And another meme

[snick_backup]

Because y'all are so darn quiet...

(Yoinked from penknife, with adjustments.)
Ask me one fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom/lj stuff/fic writing/etc. in general. Favorite character, favorite moment, unpopular opinion, something about a fic of mine... whatever. Subparts allowed. Wackiness encouraged.

Comments

[bobthemole.livejournal.com]

In your last post you said I crawled out of my shell and got to know people. One of my fannish goals last year was to "socialize a bit more." Check. This time last year I was still a shy little noob who stuck her head out and dared to comment on a post every now then. Now I feel like part of the conversation, and I've met a whole bunch of nice, thoughtful, and interesting folks.

I'm in the position of timid n00b myself, so I could benefit from your experience. How did you get past your initial hesitation, and how long did it take you to feel part of the conversation?

[snickfic]

Honestly, I think the thing that made me feel at home was when I started posting Seraph on a regular basis. It made me feel like I was giving folks something to identify me with, yanno? So I suppose part of it was finding a niche - for lo, I am Mpreg Girl. And also Seasonal Spuffy Index Girl. And Loves to Make Recs Posts Girl.

But getting to know people also meant just finding interesting people, friending them, and then commenting when they said interesting things. There are a number of folks, such as gabrielleabelle and angearia, that regularly have interesting meta and discussions of fannish things.

So I guess if you want to be proactive about it, these are the sorts of things I'd suggest:
1. Find interesting people and friend them. Often, they'll friend you back. When they say something you'd like to respond to, do.

2. Carve out a niche, whether that's a particular pairing you write fic for, a kind of fic you write, a community you're active in, or a topic you talk about a lot on your LJ. For example, if you like short stuff and writing to prompts, still_grrr might be a fun community for you. Or maybe a new community needs a tag wrassler or an awards community needs judges or someone needs an emergency beta - beta'ing is a great way of meeting people, too, and getting to know them off LJ.

3. When people comment on your LJ entries, always reply. This is YMMV thing, obviously, but as an LJ reader I'm always a little bit more excited to comment to someone whom I know will comment back.

4. Join the excitement! There are always ficathons and such going on, if writing fic is your thing. Or post your thoughts on the latest Dollhouse. Or spout your (polite and thoughtful!) opinion on the latest fannish silliness. Or do the fannish meme everyone's doing. (You know, like this one. *g*) Basically, join the conversation - what's everyone talking about?

(Of course, sometimes you get to start conversations, instead, which is also exciting.)

Like I said, that's the proactive approach, and although I've ended up doing a lot of those things, I didn't really plan on them in advance. Plus I'm sure there are others I've forgotten.

Basically, join in as you see the chance, and one day you'll suddenly notice that you feel like you belong. This little corner of LJ fandom is incredibly warm and friendly and generous, and folks are always glad to meet new people. :)

[deird1]

So I suppose part of it was finding a niche - for lo, I am Mpreg Girl. And also Seasonal Spuffy Index Girl. And Loves to Make Recs Posts Girl.

And I am Dawn/Andrew Girl! (I seem to have so many people who remember me only for that post.)

I'm also Writer Of Weirdly Formatted Stuff...



When people comment on your LJ entries, always reply.

*looks guilty*
I try to, but I always seem to forget. :(

[snickfic]

And I am Dawn/Andrew Girl!

You are? Clearly I missed this post...

I'm also Writer Of Weirdly Formatted Stuff...

Also Genficcer Extraordinaire. And OC Queen. And Writer Who Uses Precisely the Correct Number of Words.

EDIT: Oh! And Vegemite Girl!

[deird1]

Woo! *feels very titleful* (is that a word?)


You are? Clearly I missed this post...

It was a while ago, so very possibly. Tis here.

Ever since I posted that, I've had people I don't know randomly say "Hey, are you the Dawn/Andrew shipper?"

[snickfic]

I didn't realize Dawn/Andrew was that uncommon. Or maybe I've seen you mention it often enough without my necessarily noticing it was you that I just assumed it was a more widely-held opinion than I realized?

Anyway, your ship manifesto rocks.

So, have you actually written Dawn/Andrew? Like, from the Deird!canon version of the future that you have in your head?

[deird1]

Funny you should mention it...

Just this morning I was trying, once again, to actually write my Dawn/Andrew fic, instead of leaving it half-written.

(So yes - I have written Dawn/Andrew. All fifteen lines of it. Really must get onto that.)

[angearia.livejournal.com]

You're Wonderful Writer Girl. :)

*not-so-secretly fangirls you*

[bobthemole.livejournal.com]

Great suggestions, thank you!

Writing fic is painfully difficult for me, but I think I can be Polite Opinion Girl if I gather my wits :)


I guess this can by my New Year's resolution - be a better fan!

[snickfic]

I should mention that all the things on the list that I've done, I did because they were fun. As far as I'm concerned, fandom is solely a hobby, and as soon as it stops being fun, I'm done. So, if people are doing things in fandom they feel like they 'have' to, I think they're missing the point.

That said, fandom can always use more Polite Opinion Girls. :)

[bobthemole.livejournal.com]

That's true, but I don't want to miss out on the rewarding aspects of being in a community just because I'm too scared to try :)

[snickfic]

Oh, definitely. It's really a very friendly place, though. You've got nothing to worry about :)

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Hey, you're my friend! Come and talk to me! :D

[bobthemole.livejournal.com]

Runs and hugs Emmie

You'll always be my gateway drug!

[deird1]

What's your favourite moment in BtVS season 4?

[snickfic]

But. But! One moment?

Okay, we're going to break this down into favorite Restless moment and favorite other moment. Because otherwise Restless would occupy the first fifteen slots or so.

Fav Restless moment: Basically the whole Buffy-to-first-Slayer scene. Especially the speech: I walk. I talk. I shop, I sneeze, I'm gonna be a fireman when the floods roll back... And then Buffy's "Enough!" And the gorgeous outdoor photography - what a wondrous breath of reality, to see the show set somewhere not on a set for once. The whole thing - just gorgeous.

Fav other moment: You know what, you'd get a different answer tomorrow, but today it's Jonathan's intro in "Superstar," complete with spy music.

[deird1]

Hee! I love Jonathan's intro!


Restless really is wonderful.

[gigi-tastic.livejournal.com]

ok so i don't write stuff but I love reading others work. and I had a random question whats the one thing that bugs you about fanfics? its a crazy question becuase each story is diffrent but can you find anything that alot of fic's have that annoys you? for me it's how most of the ones I read involve someone needing to be saved... gabrielleabelle was talking about that a while ago. it sort of stuck with me.
oh and by the by I ADORE Anya and Andrew. yet its hard to find really great stuff about them. Io also have to agree I love Still Grr. (thats like one of my fav lines from Angel. mainly becuase I used to do it at the end off Buffy with my friends Arrg Grr!)

oh and also my fav s4 moment is when everyones at the dinner table for thanksgiving. and xanders all like it was nice of angel to stop by. hee hee. oh and as an Anya lover I gotta say how much I lve(and believe in. its so true!) the line about how Thanksgiving is a ritual sacrifice with pie. oh and who can forget the whole wanting to watch Xander dig. good times.

[snickfic]

One thing about fanfic that annoys me? Ho boy. I think the thing that annoys me the most is the sex. Not the fact that people are having sex, and not always even the porn that results (although for myself, I usually end up reading around the porn to the get to the good parts). I just hate how often in fanfic sex is the answer to everything. How to get Buffy and Spike together? Use a spell or a demon or whatever to make them have sex, which will be SO AMAZING that they'll do nothing but shag like bunnies for the rest of their lives. How to have Spike comfort Buffy, or vice versa? Have them have sex. What's the most important element of a relationship? The sex. What's worth abandoning all reservations, ignoring all wisdom from friends and family, and going against all your previous beliefs? Really good sex.

Um, no.

I'm very fond of Andrew and Anya both, and you're right, fic about them is darn difficult to find (although fic with them as secondary characters is a little easier.) And yes to ritual sacrifice with pie! I've found myself wanting to repeat that in a RL context, but I usually don't because I'd feel a little self-conscious stealing my humorous material from Buffy. *g*

Also: welcome! I noticed you'd friended a while back, but this is the first time you've commented, yes?

[gigi-tastic.livejournal.com]

yah the whole having sex to fix everything bugs me. and uhh I think I've commented before on your lj. if not then on some of your work. you do really good stuff. BY ALL MEANS REPEAT THE GRETNESS OF PIE SACRIFICE! ITs a gift that keeps on giviing. you could add on to it you know. like make a joke about oh i dont know.. Anya being at the frist thanksgiving and turing some poor guy into the turkey? eh just a thought. so long as you try to make the scene in which you use the joke diffrent then its ok. i've read some fic where only a few thigs are changed everything elses is compleately from . the. SCRIPT. kind of annoying. oh hey also my friend dontgetanyolder and I have officaly made jan 8th GILES DAY! come share the love of our fave watcher/tweed lover we will be posting.. no idea butanything along the line of icons fics whatever you fel like posting to celerbate the man that is GILES!

[snickfic]

Ooh, have fun with your Giles day! I don't think I'll have anything in time - I'm terribly busy, and still shocked I even made my Yuletide deadlines - but some more Giles-love in the world can never hurt. :)

[deird1]

I just hate how often in fanfic sex is the answer to everything.

Now I kinda want to write a crack fic which takes that to the logical extreme...

[snickfic]

*shamelessly eggs you on*

[bobthemole.livejournal.com]

"The radiator is broken again. Spike! Buffy! You have to shag now!"

[deird1]

"Quick! The Mayor's about to ascend! Sex!"

[brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com]

I think Philip Pullman got there before you (in the Amber Spyglass, my pet hate scene of universe-saving teen sex).

But that doesn't mean we should miss out on *deliberate* crack!fic should you feel so inclined. Because we would laugh, a lot.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

I just hate how often in fanfic sex is the answer to everything.

OMG. I've been ranting about this so much recently. My love for you is growing! I didn't even think that was possible. :D

[snickfic]

*basks in the love*

:)

[jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com]

Worst BtVS episode ever?

ONLY ONE! None of that hemming and hawing about multiple eps not turning your crank. You must choose! ;)

Will it be "I Robot, You Jane"? "Some Assembly Required"? Another stink-bomb? What say you? What do you put in the "Epic Fail" category?

Oh, and why (natch)?

[snickfic]

Oh, such a question! It's tough, because there are so many eps that failed miserably as episodes (Pangs, Living Conditions) that were saved by wonderful bits of humor. And there are eps that weren't horrifically bad, just lame and predictable (Lessons).

I think, despite the very fun Spike&Anya bonding in it, I have to go with Where the Wild Things Are. The sexfest is gratuitous, the plot it's supposed to be a part of pretty much isn't one, and the twisted depiction of Christianity as expressed by that old woman is skin-crawlingly offensive.

(Also, I actually have no beef against No Assembly Required. It's silly and B-movieish, but then so are most of the S2 plots. Besides, it's got all that Jenny/Giles adorableness. OTOH, "I Robot, You Jane" is in the top five of badness.)

[jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com]

Oh, gosh, that is an EXCELLENT choice. WtWTA is truly horrible, and it didn't even jump to my mind when I was trying to think of potentials. I was clearly repressing its very existence. The horror, the horror, I say! *g*

Yes, yes, and yes to your identified problems. My most major objection might just be the Buffy/Riley "hotness," which, sorry Charlie, not. buying. for. one. blessed. second.

Not even Anya in the bunny costume can redeem it! Although she tries so hard... ;)

[Ooo, and I get to use my awesome new Giles icon to commemorate your excellence choice. He does not at all approve of WtWTA!]

[snickfic]

The horror, the horror, I say! *g*

You and Joseph Conrad, eh? *g* A little repression is totally understandable, even though Spike and Anya lamenting their lack of evilness is truly made of win. (Although, she wasn't wearing a bunny costume - I think maybe you're thinking of Fear, Itself?)

Hee, and even Giles agrees with me. :)

[jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com]

Yes, this is what it is to have the head cold from hell. I swear, my brain is functioning in reverse tonight. :P

But my point stands: not even Anya in a bunny costume *could* fix WtWTA. You know, if she had been wearing it in that episode... LOL

Yes, the Spike and Anya bonding session was most excellent. It all comes back to me: "You take the killing for granted. And then it's gone and you're like, 'I wish I'd appreciated it more.' Stopped and smelled the corpses, you know?"

*snort*

[snickfic]

EDIT: misplaced comment. Blarg.

Otherwise, look! (Fraternal) icon twins. *g*

Also, I feel that surely having a brain functioning is good for something. Factoring large numbers, or some other reverse engineering-type activity.

[jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com]

LOL! You know, I had problematiq *make* mine for me. I'll bet I was dimly remembering yours.

Sadly, my brain is still spinning, and I have not yet performed amazing academic feats as a result. :P I am bored, I tell you, BORED, of being under the weather. I scorn this cold. Feh.

Oh, and I also like the fact that the word "blarg" is featured in your reply. *g*

[deird1]

It does, however, have Giles singing. Which is wonderful.

[jen-nsync-landl.livejournal.com]

Very true. That's *two* redeeming components! :)

[snickfic]

There is that. And yet, still not enough to redeem it. Especially since he sings again later in "The Yoko Factor" (well, and Restless, but...) so even if WtWTA never existed, the world would still have singing!Giles.

[angearia.livejournal.com]

Would you talk about your writing process? I love hearing how other writers work their craft. Just to give you an idea what the heck I mean, I'm a very visual person and that I think translates in my fiction (some readers say how they could so clearly see the action, etc). But what is your focus? And where do you write (time/place)?

:)

I like this meme. Can I keep it?

[snickfic]

Mm. I feel this question deserves more attention than I can give it tonight; give me a day or two, and I'll get back to you.

And yes, you are full welcome to the meme. The more, the merrier. :)

[snickfic]

So, my answer ended up being a post of its own...