Question for fanfic writers

[Dreamstalker]

I know there are a few on here.

One of the signs that I need a job is that the muses get a bit crazy. The latest idea-figment is a Ghostbusters/Skies of Arcadia crossover.

Do I have a plot? Not really. I tend to write outlines after the fact (when/if I think of it), to fit what exists of a plot. Probably not a good way to do it :o

Do I know how it could work? Absolutely not, unless there's some possessed-game-console thing where they get dumped into the game as a second party (not replacing Vyse and crew, but the quest would be similar; maybe all six crystals would power a device to get them out). That could work, actually...

Dammit, why do the muses keep stonewalling when asked "OK, how do you propose this will work?"

[MystyGlyttyr]

I've been enjoying the same thing with my musies with my wrestling/X-Men crossover. "Okay, guys, I've written us to the scene where Magneto and Chavo are supposed to-guys? FECK! STOP BANGING EACH OTHER AND GET BACK HERE!!"

Usually what I do is just start writing whatever scene is bugging me the most. Like right now I have a big fight planned between Magneto and Chavo Guerrero, and so if I can just write it out and get it out of my system, I can go backwards and write my way back up to it from the beginning. I tend to skip around a lot while I write and usually the final product doesn't end up anywhere near what I had planned.

When all else fails, I just make up something and draw it...I just finished a cool picture of Spike Dudley being transformed into the Phoenix, hee hee. Plot points for later!

[DGoddessChardonnay]

This is pretty much how I write my stuff:

Start with a scene. Any scene . . . basically whatever is running around in my head and won't stop playing like a movie screen.:lol:

Then, go from there . . sometimes you can start w/the middle. Sometimes you can start where you think will be the beginning and it ends up being the beginning of a new tale.

Some writers insist on having a plot, some don't. I don't think one is required. IMHO, the only requirement is to have FUN with what you're writing.

If you're not sure how a scene will play out as you write it, you have the option of finishing that scene and see what direction it takes. If you don't like the direction, you can alter things to change the direction.

Remember: it's your imagination at work. It's your mental fantasy, so to speak. Enjoy yourself and don't worry so much if the entire world isn't into your particular fandom . . .

Oh and one more piece of advice: if you have people telling you it's taboo, don't listen. Go with your gut instinct.:D

You mentioned outlines . . . I don't fool with them. I tried that, but found that too restrictive.

Again, go with whatever you feel like.

[Dreamstalker]

I have a ninety-something page Ghostbusters/Dreamlands (Call of Cthulhu) crossover, and the outline keeps changing as stuff is added. That's been on hold for about three years as a co-author absconded with the sections she was going to write (and didn't tell me).
I've been enjoying the same thing with my musies with my wrestling/X-Men crossover. "Okay, guys, I've written us to the scene where Magneto and Chavo are supposed to-guys? FECK! STOP BANGING EACH OTHER AND GET BACK HERE!!"
Somewhat recently, my long-lost crop of TMNT muses showed up and various characters discovered the joys of beating the crap out of each other (or trying to emulate Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and finding that yes, those scenes were done with wires). Fortunately muses tend to heal quickly ;)

I can generally keep them in line with copious amounts of Japanese candy, but my supplies of such are running a bit low.

I have a few aerial battles sketched out already, that should keep at least one of them happy for now *note to self: do not let Peter pilot anything more complex than a paper plane*.

I really need to get the laptop's wireless working so I can write while playing the game...

[DGoddessChardonnay]

Hmmm . . . co-writers. I've had a couple during the years, but I find they tend to bail out.

Which is why I prefer to go solo. However, as you do have a co-writer, make sure they get credit for what they've done - even if they do bail out on you. It's the polite thing to do, after all.;)

Myself, I had a co-writer on the novella "L'Affaire de Shotgun" (the first section of it. She was unable to help with the rest of the project, so I finished it last summer.) But the rest of what I have on my site is stuff I've written on my own.

It's not as bad as it sounds . . . sometimes if you have someone you can depend on, you can create something that's not been read before.

BTW, did you ever submit any of your fanfic to a fanzine publisher? I did that years ago when I first went online . . . of course my main plot was rejected over some bs about some people may be offended by such an idea. . .

Didn't stop me though . . . I have some free webspace so I just started posting my stuff online.

If you need any advice and want to ask off site, just shoot a PM.:)

[Severen13]

I just write and let the muse go with the flow.....

It's amazing at what has flowed out of my imagination. I wasn't aware I was capable of such things. :D

I've done a crossover with House/L&O:CI, I love it, and I love writing. Do any other fanfic writers here have family members read their stuff?

[Dreamstalker]

My dad generally does. My mom always says she "can't understand it" (in what sense?).

[MystyGlyttyr]

Me and my sister actually tried to write together once but lack of interest means it didn't go much of anywhere. Me and my buddy Catherine have a good thing worked out...while I'm doing all of the actual story writing, she muses with me, helps me brainstorm, and comes up with new ideas for characters and storylines, which I flesh out. So, while we aren't precisely co-authors, I still sign the story "Mysty Glyttyr WITH Catherine". And when she comes up with a story idea or writes something that fits into our universe, even if it somewhat contradicts what I had in mind, if it's better than what I came up with, she wins.

I put my works on Fanfiction.net...under the name Mysty Glyttyr, of course, heh. (Any site you're on, if you find a Mysty Glyttyr, that's me, heh heh.) I'm going to get a website just for the X-Men/wrestling crossover later because that sucker is shaping up to be an epic. ...at least it will be as soon as Chavo gets his butt in gear and stops threatening to turn heel :headscratch:

[Severen13]

I'm on FanFiction.net under the name Enlee

:D

[Talon]

I know there are a few on here.
Dammit, why do the muses keep stonewalling when asked "OK, how do you propose this will work?"

Babylon 5 fans understand that muses are like Vorlons. They're elusive, cryptic, and they leave you to do all the hard work :)

I'm also on fanfiction.net, named Mist Archon.

[Lace Neil Singer]

I only wrote one and it was taken from an RP, so maybe you need to start an RP first. :lol: