With the 5 of 5 concerts going on this week, the Hanson fandom has been full of nostalgia lately. I originally thought it would be interesting to feature an older hanfic author for this month, but then I decided to buck the trend and go with someone very new to the fandom. New fans are fans too, and I think we tend to forget that.
Rachel is the author of an ongoing three part hancest/slash series — The Homecoming, Time of My Life and The Lost Year — as well as several shorter hancest and and het stories. You can find her stories at her LiveJournal.
Why did you start writing hanfic? How long have you been writing?
I started reading hanfic in the summer of 2009. I had just recently rediscovered Hanson in that June and, along with catching up on the music and their lives, I began reading fiction about them. I’ve been reading fic since my family got our very first computer on Christmas 1995. I’ve always been a reader, accumulating an impressive collection of books all my life. Although the first online fics I ever read were sexual in nature, my tastes expanded to include original fic and then most recently Harry Potter as the fandom took off.
So back to the question at hand, I began reading hanfic and enjoyed absolutely everything that I read, no matter the level of writing. I was enthralled by this topic and had never read fic based on real life people. Although strange at first, the idea soon grew on me and I found myself searching deep and wide for more stories.
Soon enough I discovered LiveJournal. At first, I was just reading and reviewing and generally enjoying having these “books” to read that were free! So why is it so important to learn about all this reading when the question asks about writing? Well, I read so much that I felt like I should give something back. It was as if I was taking something from others but not doing my part. So in actuality, I started writing basically as a thank you so everyone who already wrote and whose stories I’d read.
I also wanted to see if I could actually do it. As a student I had always struggled with writing. As a math, computer, and science person, I had anxiety even writing a 5 paragraph essay. It would take me hours to finish and I’d complain the entire time. Imagine my surprise when I decided to write something for fun!
I didn’t know if anyone would read it, I didn’t know if I’d even be able to get past the first chapter. But I did and I’m glad I’ve continued on. As much as I’ve read other stories, this was the first time I even contemplated writing something myself. Perhaps it’s because I’m out of school now and there wasn’t any pressure. Perhaps it’s because I found a new love – Hanson. Perhaps I read so much hanfic that it seemed only natural to write about them. Either way, it worked out to my advantage and I’ve been writing hanfic for just over four and a half months now.
I’ll be forever thankful to the little voice in my head that urged me to do this because it’s been an amazing experience and not only have I learned that I can write at least somewhat well, but I’ve made some amazing friends along the way!
The genre you write is rather controversial. What draws you to it?
As I wrote above, when I first began reading fic it was sexual in nature. This was due to computer privileges at a young age and not much of a censor on what I could look at. At that point in time we didn’t realize what all you could find on the internet, and I don’t think my mom realized I would even look for such things. Alas, I’d always been very interesting in sex. I’m not sure the reason for this, but it has continued my entire life.
So my earliest and most vivid memory of a story involved the topic of incest as well as many other genres. It didn’t seem to disgust me as I can recall and I’ve searched for it as an adult but have been unable to locate it. I also was a frequent visitor to a place called “Whiteshadow’s Nasty Stories” which in and of itself you can tell was of adult nature. I would read many of the incest stories listed on that site as well. Along with this reading, I had my own share of, shall we call them, encounters. As a child, I think we are all naturally curious and I was right in that crowd. Who better to experiment with than a sibling who you are close to? As a teenager and young adult, I also had some encounters but too a much more wide degree.
I think with my background the topic of hancest doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I read straight hanfic when I began dabbling in this fandom and only came across hancest in LiveJournal. At first, I didn’t want to even read them as I thought it was wrong and I was enjoyed the straight fic too much. Eventually I caved, probably from having found all I could elsewhere. As with any other story I read, I know it is fiction. Not real. Made up. But it was much harder to differentiate sometimes with the subjects of the stories being real life brothers.
There are those out there who have their conspiracy theories and find proof in everything that Zac and Taylor, specifically, have a more-than-brotherly relationship. I myself enjoy looking for little things that point to the idea of a real life Zaylor. But in general, I’m aware that this is probably very false. I do believe they are happy in their marriages. But who can’t help but like the idea of two hot guys getting it on?
I think another reason I enjoy this particular genre is that I have a, albeit strange, interest in gay sex. I find it extremely erotic for two guys to be together. Also, I think just the fact that is a taboo makes it appealing. Something that isn’t allowed is usually invokes something in people to prove it otherwise. So I guess my fascination with gay sex, the idea of something that is taboo, my experience, and enjoyment of incestuous stories in general, and the fact that the Hanson brothers are quite good looking all lend to my interest in writing this genre.
On a further note: I have recently dabbled in straight hanfic and find it much more difficult to write the OFC. Even my three-part series gives me trouble writing the OMC. I think in general it’s easier to write the boys because their basic background is already known to the reader of a hanfic story.
Do you write (or have you written in the past) for any other fandoms?
Nope. 🙂
As I wrote above, this fandom is the very first I’ve written. I never had any desire to write for any other one and still don’t.
Hanson all the way baby!
What are your favorite hanfic stories and authors?
Um, I don’t think I could list all of them! The stories that stick out specifically in my mind have to be Catapult, The Quiet One, Kerry’s stories (ALAICHTY, ILUAISU, INTISTD), and Defying Gravity. I’m also a sucker for any fic that makes me bawl like a baby. I actually look forward to the emotional connection and any that make me laugh, smile wide, drop my jaw in shock, or cry always stick with me. I couldn’t say I have a favorite author. They are all special in their own way and I enjoy reading fic from every single one of them. They are each unique and offer something different. I honestly read anything and everything that I can get my hands on. If only there were more than 24 hours in a day…
What is your writing process like?
Honestly? I usually law down on the bed, open up Microsoft Word, and begin typing. I’m not one for preplanning. I’ve never been one to brainstorm or write drafts. I just sit and write. I’ve always been one to get things completed well and as fast as possible. If I have time, I will write in actual paragraphs and with purpose so that the editing process is almost non-existent. I also enjoy writing during sprints although that is usually a faster paced process and usually requires much more editing then I would like. Although not my ideal way to write, the sprints allow me to get my ideas down quickly as well as allowing me to engage in some fun with other hanfic writers.
Since I really just began writing, I have random ideas here and there. I will begin a new story for each idea and some just sit out there waiting to be expanded upon. I know that eventually I will get to them but I’m working on keeping with one fic at a time. Since I can get overwhelmed by writing easily, I like to be able to start and finish something before working on the next thing. So that is it: Sit, type, edit. Double points if I can do it fast!
Where do your ideas and inspiration come from?
Since I don’t really plan, some of my stories are just created as I type them up. I will literally just sit down and start typing. I can’t even say that my mind is ahead of where I am in the story. It just goes as it plans, with the characters taking the lead and showing me where they want to go. Other times I’m inspired by songs or something I see on TV. I’ve written a few stories based on songs or specific lyrics that seem to inspire me that day as I listened to them on the iPod while at work. I even have one written based on the interview shown on the SETB dvd. Most of the time it’s spontaneous with specs of musical and real life inspiration.
Favorite songs to listen to while you write or which inspire your writing?
I have such a wide interest in music. Honestly I listen to whatever is playing on the iPod or on Pandora or something I’m looking up on YouTube. I don’t have something that I listen to every time I sit down to write. And the songs that inspire my writing are ones that peak my interest as I’m listening to them and a story idea pops in my head. More often than not, music isn’t the driving factor in my inspiration. Unless of course, you count the music Hanson makes as that is what brought this all on in the first place!
Thank you Rachel, for being the May spotlight and letting me pick your brain for a while, even if you did think your answers were too long 😛