Cascade Library Interview with Rebel
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| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Cascade Library Interview with Rebel |
| Interviewer: | Cascade Library |
| Interviewee: | Rebel |
| Date(s): | May 10, 2009 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | The Sentinel |
| External Links: | interview is here, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
In 2009, Rebel was interviewed for Cascade Library.
Some Excerpts
I used Rebel because it was a name I was familiar with. Rebel was a Diplomacy gaming zine that I'd published for years. I was in the process of folding it (closing it down) as I was getting burned out on playing (took a long hiatus as a matter of fact). So, for sentimental reasons, I chose Rebel as a screen nickname. And, to be honest, it was a safety net. If my first story bombed, I could always leave and come back under my own name *g*. I thought (briefly) about using a different pen name when I joined the Hercules fandom but then realized that could get confusing, and I don't need to be any more confused than I already am.
The first story I EVER wrote that was seen by others appeared in a Darkover fanzine. It was a horrible, smarmy two-page Mary Sue that hopefully has disappeared into a huge black hole somewhere. My first online fanfic appeared in the Lonesome Dove fandom. The series had been canceled after the second season, and there was something of a cliffhanger as to whether one of the characters (Call) would become sheriff. There was quite a bit of conversation about it on the list I'd joined, and I posted what I thought would have/should have happened. I was encouraged to write the story and did. It's called "The Lord Will Provide" and became the beginning story of a multi-story arc. When I'd finished the story, I was ready to post and sat at the computer with my finger hovering over the button. All these doubts came rushing in. Was the story really any good? Could I stay in the fandom if it wasn't any good? Did I really want to know that my story wasn't any good? So I had to talk myself into posting it. Fortunately, the story was well received; and I continued writing.
It's a part of posting fan fiction. I think every writer wants to hear that their story was liked, well-received, enjoyed, and so on. That's just human nature. But you need to remember that you'll get feedback that's just the opposite. After I posted "The Pig," I had someone tell me that she just couldn't see Jim getting into a public argument in a toy store. That reflected her interpretation of Jim's character. It didn't mean I was a horrible writer or that the story was a complete waste of time. A fan fic writer has to remember that your stories are your interpretation of the characters. Everybody has their own interpretation. I just worry that I've left a plot hole big enough to hold a Nascar race!