I've tried not to write fanfiction - but - somehow, that hasn't really worked for me. The trouble is that all these little story ideas, they've wriggled their way into the back of my brain and insist the only way out for them now is via a computer keyboard.

Of course, it would be too good of them to be cooperative about this. Sniggling them out has been a problem because I write so slowly and painfully.

But, despite the frustrating difficulty, I find myself trying to write again. I'm happy to do so when the story finally starts to flow, I often enjoy tweaking the prose and attempting to make a sensible, cohesive story, and I like rereading the story when it's complete.

Only time will tell how many of those niggling fic ideas I can get rid of.

I do have interest in other fanfic genres than X-men, but I'm only going to concentrate on them to begin with. One thing (among many) that interests me about the genre is the abundance of different universes and how each of them shades the usual characters in subtle or sometimes radical ways.

As a result, I've enjoyed exploring some of these differences (as I perceive them!) in my fic stories, but it's a little confusing because the rules change from one universe to another. I've tried to label them all as to what universe they are set in.

Earth 616:

- Classic

- Excalibur/Australia Years

- Late Nineties/Millennium Era

'Til Thanksgiving, Unto Death Do Us Part

- Time In Exile

Ultimate: The most violent and depressing universe, very dark. The world hates and fears mutants mainly from the attempted world domination of an exaggeratedly villainous Magneto. At the same time Prof. Xavier had a book deal and was taking his students on a world tour with some positive encounters. Characters could be said to be at their worst; Magneto is a caricature of insane evil, Xavier is manipulative and devious, Jean and Ororo are both young, brash and wild, Kitty is vulgar and selfish, Wolverine is a heartless assassin for hire, etc. No Such Thing as Aliens! Mutants exist in numbers enough to have their own ghettos in many sections of the world. There are enough in the world to make the ideas that mutants will inherit the earth credible.

Evolution: A Hopeful Universe. Mutations initially unknown and unheard of - X-men characters out themselves saving the city of New York from a raging Sentinel, an event which is publicized on the news. Many of the characters are de-aged to be high school students and classic relationships are shaken up as characters have different histories. Save for the Ship in the Desert Aiens are Unheard of. More mutants are discovered every year, but the population doesn't appear to be significant as of yet.

Wolverine and the X-men: A conglomerate universe that has taken inspiration from the comics, movies, and cartoons. The world appears to be aware of and distrust mutants - it's a crime to be a mutant and there are holding facilities - the Island of Genosha was granted by the United Nations as a haven for mutants under the directorship of the one time terrorist Magneto. Characters here seem more subdued; Nightcrawler seems very serious and reserved but is quietly extremely heroic, Beast is pacifist who is most at home in his lab, Ice Man is a flaky young teen - part of the younger set, Colossus is an unknown, Shadowcat is spunky but seems down to earth and comfortable in her own skin, Angel is the son of a tyrannical father and hides his mutation to save his family and his business's reputation. Wolverine is a perfect specimen of manhood who the world revolves around, Xavier is mainly in a coma - but trustworthy. Aliens may possibly exist but have not yet had any contact with the X-men (or more importantly, Wolverine). The Mutant Population is large enough to populate an island with a Metropolis and still remain a presence on the rest of the globe.

Mutants - Original Universe (though unoriginal name): Supposed to be a balanced world with a more grounded and less extreme premise. Takes place in an alternative idealistic near future. Borrows from the X-2 prequel comic, ultimate, and Earth 616. Aside from a few individuals with insider knowledge, the world has no idea that mutants exist, though there have been a few unexplained incidents. Characters are all altered from their 616 counterparts. If there are aliens they have no contact with Earth and are too far away to be detected. Population is mostly hidden but isn't estimated to be very large.