(no subject)

[ldhenson]

If there's one major disadvantage to being as slow a fic writer as I am, it's that you run the risk of being scooped (perfectly legitimately of course) by other fics. I've just gone through and scuttled a number of plot elements in my notes because what's been posted this past week turned out to be a bit too similar, and I haven't even read all the new stuff. What's left of my fic looks a bit gutted, as the entire middle third is now kaput.

Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted the fandom is taking off; I just wish the hamsters powering the wheels in my brain ran a little faster :-)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

That really bothers me, when a writer I like says that. I mean, I can understand it, from the writer's own point of view. But as a reader, I feel that reading about a particular plot element in one writer's story doesn't mean I wouldn't like to read it (maybe even more) in a different writer's story, maybe somebody whose style I like better. I can't even count the number of times I've seen a plot done in a mediocre or downright terrible way and thought "I wish XYZ had done this / would do this: she'd do it so much better!"

And the thought that a writer as good as you might be letting other treatments of the same plot elements stop them from putting them a story is... very upsetting!

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

You know, I hadn't really thought of it that way. Now that you mention it, I've come across that as a reader myself: wondering what a different take on something would be. Even if the original were well-done, another writer could still put a fresh spin on it. But I think I'm wary, too, of looking like I ripped someone else's ideas off. But perhaps as long as one doesn't repeat crucial elements like plot twists, etc....?

And the thought that a writer as good as you might be letting other treatments of the same plot elements stop them from putting them a story is... very upsetting!

Aw, thank you.

[gypsyjr.livejournal.com]

*points at the above comment*

Right. What she said. ;)

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

I'm outnumbered then, am I? :-)

[gypsyjr.livejournal.com]

Yep. ^_^

[prairiestar.livejournal.com]

There are only so many stories under the sun... and when you already have characters, backstory, etc. laid out for you as we do in fan fiction, then that makes the field of possible stories even narrower.

If someone else's story says exactly what you planned to say, so much so that you're no longer inspired to say it, then I can totally understand axing parts of your notes. It's no fun writing a story that you think is going to be redundant.

But in this fandom especially, I think there are certain scenarios (watching DVDs on Danny's couch, eating cornettos, hanging out at the pub) that are going to crop up a million times in a million stories, at least at this early stage. And there are certain themes that we as writers are going to all jump on right away in unison (Nick's "switching off" issue and surrounding Man-Psychology Issues) because they're either slashy or fascinating or both.

So I guess I'm saying... um... I want you to write some more stuff soon? :) And that I agree with solo____. And while I can't speak for other writers, I won't be bothered if you post a story that has plot elements similar to stuff I've written. 'Cos we're all ripping off Simon and Edgar, anyway. ;)

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

Well, you've got a good point there. Possibly I've just been overthinking it. We're all ripping working off the same source material, of course there'll be some overlap in what we pick out to deal with in our fic. Great minds, etc., etc....

(Of course, we all look at it in different ways, too, which is what's so great about fandom.)

Especially at this early stage, as you say. It's been several years since I got involved in a fandom that's just starting out. It'll be interesting to see how it develops, particularly once the DVD comes out and we actually get to work off more details than just our hazy memories provide us.

So I guess I'm saying... um... I want you to write some more stuff soon?

:-) Thanks for the encouragement. Are you working on anything?

[prairiestar.livejournal.com]

I've never been up close-involved in a brand new fandom like this, although I watched Smallville slash happen and was kind of dizzied, awed and taken aback by the growth rate. It's nice that Hot Fuzz is such a small little world of fans by comparison.

I've got this fragment of couch snuggling and DVD watching that I keep trying to turn into a whole story, but it's not really happening. I write horribly slowly, and tend to work on two or three things at once, then chop them up and combine the best bits for a story that actually works. So we'll see what happens... ;p

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

I watched Smallville slash happen and was kind of dizzied, awed and taken aback by the growth rate

Oh yes. I kept up with it for a couple of weeks I think, then the volume got so overwhelming (nor was I that deeply into it) that I just wound up hanging out on the boards at TWOP instead.

I did get quite involved in Sky Captain fandom right from the start, which came out of the gate strong but sadly lost steam after several months (the fandom's DOA as far as I know). Here's hoping HF doesn't go that way, though I doubt it will, given HF's pedigree.

then chop them up and combine the best bits for a story that actually works

Heh. Right now I'm hoping to cannibalize one of my unposted fics for spare parts...

[prairiestar.livejournal.com]

oh, TWOP! I forgot about that place. :) I was into Smallville for the first season, then got academically detached after using it in a bunch of college essays.

I didn't even know Sky Captain ever had an active slash fanbase. I haven't seen it, but will add it to the Netflix now that I know. That's pretty much all the recommendation I need to check out a movie or show... if I find evidence of slash, I'll go check out the source text to see what's so interesting about it.

I hope your spare story parts combine to form the beginning of an epic novel in which Nicholas and Danny are recruited by the FBI in cooperation with Interpol, travel to Florida and go undercover as bait for a serial killer who targets gay European couples.

Because I'm never going to write it, but don't you think somebody should?

Maybe we could hire someone.

hmmm.

:P

[ldhenson.livejournal.com]

I love TWOP, even though I don't watch much regular TV these days. Still, it can't be beat for my weekly dose of snark.

As for Sky Captain, it's certainly not overt slash, but slashers see what they want, of course :-) Even so, slash or no slash, I really enjoyed it. It was made by people who obviously love movies and that particular genre of fiction, and that love comes through in every frame.

I hope your spare story parts combine to form the beginning of an epic novel in which Nicholas and Danny are recruited by the FBI in cooperation with Interpol, travel to Florida and go undercover as bait for a serial killer who targets gay European couples.

::splorfle:: Oh man, I wish. But hey...you've given it plenty of thought...

I did actually toy with the idea of some fairly big storylines, but I go research-crazy when I write and I'm trying to avoid going down that slippery slope for now, because I just don't have the time. (My current fanfic novella has been in progress for a year and a half now, and oh lord. It's like quicksand.)

[gypsyjr.livejournal.com]

I have nothing to add to this, but I love the phrase "man-psychology."

[prairiestar.livejournal.com]

ha ha, me too. :)