Tell us something about yourself: Where are you from? Age/Gender? Hobbies? Anything you'd like to share. English, but I've been living in Canada for the last seven years with my husband and two young daughters. I just turned 40.
How did you begin writing in general? Two years ago, May 2002, was my first attempt at fiction (if we kindly forget the 'abandoned after one page' stories I used to write as a child and the rather bad poetry of my teenage years) but I have done some lit crit essays about the works of Robert Heinlein that were published in The Heinlein Journal and archived here and there.
What inspired you to begin writing fanfic? I discovered fanfic in 2002, read it for a month or so, getting more and more intrigued, and then one night sat down and started to write a fic of my own because it just looked like so much fun.
What do you enjoy about writing fanfic? Everything. The thrill of a plot appearing in my head, the feeling of rightness when a word or concept clicks or I suddenly realise that yes, this is what happens, this is how it would work. The feedback, not for the ego stroking (though that doesn't hurt...) but the pleasure at sharing something I've made and giving someone else a moment of enjoyment.
Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character? Spike is endlessly fascinating because he carries within himself so many contradictions. He colours outside the lines. He never gives in. He's perceptive and clueless, kind and cruel; a character like that lets you do just about anything. He's also got a very easy voice to hear and he's one of the easiest characters for me to write because of that.
What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write? Giles at the moment, with all sorts of people.
Of the work you've written, which piece is your favorite? Why? Behind Closed Doors, because it started out as a one off PWP and grew to be so much more. It's probably the least canonical portrayal of Spike and Giles I've done, but I love that fic.
Which piece was the most difficult to write? Why? I've had difficulties with quite a few fics, but more because I'd gone too far away from where the fic wanted to go. I can't pick one in particular; maybe 'Final Score' which was a Spike/Angel fic...that gave me a lot of problems until I pretty much rewrote it from half way through, after I'd found where it began to drift off course.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fanfic writer? Strengths? The first feedback I ever got was on a non fic article and the person told me it was intensely readable. That stuck with me. It's what I aim for. I think I can tell a good story. Weaknesses; I don't add in enough detail. I rush.
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? I'm better; after a million words I guess anyone would improve. I'm braver; I'll tackle emotional moments or smut I would have shied away from. I'm more aware of a story's structure than I used to be. Much better with commas.
What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing fanfic? Nuts and bolts of trying to vary the way people do and say things so it doesn't get boring.
What advice would you give to new fic writers? Make it as good as you can; use a beta reader, look at books and see how dialogue is punctuated; know your fandom's canon because you need that as a background to even the most AU fic.
Do you read other fanfic? If so, what are some of your favorite stories and/or authors? All the time! Too many authors to list...off the top of my head, Mahaliem, Wesleysgirl, Glossing, Wolfling, Piedmargaret, Willshenillshe...this fandom is rich in talent.
Do you write original fiction? Or fiction in other fandoms? (If so, where can we find it?) I've dabbled in Pirates of the Caribbean (one fic, two drabbles) and Firefly (one ficlet), and I've done a Jeeves/Wooster fic and a Miss Silver ficlet - not to mention a Spike/Dilbert...they're all on LJ, some are on my web page. http://www.janedavitt.com
Mostly though, I'm a Buffyverse/Angelverse writer, and that's where I'm happiest.
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Date: 2004-05-20 07:48 am (UTC)English, but I've been living in Canada for the last seven years with my husband and two young daughters. I just turned 40.
How did you begin writing in general? Two years ago, May 2002, was my first attempt at fiction (if we kindly forget the 'abandoned after one page' stories I used to write as a child and the rather bad poetry of my teenage years) but I have done some lit crit essays about the works of Robert Heinlein that were published in The Heinlein Journal and archived here and there.
What inspired you to begin writing fanfic? I discovered fanfic in 2002, read it for a month or so, getting more and more intrigued, and then one night sat down and started to write a fic of my own because it just looked like so much fun.
What do you enjoy about writing fanfic? Everything. The thrill of a plot appearing in my head, the feeling of rightness when a word or concept clicks or I suddenly realise that yes, this is what happens, this is how it would work. The feedback, not for the ego stroking (though that doesn't hurt...) but the pleasure at sharing something I've made and giving someone else a moment of enjoyment.
Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character? Spike is endlessly fascinating because he carries within himself so many contradictions. He colours outside the lines. He never gives in. He's perceptive and clueless, kind and cruel; a character like that lets you do just about anything. He's also got a very easy voice to hear and he's one of the easiest characters for me to write because of that.
What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write? Giles at the moment, with all sorts of people.
Of the work you've written, which piece is your favorite? Why? Behind Closed Doors, because it started out as a one off PWP and grew to be so much more. It's probably the least canonical portrayal of Spike and Giles I've done, but I love that fic.
Which piece was the most difficult to write? Why? I've had difficulties with quite a few fics, but more because I'd gone too far away from where the fic wanted to go. I can't pick one in particular; maybe 'Final Score' which was a Spike/Angel fic...that gave me a lot of problems until I pretty much rewrote it from half way through, after I'd found where it began to drift off course.
What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fanfic writer? Strengths? The first feedback I ever got was on a non fic article and the person told me it was intensely readable. That stuck with me. It's what I aim for. I think I can tell a good story. Weaknesses; I don't add in enough detail. I rush.
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?
I'm better; after a million words I guess anyone would improve. I'm braver; I'll tackle emotional moments or smut I would have shied away from. I'm more aware of a story's structure than I used to be. Much better with commas.
What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing fanfic?
Nuts and bolts of trying to vary the way people do and say things so it doesn't get boring.
What advice would you give to new fic writers? Make it as good as you can; use a beta reader, look at books and see how dialogue is punctuated; know your fandom's canon because you need that as a background to even the most AU fic.
Do you read other fanfic? If so, what are some of your favorite stories and/or authors? All the time! Too many authors to list...off the top of my head, Mahaliem, Wesleysgirl, Glossing, Wolfling, Piedmargaret, Willshenillshe...this fandom is rich in talent.
Do you write original fiction? Or fiction in other fandoms? (If so, where can we find it?) I've dabbled in Pirates of the Caribbean (one fic, two drabbles) and Firefly (one ficlet), and I've done a Jeeves/Wooster fic and a Miss Silver ficlet - not to mention a Spike/Dilbert...they're all on LJ, some are on my web page. http://www.janedavitt.com
Mostly though, I'm a Buffyverse/Angelverse writer, and that's where I'm happiest.