30 Day Fanfic Writing Meme – Day 21
Jul. 27th, 2011 01:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
meridian_rose21 – Sequels – Have you ever written a sequel to a fic you wrote, and if so, why, and if not, how do you feel about sequels?
I've written in the same 'series', I think. 'Master and Slave' and 'Mistress and Servant' I feel are connected and I'd like to write a third to tie it all together before cross posting further – one of the pile of 'fics I might like to write one day' – Denna/Rahl where she believes him to be Walter, as was suggested by readers :D
I have got notes and a couple of scenes for a sequel to 'Suit of Swords' but that big bang did give me some grief and I haven't a full outline for it anyway…maybe one day :D
Of course I don't think there's anything wrong with sequels – if I'd loved an author's fic, I'll want to read more. What I do find frustrating is an author who posts lots of one-shots on ff.net where each one says 'need to have read x' and 'won't make sense if you haven't read x, y, and z'. I've nothing against people creating a particular sub-verse or AU to play in, but it can make it difficult to get into their work if no individual piece can be read on its own merits. If they're so related, make them chapters of the same fic. If they're not, then give me some context in the author notes.
In my notes for the 'Suit of Swords' sequel, the first few paragraphs do mention significant events from the previous fic – not just for new readers, but for readers who've forgotten some of the details since it's been so long since the first one. Tie-in novels do this all the time, helping to pin down the book's timeline within the canon, and bringing relevant details to the fore for readers who might not have seen all the episodes. And it pisses me off when readers criticize fanfic for this; 'we know she's the Slayer/he has blue eyes/what kind of car they drive'. The longer the fic, the more detail you can put in – no point wasting words on trivialities in a drabble. But for a novella, I think it helps keep the story in-world.
Filled questions available via the fanfic writing meme tag; index post will be completed at finish of meme.
22 – Have you ever participated in a fest or a Big Bang? If so, write about your favorite experience in relation to one. If not, are there any you've thought about doing? And if not, why not?
23 – When you post, where do you post to? Just your journal? Just an archive? Your own personal site?
24 – Betaing – How many betas do you like to use to make sure there aren't any major flaws in your fic? Do you have a Beta horror story or dream story?
25 – Music – Do you listen to music while you write? Do you make playlists to get into a certain "mood" to write your fic? Do you need noise in general? Or do you need it completely quiet?
26 – What is the oddest (or funnest) thing you've had to research for a fic?
27 – Where is your favorite place to write, and do you write by hand or on the computer?
28 – Have you ever collaborated with anyone else, whether writing together, or having an artist work on a piece about your fic?
29 – What is your current project or projects?
30 – Do you have a favorite fic you've written? What makes it your favorite? And don't forget to give us a link!
I've written in the same 'series', I think. 'Master and Slave' and 'Mistress and Servant' I feel are connected and I'd like to write a third to tie it all together before cross posting further – one of the pile of 'fics I might like to write one day' – Denna/Rahl where she believes him to be Walter, as was suggested by readers :D
I have got notes and a couple of scenes for a sequel to 'Suit of Swords' but that big bang did give me some grief and I haven't a full outline for it anyway…maybe one day :D
Of course I don't think there's anything wrong with sequels – if I'd loved an author's fic, I'll want to read more. What I do find frustrating is an author who posts lots of one-shots on ff.net where each one says 'need to have read x' and 'won't make sense if you haven't read x, y, and z'. I've nothing against people creating a particular sub-verse or AU to play in, but it can make it difficult to get into their work if no individual piece can be read on its own merits. If they're so related, make them chapters of the same fic. If they're not, then give me some context in the author notes.
In my notes for the 'Suit of Swords' sequel, the first few paragraphs do mention significant events from the previous fic – not just for new readers, but for readers who've forgotten some of the details since it's been so long since the first one. Tie-in novels do this all the time, helping to pin down the book's timeline within the canon, and bringing relevant details to the fore for readers who might not have seen all the episodes. And it pisses me off when readers criticize fanfic for this; 'we know she's the Slayer/he has blue eyes/what kind of car they drive'. The longer the fic, the more detail you can put in – no point wasting words on trivialities in a drabble. But for a novella, I think it helps keep the story in-world.
Filled questions available via the fanfic writing meme tag; index post will be completed at finish of meme.
22 – Have you ever participated in a fest or a Big Bang? If so, write about your favorite experience in relation to one. If not, are there any you've thought about doing? And if not, why not?
23 – When you post, where do you post to? Just your journal? Just an archive? Your own personal site?
24 – Betaing – How many betas do you like to use to make sure there aren't any major flaws in your fic? Do you have a Beta horror story or dream story?
25 – Music – Do you listen to music while you write? Do you make playlists to get into a certain "mood" to write your fic? Do you need noise in general? Or do you need it completely quiet?
26 – What is the oddest (or funnest) thing you've had to research for a fic?
27 – Where is your favorite place to write, and do you write by hand or on the computer?
28 – Have you ever collaborated with anyone else, whether writing together, or having an artist work on a piece about your fic?
29 – What is your current project or projects?
30 – Do you have a favorite fic you've written? What makes it your favorite? And don't forget to give us a link!
no subject
Date: 2011-07-28 03:31 pm (UTC)My 2 Darken/Kahlan/Nicholas fics are in the same AU, and I wrote 2 one-shots set in the Serpent's Tooth AU. As to the latter, I don't see them as being sequels, so much as "missing scenes", but I do try to write them in a way that you don't have to read the others to "get it".
I'm not sure where the line is on this. I know some of my favorite fics by Riona are the ones where she re-visits AU's that she's written about before. I enjoy catching up with the characters, seeing backstories, etc.
It's sort of a grey area for me.
no subject
Date: 2011-07-28 03:55 pm (UTC)I know I may have sounded a bit harsh, but when I go looking for fic, especially in a small fandom and half the fics on the first page are by the same author, but I'm pretty much forced to read them in order [by the author's mandate] or 'they won't make sense' it makes me not want to bother. These are usually just one-chapter fics, too; not epic novellas like 'Serpent's Tooth' or 'Princess Rahl' or the Blood Trilogy.
If however, someone says 'this is a sequel to X; you don't have to read it but it might help' and maybe gives a summation of the most important details, I'll be more inclined to give it a shot - and if I enjoy it, or start getting hooking within the first few pages, go and read the prequel.