Writing Meme

[beeinmybonnet]

Wotcher!
I've been awfully absent and neglectful lately, because of experimentation with my meds and the back-to-new-term stress. But I'll try to be more available now. ♥ (So I'll reply to your posts soon, roterhimmel, as soon as I've got the time!)

And now for something completely different: I stumbled upon this meme by accident, and thought it looked fun. In fact, it really was. ♥

1. How about a brief introduction of yourself?
Sure. ♥ My name is Anna, I’m from Sweden and I’m sixteen years old – which of course means that I have as good as all the qualifications of being a horrible writer, both with fanfics and original works. *g* I'm currently most active in the Harry Potter fandom, though I still dabble in the House MD, Metal Gear Solid and Batman Begins/The Dark Knight ones. I’m antisocial and horribly dependent social interaction at the same time (thank you, AS) and I suffer from verbal diarrhoea.

2. Fabulous! And what got you into fanfiction to begin with?
Oh, erhm. I was about twelve, I believe, and I stumbled upon fanfiction.net by accident. I was immediately hooked. I like to think that my tastes and writings have improved since then, though. *g*

3. I see. So what kind of fanfiction do you like to write?
You mean, which genre? Well, I like to experiment, but I prefer to write either humorous fluff or twisted and/or dark angst. Sometimes I write fics that I’m not sure where to place, when I try to take a shot at “realism,” and I usually label them as drama. I don’t suppose “G to PG-13 rated slash” counts as a genre? *g*

4. Do you tend to write the same pairings/characters? Or are you a fandom whore?
Oh, absolutely the first alternative. I have my handful of darlings and play with them almost exclusively. Remus and Sirius are my absolute favourites – as well as Teddy, lately – and I also have a soft spot for James, Lily and Peter. I need to know the characters I’m writing, so I’m neither good nor comfortable at just picking a random one and start playing with them straight away.

5. What is your most popular fanfic and why do you think people like it so?
I don’t even know if I have a popular one. *sheepish* Well, Sfumato and The Storm Inside You have got plenty of reviews, so I suppose that counts for something. I don’t know about others, but I personally like Sfumato because it has a sortakindabutnotreally quirky motif that sticks out a bit (with artist!Sirius and model!Remus) and because it’s basically feel-good fluff. *g*

6. Forget other people; what is the fanfic you’ve written you’re most proud of?
Oh, I think that would have to be Non Compos Mentis. Though that one is only a ficlet, so I don’t know if that counts... Otherwise I’m very happy with Sfumato, and Take Me Out Tonight isn’t all that bad either. Actually, I think these three fics are the only ones I’m really satisfied with... (While I like The Witching Hour, I still can’t look at it without squirming and/or blushing; I’m prudish like that. *g*)

7. Do you find writing easy? Hard? What are the most difficult aspects of writing you struggle with?
Gods, there is nothing more difficult than writing! If it wasn’t so much fun, I wouldn’t even bother doing it. I’d say that everything is the hardest part, but that’s not really an answer, so I’ll say dialogue and meeting my own expectations instead. But really, everything is unbelievably tricky: coming up with a plot, keep the characters in-character, write consistently, not mess it up in general...

8. Write a few sentences or so about your favourite pairing or character.
Sirius didn’t laugh. He turned his head, and Remus saw that he wasn’t even smiling. “Remus,” Sirius started but trailed off. He glanced down and when he looked back at Remus again, he said in an almost matter-of-fact manner, “You are worth dying for.”
Remus’ grip on Sirius’ arm tightened, fingers digging into flesh, and it had to hurt. “Don’t ever say that,” he whispered and found to his disquietude that he was smiling.
(Huzzah for over-the-top angsty boys! ♥)

9. Are there any fanfiction trends/clichés that you can’t stand or are just sick of?
In the Remus/Sirius fandom? Oh gods, where do I start? *g* The things that put me off so much that I have to stop reading are Gryffinwhore!Sirius, effeminate-shy!Remus, the horrible “Siri” and “Rem(my)” nicknames, blatant Americanization and overuse of epithets such as boyfriend, lover and – my above all pet peeve – werewolf. Whenever I see a sentence like, “The werewolf did so and so,” I am yanked out of the story, have to force myself to ignore it and then continue reading. I also can’t stand overly romantic and sappy stories, where the dreaded Three Words are said over and over again. Argh. They’re boys; let them act like it. (I’m also not fond of Teddy being cool, saucy and blue-haired, but maybe that’s just me?)

10. Are you guilty of any of the fanfiction trends/clichés you now hate? Or any other ones?
Do you mean in my entire life, or just in the Harry Potter fandom? I’d rather not think about my first fanfictions, because those were so classically badfic that they could’ve been parodies. Seriously; I did every mistake in the book. When it comes to R/S, I like to think that I haven’t fallen into any of the more sinister traps... yet. Then again, maybe I’m biased. *g*

11. What was the first fandom you wrote for? Do you still like/participate in it?
Wow, really out to embarrass me, aren’t you? Very well. I discovered fanfiction via a manga called Tokyo Mew Mew, which is in fact atrocious but one I loved when I was twelve. My first fandom was in a way Harry Potter, but I stopped being a fan before I even knew what fanfiction and fandom were. (My eleven year old heart couldn’t accept that Sirius died.)

12. Name your OTPs or the most frequently written pairing/characters and explain what it is about them you love to write.
Remus/Sirius! ♥ I love them above all as separate characters, and I ship them because I think they fit together beautifully. Remus is not only awesome and amazing, but he is also unbelievably strong and capable if not without faults. He was my first ever crush and will thus always have a special place in my heart. Sirius on the other hand consists of almost nothing but faults; he’s a prime example of a Byronic hero. But he is interesting and complex, and even if he is selfish and arrogant, he has a big heart and a passionate personality. And because they are so real and fleshed-out, it’s possible to play with them in almost any way you like. They have a natural chemistry and a fantastic story together, so they work in both fluff and angst. Really, they’re just fantastic. ♥ (I’ll stop hero-worship now. Honest. *g*)

13. What would you call your writing “style”?
I think I have two, actually; one, which is my “default” mode and is very verbose and adjective-heavy, and my other which is “subtle” and “bare.” (There is a word for that, but I can’t for my life remember it.) Otherwise I think I’m still developing too much and quickly to have a fixed style yet – at least, I hope so. *g*

14. Do you read other people’s fanfic? If so, what do you find yourself reading the most?
Oh yes, I most definitely read them. It’s what I spend most of my time doing. ♥ It’s usually Remus/Sirius fics, but I always keep an eye out for Teddy-centric ones too. Rating-wise, I’ll read anything. I dislike non-con, torture, infidelity, BDSM and things like that, so I shy away from fics with those elements. Otherwise I like to give things a try, especially if I’ve seen it recommend somewhere.

15. Name one thing you’d LOVE to write, but have been too afraid or shy to do.
A long (10 000+ words) and NC-17 rated Teddy/Harry fic, full of angst and dark themes. A fic where Teddy and Harry start an affair against their (read: Harry’s) better judgement, and how they get caught in a vicious circle of lies, sex, secrets and obsession. Starring an obsessive and egoistic Teddy and a post-war messed up Harry. Lots and lots of sex, urgent and mildly dub-con, maybe even with D/S overtones, with Teddy as advantage-taker and Harry as advantage-takee.
... Gods, I would pay to read this. (Why I haven’t written it myself? Because I can’t write smut and I don’t reckon I’m a good enough a writer to pull this off.)

16. Do you have trouble taking criticism? Or worse yet, do you have the dreaded bloated ego?
I see myself as good at taking criticism, and everyone around me agrees, so I suppose I am. As for bloated ego... I have great self-esteem, but my confidence is down at my ankles. It’s steadily getting better, though. I try to see it positively; after all, all the great authors of our time struggled with writerly angst, right? *g*

17. When you write, is there anything that helps? Music? Quiet room?
I need to be alone, without distractions such as TV or pretty web-sites, and a song on loop to set my mood. Then I only need to try and focus and write. (Structure? Planning? Strategies? What’s that? ♥)

18. What inspires you?
Everything, I think. I mean, I can see or hear something that sparks of a train of thought that ends with, “Hey, that would make a nice fic.” Music is also a great source for inspiration. Or I read a discussion, or a fic, or a journal entry... Yeah, pretty much anything can set off that spark that’s needed.

19. Lastly, how would you sum up your fanfiction experiences and yourself as a writer?
Liberating, developing and life changing; I don’t know what I’d be doing now if I didn’t have fandom and fanfiction. As a writer... I am cheerful and do my best? ♥

20. Tag some friends, because they’ll hate you for it.
Anyone who feels narcissistic enough wants to do this should. ♥