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flyingskullThinking about writing still. Thinking about writing takes more time than writing itself, probably because when I write I tend not to think on the process, but on the specific words to use and what would this or that character do or say right now, which doesn't leave much space for speculating on the whys, hows and wherefores of fanfic writing as an art form. Just now I'm bogged down on my parody, a not unusual occurrence, and I'm vaguely thinking about AU-ness and superpowers. Let's see if writing things down will make them a little clearer in my mind.
Have you noticed how often even better than mediocre fanfic writers will forget about the powers their characters possess?
I've read fics about superheroes/ines who got in all kind of scrapes and conveniently 'forgot' to use their powers, fics in which witches and wizards seemed to have no magic and aliens no technology or superior intellect. I do understand it's hard for some writer to imagine life with those after all inexistent extra limbs, but extra limbs they are or what's the use of having them?
If I could fly, I'd fly, not walk or go by car; not because of showing off what I can do, but because flying would be like legs or sight or thought to me. I would have to exercise a lot of conscious control not to fly, if for some reasons it were better for me not to. To me, powers are something one is, not has. I'd have to imagine flying as a part of the very essence of my fanfic-ed character before writing her/him in. It could come to the point where I would actually find my eyes water, if I elected to write a tragic piece about her/him having lost the power to fly, just like writing about a character having lost her/his sight. I couldn't honestly dispense with it, even when bending canon to have her/him slashed.
I could never get the point of those AUs in which superheroes/wizards/aliens are 'just like ordinary persons'. How can they be? The whole point of them is that they're not ordinary! Their all personality is linked to the powers! Why am I shouting? Sorry.
Now, two of the most heart-rending fics I've ever read are the exact expression of what I'm trying to say. They are both by MicknStar and one is all about how the sheer magnitude of his power has destroyed every chance at life - not normal life, but living-like-a-human-being-with-powers life - for Chamber, while the other describes the desolation of nothingness that Gambit's life become when he loses his power. (Voiceless and Autumn Leaves The graphics are spectacular too :) ) Powers are important to characters with powers, they shape their lives and their reaction to outside events.
Especially sex events.
What does having sex mean to a telepath or empath? It must be different from the garden or ordinary variety. There must be a veritable torrent of sensations, emotions and thoughts all mixed up; in extreme cases there could be a danger of momentarily losing the sense of self, who knows? who can say? Fanfic writers can try and explore this though, if they remember to take the extrasensorial perception into the equation. And what about rape? I mean I don't write rape and I don't relish it, but it can be well written and important to character development one way or another. Yes, but how to rape a super powered being? It's not as easy as it sounds, and making said character dissolve in tears and go all limp in terror is not the correct solution. Not to mention that some superpowered beings (Superman comes to mind) have better renounce sex altogether unless in the presence of not very healthy doses of whatever it is that makes them weak as kittens and in that case render them unable to perform, yeah even females.
To get back to the AU thing, strip characters of their powers and make them just like you and me and what do you get? An original fiction with names stolen from some book/film/comic/cartoon/whatever.
Nope, have still to think about it. Be back with more. Enforced bedtime now.
I HATE dependency!
Have you noticed how often even better than mediocre fanfic writers will forget about the powers their characters possess?
I've read fics about superheroes/ines who got in all kind of scrapes and conveniently 'forgot' to use their powers, fics in which witches and wizards seemed to have no magic and aliens no technology or superior intellect. I do understand it's hard for some writer to imagine life with those after all inexistent extra limbs, but extra limbs they are or what's the use of having them?
If I could fly, I'd fly, not walk or go by car; not because of showing off what I can do, but because flying would be like legs or sight or thought to me. I would have to exercise a lot of conscious control not to fly, if for some reasons it were better for me not to. To me, powers are something one is, not has. I'd have to imagine flying as a part of the very essence of my fanfic-ed character before writing her/him in. It could come to the point where I would actually find my eyes water, if I elected to write a tragic piece about her/him having lost the power to fly, just like writing about a character having lost her/his sight. I couldn't honestly dispense with it, even when bending canon to have her/him slashed.
I could never get the point of those AUs in which superheroes/wizards/aliens are 'just like ordinary persons'. How can they be? The whole point of them is that they're not ordinary! Their all personality is linked to the powers! Why am I shouting? Sorry.
Now, two of the most heart-rending fics I've ever read are the exact expression of what I'm trying to say. They are both by MicknStar and one is all about how the sheer magnitude of his power has destroyed every chance at life - not normal life, but living-like-a-human-being-with-powers life - for Chamber, while the other describes the desolation of nothingness that Gambit's life become when he loses his power. (Voiceless and Autumn Leaves The graphics are spectacular too :) ) Powers are important to characters with powers, they shape their lives and their reaction to outside events.
Especially sex events.
What does having sex mean to a telepath or empath? It must be different from the garden or ordinary variety. There must be a veritable torrent of sensations, emotions and thoughts all mixed up; in extreme cases there could be a danger of momentarily losing the sense of self, who knows? who can say? Fanfic writers can try and explore this though, if they remember to take the extrasensorial perception into the equation. And what about rape? I mean I don't write rape and I don't relish it, but it can be well written and important to character development one way or another. Yes, but how to rape a super powered being? It's not as easy as it sounds, and making said character dissolve in tears and go all limp in terror is not the correct solution. Not to mention that some superpowered beings (Superman comes to mind) have better renounce sex altogether unless in the presence of not very healthy doses of whatever it is that makes them weak as kittens and in that case render them unable to perform, yeah even females.
To get back to the AU thing, strip characters of their powers and make them just like you and me and what do you get? An original fiction with names stolen from some book/film/comic/cartoon/whatever.
Nope, have still to think about it. Be back with more. Enforced bedtime now.
I HATE dependency!
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no subject
Date: 2005-09-16 11:38 pm (UTC)You're right though, and I actually am considering an OC with Warren Worthington like wings and playing with the fact that flying birds just aren't stuctured for walking. I won't go to the extreme of altering her anatomy to make the wings logically possible (ie a fused spine with a keel given the location of the wings or a tail rudder), but certainly the idea that if she was going more than a few steps her natural inclination would be to let the wings do the work. May also play with the concept that as per Marvel's mutations manifesting at puberty, the powers would actually be secondary sex characteristics.
no subject
Date: 2005-09-17 09:33 pm (UTC)There was a fantastic Sci-Fi novellette about flying humans. They had, of course, keels and the wings had slots in which the hands fit in to help wings movement with arm muscles and not upset portance. It was a perfect solution to the 'wings' problem and the story was rich in three dimensional characters and events. Can't remember the title, me being so sadly gaga in my dotage, but, if you're interested, I could try and rustle it out - i.e. mum will make a search. :D