how would u compare writing the pilot compared to the new and improved version of this story? :-) what was easier about the fic and whats easier about writing original fiction
Thank you for your awesome question!
Writing the pilot was easier in all ways but one—it was very limited. As little as we stuck to the canon material, there was still a need to match expectations for how the characters would behave. (I’m personally a big believer in writing to entertain your audience. We all know the Tomarry audience can be very particular.)
Another limitation besides fandom orthodox was the cultural learning curve. I don’t like writing the Potterverse outside of the UK, as I’d find it very disingenuous, so the story took place there (and we’re both from the US, so…). Now, I absolutely *loved* learning more about regional quirks in Yorkshire; I watched a lot of YouTube documentaries and local content creators, I read about the local architecture, the accents, Yorkshire’s (very interesting and unexpected!) history. But how authentic could it really be?
That notwithstanding, the fic was still a breeze. I barely reviewed anything before smacking that publish button. Committing to a big girl novel, however, is no joke. It’s hard. I could go on about this, but it would be nothing new, as any writer will tell you the same thing, I suppose.
Specific to our text: it’s very challenging to integrate the chaotic world of the web into a book which could potentially be read by more than fan communities (though I’d probably still regard slash fans as our target audience). Not every “normie” is going to get it, lol.
All in all, I can say this—writing this as an original piece is far more fulfilling and the final product will be of much higher quality, in all measures, than the fic was. And I look forward to sharing it.
Wow, Amelinda definitely explained everything above perfectly. If anything, I don’t think she fully explained how difficult it is to go from writing from fanfiction to original fiction. It’s wonderful how we can talk about our story for almost a year, jumping from different parts of the timeline, creating new characters, places, arcs and Amelinda can sit down, reorganize it into a plot that makes sense, *and* write it out beautifully for everyone else to eventually read.
It’s our story, but Amelinda does so much and I want to ensure everyone knows how much she does to ensure this goes smoothly. It’s mind-blowing, admirable, and inspiring. Please remember this!
To add on with my opinion, one thing I find fulfilling about the original story is that these are our characters. They were born from our thoughts, grew with our conversations, and took on a life of their own. Original plots were changed due to the characters developing beyond the original expectations, they evolved into something that Lover’s Spit characters could never do. It’s amazing how organically the characters develop, how a random sentence during a conversation could bring an idea that changes so much about the story itself. Lover’s Spit definitely had these moments, that’s how the entire fanfiction developed, but with this it’s so much more.
Lover’s Spit was so much fun, but it’ll never compare to this feeling with our original work. I’m thankful on every level that I got to meet Amelinda and our conversation about what if Tom Riddle was a 4chan user developed into what it is now.
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