Current mood:	cheerful
Entry tags:	fanfic, fullmetal alchemist, stf

Writing
For most out there on my friends list, I'm just writing a post on my fanfic Stranger Than Fiction, so you probably won't be able to find anything interesting in this. This is just about the origins of it, since I've had one or two people ask me where I get my inspiration and plot ideas...and I like to talk about it, because I'm a vain, self-centered person ;D

Okay, first off, I should probably explain why I decided to write a fanfic on such a delicate 'hit-or-miss' topic. For those of you who have been involved in fanfiction for a couple of years (like me), you'll know that Original Characters (OCs) are often used in badly-written fangirl fanatasies where the author's favoured canon characters are paired up with their Mary-Sues. To put it plainly, the author takes an utterly fasicinating concept and completely flushes it down the drain. Writing these stories sucessfully often takes a lot of work and dedication, something most badficcers would rather not do. I mean, what's the point of going into the finer details of Amestrisian transportation when you can simply have your characters snog? Anything else was a waste bloody of time, right? Well, I used to think so. And like all good (well, DECENT) writers, I eventually grew out of that stage.

It was around this time I discovered I wanted to make an OC fic. I had recently became extremely interested in Fullmetal Alchemist for this, as there were so many themes, layers and potential plotbunnies in that anime to make any fanfiction writer jump for joy. You wouldn't have to read through a long appendix to understand the history of Amestris, and the timeline was easier and more flexible then a lot of my other favourite fandoms. I'd only been able to find a handful of decent OCs in FMA, and for such a complex and exciting fandom...well, it had a lot of badifc. I wanted to write something serious, with a rather solid plot I could build on. Which is why I randomly started typing to see what I got.

Originally, STF was going to be five chapters. Lauren was named Jennifer; Helen, Monica, Chris and Jared didn't exist; and the showdown at the construction site was much different. The homunculi were not involved, there was no 'bringing fictional characters to life' plotline (although it grew into something very interesting along the way), and basically it was a lot simpler. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with the concept then, so I pegged it as a story where a teenage girl finds a fictional character and gets him back home. Nothing more, nothing less.

Sounds boring, doesn't it? I thought so as well, and lots of details quickly changed when I realized this just wasn't enough for me. Why should I fall into the trap so many other FMA fanfic writers have? The only thing that set apart this early version of STF was that it would not focus on romance, and even if I felt like pairing them up (which I didn't, really) that would always take a backseat.

Writing the first few chapters was a strange experience. I only half remember it now, but it all started when I remembered a curious road near my house. There's a road from my house to the downtown part of my city just like Lauren's, one that not many people travel on often. I could remember traveling down that road at night after a celebatory dinner at a restaurant, gazing out into the darkness and wondering what I would find if I told my parents to stop the car. That was the basis for the beginning of the story.

I replaced my parents with my sister (though she's younger than me, she's really the inspiration behind Monica. I didn't base Lauren on myself, but we like to joke that we switched places), and I had my beginning. Instead of cramming the first chapter with backstory on my OC, I'd get straight to the point and introduce her to Ed, then let the readers decide whether or not they liked her. I had a thousand other ideas to fall back on if they didn't (one which involved Ed travelling the country and thwarting the person responsible for bringing him there. Sound familiar?). One of the first rules that I set for myself was that the OCs should be the main viewpoint of the story, but the canon characters and fandom should NEVER be forced very far into the background. Though the OCs are the ones telling the story, the canon characters are the ones who really set things into motion.

I quickly realized that I needed something else, and so set the fic on Halloween. This ran the risk of alienating new readers if they stumbled across it outside of Halloween, but the trade off was worth it. It wasn't about Halloween, but the holiday provided a driving force for story in the first few chapters and created a decent excuse for Ed to be walking around with an automail arm, gold eyes and a strange red coat among other things. I was certain I wanted to focus on FMA fandom and daily life in the suburbs as well, so I put that in to, though I made sure to use it only when I needed it even though it was an overlying theme. The Black Corner was based upon both a local legend and various other urban myths I'd heard. Enoch (Lauren's town) was shamelessly based off my town, Ottawa and Toronto. Even the treehouse has origins in a broken-down one near my house.

Leigh popped out of nowhere., as did pretty much every other supporting character. As soon as she was introduced, I thought 'Oh hell, she's going to become a recurring character, isn't she?'. That was another trap I didn't want to fall into: the Main OC's Best Friend plot device. I needed her to serve one purpose, which was reminding Ed of Amestris. Helen was a rather pleasant fluke as well. Out of all the characters, I'd have to say I based her on myself the most, though really she's closer to my best friend personality and age wise. She was also there to remind Ed (and therefore the reader) about Amestris. Chris just happened, probably because I have so many guy friends. XD Jared was a playful poke at my sister, who made sure to keep Lauren, Ed and later Al on track. Salome was something deeper I can't really go into at this point.

And to be honest, that's pretty much all I can remember at this point. Somewhere along the line the story got away from me, and I went with it. I've still got a lot more up my sleeve with that story, and I'm determined to get everything in and finish it. I can't thank the people who have supported me enough, because I always like the think of this fic as the second big step I ever took with my writing, and I learned a lot.