Hi Jadeglas! Do You Prefer OC, Fanfiction, Or A Little Bit Of Both?

Hi jadeglas! Do you prefer OC, fanfiction, or a little bit of both?

I for one enjoy writing both, but have been on an Original Story kick for a few months. I’d love to learn more about your supernatural romance if you want to divulge ✨

First, I'm sorry for taking so ever-loving-long to respond to this, but thank you so much for asking in the first place!

Second, the answer is both.

I learned to write via fan fiction (hello being 9 years old and writing yourself into your favorite cartoon show! I'm not the only one who did that, right?), and while OC is harder, it feels more rewarding in certain ways. I still "cheat" tbh, though -- especially with characters. My character creation process tends to be along the lines of:

I need a villain/mentor/bestie for this character right here

Who (other people's fictional characters) do I know who's personality would fit this?

*mentally fusses over finding the perfect personality for a small eternity*

Alright, this person is going to be based on Nori from The Hobbit, but specifically the version of Nori that I read in that one fanfic written by that one writer that I swoon for no matter what they post.

*makes adjustments to the character so they fit the setting and situation*

*continues writing*

It's just faster. It's like wanting to eat muffins. Yes, I COULD make them from scratch, but my free time is limited, so I'll just use store bought this time.

And omg omg omg - I'm about to set up a Master-list post thing on my page so that as I randomly gush about different characters and topics and storylines in my world, it actually remains semi-easy to follow along with the particular parts you're actually interested in!

And thank you so much for the ask again!

Maybe becoming a werewolf wouldn't fix my mental illness but it would fix my Not Being A Werewolf problem

So.... Just had a bonding moment with a new mutual (I think we're mutuals now) about how awesome crazy antagonists are (like Joker), and I provided a vague example based on a fanfic that I collaborated on ages ago, and they asked what the fic was, and then I had to explain my 120k+ unfinished monstrosity and then I had to wade back into it to find where the juicy POV actually started, and I just...

If you've written fanfic and are now starting OC, it's ok to be terrified that your OC will never be as good as your fanfic. That fanfic was a collaboration, whether you realize it or not. Bare minimum, you were working with the original artist (without them knowing) to create your fanfic. Best case scenario, you colab'd with a whole fandom, soaking in ideas and perspectives and head cannons that molded how you perceived these fictional folks - and if you're super lucky, you got to write that story with a dear friend.

With your OC, it all comes from you - that's why you've got to start sharing it! Find a friend, tell your mutuals, shout to the void. Bc you wrote that way once - so real that these characters that don't even exist felt more vivid and alive to you than some of your favorite memories. You did that, with help, but you were putting the words together, you were at the helm. And they weren't just that alive to you - everyone who followed your journey writing that fanfic, reading it, waiting on pins and needles for the next post? It was real to them, too.

So keep pushing, keep writing, keep sharing. Bc one day your OC will be just as real, just as vivid - it just feels harder bc there's fewer folks helping right now.

OMG, so now we're going to talk about Viper. (this corpsefucker right here)

So, the first story I'm writing is (planned to be) a little 40k word novella about Mia (no powers) and Nico (echolocation). Mia has been on the run from Viper for nearly a decade now (our girl is resourceful af!).

Viper is bad news. He's the chief enforcer for the Fayetteville, NC, crime syndicate (no hate, it's just that my husband lived there for a while before we met, so if I have questions about the location, I can ask him) and he's known for his cruel and ruthless tactics. He has no super powers of his own, but will often lead teams of non-sanctioned supers, which is pretty impressive in the underworld.

Mia's parents owed the Fayetteville syndicate big time, and ended up promising Mia to the syndicate to help pay off their debt. Mia caught word of this right before she was "collected" and thus started her life on the run. Viper took this as a personal insult, of course, and has been obsessively hunting for Songbird (his "affectionate" nickname for Mia) ever since. Word is that he'll pay really well for accurate information that will help him track his Songbird down.

Let’s take a moment and talk about the villain in your story! Is it a person? An obstacle that needs to be overcome? A big fat CLOSING SOON sign on the front of your favorite video store?

If you’re experiencing writers block, make a playlist with songs that remind you of your WIP and go on a 30 min walk.

Trust me.

Fanfic writers are like crows. If you give them treats (comments) they will bring you shiny things (fanfic)