Tell us something about yourself: Where are you from? Age/Gender? Hobbies? Anything you'd like to share.
40 year old mom, writer, horror aficionado, history enthusiast, crafty-type person, all-around geek. Married to my college sweetheart for double-digit years now. My "extracurricular" resume has an amazing array of totally unrelated activities - historical reenactment, handspinning, weaving, natural dyeing, reading, medieval prostitution (that would be doing research on, not engaging in), true crime studies, etc.
How did you begin writing in general?
I've been writing as long as I can remember. My first completed story was written when I was 7. I still have bits of it, about a tree that grew cookies.
What inspired you to begin writing fanfic?
Two things: reading "Affinity" by Ginmar and being poked by my best friend, Telaryn.
What do you enjoy about writing fanfic?
The immediate feedback. My professional work - well, I'd never know if anyone read it or not. It goes out in the wide world and is never heard from again. But my fanfic - I hear from people who read it almost immediately. As my husband says, "It's writer crack!"
Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character?
I love the apparent contradictions in Spike's character - how he, as Devilpiglet says, is "the best homicidal boyfriend, ever". I also love that he's the poster boy for Free Will. He might screw up, but he makes the choices, he doesn't rely on "destiny" to make the choices for him.
What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write?
I like the dynamics of early Xander & Willow, that friendship which might could be something more...not that I've written much of it.
Of the work you've written, which piece is your favorite? Why?
"Dangerous", because I'm all about the horror.
Which piece was the most difficult to write? Why?
The non-Spike flashficathon entries, as most of them were on characters that I wasn't familiar with.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fanfic writer?
Hmm. Strengths. ::thinks:: I've got a good handle on the scariness, and I think I handle voice pretty well (at least for my favorite characters). My weakness? Plot, definitely. I'd love to be able to write more plot-driven, ensemble pieces.
Do you feel that your work has improved as time has passed? If so, in what areas do you think you have improved the most?
Oh, absolutely! My dialog has improved by leaps and bounds, as has my punctuation skills.
What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing fanfic?
Stopping.
What advice would you give to new fic writers?
Read your dialog out loud and listen to it.
Do you read other fanfic? If so, what are some of your favorite stories and/or authors?
Yes, when I have the time. Some of my favorite authors are: Kalima, Barb C, Ginmar, Annie Sewell-Jennings, Jennifer Oksana, and Miranda (there's bunches more, but I'm having a brain cramp)
Do you write original fiction? Or fiction in other fandoms? (If so, where can we find it?)
Yes to the first question, no to the second. I write original horror and dark fantasy, which can be found in a variety of pro and semi-pro markets (some of which are sadly out of print).
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2004-05-18 08:55 am (UTC)40 year old mom, writer, horror aficionado, history enthusiast, crafty-type person, all-around geek. Married to my college sweetheart for double-digit years now. My "extracurricular" resume has an amazing array of totally unrelated activities - historical reenactment, handspinning, weaving, natural dyeing, reading, medieval prostitution (that would be doing research on, not engaging in), true crime studies, etc.
How did you begin writing in general?
I've been writing as long as I can remember. My first completed story was written when I was 7. I still have bits of it, about a tree that grew cookies.
What inspired you to begin writing fanfic?
Two things: reading "Affinity" by Ginmar and being poked by my best friend, Telaryn.
What do you enjoy about writing fanfic?
The immediate feedback. My professional work - well, I'd never know if anyone read it or not. It goes out in the wide world and is never heard from again. But my fanfic - I hear from people who read it almost immediately. As my husband says, "It's writer crack!"
Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character?
I love the apparent contradictions in Spike's character - how he, as Devilpiglet says, is "the best homicidal boyfriend, ever". I also love that he's the poster boy for Free Will. He might screw up, but he makes the choices, he doesn't rely on "destiny" to make the choices for him.
What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write?
I like the dynamics of early Xander & Willow, that friendship which might could be something more...not that I've written much of it.
Of the work you've written, which piece is your favorite? Why?
"Dangerous", because I'm all about the horror.
Which piece was the most difficult to write? Why?
The non-Spike flashficathon entries, as most of them were on characters that I wasn't familiar with.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fanfic writer?
Hmm. Strengths. ::thinks:: I've got a good handle on the scariness, and I think I handle voice pretty well (at least for my favorite characters). My weakness? Plot, definitely. I'd love to be able to write more plot-driven, ensemble pieces.
Do you feel that your work has improved as time has passed? If so, in what areas do you think you have improved the most?
Oh, absolutely! My dialog has improved by leaps and bounds, as has my punctuation skills.
What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing fanfic?
Stopping.
What advice would you give to new fic writers?
Read your dialog out loud and listen to it.
Do you read other fanfic? If so, what are some of your favorite stories and/or authors?
Yes, when I have the time. Some of my favorite authors are: Kalima, Barb C, Ginmar, Annie Sewell-Jennings, Jennifer Oksana, and Miranda (there's bunches more, but I'm having a brain cramp)
Do you write original fiction? Or fiction in other fandoms? (If so, where can we find it?)
Yes to the first question, no to the second. I write original horror and dark fantasy, which can be found in a variety of pro and semi-pro markets (some of which are sadly out of print).