I am about to embark on one of the scariest journeys of my life. For the first time I’m going to write an original story of my own. I’m not breaking into the writing world like most traditional writers. My writing experience started in the world of Janet Evanovich fan fiction. *gasp* Yes I am aware of the stigma that surrounds the idea of a writer taking another author‘s characters and creating their own stories. I could argue that Janet Evanovich gives her permission for writers to create fan fiction using her characters. At one point in time, she even had a fan fiction section on her website. That doesn’t stop some critics from believing that fan fiction is a rip off of a published author’s work. But we’ll leave that subject for another day.
Fan fiction has had a tremendous impact on my life from a personal as well as a writer’s perspective. If I had not discovered fan fiction a little over three years ago, I wouldn’t be a writer. I also would not have found some of the best friends I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. (Sin)
When I discovered fan fiction, I consumed story after story trying to feed the obsession I felt for Janet Evanovich’s characters. As you all know I fell in love with her bad boy character named Ranger. For those of you not familiar with Ranger he has enough sex appeal to charm a nun out of her habit. He emanates from the page, and never strays far from your mind once the book is closed. Ranger is the main reason I am a writer. He fueled a desire in me to write a story where he gets the girl in the end, something that I seriously doubt will happen when Evanovich writes the last book in the series. Over 200,000 words later, I’ve given Ranger the girl several times over. I’ve also sexed him up with the girl, had him walk away from the girl, had him shot, had the girl walk away from him and had him die with the girl in a plane crash. In the process I learned how to write, and I gained the confidence to write something to call my own.
Those are the positive points of using fan fiction to break into the writing world, but now I’m struggling on a daily basis from the negatives. Fan fiction has always provided me with some of the most difficult things a writer has to create. I have to create my own canvas now. It’s all about me creating a story from the ground up. I admit in the last several weeks I have been cursing fan fiction, because no longer do I have Ranger as my crutch. I know Ranger inside and out. I know where he lives. I know of his habits, his occupation, and his flaws. I have been told no one gets inside Ranger’s head the way I do. Well good for me right? Now I have to create my own hero and hope I don’t fall flat on my face in the process. For me attempting to write an original story is like jumping out of an airplane without a parachute. I’m experiencing the fear of the unknown.
Fortunately, my desire to create my own story out weighs my fear. At least now when I sit down at the computer and attempt to write about my characters I don’t feel faint, or like running from the room, screaming like a little girl.
This brings us to the present, where I’m preparing to embark on my journey. I’ll describe the scene in detail.
The news helicopters are circling above me. The co- pilot is shouting the details of the scene before him in his headset for the story at 11. He reports that another fan fiction writer has decided to take “The Plunge”
So I’m standing on a ledge fifty stories above the city looking down. I can barely see the outline of the net, beyond the black moment, where I will find my HEA. If I close my eyes, I can visualize my computer key board, while character descriptions, plot devices, and the dreaded beginning are dancing through my mind. Ranger is sitting next to me on the ledge whispering “Proud of you Babe.” I look at him; wipe a tear from my eye and whisper, “Thanks for everything.” Then I smile and step into thin air.
Was it intimadating for you to start a WIP? What are your biggest fears now as a writer? How do you over come those fears?
47 comments:
Wow, Lisa! How exciting, how brave!! I'm proud of you for taking the plunge and I hope you find it as fun and fulfilling as I do. Well, when I'm actually writing, that is. Hahaha.
It's not a perfect world, creating characters and breathing life into them, but it can be close to it. At least you know you have all the pirates (and even non-pirates, like moi) here to answer questions, laugh, cry, scream in frustration and jump up and down in triumph as you make the journey!!
Welcome to the fray! And BTW, I've come up against all kinds of garbage about what's writing and what's not because I belong in the e-world. You have to let it roll off your shoulders. Some people simply have to grouse over whatever they can. It's not your problem but theirs.
Good luck with your new book!
How scary and very exciting. I took the plunge a little over a year ago. I never knew I was a writer. I always had words, phrases, and worlds in my head but I didn't know what to do with them.
I have a feeling Ranger will be a thing of the past once you create your hero and get to know him.
When I get frustrated and want to give up I remember that writing is who I am. It's as much a part of me as my green eyes.
Good luck! It's a grand adventure.
First of all, writing anything is good. The more you write the better you get;it's like exercise. I hope you create your very own Ranger and run with him!
Man, I teared up with you at the end there. *sniff* That's power in like three or four sentences. Reading an entire book of yours might kill me! LOL! But it would be a good kill.
Whoohoo!!! Isn't this fun? Freefalling without a net really. Like Renee, I started on this roller coaster a little over a year ago and just last night, finished my first anything. A short 15K words but by damn I got to THE END and I'm counting it.
I have had more fun writing in the last two weeks than I could have imagined. And it's amazing how much getting something done makes me want to write more. I know that will happen to you.
I'm so excited to meet your characters, Lis. I just know they are going to suck me in and not let go. Here's to new beginnings, incredible stories and lots of best sellers!
Huzzah!
Dee, Renee, Maggie and Terrio,
Thank you all so much for the kind words and well wishes. What a scary but exciting journey. I so look forward to writing my original. I have such a wonderful group of ladies I share this blog spot with everyday. With a support system and the writer's that I rub elbows with everyday, how can I go wrong? I'll look back on this blog when I get to the hair pulling stage and remember all your words of encouragment:)
DEE! *HUGS* How are you, woman? It's so great to see you! *hopping up and down*
I agree with everyone--except that part where Renee suggests Ranger will be a thing of the past. *LOL* When I see Ranger, there is such an EVERYMAN HERO quality to him, that even though I've barely written but a few pages of "fan fic" and hardly am a Ranger writer, there is something in my heroes like Ranger. I think the physical stuff makes him Ranger; and his background (though lots of kids grew up poor and many of them rose above their circumstances through the military and made a success of their lives)--those can change from hero to hero. But the things I really like about Ranger: his humor, his strength of will, his mysteriousness, his honor, even his sexiness--all those are things you'd want to find any in hero.
Okay, let me clarify--you'd find these things in an ALPHA hero. It's hard not to make a guy sound like Ranger if he's an Alpha. I find myself reading Scottish historicals, going, "He sounds like Ranger"--and the book was written before Ranger was on the page. Ranger is an archetype. It's okay to use archetypes, I believe, so long as your characters aren't flat.
And I cannot believe you killed Steph and Ranger in a plane crash! I'm surprised the BB's are even talking to you with such heresy! Morelli, sure. But not Ranger...he would have LANDED the plane.
I guess I started really getting serious last spring, almost a year ago, though I always wanted to write. It was just something I talked about and didn't spend much time doing.
I agree with Maggie. Writing is something you get better at the more you do it, like exercise for the mind. But, like going for exercise, the hardest part sometimes is just getting ready to do the exercise. :)
Dee - you're here on the boat, you're as much of a pirate as the rest of us. :) And having others around to cheer, scream, etc with has proven to be a vital part of my writing. Before I found the very supportive internet community of romance writers, I thought (mistakenly) that writing had to happen in a vacuum. So glad to find that isn't the case.
Renee - I think you're right that after Lisa finds her own hero, she'll love him more than *gasp* Ranger. Though, perhaps Hellion's right. Maybe he won't be a complete thing of that past. A love affair like that is not easily forgotten.
Ter - Have I said yet how proud I am of you? Oh, I have? Well, it definitely bears repeating. LOL!! Go you! I am going to join the ranks of those who have written "The End" very soon. I know it.
LOL...Yes Hellion Ranger could of landed the plane, but it didn't fit my plot:)
You are so right about Ranger. He's bigger than life, and I find myself continually comparing him to other heros I read. All heros will have some of Ranger's qualities. What I love about Ranger is he has it all, and he carries it so well. If Ranger has taught me anything, it's less is more. Mystery in a hero goes a long way.
Mystery in a hero is essential, I think. *swoons*
I've only read the first Plum book but I've read some of Sin's fanfic and OMG! is Ranger hot in there. I so need to read the rest of those books. The terrible thing is - I have them all on my shelf!!
One of the best parts about creating a mysterious hero is that he's also a mystery to you. I love figuring him out and learning that THAT'S why he's being such an ass. LOL!
Congrads Terri on finishing your erotica!
Thanks, Lissa. It's really erotic romance if we want to get fancy shmancy specific. LOL! I barely managed this heat level, I don't ever want to try straight erotica!
I've been working on WIPs so long, it just seems nice to say something is *complete*. For a year I've been taking one step up and two steps back. Now I don't feel like I'm going to do that anymore.
It will be fun to read your blog one year from today and see how much things have changed. I see lots of angst, uber-hot heroes and completed works in your future. *g*
Terrio
Yes I often wonder what the next year will hold for me. I so hope that my WIP will be finished, but I know that this a labor of love and lots of hard work so I'm not rushing it. I wrote my 74,000 word full length fic in a little over eight months, but I know this will take longer.
You've completed a 74K full lenth work? Hell woman, you're light years ahead of me!!!
LOL!
Well yeah....that and two 34K's and a 54K and several short stories. When I start something I'm like a dog with a bone until it's complete. That doesn't mean it's worth a crap when I'm done:)
LOL! You're funny. I am going to stand closer to you. I could use a little more "dog with a bone" about me.
Might I say that I'm really proud that I pulled you into the madness! You're gonna do great babe!
I took the plunge for NaNo last year (2006). Of course, now that's a little over a year ago. It was scary. It was challenging. It was really frustrating. And with no safety net to fall back on, I just kept moving forward, one small step at a time. I've rewritten the beginning of that WIP six times now. I'm about to start on my seventh with a plot that is more plausible now.
Dee!! *huge hug* Hi babe! Miss you!
Hellion, the fic with Ranger and Steph dying in the plane crash is my all time favorite. I bawled my eyes out.
I'm finally done with my erotica too Ter! Congrats on finishing honey!
Whoohoo!! Sin. We're rocking the ship now! Errr...not together...I mean...damn it, y'all know what I mean.
Are you done done or like me and done but need to go back and edit a bit?
When I start something I'm like a dog with a bone until it's complete.
Then you'll do fine.
I think I'm the only one who doesn't know of Ranger.
*runs*
I've kept my head buried in anything Scottish for so long. But I'm intrigued and will have to check out this series.
Oh, and if you know the all time great hero inside and out and you compare all your heroes to him, I think that will only make your heroes that much stronger and desirable.
I'm like you. I completely re-wrote my first chapter and need to go back through and make sure everything flows from one to the next and I noticed a spot last night where I switched into him and switched right back in the next paragraph. The only problem is that I really liked what he was thinking. This third person stuff has got me all screwed up. LOL
But I wrote the end last night. Too bad I'm over by 298 words. So I'll be back to editing late tonight. I need to take a break, but I only have until Monday. You're due tomorrow, right?
MMmmmmm, Scottish. That's not a bad place to be buried. *LOL* Don't worry; I didn't know this series until last year, I believe, when after months and months of nagging, I gave into Sin's suggestion to read the books and did. He's HOT.
Yep, deadline is tomorrow. Forgive me if I get even more squiggly then. I'm not sure how long it will take me to send it off tonight and one more night of lost sleep, I'm pretty sure I'll fall right over the edge. LOL!
Renee - you need to check out some Ranger. Though anything Scottish is always good too. *g*
I have yours downloaded but since I'm writing for almost the same timeline, I haven't had time to open it. I've read all the comments about it though and it sounds top notch. Good job babe!
Renee~ Thanks for the vote of confidence! You must check out The Stephanie Plum series. Ranger is yum:)
Ranger has been good to my writing life. He has taught me so much. I may leave him behind, but a part of him will always be in my writing.
Sin without you, I would have left the Plum world a long time ago. You have helped me through more crap than I care to recall. You've been an editor, a friend,a cheerleader, and a shoulder to cry on.
*hugs*
The Cupcakes are mad, I tell you. Barking. Who would prefer Morelli to Ranger? Unfortunately Steph has that insecurity issue about "morelli being comfortable" and "Ranger being out of her league"--so I too am not totally convinced JE will end the series right. My sweats are comfortable; doesn't mean I should marry them.
Only hope we have is that Janet will follow the same formula she used in her earlier romance- Manhunter. The bad boy hero, who didn't want to settle down changed in the end...
It's not Ranger I'm worried about. I think he's far more settled down than Steph gives him credit for. And technically speaking Morelli is a bad boy who is settling down.
I worry that Steph is going to go for what's familiar and comfortable rather than be with someone who both challenges her and accepts her as she is without asking her to change (which is what I think Morelli does. Since he chronically complains he wishes she'd be a housewife or secretary.)
Question from the peanut gallery: Doesn't Ranger pretty much have a steady job? Be it dangerous but still steady. And doesn't he have his own place? What exactly constitutes *settled down*?
And I'm really asking because I haven't read them all and don't know. He just sounds more settled and secure in his life and who he than Morelli.
Ranger has made it clear in no uncertain terms that he doesn't want to settle down. He would be Steph's sex slave in a heart beat but beyond that he makes no promises of anything permanant. You have to ask yourself what is the girl thinking? I would rather have Ranger as a sex slave for the rest of my life as to sit on Morelli's couch and watch TV and eat pizza.
Uhm....YEAH!!! That's pretty much a no brainer right there.
Terrio, congratulations!!! Getting to "The End" is such a great feeling.
Honestly, Lisa (et al), I think sometimes NOT knowing other writers or anything particular about craft makes writing easier. I knew NO one in the business when I started. I wrote four books of 90-95,000 words each in four months--a book a month. How? I was too stupid to know that's not the right way to do things. I just jumped in.
So if I had any sage advice ("sage" being a stretch) it would be just do it. Get the words down, get through your story idea, and get to The End. Then go back and see what you have. It'll probably be better than you think.
Mshellion, I miss you! And you-know-who, too, though I don't know her pirate name. Jack interviewed with a company in St. Louis this morning...
Plug your ears, ladies. Captain is going to start screaming.
Thank you, Dee. I so wish I had time to get your input on this. THAT would be great.
And you're so right about the less you know, the easier it is. Without the aid of people constantly saying, "You can't do that!" and "You're hero can't say that!" and "That will never sell!", I would be much farther along I'm sure. LOL!
*crossing fingers* I hope he gets it Dee!
And how did this end up being a discussion about the hottie Ranger and debating the merits of cupcakes and Morelli endings? I've got my librarian glasses on. I'm not hearin' none of this.
LOL
Did she just say wearing glasses makes her deaf?
Huh. Funny.
*snortals* My libriarian glasses are my version of the rose colored glass which allow me to think everything is okay. I wear them often. LOL
I'm not denying what Ranger says; it's what he DOES that makes me question him. His actions say he would settle down. Morelli doesn't have any clothes at her house; and Ranger has a closet full of clothes for her to wear? Sex slaves wouldn't care about if you were clothed or not, in my opinion, as wishful as it might be.
I think that's what he says because he can't afford to get attached to anyone because of his job--and he doesn't want to give up his job. But he's already attached, as is clear in 11, when he freaked out, finding her in a cubbard; and in 12 when he walks in the apt at the end.
I guess technically if a guy tells you he's an asshole, you're supposed to believe him--you can be sure he's probably not playing--but I still think Ranger's actions speak louder than his words.
OMG, Dee, if you guys moved back to St. Louis, I might pee my pants!
HA! I told you to ignore the rules and write, and you ignored me--but brilliant, published, sagely Dee says it--and you tell her she's right!
*glances over her shoulder*
Are you talking to me?
**if you guys moved back to St. Louis, I might pee my pants!**
Mshellion, I truly don't think I should be responsible for this.
**brilliant, published, sagely Dee**
HA! I'm needlepointing this on a pillow.
Terrio, the fact is, whether you get all kinds of advice, follow the rules, even KNOW the rules, you don't have a chance of getting published if you don't write. AND get to The End.
So congrats on reaching that milestone, woman! And Lisa, jump in--the water's fine.
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