Wildcat
| Fan | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Wildcat |
| Alias(es): | |
| Type: | fan writer |
| Fandoms: | Star Trek |
| Communities: | |
| Other: | |
| URL: | tripod fansite (archive link) |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Wildcat is the author of Star Trek fanfiction, including a Spock/Uhura series begun in 1998 with "A Woman's Touch". Wildcat began writing fan fiction shortly after she gained net access in 1997 and posted her first Spock/female character story "Time and Again."
Comments by the Author
In 2000, she participated in an interview series on the COCO CHANNEL. An excerpt:
'Spock! Spock! Spock! I've always loved Spock's character. He has internal conflicts, but they've never crippled him. He's not afraid to look inward, but yet the people closest to him are not privy to what goes on there. His reactions are subtle and nuanced, and while he expresses so much with the tiniest gesture, it's always open to interpretation. Through all the years, he continues to grow. The Spock of the episodes is not the Spock of the movies, and neither of those are the Spock of TNG. What a terrific character, and what a terrific actor.' [1]
Other comments from 2000:
My very first story was "Time and Again," and it paired Spock with an original female character. I'd carried it around in my head for well over twenty years, and I never dreamed that I wasn't the only person who made up stories like this. Imagine my surprise when I found the net! I couldn't believe it—there were all kinds of stories, and it seemed that the majority of them featured Spock. (Of course, since I was searching on "Spock" that might have had something to do with the content of what I found.) It took about six months of lurking before I thought, "Hmmm... Maybe I can do this."
So, I started typing. I typed furiously. This was all in my head, and it was just a matter of spewing it into the computer. I ended up with a twenty-two chapter story, complete with epilogue and prologue. So nervous I couldn't type, I posted it with hardly any rework or even proofreading, and... it fell off into the big bit bucket. Looking back, I can hardly blame people for not reading it — I mean, twenty-four long parts from a newbie! Finally, though, a few kind souls had mercy and responded, and one of them even gave me critical comments. I thought about the comments, decided I could do better, and off I went. I haven't stopped since.
Back to that first story. I made a lot of mistakes. My POV was all over the place, it was a flagrant Mary Sue, and there were parts of it that make me cringe today because they were so hokey. BUT — there's a lot in there I like, too. The time travel twists and turns came from years and years of thinking, and I'm pleased with that.
My characterization of Spock wasn't quite there, but I think that it was a good start. And last but not least, it will always hold a warm place in my heart because it was my first. After that, I took a brief foray into K/S, probably because I thought that's what TOS writers did. When I stumbled across the pairing of Spock and Uhura, however, I felt like I'd finally found my thing.
In the two years since I posted my first story, I've learned how to "shape" the plot. I've also learned how to be patient, letting a story rest for a while before posting. A difficult lesson was being brutal about cutting scenes, but I've learned to do that as well. Finally, I believe that the biggest change I've seen in my writing is that I've forced myself to think about the characters, really think. A lot of my writing is very spontaneous — you hear writers say that the characters dictate to them, and it's true — but I also make an effort to think about what motivates the characters. What are their beliefs? What are their goals? What are the consequences of their actions? This may have a lot to do with the fact that I'm writing a series that covers a lifetime, but I've become very aware of turning my characters into "real" people, with strengths and weaknesses, victories and failures.[2]
Interviews
- COCO CHANNEL Interview with Wildcat (2000)
- The Best of Trek Fanfic Interview with Wildcat (2000)
- Writers and Writing (2000)
Notable Works
- The Flame Within
- A Woman's Touch is the first in a series of some 34 stories involving Spock/Uhura. Saavik, as Spock's ward, also plays an important role as does Sarek, and his wives Amanda and Perrin. The series won numerous Golden Orgasms and ASC Awards.
Fan Comments
Wildcat only wrote one story this past year [2002], but "Utoto" is such a treat that it's worth the price of admission. There is no one else who does such a masterful job with the character of Spock or Uhura, and it's been wonderful following the continued development of the two of them and their relationship. I'm amazed at how Wildcat finds new aspects of their love and marriage to explore. I love the way the themes of trust and of companionship are reinterpreted and reaffirmed. I also love how over time the character of Saavik has grown up and how the parallels with her son echo her own experiences without ever feeling repetitive. It seems that Wildcat is reaching the point where the S/U series is winding down; I dread the day it's truly over almost as much as I dread the day that Wildcat is no longer writing.[3]