Working Stiffs (X-Files website)

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Website
Name: Working Stiffs
Owner/Maintainer:
Dates: 2000-2009 (Wayback dates)
Type: resource site
Fandom: The X-Files
URL: http://www.geocities.com/workingstiffsfanfic/ (Wayback)
Working Stiffs-A Resource for X-Files Fan Fiction Writers.png
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Working Stiffs is a resource site for X-Files fanfiction writers.

The site was hosted by GeoCities

Do only men have dangling participles? I love reading fanfic–does that mean I'm a good beta reader? Can I get sued for this? How do I get unblocked when I can't even finish a coherent...uh...uh...?
These are some of the questions that this site wants to answer. Every month new articles on writing by fanfic authors will be featured. You're the experts. Some of you painstakingly craft your stories, and some of you just crack your knuckles and start typing. Everyone approaches the writing process differently, and here at Working Stiffs we celebrate those differences. [1]

About the Site

Working Stiffs is the brainchild of Nicola Simpson. A published and agented writer, Nic's first fanfic was posted to alt.tv.x-files.creative in January 1995. Five and a half years later, Nic and a fellow author were lamenting the lack of technical resources for fan fiction writers, and a monster was born.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of dozens of fanfic authors, and the web design expertise of Izzyvision, Working Stiffs was launched in October 2000. Managing the site is a big job, but has been made easier with the welcome addition of veteran author Megan Reilly as a contributing editor in November 2000.

We really hope this site will be a valuable resource to the fanfic community, for authors and readers. Our goal isn't to teach or preach, or offer snarky put-downs on newbie authors or style choices (although poor spelling and grammar will never be acceptable). We want visitors to leave Working Stiffs inspired to write, or at least to think about their work and how to make it more compelling.[2]

Regarding Its Creation

From Nicola Simpson in September 2000:

In fact, I'm in the middle of putting together a web site right now that will be devoted to writing resources for fanfic authors, including original articles on the craft of writing by your favorite authors, extensive interviews, and links to useful resources. Unlike the Witches' site, Working Stiffs will be a place that hopes to encourage fanfic writers to look at their work a little more closely, not condescend or criticize. I really hope that everyone here visits and finds it valuable and affirming of the creative potential of this newsgroup. [3]

From Nicola Simpson in October 2000:

Alrighty! My team of crackpot--I mean *crackerjack* designers, betas and bottle washers has been slaving away, and I'm ready to go public. Or postal.

Working Stiffs: A Resource for X-Files Fan Fiction Writers is now online at:

http://www.geocities.com/workingstiffsfanfic/

There is *no* music, and a no-frames version is available.

Working Stiffs is *not* a fic archive--it is devoted to the writing process. Come read articles on smut, characterization, plotting, legal issues and more by your favorite fanfic authors, including Narida Law, Megan Reilly, Plausible Deniability, EPurSeMouve, syntax6, Sheryl Martin, Lara Means and more!

Read a no holds barred interview with author Leyla Harrison, in which she talks about rapefic, cancerfic, feedback, and her approach to writing fanfic.

If you would like to contribute to Working Stiffs or if you're interested in linking to us, please e-mail me. Also, if you're a reader lurking out there who is *not* also an author, please contact me if you'd like to be profiled (anonymously, if you prefer) for our upcoming section, Reader Revelations.

Working Stiffs will have new content on a weekly basis, and new features are in the works. I will post a brief message every week to let everyone know when new stuff is online.

I hope that everyone in the fanfic community finds the site, and finds it valuable. It's been a hell of a lot of fun to put together, and I hope it continues to be fertilized by the enthusiasm and expertise of all the great authors we read every day. [4]

Interviews

Since 1993, several authors have distinguished themselves in X-Files fan fiction, making us laugh, cry, shiver and squirm. Working Stiffs is delighted to sit down with your favorite authors to discuss their writing process, from story idea to posting and marketing, as well as the importance of feedback, the evolution of the fanfic community, and controversial issues that they've faced in their writing careers.

No cookie cutter questions are allowed at Working Stiffs. Each interview is specific to each author's unique body of work, and we hope that you find the results as fascinating as we do.

Other Reader Revelations interviews were conducted and posted, but sadly are offline and not archived.

Articles and Meta

The site featured many articles and meta. Some of this content specifically written and was hosted at the site itself. Some of it was in the form of links to other websites. Some of the content was posted both at the author's own site as well as "Working Stiffs."

Workingstiffsarticlecollage.jpg

Got questions about writing fan fiction? Well, we've got answers. Lots and lots of answers. Here at Working Stiffs we celebrate the different approaches that each writer takes towards the craft of constructing, editing and promoting their stories. We want writers and readers who visit this site to realize that everyone is an expert in their own work, and that a diversity of opinion and experience is something to be applauded. Fanfic authors write for love, not money–love for the characters, love for the show, love for just plain writing. But that love alone doesn't guarantee you positive feedback, brilliant ideas or satisfaction in your stories. Remember, the only way to fail at writing in any genre is to stop learning! We want you to care about what you create, and strive to make each story more compelling than the last.

We hope that the articles here will inspire you to look more closely at your own work and the work you beta read.

Here at Working Stiffs, we recognize that a Web site like this is only as good as the people who contribute to it. We encourage all fanfic authors to pitch articles to us, and we look forward to hearing what everyone has to share. E-mail us your idea for an article of at least 500 words. Don't be afraid to just say, "Look, this is how I write. It may not work for everyone, but it works for me." If you'd like to explore a topic that other authors have already written on, go ahead! The whole point of Working Stiffs is to show how different writers approach the same peaks and pitfalls in writing. Write about something you feel you do well, or that excites you as a writer. We guarantee your enthusiasm and insight will shine through. Remember, you're the expert. [5]

NOTE: some of the essays have a slightly different title on the table of contents than what is on the essay itself.

NOTE: most of the essays are archived by the Wayback Machine, but not all of them. See Articles.

Nuts and Bolts and Bytes:

Craftiness:

Sex, Sighs, and Videotape:

Cold Sweat Inducers:

References

  1. ^ Working Stiffs, 16 December 2003 via Wayback. (Accessed 27 July 2011)
  2. ^ About Working Stiffs..., 02 March 2001 via Wayback. (Accessed 27 July 2011)
  3. ^ September 8, 2000, alt.tv.x-files.creative
  4. ^ Working Stiffs: A Resource for XF Fanfic Writers, October 8, 2000
  5. ^ Working Stiffs
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