Lois & Clark Nfic Archive Interview with Nan Smith

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Interviews by Fans
Title: Lois & Clark Nfic Archive Interview with Nan Smith
Interviewer:
Interviewee: Nan Smith
Date(s): 2000 or 2001
Medium: online
Fandom(s): Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman
External Links: full interview is here, Archived version
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In 2000 or 2001, Nan Smith was interviewed for the Lois & Clark Nfic Archive.

See that site for others in this series.

Some Excerpts

IThe first episode I watched was Pheromone, My Lovely, and I was hooked. Unfortunately, I had to compete with my kids, who wanted to watch re-runs of Star Trek TNG, but eventually I won out. I didn't get to see the pilot until TNT began reruns, though.

I started writing stories, albeit pretty awful ones, when I was about 9. They gradually got better and better, and eventually my sister and I co-wrote an entire science fiction series, which we read to our kids... I've always been a storyteller. I used to make up stories for my younger siblings when we would go on long car trips. My dad taught me to read very young, and I was reading science fiction meant for teenagers and adults in first grade. I wanted to be able to write the same kind of stories as the ones I read, and made my first attempts at about nine. I was teased a lot about those efforts by my younger sister and brother, which led to my becoming very sensitive about letting others see my work. That was why it took a major act of courage to submit my first fanfic.

I really missed Lois and Clark after the series ended. My oldest son gave me a 6-month membership with Earthlink for Christmas of 1998, so I started fumbling around on the Internet looking for Superman. This eventually led me to the 5th and 6th Seasons, and from there to the Fanfic Archive. I spent two weeks reading everything there, and thinking that I might be able to write as well. I even thought of some general ideas for a plot, but I didn't quite have the nerve until my daughter challenged me to try. I took her up on it, spent a couple of days putting the plot ideas together, and then wrote "Dagger of the Mind". The response I got to it after it appeared on the Archive hooked me, and I've been writing L and C fanfic ever since. I like writing Lois and Clark fanfic, but I can't really say what one thing I most enjoy about it. It's fun to put together an intricate plot, and to figure out how the characters would react if put into certain situations. Working on characterizing their interpersonal relationship is a challenge, too. Sooner or later, I'll get it down to my satisfaction. And, of course, the feedback is essential.