Do you remember your first introduction to fan fiction?
Totally. It was Xena. A buddy sent me to… dammit, I can't remember now. IT was Mary D or Tom or Obsession's Home Page, can't remember now, but one of them still has my one Xena fic, 'cause I just got a totally unexpected feedback on it.
What main character that you've written femslash for, would you most like to hit upside the head?
This shouldn't be such a hard question. At times, any muse needs a good boot to the head. In terms of characters from TV (because my best characters are my OCs) it would have to be any that are being stubborn or particularly obtuse. Of course, being a strict femslasher, all canon characters are being obtuse, or we'd have way more girl on girl action on TV.
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?
See above question. Except for one half-joking boy porn scene I wrote for Ariestess (just to prove that I could), I stick with the ladies.
Have you ever been tempted to write a Mary Sue?
All writers start out with a 'Mary Sue'. How the hell are we supposed to figure out how to involve ourselves in a story? The good writers evolve beyond that, by creating characters (or adapting them) to tell the story. I like to create ideals in my characters, be they mine or 'borrowed'.
Are there certain genres you find easier to write for?
It's sure easier to start with a show where there is good chemistry between the characters I write. Xena and Gabby might have been my first, but Sam and Janet really taught me to be a good writer. It was obvious that the actresses are good friends, and that chemistry showed onscreen. We femslashers just choose to tweak that kind of chemistry to our own nefarious ends. *evil laugh*
Do you research subjects before you write them and, if so, in how much detail?
I have driven myself mental researching subjects. Sometimes hours and hours, if not days of slogging through the wilds of the internet, asking anyone that has an ear to chew, whatever it takes. Anyone to damn lazy to do research, even for a fanfic, is no kind of writer in my book. Suck it up and do the damn work people!
What's your preferred length of story to write and read?
Until it's done? Until the last few years, I could not write a short story to save my soul. Challenges like The 31 Aspects of a Character were terrific teachers. As for reading, anything that's decently written is good with me, be it 100 words or 100,000.
Can you touch the tip of your nose with your tongue?
No! God you're weird… *laughs*
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?
Ariestess is my best pal, roomie and writing partner. She helps with my crappy memory, is the best backboard on the planet to bounce ideas off of, and helps keep my sanity in general. I apologize for the people I'm inevitably going to forget, but that's the dyslexic memory talking. Lex Tenou is a favorite of mine, because of the angle at which she comes into a tale. While you and I might watch from the doorway, she's probably hiding under the bed with a videocamera. I like Mrswoman, particularly since she's the first person outside of the 'inner circle' of LWM to write for my pet universe. Caitrin too. When my genres cross paths with Trancer, she's definitely one of the better talents to string words together. As Ariestess and I are pretty picky about who goes on our Shatterstorm website, the people there are pretty much the ones we read and loved. There are others, but it's been a long time since I've really been involved in a genre, so I forget names. Sorry!
Ever wanted to head butt another fan for dissing your pairing?
Anyone that sees chemistry between Olivia and Casey. ICK! The people that write everyone as smarmy, lovesick, swooning idiots, when it directly contradicts the people they were created to be. Okay then, rant over!
Do you have a favourite cliché, one that you'll read with joy even though it's been done to death?
Oh, there's no doubt in my mind that I have one, but I honestly can't think of one. How about when someone writes a really good alternate version of a canon scene, or a missing scene. Love those it they're well done.
Would you lend me twenty pence if we were stuck at Charing Cross station and I was dying for the loo?
Dunno. Are you cute? Twenty pence… is that expensive?
If you've written real person slash how does it differ from writing about fictional characters?
Sorry, I utterly and absolutely refuse to even look at Real Person Slash. This is dangerous territory. Real people can sue for slander. I really, really dislike this trend, but I am only one voice.
Do you find you're more inspired by subtext, maintext or barely there text shows?
That's like asking me if I like milk, ice cream or cheese more. I've dabbled in all, and each has it's own challenges.
Where do you get your inspiration for specific stories; missing or extended scenes from the show, ideas from other shows or real life situations?
An overactive imagination and a childhood/ young adulthood of voracious reading. My life has been pretty low-key and even boring, but the landscape of my mind rivals and even surpasses anything I've ever seen, read or heard, because it is my own.
Do you like cheese?
Does gravity work? Cheese is one of the most blissful nirvanas created by humankind. Cows may be stinky, but they produce some of the finest foods on the planet.
Every read over one of your stories months or years later and thought 'What the hell was I thinking!'
Oh, that's a sheepish, "yes," from anyone that has ever tried their hand at writing. Anyone honest anyway.
Why do you write fan fiction?
There's a singularly unique challenge in adapting an existing reality to your own needs. It's like a sophisticated 'Choose Your Own Adventure' book that you have total control over. I learned to tell stories from role-playing for many years as a younger woman. In those adventures, I controlled armies, fell in love, was taken over by evil, and then smote it in return. I was a werewolf, a Rigger, a vampire, a cat shaman, a dragon, a lover and enemy and friend. I braved horrific storms bred of magic, found ancient items of terrific powers, was tortured by curses, killed evil beings and even a few innocents. I built cartoon spaceships powered by spam and cheese whiz, made friends with aliens, learned to be a Jedi, crawled through dungeons, blew up whole chunks of cities. There are endless hours of entertainment and tales trapped in my head and the combined memories of my friends that experienced them with me. In the stories that you read that are headed by my name, you see lifetimes of experience. Glad I stuck around long enough to make it sound good.