Trekfic writers: what else do you write?

[Nerys Ghemor]

I recently had to put an original novel project on the back burner thanks to lack of feedback on the site where it was being hosted, something I was pretty bummed about--but it's a lot easier to write when you're receiving the kind of feedback that helps you grow as a writer, like I have here on my Trek fanfic. I can also see that my original novel needs a lot of work to get it up to par with what I've been doing lately. While disheartening, I don't intend to give up--but I think maybe a change of venue will be necessary for that work. I don't mean to sound "greedy," but I find that good feedback REALLY helps my writing process and where my original novel is concerned, I miss that, very badly.

I'm curious to know, what do you guys write besides Trekfic? For those works, what do you do to get good, quality feedback in a prompt manner?

 

[Hoshi_Mayweather]

Well, I caught the writing bug from the boyfriend.

Right now, I'm just doing fanfic for fun; if I had any ideas that might be submitted for professional publication(non-Trek, non-sci-fi that is)...I might go for it.

 

[USS Fardell]

I also write Doctor Who and Back to the Future fan fiction, as well as some original fiction.

(I also dabble in other fandoms but not as much as Trek, Who and BTTF)

 

[SLWalker]

I write fanfic in other fandoms, and I also do text-based roleplay. Usually in my venues (LJ and that) I get feedback pretty quick.

I also write for the newspaper. And while the only feedback I get there is from my editor, the paycheck makes up for it.

 

[Starkers]

Mainly original horror and sci-fi. Written two unpublished novels so far and had a few short stories published. Probably best achievents so far was reaching the last 25 of last year's SFX magazine Pulp Idol story...so close!

I have dabbled with Dr Who and Blakes 7 fic before now as well.

 

[BrotherBenny]

I'm currently working on the outline for a political thriller, but it is taking a back seat to the three star trek stories i'm writing and the fourth in development.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I'm currently writing my second novel. My first one never got published, and I wrote way back in 1985. I am actually using aspects of it in my NEW DEAL storyline (the Doomsday Machine arc)

The book I am writing now is called ANT FARM and is a 'black comedy' about faith.

But other than that, and here at BBS, thats all I really have time for..


Rob Scorpio

 

[Gojirob]

I've written for a number of other fandoms, a few of which I plan to get back to soon.

MASH - I've written two series of MASH stories. One is called 'The Never-Ending Battle', in which our favorite medics find themselves enmeshed in the worlds of SF/F. For example, they have an early reunion in Tokyo in December of 1954. But the merriment gives way to triage when the city is attacked by Godzilla. In another, an elderly Hawkeye confides in a young FBI agent that Henry's death was no mere fortune of war. That FBI agent is of course, Fox Mulder. Then, a visiting Canadian medic named Duncan looks exactly the same as when Potter first met him--during WW1.

The second series is written for goofy fun only. It is called J*L*A*, and as you likely guessed, it features the MASH crew as the Justice League, with Superman aka Hawkeye Kent, Princess Margarea, aka Wonder Woman, BJ Hunnicutt, Trapper Hal's replacement as Green Lantern, and the three Flashes : Sherman T. Garrick, the fallen Barry Blake, and Walter 'Wally' O'Reilly. Since I wrote this during the period when Batman was an outsider asshole, his role went to Frank Burns, with Cha'arls Win'ch'tr as The Martian Manhunter.

In Highlander, I wrote stories centering on The Four Horsemen, including their two episodes retold in a faux-epic style.

I wrote an AU Buffy series called 'Never Gonna Happen' which depended even more heavily on soap-opera style revelations and twists.

 

[RobertScorpio]

I've written for a number of other fandoms, a few of which I plan to get back to soon.

MASH - I've written two series of MASH stories. One is called 'The Never-Ending Battle', in which our favorite medics find themselves enmeshed in the worlds of SF/F. For example, they have an early reunion in Tokyo in December of 1954. But the merriment gives way to triage when the city is attacked by Godzilla. In another, an elderly Hawkeye confides in a young FBI agent that Henry's death was no mere fortune of war. That FBI agent is of course, Fox Mulder. Then, a visiting Canadian medic named Duncan looks exactly the same as when Potter first met him--during WW1.

The second series is written for goofy fun only. It is called J*L*A*, and as you likely guessed, it features the MASH crew as the Justice League, with Superman aka Hawkeye Kent, Princess Margarea, aka Wonder Woman, BJ Hunnicutt, Trapper Hal's replacement as Green Lantern, and the three Flashes : Sherman T. Garrick, the fallen Barry Blake, and Walter 'Wally' O'Reilly. Since I wrote this during the period when Batman was an outsider asshole, his role went to Frank Burns, with Cha'arls Win'ch'tr as The Martian Manhunter.

In Highlander, I wrote stories centering on The Four Horsemen, including their two episodes retold in a faux-epic style.

I wrote an AU Buffy series called 'Never Gonna Happen' which depended even more heavily on soap-opera style revelations and twists.

I would like to read these because I am a big fan of Godzilla (have them all..and i mean ALLLLLL of them)..and a fan of Mash as well. And, it so happens, I have been collecting the JLA since 1960s...so yeah..are these on the net somewhere to read???

Rob

 

[Gojirob]

I've written for a number of other fandoms, a few of which I plan to get back to soon.

MASH - I've written two series of MASH stories. One is called 'The Never-Ending Battle', in which our favorite medics find themselves enmeshed in the worlds of SF/F. For example, they have an early reunion in Tokyo in December of 1954. But the merriment gives way to triage when the city is attacked by Godzilla. In another, an elderly Hawkeye confides in a young FBI agent that Henry's death was no mere fortune of war. That FBI agent is of course, Fox Mulder. Then, a visiting Canadian medic named Duncan looks exactly the same as when Potter first met him--during WW1.

The second series is written for goofy fun only. It is called J*L*A*, and as you likely guessed, it features the MASH crew as the Justice League, with Superman aka Hawkeye Kent, Princess Margarea, aka Wonder Woman, BJ Hunnicutt, Trapper Hal's replacement as Green Lantern, and the three Flashes : Sherman T. Garrick, the fallen Barry Blake, and Walter 'Wally' O'Reilly. Since I wrote this during the period when Batman was an outsider asshole, his role went to Frank Burns, with Cha'arls Win'ch'tr as The Martian Manhunter.

In Highlander, I wrote stories centering on The Four Horsemen, including their two episodes retold in a faux-epic style.

I wrote an AU Buffy series called 'Never Gonna Happen' which depended even more heavily on soap-opera style revelations and twists.

I would like to read these because I am a big fan of Godzilla (have them all..and i mean ALLLLLL of them)..and a fan of Mash as well. And, it so happens, I have been collecting the JLA since 1960s...so yeah..are these on the net somewhere to read???

Rob

Most of my MASH stories including 'The Endless O.R.' (The Godzilla story), are on at www.bestcareanywhere.net . I recommend you start with 'Through Early Morning Fog I See', 'Dear Connor', and 'Visions Of The Things To Be', since most of the other stories draw on those. 'Visions' is a bit crude at this point, and needs revising, but features a scene wherein Father Mulcahy must teach his faith to some inquisitive beings who appear in the form of his dearest friends. That's right, the Padre plays Bajor's Celestial Temple, and we learn just how Khan was really taken down. Probably my personal fave is '...Bothered, and Bewildered', in which a jilted Hawkeye romances an odd woman named Samantha.

Most of my other stories can be found at www.southroad.com/brightfame, which is no longer updated at present, but contains another Godzilla story, 'Highland Knights In Tokyo', which features Duncan Macleod and Nick Knight trying to rescue Nick's 'sister' Janette from a mad Immortal who once loved her, all while dodging you-know-who.

But the big one, Godzilla-wise, is 'Ancient Destroyer'. A creature returns to our Galaxy in the year 2000, and by 2200 has wiped away both the Borg and the Dominion. It is called the Ancient Destroyer of Worlds, but it is known by another name : Ghidorah. And in this history, Godzilla never existed to stop him. Only the friends and family of James T. Kirk stand in his way--if the creature's racist worshippers in Starfleet Command don't stop them first. Nephew Peter Kirk has been tormented since childhood by dreams of whole worlds dying, and must slowly rise to his uncle's example.

For those concerned by that last sentence, let it be known I fight hard against Mary Sue syndrome in these stories.

 

[RobertScorpio]

But the big one, Godzilla-wise, is 'Ancient Destroyer'. A creature returns to our Galaxy in the year 2000, and by 2200 has wiped away both the Borg and the Dominion. It is called the Ancient Destroyer of Worlds, but it is known by another name : Ghidorah. And in this history, Godzilla never existed to stop him. Only the friends and family of James T. Kirk stand in his way--if the creature's racist worshippers in Starfleet Command don't stop them first. Nephew Peter Kirk has been tormented since childhood by dreams of whole worlds dying, and must slowly rise to his uncle's example.

They all sound pretty trippy, so I'm gonna read them. The one with Ghidorah sounds really cool. I'll read them and give you feed back...

Rob

 

[Admiral2]

I'm curious to know, what do you guys write besides Trekfic?

The bulk of my fanfic is right here (http://www.fanfiction.net/u/69169/Admiral). Just read the various subjects at the top of the page.

For those works, what do you do to get good, quality feedback in a prompt manner?

Nothing. Most of your readership will never review one way or another, and trying to force feedback, whatever your intentions, just makes you look needy. Post your stories and wait. There's nothing else for it.

 

[TheLoneRedshirt]

I've dabbled in writing Firefly stories but I've never posted them anywhere. I've also written some original sci-fi (again, not posted or published) as well as some historical fiction based during the depression era and WW II. These I may try to get published some day.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

I'm curious to know, what do you guys write besides Trekfic?

The bulk of my fanfic is right here (http://www.fanfiction.net/u/69169/Admiral). Just read the various subjects at the top of the page.

For those works, what do you do to get good, quality feedback in a prompt manner?

Nothing. Most of your readership will never review one way or another, and trying to force feedback, whatever your intentions, just makes you look needy. Post your stories and wait. There's nothing else for it.

Maybe you don't use comments and feedback as part of YOUR writing process, but others do, so please check the condescension at the door.

 

[SLWalker]

Maybe you don't use comments and feedback as part of YOUR writing process, but others do, so please check the condescension at the door.

Despite the really debatable way that he put that, though, he does have some points. Most of your readership won't comment. Sometimes it's because they're lazy, sometimes it's because nothing in your works really grabbed them and compelled them to, and sometimes it's just not knowing what to say.

His second point is that begging for feedback is a bad idea... and he's right about that, too. This isn't his fault, or yours. This is mostly the fault of the current fanfiction culture on FF.N and sites like that which have no quality control. There, young and frustrated (and sometimes just whiny, bratty) authors will literally hold their stories hostage and bitch, "If you don't give me X-number of reviews, I won't post the next part."

I just got into this over on fanficrants. They said that fanfic is a gift culture, and they're right... it is. But that gift has to go both ways. The author has to freely give it, and know that they may get nothing back. But, too, the reader has to freely be willing to give feedback on stories. And authors should ALWAYS thank those who do; there is nothing more discouraging to feedbacking than authors who treat it like it's somehow their right.

I'd venture, Nerys, that for original works, you search out some creative writing communities. There are those online, where groups will get together and go over each others' works. I have no links handy, since all my original stuff is journalism and fanfic is something I handle myself. But there, you'll get feedback. You'll likely also get some pretty serious constructive criticism and you're bound to get the occasional person who doesn't like your stuff. Any which way, though, you'll become a better author through the process.

Hope that helps clarify some things and gives you a few ideas, to boot.

 

[Nerys Ghemor]

To make it clearer what is going on in my case...this is a story I've been working on for four years. "Holding the story hostage" is the LAST thing to have crossed my mind--if anything, I've been feeling very guilty about the fact that I've been spending so much time on Sigils and Unions because I know there were a few people who are still reading after all that time. I'm just thinking I may need a fresh start, not just because my audience has petered out, but because it's time for an editing overhaul, and that I may need somewhere that's more receptive to original (and long) works.

And because of the fine comments and insights I've gotten here, I feel like I've pushed my work to a new level and believe me--I am VERY, VERY grateful for that. I've been really amazed, for instance, to see how certain last-minute editing decisions affected the perception, of finding out what it is that works and doesn't work, and just in general enjoying the whole process. I would love to find a comparable community for original works, if possible, because there's something really good going on here and I'd love to be able to move on both stories at a decent pace.

 

[SLWalker]

Yeah, your best bet will likely be a creative writing group. You may even find one that meets IRL, but try to search online. I've never gone there myself, but have heard good things about them from others.

 

[RevdKathy]

In terms of fiction I write whatever tickles my fancy. I have written Whofic and odd bits of other stuff as well as occasional trek. I also write TedFic, or to be accurate, my Teddy Bear dictates his stories and I type them up. Then I and other preachers use them in worship. He's a very Creative Bear.

I also write sermons, children's addresses, items for church newsletters, pieces for the work newsletter, bits for the national journal for my colleagues, policy documents and essays. Which may be why I don't write much fanfic these days!

 

[Admiral2]

I'm curious to know, what do you guys write besides Trekfic?

The bulk of my fanfic is right here (http://www.fanfiction.net/u/69169/Admiral). Just read the various subjects at the top of the page.

For those works, what do you do to get good, quality feedback in a prompt manner?

Nothing. Most of your readership will never review one way or another, and trying to force feedback, whatever your intentions, just makes you look needy. Post your stories and wait. There's nothing else for it.

Maybe you don't use comments and feedback as part of YOUR writing process, but others do, so please check the condescension at the door.

WHAT condescension??? I gave you an honest answer to your question! WTF else was I supposed to say?!

 

[Robert Maxwell]

I'm curious to know, what do you guys write besides Trekfic? For those works, what do you do to get good, quality feedback in a prompt manner?

Okay, so I admittedly don't write Trek fanfic, not because I don't like the idea, but because I have too many things on my plate already.

That said, if you're looking for feedback on things, I run a site for just that purpose--the one linked in my sig. People post all kinds of writing there, and feedback is heavily encouraged. It usually works out pretty well, and I expect to start ramping up activity again since I got a job.

I do mostly write things with a sci-fi bent, but I also dabble in poetry, essays, and literary fiction at times.