On Writing Fanfic Part 1 - Know Your Canon

[tsukinofaerii]

I've only been in comics fandom for a little over a year-incidentally, that coincided with my discovery of Steve/Tony. (No, seriously, I have the exact moment that I discovered the joy of Steve/Tony bookmarked. I'm weird that way.) And you know, I got really, really lucky that I came in during a relative lull, and managed to not fall down a million

Comments

LOL, nice.

[jazzypom]

Will you be posting this to the comm, then? It would be a good launch for people to sit down and thrash out their dodgy AUs ¬_¬

Re: LOL, nice.

[tsukinofaerii]

I have need of speaking to the Modly Ones about this. I don't want flail all over the place with "NOOBS! NOOBS OFF THE STARBOARD BOW!", you know?

Re: LOL, nice.

[valtyr]

In my modly capacity, I think we all have things to learn, and it could be a really fun discussion and a great resource for the comm - and as you're focusing on Steve and Tony, you're good to go. :)

Re: LOL, nice.

[tsukinofaerii]

♥ Thank you! Posting now.

[dazzledfirestar]

Hmm. Interesting.

I don't know if you have this planned into your meta, but if I may suggest throwing a "Know your supporting cast" bit in there? Nothing (as an Avengers fan first) is more frustrating than having perfectly fleshed out Steve/Tony and having every other character flat and OOC.

But that's just something I'd like to see in here. :)

[tsukinofaerii]

I actually have that planned for a bit under a "Story Elements: Characters". Which should be Part... Um. (counts) Either 13 or 8, depending on how I settle the ordering. But it's only a sub-heading for a while post; I could probably divide that up into three or four major posts: Heroes, Villains, Love Interests and Supporting Characters, if people would be interested in reading it.

[valtyr]

The mods were thinking of arranging a Supporting Characters theme over the comm, like we did with Women of Captain America and Iron Man - where people pick a favourite character and post squee. :)

[tsukinofaerii]

Ooooooooh. (grabby hands) DO WANT.

If you do that, let me know with a little advance warning, and I'll have that part (or parts) ready to match. (I love posting Topical Things)

[illuminatius]

Okay, before getting serious, I just need to say a few things.

OMGLOL RED SCRUB'N'BUBBLES. THERE MUST BE A SUPPLY!AU STORY OUT THERE SOMEWHERE.

*ahem*

This was very good to read. For someone who hasn't had much experience in writing for this fandom, like me, this really helps in pinpointing what to focus on to make the writing somewhat easier and better. Hell, this is universal in a way, so for me, it's REALLY helpful

[tsukinofaerii]

:D Secret: Every single fic idea I throw out in these, I would love to see actually be written.

Wiki works really well as a synopsis, but it's fallible and not always up to date. No one grudge wanks like comics fans, and Wiki is easy to manipulate. It's a good resource, but it really can't help with with things like tone or details work. Watch the changing facial hair! When does Tony have a beard, and when does he have a mustache? No one knows~! (Which will never, ever stop frustrating me. More stability in design, please!) In general, my opinion is that Wiki works best for details on a general time period, where as something set in a specific time frame really needs more than Wiki can provide.

Of course, some fanfic have done an excellent job of throwing out canon altogether. An Ever-Fixed Mark by elspethdixon and seanchai does that with their team-up. The canon was chaotic, so they made their own. So there's obviously room to play.

[illuminatius]

If I was any good writing crack!fic, I'd give it a try.

Yeah, the fact that Wiki can so easily be edited is enough to make you think twice about using it, but it does have its uses...as long as someone keeps it updated. I guess the Marvel Wiki is the same.

Tony's facial hair confuses me. Hell, I didn't even know that he had a mustache until I saw that animated Iron Man movie! True story. I thought he always went with the sexy goatee. And then I read the first issues of the Avengers, and hel-lo mustache.

[tsukinofaerii]

I thought it was an always!goatee too, until I bought myself the Vol 1 Essential Iron Man. I personally prefer the goatee, but canon has wobbled so much. There is even a fic somewhere that has Extremis messing with Tony's facial hair due to a programming error, because his facial hair changes so often in that time period that it's ridiculous.

[muccamukk]

This is well done, I especially liked your who, what, where, when how break down.

I would also mention that there are self-contained sections of canon that are less daunting. MA is one, and some of the smaller universes. They can make good entry points.

I do think that the though I think it would flow better with more headers.

Also, Doctor Who canonically does not have canon -g-

[tsukinofaerii]

MA and Ults definitely are easier entry points, though taste matters a lot. If you don't want extra gritty realism, or fluff, 616 is really the next place to look.

(adds headers) :D

I... just... Ow. Does this have to do with time travel and paradoxes? Or is it even more confusing than that?

[muccamukk]

Love the headers!

Here's the best explanation of Doctor Who's lack of canon that I've read

[tsukinofaerii]

... (reads)

...

... as soon as I am not typing with my thumbs, I'll add a footnote. And then I will have a stiff drink to soothe my aching brain. It makes sense, but... oh, ow.

WE MAY HAVE DISCONTINUITY, BUT WE OWN IT.

(weeps)

[tsukinofaerii]

:D

Write it, you know you want to! Feel the lure of the crack!

[elspethdixon]

I'm pretty sure I've seen that exact fic somewhere in SGA fandom.

Or maybe I'm mixing it up with that one where everyone was a kind of cookie.