July WIP Challenge: Day 6 Check-In

[lexicalcrow]

Day six was rather productive for me. I hope it was for you too.

Today, I have done:
- Writing
- Editing
- Sent fic to beta
- Post
- Planning and/or research
- Procrastinate
- Something else I will describe in comments.

Today's question: How AU does a fic have to be before it's crossing into original fiction? Is it strictly an issue of characterisation, or are there other things at play?

Comments

[lexicalcrow]

I've done a lot of work today. Haven't added my word count up yet, but I did some significant work on my AU big bang fic (we're past 18k), wrote a kink bingo fill (breathplay), and did some work on my kinked big bang fic, and one more fic. It's been scatty, and inconsistent, but it's more than I've done over the past few days, so I'm happy enough with that.

(It's weird answering my own question but) I don't know if it's just characterisation. Maybe that's all it is. I know I had a dystopic Western AU that was fanfic that decided, halfway through, that my characters were actually original characters, and it wasn't going to be fanfic anymore. I'm sure anyone who knows the original idea and the original fandom may pick up who's who, but I doubt anyone else would.

I suppose we're also opening up the 'thinly veiled fanfic' territory too. I'm guilty of doing that a few times. I'm still not entirely sure if they're fanfic or original either. I can't always tell if I wrote them to be fanfic, or wrote them to be original fic. So IDK.

[jagnikjen]

Today, I'm trying to critique a friend's first chapter of a new novel, but I keep getting phone calls!! And having to talk to stupid people. Grrr!

I haven't worked on anything of my own today yet. Hopefully tonight when I get home I'll have some time to myself to write or edit.

[littlebutfierce]

Blergh, no writing today; I'm a attempting-to-unwind ball of work stress. GRRRRR. Maybe later in the week. :/

[pensnest]

Gah, we've just got home after a day moving child #2 from his previous house to his new one, with a bit of running around after child #1 thrown in for fun. We seem to have spent most of the day nipping around Norwich, or in my case, also cleaning and unpacking. Man. Doubt there'll be fic tonight.

If I'm writing an AU, I like if possible to bring in references to canon events, so that readers can connect them. Therefore my AUs generally aren't quite classifiable as original fiction - because without knowing the references the reader loses out.

[lullabymoon]

I wrote nearly 1000 words for my big bang today! *dances*

[linaewen]

Today I am freaking out due to the fact that I haven't written anything yet this month, due to family doings and the holiday here in the US of A. Family and holiday = good stuff, but I can't forget the fact that I need to write more than 10k words before the end of the month! Anyway, I'm back in my usual place now, and that might help matters, since I only have to deal with the usual RL stuff that interrupts me, and not the fun/family/holiday kind of stuff. ;-)

I'm going to try to keep my mind on the main track for the rest of the evening and ignore those things that try to sidetrack me, and hopefully I'll be able to report a word count tomorrow!

This question of AU is very interesting. In some ways, the minute you turn to AU, you are beginning to delve into original fiction -- in the sense that you are having characters do things, go places, meet people that you thought up yourself. You might be playing with canon characters or settings, but very often you are also creating something that is essentially new. It's not really original in that you are borrowing characters and settings, but there are other elements that make it original. I write a lot of this kind of AU. I've never actually attempted anything totally original!

[bay_alexison]

Today I was able to write around 700 more words for my ladyfest fic after not able to sit down and write the past two days (ack, real life and catching up on reading some fics D: ). I'm a little over halfway done with it, so I should be able to get the rough draft of it done Friday or Saturday.

For the AU question, going to agree with pensnest, there. I have done a couple AUs and I would reference some canon stuff here and there. And of course, characterization is a must. I have to recognize the characters from canon and if they don't act themselves then I would think the story is original.

[linaewen]

Hah -- I just reread what I wrote. I guess it's true what they say: “Go not to the elves for counsel, for they will say both yes and no.” :-D

[terajk]

I wrote a drabble and a doubble for a Prompt Me/Stump the Author. I'm planning a third. Yay! (If anyone wants to play, they're still welcome). I also got a shiny new kink_bingo card, and am planning a line of Azula/Toph fills. (*plans*)

The most AUish thing I've ever written was a Halloween story where wee!Michael Myers is non-neurotypical rather than Pure Unadulterated Evil, but I thought of it more like Taking Issues With Canon rather than an AU. He still (rot13) xvyyf Whqvgu. Which isn't much of an answer.