You know what’s exciting? Discovering a new hanfic writer. I always get so happy when I find someone who has just begun to publish their stories online. Whether it’s a new fan or an old one who just got the courage to start sharing their stories, it’s still great. So, that’s the story behind this month’s featured author, Tyanne.
Tyanne has just begun publishing her writing, but you can read what she’s written so far on her LiveJournal, here.
Why did you start writing hanfic? How long have you been writing?
I’ve been writing in French for quite a long time – I write songs – but writing fanfic in general, and especially in English, is really new to me. I only started less than two months ago. I have a lot of very creative and talented English speaking friends who have inspired me and encouraged me to give it a try. So at first, I’d say it was a personal challenge. I chose Hanfic because I’ve been a Hanson fan for years and it seemed a little bit easier to me to write about them.
What is it like to write in a fandom that isn’t in your native language?
Writing in English is not really complicated but it takes time. I need to think about grammar, spelling, tenses, I have to look up for new words and synonyms in the dictionary, check out idioms on Google… All the things that come naturally to me in French become extremely … Well, okay, it’s very complicated. And the fact that I’m bound to still make a lot of mistakes in spite of my efforts makes me feel very self-conscious.
However writing for an American Fandom is great. It’s also very scary, because American Hanson fans are hardcore fans, and I don’t want to disappoint anyone. But I lived in the United States more than two years and a half, so I know fans are enthusiastic and very open-minded, they also give me a lot of positive reinforcement which I very gratefully appreciate.
What are your favorite hanfic stories and authors?
Well. I’m afraid I don’t have favorite hanfic stories right now. I enjoy reading fics that contain adult material. And, depending on the context, I am not especially grossed out by incestuous relationships either. I like angst and dark themes. I like a bit of romance, but I’m not really into gooey, over romantic stuff.
What is your writing process like?
My writing process includes a lot of visualizing. I avoid thinking about my story in French. I try to visualize the scene I want to write about, I visualize people’s faces, try to see what’s going on and to figure out how my characters feel, without putting words on what I see, because if I do, then I have to translate everything into English and I just can’t do that because my English is still limited, and it never turns out the way I want it to be. So… I force myself to think without words. Then I try to find the right English words to describe what I’ve seen. I also try to have different points of view.
Where do your ideas and inspiration come from?
Mostly from music. I listen to music and my mind gets wandering and then ideas pop up. People around me also inspire me a lot. I’m a real observer and a good listener. I see how people react and interact and I’m always trying to guess the words that are not being said, the feelings that people try to keep hidden. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night with a bunch of thoughts, so I grab my netbook and start typing lists of words, names or ideas, and three minutes later I’m back to sleep. I read a lot, and I also get inspiration from other fandoms. I am a big fan of the Supernatural TV series, so sometimes, when I watch an episode, it gives me new ideas to ponder. Oh, and… Hanson FUTYs are a good source of inspiration too.
Which stories are you most proud of having written?
They are not stories, but songs. I wrote a few songs that were released on CDs and I have to admit it makes me quite proud. A few months ago, I wrote a song as a gift for Hanson. It was very hard to put words on how I feel as a Hanson fan, but I think I did a good job. At least some Hanson fans managed to convince me I did. It’s called “When Your Words Become Mine.”
Favorite songs to listen to while you write or which inspire your writing?
I listen to a lot of Hanson, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tinted Windows, Adele, Shaka Ponk, Me and The Mountain, Gavin Degraw, Def Leppard, Kansas, Rufus Wainwright, some Eminem etc… I usually pick one song per chapter. I know what I want to say and I know how I need to feel in order to say it. So I will listen to one particular song that puts me in the right mood, even if I have to end up totally spooked out or depressed. I listen to it till the words start flowing… One day I wanted to write a scene that was a bit intense, I spent three hours listening to Muse’s Uprising. I also remember listening to Coldplay’s Scientist on a repeat mode for days… Once the song starts haunting me, I know I’ll be able to squeeze the right words out of myself.
Thank you, Tyanne, for being the April spotlight! It’s so fun to meet a new author, especially one from a completely different part of the world.