Journal: March 9, 2009

[kalinda001]

There's something addictive about writing. At least for me there is. B7 was the first and only show so far that has inspired me to write fanfic. I had never even heard of fanfic before B7. With me being a scifi fan...some people (including me) find it hard to believe. Honestly, I have not been living under a rock, just Canada.


Being unsatisfied that the show just ended, I went looking for stories written by fans, hoping to find a few...and opened up a hornet's nest. While I read some good ones, I still wasn't that satisfied. I had very strong visions of the characters in my head and they just wouldn't let me go until I started writing. But then of course, it was impossible to get them out of my head and I ended up creating an entire post-GP world for them to play in.

Things got somewhat strange when the characters began taking on lives of their own. When they started developing relationships with each other independent of me or insisted on having a backstory that I did not develop or refused to do things that I wanted them to do, it started getting worrying.

But thanks to some kind fellow writers, I've been reassured that this is normal and there's even a name for it, dissociation.

So I am resigned to having multiple voices in my head when I'm writing. Or having them butt in when I'm talking online to people about the show. It's getting quite crowded in there. Sometimes I feel like I should move out to make room for them all. (No, Avon, it's not going to happen anytime soon so forget about 'volunteering' to take over.) Sometimes I do wonder what they're up to behind my back. With this lot, I have a sneaking suspicion that they're planning things without me.

It does make dialogue writing much faster. They just seem to do it on their own with me as the harried referee trying to reign them in. It can be annoying when they prove to be right about their own characters.

I love the dynamic creativity of writing and the ability to create my own worlds and explore themes that are interesting to me.

Well, enough about writing today.

Comments

[debris4spike]

Similar for me with BtVS.

When I watched B7 back in the earlky 80s I couldn't believe the ending ... and that was the first time I mentally re-wrote something. Having been told at school that I was useless at writing, I never did anythingelse (and that was obviously B4 the internet) ... The BtVS ends and I am screaming at the TV. I watch the series through - and am still screaming that I wrote an epilogue ... and actually submitted it to a site ... The rest is history.

So, good to know we had similar ways of getting into writing.

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's almost like an itch that has to be scratched before it drives you crazy ;)

[wolfma.livejournal.com]

I understand the stories that won't go away unless purged!

Your universe is definitely fascinating.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

They don't! I just referred to it as exorcising below. Once I've written a story, it no longer haunts me.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

That was it for me too, but about 8 years ago. I felt I had to continue the story, but at that stage I just wrote the stories in my head. I did start doing Vila's E-mails while I was watching because it struck me as a funny idea, and I thought maybe 6 people might read them. The I went looking for sequels, hoping there were books (there was one, but I didn't like it)--and discovered fanfic. I read obsessively, and started writing like crazy, finishing the E-mails before--I thought--someone else thought upthe same idea.

I've been slack lately about writing, though I do have some unwritten stories in my head that I must exorcise. They're all longer though and I'm not sure how they end.

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

I guess my problem is in my nature. Once I get an idea, I start planning, developing backstories, etc. all the information I always wished I had when I'm watching a series. Of course, then it tends to mushroom.

I usually know where a story is going and how it will end before I start writing, although I may not know the exact details on how it will get there. That is dependent on how the characters react.

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

I never know how my stories will end.
I just get jumped on by Muse whenever an idea strikes and the story then will not let me have any peace until I write it.

[kalinda001.livejournal.com]

At least your story ends. I'm not sure if mine will. I've created a world that seems to live independent of me.