From the Bard's Quill Interview with WordWarior
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | From the Bard's Quill Interview with WordWarior |
| Interviewer: | Tom |
| Interviewee: | WordWarior |
| Date(s): | 1997 |
| Medium: | online |
| Fandom(s): | Xena: Warrior Princess |
| External Links: | interview is here, Archived version |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
WordWarior was interviewed in 1998 by for the Xena: Warrior Princess site Tom's Xena Fan Fiction Archive.
Other interviews in the series: From the Bard's Quill Interview Series.
Some Excerpts
Q: XWP fan fic has created a mythology all of its own - separate from the TV show. Do you find in your own writing that you try to stay true to the series or have you also added to the fan fic mythology?
A: Originally, my only aim was to stay true to the TV show with an emphasis on the "subtext". However, when I was writing "Truth or Dare," things changed. A good dramatic story has to involve growth in the characters. They have to learn from the experiences they have in the story and by the end, change. The Xenastaff knows this and that's why the characterizations of both Gabrielle and Xena have gone through a lot of changes over the two seasons we've seen so far.
When I started writing "The Child," I decided that this story would take place a couple of months after the events in "Truth or Dare." Once I knew this, I also realized that the growth I'd already shown in "Truth or Dare" should be reflected in "The Child." Suddenly, I wasn't dealing with just the continuity of the TV series, but also my own, inter-story continuity. Now with my latest piece, "The Empty Heart," I've gone even further along the path. This story takes place about a month and a half after "The Child" and is closely tied to the continuity set up in the previous two stories. It's fascinating, to me, to be working in these two different "realities" -- both the TV show and my own extended story arc. It really exemplifies the fanfic writing experience. There is no one to tell me I can't do something. I make my own decisions, based on my reading of the characters and can take them to places they wouldn't ordinarily go due to the limits of television.
The other thing I've enjoyed doing is creating my own characters and weaving them into the mythology. I have them return in my stories so that eventually, they feel as much a part of the supporting cast, to me, as the fol ks on the show. The characters of Widgie and Jorgos are an example of these. In fact, Widgie has even shown up in some other fiction (with my permission, of course). I think that's a lot of fun!
Q: Many readers feel that the fan fic often surpasses the TV series in its appeal. What are your thoughts on this? Do you find yourself attracted to themes which are not normally explored on the TV show?
A: Does it surpass the appeal of the series? I don't know. I truly love the series. I think comparing the two media is apples and oranges. There are things that can be done on the show that no fanfic will equal and vice versa. The visuals work so wonderfully on the show -- the New Zealand scenery, the beautifully expressive faces of Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Conner, the wild fight scenes, stunts and the special effects. These are all unique and integral to the appeal of the series.
But as for being attracted to themes which aren't ordinarily explored, a resounding "yes" on that. With prose fiction, a writer can delve deeply into the thoughts and psyches of the characters, instead of relying solely on dialogue and visuals. Therefore, themes of a very personal nature can be explored in fanfic. And while the TV show is limited to 44 minutes for each episode, I can write in as few or as many (usually "as many" for me) pages as I deem necessary to tell my story.
There are also no censors involved, so a fanfic writer can include sex scenes, extreme violence -- anything they want to. The same goes for budget. In television, budget is always a consideration. "Can we do this? Will it cost too much? I'll trade the extras needed for the village scene so that I can have this special effect in Act Three." That sort of thing. With fiction, that's never a concern. It can contain a cast of thousands, have special effects limited only by the author's vocabulary and include anything that can be imagined without worrying about the guys at Flat Earth being able to pull it off onscreen.
Q: Do you read fan fic written by others. If so, do you have any favorite authors? Have you been influenced by any?
A: I've read some other stories, but not many, I'll admit. I have this crazy rule that I don't read anything while I'm writing. I want my head to be working on my own stuff, not thinking about someone else's story. And since I spend most of my time writing, that doesn't leave me a lot of room to read. However, I was incredibly impressed by Rebekah's "All Through the Night" and hope that she continues her tale some day. I've also enjoyed the works of Bat Morda and N10dre. I haven't read many beyond those, but I have several stories on my hard drive, waiting to be read. They're mostly the pieces that I've heard good things about from other sources.
Rebekah's story influenced me in that I wanted to write something of that caliber. But I think that's about the extent of any influence. I've been a writer my whole life and had already developed my own style before I started watching and enjoying Xena.