Fanfic musing

[shapinglight]

I don't know why I said I needed an icon for my fic writing whinges when I have this one. Not that this post is a whinge. More of a muse.

So, the other day, brutti_ma_buoni said that she's written 300+ fics in the last five years, which got me to wondering how many fics I've written in my eight years of fanfic writing (I think it's eight anyway). I haven't counted them, though, but instead got to musing about Buffyverse fanfic and fanfic writers in general.



When I think how much Buffyverse fanfic there was around in the early days compared to now it makes me a bit sad. There used to be so many websites out there -slash, het, yet more slash - whereas now - well, there are an awful lot less. I actually came into fic writing myself rather late in the day. I didn't post anything until after AtS ended. There was still a lot of fic being posted then. Those writers who'd survived the various shocks Joss had doled out along the way - like hiving Angel off into his own show at the end of season 3, or changing his mind about who sired Spike, or killing Tara, or lumping Spike (and thus Spuffy) with the AR - weren't ready to let go just yet.

So when I first dipped my toe into the Buffyverse fanfic writing waters, it was a pretty big pool with a lot of fish in it. Now, though, the pool has shrunk to more like a puddle, though -perhaps fortunately, perhaps not - there are a lot less of us to fill it. I can't think of many fic writers still in the fandom who've been active longer than I have (there are probably more still around than I realise as I'm not, for instance, friended to any Bangel writers), and not many who still only write Buffyverse stuff.

Which leads me to wondering why it is that the Buffyverse is still the only fictional world invented by other people that I want to fanfic? Am I just hidebound and complacent, do you think? Or are there still lots of meaningful things to say about the Buffyverse and its characters? Or, if not meaningful (because it's fanfic, after all) novel and interesting?

This post partly brought to you by my having fiddled with my rekindlespangel fic after all, even though I told myself to leave well alone, but ending up still thinking the premise pretty much smacks of desperation.

Hmm, this post sounded better in my head. Thoughts? Are there still new stories worth telling? Does it matter if there aren't? Is this post really whinging after all?

Comments

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

I came along really late, so I got to read all those stories when they were completed - except the ones that have been erased from the net. I kinda know what you mean from Trek fandom. I was a huge fan of the show when there was only one show, and no movies. It was one big family - dysfunctional as all hell.

I know that the Buffyverse is the only place that inspires me to write. There are other shows I like, and a few I love (have loved) but the characters in this universe all have so many layers. I think part of this is we get to watch them grow older. They make mistakes and have problems. Most shows seem to be more in the 'solve the problem of the week'. In the Buffyverse it's just as likely that any given character is the problem of the week. (Look at Lover's Walk)

Given that, my challenge writing is that I need to find my own stories - and so many great plots have been used. I need to find a new way of telling the same stories - or some other twist. But I don't want to write about any other shows, so here I am with you, in the Buffyverse. The great thing about reading here (B-verse) is that so often the same basic plot can be used to create a completely different story.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

They make mistakes and have problems. Most shows seem to be more in the 'solve the problem of the week'. In the Buffyverse it's just as likely that any given character is the problem of the week. (Look at Lover's Walk)

Oh SO much so. It's why other tv shows are entertainment to me and the Buffyverse is something else entirely. I love that the characters actually challenge me to like them at times, and yet I can often understand them despite or because of their flaws.

The great thing about reading here (B-verse) is that so often the same basic plot can be used to create a completely different story.

Which comes back 'round to the fact that the writers here are so good and the level of writing so high. I've got a small handful of my favorite stories in the "Buffy and Spike post-Chosen or NFA" sub-genre, and they are each very different from one another but still capture something about the characters that feels true to me.

[spikesjojo.livejournal.com]

Might be good to send the link...facepalm

http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=anaross&keyword=Journey&filter=all

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much! I love her Buffy voice!

[shapinglight]

It was one big family - dysfunctional as all hell.

Yes, it's hard to believe that only a few years back it could get pretty crazy around here.

In the Buffyverse it's just as likely that any given character is the problem of the week. (Look at Lover's Walk)

I love that way of looking at it. And you're right. The characters are very layered, but this isn't the only show that's true of. It must be that for some of us it strikes a chord that resonates with us more than other shows.

The great thing about reading here (B-verse) is that so often the same basic plot can be used to create a completely different story.

This is true. There are a lot of variations on themes, and often they're completely different from each other and all good in their own way.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

Have you read lostboy_lj's recent meta, "Why the Buffyverse?" It's a direct response to this meta:
http://lostboy-lj.livejournal.com/37196.html

I made some remarks similar to yours about the fandom more generally (beyond fanfic) on spuffy_luvr's LJ http://spuffy-luvr.livejournal.com/13423.html?
thread=38255#t38255

I'll cut and paste what I think are the revelant bits, about what I think when I hear that the fandom is "dead". Less active? Sure, relatively speaking. But "dead"? Nah - some of us just got here, thanks muchly. And also, it seems to me that the traditional metric of "fandom activity", if I read recent comments correctly elsewhere, is the amount of fic being written; for me it's a bit broader than that. there's still meta (as well as fic) being posted in many corners of the internet, and some fascinating and intelligent conversations going on. "bouncing ideas" and "thinky thoughts" is part of what I enjoy and can contribute to this fandom.

(At least I hope that's somewhat relevant to this convo.)

[shapinglight]

It is. Thank you. I had read lostboy_lj's post, which is far more interesting than mine. I'm glad mine sparked it, though.

[red-satin-doll.livejournal.com]

I am too, partly because his meta expands your original question a bit beyond fanfic to the fandom in general, and this pleases me because non-fiction is more my forte as a writer (as much as I love fiction as a reader).

which is far more interesting than mine.

That, however, is nonsense. (And, stop sounding like me, it's depressing. ;) )