An Interview with Sally Reeve
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | An Interview with Sally Reeve |
| Interviewer: | Alli Snow |
| Interviewee: | Sally Reeve |
| Date(s): | June 2002 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | Stargate SG-1 |
| External Links: | An Interview with Sally Reeve |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
An Interview with Sally Reeve was conducted by Alli Snow for Wild Horses #3 in June 2002.
From the Interview
Wild Horses: How long have you been writing?
Sally Reeve: I started writing stories when I was sixteen, although I spent a good deal of my childhood making up stories for my Han Solo and Princess Leia action figures to act out! I was a 'shipper even then!
WH: What was your first fandom, and what other fandoms have you written in?
SR: My first fandom was ER. I was a huge fan of the Susan Lewis/Mark Green 'ship, and when she left him heartbroken on the platform at Union Station I decided that the episode needed an epilogue. I'd recently discovered the internet, read a few ER fan fics and thought I could have a go myself. I wrote a couple of ER stories, then moved on to write a few Paris/Torres stories for Voyager, before the show took a nose-dive. And then I discovered Stargate…
WH: What got you interested in Stargate to the point that you were inspired to write fanfiction?
SR: Without a doubt, the Sam and Jack 'ship. Until I noticed it, I was just a casual viewer laughing at the overdressed bad guys. I vividly remember the moment when I first felt the zing between Sam and Jack (100 Days), and from that moment on I didn't miss an episode.
WH: What are your favorite kinds of stories to write? Why?
SR: Although I've written a couple of straight romances, I prefer writing stories that combine action and romance. I try to use the S/J relationship to explore the impact of the action on the characters, rather than as the focus for the story itself. Plus, it’s nice to have a change of pace when I'm writing, so some good action scenes alongside the angsty ones helps keep my writing fresh.
WH: Which of your own stories are you most pleased with? Which didn't turn out like you hoped, or were in any way disappointing?
SR: I’m quite proud of "Deadly Legacy" and "Night Terrors" because they have strong plots, thanks to my co-writer, Marcy. And they're less self-indulgent than some of my other fics, because I deliberately downplayed the 'ship to make them more appealing to general readers. I also have a soft spot for "Holding the Line", although it’s probably the least popular of my stories! I loved writing the collapse of the team in the first half of the story, but as it's one of my darkest fics it was hard work. I'm proud I finished it!
I haven't really been disappointed with any of the stories that I've finished, because if a story isn't working I scrap it and start again. Having said that, I cringe when I read my first ever Stargate SG-1 fic, "Personal Reasons", because not only did I get the technology wrong (they go both ways through an open Stargate!), but my characterization of Sam was way off. She was far too wimpy and Jack-dependent!
WH: What is your opinion about fanfiction awards? Are they popularity contests, a real test of talent, or just fun?
SR: I love winning fanfiction awards! I’m very proud of all the awards I've won, and grateful too.
But to a certain extent, I think they do rely on name recognition in that the more stories you post, the more people know your name, and the more likely they are to vote for you. There are so many nominations that I'm sure some people don't have time to read all the entries and so may vote for authors they know, rather than really judging which story in a certain category is the best. There are certainly some excellent stories out there that deserve recognition, but haven't won any awards.