Shiny new Smiley Town *bling*

[PancaKe]

I don't want to go to gay clubs.

Not that I'm homophobe or anything; just it doesn't really make sense if your not gay or not with gay people there.

[Gavin Luper]

I don't want to go to gay clubs.

Not that I'm homophobe or anything; just it doesn't really make sense if your not gay or not with gay people there.

So you'll go out with me when I come to Sydney to visit you then?

[PancaKe]

So you'll go out with me when I come to Sydney to visit you then?

HECK YES! Is that a "I'm coming to sydney soon?"

I demand everyone come to Sydney actually. Everyone.
Come visit me.

[Crazy Elf Boy]

I have heard alot about the popularity of the gay clubs in the infamous Valley in Brisbane, but as of yet I have been to scared to go there myself. But if I can convince my friend to come then I will definately go, because she is sort of hyperactive and makes good out of bad situations.

[Gavin Luper]

Tara: I'd like to. I don't know when I'll be able to afford it though. Maybe when Mr. Rudd gives me $900? Hehe. But yeah, I've been to Melbourne and Brisbane - so Sydney is the next place I'll be looking to hit. We can hang out and stuff yayyy.

Crazy Elf Boy: Fill me in - what's the Valley all about? And how come you're scared to go there?

[Crazy Elf Boy]

Well "The Valley" is the nickname given to the suburb Fortitude Valley. It is a big spot for nightclubs, so if you don't like anything in the Brisbane CBD you go to the valley. But I am scared of it for a few reasons.

1: There are alot of seedy clubs there which means seedy people as well.
2: I have heard alot of the gay clubs and even some of the normal clubs are quite "different"
3: It doesn't have that many bus stops with buses that stop there especially after 11. This means you have to either get a taxi home (which isn't much different from clubbing in the city) but since its even further away from where I live then the CBD it would take 2 hours+ of walking in a drunken stupor.

Which is why I would go with a larger group of people I feel comfortable around. Because believe it or not I am a bit of a recluse when it comes to meeting people (The whole anime stigma and everything) But when I do meet people I like I am usually quite friendly. (Now this is starting to sound like a documentary or something)

[PancaKe]

I'm the same. I just never have money. I'd love to go to Brisbane, and Melbourne; but the two things I fear are 1) being broke & 2) going alone. Especially because I'm a girl, and a girl alone in a strange place is rape material. I don't want to be rape material!

But I would be more than happy to go to queensland / melbourne with anyone of you guys. That would make my day. Even just for a weekend / midweek thing.

rofl. TPM meet up! I'm so up for it! ahahaha.

You kids are dear to my heart

[Crazy Elf Boy]

But where would we all meet up? How about Uluru, that seems to be of equal distance to everyone ^_^.

Anyway sort of an unrelated topic (In the sense I am still making a fool of myself) Supernova is coming up, should I cosplay for it?

[Gavin Luper]

CEB: Fair enough then. I'd stay away from a place too if it sounded particularly seedy. Then again, people get beaten up pretty much anywhere there are clubs, it seems, so I guess there's always a bit of risk involved.

Tara: Heck yeah, let's get all the aussie TPMers together and have a piss up or something. I think I'm the only one way over in WA and there aren't any active Adelaidians anymore, so we should meet in Melb/Syd/Bris.

Hehe I'm talking about this like it's actually going to happen. Although, if we all used our $900 for the trip ... then it probably actually could haha.

CEB: Supernova's a comic convention, right? Who would you go as?

[eevee-shayna]

I just wanna put my hand up and say that I have no particular fondness for Britney Spears, and I'm very positive that I'm male.

Ok, so it was a generalization. However, I live on the LGBT floor at my university and if you announce down the hall that you hate Britney than there will be consequences.

It seem like most of you live in Australia or in southern USA. Do any of you live in northeast USA?

Lol, where I am is called The Valley. Technically the Pioneer Valley. And its quite nice here.

And yes CEB, you should cosplay. I very much so advocate it. Then again, I'm a little addicted to cosplaying and cons.

[Crazy Elf Boy]

Yeh it is Gavin but its also a anime/what ever you want connected to any show as well.

As for the cosplay I will be going as Hitsugaya Toushirou from Bleach, for those who don't know who that is, its this person.

I chose this character because he is relatively short in comparison with the other characters, because I am not over furnished in the height department.

[classy_cat18]

*snickers* Will you be having someone else dress up as Rangiku? Because that will be as funny as hell!

[PancaKe]

When I had pink hair, I wanted someone to have a costume party just so I could go as Jesse from team rocket.

And Gavin, having Ruddkips pay for our meetup sounds like a marvelous idea! Pity I kinda need the money. But I could spend half the money on travelling. That's still $500! =)

[mistysakura]

Bahaha. Y'know, when we all graduate and get jobs and stuff, we can have a TPM Aussie road trip, visiting everyone's hometown! No more travelling alone for Tara! Me, I wouldn't mind travelling alone (in fact, I'm planning a one-month trip in Japan next year before I settle down at a university exchange program), but travelling with people is exciting in a different way.

[Crazy Elf Boy]

*snickers* Will you be having someone else dress up as Rangiku? Because that will be as funny as hell!

I would but I don't have any crazy friends who are girls, plus Rangiku is a bit of a hard character to play because of her.....enormous...personality.

[firepokemon]

Any reason why there hasn't been the Fanfiction E-zine this month?

[classy_cat18]

Brian's in charge of it but he hasn't been on the forums for a while.

[Lady Vulpix]

Is he OK?

[classy_cat18]

I dunno. I haven't been in contact with him lately.

[PancaKe]

Now that you mention it... where IS brian?



and in other news; I'm going clubbing this Thursday night for like the second time ever! Hooray. Does thursday night count as going clubbing?

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I'm worried sick about mr_pikachu too. It happened already when there was the ice storm in Oklaholma but fortunately he was OK. Everytime I hear bad news from a country where other TPMers live I think about you guys.

What's more, he didn't say he would be absent, his profile just says:

Last Activity: 6th March 2009 08:12 AM

[Charles Legend]

Maybe he got Adducted by Aliens who haven't returned him to Earth yet because they find him to be a very interesting subject do to his big Mod stick. LOL XD but joking aside Perhaps his hard drive got fried again or he is just really busy at the moment.

~Charles Legend

[Chris 2.1]

Yea we have to simply assume Mr P is on a big dangerous grammar assignment. It's not like your significant other has not returned home from work; he hasn't been on the internet.

[PancaKe]

Maybe he died.

None of us would actually know.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

It's not like your significant other has not returned home from work; he hasn't been on the internet.

Not going on to the internet equals death. And we shouldn't worry?

*puts in key and presses red button*

[Cadmus]

Ok, so it was a generalization. However, I live on the LGBT floor at my university and if you announce down the hall that you hate Britney than there will be consequences.

Sounds to me like you live in a very fun place. Your floor is awesome!

-Points to his "Team Britney" shirt-

[Crazy Elf Boy]

Brian come back, any kind of fool could see
There was something in everything about you
Brian come back, listen, you can blame it all on me
I was wrong, and I just can't live without you

Sigh I wish he would come back

[Lady Vulpix]

So everything is CEB's fault? That's an interesting thing to know.

I'm worried about Brian too, but since he's made every possible effort to ensure we knew nothing about who he is or where he lives, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to find out. Tara has made a good point, even if she jumped to an extreme conclusion; if he were dead, we'd never know. Except maybe Shonta, who has probably seen him in person, right? Odds are he's just having connection problems and is too busy to try to find another way of contacting us. Either that or he doesn't want us to know what he's doing right now. But I can't help being a little bit angry when something like this happens. Because there's no way to know for sure.

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

I'm worried about Brian too, but since he's made every possible effort to ensure we knew nothing about who he is or where he lives, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do to find out.

If someone only had his cell phone number...

I know it's quite impossible, I did some attempts to find out TPMers' addresses in the past, but didn't manage. People seem to avoid sharing their information, even via PM.

[classy_cat18]

If someone only had his cell phone number...

He never answers the damn thing. Sometimes I wonder why he even has one.

[Gavin Luper]

I think it's good for us mods, at least, to be able to contact each other via phone - that way we can track each other down if there's a long disappearance like this. For example, I can contact Ada; and Shonta can contact Brian ... and actually, those two pairs have also both met irl. Interesting.

Anyway - Shonta, did you try texting/calling Brian?

[classy_cat18]

Yes! I told you he never answers it!

[PancaKe]

I know it's quite impossible, I did some attempts to find out TPMers' addresses in the past, but didn't manage. People seem to avoid sharing their information, even via PM.

That is quite scary.

[MeLoVeGhOsTs]

He's back.

[mr_pikachu]

Hmm. It's simultaneously funny and a little sad that the last 20 or so replies have been about me. Uh, my bad...?

Odds are he's just having connection problems and is too busy to try to find another way of contacting us.

That's sort of a basic summary. We had a storm, some junk happened with my modem, and I've been far too preoccupied with schoolwork, grading, and extracurricular activities to figure out how to fix the connection or get online elsewhere. See the E-zine for minimal additional details, if you like.

At the moment, I'm at my parents' house for Spring Break and looking forward to accomplishing several weeks worth of TPM in a couple of days. Awesome!

Oh, and I see I failed rather epically at the Writing Contest. Bah. You judges just have no appreciation for the beauty of Mozzarella.

...

Anyway! Happy times for all. Free cookies!

[Mikachu Yukitatsu]

That is quite scary.

What do you mean by that?

Anyways, nice to see you back in action mr_pikachu! I understand computer-related problems weren't the only reason, but as for myself, if Mielikkitalo's modem broke up I'd probably head to the library. Then I wouldn't be here at 6 o'clock AM Finland time though. And it's great that you'll have a spring break, I hope to see you more at TPM!

I'll print the E-zine, that's a part of my plan of becoming an active Fanfic reader!

[Lady Vulpix]

Welcome back, Brian! It's good to know you're OK. You can now appreciate the effect you have on the people of this forum.

[Charles Legend]

Welcome back to Earth Brian so did the Aliens give you a trip around the universe or did they just do a stranded Medical experiments on you? LOL XD

But yeah I know how it fells not having the Internet acsess, of course I'm still stuck with the outdated Dial up whichich is just as bad because it kepts disconeting me like evry eight hours.

~Charles Legend

[mistysakura]

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!!

[Chris 2.1]

Hey guys,
I posted a few months back saying I'd been offered some freelance work for the popular music magazine NME. Well today I got a call - they're impressed with my work, and they're sending me a contract in the post. They want me on their payroll!

Granted it's a freelance contract, but I essentially get a small living expense for what I'm already doing.

Score!!