Chronicle X Interview with Karen Rasch

Interviews by Fans
Title:	Chronicle X Interview with Karen Rasch
Interviewer:	uncredited
Interviewee:	Karen Rasch
Date(s):	March 2000
Medium:	online
Fandom(s):	X-Files
External Links:	interview is here; copy
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Chronicle X Interview with Karen Rasch was conducted in 2000 by the Chronicle X archive.

Some Excerpts

Continuity, continuity, continuity. I'd give anything if the characterizations and the plotlines showed some. It's so frustrating, even more so as the seasons pile up. It makes me crazy that the powers-that-be refuse to allow Mulder and Scully to learn and grow from all that has happened to them. The characters have changed over the years, but I don't give the folks at 1013 any credit at all for the transformation. In my eyes, it's David and Gillian who have made that happen almost in spite of the scripts they've been given.

I got online in May of 1995 and gravitated towards the old Delphi XF board. Great place, great group of people. I really didn't know anything about the show, or fanfic, for that matter. I got hooked with "Our Town", so when "Anasazi" came on with Krycek, the Mulders, Samantha--I was totally lost. One of the people who helped me out of this muddle was a wonderful woman named Helen. She loaned me all of her first and second season tapes, which allowed me to get up to speed in record time. She is also the person who introduced me to fanfic. When she first mentioned that there were people out there on the web writing stories about XF, I told her, "Oh man, Helen. I'm already such a geek about this show. I really don't think I could stand myself if I started reading stuff like that." She ignored me and sent me my first story. I was addicted almost immediately. First came Vincent's Gossamer FTP site (yes, FTP!) and finally my own attempt, when I realized that not everyone posting was their generation's answer to Fitzgerald. <g>

People have definitely come and gone. That's for sure. I miss some of the old guard, folks like Sheryl Clay, Tish Sears, Sarah Stegall, etc. Which is not to say there aren't some fabulous newer writers. People like Penumbra, Fialka, PD, Jean Robinson, Anjou, Marasmus, Sarah Segretti, Vehemently, Haphazard Method, Barbara D, and Jesemie's Evil Twin blow me away. But because of this ebb and flow, the community really does seem to shift in character, sometimes almost day to day. From my perspective, it seems as if there are more young writers trying their hand these days. I tend to see more short stories than novels. The number of NC-17 stories seems to be rising exponentially. And it's far harder to come up with something new than it was when I first started. Overall, though, the writers who post at ATXC and on the various lists still seem to be as supportive as ever. People were very kind to me last year when I was going through some icky junk. It's a good place to hang out on the net.

Feedback is a terrific thing. It's wonderful to hear that something you've written has touched someone in some way. That being said, I would be less than honest if I didn't confess that this subject has gotten me in trouble in the past. I've never really understood the practice of thanking someone for feedback. It isn't a matter of ego or disdain. I just don't . . . get it. :-) In my head, feedback is a way for a reader to thank someone for taking the time to write and post a story. I write feedback to authors. All the time. And while it's nice to hear back from them, I've never really expect to. It just seems like such a thing would be getting a thank you for a thank you. I realize that this particular take on things isn't the norm and that I've pissed off a fair number of readers in my day. That wasn't my intent. Honestly. So I've tried to be better about answering when people write. In case I don't get to everyone, however, I've taken to refraining from asking for feedback. I always include my email addy, and if people want to write to say they enjoyed a story, I'm thrilled to hear from them. If not, that's okay too. No harm, no foul.

Some truly wonderful friends. I can't say enough about the men and women who make up ATXC (which is my main pipeline to XF fanfic--I'm not on any lists). They inspire, support, and keep you humble like no other group of people I know. This will be the hardest part about bowing out of this particular corner of the net. I know I'm going to miss everyone dreadfully. And that time is coming soon. :-( I've always sworn my fanfic days were over when the series ended its run. Despite the continuing drama in which Fox is indulging, I believe this is The X-Files final season. The new piece I'm working on will probably run 150-200K. Knowing me and my less than blazing speed, that will most likely take me into the late spring/early summer. Unless the muse wallops me upside the head, that story will probably be my swan song. After that, I'd like to actually try my luck writing something I might be able to get paid for.