Getting to know Angeldylan628
Meet angeldylan618, new grad and struggling artist, who is really good at spreading her wings. In her interview she talks about her interest in het, slash and gen, rhapsodizes about the freedom of writing the next generation, and why you should look out for her fics at 3 a.m.
1. Can you tell us a little about the person behind the fic?
I’m twenty-two and I live in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I just graduated college with an English degree with a concentration in Writing, which is really worthless when trying to find a job. As such, I’m basically unemployed (or a struggling artist as my mother puts it) but I do some babysitting to make enough money to pay off my loans. I have a wonderful boyfriend who thwarts stereotypes by being a librarian. Probably the most telling part of me is that I come from a big Italian family with big Italian tradition and culture.
2. What inspires you to write fic?
When I decided I wanted to be a writer, it was because I loved creating characters. The psychology of a person, the thought process, those were all fascinating to me. People are creatures of habit - you can figure them out if you pay enough attention. I started writing fanfiction because I was disappointed with how TV writers decided to go from A to B. I hated how easy it was for them to disregard characterization in order to reach their immediate goals. Fic allowed me to rationalize what the writers didn’t have the time to explain. Now, I still do it for rationalization, but I also just enjoy adding to characterization. It’s the reason I write so many fics about the children of Lost growing up. They’re pretty much blank slates, but they have just enough back story to give them depth to stand on their own.
3. What five adjectives would you use to describe your writing style?
Angsty, character-driven, succinct, logical, circular
4. Can you discuss and compare your first Lost fic and your most recent?
My first Lost fic was the secret’s in the telling and it was a Sawyer/Kate fic. And since I don’t count drabbles, my last fic would be lightening in a bottle and it was Richard/Jacob. I notice right off the bat that not much has changed. I still break my works into tiny sections. I still build on a common theme. It’s still angsty with little rays of hope. It’s hard to compare them because I still think that my first Lost fic was one of the best fics I’ve ever written. I think the most important thing I take away from comparing these two fics is that I’ve taken more risks as a writer. Lost pretty much taught me to conquer my fear of slash. Also, I wrote Kate first because Kate is easy to write. Richard and Jacob are still complete mysteries to me, but I’ve built enough confidence now to at least attempt them.
5. Do you have any writing rituals?
The only thing I can think of is that I usually write fic late at night when I’m half asleep. Then if I’m not feeling impatient, I’ll edit it in the morning and post it. Otherwise, I post at three in the morning. Oh! And of course, I write in notepad which forces me to pay attention to my spelling as I go. Usually I’ll have music on too, but it’s not necessary. I have some playlists dedicated to characters and ships. They can help get me in the mood.
6. What are your strengths as a writer? Are there any aspects you would like to improve?
My greatest strength is dialogue, which unfortunately I don’t use a lot in my Lost fics. I’ve come to realize that Lost characters say things through gesture and action. I’m pretty good at delivering a powerful last line too. I like to end fics with something that brings it full circle. As for things I’d like to improve upon, the biggest obstacle would be my descriptions. I always feel like I’m short changing the reader because I can’t describe what I see in my head in a thorough enough way. Also when it comes to Lost, I can’t seem to write anything longer than a oneshot.
7. Who is your favourite Lost character to write about and why?
Kate. It’s always been Kate, and it probably always will be. Kate is a complex character, and her complexities go far beyond her love life, though sometimes it’s hard to see that. There are layers to her that I’m still trying to understand. We’ve seen so much of her back story, and yet, it feels like there are so many parts of her life that are still missing. I can’t get a complete picture for her and that’s what’s so alluring about writing Kate. It gives me the chance to fill in the blanks.
8. Okay, that character just met your second favourite Lost character in a graveyard. Write a quick exchange of dialogue between the two. ?
She makes herself focus on the gray slab of concrete before her instead of the sudden presence beside her. It’s easier that way.
“You did the best you could.”
She doesn’t need to turn around to know who it is. Some voices stay with you for years after they fade away. Kate’s eyes stay focused on Claire’s grave, but her heart starts to race at the words.
“Day late. Dollar short.”
“Is that one of those American idioms?”
Kate smiles, but doesn’t answer. There’s a clenching in her chest that she cannot explain. It’s foreign like remorse or guilt. “Is she at peace?”
Charlie touches her wrist timidly. It’s three fingers circling it. Her breath catches at the contact. Dead skin meets dying.
“Ask her yourself.”
9. Do you suffer from writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?
Yes, I do, and the way I handle it is simple. I just stop writing. Most people think the best way to stop writer’s block is to try and force something out, but in my case, it’s just easier to take a break. I can go for weeks without being able to write anything, but I’ve learned that as long as I am patient, the muse will return on its own time.
10. If you were to write the final episode of Lost, can you describe what you would like the last scene to be? Anything goes!
No one will believe me when I say this but when I first started watching Lost I used to imagine it ending with Jack and Locke, significantly older, on the beach still discussing science vs. faith. They’d be the only two left on the island. Locke would fade away just as another plane crashed. Now, I think that’s a little too similar to the whole Jacob/Jacob’s Enemy scene.
I can’t really imagine what else I’d make the last scene be. Maybe I’d resurrect Charlie and Claire, plop them in a Dharma house with Aaron, and have them have morning coffee with Sawyer and Kate. Since it’s up to me, I might as well satisfy the shipper in me.
11. What do you look for in a fic as a reader?
I look for good characterization above all. I can enjoy any piece of writing no matter what the subject or pairing as long as the characters stay true to what they are. It’s one of the reasons I read a lot of gen fics. Writers who write gen tend to pay the best attention to characterization in my experience. I also like stories that expand the boundaries of canon - deleted scenes, post finale speculations, etc.
12. To conclude, please post an extract of your writing (a sentence, a paragraph or a short exchange of dialogue) that you really love and provide a brief commentary on it?
He hasn't told his mother about the dreams. Her worries for him are more exhausting as he grows older, and they weigh him down, as if he's carrying them for her.
But there's something about now -- seeing her for the first time since the morning he woke up mentally disassembling a car. She seems distracted, hands wringing and eyes unfocused.
He wonders if it's a hereditary thing. The strange dreams of another world. Maybe that's where she's escaped to now.
"You'll have to choose." The words break the silent lull between them.
Kate frowns as soon as the words have escaped her. Motherly advice is like a full moon. That rare bad omen shedding light on all their chinked and shoddy armour.
He raises an eyebrow but doesn't speak. There's no golden band on Mama's hand, which says otherwise. Austens don't choose.
A placating sigh from her. "You brought this on yourself."
He wonders if she's even talking to him.
This section came from a fic called paper covers rock. I chose this section because as much as I hated the whole twist of Kate raising Aaron, I’ve always been fascinated with how Aaron would have turned out if Kate had kept him. In this fic, Aaron is haunted by the island and memories of his real mother, along with visions of his own future. He’s become the spitting image of Kate, even got himself stuck in a love triangle, and yet Kate has no idea what to say to him. I liked this passage because it showed some true guilt from Kate, but it was the type of remorse you had to read between the lines to find and which Aaron is painfully aware of already.
13. What is the one question angeldylan628 would like to ask her fellow authors?
Hmm. This has probably been asked before but oh well! Tell me about your first experiences in the Lost fandom. What made you get into fic? Were you a reader first and then a writer? Or did it happen simultaneously? And if you can remember, what was the first Lost fic you ever read?
1. Can you tell us a little about the person behind the fic?
I’m twenty-two and I live in the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. I just graduated college with an English degree with a concentration in Writing, which is really worthless when trying to find a job. As such, I’m basically unemployed (or a struggling artist as my mother puts it) but I do some babysitting to make enough money to pay off my loans. I have a wonderful boyfriend who thwarts stereotypes by being a librarian. Probably the most telling part of me is that I come from a big Italian family with big Italian tradition and culture.
2. What inspires you to write fic?
When I decided I wanted to be a writer, it was because I loved creating characters. The psychology of a person, the thought process, those were all fascinating to me. People are creatures of habit - you can figure them out if you pay enough attention. I started writing fanfiction because I was disappointed with how TV writers decided to go from A to B. I hated how easy it was for them to disregard characterization in order to reach their immediate goals. Fic allowed me to rationalize what the writers didn’t have the time to explain. Now, I still do it for rationalization, but I also just enjoy adding to characterization. It’s the reason I write so many fics about the children of Lost growing up. They’re pretty much blank slates, but they have just enough back story to give them depth to stand on their own.
3. What five adjectives would you use to describe your writing style?
Angsty, character-driven, succinct, logical, circular
4. Can you discuss and compare your first Lost fic and your most recent?
My first Lost fic was the secret’s in the telling and it was a Sawyer/Kate fic. And since I don’t count drabbles, my last fic would be lightening in a bottle and it was Richard/Jacob. I notice right off the bat that not much has changed. I still break my works into tiny sections. I still build on a common theme. It’s still angsty with little rays of hope. It’s hard to compare them because I still think that my first Lost fic was one of the best fics I’ve ever written. I think the most important thing I take away from comparing these two fics is that I’ve taken more risks as a writer. Lost pretty much taught me to conquer my fear of slash. Also, I wrote Kate first because Kate is easy to write. Richard and Jacob are still complete mysteries to me, but I’ve built enough confidence now to at least attempt them.
5. Do you have any writing rituals?
The only thing I can think of is that I usually write fic late at night when I’m half asleep. Then if I’m not feeling impatient, I’ll edit it in the morning and post it. Otherwise, I post at three in the morning. Oh! And of course, I write in notepad which forces me to pay attention to my spelling as I go. Usually I’ll have music on too, but it’s not necessary. I have some playlists dedicated to characters and ships. They can help get me in the mood.
6. What are your strengths as a writer? Are there any aspects you would like to improve?
My greatest strength is dialogue, which unfortunately I don’t use a lot in my Lost fics. I’ve come to realize that Lost characters say things through gesture and action. I’m pretty good at delivering a powerful last line too. I like to end fics with something that brings it full circle. As for things I’d like to improve upon, the biggest obstacle would be my descriptions. I always feel like I’m short changing the reader because I can’t describe what I see in my head in a thorough enough way. Also when it comes to Lost, I can’t seem to write anything longer than a oneshot.
7. Who is your favourite Lost character to write about and why?
Kate. It’s always been Kate, and it probably always will be. Kate is a complex character, and her complexities go far beyond her love life, though sometimes it’s hard to see that. There are layers to her that I’m still trying to understand. We’ve seen so much of her back story, and yet, it feels like there are so many parts of her life that are still missing. I can’t get a complete picture for her and that’s what’s so alluring about writing Kate. It gives me the chance to fill in the blanks.
8. Okay, that character just met your second favourite Lost character in a graveyard. Write a quick exchange of dialogue between the two. ?
She makes herself focus on the gray slab of concrete before her instead of the sudden presence beside her. It’s easier that way.
“You did the best you could.”
She doesn’t need to turn around to know who it is. Some voices stay with you for years after they fade away. Kate’s eyes stay focused on Claire’s grave, but her heart starts to race at the words.
“Day late. Dollar short.”
“Is that one of those American idioms?”
Kate smiles, but doesn’t answer. There’s a clenching in her chest that she cannot explain. It’s foreign like remorse or guilt. “Is she at peace?”
Charlie touches her wrist timidly. It’s three fingers circling it. Her breath catches at the contact. Dead skin meets dying.
“Ask her yourself.”
9. Do you suffer from writer’s block? If so, how do you handle it?
Yes, I do, and the way I handle it is simple. I just stop writing. Most people think the best way to stop writer’s block is to try and force something out, but in my case, it’s just easier to take a break. I can go for weeks without being able to write anything, but I’ve learned that as long as I am patient, the muse will return on its own time.
10. If you were to write the final episode of Lost, can you describe what you would like the last scene to be? Anything goes!
No one will believe me when I say this but when I first started watching Lost I used to imagine it ending with Jack and Locke, significantly older, on the beach still discussing science vs. faith. They’d be the only two left on the island. Locke would fade away just as another plane crashed. Now, I think that’s a little too similar to the whole Jacob/Jacob’s Enemy scene.
I can’t really imagine what else I’d make the last scene be. Maybe I’d resurrect Charlie and Claire, plop them in a Dharma house with Aaron, and have them have morning coffee with Sawyer and Kate. Since it’s up to me, I might as well satisfy the shipper in me.
11. What do you look for in a fic as a reader?
I look for good characterization above all. I can enjoy any piece of writing no matter what the subject or pairing as long as the characters stay true to what they are. It’s one of the reasons I read a lot of gen fics. Writers who write gen tend to pay the best attention to characterization in my experience. I also like stories that expand the boundaries of canon - deleted scenes, post finale speculations, etc.
12. To conclude, please post an extract of your writing (a sentence, a paragraph or a short exchange of dialogue) that you really love and provide a brief commentary on it?
He hasn't told his mother about the dreams. Her worries for him are more exhausting as he grows older, and they weigh him down, as if he's carrying them for her.
But there's something about now -- seeing her for the first time since the morning he woke up mentally disassembling a car. She seems distracted, hands wringing and eyes unfocused.
He wonders if it's a hereditary thing. The strange dreams of another world. Maybe that's where she's escaped to now.
"You'll have to choose." The words break the silent lull between them.
Kate frowns as soon as the words have escaped her. Motherly advice is like a full moon. That rare bad omen shedding light on all their chinked and shoddy armour.
He raises an eyebrow but doesn't speak. There's no golden band on Mama's hand, which says otherwise. Austens don't choose.
A placating sigh from her. "You brought this on yourself."
He wonders if she's even talking to him.
This section came from a fic called paper covers rock. I chose this section because as much as I hated the whole twist of Kate raising Aaron, I’ve always been fascinated with how Aaron would have turned out if Kate had kept him. In this fic, Aaron is haunted by the island and memories of his real mother, along with visions of his own future. He’s become the spitting image of Kate, even got himself stuck in a love triangle, and yet Kate has no idea what to say to him. I liked this passage because it showed some true guilt from Kate, but it was the type of remorse you had to read between the lines to find and which Aaron is painfully aware of already.
13. What is the one question angeldylan628 would like to ask her fellow authors?
Hmm. This has probably been asked before but oh well! Tell me about your first experiences in the Lost fandom. What made you get into fic? Were you a reader first and then a writer? Or did it happen simultaneously? And if you can remember, what was the first Lost fic you ever read?