RE:
POSTED BY: KayleeGirl
UPDATED: Friday, September 21, 2007 00:43
VIEWED: 45173
PAGE 4 of 10
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
My first story started because I was intrigued by Jayne's character. We know he cares about money, sex, and guns (listed in no particular order); but occasionally we see there is depth to him (like when he's mulling over the death of the mudder who saved his life). The hypothesis evolved into a story of how Jayne came to be the man he is today. Once I had the character story together, I realized I had too much plot for a single fiction, so I started a trilogy. In each book of the trilogy I focus on the back-story of a different character.
Firefly fic is fun to write because just knowing the plot isn't enough to finish the story. The characters are fun to play with and stretch into different situations. The stories i write are on the long-ish side (~70 pages each), so it takes a few months to write each one. I started in September 2006. The first two books are posted in Blue Sun and the final one of the trilogy is in progress... Book 1 starts here: http://www.fireflyfans.net/sunroomitem.asp?i=13632
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
My goal is to entertain the audience! What surprises me most is how much I've learned about writing by trying to write character stories in the style of Joss. I'm definitely going to apply what I've learned to other original fics I write... In the end, I want fame, glory, and to be a world reknown novelist. On the realistic end, if they ever start commissioning official Firefly novels, I'd like to revise the work I do and request publication through that route.
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Both are nice. I like when people hypothesize about what will happen in the next chapter or how they think the story will end. If it's a part of the story that isn't written yet, I may incorporate those ideas. It's difficult to be true to 9 primaries plus added villains, so comments and critiques often help me stay more true to the voice of the characters and to the original storyteller. Critiques are especially helpful should I enter the aforementioned revision and novelization phase of the work.
"Just like handgrenades, you don't want to run into a horseshoe stake in the dark." -Gouda, FFF.net
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
oops.. double post! edit undo! edit undo!
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
Acadia, thanks for your post! I just recently discovered www.stillflying.net and was impressed by the concept and the way the site is set up, let alone the writing.
Yay! I'm glad you're enjoying. Just fyi -- all of the writers post on the stillflying messageboard (some less frequently than others, though).
Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
Question: is it important to read them all in order? (Oh well, I'm already curious to read your stuff first, so it's pretty much a moot question, I guess.)
Hmm. Sort of? Not so much in season one. In season two, though, I would try to read in order, especially episode 11 onward, when we get into the serenity storyline.
Arcadia (aka Greyfable and/or Katie)
www.stillflying.net -- picking up Firefly were Joss left off. We will hold 'til he gets back.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
I've loved writing fanfiction for years, but I had a long break from writing. And I don't know, I think the combination of missing writing and getting really into Simon/Kaylee was what sprung my first idea and I decided to go for it. I mostly start writing from ideas that come to me in the moments between awakeness and sleep.
I've written two series, one in 24 parts, the other in 5 parts plus 3 one-shots. All of them Simon/Kaylee
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
Have fun writing stories, improving my english and writing skills. Maybe one day I can write my own original stories, but right now I'm happy with fanfiction.
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
I love getting all sorts of comments. The Positive are good for my ego, the Negative often points out things I should work at.
I pretty much only write fanfic right now, the two fandoms I focus at for the moment is Firefly and Gilmore Girls. Right now I'm working on a long story for GG.
*~*~*
"Joss, if you kill him now I'll stuff a compression coil up your ass sideways!"
~ Kaylee, "Serenity in 2000 words or less"
Kaylee's the perfect woman!
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
i made a FanFic a while ago and havent done a second part to it cuz ive been too lazy. it has nothing to do with the 'verse but it is connected to Firefly.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Hey everybody!
I wanted to say thanks to everyone of you who's been posting and a special thanks to those who have made recommendations on what to read in the 'Sun Room.
Here's a question for y'all -- something that's been making me wonder:
Does anyone else think 8 months is too short a time between the end of the series and the BDM?
I know too long a time with River growing crazier everyday would be bad (especially for Jayne), but isn't it too short a time for a) Inara to become an important force at the new Companion Training House, b) Book to have become so comfortable at Haven, and c) the rest of the crew to have visited Haven so often that they are welcomed like part of the community?
Have any of you dealt with this yet in your fanfic?
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Good question! Gives me a chance to prattle on for a bit . 
Eight months does seem too short for all the reasons you say. Gotta note though: I think River was heading toward saner, not crazier. She was triggered and her Miranda memories were awakened, and that could have happened at any time.
I think Inara could get into the House in so short a time, because she's already very respected and powerful (as Nandee pointed out) The situation with Haven is the one that seems a little odd, though if the crew did something to save the colony, it could work.
How I deal with this in my fic? Let me expand the question a bit, because it's been on my mind with the fic I'm working on now.
My theory regarding the movie in general: obviously, Joss would have done many things differently if he'd been able to continue the TV series. He talks about all the decisions he had to make in order to put his 'verse on the big screen and make it marketable, like focusing on the action and cutting the romance stories way down.
So (blasphemy here, sorry!) I don't like how many things worked out. I don't mean to blame Joss or put down the movie - it was fantastic and he fit so much in there! But I don't want to include his movie decisions in my personal canon. It's like letting the movie industry boss me around, which poor Joss has to do but I don't.
An example - Simon and Kaylee getting together was more like a little bone (really don't mean the pun) thrown to the fans. It completely lacked all the interesting twists and depth that a relationship between this two characters deserves, and which you know Joss would have made much of, if he'd been able.
In my fic world, I consider the info revealed about the Alliance and River and the Reavers to be true, and other things like Kaylee and Simon hooking up eventually and Wash and Book dying. But I don't buy all the rest of it as set-in-stone canon. So - eight months? I would have no problem changing that if I needed to for a fic.
May Joss and the FF purists forgive me!
-----------------------------------------------
I'm the president. I don't need to listen.
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Feel a bit silly answering this since I haven't finished anything yet, but... what the heck.
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
Stories written to date - none 
The reason for writing the stories I am now is to explore what happened post-BDM. I especially want to look at how the signal has changed the Firefly 'verse, the relationships between the characters (not just romantic ones) and how the characters themselves may have been changed by the events of the movie.
That and... I really like writing. Especially screenplay. I never have time to write and I miss it, so my New Year's resolution is to make time! (and to give up junk food, but that's for another thread)
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
To write something fans think is almost as good as the show. I seriously don't think it'll happen, but I'm damn well gonna try!
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
I've no problem with critiques. Well, I might get stroppy if everyone hates it, but I won't go off in a huff telling myself I'm really a creative genius and they just don't understand the brilliance of my work or anything. Well, not for very long.
Graphics available at www.desktophippie.com
Blog available at http://desktophippie.blogspot.com
NOTIFY: N | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
Here's a question for y'all -- something that's been making me wonder:
Does anyone else think 8 months is too short a time between the end of the series and the BDM?
I know too long a time with River growing crazier everyday would be bad (especially for Jayne), but isn't it too short a time for a) Inara to become an important force at the new Companion Training House, b) Book to have become so comfortable at Haven, and c) the rest of the crew to have visited Haven so often that they are welcomed like part of the community?
Have any of you dealt with this yet in your fanfic?
Haven't dealt with it yet, but....are you sure you don't mean the beginning of the series and the BDM? 'Coz if that's what you meant, yeah, that is too short a time. Especially given Mal's contention in 'Trash' that his first encounter with Saffron was "'bout half a year back". Since OMR took place in mid-late October 2517, that would put 'Trash' some time in, say, March or April of 2518 with the BDM happening only two or three months later. Maybe barely enough time for Book and the crew to get comfy at Haven, but not enough for Inara to leave Serenity and become so well established at the training house.
Just for go-se and giggles I'd conjecture that the BDM actually takes place somewhat later in 2518, which in some respect would make writing my two oncoming fanfics easier.
Now here's a question I'd like to pose to my fellow fanficcers:
What do you think of the issue of Mary Sue-ism? Do you consider this much of an issue in the Firefly fanfic community? And what's your opinion of original characters who are not Mary Sues, but still an obvious act of self-insertion? The line between self-insertion and Mary Sue is very fine indeed, but where should it be drawn?
Waiting with bated breath to see what's said on this one.
Inara and Mal
Argue what's canon
"I'm not a whore;
The term is Companion!"
FIREFLY
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Oh that is a perfect question to ask, since I myself have strayed somewhat into Mary Sue territory.
If any of you have read my stories, you know that I have created an original character named Shooter. This is somewhat ironic since I in general am not a big fan of original characters. Sometimes it works, but for the most part, I just ignore them. When I wrote my first fanfic (THE SERENITY GIG), not only had I just rediscovered FIREFLY, but I also began a somewhat sort lived career as an amateur wedding videographer. And so, real life intersected with fantasy, and so I decided to write my version of the Silee nuptuals story, but with a twist. Instead of a third person omniscient, it would be a first person account by someone who kind of knew the bride from way back when. I subscribe to the 'small verse' theory. And of course, I based the character of Shooter on myself in some aspects. While I am from the Outer Rim (or Saskatchewan as I like to call it) and have a passion for film and did wedding videos, I can only hope that I have an actual career in film, as opposed to filming war footage and being involved in propaganda.
I actually discussed this with another fanfic writer here on this site, and she says that Shooter isn't a complete Mary Sue, because Shooter does not go out on a date with Kaylee. On the contrary, he is there to film her official day of unavailability. And his feeling toward her is more on the lines of childhood crush that won't anount to anything instead of a regular friendship. So while Shooter does have aspects of myself in there, I'm smart enough to make him a distinct character that could easily inhabit the 'verse. I now picture him as an Orson Welles/Werner Herzog/Stanley Kubrick type mixed with the filmmaking aspects of Howard Hughs from THE AVIATOR. Someone who'd probably yell at someone "WHERE THE HELL ARE MY GODDAMN CLOUDS!!!" He's incredibly humble and civil and friendly when it comes to Mal and Co., but when it comes to filmmaking, he's a somewhat egocentric and insane genius.
I'm actually planning on doing a one-off story of Shooter about how far he's willing to go in order to get important footage. It's a story that involves Reavers, a rocketpack, censors and a freefall plummet towards a planet. But as per YOU CAN'T GO HOME AGAIN, I have him as somewhat of a catalyst for the events in the story. He sets things in motion at the beginning, but near the end he's more of an impartial witness. I have this funny bit with him in the next chapter when it comes to his reaction to Signal.
In short, if it works, it's fine. There's no problem with writing characters that have aspects of the writer in them (that's what all writers do, get over it). But when it becomes obvious that the story is just wish fulfillment that has nothing to do with canon, then it becomes a problem.
As per the 8 month thing, I just go along with it. I think it's 8 months from SERENITY the pilot to SERENITY the movie.
**************************************************
"Have you ever fired two guns whilst jumping through the air?"
"No."
"Have you ever fired ONE gun whilst jumping through the air?"
NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME