**If you get stuck writing a BtVS fic... - Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums

Highlander II · 10th November 2002, 05:16 AM

Well, at Clan MacSlow we have tips for getting out of a rut in HL fic, but, since we have so many of us that write in other fandoms - we should probably add others!

So - for Buffy the Vampire Slayer -

*****

* Make sure you're not writing the same fic everyone else has already written. You know the one, that one where Spike and Buffy have sex for the first time, or any other two characters for that matter. Believe me, that's probably why you're stuck, b/c you're trying too hard to find a way to make it different. If it's that hard, write a different story. It'll be more interesting in the end anyway.

* If you've introduced a new vampire or other character, give some background on him/her and how s/he relates to the other characters in the story.

* Make sure you didn't leave out any of the primary characters in your story, for the season you are writing in. Ie: If you're in S4 or S5, don't forget about Tara or Dawn. (There's not much chance you've forgotten about Spike, there are plenty of Spike fans - and Spike haters - writing fic, so it's not likely he's been left out.)

*****

That's all I have for now -- I'm sure I'll think of more -

If anyone has other fandoms they want to do this for - feel free - start a new thread for each new fandom -- unless they mesh well together like BtVS and Angel -- stuff like that ----

have fun!!!

Highlander II · 20th November 2002, 11:01 PM

more tips:

*Don't forget that in BtVS fic, the Scooby gang research party or Giles, himself, can be used as "Mr. Exposition" - you know, the guy who drops by just to 'info dump' - trust me, you can get away with this in BtVS - Joss Whedon does it all the time! (Just don't overuse this feature, or your entire story will read like a term paper)

*Off-screen violence or occurances - if you have a fight scene or a sex scene, or something along those lines that doesn't seem to be working out for you (sometimes action scene are tough to write), make the scene 'off screen'. Have a wounded or recently sexually satisfied character walk into a room and one of the room occupants can comment on the enter-ee's condition. Sometimes the 'off screen' stuff is more effective than the 'on screen' stuff - they do this on TV all the time.
(Actually, this one's good for ANY fandom!)

Highlander II · 11th July 2003, 04:09 PM

alas - more -

*RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH! -- Make sure you've done your homework before you start writing! Spike says that he's 126 years old in 2 separate episodes, about a year apart, we don't really know how old he is, but we *DO* know he was sired in 1880 (unless you're writing prior to episode 5.07). Anya was a vengeance demon for around 1100 years (she gives her exact age a couple times).

*Know your characters! When they speak, move, act, make sure you've got their mannerisms down. There's a lot of stuff the actors add to the characters when they take the words from the script and put them on the screen - try to capture those nuances in your writing. They're important to making the character who s/he is.

(these are a direct result of having read a book *coughBloodandFogcough* where the author forgot the above steps)

10th November 2002, 05:16 AM	#1 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,446	If you get stuck writing a BtVS fic... Well, at Clan MacSlow we have tips for getting out of a rut in HL fic, but, since we have so many of us that write in other fandoms - we should probably add others! So - for Buffy the Vampire Slayer - *** * Make sure you're not writing the same fic everyone else has already written. You know the one, that one where Spike and Buffy have sex for the first time, or any other two characters for that matter. Believe me, that's probably why you're stuck, b/c you're trying too hard to find a way to make it different. If it's that hard, write a different story. It'll be more interesting in the end anyway. * If you've introduced a new vampire or other character, give some background on him/her and how s/he relates to the other characters in the story. * Make sure you didn't leave out any of the primary characters in your story, for the season you are writing in. Ie: If you're in S4 or S5, don't forget about Tara or Dawn. (There's not much chance you've forgotten about Spike, there are plenty of Spike fans - and Spike haters - writing fic, so it's not likely he's been left out.) ***** That's all I have for now -- I'm sure I'll think of more - If anyone has other fandoms they want to do this for - feel free - start a new thread for each new fandom -- unless they mesh well together like BtVS and Angel -- stuff like that ---- have fun!!!

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20th November 2002, 11:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,446	more tips: Don't forget that in BtVS fic, the Scooby gang research party or Giles, himself, can be used as "Mr. Exposition" - you know, the guy who drops by just to 'info dump' - trust me, you can get away with this in BtVS - Joss Whedon does it all the time! (Just don't overuse this feature, or your entire story will read like a term paper) Off-screen violence or occurances - if you have a fight scene or a sex scene, or something along those lines that doesn't seem to be working out for you (sometimes action scene are tough to write), make the scene 'off screen'. Have a wounded or recently sexually satisfied character walk into a room and one of the room occupants can comment on the enter-ee's condition. Sometimes the 'off screen' stuff is more effective than the 'on screen' stuff - they do this on TV all the time. (Actually, this one's good for ANY fandom!)

11th July 2003, 04:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Highlander II There can be only one!! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Virginia Posts: 9,446	alas - more - RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH! -- Make sure you've done your homework before you start writing! Spike says that he's 126 years old in 2 separate episodes, about a year apart, we don't really know how old he is, but we DO* know he was sired in 1880 (unless you're writing prior to episode 5.07). Anya was a vengeance demon for around 1100 years (she gives her exact age a couple times). Know your characters! When they speak, move, act, make sure you've got their mannerisms down. There's a lot of stuff the actors add to the characters when they take the words from the script and put them on the screen - try to capture those nuances in your writing. They're important to making the character who s/he is. (these are a direct result of having read a book coughBloodandFogcough* where the author forgot the above steps)