Serendib's try with Fanfictions

[Serendib]

Hello everyone!
Since as I already mentioned I'm trying to write some fanfictions of my own, I thought that opening a thread was a wise thing to do
I basically have two questions for you, before I start pubblishing: The first one is what is the right way of doing it? Do you prefer having them on a website like fanficion.net or Archive of our own, or also in the forum as a thread is okay? In the second case, is better to update the first post or just let the thread (chapters and comments) to unravel naturally? (the first post could maybe be updated in that case with the permalink to each post of mine containing chapters)
I think I used to have an account on fanfiction.net, but I lost the log in information, I do however have an account on Archive of our own, and have some published fictions there (plus there's no AoS section there, so it would be nice to start one)

The second question (I know it sounds like the twentieth ) How do you feel about AUs?

What happened to me, has been quite strange, I had this idea for the Secret Santa project, and started writing it...but it turned out waaaay darker and waaaay longer than I expected it to be, and the day before it needed to be delivered, I changed my mind and put together the Christmas fic that has been the gift in the end. I kept writing the other fict, and I currently still am, but got kinda stuck because of plot insecurities I am trying to resolve, in the meanwhile, I thought it would have been super nice to have some new take on the fandom, and today, while I was at my Grandma's house started writing an Alternate Universe fiction on my phone. The muse has struck hard with that one for a whole lot of reasons, so I am probably going to finish it... but the question is, would you be interested in reading it?

As for the other fiction (the long and dark one) I am 7/8 pages in and I could technically divide it in two or even three chapters already, so that's also something I am going to do, as soon as I resolve the dilemma of how to pubblish it, do I make a new account on FF.net? Do I use Archive of our own? Or just the forum?

"Life is full of hard choiches, hasn't anybody told you?"

[MJ]

Here's my opinion:

Yay you're writing fics!

So your questions: I would definitely publish them outside of the forum if they're multichapter fics. If you publish them in a thread on the forum it gets cluttered with all the comments coming after each chapter and that makes it harder to read. But yes, obviously post the link here so we can discuss and review it. As for which site: the community that reads AoS is bigger on FF.N so you'll probably get more readers, however, if you're more comfortable at AoOO, go for it. I don't think it matters to us here which one you use as we just want to support your creative endeavour!

As for AU's, I love 'em. Except modern day AU's because I don't see the point, but if you want to write that, go for it, it's your baby

Here's some advice: Do not start posting unless you're absolutely sure you will finish the story. I left a story for a few years once and felt so guilty because I'd let the readers down.
Here's more advice: Get a beta reader to look over the story before posting. I often don't do this and then when I read the story back I see spelling mistakes and small structural changes I could have made to make it better etc that I couldn't see then but a second pair of eyes would have caught. Also it's just fun. There was this short story I'd written and sent to a friend and then over skype we talked about it and about every little thing I could explain what I meant to do and she told me how it came across and then I came up with ideas to better it until it was a finely crafted short story. I was really proud of the final product and the talking about it infused it with an entire extra layer.

[Serendib]

Jan 7, 2015 10:53:56 GMT -5 MJ said:

Here's my opinion:

Yay you're writing fics!

So your questions: I would definitely publish them outside of the forum if they're multichapter fics. If you publish them in a thread on the forum it gets cluttered with all the comments coming after each chapter and that makes it harder to read. But yes, obviously post the link here so we can discuss and review it. As for which site: the community that reads AoS is bigger on FF.N so you'll probably get more readers, however, if you're more comfortable at AoOO, go for it. I don't think it matters to us here which one you use as we just want to support your creative endeavour!

As for AU's, I love 'em. Except modern day AU's because I don't see the point, but if you want to write that, go for it, it's your baby

Here's some advice: Do not start posting unless you're absolutely sure you will finish the story. I left a story for a few years once and felt so guilty because I'd let the readers down.
Here's more advice: Get a beta reader to look over the story before posting. I often don't do this and then when I read the story back I see spelling mistakes and small structural changes I could have made to make it better etc that I couldn't see then but a second pair of eyes would have caught. Also it's just fun. There was this short story I'd written and sent to a friend and then over skype we talked about it and about every little thing I could explain what I meant to do and she told me how it came across and then I came up with ideas to better it until it was a finely crafted short story. I was really proud of the final product and the talking about it infused it with an entire extra layer.

Thanks for the reply! I will probably make an account on FF.net and maybe post them on both websites, just for the fun of it

For the AU, yeah...it's actually a modern day AU, and also not a particularly bright one, since it's both a over-used trope and an over-used story, I usually like to be more creative and original, but there's something about the trope that I really like and it resonates with me a lot, so I think these are the reasons behind my writing

I would actually love to have a beta reader for both of them, so if anybody's willing, please come forth I am not a complete newbie with writing fiction, but as you said it's always fun to have somebody watch your back

As for finishing the story, you're also absolutely right. I usually like to keep things short, but especially the "dark" one, has potential to possibly expand, one solution that I thought of, has been to make it the start of a collection of rather short or long one-shots, so that I always pubblish finished stuff in the same universe and I can end it or take it again whenever

[Doubar]

Ooooh, that is awesome news indeed, Serendib!!!! And MJ's correct: most AoS readers are probably on FFN, or in any case: most from DL can be found there. Personally I don't really use AoOO but I can see how publishing on both sites could be fun. ^^

At the same time, if you feel more comfortable with sharing your works here only you can do that, too. Manche is doing that so that's a possibility as well. Choose whatever suits you best. At any rate, I will be sure to stop by if you open a FFN account. Only, currently I am swarmed by updates (I really am following too many people *blames the DW fandom for that*) so it might take a while till I can catch up (Manche knows what I'm talking about *.* ) but you'd certainly have a fan in me!

Now as for AUs: pretty much the same as MJ here. I'm not overly keen on modern day AUs, but maybe only because till now I haven't read any that translated the characters well. So do give it a try. Working with an over-used trope is a challenge but I'm sure you'll succeed in it.

Last but not least concerning a beta-reader: ah, as much as I'd like to be of help I really can't. Just don't have the time for it. Sorry.

[Serendib]

Jan 7, 2015 14:32:24 GMT -5 Doubar said:

Ooooh, that is awesome news indeed, Serendib!!!! And MJ's correct: most AoS readers are probably on FFN, or in any case: most from DL can be found there. Personally I don't really use AoOO but I can see how publishing on both sites could be fun. ^^

At the same time, if you feel more comfortable with sharing your works here only you can do that, too. Manche is doing that so that's a possibility as well. Choose whatever suits you best. At any rate, I will be sure to stop by if you open a FFN account. Only, currently I am swarmed by updates (I really am following too many people *blames the DW fandom for that*) so it might take a while till I can catch up (Manche knows what I'm talking about *.* ) but you'd certainly have a fan in me!

Now as for AUs: pretty much the same as MJ here. I'm not overly keen on modern day AUs, but maybe only because till now I haven't read any that translated the characters well. So do give it a try. Working with an over-used trope is a challenge but I'm sure you'll succeed in it.

Last but not least concerning a beta-reader: ah, as much as I'd like to be of help I really can't. Just don't have the time for it. Sorry.

Thank you Doubs It's okay, it will probably take a while before I pubblish something anyway as I told MJ, I would like to have things finished before I pubblish them, so we'll see, but I am glad you will try to read what I will come up with
As for the Beta, it's okay, if anybody has time, I'm here...otherwise I'll just edit them on my own

[Serendib]

Argh! Writing is hard! Especially when you read so many fancictions and it's hard to have thoughts that are not drawn from others XD I do not want to steal anybody's ideas, and I want to write something that I like XD I'll make it through!


*sorry, I just needed to vent!*

[MJ]

Vent away! And i totally get you about not wanting to draw from others. In larger fandoms everything has been done ten times over already and adding your own makes no difference, but our fandom is so small that it feels like you're copying when you write a fic with similar themes to an already existing fic.

As for drawing from others... I don't necesarily think it's a bad thing. Every time you read something your mind gets a little broader because you consume new ideas, new points of view, new knowledge etc. Obviously don't copy things literally, but weaving the threads of new thoughts through the broader scope of the story makes it richer, not derivative. Just my opinion.

[Serendib]

Thanks I am mainly talking about tiny details, like Doubar calling Maeve "Lass" and Bryn "Little one" I have no idea if it's canon or not, since I've only watched few episode of the show in english and the most I still know by heart with the awful italian translation. I am also worried about staying in character, but if I never try, then I'll never know For now, I'm slowly advancing with both fic at the same time, I have lots of ideas which are unconncted, so I need to find a thread to get from one to the other in a logic way, and at the same time I can't wait for feedbacks, so part of me wants to rush and publish something XD *life is hard*

[manche]

Oh, I would be very interested to read some of your stories. I would be very curious of this darker story and I love the theme of AU in many movies and Tv series as well. I have not much time for reading at the present time, I neglect my own writing and great stories of different authors, but my present exam period should end in three weeks and I hope that i will find some time for it after that.

And I must agree with MJ that posting in a topic here is not the most synoptical thing, I know it from my own experience, I realize that my story could be divided into bigger parts for greater clarity. But I was not a member of any website where I could post my story when I began and I also did not plan such a longer story at first. If I started with writing today, I would probably post it on the FanFiction.

[Serendib]

Thank you manche! Hopefully by the time you will be free from your exams, I will also have something finished of either fanfiction I'll keep you guys updated

[Doubar]

I understand your worries well, Serendib! I was having exactly the same when I started publishing things. However, MJ is right. Working with similar ideas is commonly done in other fandoms only ours is so small that you notice. What truly counts though is your approach. Two stories with the same premise can be completely different from each other, depening on the characters act and events play out. And as for staying in character: I think none of us could truly be OOC with their works. We know the eps and these figures by heart and while each of us might have a slightly different interpretation of them and their motifs (for example, no matter which fandom, my characters tend to be a bit calmer than in the canon) but there is certain core traits that we cannot help but include and that's what makes them be recognisable.

Last but not least on the issue of Doubar calling Maeve "Lass" and Bryn "little one". The latter I can tell you is totally made up by the fans. According to my knowledge at least Doubar never called her that but somehow it has become a fan-standart version that many authors (myself included) work with because it's really rather sweet and shows how much he cares - and that's regardless of shipping or anything.
Him calling Maeve "Lass" on the other hand I believe has indeed occured in the show. I'm not quite certain anymore in which ep, but I do think it's canon indeed.