hrhrionastar: (richard)
Photobucket

Title: The Grand Tour
Pairing (though the term is misleading): Richard/Kahlan/Cara
Other characters: Jennsen, Denna, Darken, Chase, Emma, Anna, Grace, Sirian, Ella, Dahlia, Nicci, Brigid, Mark, Dennee, Zedd
Rating: PG-13
Length: 7364
Warning: vomit, some violence
Spoilers: through Tears
Summary: Written for a legendland challenge: RKC wake to find someone has stolen their weapons, and they have to travel the three territories to get them back. On the way, they learn that there's more amiss in the world than stolen weapons, and that they may be on the brink of another war not of their seeking.


 


hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14+15, 16+17, 18, 19

20 –Do you ever get bunnied from other people's stories or art in the same fandom?

Yes. I participate in a number of things where that's actually the point, like inspiration tree challenges on [livejournal.com profile] legendland or the [livejournal.com profile] lotseekerfic Reverse Mini Bang; comments and discussions can also be a great place to get inspired, as there're lots of smart people in my fandoms, and they make me see canon in new and interesting ways.

Actually, though, one of the most inspiring things, in my experience, is when I read something that tackles an important issue from a point of view I don't happen to agree with, or that makes an assumption, even just as an aside, that I find troubling or interesting. I write, for the most part, because I'm passionate about the subject, and disagreement can actually generate a lot of that passion. Just as a 'mistake' in canon can inspire me to write 'fix it' fic, so another author can make me want to tell it (and this sounds a little conceited, I'm afraid) 'right.'

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14+15, 16+17, 18

19 – When you have bunnies, do you sit down and start writing right away, or do you write down the idea for further use?

It depends - I can get ideas anywhere, and I may not be able to start writing right away, or even to jot down the idea. When possible I like starting as soon as I think of something, but sometimes I get a picture in my head that isn't the first scene, and usually isn't the last scene either, that the fic will be working towards, and then I don't necessarily know how to begin.

Often, at least for relatively short fic, I get the idea and then I race to write it before it loses its urgency. I have lots of bits of plot, random scenes or lines of dialogue that have never, or at least have never yet, made it into their own story. It's not so much that I lose the inspiration - though that can happen - as, if I don't start writing immediately, I may not be finished before I get the next, even more exciting idea, and it can be hard to go back.

I worry about finishing fic, for this reason, although I've found with longer stories the inspiration, the drive to write the scene to its conclusion, comes and goes. I just have to wait for that particular idea to come around and leave me no peace again - as long as that keeps happening, the story keeps flowing.

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14+15, 16+17

18 – Where do you get the most inspiration for your fics (aka "bunnies") from?

I'm going to quote [livejournal.com profile] meridian_rose here, and say EVERYWHERE. Things people say, lines of dialogue or a particular phrase in a book, prompts, fic, character discussion, places - as in, outside under a tree, on the beach, in the attic, etc - anything. Sometimes it's even the old standby, ie, 'what's the worst thing I can do to character So-and-So?' (Although I usually back off of that a bit.)

Also, I ship a lot of rare and non-canon pairings and triads, which can lead to 'how can I possibly get character x and character y (maybe with an option on character z) together, in a way that's actually believable and interesting?'

Alternately, there's 'our heroes may have neatly sidestepped this particular issue, but what if reinforcements hadn't gotten there in time?' or 'What if So-and-So hadn't spotted that convenient plot point?'  (or 'what if So-and-So had spotted that convenient plot point much sooner, when it would actually have done some good?')

The oddest thing, though, is not when I'm working out the details of an idea or inspiration on purpose, but when something clicks in my head and then won't leave me alone. I think that experience is both one of the best and the most unsettling about being a writer. I keep thinking about the story until I write it (and I don't always get it right the first time), and I'm all distracted and out of touch with everything else. But those are the best stories, I think - the ones that demand to be written.

rest of the days )

Cured?

Jul. 28th, 2011 10:51 pm
hrhrionastar: (Default)
I just managed to actually post something to [livejournal.com profile] legendland - can it be that LJ is working again?

I feel like I've been holding my breath (metaphorically, anyway) all week, waiting for this moment - now to actually click 'post' and see what happens ;)

LJ issues

Jul. 25th, 2011 07:21 pm
hrhrionastar: (Default)
I still mean to upload more recent entries and crosspost here, but it's become more of an issue - I can't post to LJ at all anymore. I can read, but I can't comment, I just keep getting one of those 'talkpost' blank pages, or a Nygax error :(
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14+15

16 – Summaries – Do you like them or hate them? How do you come up with them, if you use them?

I think the summary is one of the most important things the author does, after the fic itself of course. It can give the tone for the story, as well as being a kind of unofficial way to warn for content or genre - in the mood for Richard/Nicci fluff? Cara angst? Look no further!

The hard part about summaries is giving just enough away to get a reader's attention, without spoiling the plot of the story. I find it helps to pick a line, often of dialogue, and use that instead of 'read more...' as a sort of supplement to the summary.

17 – Titles – Are they the bane of your existence, or the easiest part of the fic? Also, if you do chaptered fic, do you give each chapter a title, or not?

I wouldn't go so far as to say titles are the easiest part of the fic for me, but I always use them, including for chapters of a longer story. Like the summary, the title helps frame the story, letting the reader know which things are important. I often base titles on song lyrics or quotes I find interesting or profound, to present the main dilemma of the story. (I get a lot of these from Lois McMaster Bujold's books, which I strongly recommend, especially the whole Vorkosigan series.)

It can be fun to set up a classic saying, like 'what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger' or even, say, a book quote, 'enemies are the price of honor' and see where it takes the characters, whether or not they agree...

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13

14 – Ratings – how high are you comfortable with going? Have you ever written higher? If you're comfortable with NC-17, have you ever been shocked by finding that the story you're writing is G-rated instead?

I've never been shocked at the eventual rating of a story. Of course, I don't tend to rate anything G, even stuff that maybe could be - to stay on the safe side, I tend to use a minimum rating of PG-13. A lot of the darker stuff I write is R, and I have written NC-17, but I wouldn't say I feel that confident about it.

15 – Warnings – What do you feel it most important to warn for, and what's the strangest thing you've warned for in a fic?

This is a related question for me, since what I mostly warn for is violence. Character death, non-con, and dub-con seem to be the main things people warn for, but I think graphic or even just strongly implied violence is just as serious. I also warn for torture, and for incest.

Since I write about things that strike me as potential triggers, I also use a blanket term, 'disturbing concepts' or 'dark themes' to refer to something one might not warn for, but that strikes me as serious, like discussion of infanticide, or Stockholm Syndrome.

Thus I don't have a fun, weird thing I've warned for - although I will sometimes note something is intended as a parody, which is a sort of round about warning for silliness and light treatment of serious topics.

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

13 – Do you prefer canon or fanon when you write? Has writing fanfic for a fandom changed the way you see some or even all of the original source material?

There are some fanon things that just make sense to me, from fun stuff like how Richard rescues kittens and Darken cleans dishes by magic, to more serious things about the political structure of D'Hara and the Mord'Sith. It's hard not to create your own fanon details when writing, and I try to keep mine reasonably consistent; and our discussions at PP lead to certain hive mind type ideas and conclusions.

When I feel like I can't get a good picture of the characters or the situation in a particular story, though, I do go back to canon, and sometimes that helps keep everyone in character.

Writing has definitely changed my inner vision of both LotS and Harry Potter, I think - but mostly it's just clarified what my intuition already told me. It's rare for my entire opinion of a character to change.


rest of the days )

Micro Fics

Jul. 20th, 2011 10:26 am
hrhrionastar: (nicci)
For a [livejournal.com profile] legendland challenge: write ten 10-word stories in different genres, centered on one character. A couple of mine placed after voting :D

Nicci-centric micro-fics )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

12 – Have you ever attempted an "adaptation" fic of a favorite book or movie but set in a different fandom?

Not yet. I had a whole plan to set Legend of the Seeker in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but the fandoms might be just too different. Right now I'm considering LotS adapted to Glee, possibly with some Buffy - inspired 'high school is hell' stuff...I doubt I'll manage the songs, though ;)

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (richard nicci)
Photobucket

Title: Stop and Smell the Roses
Characters/Pairing: Richard/Nicci, referenced Kahlan/Cara
Length: 1172
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: Tears
Summary: AU in which Nicci joined Team Awesome after Bound - for her own purposes, of course. She and Richard share a moment at the Pillars of Creation. Written for the Anon Rare!Ship, Wrong!Ship Comment!Fic Meme; prompt was Richard/Nicci, she's never been with a man who makes her feel.

 

“Only you, Richard,” Nicci teases gently, “would make me literally stop and smell the roses.” )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

11 – Genre – do you prefer certain genres of fic when you're writing? What kind do you tend to write most?

I wrote for a surprisingly long time before I realized that in general, I write action/adventure. Possibly I didn't even figure it out until the LotSeekerFic Awards nominations. I set out to write romance - somehow, it turns into action/adventure. I set out to write angst - same thing.

That said, I also write a lot of dark fic - twisty mind games stuff, or apocalyptic everything goes wrong stories - and I love parody and humor. And nearly everything I write is AU, if only my version of post-series.

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Snagged from [livejournal.com profile] pristineungift. It seems pretty accurate.

my results )

 

hrhrionastar: (richard kahlan)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8, 9

10 – Pairings – Have you ever gone outside your comfort zone and written a pairing you liked, but found you couldn't write, or a pairing you didn't like, and found you could?

Yes and yes. It's a threesome rather than a pairing, but I love Richard/Kahlan/Cara and have trouble actually writing it, possibly because it's not that far from canon, and canon pairings are actually more difficult for me to write (particularly Hero/Heroine). Similarly, I like Clark/Lois, with the same problem.

I often try writing pairings I don't like, or just can't really imagine working out, for a challenge or a prompt response, and that can be a lot of fun - I like seeing if I can make it believable. I don't like Harry/Ginny, but have managed to write them (although it was a struggle), and I wasn't expecting to find Zedd/Cara as believable as it is.

Also, despite shipping various threesomes involving them and loving both characters, I don't really ship Cara/Kahlan, but I have written it.

I like to think I'm willing to try to write any pairing, but it's definitely easier if it's one I find inspiring/hot/interesting.

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (rahl kahlan)
Title: Sneaking Happiness
Authors: [livejournal.com profile] hrhrionastar & [livejournal.com profile] meridian_rose
Pairing/Characters: Darken/Kahlan
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 2116
Summary: Set during the 'Reckoning' AU. When young Nicholas goes missing one afternoon, Kahlan is not only surprised by how concerned Darken is for his son, but is forced to consider some uncomfortable truths about her own feelings towards both Nicholas and Darken.
Warnings: None
Note: A collaboration written as a gift fic for [livejournal.com profile] brontefanatic

Happiness often sneaks in through a door you didn’t know you left open
hrhrionastar: (richard nicci)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7, 8

9 – Pairings – For each of the fandoms from day two, what are your three favorite pairings to write?

Only three pairings? This was a struggle - I had to exclude threesomes ;)

Legend of the Seeker: Darken/Kahlan, Darken/Nicci, Richard/Nicci
Harry Potter: Lucius/Narcissa, Severus/Lily, Draco/Astoria
Smallville: Lionel/Lillian, Lex/Lana, and Lionel/Martha (which I haven't written, but want to)

Honestly, though, just as with my favorite characters to write, I tend to think about the fandom more in terms of the whole family, not just one character or pairing (the Rahls, the Malfoys, the Luthors). A fic centered around a particular pairing will, for me, usually draw in other family relationships as well.

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (rahl)
Title: Truth for Truth
Characters/Pairing: Darken/Cara, Richard/Kahlan, Zedd
Length: 2132
Rating: PG-13
Spoilers: whole series
Summary: AU after Extinction - Darken stays with the group and helps save the world. He and Cara get a moment alone for a very important conversation.
Note: The alternate fate of Cara's son here was inspired by a discussion with [livejournal.com profile] dorothydeath.

 

The three of them never left Cara alone with Darken Rahl... )
hrhrionastar: (Default)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6, 7

8 – Do you write OCs? And if so, what do you do to make certain they're not Mary Sues, and if not, explain your thoughts on OCs.

I rarely write fic with an OC as a main character, for two reasons: first, if the story is about my OC, it's not really fanfiction so much as disguised original work, and second, people are a lot less likely to read it.

The one exception to this for me is next gen characters - I love next gen, and will almost always write something with them as the main characters. I like thinking about what the canon characters would be like as parents, and what issues/strengths/weaknesses they would pass on to the kids, and how the family dynamic might change, and so on.

Mary Sues tend to hijack the story - not only are they perfect physically, but they usually have more power than any canon character, and combine all the strengths of the canon characters with none of their weaknesses, so that everyone else looks pathetic next to them.

I think OCs are necessary to flesh out almost any story - there are always innocent bystanders, servants, classmates, etc - but I try to make sure all my OCs have flaws, and that there's something a canon character does better than they do.

(My basic test for Mary Sue-ism is the name - if there's a character named Ebony Glorianhallana Prancilnineah von Lorenzo, I may refrain from reading/writing about her.)

rest of the days )
hrhrionastar: (jennsen)
Day 1, 2, 3, 4+5, 6

7 – Have you ever had a fic change your opinion of a character?

Yes, actually - Jennsen taught me there was another side to Denna in The Eye of the Storm, and I learned both to respect Zedd more and why I don't like him in The Unravelling or the Perils of Powerful Magic.

Also, I've learned a lot from other people's work, most notably Blood from a Stone, by [livejournal.com profile] pristineungift, which was the first fic I read that dealt with Darken Rahl as a real character, rather than book!Darken Rahl, who is pure evil.

Fandom has certainly given me insight into the characters, but most of the time I would describe that as knowing them better rather than seeing them entirely differently.

rest of the days )

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