Bay City Library Interview with Pat L.

Interviews by Fans
Title:	Bay City Library Interview with Pat L.
Interviewer:	Wolfpup
Interviewee:	Pat L.
Date(s):	May 2006
Medium:	online
Fandom(s):	Starsky & Hutch
External Links:	interview is here, Archived version
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

In 2006, Pat L. was interviewed for the Bay City Library.

See List of Starsky & Hutch Fan Interviews.

Some Excerpts

I'm a first generation fan. I watched the show in 1974, lost track of DS and PMG for a few years then TNT ran the series in syndication. I'm very happy that the series has been released on DVD and I'm anxiously waiting for Season 4 to come out in the US.... I love cop shows, so that was the first thing that drew me. I really liked the relationship between Starsky and Hutch. The first time I saw 'Gillian,' I couldn't believe my eyes. Back then, men didn't cry and they certainly didn't comfort each other with a hug. I loved all of the characters, but it was their relationship that made this my favorite TV show of all time.

I started writing fanfiction when I was in the 8th grade, many, many moons ago. It was a Man From UNCLE story, and of course, there was lots of angst and hurt/comfort. I started writing my first S&H story in 1994 and it took me two years to finish it. The title was 'For One Brief Moment.' The idea just popped into my head and I could see the whole thing happening. I wanted to see if I had the commitment to write a long story and stay with it, and it is still the story that I am most proud of.

I think it's important, to a degree. It's nice to hear someone say they liked your story, or it made them laugh, cry, think, or sit on the edge of their seats. But first and foremost, I write because I love to write. Writing is a part of me, it defines who I am. I wrote fan fiction before I knew what fan fiction was, and at that time, only my closest friends read my stories. Sharing my stories with everyone on the internet doubles the joy, but I also understand how fast real life rushes along and I don't worry if I don't receive feedback for a particular story. I'm thankful for the internet and the friends it has sent me, but if it had never came about, I would still write. The feedback that I got on "His Home Is His Castle" meant a lot to me, because it was more than just "I liked your story". "Linda" went through a lot of the experiences that I did when I was married, and it touched a lot of people.

To me, writing is an intensely personal experience. If you like to write, then do it. Write for yourself first, and others second. As long as it makes you happy, that's what's important. And if you want to grow as a writer, don't be afraid to ask for help. Get a beta reader, and develop a really thick skin. There will be people who love what you write, and people who won't. That's just human nature. Don't let it stop you from doing what you like.