Do you remember your first introduction to fan fiction?
Finding badly duplicated Star Trek fanzines at EasterCon 1976. They all contained an awful lot of badly written Spock/Mary Sue or Kirk/Mary Sue shipper fic. But there was also a good deal of good gen fic. At that time there was no femslash or male-slash fic around, just gen or het.
What main character that you've written femslash for, would you most like to hit upside the head?
Meredith Grey: her life just lurches from one bad decision to the next
Is your fan fiction writing limited to femslash or do you also write gen, het or male slash? If so, is there a difference in style or content (besides the obvious) between them?
I also write gen and het. I've written both for Dr Who. No difference, I'm still writing the adventure I wanted to see happen that didn't, or resolving UST.
Have you ever been tempted to write a Mary Sue?
Oh I love it. If I can stick a character in that would mean I'm actually there in the Hospital/Police Station etc I'll do it. But it has to work within the fic, they have to be involved in the story.
Are there certain genres you find easier to write for?
Medical; police; military. All genres I know personally.
Do you research subjects before you write them and, if so, in how much detail?
I tend not to watch episodes repeatedly in order to write a fic, but I like to get the fine detail of the environment right. (See above)
What's your preferred length of story to write and read?
One that says what it has to say. I know when a fic is complete, either after 2 paragraphs or twenty chapters. But I like to read a nice long femslash that develops the relationship realistically, especially if one of the characters is moving over from het.
Can you touch the tip of your nose with your tongue?
No, but I can go cross-eyed and swivel one eye back again.
Are you, yourself, a fan of other fan fic writers and, if so, who are they and what is it about them that appeals to you?
The Raven's Greys Anatomy story 'Domino Effect' was awesome! It was like watching a 3-part episode of the show.
I like Ann's stories for Rizzoli and Isles, Rae D. Magdon writes some great SVU fic for different pairings. Again, they're like watching lost episodes.
Ever wanted to head butt another fan for dissing your pairing?
Never. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. That's what fanfic is all about
Do you have a favourite cliché, one that you'll read with joy even though it's been done to death?
When 2 people have been friends for years and circumstances finally push them to realise it's something more. See Family Reunion by Ann.
Would you lend me twenty pence if we were stuck at Charing Cross station and I was dying for the loo?
Sure. And buy you a latte while you were in there…
Do you find you're more inspired by subtext, maintext or barely there text shows?
Subtext or UST.
Where do you get your inspiration for specific stories; missing or extended scenes from the show, ideas from other shows or real life situations?
A scene in a show can spark an idea, leading of down a different storyline from that taken by the show. Gaps between episodes/seasons. A cut scene in DVD extras will often open up an unresolved story arc the writers didn't follow.
Do you like cheese?
Sure. In a white bread sandwich with onion. Or melted on toast. Or grated over pasta. Or on those little sticks with pineapple…
Every read over one of your stories months or years later and thought 'What the hell was I thinking!'
Oh sure. I certain every writer does. If you take a look at an early story by a writer, then a sequel s/he wrote years later you can see how they weren't happy with the original. Even George Lucas did this with the Star Wars films.
Why do you write fan fiction?
Sometimes it's because there's a course of action I wanted to see the characters take and the show didn't. Sometimes it's just a way of enjoying more adventures of my favourite shows. I want to write season 3 of the Sarah Connor Chronicles.