Five Questions

[smallhobbit]

howsmyenglish  on DW recently answered five questions, so I asked them to provide me with five, and here goes:

1. Why do you write? What does writing give you? Is it just pastime for you or do you have a specific goal?
I write because I enjoy it.  It gives me personal satisfaction at having achieved something, and, as a side note, it's given me new friends who I would never have met otherwise, which has to be good.  It's a pastime; I'm a story teller, so I tell stories.

2. You write both fanfiction and original stories, right? How are they different for you?
I only write the occasional original story, and generally because I'm responding to a prompt where what I want to say won't fit into one of my fandoms.  With original stories I have to build everything from the beginning, with fanfiction I can use established characters and, to an extent, established settings which makes it simpler.  There is, of course, a crossover to an extent - clearly the Ocelot etc are all original, and so some of my ficlets are really entirely original, and some of my recurring characters in various series e.g. DCI John Garrett in some of my Lewis fics, Inspector Stanley Hopkins of the Met River Police in my BBC Sherlock fics, are mine alone (Hopkins' name is borrowed from ACD).  Other than that, I can 'see' my characters and their locations whether they are of fandom origin or original.

3. What is your favorite British city/town? Why?
The one I return to most often would be London, and it has a lot to offer.  I'm not sure I would call it my favourite.  Over the past few years we've stayed in Oxford, York and Cambridge and I've enjoyed visiting them all, but I wouldn't call anywhere a favourite.

4. If you had 10 years of life to spare, to do anything you wanted, without consequences to this life of yours, what would you do?
Travel.  There are so many places I want to see.  I'd go on a grand tour of the world.

5. What annoys you and what do you enjoy most in online communication?
Apart from the distraction when I should be doing something else (which is my responsibility entirely), the fact that people believe they can say what they like without any consideration for anyone else.  I most enjoy the conversation and sharing with people from around the world who I would never get to meet otherwise and who share in my joys (like my granddaughter) and are supportive with my woes (as when my mother was ill), and not just that, but all the little things of everyday life - to sum up: new friends.

Comments

[stonepicnicking_okapi]

Lovely responses! I think you're a wonderful storyteller and I am grateful to get the opportunity to play in some of your worlds.

[smallhobbit]

Thank you very much. That's very kind of you, and I'm delighted you are able to play in my worlds.

[scfrankles]

I'd go on a grand tour of the world. Like Mrs. Maberley ^___^

There is, of course, a crossover to an extent... I do honestly believe there really isn't any big dividing line between fanfiction and original fiction - fanfic writers always bring their own ideas into the fics, and rewrite characters a little to make them theirs; original fic writers are influenced by other people's characters and stories.

And I'm with you on number 5 ^_^

[smallhobbit]

You are right - there isn't that much of a dividing line between fanfiction and original fiction, other than saving time in setting up the background, and possibly using a few stock phrases - but even then a modern character could well quote Holmes, and everyone quotes Shakespeare.

[howsmyenglish]

This is an interesting point - about original fic writers being influenced by other people's characters and stories - I've never thought about it like that. Still, personally, I've never even thought about writing a fanfic - I'm trying to find out why, since I opened this journal and see soooo many people who have fandoms and write fanfiction. Or, the other way about: I'm trying to find out why people do write fanfiction. So, thank you - I find it interesting that you don't see much difference between original fics and fanfics. :)

[smallhobbit]

One of the enjoyable things with fanfiction is that a writer can share in activities with others. If you look at the communities I'm a member of, you'll see that there are challenges and exchanges which I take part in, which is quite a social thing to do - sharing an enjoyment of writing with others.

[scfrankles]

I'm trying to find out why, since I opened this journal and see soooo many people who have fandoms and write fanfiction.

Personally I got involved in the fandom world because I was just so impressed by the sheer talent and imagination of fanfic writers. I was also taken with how enthusiastic fanfic writers are about other people's work - both in terms of canon and other people's fanfiction. They always seem to be searching out new things to enjoy ^__^

[howsmyenglish]

But... I mean... does it have to be fanfiction? In your experience, are fanfic writers more talented and imaginative than writers of original fiction?

I understand the second part, though - the enthusiasm and probably support, too.

Sorry if I'm being a bore, it's a completely new world for me :)

[scfrankles]

But... I mean... does it have to be fanfiction? In your experience, are fanfic writers more talented and imaginative than writers of original fiction?

Well, no - it doesn't have to be fanfiction I suppose ^__^ I write both original fiction and fanfiction myself, and I've come across talented and not-so-talented writers in both worlds.

When I initially came across the fanfiction world I suppose I did see those writers as more talented at first, and I saw them as less conservative - they were willing to take more risks. But at that point I simply hadn't met many talented original fic writers and now I know a great many of them. As I said above, now I don't really see any big dividing line between fanfiction and original fiction, or between the writers. Talent is talent, whatever the genre of writing.

I suppose I do find the fandom world more fun and outward-looking perhaps - the writers take their work seriously without taking themselves too seriously. But even that is rather a sweeping statement - it depends on the individual writers.

(Btw, sorry for taking so long to get back to you ^^")

[howsmyenglish]

Thanks for the reply! I find it extremely interesting - just talking about these things, I mean. It's like I've been alone all these years - I've been trying to write things for years, but I never met or talked to other writers - and now, it turns out there are many-many writers, who talk and exchange ideas and I can actually join in the conversation. Amazing :)

(Btw, sorry for taking so long to get back to you ^^")
No problem, as you see, I am not very punctual myself ;)

[howsmyenglish]

It was only when you wrote "they" about me that I realized that with English being so much more gender-neutral than Hindi-Hebrew-Russian there's no way for you of knowing whether I'm a girl or a boy unless I tell you! I'm a girl! :) (Should I give myself a name? Mm... Howsmyenglish does reflect the content and purpose of my journal, but it's not very convenient as a name...)

Thank you for the answers! I find, the five questions game is a nice way to get to know someone just a little bit better... And it is very interesting for me to see just how much people differ, even in the smallest of things.

Should you wish to ask me 5 questions - go ahead! But no need if you don't feel like it.

[smallhobbit]

I would not use a specific pronoun until I was sure - some people are happy with their anonymity, others make it clear (as when I refer to myself as a proud grandma). I would stick to the user name you have chosen - it sums up your reason for being here very well.

I'm glad you found my answers interesting. I won't ask you any questions at the moment, but no doubt as I read your posts there will be areas where I wish to know a little more.

[howsmyenglish]

I just love this userpic of yours!

[smallhobbit]

Thank you - it's one of my two Welsh dragons.