First of all, I want to apology for the delay. I feel like I’ve been delayed for one reason or another every month this year, and I really hope to do better. That said, this month’s spotlight is my friend Bree!
Bree writes in a handful of different fandoms, including of course, Hanson. Her stories cover a wide variety of topics and genres, and can be read on LiveJournal, here.
Why did you start writing hanfic? How long have you been writing?
I started writing fanfic shortly after I started reading it, so a little over 5 years ago. I can’t quite explain why. It just seemed appealing, I guess. I started out writing with other people, more commonly known as RPing. I found it easier to react to the other person’s character at first. Of course RPing can be quite tricky because you never know how the other character’s going to react and each new post can be quite a surprise. Writing on your own is… different, although I have long since learned that my characters don’t always cooperate with me. Sometimes, I have plans to write a story a certain way but one of the characters “acts of their own accord” and “ruins” the whole story line. Haha. It’s what keeps me writing though. I like to ~create and since writing is the only kind of art I’m actually talented at, I suppose I’ll keep doing it as long as I’m interested in it.
What’s it like to write in an American fandom when you’re not?
I’m not going to lie, writing in a language that’s not your native language can be tricky. Even though my English is by no means bad, I’ll always have my limits. Whether I write in American fandoms or British fandoms (I have written in the McFLY and Harry Potter fandoms in the past) doesn’t really make much of a difference. I try to use appropriate words (e.g. buddy vs. mate) and the proper spelling (e.g. color instead of the English colour) but it’s not much of a challenge to be honest. I have found a great online dictionary that I always use when writing. It’s pretty much my best friend. 😉
If I have problems picturing a certain scene because things are different in the USA, I either google it or ask someone that knows for sure, but it doesn’t happen that often.
What are your favorite hanfic stories and authors?
The first story that really impressed me was “The Quiet One”. I can’t remember who wrote it but it was brilliant. There are quite a few really talented writers out there, people that know how to capture emotions and keep the story going but I have to admit that I usually prefer stories that aren’t as sad and emotional. There are a few stories in the Harry Potter fandom that I adore but I suppose that’s not really of any importance, haha. My favorite story right now is definitely “Truth Is A Whisper”. I can’t say it often enough. It is so different from everything I have ever read before and I love it. 🙂
What is your writing process like?
I don’t really have much of a writing process. I write whenever inspiration strikes. I usually just sit down and start writing, sometimes not even knowing what’s going to happen and how it’s going to end. I’m a very impulsive writer, I suppose. I never really edit my writing either; with the exception of typos, of course. Once something is written down, it usually stays in its original version. I admire people that go back and rewrite half their text. I can’t do that. As soon as I’m done writing a story, I move on to the next.
Where do your ideas and inspiration come from?
Anywhere, really. Random thoughts, things I overhear, an idea I get while chatting with friends, sometimes a certain song. I never know when inspiration’s going to hit me.
Which stories are you most proud of having written?
You may have noticed that I only write oneshots or very short chaptered fics. I prefer it that way because it gives me the chance to work on a lot of things without a long story getting in the way. So while I’m sure that writing a novel-length story would make people feel a lot prouder, I still have a few stories that stand out to me and they are usually the ones that have a somewhat unusual plot. “Starlight” comes to mind. It’s a Zaylor oneshot that’s set in the 19th century and inspired by the movie “Stardust”. Another one I actually really like is “That Particular Time”. Both of them involve more or less drama and the focus is not on sex but one (or more) character’s feelings more than anything else. Most people seem to prefer reading NC-17 rated stories and I do enjoy writing smut but the stories I’m most proud of are heavy on the plot, not sex. This may sound strange, considering that I said that I prefer to read “lighter material” but it’s really not. I am proud of having written the stories I mentioned but it took a lot of effort and tears and I just prefer to laugh at my characters’ antics than barely seeing the words on my screen through all the tears.
Having said that, I am very self-conscious about my writing; mostly because English isn’t my first language but also because I tend to think nothing I do is ever good enough. Feedback helps a lot but I’m not sure I’ll ever get over it.
Favorite songs to listen to while you write or which inspire your writing?
It completely depends on what kind of story I write. My favorite song to listen to while writing smut is A Perfect Circle’s “Magdalena” but it really depends on the mood I’m in more than anything else. However, I hardly ever listen to Hanson while writing fanfic in this fandom. It’s just something that doesn’t usually work for me.
I like to think that I my taste in music is not limited to one genre or a handful of artists and bands. I like a lot of different things. That’s why I could only tell you what bands I listen to at the moment but it wouldn’t necessarily mean that I listen to them while writing or that they even inspire my writing.
Thank you, Bree, for being the July spotlight! And an even bigger thank you for listing one of my stories among your favorites.