I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love finding new authors to spotlight. This month just happens to be one of those, and she’s already proving to be an enthusiastic new presence in our ranks.
Right now, Bertina has a few stories out there to be read. You can check out Don’t Worry About Me and Scream and Be Free in a couple of places, including her LiveJournal and Wattpad accounts.
Why did you start writing hanfic? How long have you been writing?
Why did I start writing Hanfic? I started writing, because I ended up getting this really great idea and when it just didn’t seem to fit anywhere else this little light went off in my head. It told me to use Zac! It was several days after I saw them and I was left wondering, why have I never used them before? It fit the plot perfectly, and so I began. I have been writing Hanfic for maybe a month? In general I have been writing since I was around 17, I’m now almost 26.
I know you write in a few other fandoms, too. What are those and how are they different from the Hanson fandom?
I do! I started writing Nascar fan fics, I have quite the collection and have been writing them for nine years. I have also dabbled in Jonas Brothers, Honor Society, and even a bit of country music. Currently I really enjoy writing All Time Low, as well as Marianas Trench fics. The Nascar fandom differs in the aspect that you aren’t setting this in a world of music (obviously), but like the other fandoms they still live on the road, travel, and deal with a lot of the same media issues etc. Each fandom seems to take on it’s own personality, sometimes you’ll find two with a similar personality. I really can’t explain it, but they take on their own tone in some ways.
What are your favorite hanfic stories and authors?
I haven’t been reading them long (you think after all these years I’d have started before this), but I am really loving “Sound of Light” by xlilxjx , “Watch The Throne” by royal_crush, “In The Dark” and “Loaded God Complex” by Bethany and I have come to realize that anything I find on lj by hudson_coltrane I really seem to enjoy.
What is your writing process like?
I sit down, stare at a blank word document and just start typing, sometimes I like to plan ahead. I will discuss things with myself for days, sometimes before actually sitting to write. Yes, I just admitted that I talk to myself. A little habit is, I like to have a cup of coffee or tea while I write, gives me something to do other than just sit and stare at a blank page sometimes. Also, when I am writing, I tend to find that if I have the ending before the rest, I can write better. A teacher in high school once told us “If you have the ending, then you know where to begin”. I have held tight to those words for anything I write.
Where do your ideas and inspiration come from?
Anywhere and everywhere! Sometimes it is a song. Sometimes it is something that happens in life. Other times it could be a dream I or somebody else had. I pick up inspiration from just about anything. I tend to get some of my best ideas in the shower or my truck, while driving.
Which stories are you most proud of having written?
I currently have two Hanfics, my favourite of the two is “Scream and Be Free”. My favourite fanfic out of all of my work is an All Time Low fic called “Time Bomb”. It took me quite a while to write that one and I just really fell in love with it. I was sad to see it finished.
Favorite songs to listen to while you write or which inspire your writing?
I just turn the radio on when I write, if I am focused on the music I can’t considerate on working. If it is the radio, I can’t control what they play and then I don’t seem to focus as much. As for songs that inspire me, I have a lot of those. I don’t think I can pick just one.
Thank you, Bertina, for being the January spotlight! I’m glad you’re already having so much fun in the fandom 🙂