#wehangout

GT: Yes, from what I've heard from a friend in New Zealand, things are as controlled as possible there, which is great!

How old are your kids? Is it hard to find time to write with them around?

J: They're 9 and 5, so with them both at school that does give me my days to write, but I tend to have more motivation at night, haha. Once my youngest is in bed for the night I'm good to go. My oldest is a bit of a "gamer" so she does her thing and I do mine.

GT: Oh good, they're somewhat independent enough then.

I love cats, so I must ask you to please tell me more about yours. 

J: My babies 😻 They're getting to an age where I don't know how long they have left and I want to talk about them all the time, haha.

This is Chiko. She was found tiny and cold on the side of the road. The vet first thought she was about 6 weeks old, but after a check up realized she was about 6 months! She was so tiny she was only allowed half a cup of cat food a day. Now she's a queen.

And this is my Moe, Moses, Malloy-loy. He's a fighter and has cost us so much in vet bills, but he's a big baby, the best napping companion, and the most handsome.

GT: They're amazing, I love them. 

You said you like reading and writing. Is that books too or mainly fanfiction?

J: Oh, for sure books, too. My first fandom I wrote seriously for was The Outsiders, I'm a huge HP fan (Death of the Author very much applies to both here), and I have a giant pile of to-read books, haha. I've written original stuff, too ...

I think fanfic is just easier, though? For both reading and writing. With writing, fanfic gives that instant gratification, whether from readers or beta readers - there's always someone willing to give it a go, unlike with original writing. They don't need to be introduced to new characters, new situations, etc. I think the same goes for why I read for fanfic, too. It's easier and quicker for me to submerge myself into a good Ian and Mickey fic than it is to pick up an unread novel. I'm part of my own problem lmao.

Plus, to be fair, there are so many fics and writers in this fandom that wow me more than a lot of books do.

GT: Do you aspire to publish your own original stories one day?

J: I mean, that's the dream. I just find it so difficult, and not just the lack of instant gratification. Even finding someone invested enough to beta or bounce ideas around with is hard. I feel like, until you've made a name for yourself, not many people are interested in your original writing.

Technically (lol) I am published. I've placed in a couple of writing comps and one of them published my short story in a journal along with a bunch of others and some poetry. That was cool.

Plus my best writing is usually in second person, and that's hella frowned upon in original fiction lmao

GT: Why do you choose to write in second person?

J: It's not really a choice, to be honest. I struggled so hard with the constant he/him pronouns the first time I tried to write M/M romance that I followed in the footsteps of a friend and gave second person a go. Trying to do the whole "he went over to him, cupped his face in his hands, and a sigh fell from his lips" thing messes with my head. Like, who is who? I can't do it without constant proper nouns and that just gets messy, haha.

I have huge respect for literally every other writer in the fandom for being able to write Ian and Mickey's love story in third person pov, but even when I try I slip into second without realising it half the time. I mean, the first time I wrote in second person was a good eleven years ago and now it just feels ... right. You know?

GT: It's certainly unusual! Not a lot of people doing that.

How did you get into Shameless?

J: Through tumblr. I was fading from SPN and Destiel, and I guess a few of my mutuals were, too, because my dash was full of Don't and Together and epic club kisses. Ian and Mickey ruined me before I saw a single episode lmao.

GT: Same thing happened to me. When did you start watching it?

J: Right between season four and five.

GT: So you also suffered the 5x12 heartbreak.

J: I did! And then, like many, I stopped watching unless Mickey was there, haha.

GT: Yeah, I think many of us did that

What did you think of the last two seasons?

J: I mean, they got married and lived happily ever after, so I can't complain. I think, for me at least, after the shit-show of s5 it was all very whatever. The worst of the worst had already happened, so if we got great stuff (and we did, for sure) then yay ... if we got not great stuff (and again, we did), then it wasn't a surprise, you know?

I wasn't terribly invested in anyone else's storyline, to be honest, so as long as Ian and Mickey were good, I was good.

GT: What's your favorite season?

J: Four. I mean, they still had their issues, but every scene between them in that season is iconic. Many were problematic, but the change in their relationship from the second they saw each other again was just beautiful.

GT: Do you have a favorite episode?

J: Those s4 episodes kill me for the Ian and Mickey stuff, but for an episode as a whole, I'd go with 10x12 Gallavich! To be honest, I'm an Ian and Mickey fan, not a Shameless fan.

GT: I can relate.

What made you want to write for them?

J: Ooh, that feels like so long ago that I have no idea! I think it was probably just my love for writing and love for their relationship combining.

GT: What do you like best about writing Gallavich?

J: I love the endless possibilities of them. No matter what kind of AU we stick them in, their characterisation still works and they always end up madly in love! It could be the 1800s, or Mickey might be a witch, maybe one of them is a serial killer. It doesn't matter because they fit in everywhere and they always end up together.

GT: He could be a witch and a serial killer. ;)

And what's difficult about writing them?

J: Ooh, Ian's POV lmao

Witch and a serial killer - love that idea 😂

GT: Where do you find inspiration for your fics?

J: Usually other fics/books/writers. Sometimes a line in one fic or book will make me think of something else entirely and then a whole fic idea will come about.

Or even someone's AU will make me think of another completely different AU that doesn't relate at all, haha.

And then other writers. They just inspire me in general. I want to be able to write like them and tell stories like they do and that makes me want to try, you know?

And often a fic will give me such intense feelings that I want to evoke that kind of feeling through my own writing and for people who read my writing.

GT: Which Gallavich writers or fics are your favorite?

J: My favourite writer is pink_ink (@palepinkgoat​). I'd follow her anywhere. Literally. Her last fic was ABO, which I don't like and refuse to read, but someone talked me into giving hers a go, and ... phew, it was so good. I also love devovitsuasartes (their originality is mind-blowing), @loftec​, J_Q, @romanticalgirl​ (though they don't write for Shameless anymore), and Shamelessquestions [@goodkwuestion​].

My fave fics ... yikes. My all-time favourite is Our Freedom in My Sight by lilbatfacedgirl. Ugh, it's so good and I'm working myself up for a reread. Also, Lost in Translation is a go-to, the Four Eight series inspired me to start writing Ian and Mickey, and the little things give you away by kissteethstainred simply kills me.

GT: Lost in Translation is one of my all-time favourites

What about your own fics? Do you have a soft spot for any of them?

J: Ooh, maybe my most recent fic, Thicker than Forget, but maybe because it's my most recent? But also maybe because it's somewhat cheerful and has lots of banter and it's so different to things I've written in the past. It all came surprisingly easy and it just feels super chill and makes me happy to think about. It didn't feel like work at all. It was so fun and easy to write - the banter is chill, the attraction is obvious, and the love is real. The hardest part of writing that fic was getting the ice-cream flavour names because the American Baksin Robbins website wouldn't let me on lmao.

I also wrote a Band of Brothers/WW2 AU for GW a few years back that I've since taken down. It might be my fave thing that I've written, but I took it down, made it original, and used it for a writing competition. It's one of the ones that came third, so worth it, I guess, haha.

GT: What are some of your favorite tropes?

J: Oooh, yes, I love that. Enemies to friends to lovers, mutual pining, and fake dating would be my faves.

GT: Do you have any pet peeves when it comes to reading Gallavich fics?

J: Okay, I totally have pet peeves. I could make a list. First-person pov, not using paragraphs, not using an oxford comma (though I can look past that one), draggy beginnings where it takes forever for the story to really begin, lyrics littered throughout the fics ... there are more, but I'll hold back lmao

GT: Tell us a bit about your writing process. How do you start a fic?

J: My process is a mess. Sometimes I plot/bullet point the entire fic, other times I just write and see what happens lmao. The only constants I have are that I need to know how the fic ends before I can get fully invested (even if I'm not sure how I reach that ending!), and I need a solid first line. I can't write anything until I have a first line that I love.

GT: How do you choose your titles?

J: Usually from songs, occasionally from a phrase in the fic, once or twice from poems. The amount of time I spend going through song lyrics is ridiculous, tbh.

GT: What kind of comments do you just love to get?

J: I mean, I for sure love all comments obviously, but the ones that quote bits of my fic back to me absolutely make me warm inside. When they comment on what line or what scene they loved, and I can compare that to how I felt writing it - it's just such a good feeling. I also still love the i-don't-usually-read-second-person-but comment. I've had a bunch of those and I get a little thrill every time I convert someone 😂

GT: I can totally see why that would make you happy!

Alright, what's next then? What have you got planned?

J: I was planning something for all 7 days of GW, but real life got in the way lmao. I do have one WIP I want to get back to, but I don't want to give too much away about that. Other than that I need @shamelessbigbang to do another round this year, because that seems to be what inspires me most 😂

GT: Whatever you make for GW I'm sure will be great! And since I'm the one who runs it, let me assure you if you finish your things at a later date lots of people will be equally happy. Content is content. The idea of GW is to give everyone who needs a bit of a boost, so we all win at the end.

Ok, that was my last question. Thank you so much for doing this. Any final words?

J: Just thank you! I love, love, love reading these, so to be included in one is amazing! It was a lot of fun, and I'm sorry I took forever to get back to you after each question lmao. And for anyone who reads my writing - 💜💜💜 it's so very appreciated!