#everlarkauthor

It’s actually shameful how long it took me to get around to this. @savvylark tagged me half an eon ago to answer several Everlark related questions, so here we go.

1.     What inspired you to start writing Everlark fanfiction?

After blazing through reading the entire trilogy in a matter of days way back in 2012, I couldn’t let the stories go and needed more. I started with your traditional “growing back together” fics that filled in the hole between the Peeta planting the primroses, “Real,” and the epilogue. That led me to @promptsinpanem and I thought, “Hey, I could do this too!” And promptly chickened out, lol. Took me two years of reading, expanding my horizons into canon divergent and AU stories, lurking, and secretly writing my own fics before I worked up the courage to post something. Basically, nothing out of the ordinary.

2.     How did you choose your handle name (tumblr, ao3, ff)?

Ugh. I should dig the post out of my archive, but there’s about six and a half years worth of posts and I can’t remember the last time I reblogged it, lol. Anyways! This is actually my second name, first one was not fandom related and based off a line in a song I was low key obsessed with at the time, and I wasn’t too thrilled with it. Then someone was asked the question “If Katniss and Peeta had tumblrs, what would they blog about?” and the answer was sheer brilliance, so I wish I could find it again to share with you! Alas, not tonight. Their answer contained the phrase “And Katniss never follows back.” I about died laughing and eventually decided to change my name to katnissdoesnotfollowback. I just got lucky it was available on all three sites and literally nobody knew who I was yet. ;)

3.     Any other THG pairings you ship?

I do love me some Odesta, but my ship that I will sail into the sunset even if they never meet in canon, I don’t care you can’t talk me out of it, is Madge and Johanna. Also @savvylark, I saw you put them in your answer to this question. ;) I’ll bring more of you aboard or sink trying!

4.      Favorite character to write?

Katniss usually comes easiest for me. I feel like I struggle with Peeta’s brand of witty and it often comes out cheesy. Johanna is always a blast, and I’ll be honest, I like writing Prim as an adult because there’s just so many directions to take her. But I’ve sort of started to fall in love with writing Peeta’s brothers... does it show?

5.     Weird habits while writing?

Does playing songs on repeat and sort of dancing while writing to their rhythm count? Maybe it’s my post-it covered walls... Also gummy bears.

6.     Any advice for other Everlark writers?

This fandom has been around long enough that a lot of things have already been written. We’ve about covered every trope imaginable. And guess what? People. Are. Still. Reading. It. So don’t be too concerned with originality. Just give it your own spin and it’ll be original enough. This group is mostly very welcoming and open to new writers, to new fan created content. “Holy shit! Two cakes!” (where’s that comic when I need it????) is kind of the mentality here. There aren’t as many of them around anymore, but events like the @everlarkficexchange or @thgseasonofhope are really good platforms for either launching for fanfic career or gaining new readership. Recognition for your work may take time, but someone out there will read it. Most importantly...do you love it? Then write it.

7. Favorite thing about our fandom?

I’m borrowing @savvylark‘s answer for this one. “The overall message that we need “the dandelion in the spring” seems to be deeply ingrained in the fandom. It seems many have been dealt a poor hand, the odds weren’t in our favor and life was very hard at one point or another, yet that message of hope, that resilience seems to be in every person in the fandom, some of the most talented writers have amazing stories themselves. THAT is inspiring and beautiful!!”

@iliveilaughiloveiread and @awkwardeverlark both tagged me in this a bit ago and I’m just now getting to it, I’m so sorry for the delay!  

1.     What inspired you to start writing Everlark fanfiction?

Hahaha.  The first fanfiction I ever wrote (before kids) was for Star Trek, back when I was in college.  My boyfriend at the time (now husband) and I went on a watching binge of all five Star Trek shows and I got really into it for awhile.  Then my girls started arriving and I barely had time to read, let alone come up with possible story ideas.  I still managed to read the HG books a few times, and then once my hubby brought home the 4-disc blu-ray set of the movies it was like my mind just exploded with ideas.  I started devouring HG fanfiction, and following more blogs on Tumblr, and... that, as they say, was that.  🤓. I’m a big fan of the “what if” question, so I thought of a few ideas and just ran with them.

2.     How did you choose your handle name (tumblr, ao3, ff)?

Well, it fits me pretty well.  😉. I’m geeky, I love movies (and books), and I’m a mom.  geekymoviemom.

3.     Any other THG pairings you ship?

Definitely Finnick/ Annie.  I adore Finnick and I still haven’t been able to kill him off in any of my stories because of it.  I also have shipped Peeta’s middle brother with Madge and Gale/ Madge.  I also like Delly/ Thom.

4.      Favorite character to write?

Definitely Peeta.  I find Katniss really hard to like sometimes, and so it’s hard for me to think I’m getting her voice correct when I write in her POV.  I’ve done it, and hopefully I’ve done it well, but she’s definitely a challenge.

5.     Weird habits while writing?

I like to have quiet when I’m writing, which isn’t easy with a houseful of homeschooled girls!  I do most of my writing when they’re on their afternoon “quiet time.”  I can edit with noise or music going, but I need quiet to actually write.

6.     Any advice for other Everlark writers?

Don’t be afraid!  The Everlark fandom is sooo kind and accepting, especially of new writers!  I can’t think of another fandom that just welcomes people as easily.  Also, be gentle with yourself!  It’s so easy to be your own worst critic, but that often doesn’t get you anywhere except frustrated.  

Also, don’t be afraid to repeat tropes!  Think your new idea has already been done?  Do it anyway!  People will still love it!  ♥️

7. Favorite thing about our fandom?

My absolute favourite thing is the wide range of ages and experiences in our fandom.  It’s so refreshing that these books that were aimed at a younger audience can be enjoyed (and picked apart and discussed over and over and over...) by people of all ages.  I love it!

Tagging: @aihodineverlark, @thelettersfromnoone, @mtk4fun, @norbertsmom, and anyone else who’d like to play!  ♥️

Everlark authors, I want to hear from you! Answer as many of these are you like, or even add more questions!

Copy and paste or reblog. Tag it with #everlarkauthor. Thanks for tagging me @hutchhitched and @thegirlfromoverthepond

1.     What inspired you to start writing Everlark fanfiction?

Like most people, I was simply unsatisfied with the ending of Mockingjay (the book, I’m a book purist). After all that Everlark had endured, I needed to know not only that they were okay, but that they lived a long and fulfilling life together, and I needed those details dammit! That lead me to fanfiction.net, where I read probably every piece of post-mockingjay canon-compliant fic that had been posted at the time (2013). Writing my own take on canon was a logical next step, and 28 chapters later I was hooked, eventually joining Tumblr to interact with other Everlark writers. I  branched out into AU for @promptsinpanem and then even further for all of the myriad of challenges, fundraisers and projects that popped up.

2.     How did you choose your handle name (tumblr, ao3, ff)?

I use either xerxia or xerxia31 practically everywhere; tumblr, AO3, FFnet, email, instagram… it comes from a time many, many moons ago when I used to play D&D and xerxia was my character’s name.

3.     Any other THG pairings you ship?

Not really, though I enjoying reading fic about most of the secondary pairings. If I had to pick one, it’d be Odesta because I love the possibilities there.

4.      Favorite character to write?

Peeta. He’s the one I identify with, personally.

5.     Weird habits while writing?

Not really, except that I rarely write a story chronologically (I can count on the fingers of one hand the stories I’ve written that way). Instead, I tend to write scenes, then weave them together in the editing stage. I’m also almost always writing more than one story at a time though, and I jump between them frequently.

6.     Any advice for other Everlark writers?

I’m sure I wrote something encouraging to answer this question the last time I was asked. But as someone who has been around awhile now, I’ll say this: develop a thick skin. People have opinions, and if you post your words you are, for better or worse, opening yourself up to them. If you fall apart the first time someone tells you there’s no way Peeta would brush his teeth like *that*, the joy in writing will quickly be sucked away. Also, pair up with a beta who isn’t afraid to tell you the truth about your writing. Keep your tumblr bestie pre-readers around to stroke your ego, but have at least one trusted editor who can not only fix your tense and grammatical issues, but who isn’t afraid to tell you that you need to tighten your plot or that you’ve made your protagonist too hateful or your antagonist too one-dimensional.

7. Favorite thing about our fandom?

The friendships I’ve made here. The way our community bands together to support one another. The utter joy of finding a group of people who share my obsessive love of a pair of fictional characters.

Thanks for tagging me @mtk4fun

1.     What inspired you to start writing Everlark fanfiction?

I first found fanfiction through Harry Potter.   Being a big Ron/Hermione shipper I stumbled upon the stories through some Google searching.  Started reading and got hooked!  Once I became an Everlark shipper, as well, I began reading the amazing fanfiction, and over time had a small story idea that wouldn’t let me go.   After a few months I just decided to write down the story idea and then put it out there in the universe.  The rest is history.  I never planned to be a serious author, but I have enjoyed all the friendships with everyone in the fandom.

2.     How did you choose your handle name (tumblr, ao3, ff)?

I took inspiration from my job as a librarian, and my birthday.

3.     Any other THG pairings you ship?

I really like Haymitch and Effie, Finnick and Annie, and Gale/Johanna

4.   Favorite character to write?

I enjoy writing Peeta because he is my favorite character..  And I enjoy writing Johanna because she is so much fun.

5.     Weird habits while writing?

It’s always pretty late because I work on anything I write after my daughter goes to bed.

6.     Any advice for other Everlark writers?

Just keep on writing.  There are so many talented people out there and I enjoy reading so many of your stories.

7. Favorite thing about our fandom?

Everyone is so kind and generous in discussing our favorite things about Everlark and HG.  I appreciate everyone’s kind comments and help to make me a better writer.  All the best to everyone!

Tagging @norbertsmom

@creamytinydays thank you for tagging me! We were hit pretty hard with sickness so this was delayed. If anyone is interested in what I have to say...

1.     What inspired you to start writing Everlark fanfiction?

Everlark authors, I want to hear from you! Answer as many of these are you like, or even add more questions!

Copy and paste or reblog. Tag it with #everlarkauthor

1.     What inspired you to start writing Everlark fanfiction?

I started in RPF, writing JHutch fanfiction. Since he was the actor who played Peeta, I noticed a lot of Everlark fanfiction on my dash--almost all from the second and third rounds of @promptsinpanem. When round 4 came out, I had written three full-length fanfictions and was ready for a new challenge. I decided to dip my toe in the Everlark pool and have since produced 75+ Everlark stories of varying lengths. No regrets.

2.     How did you choose your handle name (tumblr, ao3, ff)?

My tumblr name (hutchhitched) is for alliteration, and my AO3 name (hutchabelle) is the ship name of the two main characters in my first fanfiction and a play on my last name.

3.     Any other THG pairings you ship?

Not necessarily, but I’m not opposed to any of them either.

4.      Favorite character to write?

Peeta’s my favorite character, but I usually end up writing from Katniss’ POV. I’m not sure why, but I think it’s because I get to describe Peeta that way--which is never a bad thing.

5.     Weird habits while writing?

I don’t really think I have any, but there are a couple of quirks. First, I usually have a word limit in mind before I start and work to hit that and then see if the story is complete. Sometimes that means stories get a lot longer than planned and some probably have some unnecessary scenes. Second, I always include double spaces between sentences when writing and then take them out for formatting during editing.

6.     Any advice for other Everlark writers?

Get a beta that’s studied writing and/or literature and isn’t afraid to critique your writing. A beta that doesn’t know how to fix grammar or plotholes is a reader who sees your stuff before it’s posted, not a beta.

If you’re one of the old guard, welcome the new contributors and support their stuff.  If you’re one of the new ones, check out what’s been posted in the past--both by those who are still writing and those who have moved on. Knowing the history of a fandom is important to building community. Welcoming new people is important to maintain a vital and thriving community. Both are needed.

7. Favorite thing about our fandom?

This builds a little bit on the second point for question 6, which is the revitalization and continuation of the Everlark fandom. Many, many, many people have come and gone in the fandom. Many have lamented that things are different, and that’s true. However, there are new contributors every day, and that’s exciting. We’re a fandom that will endure, adapt, change, and grow. That’s the mark of a healthy community, and I’m proud and thrilled to be a part of it.

Tagging: