Work Text:
ALRIGHT!
So, here's the deal, I'm currently writing/editing six different stories about the tagged members of the batfam (Because I'm a different kind of stupid and can't seem to finish one before I start another and the ONLY draft that is completed is a mess so it needs so much editing that it might as well not be completed) and you see, as it goes I don't have many friends to start with because why would I, people is icky? AND the friends I do have are not into the Batfam and/or don't speak English therefore can't even read the drafts (I'm not a native speaker btw) and I need lots of feedback to feel comfortable publishing bc I'm a needy bitch.
So, my bff who happens to be a Batman and Superman fan and also speaks English has been helping me and betaing (?) what I've been writing so far. The problem is my bff is into action and movement and books (meaning shorter, more to the point readings) so my kind of writing is not exactly to their liking and I've been tiring them down with it, so I kinda don't wanna keep asking, and it also happens that they are VERY disgusted by romance and smut so some of my writing I can't even ask for help with.
To top it all, they are not into the fanfic community so can't answer some questions I have about stories and tagging and so, here I am.
Also, I'm basically a boomer in this, I still call BL and GL yaoi and yuri kinda boomer bc that's how I knew it for years as a precious child, I have no idea how discord works (I have one, I'm trying, I recently entered one very small Red Hood: Resurrection community but I keep forgetting to enter or interact or do SOMETHING) and I have the mind of a teenager in a seemingly functional adult body but can't seem to keep up with kids these days?
Anyway... Finally to the point of the post, after this embarrasing amount of oversharing (I'm aware, guys, I'm just very desperate after a year of this xD) these are my questions, I'll try to be concise but make no promises:
- Ok, for starters, I have this Damian&Jason one-shot I wanna write but every time I get a bit done I get discouraged because it's kinda similar to the other one-shot I wrote of them, and it's supposed to be a continuation but I'm not sure if I should make it at all if it's similar, and if I do, should I write it as a second chapter instead or make a small series? Is it worth it to make a series when it's only two stories? (I'm not planning on adding another there)
- So, I have this Jason story where for reasons I rather not explain (because is plot and I don't like spoilers so I also don't give them) Jason gets this kinda personality change (sort of split personality?) for an amount of time that in my head should be many months, nearing a year because otherwise the story is rushed, but my bff said it was convoluted and that in their head it should only be a few weeks or the reason for the personality change doesn't make any sense (which is true), so I countered saying I could make Jason have enhanced healing/endurance due to the pit to counter this reason and be able to stretch it into months, but they said that's also convoluted since it requires going out of your way to overexplaining why one thing led to the other so it's better not to use and to leave it simpler. I'm not sure I agree but I'm also not sure I don't agree, or maybe I simply should leave the whole split personality thing out of the story since It's not the main part of it? Again, I can't really explain much bc spoilers of the whole plot and twists but I hope it's enough to get an opinion?
- Then we move on to a TimKon story I wrote in a literal haze around March, which is mostly porn with a sprinkle of plot if you squint, and that one is completed since March bc I swear, it was a big haze, but I wrote everything so fast it's a HUGE mess so I've been trying to edit and improve it ever since, and since I don't have any feedback at all for that one I've been struggling to make it right and just today I read this super freaking good smut TimKon (which I'm gonna [LINK] as the inspiration for this rant because it really inspired me a lot and that's why my mind is restless and need somewhere to bounce back ideas), that nails down EXACTLY the kind of friend-to-friend interaction I want to have in my story and I feel like it's falling short.
- Point here being: What I wrote was already inspired by this one-shot smut I read around like, January (for the original theme of the story's progression) and the story's been completed since MArch, but I feel like it would be a complete blatant and disrespectful lie not to put this story I read today as an inspiration for the kind of interaction I want them to have, since I feel like my edits from now on will be influenced by it, and I want to know, do I change the inspiration link to this new one? Do I (Can I???) Put two stories as inspiration for my work? Or since what I wrote is already done and only editing should I just link it like I did here instead of place it as "Inspiration" in the story as a whole?
- Onto the same topic, but not exactly (?), like a week ago or so I watched this reel about TimKon and I've been itching to write it but wasn't sure how to frame it, and right after reading that story today I went on to do some responsible adult stuff (like, you know, eating and showering) so I put some music to do shit, but couldn't stop thinking about this TimKon when IT HIT ME! A song came up and it was actually perfect for the story I wanted to make and suddenly decided to make it a SongFic. The problem here is, I've never written a songfic and, honestly, have hardly ever read one too, so I'm not sure how they work? Do I link the song from the start or just name it? Do I have to put ALL the lyrics of the song or just the most relevant ones? Is it okay to change a part of the lyrics bc it fits better what I'm writing or do I leave it as it is? Maybe reference it in the writing after? And how ON EARTH do I separate the song part from the narrative? As in, do I put lines in between? How do I even do that? Idk how to use HTML, I have so many questions HELP.
- Moving on, I saw this small prompt and I adored it and immediately started writing a short fic about it, but the more I thought, the more it didn't fit my narrative, in the sense that the prompt incentivates a pro feminist and pro queer view, and without giving much details bc I wanna post this ideally next week, I realized the character, or at least my view of the character, wouldn't really go for the queer view of it, not because he would be against being or appearing to be queer but because of who he is this specific topic makes him feel uncomfortable. And well, I'm not part of the queer community, I'm regretably very straight (sigh) and don't really have friends that are queer, unless you count my wife (bestie that I married as a child) who is demisexual but I don't feel like that counts since we don't really speak about it since the last time she was in love with a girl years ago? Anyway I won't disclose details because I feel like it doesn't make a difference for my question.
- And my question is: I don't wanna seem disrespectful about it by taking out the queer aspect of the prompt or enunciating that the character is uncomfortable, which would 100% be part of the narrative to drive the point of the story across since my male character will be faced with some feminine behaviors that he will feel very wrong about, but will force himself to do anyway (and no, won't change his mind after the whole thing is over) and I feel like I'm walking on thin ice doing this. Will it be disrespectful taking out the queer part and make it a point of him to feel uncomfortable? Should I make a warning about it in the beginning or ask the author of the prompt for permission to change it first? Am I overthinking it? I kinda rather overthink than unknowingly insult someone anyway but still, am I? Idk, again, help :')
- Finally, I have a question about other fandoms, like, I've seen authors publishing about different fandoms with no problem but they always have some kind of connection anyway, and here's the thing, I wanna edit and post some older stories I have from back in the day on Fanfiction.net when I was a sweet summer child, but they are from anime fandoms, specifically from Pokemon and Naruto, and I feel like it's a whole different topic and like, it wouldn't really fit with what I already posted here? So I feel like maybe I should make another account to post those, but also I don't really wanna because what a pain in the ass to have and manage two accounts (I'm just lazy, let me be) and idk if it's worth it, what do you say? Is it too weird? Do I make another account or do I just post here?
- Oh! and about posting, how do you guys feel about tags? Like, is it better to have more or less? Do you prefer more, maybe unnecesary tags, or just the more relevant ones? I still have no idea if I'm tagging too much or too little.
And well, I'm finally done rambling, I may or may not edit this a bit once the manic energy leaves my body. (?) but right now I just need to post so whatever. (?) I really REALLY hope someone comes around to comment here, I would really appreciate the feedback!
So if you want to comment, take this into account please:
- Feel free to comment on just one of my questions if you dont wanna read/answer many or all of them, at this point I'll take whatever crumbs I get and everything is appreciated.
- I'll take whatever criticism you wanna say, so long as you are polite/respectful about it.
- I love feedback and bounce ideas back and forth, so feel free to be as explayative and explicit as you wish.
- I can't say this enough, I'll take anything, I'm desperate, it's been a year of drafts and begging my bff for betaing, so if you happen to have read any of my previous stories and wanna comment something about them, I'll gladly take it too!
- I repeat, please be respectful, insults or mean comments will be blocked.
Ok, that's finally it, thanks for stopping by even if you decide not to comment! (And if anyone wants to share a RedHood or TimKon server in discord that I can join, I would also appreciate that, I have absolutely no idea how to join servers on my own).