here, after this story.

[templemarker]

I know! EVERYONE I LOVE IS IN THIS MOVIE.

[ladysisyphus]

Hi! Pardon the creepy intrusion, I was just journal-hopping, but I do have a couple words of original fiction wisdom:

1. Your sense is correct: There's a world of difference between being a good fanfic writer and a good original author, and pretty much the only way to get there is practice. I credit all the writing I've done for bb_shousetsu for turning me from one into the other, and that mostly through trial and error and more error. If you look back at my first submissions, they kind of read like fanfic for my own characters -- which is lame and a little embarrassing, but was an important part of learning how to make a story.

2. So I guess what I'm saying with #1 is that if your first attempt bombs, or comes out clunky, or even seems just vaguely unsatisfying, don't give up on it! And don't break your back trying to make it perfect to the point where you don't like it any more. If you have regrets, keep them in mind for next time. For heaven's sake, this is bb_shousetsu; all that matters, as my other editor is so fond of saying, is that you had a good

[templemarker]

Thanks for taking the time to comment! I really do appreciate it.

Some of the stories I've read at SSBB have been sort of crossover-AU things, where you can see shades of characters you might never have put together in the situation the author has developed, and that seems like a good, more native way to approach this type of original story. In part, by its very definition, you want to work in slash tropes for SSBB, and in plots you can grasp; it's the other work of developing setting and characterization and things I've become reliant and devoted to in fanfiction that present the challenge.

But it's a challenge I'm becoming more and more keen to take on, so we'll see how it goes.

Is there beta support in SSBB? Or are authors expected to find that on their own outside of the community?

[ladysisyphus]

Not a problem! I'm glad you're excited!

There's absolutely beta support! 2-4 weeks before the deadline (i.e., when we remember), we'll put up a post where beta-readers can comment and people who need betas can get in touch with them. If you've got your own people you know and trust, though, you should absolutely feel free to use them. If you're really looking for something in particular, though, you can make a post at bangbangwhimper and see if anyone's interested.

What I always find amusing is when someone tries to guess my source inspiration -- and guesses wrong. (It's extra-funny if they're all smug about it, and I'm left going, uh, I have no idea what show you're talking about.)

Good luck and happy writing!