Fanfic Writer's Meme

[lls_mutant]

The Fanfic Writers' Meme


Keyboard or biro?

Now that I'm home, keyboard, all the time. My handwriting is absolutely heinous and if I don't transcribe what I've written immediately, it's a 50/50 chance even I'll be able to read it later. But when I was working, and running my engine, which meant I had to monitor it but didn't have to acutally do much for long periods of time, I wrote by hand a lot.

Beta or no beta?

I've been getting better about using one. I always use one when I'm uncertain- I used one for Remus's coming out in Accidentally In Love and I definitely knew I needed one for Let the Water Hold You Down. My spelling and grammar tend to be reasonably good (especially if it's a Muggle word), but I am an American and it shows. Way too much at times. :P I've been starting to use a beta for Accidentally In Love, and I think it's a good thing.

As a note, the reason I never bothered was partly because I used to post on Immeritus, where there wasn't as strict a beta culture, and partly because I write such long fics I feel bad asking anyone to beta them. And I'm impatient and like to post.

Plot?

The twistier the better. That's what I like, is plot.

It's interesting how plot comes to me, though. It comes either in its entirety, or in flashes. Ten Galleons came in its entirety, and took me two hours to write. Accidentally In Love gets continuous flashes. But I almost always know the ending from the beginning.

Title?

I suck at titles, and I'm so glad fandom allows song lyrics as titles.

Smushy or smutty?

Neither. I'm not terribly good at writing sex, and I write mainly men, so smushy is kind of out too. :P

Summary?

An area I could really stand to improve. I'm never that impressed with my summaries, but I appreciate the importance of them.

Funniest fic?

Accio Bananas, I'm sure. Although I've been amused with parts of Accidentally In Love.

Most popular fic?

Accio Bananas, again, I believe. Accidentally In Love has a pretty decent readership, but I know people get put off by the length. Deny Thy Father is probably number two, because it's young Sirius and gen.

Most fun to write?

I've loved doing the remixes, and I really loved doing Let the Water Hold You Down. And A Boy Thing. That was a blast. But Accidentally In Love obviously holds a special place in my heart.

Best and Worst?

Best: Let the Water Hold You Down, Come Talk to Me, Ten Galleons, chapters 7 and 11 of Accidentally In Love, and Mentors.

Worst: Walls, Replace the Fear, and that awful fic I posted on Immeritus and never reposted here. Ick.

Coulda been Contenders?

I like A Little Respect, but I have a hard time writing Draco and Blaise, and I think if I paid more attention to them in canon it could have been a little stronger. I love the idea of Brotherly Love, and wish I'd gone full-fic instead of ficlet with it.

Strengths

Plot and characterization, I think.

Weaknesses

Magic, fights (I find them hard to write), and prose quality. I think my prose is decent, but I think it could be better.

Dirty Little Secrets?

I'll have to think about this one.