Author Bios

[rusty_halo]

I am ready to begin collecting author biographies for All About Spike. If you're an author with at least one story on All About Spike, I'd love to get a bio from you.

This is not obligatory. You may send it to me at any time and may make changes at any time. Your bio can be as long or as short as you like--a one-line bio is fine if you prefer that. This is just anything you'd like to share with your readers about yourself or your writing.

Also, if you'd like, you may use the following questionaire. You're welcome to ignore any questions that you prefer not to answer. You may also insert additional questions and provide answers to them. Or just totally ignore this and write your own bio.

For example, see Doyle's bio here. (ETA: Scroll down; it's below the list of stories. The layout might change a bit but this is the basic way that it will appear.)

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Tell us something about yourself: Where are you from? Age/Gender? Hobbies? Anything you'd like to share.

How did you begin writing in general?

What inspired you to begin writing fanfic?

What do you enjoy about writing fanfic?

Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character?

What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write?

Of the work you've written, which piece is your favorite? Why?

Which piece was the most difficult to write? Why?

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fanfic writer?

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?

What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing fanfic?

What advice would you give to new fic writers?

Do you read other fanfic? If so, what are some of your favorite stories and/or authors?

Do you write original fiction? Or fiction in other fandoms? (If so, where can we find it?)

Answers can be provided right here in LJ comments or sent to me via email at drinkthepoison@hotmail.com. Emails can be in plain text, HTML attachments, or MS Word attachments. If you want any special formatting (links, italic, bold, and so on) you can code that yourself or just make a note in brackets and I'll format it for you.

Comments

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

I'll do this first chance I get; just thinking about my answers ::hugs::

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

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).

[miggy.livejournal.com]

I'll happily do an author bio (when I get time, ack!), but I've run into a problem. The psuedonym I've used for nearly 10 years now seems terribly, terribly lame within the Buffy fandom. (Despite the amusement I get from hearing it onscreen.) Could I possibly change what my stories are listed under? There's no way anyone seeing them is not going to make the association, long-time use or not.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

As soon as I've killed the Trojans currently infesting and trying to kill my computer, I'll do one. But in the meantime, I know the pc will just crash on me as soon as I've finshed it.

[janedavitt.livejournal.com]

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.

Here you go, my bio (pt. 1)

[riani1.livejournal.com]

Bio of Two Ladies of Quality (AKA Connie)

Tell us something about yourself: Where are you from? Age/Gender? Hobbies? Anything you'd like to share: I'm a 43 year old woman originally from Pennsylvania but currently in Utah. Husband, two cats, no kids. I do some needlework, but my primary hobby these days is fic writing. How did you begin writing in general? When I was in grade school, we'd be assigned stories, and my stories were always longer and more convoluted than everyone else's. My preferred mode of expression was always words on paper.

What inspired you to begin writing fanfic? Star Wars, the first run, in theatres and everything. I great, soundless explosion went off in my head, and suddenly I wanted to see stories in that universe that weren't being shown on screen. What did the characters do before the story started? What happened next?

What do you enjoy about writing fanfic?: These days it's a great deal about the feedback. I'd still write but not as quickly if I didn't have someone saying, "More!" Somebody famous said that authors write the books they want to read. I re-read my own stuff quite regularly. It's revisiting favorite daydreams.

Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character? OK, I'll be utterly shallow, he's the hottest thing I've seen in an eon, and I want to play with him. I just have to come up with a valid way to do it. He says (or used to say) he's evil, but his actions don't always bear that out. His motivations intrigue me.

What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write? I'm a massive Spike/Xander fan, primarily, closely followed by Wes/Gunn. I can write het stuff, but the only couple that pleased me on the show was Cordy/Xander.

Of the work you've written, which piece is your favorite? Why? This is a pretty off-the-cuff answer, because there is favorite in regards to story and favorite in regards to technique/craft. For craft/technique/keeping all the strands together, my favorite is the Career Change series, because I had to place foreshadowings in logical places and not leave any loose ends. For story, my favorite is Touch, where I finally gave Spike and Xander the fairly happy ending that my schmoopy heart wanted to give them but which strict discipline wouldn't let me do in Steam.

My bio pt. 2--The Return of the Longwindedness

[riani1.livejournal.com]

Which piece was the most difficult to write? Why? The current installment of Career Advancement, because the roadmap is going off into total AU, and it's got to be believable without being boring.

What are your strengths and weaknesses as a fanfic writer? People say my character voices are good, but that's because they live in my head and I'm just taking dictation. I'm pretty proud of my convoluted plots. I think I'm lacking in description and atmospherics. I forget that the reader isn't living in my head and doesn't see the background I can see. 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, gosh, yes. Plausibility. Keeping a character's actions within believable parameters. I don't see the change so much in my Buffy work, but the early Star Wars stuff--let's just say I burnt those notebooks. The world did not need to be burdened.

What do you find to be the most difficult aspect of writing fanfic? Having the courage to believe in my own plot line and not being afraid of what the readership will say.

What advice would you give to new fic writers? Don't be afraid of the dreaded Original Female Character, ie, Mary Sue. If you're any kind of reader, you'll soon realize where you're going wrong with the story and characterizations and you'll prune off the more unlikely developments and turn Mary Sue into a believable character. And bad writing is worth the effort so long as it builds to good writing.

Do you read other fanfic? If so, what are some of your favorite stories and/or authors? The only fic I make a point of looking for is Harry Potter fic. "Draco has an epiphany and discovers that so-and-so is pretty hot, as well" stuff. Draco/Harry, Draco/Neville, Draco/Hermione even!

Do you write original fiction? Or fiction in other fandoms? (If so, where can we find it?) I have some original fic on my hard drive that I contemplate every now and then before going back to a story that is less demanding.

I have a great many stories in the universe of The Equalizer (http://www.geocities.com/blue_sky_divers/contents.htm) under the name Connie. They don't suck, and I need to finish them.

[paratti.livejournal.com]

As promised

Sorry for the delay.

[bandgeek.livejournal.com]

Tell us something about yourself: Where are you from? Age/Gender? Hobbies? Anything you'd like to share.

I'm from Ohio. I'm eighteen. I'm female. When I'm not on the computer, I'm likely watching movies, doing classwork, or backpacking. Or napping. I nap a lot.

How did you begin writing in general?

I started out in first grade when I would come home and get on the old Mac Classic II to retell the stories I read in class. I would change the names of the characters and claim to have come up with the whole thing myself.

What inspired you to begin writing fanfic?

My undying fifth-grade love for the Backstreet Boys inspired me to write the novel-length saga of my affair with Brian Littrell, the cute one with the congenital heart condition. He fell in love with me as I brought him his homework in the hospital. I then lived on the tour bus with the other four, and although many other girls vied for Brian's attention, I remained his one true love.

What do you enjoy about writing fanfic?

Things never quite go the way I want them to in my favorite television shows and movies. I like to tell the untold stories about the way things should have happened. But also, fanfiction is a social outlet for me -- I love meeting new people, filling requests, and getting piles of feedback that tell me how fabulous I am. In the end, I suppose I just want to be loved.

Why have you chosen to write about Spike? What do you find interesting about his character?

Well, aside from his, er, physical prowess, the thing I find so fascinating about Spike is his moral ambiguity. It's not just that we're never sure if he is good or bad, it's that he is neither. Spike has made his home in a grey area, and despite everyone's urge to put him in one category or the other, it seems that whether Spike is good or bad becomes far less important than what he actually is. In this way, Spike is probably more representative of actual human nature than most human characters. I love to explore what this means in a fight that is supposed to be good against evil.

What other characters or relationships do you find most interesting to write?

Dawn is probably my other favorite character from Buffy. Because she gets to be human without really being a human, Dawn's perspective is unique. Joss has left her future as the Key ambiguous, which leaves plenty of room for me to have fun imagining what could be in store for her. And because both Spike and Dawn are human-but-not-human, I think their experiences are likely to draw them together. By definition, Spike is supposed to be evil, and Dawn is supposed to be good, but neither of them really sticks to those categories. I imagine them being human together.