IT WILL BE GOOD. I took a full three days on this one, and I'm positive
that it will top both of the others (which I might even be adding answers
to). I have a total of TEN people answering these questions, and quite a
few people who missed the boat last time.
The theme is: Classify This. It doesn't hold true for all of the interview, though. It starts out asking questions that directly correspond with the theme (slash, mary-sues, etc) but soon there are some REALLY random questions stuck in. So, enjoy! And the lucky nine are . . .
Answers by: Maximum Poofy
Answers by: Crystal
Answers by: ruxi
Answers by: Megz
Answers by: hitobashira
Answers by: namarie2legolas
Answers by: LiNe
Answers by: Nakayo
Answers by: carres1220
Answers by: Hermione 'DB' Granger
ON WITH THE SHOW!
Question Set #3: Classify This
Slash, in case you don't know, is generally male-male (sometimes female- female) romance between two given characters who were not homosexual as described by the author. (Gosh I hope that's an okay explanation!). What are your views on slash, your tolerance for it, your limits?
****I think slash is basically a manifestation of someone's
obsession with boys, at least to me it is. I love em so much I
have to put the men I love most together! It's a beautiful thing
too. My tolerance for slash is VERY high but I only go for the
boy/boy stuff. Since I'm a girl, the femslash doesn't go well
with me. I almost have no limits with slash. I'll read anything
from Bondage, g-NC-17, chanslash, you name it, I'll read it . .
. as long as it's not incest or femslash.**** (Maximum Poofy)
**** I'm usually okay with slash, but I stay away from it most
of the time. As for tolerance, I'm fine as long as it doesn't
get into lemon. **** (Crystal)
**** I for one HATE most slash fanfics if they are Harry Potter
or Lord of the Rings. I believe that the characters are way out
of character of what the author ever intended. Don't get me
wrong, I am not homophobic and I have no problem with gay people
whatsoever but with books that have been written and that the
author never implied any slash at all shouldn't be taken that
way. I feel the same about some pairings that are boy/girl.
For example Hermione and Snape. I mean can you say gross?!? He
is old enough to be her father! But there is some slash that I
find all right. I prefer not to read it and don't write it but
I am fine if other people want to. **** (Megz)
**** I will read it, perhaps even enjoy it. Write it, if it
serves the story. Truthfully, I dare say that slash is in no way
different to heterosexual intercourses. If it fits the
characters and the certain flow of the plot, that I fail to see
why it should not be used. **** (ruxi)
**** I can tolerate slash as long as the characters can support
it. I don't particularly like the idea of taking characters and
altering them in that fashion, but some people do. I have read
a few good stories that had mild slash in them, but most slash
is way out of line for me. I really don't need to know the
details. I view it like heterosexual pairings . . . as long as
they're done tastefully, fine. **** (hitobashira)
**** I have no tolerance for slash. I hate it. It's sick. It
twists perfectly good characters into something nasty. ****
(namarie2legolas)
**** I don't read slash but I understand those who do. It is
just as natural as breathing so I think that it's okay. Just
because I don't like it doesn't mean that everyone else has to
not like it. **** (LiNe)
**** I am a proud slash writer! Male/male relationships are what
I enjoy writing. It's either that, or no relationships at all
in my stories. So yes, I am a slasher and I hold nothing against
it. **** (Nakayo)
**** Generally slash is ok. I don't really like female
slash...the only thing I can handle is Draco and Harry cause
Draco is soo sexy. **** (carres1220)
**** I'm planning on doing a Lesbian fic. I don't think anyone will
turn out gay, or if they do they'll be so minor a character it won't
get mentioned. I don't like most slash ships but because they're
unlikely. I like slash stories / writers because I'm all for
speaking up for minority groups. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
(2) Define Mary-Sue, the way you see "it."
**** A Mary-Sue is a perfect person, perfect in everyway and
always falls in love with the main character but to me? Just a
really annoying girl who needs to go somewhere else. ****
(Maximum Poofy)
**** Knows how to fight well, has a lot of attention, is from
another world, very special. Near perfect except a foul mouth
maybe? **** (Crystal)
**** Mary-Sue is a story where the author puts themselves in it
as a character. **** (Nakayo)
**** Mary-Sues are those characters that the author desperately
wants us to love but in regard to which, instead of being
permitted to gradually know the characters, we are being forced
upon a great amount of flashy details and powers. **** (ruxi)
**** A Mary Sue is a female character (usually a transfer) who
is perfect in every way. She looks beautiful, has a wonderful
personality, and of course is amazing at playing Quidditch.
Authors describe her singing voice as just as beautiful as the
rest of her. Also the author of the fanfic will try to disguise
the character by giving her a bad temper...but it really doesn't
work. **** (Megz)
**** I think Mary Sues are original characters and self inserts
who are impossibly overpowered in the story. **** (hitobashira)
**** Mary Sue: aka Fan girl. For example it is to write (or
think, for that matter) gushy romances concerning your favorite
character. Except I do not believe all people who write about
person(s) falling in love with Legolas, for instance, are Mary
Sues. Mary Sues contain no humor, research, action, and often no
plot, etc- they are just romances. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** A girl, usually if not always exceptionally beautiful, who
mysteriously transfers from another school and happens to be in
Harry's year (oh my gosh, what are the chances? apparently quite
high given the number there are...). Harry falls in love with her,
it's all flufftastic (or heartbreaky) and then she turns out to have
(evil) superpowers (which she is probably trying to destroy him
with). They're a pile of dragon dung. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** I define Mary-Sues as a self inserted character that is
perfect in every single way. I also think that Mary Sues always
are how the author wants to be portrayed. Like if a girl is
insecure about herself she'll make her Mary-Sue gorgeous or have
some special qualities. **** (carres1220)
(3) What is your tolerance for Mary-Sues? Are the authors all one- timers?
**** I'm not much on Mary-Sues because everyone needs flaws to
be realistic. One-Time authors? No, not really. **** (Maximum
Poofy)
**** Well, I'm fine with Mary-Sues. As a matter of fact, I
happen to write them... At least I'm told I write Mary-Sues
once in a while. I don't know... Some authors don't like Mary-
Sue and won't write them. Others like me happen to write them.
After all, who wants their character to be some boring girl/guy
that doesn't know how to do anything? **** (Crystal)
**** I don't have a very large tolerance for Mary-Sues...they
really piss me off. I will stop reading the story if it goes
too far with the Mary-Sue. I don't think all authors are one-
timers. But for first time authors it gives them time to work
on character development for their next story, it all comes down
to experience and wanting to make your story better or just
being too lazy to create a character with flaws. **** (Megz)
**** I think Mary-Suism is a stage of writing - normally, I tend
to view them with a certain degree of amusement. Sometimes, I
offer advice or suggestions for improvement, where I feel it
might be appreciated. All in all, I will most likely save the
most absurd paragraph and mail it to the author, after I have
seen the last's writing progress, so she or he may too indulge
in a hearty laugh at the former errors. Truly, I don't
understand why some people flame instead of helping. **** (ruxi)
**** I don't really like Mary-Sues. I don't read them. **** (Nakayo)
**** I have very little tolerance for Mary Sue fics. There are
one or two that have been more tolerable than others, but in the
end, I felt they were a waste of time. And no, not all Mary Sue
writers are one-timers, just the worst offenders. ****
(hitobashira)
**** Ehh... I can stand Mary Sues, as SOMETIMES they are
actually well-written. Romances that actually have a developed
plot are stomachable. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I think when you write you always put yourself into your
characters. I can tolerate it in stories where there is a lack
of female characters and you may need to create one but in Harry
Potter where there is an overabundance I have no tolerance. I
don't think the authors are one timers. **** (carres1220)
**** Dunno, never come across a major M-S. I expect all stories by
the author would be formulaic. M-Ss bite big time and it would never
happen - the schools are so protective of their secrets that no one
would be allowed to transfer. Basically they're an improbable load
of shite. I can take 'improbable' if it's for a good plot - but M-Ss
blow. Apparently there are quite funny spoofs though.... ****
(Hermione 'DB' Granger)
Is canon law? How far can you go from the character while keeping him/her in canon, and what is your reaction when people put characters ridiculously out of canon? (Examples: Frodo and Sam playing shoot-the-Elf, or Hermione screaming "Shut up, bitch!" to a respected teacher.)
**** Canon should be respected - but not to the border where it
destroys the possibility of fanfiction. Just because no one
mentioned Albus Dumbledore ever being married does not mean he
can't have been at one point. When it comes to canon characters,
however, I appreciate it when the authors do not cross the line
- the last were put there for a reason. **** (ruxi)
**** I've been told, in one of my stories, that I keep the
characters in canon pretty well, except for Tom Riddle and Draco
(that's because it's an AU). I'm not sure how far you can go.
People who go way out of character are usually funny people and
that's why I read their stuff though I don't think I've read a
story where Hermione's screamed "shut up, bitch!". Though she
has gotten into cat fights. That's funny. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** I can't stand it when characters are out of canon. It just
annoys me, because I'm used to this certain character and you
suddenly write with that certain character's name and change her
whole characteristics. But I will stand it if there is a good
reason why she is out of canon. **** (Crystal)
**** Once again I feel that this all has to do with character
development. I don't think that an author should just start out
with a major change in persona. But if the author gives it time
and thought through out the story and the change is
understandable and not just flat out there out of no where. ****
(Megz)
**** I think that it's pretty cool...but sometimes not. I don't
like it when people go too far, for example if Harry was married
to Snape, that's pretty weird. But I like it when Hermione plays
Quidditch or something cool like that. **** (LiNe)
**** I actually quite like the sound of both examples....
If they were under imperius it'd be ok - though it would b so naff
if people kept saying 'and it turned out that Voldemort had had them
under the imperius curse all along'. I reckon with HP characters,
some swerving is ok, after all they are all hormonal at the mo -
Hermione + PMT = uncharacteristic bad arse swearing. But, unless
it's a spoof, majorly changing the characters is pointless - why not
make them original and write your own damn book rather than changing
existing characters beyond recognition? **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** You should always try and keep to the canon of the
character. You wouldn't be writing about them unless you liked
them the way they are already written. I think the people who
normally put them extremely out of character are not doing them
justice. There is a point to a parody fic, however, so
sometimes it can work out. Generally, I feel that the character
is in most instances, sacrosanct. **** (hitobashira)
**** Canon can be quite funny if it is well done. Even then, it
is only for those who have a well-developed sense of humor. ****
(namarie2legolas)
**** Gosh, I hate it when characters are REALLY not canon. It
makes me sad that people will mess with the original character
THAT much. To me, canon is law. **** (Nakayo)
**** I believe it is okay to take certain liberties but I
personally like to keep my characters as realistic as possible.
Some stories are very tastefully written and the characters are
out of canon. It just depends. **** (carres1220)
If your work was censored (because it was too violent, outspoken, startling, whatever), what would be your reaction?
**** It might be kinda cool, I expect I'd be secretly quite proud.
Nothing like trying to ban (or whatever) something to get it more
attention... Though I might b a bit angry (or worried that I'd
written something that bad....) **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** I'd feel violated, I guess. It's my story and if I wanted
it censored I'd do it myself. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** If my work was censored, I would definitely be pissed, but
if you gave me a day or two to think about it, I'd probably
figure out the problem. There's also the fact that there are
younger kids than me on ff.net **** (Crystal)
**** I would probably seek to find what my error was and, if
proven wrong, I would amend it - if I feel it does not ruin my
entire view on the fic. **** (ruxi)
**** The bastards. This is my work; they have NO right to
interfere. Unless I killed off the president, or something,
which I would not do. And I wouldn't mind it if they changed the
rating from pg13 to R, as long as they did not remove it from
the net. That would be okay, and they wouldn't be bastards
anymore. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** Well it has been...on the Harry Potter boards. But then it
is mostly stupid stuff because it won't let you type a certain
word...like returned and cockroach. I find it annoying but not
really maddening. **** (Megz)
**** I wouldn't really care. **** (carres1220)
**** I think I would be upset if my work were censored. I can
understand a site not wishing to publish my material if they
felt that way. That is their right, since it is their site
after all, but it would still upset me. **** (hitobashira)
What do you believe? (This can be anything from religion to politics, basically whatever you want to say. It can have to do with your fan fiction, or not. It can be you as an author, or you as a person.)
**** I am a Christian republican who loves to scream and voice
her opinion. In further response to question 5, I probably would
not write anything worthy of being banded as it would go against
my belief systems. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I believe in a lot of things but mostly I don't think
anyone should stop writing slash because it's against God. I'm
not gay myself and yet I write it for the action, romance,
angst, all that good stuff that some how seems more powerful
when it's done in slash. I believe anyone should be able to
freely write slash or Yaoi as anime fans call it, without having
to go through crap just because you're writing it and they think
it's wrong. I also believe, as stupid as it sounds, that
imagination is, in some way, reality. We couldn't have just come
up with all these fantasies and myths. I think they had to have
been reality at some point. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** Hm, interesting question... I believe in greater forces in
the world, fate, magic... I also believe that the mind holds so
much power and can help you do so many things. **** (Nakayo)
**** I believe that fiction is better than real life. Life is a
bit dull and I wish that more exciting things would happen to
everyday people. And I believe romance never happens like it
does in books. No two people can be that fucking happy. ****
(carres1220)
**** Basically, I don't believe in religions and I think a lot
of laws are stupid. But hey, it's my own opinion. I write
because it's relieving. My mother (no she doesn't abuse me) but
she's those mother with vocal chords as loud as guitar
amplifiers and my brother is basically an annoying arse.
Therefore I try to stay out of their way as possible, which
leads to writing. So basically, writing is an escape from my
family. **** (Crystal)
**** Anything you can make me believe. **** (ruxi)
**** I believe in LOOOOVE!! **** (LiNe)
**** That is a big question! I guess I will go on my
perspective on fanfics seeing as this is one, in a way. I
believe that any fan has the right to come up with their own
original story and post it on the boards, no matter what. I try
my best to use my authors perspective to be respectful and not
flame other peoples works because I know how much they mean to
them (there are a few exceptions but not many) I also strongly
believe in trying to understand any character you are writing
about weather it be an OC or the author of the books character
and have some respect for there personality and to pay attention
to details. **** (Megz)
**** I want to be a Pagen, so I suppose I believe in all the Pagen
stuff.
I believe Tony Blair is an arse hole and we shouldn't have gone to
war.
I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows. I dunno
- I believe lots of stuff, not a lot (if anything) affects how I
write.
Oh - except I believe that all the stuff in books really does exist,
maybe not in this world or time, but somewhere. **** (Hermione 'DB'
Granger)
**** I believe that people should do their best in anything they
do. It always annoys me when I see someone half-assing a job or
a story. If you're going to do it in the first place: do it
right to the best of your abilities. **** (hitobashira)
What, in the way of fan fiction, is entirely unacceptable?
**** Very horrible grammar. I'm okay with slight grammar
mistakes, because nobody's perfect. And also people who do not
capitalize names and their sentences and also people who do not
spell check. The other is when people type like 'tHiS'. ****
(Crystal)
**** Slaughtering canon characters by sheer OOCism. Very
clicheed plots. **** (ruxi)
**** Frankly I don't like these short little pieces that crop up
all the time that are short pieces of crap. I can understand
doing something as a joke, but I think fan fiction is something
that should be taken relatively serious. If you're not
intending to do a good job on your story, or poem then don't
publish it. **** (hitobashira)
**** Well with Harry Potter at least I find that it is entirely
not acceptable to have a fic with a lot of graphic sex in it.
It is a children's book and to some extent it should be aimed at
the same age group that the book was written in. If people want
stuff like that they should just go rent a porn movie and get it
over with, and not write or read it where small children
could. **** (Megz)
**** Nothing! Fanfiction is letting go of yourself, no holding
back! You put all your favorite couples together, the ones that
you wished were true, you put them in your favorite situations
and you go wild! It's the best thing in the world. **** (Maximum
Poofy)
**** Someone who gives no depth to their characters is entirely
unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. And paring Hagrid with
Harry is unacceptable. Please people. Have some bloody
respect. **** (carres1220)
**** Graphic sex. On paper, that is just wrong. It's like porn;
it messes up your mind and bounces around in your head a long
time. You can't look at guys (or girls) the same way after
reading stuff like that. **** (namarie2legolas)
What "style" fan fiction do you write? (Drama, Action, Slash, etc.)
**** Romance, Angst, Action/Adventure, Poetry, General. **** (Crystal)
**** Drama, mystery, action/adventure. Imbued, mostly. And
Angst, whose presence always shadows my works. **** (ruxi)
**** I do Drama, angst, action/adventure, and supernatural. ****
(Megz)
**** I write mostly drama/romances although I'm not adverse to
adding romance to any of my stories. I'm a hopeless romantic at
heart. **** (hitobashira)
**** Any kind I feel like, which is basically everything but
slash. I am partisan to humor, though. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I write Romance/Humor most. **** (LiNe)
**** Most kinds. So far; attempted JK (5th yr fic, try and copy her
style, so 'general'), songfics, diary format (which also comes under
humor). I also try and work most aspects into fics. For example my
diary one has aspects of romance, quite a lot of humor and
adventure. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** I write slash, some romance, drama, definitely
action/adventure... but I mainly like drama... angst is good now
and then as well. **** (Nakayo)
**** I like drama/romance with a touch of humor. **** (carres1220)
**** Slash, slash, and more slash with a side of Action, a bowl
of drama and a large cup of ANGST!! Muwahahaha!!! Er . . . yeah.
And also a lot of supernatural and fantasy for dessert. ****
(Maximum Poofy)
Should book "purists" even bother to read and review fan fiction if all they're going to do is point out everything that is wrong, and what a stupid idea fan fiction is?
**** I am in no position to deny them the right to review as
they see fit - as long as they, however, do not expect me to
eternally heed their remarks. **** (ruxi)
**** No. they'd do it anyway but if they're getting their kicks
out of correcting us then they should go snog a hippogriff
because I don't bloody care. Why should they waste OUR bloody
time by reviewing and reading things they don't believe in? It's
crazy. They're wasting their time as well. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** Well, no. If they really are "purists", then they
shouldn't even go to a fan fiction site. If they don't like the
story, they can go away. And to answer the last question. If
fan fiction is stupid, why did you bother coming to a FAN
FICTION site? **** (Crystal)
**** Well yes...I've read the first book 56 times for HP (I know
it's sad) but I think that some details are all right to be
skipped over or overlooked. Major details are all most never
skipped over, so it doesn't really matter. **** (Megz)
**** "Purists" shouldn't read them if they do that. I can
understand how fan fiction can annoy them, but why put time
into complaining when your only going to discourage a single
fan writer for a bit? ****
**** If that's all they're doing, then no I don't think they
should bother. I don't mind if someone points out a fact that
I've gotten wrong (especially when I hadn't noticed it), but if
you're reading fan fiction, you're looking for alternatives to
the actual books, not a verbatim copy. **** (hitobashira)
**** I'm a book purist and I love fic (duh). If they're just gonna
do that, then no - there's a difference between pointing out errors
in a shop's OOTP window display (which I did) and flaming peoples
efforts because your close minded. I once read a parody where
someone had left the same flame three times saying 'this is the last
time I'm reviewing any of your crap'. Well, two of those times u
were lying you sad wanker. If you don't like parodies don't read
them! This is the same thing, if you know you won't like it, don't
bother. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** Umm...No. All they are doing is putting down young peoples
who maybe feel like writing is all they have. How do flamers
know that their review won't be what will push a kid to putting
a bullet in his head? Not likely, but still. Destructive
criticism is just that - destructive. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I absolutely HATE when people do that! I've gotten a few e-
mails and reviews like that and it really breaks a person's
heart. I'm a Swedish 13 year old girl so my spelling is kinda
bad but I've worked my ass off with my fanfics and when I get
those kinda reviews I get really sad. It's like saying that
you're not worth a shit and no one wants to hear that kinda
things! But I really like it when people give me advice and tell
me what I can do better. It's so much better to do it that way.
And most people don't even dare to write their pen names and
that's really low. I mean, if you want to say what you think
then why can't you even stand for your word?? That's another
thing that I hate. So please think before you review. ****
(LiNe)
Some authors (maybe you) chose to put songs in their stories, to point out in the lyrics how much the characters are like that, or for whatever reason (I'm not talking about song-fics). What amount of tolerance do you have for this, or do you think it enhances the story?
**** Well . . . it depends on how well of a writer you are. Some
people can pull of songfics and make a person fall in love with
them. Other people over do it and ruin the fic. I can tolerate
it if it's a one-shot but if it's a multi-chaptered fic where
there's a songfic in EVERY chapter, I'll draw the line on ready.
I get tired of it real easy. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** I do it so it enhances the story. **** (carres1220)
**** I have high tolerance for this, as long as it actually
works. Don't just put a song out of nowhere because you feel
like it. **** (Crystal)
**** I do not insert lyrics. At most, I use a few verses, in the
beginning of the story...from D.H Lawrence, Poe, Shakespeare or
Vergilius. I enjoy their little mind games.
Sometimes, lyrics help. At others, they don't. Then again,
it all matters on the fic. I, personally, tend to believe that,
if used accordingly, they can and will enhance the writing. ****
(ruxi)
**** Song-fics kind-of annoy me but don't really bother me much
at all. Songs can enhance the story but I rarely ever follow
the advice from pure laziness. **** (Megz)
**** I think that it's a good thing. For me music is a way to
express myself. I think that a song kinda makes the story or
chapter a little stronger. I've used songs in my stories because
I think that it makes it more clear for the readers to
understand both me as an author and the characters feelings.
**** (LiNe)
**** I myself don't put songs into my story, but I find that
it's very effective. Being a musician myself, I know how music
expresses things such as emotions and what not. So keep up the
good work, song-fic writers! **** (Nakayo)
**** I think it can work, but it usually doesn't. I've seen a
lot of fics that are liberally interspersed with song lyrics and
found that it seriously detracted from the flow of the story.
On the other hand, there has been the occasional fic that did
integrate them well, but those were the exception rather than
the rule. **** (hitobashira)
END AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yup, you guessed it! I'm looking for NEW slammers! (By the way, thanks a billion to my "classify this" slammers . . . you guys helped me pull of something really amazing.)
Chapter four will be good too, a little basic, a little embarrassing (to the slammers). It's going to focus in on the actual slammers, instead of this one which was more the fan fiction. HOWEVER, for Chapter Five, it will be ALL REQUEST QUESTIONS. That means that I will need 10 new questions sent by review or email by FRIDAY. Thanks a ton, guys!
SECOND SHOUT-OUT TO MY SLAMMERS! YOU GUYS ROCK THIS FIC!
~Neihtar~
The theme is: Classify This. It doesn't hold true for all of the interview, though. It starts out asking questions that directly correspond with the theme (slash, mary-sues, etc) but soon there are some REALLY random questions stuck in. So, enjoy! And the lucky nine are . . .
Answers by: Maximum Poofy
Answers by: Crystal
Answers by: ruxi
Answers by: Megz
Answers by: hitobashira
Answers by: namarie2legolas
Answers by: LiNe
Answers by: Nakayo
Answers by: carres1220
Answers by: Hermione 'DB' Granger
ON WITH THE SHOW!
Question Set #3: Classify This
Slash, in case you don't know, is generally male-male (sometimes female- female) romance between two given characters who were not homosexual as described by the author. (Gosh I hope that's an okay explanation!). What are your views on slash, your tolerance for it, your limits?
****I think slash is basically a manifestation of someone's
obsession with boys, at least to me it is. I love em so much I
have to put the men I love most together! It's a beautiful thing
too. My tolerance for slash is VERY high but I only go for the
boy/boy stuff. Since I'm a girl, the femslash doesn't go well
with me. I almost have no limits with slash. I'll read anything
from Bondage, g-NC-17, chanslash, you name it, I'll read it . .
. as long as it's not incest or femslash.**** (Maximum Poofy)
**** I'm usually okay with slash, but I stay away from it most
of the time. As for tolerance, I'm fine as long as it doesn't
get into lemon. **** (Crystal)
**** I for one HATE most slash fanfics if they are Harry Potter
or Lord of the Rings. I believe that the characters are way out
of character of what the author ever intended. Don't get me
wrong, I am not homophobic and I have no problem with gay people
whatsoever but with books that have been written and that the
author never implied any slash at all shouldn't be taken that
way. I feel the same about some pairings that are boy/girl.
For example Hermione and Snape. I mean can you say gross?!? He
is old enough to be her father! But there is some slash that I
find all right. I prefer not to read it and don't write it but
I am fine if other people want to. **** (Megz)
**** I will read it, perhaps even enjoy it. Write it, if it
serves the story. Truthfully, I dare say that slash is in no way
different to heterosexual intercourses. If it fits the
characters and the certain flow of the plot, that I fail to see
why it should not be used. **** (ruxi)
**** I can tolerate slash as long as the characters can support
it. I don't particularly like the idea of taking characters and
altering them in that fashion, but some people do. I have read
a few good stories that had mild slash in them, but most slash
is way out of line for me. I really don't need to know the
details. I view it like heterosexual pairings . . . as long as
they're done tastefully, fine. **** (hitobashira)
**** I have no tolerance for slash. I hate it. It's sick. It
twists perfectly good characters into something nasty. ****
(namarie2legolas)
**** I don't read slash but I understand those who do. It is
just as natural as breathing so I think that it's okay. Just
because I don't like it doesn't mean that everyone else has to
not like it. **** (LiNe)
**** I am a proud slash writer! Male/male relationships are what
I enjoy writing. It's either that, or no relationships at all
in my stories. So yes, I am a slasher and I hold nothing against
it. **** (Nakayo)
**** Generally slash is ok. I don't really like female
slash...the only thing I can handle is Draco and Harry cause
Draco is soo sexy. **** (carres1220)
**** I'm planning on doing a Lesbian fic. I don't think anyone will
turn out gay, or if they do they'll be so minor a character it won't
get mentioned. I don't like most slash ships but because they're
unlikely. I like slash stories / writers because I'm all for
speaking up for minority groups. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
(2) Define Mary-Sue, the way you see "it."
**** A Mary-Sue is a perfect person, perfect in everyway and
always falls in love with the main character but to me? Just a
really annoying girl who needs to go somewhere else. ****
(Maximum Poofy)
**** Knows how to fight well, has a lot of attention, is from
another world, very special. Near perfect except a foul mouth
maybe? **** (Crystal)
**** Mary-Sue is a story where the author puts themselves in it
as a character. **** (Nakayo)
**** Mary-Sues are those characters that the author desperately
wants us to love but in regard to which, instead of being
permitted to gradually know the characters, we are being forced
upon a great amount of flashy details and powers. **** (ruxi)
**** A Mary Sue is a female character (usually a transfer) who
is perfect in every way. She looks beautiful, has a wonderful
personality, and of course is amazing at playing Quidditch.
Authors describe her singing voice as just as beautiful as the
rest of her. Also the author of the fanfic will try to disguise
the character by giving her a bad temper...but it really doesn't
work. **** (Megz)
**** I think Mary Sues are original characters and self inserts
who are impossibly overpowered in the story. **** (hitobashira)
**** Mary Sue: aka Fan girl. For example it is to write (or
think, for that matter) gushy romances concerning your favorite
character. Except I do not believe all people who write about
person(s) falling in love with Legolas, for instance, are Mary
Sues. Mary Sues contain no humor, research, action, and often no
plot, etc- they are just romances. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** A girl, usually if not always exceptionally beautiful, who
mysteriously transfers from another school and happens to be in
Harry's year (oh my gosh, what are the chances? apparently quite
high given the number there are...). Harry falls in love with her,
it's all flufftastic (or heartbreaky) and then she turns out to have
(evil) superpowers (which she is probably trying to destroy him
with). They're a pile of dragon dung. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** I define Mary-Sues as a self inserted character that is
perfect in every single way. I also think that Mary Sues always
are how the author wants to be portrayed. Like if a girl is
insecure about herself she'll make her Mary-Sue gorgeous or have
some special qualities. **** (carres1220)
(3) What is your tolerance for Mary-Sues? Are the authors all one- timers?
**** I'm not much on Mary-Sues because everyone needs flaws to
be realistic. One-Time authors? No, not really. **** (Maximum
Poofy)
**** Well, I'm fine with Mary-Sues. As a matter of fact, I
happen to write them... At least I'm told I write Mary-Sues
once in a while. I don't know... Some authors don't like Mary-
Sue and won't write them. Others like me happen to write them.
After all, who wants their character to be some boring girl/guy
that doesn't know how to do anything? **** (Crystal)
**** I don't have a very large tolerance for Mary-Sues...they
really piss me off. I will stop reading the story if it goes
too far with the Mary-Sue. I don't think all authors are one-
timers. But for first time authors it gives them time to work
on character development for their next story, it all comes down
to experience and wanting to make your story better or just
being too lazy to create a character with flaws. **** (Megz)
**** I think Mary-Suism is a stage of writing - normally, I tend
to view them with a certain degree of amusement. Sometimes, I
offer advice or suggestions for improvement, where I feel it
might be appreciated. All in all, I will most likely save the
most absurd paragraph and mail it to the author, after I have
seen the last's writing progress, so she or he may too indulge
in a hearty laugh at the former errors. Truly, I don't
understand why some people flame instead of helping. **** (ruxi)
**** I don't really like Mary-Sues. I don't read them. **** (Nakayo)
**** I have very little tolerance for Mary Sue fics. There are
one or two that have been more tolerable than others, but in the
end, I felt they were a waste of time. And no, not all Mary Sue
writers are one-timers, just the worst offenders. ****
(hitobashira)
**** Ehh... I can stand Mary Sues, as SOMETIMES they are
actually well-written. Romances that actually have a developed
plot are stomachable. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I think when you write you always put yourself into your
characters. I can tolerate it in stories where there is a lack
of female characters and you may need to create one but in Harry
Potter where there is an overabundance I have no tolerance. I
don't think the authors are one timers. **** (carres1220)
**** Dunno, never come across a major M-S. I expect all stories by
the author would be formulaic. M-Ss bite big time and it would never
happen - the schools are so protective of their secrets that no one
would be allowed to transfer. Basically they're an improbable load
of shite. I can take 'improbable' if it's for a good plot - but M-Ss
blow. Apparently there are quite funny spoofs though.... ****
(Hermione 'DB' Granger)
Is canon law? How far can you go from the character while keeping him/her in canon, and what is your reaction when people put characters ridiculously out of canon? (Examples: Frodo and Sam playing shoot-the-Elf, or Hermione screaming "Shut up, bitch!" to a respected teacher.)
**** Canon should be respected - but not to the border where it
destroys the possibility of fanfiction. Just because no one
mentioned Albus Dumbledore ever being married does not mean he
can't have been at one point. When it comes to canon characters,
however, I appreciate it when the authors do not cross the line
- the last were put there for a reason. **** (ruxi)
**** I've been told, in one of my stories, that I keep the
characters in canon pretty well, except for Tom Riddle and Draco
(that's because it's an AU). I'm not sure how far you can go.
People who go way out of character are usually funny people and
that's why I read their stuff though I don't think I've read a
story where Hermione's screamed "shut up, bitch!". Though she
has gotten into cat fights. That's funny. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** I can't stand it when characters are out of canon. It just
annoys me, because I'm used to this certain character and you
suddenly write with that certain character's name and change her
whole characteristics. But I will stand it if there is a good
reason why she is out of canon. **** (Crystal)
**** Once again I feel that this all has to do with character
development. I don't think that an author should just start out
with a major change in persona. But if the author gives it time
and thought through out the story and the change is
understandable and not just flat out there out of no where. ****
(Megz)
**** I think that it's pretty cool...but sometimes not. I don't
like it when people go too far, for example if Harry was married
to Snape, that's pretty weird. But I like it when Hermione plays
Quidditch or something cool like that. **** (LiNe)
**** I actually quite like the sound of both examples....
If they were under imperius it'd be ok - though it would b so naff
if people kept saying 'and it turned out that Voldemort had had them
under the imperius curse all along'. I reckon with HP characters,
some swerving is ok, after all they are all hormonal at the mo -
Hermione + PMT = uncharacteristic bad arse swearing. But, unless
it's a spoof, majorly changing the characters is pointless - why not
make them original and write your own damn book rather than changing
existing characters beyond recognition? **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** You should always try and keep to the canon of the
character. You wouldn't be writing about them unless you liked
them the way they are already written. I think the people who
normally put them extremely out of character are not doing them
justice. There is a point to a parody fic, however, so
sometimes it can work out. Generally, I feel that the character
is in most instances, sacrosanct. **** (hitobashira)
**** Canon can be quite funny if it is well done. Even then, it
is only for those who have a well-developed sense of humor. ****
(namarie2legolas)
**** Gosh, I hate it when characters are REALLY not canon. It
makes me sad that people will mess with the original character
THAT much. To me, canon is law. **** (Nakayo)
**** I believe it is okay to take certain liberties but I
personally like to keep my characters as realistic as possible.
Some stories are very tastefully written and the characters are
out of canon. It just depends. **** (carres1220)
If your work was censored (because it was too violent, outspoken, startling, whatever), what would be your reaction?
**** It might be kinda cool, I expect I'd be secretly quite proud.
Nothing like trying to ban (or whatever) something to get it more
attention... Though I might b a bit angry (or worried that I'd
written something that bad....) **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** I'd feel violated, I guess. It's my story and if I wanted
it censored I'd do it myself. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** If my work was censored, I would definitely be pissed, but
if you gave me a day or two to think about it, I'd probably
figure out the problem. There's also the fact that there are
younger kids than me on ff.net **** (Crystal)
**** I would probably seek to find what my error was and, if
proven wrong, I would amend it - if I feel it does not ruin my
entire view on the fic. **** (ruxi)
**** The bastards. This is my work; they have NO right to
interfere. Unless I killed off the president, or something,
which I would not do. And I wouldn't mind it if they changed the
rating from pg13 to R, as long as they did not remove it from
the net. That would be okay, and they wouldn't be bastards
anymore. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** Well it has been...on the Harry Potter boards. But then it
is mostly stupid stuff because it won't let you type a certain
word...like returned and cockroach. I find it annoying but not
really maddening. **** (Megz)
**** I wouldn't really care. **** (carres1220)
**** I think I would be upset if my work were censored. I can
understand a site not wishing to publish my material if they
felt that way. That is their right, since it is their site
after all, but it would still upset me. **** (hitobashira)
What do you believe? (This can be anything from religion to politics, basically whatever you want to say. It can have to do with your fan fiction, or not. It can be you as an author, or you as a person.)
**** I am a Christian republican who loves to scream and voice
her opinion. In further response to question 5, I probably would
not write anything worthy of being banded as it would go against
my belief systems. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I believe in a lot of things but mostly I don't think
anyone should stop writing slash because it's against God. I'm
not gay myself and yet I write it for the action, romance,
angst, all that good stuff that some how seems more powerful
when it's done in slash. I believe anyone should be able to
freely write slash or Yaoi as anime fans call it, without having
to go through crap just because you're writing it and they think
it's wrong. I also believe, as stupid as it sounds, that
imagination is, in some way, reality. We couldn't have just come
up with all these fantasies and myths. I think they had to have
been reality at some point. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** Hm, interesting question... I believe in greater forces in
the world, fate, magic... I also believe that the mind holds so
much power and can help you do so many things. **** (Nakayo)
**** I believe that fiction is better than real life. Life is a
bit dull and I wish that more exciting things would happen to
everyday people. And I believe romance never happens like it
does in books. No two people can be that fucking happy. ****
(carres1220)
**** Basically, I don't believe in religions and I think a lot
of laws are stupid. But hey, it's my own opinion. I write
because it's relieving. My mother (no she doesn't abuse me) but
she's those mother with vocal chords as loud as guitar
amplifiers and my brother is basically an annoying arse.
Therefore I try to stay out of their way as possible, which
leads to writing. So basically, writing is an escape from my
family. **** (Crystal)
**** Anything you can make me believe. **** (ruxi)
**** I believe in LOOOOVE!! **** (LiNe)
**** That is a big question! I guess I will go on my
perspective on fanfics seeing as this is one, in a way. I
believe that any fan has the right to come up with their own
original story and post it on the boards, no matter what. I try
my best to use my authors perspective to be respectful and not
flame other peoples works because I know how much they mean to
them (there are a few exceptions but not many) I also strongly
believe in trying to understand any character you are writing
about weather it be an OC or the author of the books character
and have some respect for there personality and to pay attention
to details. **** (Megz)
**** I want to be a Pagen, so I suppose I believe in all the Pagen
stuff.
I believe Tony Blair is an arse hole and we shouldn't have gone to
war.
I believe for every drop of rain that falls a flower grows. I dunno
- I believe lots of stuff, not a lot (if anything) affects how I
write.
Oh - except I believe that all the stuff in books really does exist,
maybe not in this world or time, but somewhere. **** (Hermione 'DB'
Granger)
**** I believe that people should do their best in anything they
do. It always annoys me when I see someone half-assing a job or
a story. If you're going to do it in the first place: do it
right to the best of your abilities. **** (hitobashira)
What, in the way of fan fiction, is entirely unacceptable?
**** Very horrible grammar. I'm okay with slight grammar
mistakes, because nobody's perfect. And also people who do not
capitalize names and their sentences and also people who do not
spell check. The other is when people type like 'tHiS'. ****
(Crystal)
**** Slaughtering canon characters by sheer OOCism. Very
clicheed plots. **** (ruxi)
**** Frankly I don't like these short little pieces that crop up
all the time that are short pieces of crap. I can understand
doing something as a joke, but I think fan fiction is something
that should be taken relatively serious. If you're not
intending to do a good job on your story, or poem then don't
publish it. **** (hitobashira)
**** Well with Harry Potter at least I find that it is entirely
not acceptable to have a fic with a lot of graphic sex in it.
It is a children's book and to some extent it should be aimed at
the same age group that the book was written in. If people want
stuff like that they should just go rent a porn movie and get it
over with, and not write or read it where small children
could. **** (Megz)
**** Nothing! Fanfiction is letting go of yourself, no holding
back! You put all your favorite couples together, the ones that
you wished were true, you put them in your favorite situations
and you go wild! It's the best thing in the world. **** (Maximum
Poofy)
**** Someone who gives no depth to their characters is entirely
unacceptable as far as I'm concerned. And paring Hagrid with
Harry is unacceptable. Please people. Have some bloody
respect. **** (carres1220)
**** Graphic sex. On paper, that is just wrong. It's like porn;
it messes up your mind and bounces around in your head a long
time. You can't look at guys (or girls) the same way after
reading stuff like that. **** (namarie2legolas)
What "style" fan fiction do you write? (Drama, Action, Slash, etc.)
**** Romance, Angst, Action/Adventure, Poetry, General. **** (Crystal)
**** Drama, mystery, action/adventure. Imbued, mostly. And
Angst, whose presence always shadows my works. **** (ruxi)
**** I do Drama, angst, action/adventure, and supernatural. ****
(Megz)
**** I write mostly drama/romances although I'm not adverse to
adding romance to any of my stories. I'm a hopeless romantic at
heart. **** (hitobashira)
**** Any kind I feel like, which is basically everything but
slash. I am partisan to humor, though. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I write Romance/Humor most. **** (LiNe)
**** Most kinds. So far; attempted JK (5th yr fic, try and copy her
style, so 'general'), songfics, diary format (which also comes under
humor). I also try and work most aspects into fics. For example my
diary one has aspects of romance, quite a lot of humor and
adventure. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** I write slash, some romance, drama, definitely
action/adventure... but I mainly like drama... angst is good now
and then as well. **** (Nakayo)
**** I like drama/romance with a touch of humor. **** (carres1220)
**** Slash, slash, and more slash with a side of Action, a bowl
of drama and a large cup of ANGST!! Muwahahaha!!! Er . . . yeah.
And also a lot of supernatural and fantasy for dessert. ****
(Maximum Poofy)
Should book "purists" even bother to read and review fan fiction if all they're going to do is point out everything that is wrong, and what a stupid idea fan fiction is?
**** I am in no position to deny them the right to review as
they see fit - as long as they, however, do not expect me to
eternally heed their remarks. **** (ruxi)
**** No. they'd do it anyway but if they're getting their kicks
out of correcting us then they should go snog a hippogriff
because I don't bloody care. Why should they waste OUR bloody
time by reviewing and reading things they don't believe in? It's
crazy. They're wasting their time as well. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** Well, no. If they really are "purists", then they
shouldn't even go to a fan fiction site. If they don't like the
story, they can go away. And to answer the last question. If
fan fiction is stupid, why did you bother coming to a FAN
FICTION site? **** (Crystal)
**** Well yes...I've read the first book 56 times for HP (I know
it's sad) but I think that some details are all right to be
skipped over or overlooked. Major details are all most never
skipped over, so it doesn't really matter. **** (Megz)
**** "Purists" shouldn't read them if they do that. I can
understand how fan fiction can annoy them, but why put time
into complaining when your only going to discourage a single
fan writer for a bit? ****
**** If that's all they're doing, then no I don't think they
should bother. I don't mind if someone points out a fact that
I've gotten wrong (especially when I hadn't noticed it), but if
you're reading fan fiction, you're looking for alternatives to
the actual books, not a verbatim copy. **** (hitobashira)
**** I'm a book purist and I love fic (duh). If they're just gonna
do that, then no - there's a difference between pointing out errors
in a shop's OOTP window display (which I did) and flaming peoples
efforts because your close minded. I once read a parody where
someone had left the same flame three times saying 'this is the last
time I'm reviewing any of your crap'. Well, two of those times u
were lying you sad wanker. If you don't like parodies don't read
them! This is the same thing, if you know you won't like it, don't
bother. **** (Hermione 'DB' Granger)
**** Umm...No. All they are doing is putting down young peoples
who maybe feel like writing is all they have. How do flamers
know that their review won't be what will push a kid to putting
a bullet in his head? Not likely, but still. Destructive
criticism is just that - destructive. **** (namarie2legolas)
**** I absolutely HATE when people do that! I've gotten a few e-
mails and reviews like that and it really breaks a person's
heart. I'm a Swedish 13 year old girl so my spelling is kinda
bad but I've worked my ass off with my fanfics and when I get
those kinda reviews I get really sad. It's like saying that
you're not worth a shit and no one wants to hear that kinda
things! But I really like it when people give me advice and tell
me what I can do better. It's so much better to do it that way.
And most people don't even dare to write their pen names and
that's really low. I mean, if you want to say what you think
then why can't you even stand for your word?? That's another
thing that I hate. So please think before you review. ****
(LiNe)
Some authors (maybe you) chose to put songs in their stories, to point out in the lyrics how much the characters are like that, or for whatever reason (I'm not talking about song-fics). What amount of tolerance do you have for this, or do you think it enhances the story?
**** Well . . . it depends on how well of a writer you are. Some
people can pull of songfics and make a person fall in love with
them. Other people over do it and ruin the fic. I can tolerate
it if it's a one-shot but if it's a multi-chaptered fic where
there's a songfic in EVERY chapter, I'll draw the line on ready.
I get tired of it real easy. **** (Maximum Poofy)
**** I do it so it enhances the story. **** (carres1220)
**** I have high tolerance for this, as long as it actually
works. Don't just put a song out of nowhere because you feel
like it. **** (Crystal)
**** I do not insert lyrics. At most, I use a few verses, in the
beginning of the story...from D.H Lawrence, Poe, Shakespeare or
Vergilius. I enjoy their little mind games.
Sometimes, lyrics help. At others, they don't. Then again,
it all matters on the fic. I, personally, tend to believe that,
if used accordingly, they can and will enhance the writing. ****
(ruxi)
**** Song-fics kind-of annoy me but don't really bother me much
at all. Songs can enhance the story but I rarely ever follow
the advice from pure laziness. **** (Megz)
**** I think that it's a good thing. For me music is a way to
express myself. I think that a song kinda makes the story or
chapter a little stronger. I've used songs in my stories because
I think that it makes it more clear for the readers to
understand both me as an author and the characters feelings.
**** (LiNe)
**** I myself don't put songs into my story, but I find that
it's very effective. Being a musician myself, I know how music
expresses things such as emotions and what not. So keep up the
good work, song-fic writers! **** (Nakayo)
**** I think it can work, but it usually doesn't. I've seen a
lot of fics that are liberally interspersed with song lyrics and
found that it seriously detracted from the flow of the story.
On the other hand, there has been the occasional fic that did
integrate them well, but those were the exception rather than
the rule. **** (hitobashira)
END AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yup, you guessed it! I'm looking for NEW slammers! (By the way, thanks a billion to my "classify this" slammers . . . you guys helped me pull of something really amazing.)
Chapter four will be good too, a little basic, a little embarrassing (to the slammers). It's going to focus in on the actual slammers, instead of this one which was more the fan fiction. HOWEVER, for Chapter Five, it will be ALL REQUEST QUESTIONS. That means that I will need 10 new questions sent by review or email by FRIDAY. Thanks a ton, guys!
SECOND SHOUT-OUT TO MY SLAMMERS! YOU GUYS ROCK THIS FIC!
~Neihtar~