#i need like a tag for fandom pop culture nonsense or something? anyway

[magicianarcana]

i was a victim in the persona 5 shuake zine theft of 2022. this is my story….

[twentyghosts]

Another Meme? Why Not

@sallyidss tagged me for this, thanks for asking! 

1. How long have you been writing fanfic?

I suppose about 20 years, off and on?

2. Who most influences your writing style?

Hm. Well, like @sallyidss said, I try to match whatever canon I’m writing for. I think (I know this is an uncool answer but whatever I am what I am) Kevin Smith and Joss Whedon really influenced my affection for pop culture reference-y banter from a young age. More recently, I owe a lot to many YA and/or romance authors, particularly those who are outspoken about how important/valid/nice it is (particularly in These Trying Times) to read a story with a happy ending in favor of something that’s relentlessly gritty in pursuit of realism. Meg Cabot, David Levithan, Alyssa Cole, etc. I definitely used to feel like I needed to be more grimly realistic and now I’m like, what if just a string of pleasant things happens to characters I like? (Not to say that there isn’t a place for the grim angst, but I used to buy more into some kind of idea that it was better to write some sad shit and now I don’t.)

3. Favourite type of scene to write?

Nonsense dialogue banter, snuggling, AU worldbuilding infodumps.

4. What trope is your favourite to write and/or read?

A gentle low-stakes AU. Mild hurt/comfort. There Was Only One Bed/We’re Snowed In And Must Cuddle To Preserve Body Heat.

5. What is one trope that you dislike?

I’m pretty squeamish about body horror and things like that.

6. What AU do you wish to write but feel like you won’t manage?

Why doesn’t this question believe in me :(

IDK I intended my Bruce/Tony Fae/vampire AU to be a one-shot but a few folks kindly inquired about more and I’m thinking about it but there would be a lot of magical rules to work out etc. Also I deliberately stopped writing before vampire blood stuff happened because SEE PREVIOUS QUESTION so idk I’ll let that simmer for awhile.

For awhile I was batting around a Mean Girls AU but I might have worn out my high school AU mojo and/or just lost interest in the idea.

A summer camp AU maybe? That’s for sure in my wheelhouse but IDK if I’m feeling it.

My Bruce Banner bingo card has a TON of AUs on it, including some I’ve never really thought about before (soulmate tattoo AU, fairytale, restaurant, flowershop??) so IDK I’ll think about this...at least enough to get a bingo anyway!

7. Do you outline, or write as you go?

Mostly write as I go. For longer stories I usually have at least a rough arc in mind but I don’t always know exactly how things will go from point A to point B until I get there.

8. Past tense or present tense? Why?

I default to past tense for adult POVs and present tense for YA POVs, which is sort of the trend for published fiction (obv not universal) but generally that makes sense for me? Sometimes I’ll flip to present tense if I’m writing something action-y or that I just want to feel more immediate.

9. Do you prefer to write one-shots or multi-chapters? Why?

I mean I prefer to write one-shots because they are less work? But I like the satisfaction of completing a longer story.

10. What is the kindest comment you’ve received on a fic? (Feel free to paraphrase or generalize!)

Well, anyone who comments along as they read a multi-chapter fic (rather than just 1 comment at the end, or a kudos or a nothing) is a true light of my life <3 I know a few folks (including @sallyidss!) have mentioned they tried a book or movie or music or something that I name-dropped in a fic, which of course releases a potent dose of dopamine in my librarian brain.

Also @godlessondheimite commissioned fan art based on one of my stories which is not technically a comment but was very kind!!! (LOOK AT IT)

11. What is the most gratifying aspect of writing fanfic for you? 

The real fandom is the friends we made along the way!!!! I guess specifically I love gift fics in both directions, I love writing weird niche shit that I know will delight one specific person and I love receiving my own weird niche gifts (shoutout to @fourteenacross for writing me so many cat-self-insert fics over the years)! I’d rather write something that one person will LOVE than something that 10 people will mildly enjoy. (Also sometimes that one person who loves it is just me and that’s fine too.)

tagging (only if y’all wanna do it—no pressure): Sally tagged a lot of folks I would have tagged, so, you’re double-tagged, and I’ll add @godlessondheimite @fourteenacross @rhysiana and whoever else might be laying around uselessly soaking up air conditioning tonight, or whenever (time is a flat circle)