Lessons Learned
Most of you who read this column (all three of you *waves*!) know that I write Finding Forever. If you didn’t know that, I’m usually pretty quick to talk about it, because it’s my baby. Yes it’s a fan fic, and yes it’s based on Stephenie Meyer’s creation, but this story is so off center and so non-mainstream that is has really become a project close to my heart.
I have written another multi-chapter novel length fic called Supernova. It’s a Post Breaking Dawn creation and the first thing I ever set out to write that I completed. Somehow, I wrote that behemoth in a little under four months and couldn’t wait to give my little fingers a break. Unfortunately, I got about a week down the road and the idea for Finding Forever took root in my brain and wouldn’t let go.
That was a year ago. I started my delve into the world of Felix and the Volturi in June of 2009. Yesterday, I finished!
I’m still not sure how I feel about being done with this story. I have spent the last year of my life on the same roller coaster that many fic authors experience; but this was such a different ballgame from my first fic. I learned many things about fan fiction and readers in general during the process of writing Finding Forever. I thought I would share those lessons with you today
1 – Secondary characters are hard to write! Felix was so underdeveloped in the original series, and there were only a few traits to go by, so keeping the characters “canon” proved to be quite the challenge because there isn’t much to refer to in the original works.
2 – It’s difficult to write a story about Felix and not include the Volturi. I originally intended to focus solely on Felix, with the rest of the Italian vampires as only peripheral characters. Yeah, that didn’t work out too well. Before I knew it, Aro and Caius and Jane were all like, “hey bitch, where’s our chapter?” And I eventually gave them more playtime, because they are kind of bossy like that.
3 – Backstories are FUN! Secondary characters are so much fun to play with because 90% of them were not given any back stories in the original series. That means I got to make it up! It’s always fun to make up a story about a character, but considering the characters are vampires, it’s even better because you aren’t limited by time periods. There was never any firm reference to Felix’s age in the original series that I could find, so I could make him as old or as young as I wanted. Not only did I get to explore different periods in history, I also got to imagine what he was like before he was a vampire. His story is only told in one chapter of Finding Forever, but that might have been the chapter I had the most fun writing.
4 – Original Characters have a mind of their own. As I said before,the story was supposed to be about Felix falling in love with a human. The story was supposed to be a fluffy novella about a big bad scary vampire and a cute teeny tiny gullible human. That did happen…in the first 10 chapters. After that, things went their own way. It became less about Felix and more about Janie and her ordeal with entering into the world of vampires and her adaptation. Sometimes I had to step back and say, “whoa, who is this story about anyway?”
5 – Evil is fun. But, I mean, who didn’t know this already, right? I’m not sure what I was thinking, setting out to write a fluffy story about one of the Volturi. Even when characters popped up that I didn’t intend to be completely evil, they eventually turned out that way (Sulpicia, anyone?).
6 – Readership on non mainstream is dismal. Supernova had a standard amount of reads and reviews, so I was expecting the same kind of response to Finding Forever. I was surprised at the lack of enthusiasm for Felix and the Volturi. It became a source of frustration over the past year because I put so much work and effort into it, only to have a few people read each chapter. However, the readers I did gain have been amazingly loyal, supportive and vocal. I may have only had 25 reads on each chapter, but I knew I could count on them to keep me motivated and on pointe.
7 – Reviews seemed to be more substantial. Yes the review count is waaaaay under par with most fics, but I would say about 90% of the reviews I have received were actually constructive. I had very few reviews that said only “good job,” “update soon,” or “thanks for this chapter.” Not to knock those reviews because the reader still took the time to do it. However, I had less of those overall and more analytical reviews, which I love!
8 – Readers are always going to ask about the Cullens. *sigh* I know, it’s true. People are so used to reading about the Cullens, considering the original series was rougly 2000 pages about them, that they are constantly on the lookout for them in fan fic. When I set out to write about Felix, I knew the Cullens would only have a very (very) brief appearance. But readers still asked about them. One review even went so far as to say they were surprised I was a good writer because the story didn’t have any Cullens in it. It made me laugh, as my knee jerk reaction was to ask that reader if I should send a memo to Anne Rice so she would know she must include the Cullens in her stories in order to be a good writer. *snicker* I’ve had many a good chuckle over that one.
9 – In the end, this was a much more fullfilling journey. Secondary character stories are few and far between, but it’s always wonderful when you find a kindred spirit. I enjoyed writing Supernova, but I made more friends and networked more during the writing of Finding Forever.
10 – I think Volturi is the next fan fic trend. Well, maybe not, but there are a pocket of us out there who luuuurve them! And once you go Volturi, you never go back. Writing the Volturi is fun and really gets the imagination going. If you haven’t tried it, I suggest you do. You won’t regret it!
Until next time…have a blessed day!
Congratulations on finishing! I always found completion such a mixed bag of emotions, pride and relief that you got to the end, looking forward to being able to take on new projects, and sorrow at having to say goodbye to characters who you’ve known intimately and lived with like lovers for months.
Unfortunately, this fandom is fixated on the ExB stories (AH in particular), is it because they are identifying with Bella? Is it because they want to only daydream about RPattz? Is it only the romance that brought so many readers to the fandom and vampires be damned? I don;t know, but I can’t help but think that someday the value of secondary characters and the Volturi in particular will be more appreciated. Until then, THANK YOU for not writing another ExB!
I know exactly how you feel with completion of a fic, and I am so proud of you. Finding Forever is truly dear to my heart and I think I’ll read and re-read it over and over again. Thank you for sharing it with us, and for introducing me to the joys of writing secondary characters because without you, Tre would have never happened, and I would have never fallen for the Volturi like I did. You’re totally right, once you go Volturi, you never go back!
I’m so jealous of you right about now for being done. I’m so close to being completed with IPoN (4 chaps after the one I’m writing now) but it might as well be 50, lol. ;) Did I mention that I’ve been writing it since February of ’09?
Anywho, congrats, lady! I bet it’s a huge relief! And I so agree – writing about “less developed” characters is fun because you get to completely make up their history, & there are virtually no limitations.
No, writing about secondary characters won’t get you the 5-digit reviews that writing Edward & Bella screwing as humans every other chapter will, but at least you know that you’ve earned every single review that you DID get. ;)
Hi honey!
First off, congratulations again on finishing Finding Forever, even if it makes me sad to not read more Felix and Janie (and Sulpicia).
You and I have found each other through our mutual love of secondary characters and especially the Volturi. We’ve ranted and complained to each other many times about the fact that our characters and stories seem to get a lot less love than the 2.546.093 E/B BDSM stories that are out there….sigh….
Taking a minor character and making it your own, and then paring it with an original character is a scary thing to do. Thank goodness I didn’t realize how unpopular they were before I started writing, or I would have never started writing. You Janie is a wondeful, sassy, and funny girl, and she quickly captured my heart. Your Felix is wonderful, loving and sometimes verah sexay….I’m happy I found you and Finding Forever, it’s truly one of the best things in fanfiction and it’s a shame people gloss over it for lack of Cullen.
You know my struggle with Fallen Princess, when Felix’ role grew a lot larger than I originally intended it to be. I fell in love with him, much like Lucy, and when the time came to actually rip her out of Volterra and have Embry imprint on her, I almost regretted it. This also had to do with consistent reviewer questions about when the Cullens would show up. Rebel as I am, I almost cut them out completely. I just hated the fact that people relied on the Cullens to make Lucy’s life better. They won’t, that was never the plan. The wolves will play a larger part, but the Cullens will be little more than background noise and a way for Lucy to win the fight.
I might not have as many reviews as most mainstream fics, but I agree with you; my reviews are a lot more substantial and my reviewers are people who’s opinion I dearly value. As we’ve said many times: we are in the dark little corner of fic and fully intent on staying there :-) Pioneers bb!!
Wow, this turned out wordier than I thought….
Ik hou van jou!
xoxo
SUE!!! Congrats! I read this and was really really happy. I can’t believe, 1. it has been a year and 2. it is done. It was a great journey!
I know I have been MIA for a bit but a lot of new and exciting things are happening over here. I will fill you in soon no worries!
Congrats again you deserve it and your writing is amazing, honestly
Great column, Sue! So many of us who tend to read Cullen-centric fics never think about the challenges – or rewards – of writing secondary character fic. I have to say you really opened my eyes with Finding Forever, and now I’ve added several secondary character fics to my favorites list.
I have to agree that writing the back story of a secondary character is really fun. I’m writing an o/s about Alec now, and I’m having a blast developing his life before he became a vampire.
I think everyone should branch out of their shell and read secondary character fic at least once. Try it – you might be surprised how much you like it!
Excellent information darling! I would just like to say that I am a Cullen lover – that being SAID, I didn’t miss their presence at all in this wonderfully developed, richly written story. I think Volturi stories are as fascinating to read as they are (as you stated above) to write. I don’t know why more readers won’t give such stories a chance, if something is well done the characters will suck you in (as yours most definitely did) and to skip something over simply because the Cullens don’t play a major role is a true travesty.
Congratulations again on finishing your second fic, I for one am extremely grateful for your beautiful work.