The FanFiction Forum E-zine
April 2009



Greetings.
by mistysakura

Hello all, and welcome to the April 2009 issue of the Fanfic Forum E-zine. March was a quieter month for Fanfic. The Writing Contest was wrapped up, nominations closed for the Hall of Fame and Smiley Town found a rumour mill on its hands following the mysterious disappearance of mr_pikachu. But the Easter break is coming soon, and with it plenty of time for trivia or writing sprints -- and of course fic writing!

This issue brings to you:

Conversations with the Stars ~ eevee-shayna
by Lady Vulpix

Ramblings on a Poetry Reading
by mistysakura

To Be a Master
by mistysakura

Enjoy!


Conversations with the Stars ~ eevee-shayna
by Lady Vulpix

Lady Vulpix: How long have you been writing?
eevee-shayna: On TPM or in general? Because in general I'd have to be literal and say since I was taught in school. They always have you write short stories in elementary school.

Lady Vulpix: Really? That's great!
eevee-shayna: That's the answer you were looking for? I've seen you ask this question to everyone else you interview and it's never made sense to me.
Lady Vulpix: Why not?
eevee-shayna: I think everyone has been writing since they were told to as assignments in school.

Lady Vulpix: Did you think all schools did that?
eevee-shayna: For standardized testing, yes.

Lady Vulpix: Standardized testing? I'm sorry, I know that some countries have some standard tests that all students have to take, but I don't really know much about them.
eevee-shayna: I'm in America, land of the Standardized Tests
Lady Vulpix: I'd say America is a continent and I'm in it too, but I guess that's beside the point now.
eevee-shayna: True.

Lady Vulpix: OK, so, since you seem to have everything laid out in your mind, how do you think the interview should go?
eevee-shayna: I tend to go off on tangents. You probably should try your traditional Q and A system. Unless you're bored of it.

Lady Vulpix: Actually, I don't have a traditional Q and A system. I shoot the first question and see where that leads. Something interesting may come out of those tangents.
eevee-shayna: Really? The interviews always look so neat (not in the slang for "cool" way)

eevee-shayna: Is it still my turn?
Lady Vulpix: Hehehe. Let's see... (Thanks for the compliment, by the way.)
How much do you plan ahead when you write?
eevee-shayna: It depends on the piece I'm working on. TDLQ I planned out for 2 years in Middle School before starting it. I wrote a notebook full of notes on different plots and characters and plot twists I wanted to use. When it comes down to actually writing the story, new plot points just pop up while I type that weren't planned. That's just how work flows.
I also have a notebook that I keep near me at all times and jot down book ideas when they come to me. Sometimes it is a line that I think would be good in a poem. Other times it’s a character design or a synopsis. And when I am in a writing mood I will pick up that notebook, choose an idea, and I'll write it.
I guess when I write I am mostly elaborating off of one idea, and all those details are purely improved

Lady Vulpix: Your latest piece had quite an effect on the readers. Had you anticipated any of it?
eevee-shayna: Honestly, when I post something on TPM, I never expect anyone will respond to it. It's a safety net so I won't feel hurt when I post online something I have put a lot of emotion and energy into. I know it's partially my fault that I don't have many readers, because I post so rarely. But even when I had multiple fics that were regularly updated I still never had more than 3 replying readers. I a way, my low expectations make me much more grateful when I do get a response. So that overwhelming amount of feedback made me more happy than I could express in my replies.
As for why the readers responded, I think it's the same reason why Pikachu-Sensei's War of the Forums is so popular: because everyone in TPM can relate to it.
Which is a far cry from my other works that no one can relate to: like TDLQ which is based on His Dark Materials, and Le Portrait De Petite Cossette Book 3 which is based on an anime no one has seen.

Lady Vulpix: You're not the only one who's had similar problems. Have you tried showing them to people who know more about your sources of inspiration?
eevee-shayna: No. I don't want to move to a different forum. I have too many roots here to leave TPM, even though there are probably more sites out there that would suit me better.

Lady Vulpix: Who said anything about leaving TPM? Can't you post your work in more than one place?
eevee-shayna: I used to on Gaia before it swelled too much for me to handle anymore.
I guess I could go forum shopping. A part of me feels guilty any time I start a new project because TDLQ is still sitting in the To Do pile gathering dust. I won't feel completely free to create anything else until that project is completed.

Lady Vulpix: why is it gathering dust, then? Have you been too busy, or is there some other problem?
eevee-shayna: I love the story and characters, and I know exactly where I want to go with it, but it's turned into one of those projects that I have to force myself to finish, as opposed to one of those stories that I will stay up all hours of the night in order to type it up. I think the problem with it is it's an old idea. I've been working with it for 8 years. I can understand now why J.K. Rowling took so long to churn out that last few books: when you've been working with the same plot and characters for so long it's just not shiny and exciting anymore.

Lady Vulpix: Do you enjoy writing poems and short stories more?
eevee-shayna: At the moment I'm taking a Kurt Vonnegut approach of writing minimalistic pieces that keep my attention. So lots of short stories and picaresque books.
I'm not sure if I will always write in this style, but for the time being it's what I'm into.

Lady Vulpix: And what do you like reading the most?
eevee-shayna: At the moment I am an avid follower of web comics and manga. I haven't been able to read novels at the fast pace I used to because every time I pick up a book I wish that I had my own literature published. It's a silly problem, I know, but it's always been a dream of mine to be a writer and I think if I work hard at it then one of these days I will be published. Consequently, that means most of my writing has not been posted on TPM lately because I'm saving it to be published.
I ranted away from the topic there.
Lady Vulpix: It's OK.
eevee-shayna: Anyway, the webcomics and manga I read are similar because I like yuri for both. Unfortunately, there is serious shortage of yuri in the world, so my pick is limited

Lady Vulpix: Excuse my ignorance, but I don't know much Japanese. What does yuri mean?
eevee-shayna: girl/girl relationships

Lady Vulpix: Ah. Why are you so interested in them?
eevee-shayna: Because I'm a lesbian ^_^

Lady Vulpix: Do you feel identified with the stories you read?
eevee-shayna: Definitely. Hetero stories aren't the same for me because I can't connect with them as much. Unfortunately, there are waaaaay more stories about straight couples out there than lesbian couples.
Even yaoi is a more mainstream genre than yuri.
(yaoi is boy/boy relationships)
Lady Vulpix: Ah, thanks.

Lady Vulpix: I've often seen you mix Japanese words into English sentences. Why do you do that? (No offense meant, I've seen others do that too, I'm just curious about it.)
eevee-shayna: I've surrounded myself with the culture for so long it just seems natural. A word like yuri is a genre, so I'm just calling it by it's proper name. And I call Mr_Pikachu by the name Pikachu-Sensei because he's taught me a lot about grammar and writing, and "sensei" is an honorary title for a teacher. Even in common conversation I will say "hai!" which means "yes", and it's not a conscious word choice either. Also, I am a Comparative Literature major at my university so I hope to be fluent in Japanese when I graduate, or at least functionable.

Lady Vulpix: Have your studies affected your writing in any way?
eevee-shayna: I have late classes, so I can stay up later to write. For some reason I am in a writing mood between 1am and 5am. As for if my studies have directly affected my writing, a little bit. I like to observe people which gives me inspiration for my writing. And I love learning about different writing techniques. I must say though, this is the first semester I have been a Comp Lit major. the last three semesters I was at a different college studying biology.

Lady Vulpix: Oh! Why did you decide to change?
eevee-shayna: Specifically my major with Wildlife Care and Education, and I was learning to be a zoo keeper or wildlife rehabilitator. But then I interned at the local zoo and I realized that I was wasting my time studying biology because you don't need to know how cells work in order to clean a cage. And I hated studying biology. So I switched to something I loved: Literature.
I'm still interested in zoo keeping, so my plan now is to get a degree in something and have a lot of internships.

Lady Vulpix: Sounds like a good plan.
eevee-shayna: It's the goal for the time being. Who knows what'll come of it.

Lady Vulpix: OK, since this is for the fanfic forum, let's get back on topic (not that the previous topic wasn't interesting). What do you think of the activity at the fanfic forum these days?
eevee-shayna: It's disappointing. I know those who are still around are trying to keep it going, but I remember the golden days of TPM so I can't help but compare. The fact is, TPM is a different place now and I'm still trying to adjust to that.

Lady Vulpix: So you're not really enjoying any of the current threads and activities?
eevee-shayna: I'm more disappointed that there is such a limited number of them nowadays. To be honest, I could try to pick up a few more fics to read.

Lady Vulpix: Do you thing anything could/should be done in order to encourage people to write more?
eevee-shayna: maybe we can have a forum meeting where everyone says what type of fic they'd be interested in reading, and then people can pick up the idea and write about it. That way, everyone will be involved, and there will be a larger audience.

Lady Vulpix: That sounds like a good idea. Would you participate in a call for fics (providing ideas and/or writing stories in response)?
eevee-shayna: absolutely!
I love being involved. The problem is I don't quite know how to be effectively.
I think a lot of people have that problem and that's why the forum is so slow. You need to give people direction and assignments.

Lady Vulpix: Hehe. You're still associating writing to school, aren't you?
eevee-shayna: more like to a club or organization.

eevee-shayna: Are most of your interviews 2 hours long?
Lady Vulpix: Some of them have taken 2 or 3 days. This one's about to end anyway.

Lady Vulpix: Is there anything else you'd like to say to the members of this club or organization?
eevee-shayna: I would like to say that I wish I knew more of the members. I've read your posts, but aside from Sam I don't really know anyone else on TPM. I would like to feel more like friends rather than member on the same forum.

Lady Vulpix: I'm sure you can do that.
Thanks for your answers, and your time.
eevee-shayna: No problem! Thank you for having me!
Lady Vulpix: You're very welcome.



Ramblings on a Poetry Reading
by mistysakura


So, I was at a poetry reading on Monday. Poetry readings are a bit like Stargate fan clubs... or backgammon societies... or good fanfiction forums. They're elusive in that they don't advertise their presence, so you won't find one unless you stick your nose in unexpected places looking for them. But they're also accessible, because once you enter the pub or
dingy bookshop, you can just sit back and have a beer and a listen, without feeling out of place in an elite location or in rows of smart-looking men and women in suits. No one questions who you are, or why you're here (well, there was this one grey-haired guy who blew his cigarette in my face and asked if I had to be here for uni... and I was in a note-book holding posse...)

To the uninitiated, poetry readings are mystery-shrouded affairs. What exactly does one do in a poetry reading? You read poetry, presumably, but... surely that can't be all there is to it? (As a kid, did you ever wonder what the high school kids talk about at lunchtime, sitting around instead of playing hopscotch?) Are you expected to sit up straight and applaud each reader until they return from beyond the curtain for an encore? When they invite people to read their own poetry, do they mean it, or is the honour reserved for people who know what they're doing? Why should you go out of my way to hear someone reading aloud from a book -- didn't you have enough of that in primary school?

From my attendance at a grand total of one poetry reading, plus some hearsay, I have gathered that poetry readings are varied in style. You have formal launches where people wear crisply-ironed suits, toasting the literary world over glasses of champagne. Then you get ones where the writers hang out in the beer garden, smoking suspicious-smelling substances while waiting their turn. Some have swishy invitations; others have random people stumbling in mid-way.

Most poetry readings have feature speakers, who read from their newest works or back catalogue -- you might even get to hear work in progress. If it's a journal launch, there'll be a load of people reading excerpts, and some reading lists are timed to the minute. More casual poetry readings have open mic sessions, where anyone can get up and read something, whether they're published poets or someone who thought up a haiku in the shower earlier in the day. Not every single person in the audience will like what every single poet reads. But everyone claps, appreciating the courage that it took to take those few steps up to the stage, and acknowledging that every one of the people who took those steps is a poet ("what is poetry?" debates aside).

What surprised me most about the poetry reading I went to was its accessibility, and not just in the "everyone is welcome" sense I wrote of earlier. Everyone, including the featured poets, was happy to mingle and discuss their poetry, answer any questions, and chat about everything from publishing to travel (one even offered a house to let). There were people who were obviously regulars, but us notebook-clutching outsider uni students never felt left out.

And the poems which were read were chosen to be communicable to the audience. That doesn't mean there wasn't the usual share of obscure stuff. But the speaker's voices were so filled with emotion that even if we didn't get every subtlety of the text, the feelings behind the poem were communicated along with the words. Sobering verses were sandwiched between comedic or self-deprecating poems which played to the audience's reaction.


But each poet had his or her own style, their own voice. Although there were lighter poems, the night did not degenerate into rhyming stand-up comedy. Poets were not afraid to end on a serious note. They used the differences in their voices to accentuate the history or the violence or the mental instability in their poems. Some poems may not necessarily have worked on paper, but because they were presented with a storyteller's charm, complete with voices in character, they worked as spoken-word performances. One poet even came on stage with a guitar, performing an amalgamation of poetry and song.

And it all reminded me of a certain internet forum.

Fanfiction communities don't necessarily advertise themselves, but if you keep your eyes peeled, it's hard not to stumble across them. People who don't go on internet forums may find it difficult to understand what goes on -- as a friend of mine once put it, you send a message to nobody and wait for days for someone you don't know to respond. Different communities have different vibes. In some, everything posted is quality-checked by moderators. Others have chat threads and games and contests. Some cater to specific genres, while others welcome anything and everything.

But at the end of the day, it's about people all across the world coming together to share their work, whether they're in primary school, working or retired. Everyone having a chance to have their fic read. Different writing styles, different opinions on writing – we might not all agree with each other, but every voice is heard. And although on the surface we exist only as pixels on a screen, we’re as legitimate as any other writing community. It doesn’t matter whether you’re here on a detour on your way to fame, or intending to wear out the plushy Writers Lounge seats until the forum is lost in cyberspace – it’s great that you’re here right now.



To Be a Master
by mistysakura






Screenshots courtesy of Pokémon Nightmare, Pocket Monsters, AnimeClick and Type Wild!!