RE:
POSTED BY: KayleeGirl
UPDATED: Friday, September 21, 2007 00:43
VIEWED: 45173
PAGE 6 of 10
Quote:
Originally posted by Steamer: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?
First of all, I have to admit that I had to look up the term "Mary Sue" to find out if I understood what you were talking about -- that's how new I am to the fanfac world!
To get down to the question....I can understand the whole wish-fulfillment thing -- I do that whenever I day dream about being in this verse or any other favorite show -- but in any of my written work?
Because I've been writing other types of fiction (not fanfic) for a long time, I have to say that practically every character in my stories reflects a bit of me. We all can only write what we know, so while a character might not be totally me, I am in a sense every character I've ever created while I'm writing about her, him, or it.
Roger Rosenblatt recently said (on a segment of Charlie Rose), "Writing teaches you what you think." That's how I feel about most stuff I write. I do find myself creating main characters who embody much of my fears, frustrations, philosphies, etc. so I can work those out for myself. And if I can't live it in real life, I can certainly have the experience in the virtual reality of my words on paper! How cool is that! (File that one under "why I wanted to be a writer.")
Fanfic, I find to be a bit different though: I'm writing it for other reasons: to visit the verse for awhile, to keep Serenity flying, and to figure out how well I know the characters Joss Whedon created. Now for me, that last one means that any new characters I add have to make sense in the Firefly verse. They have to be a foil for one of Joss's characters or help move the plot forward. Any new character, as well as any of Joss's, have to stay true to what he's already created. Mary Sues? I don't see them as part of my exploration of the verse.NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
P.S.
On a lighter note...just wanted to say to TamSibling that "Cocoa" was the second piece of fanfic in the 'Sun Room that I read. It was brief but so good, it's still on my mind! I'm eager to read more of your posted work.
(I'd be reading some posting after this if only I didn't have the need for a littel thing called SLEEP...)
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P.S.
On a lighter note...just wanted to say to TamSibling that "Cocoa" was the second piece of fanfic in the 'Sun Room that I read. It was brief but so good, it's still on my mind! I'm eager to read more of your posted work.
(I'd be reading some posting after this if only I didn't have the need for a little thing called SLEEP...)
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Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
I write it because, like most folks here, I wanted MORE FIREFLY and there wasn't any more.
My goal is to write stories that make people keep reading -- stories that make their jaws drop, that make them check obsessively ten times a day for new fic. When somebody read something I wrote and says "Holy crap! I want more of this!" I know I've done what I meant to do, and what I'm trying to do.
To that end, if anybody wants to suggest what would have done more to make the story absolutely completely gripping, well, I want ot know about that.
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1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
Their simply isn't enoff story's about FireFly, their's the movie, and one small, lonely series of The Vers, it's not enoff, their need's to be more.
I've been doing FanFic for meny year's, since I was a teen. I have done alot of x-men/Doctor Who/Movie/book based fanfiction, thow I have not really posted alot I've written hundred's of story's. To date I've done two FireFly story's witch I will not be posting, but I am working on something I'm hopeing to get up soon.
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
To expand on the univrse that has already been created. To do justice to the charter's and to write a beliveable story.
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Yes, I love constructive stuff, but I hate it when people are just negative and rude, that's no help to me at all. postive commant's are great too, but I like to read what people like about the story, not that it's just great all around :)
Hope that answer's some of your Q's ;)
Bex's
xxx
The Operative: Are you willing to die for your beliefs?
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: I am...
[they draw. Mal fires first, and the Operative is forced to take cover]
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: 'Course, that ain't exactly plan A.
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Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
(Writers of the Black? Scribblers on the Rim? We really should have an official name for our Firefly writers group. Any suggestions?)
Hm, how about "'VerseWriters"?
Zoe catches
Wash off guard
"Take me, sir
Take me hard!"
FIREFLY
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Quote:
Originally posted by Steamer:Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
(Writers of the Black? Scribblers on the Rim? We really should have an official name for our Firefly writers group. Any suggestions?)Quote:
Hm, how about "'VerseWriters"?
Someone said they see "verse" as meaning all the worlds JW has created. When I say the 'verse, I'm speaking strictly Firefly-speak, though. What do others think about this?
We've also had "Rimwriters" as a suggestion.
Anyway, I guess my next question is: are any of you interested in starting up (or does anyone already have) a bulletin board for the we-who-shall-be-named serious Firefly fanfic writers to form an online writers' group?
If I'm gonna dream, I'm gonna dream big.NOTIFY: Y | REPLY | REPLY WITH QUOTE | PERMALINK | TOP | HOME
Quote:
Originally posted by KayleeGirl:
Quote:
Anyway, I guess my next question is: are any of you interested in starting up (or does anyone already have) a bulletin board for the we-who-shall-be-named serious Firefly fanfic writers to form an online writers' group?
I been meaning to ask if there was a thread here where writers hang out, discuss writerly stuff?
And for a name , " Marginal Folk" or "Marginal BrownCoats"?
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Oh, fun topic! Who doesn't love answering listed questions? *g*
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
I wrote my first Firefly-based story because I already had some slight experience writing fanfiction from my prior Farscape fandom and Firefly was like oil on those rusted.. uh.. hinges? The complexity of the 'verse and its characters just inspired me and gave me a tremendous amount of creative energy, after my initial avalanche of purely analytical lj posts was over.
Writing about the 'verse is a way of exploring it more deeply. Plus, the added benefit of feeling like I "made something" and getting feedback for that. Interaction, communication, praise!
Inara captured my heart and mind the most, so I wrote "Five Things that Never Happened when Inara Serra Left Serenity" to give a picture of how undecided the 'verse is, how open in a good and bad way. It's not all about Mal. It's all about choice.
Not my best work ever, but it was a start.
Since September 2005, I have written to date, um... 49 finished and separate pieces, both drabbles and a bit longer. And 3 unfinished series of 4 chapters each.
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
Two-fold.
One, I want to explore an aspect of the characters in depth, turn it into a statement or thesis about those characters and their interactions and ultimately make a point about humanity in general. (That last one is sort of only a tiny aspect of it, though, hehe.)
Two, I want to progress in my writing, feel the satisfaction of making the words and their rhythm form exactly the kind of emotional picture that I have in mind. "Make something pretty", basically.
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
I love critiques, mainly because all my fic has a point (usually, even the fluff) and I loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove discussing the show. To death. All opinions are lovely.
I also love supportive comments, because it's a pleasure to know that someone likes your work.
The only kind of comment I don't like are the ones that show that very obviously the person didn't take the time to really read the story. Praise or criticism about something I didn't write... kind of hard to make sense of.
More people should reply to this thread, it's fun to read everyone's motivations!
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Quote:
More people should reply to this thread, it's fun to read everyone's motivations!
Well, it's fun to read, at least.
1. Why did you write your first Firefly based story? And how many stories have you written to date?
I still writing my first one. I posted the 28th "chapter" last night. Why did I write it? I'm not sure. I kind of just had to.
2. What's your goal as a fanfic writer?
To tell a good story, one that I enjoy and one that others enjoy.
3. Do you look for critiques on your posted work or are supportive comments enough?
Ok, this is tricky, and, I suspect, going to make me regret this. In my 'blurb' I always remind readers that I write for my own enjoyment, and that I would prefer comments only from people who enjoy.
Nonetheless - I am not adverse to some critique - or indeed suggestions from those reading it about what they would like to see more of. One of my OCs was named (inadvertently) by one the readers (ManicGiraffe) and I've recieved lots of (unasked for but geniunely, deeply appreciated) advice from several readers (MG again, and TamSibling spring to mind) and ideas for directions the story could/should go in (thinking here especially of LeiaSky and tkid).
If there is one niggling thing destroying a reader's enjoyment, I would be more than happy to try and remedy it (obviously, as long as I can within the parameters of the story I'm telling). I would perfer to recieve those kind of comments in the form of a private message however.
I do wish more people commented. I keep to my own policy and never comment on anything I don't enjoy - whether that's from personal taste or because something is, in a more objective sense, genuinely bad. I don't always come up with comments that I think are insightful or anything (I think BlueEyedBrigidier has the best supportive commenting writing skills ever), but I always get a thrill when I get a notification that someone's commented, and I figure most writers are egomanics and probably do to, so I pretty much always comment, even on very old stuff that I read (though there I might only comment every few chapters or so if they aren't stand alone).
On the subject of OCs
I've seen some very good ones, and some very bad ones. I try not to be too judgemental - I write original work too, and I think in most cases little bits of the author end up in ever truly fleshed out character. Writing is one of the most naked things you can do with your clothes on.
I don't necessarily like OCs, but they can't be avoided: the BDHs have to interact with others, even if only as villians. And sometimes they have to fill a gap on the ship (for example, in my story Simon needs a doctor, so we (I) have to get him one).
I can pass an eye over author insert or author-avatar insert (not the author, but something like the author could/would have been). Done well, that's no worse than knowing that Joss Whedon will probably always insert himself in a Wash/Xander 'everyman' (exceptionally funny everyman) way.
I can even live with ones that occassionally veer into the realm of Mary-Sue like competence. Again, that can happen in the nonfanfic world, and some of those characters are enjoyable enough. I can even live with them if they 'got the girl', or whatever, as long as it's plausible (Tara at points in Buffy might be a real-life example).
What I personally can't bear are the Mary Sues who are always the best at everything, have done everything, got the girl (or guy) and everybody loves, except the original love interest, who has to have an exceptionally antagonistic relationship with the OC. I probably could even live with these stories, but the OC is also invariably the main character, not the BDHs, and he/she just can't be avoided.
Fluffiness is next to angstiness.
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