Some musings on human AUs and writing.

[elisi]

I very, very rarely read human AUs. I like Spike and Angel (to focus just on those two for a minute) because of who and what they are, and the long and complex history that is the basis for that. Turning them into football players or High School students is selfdefeating, because I'm not interested in football players or students. Like, at all. And it's impossible to keep all the nuances of their characters when changing them so dramatically.

But... I *am* interested in Pernese dragonriders. It's a thing. Which is why I'm writing this fic I guess. Only in making my dear Spike and Angel adolescent dragonriders, I've lost huge, giant chunks of who they are. And, as the fic takes shape, I'm beginning to invent background stories and lots of other things, and they're rapidly spinning far, far away from their vampire origins. Only I rather like my new, almost OC, characters. They're fun and interesting and pretty and I like playing with them - and I really hope you'll like them too. *crosses fingers*

(Btw it's The Cherub's birthday tomorrow - she'll be two, how did that happen? - so it's doubtful if I'll be able to get online until Monday. If not, see you then!)

Comments

[gillo]

Two

? Goodness me. That's just not possible. Have a lovely day - and good luck getting the cake and jelly and stuff out of her hair!

[elisi]

Ooooooh! Icon!

Um... what were you saying? Oh yes, birthday! Thank you. :)

[gillo]

Now why did I think you'd like that icon?

;-)

[elisi]

You're psychic??

[spikereader.livejournal.com]

Happy birthday to The Cherub for tomorrow *sends balloons*

I very rarely read human AUs (could probably count how many I've read on the fingers of one hand actually) - but Pern and its dragonriders have been favourites for many many years. I shall be reading your Pernese Spike and Angel with interest - and look forward to seeing how the experience changes their characters.

[elisi]

Balloons!!!!!! *adds to shopping list* And thank you. :)

could probably count how many I've read on the fingers of one hand actually
Same here. Can remember two - or maybe it was the same one...

Pern and its dragonriders have been favourites for many many years.
As they have for a large part of my flist apparently. *g* (We fannish types obviously all fall for the same things!)

I shall be reading your Pernese Spike and Angel with interest - and look forward to seeing how the experience changes their characters.
I posted the first part here in case you missed it... enjoy! There will be more!

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday to The Cherub!

[elisi]

Aw, thank you! :)

[mabus101.livejournal.com]

The whole idea of human AUs...or for that matter, of most kinds of radical AUs that leave nothing of the setting intact...I must admit I have never understood.

To me, the characters are who they are mostly because of their background. I can't really imagine Harry Potter as a Watcher or Willow as an Aes Sedai. All I'd really be doing if I wrote something like that would be projecting my personal issues onto the characters.

That said, there are a couple of kinds of major shifts in background I can probably read and enjoy. One would be a change in history that leaves the major story elements intact--ie, a world where there are Slayers and Watchers but the South won the Civil War or the American Revolution didn't happen. The other would be certain kinds of special scenarios that don't really have to do with the universe they're in. I'm not sure how to explain these except by giving an example--there's a magical device in the Wheel of Time series that forces characters to confront their greatest fears. If I couldn't think of a way to get it into B:tVS without being too ridiculous, I could see transplanting the characters instead.

Doesn't necessarily mean I won't read your story, though.

[elisi]

To me, the characters are who they are mostly because of their background.
Exactly. Which is why I've only ever read one human AU fic (maybe 2, I forget. It was a long, long time ago).

That said, there are a couple of kinds of major shifts in background I can probably read and enjoy.
That stuff is fascinating. Like the Wishverse f.ex. I've read some truly great fic where the whole scenario has been altered.

If I couldn't think of a way to get it into B:tVS without being too ridiculous, I could see transplanting the characters instead.
Easiest way would be for them all to be sucked into a portal. :)

Doesn't necessarily mean I won't read your story, though.
Well my story is pretty much pure crack, and also the characters are not really going to have that much in common with the originals, except for their looks and parts of their personality. But, as I said, it's fun to play with OCs - I find that I *want* them to be different.

[shapinglight]

Happy Birthday to the Cherub for tomorrow - and don't forget it's the beginning of Spike's birthday week on Monday and decade_of_spike is opening for business.

Erm - hope you don't mind the pimp.

[elisi]

Thank you for the birthday wishes - and I don't mind the pimp at all! Mostly I'm just sad that I don't think I'll have anything to contribute, nor time to indulge in all the goodness that'll be posted...

[copykween.livejournal.com]

Ahhhh, Pern. I haven't read any of those books for AGES! I'll definitely be checking out your fic. :)

[elisi]

I've just re-read most of 'Dragonflight'... makes me *terribly* nostalgic!

And part one of the fic is here. Be warned however that it is pure crack!

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

I'm very with you on the "everybody's human" AUs. So much of what makes Spike and Angel interesting is indeed their history. They're no really "Spike" and "Angel" if they're the rebel outsider kid and the captain of the football team. So what's the point? I've never quite figured it out!

But what I mostly hate that these kinds of stories (at least the few I've bothered to read) is the way they inevitably seem to destroy everything I love about Buffy herself. Canon Buffy's strong, capable, and loyal. AU Buffy always seems to be some simpering little valley-girl. Blaah!

And the Pern story is cool; you know it's total crack, and you're just enjoying the heck out of it anyway!

[elisi]

So what's the point? I've never quite figured it out!
Maybe it's a wish to transport them into the writer's world? But then the first three seasons *were* set in a High School...

the way they inevitably seem to destroy everything I love about Buffy herself.
*nods a lot*

And the Pern story is cool; you know it's total crack, and you're just enjoying the heck out of it anyway!
Crack!fic does not obey normal rules. ;)

[rahirah]

I've always thought that any really well-done AU stands on its own, so why lumber the characters with the names of people that they aren't?

[elisi]

Yes! Exactly! As concerns my own fic, then part 1 *obviously* it wouldn't work without the names, but the rest is spinning off into it's own lovely little AU and I could quite happily re-name the characters.

[spikendru.livejournal.com]

Happy Second Birthday to The Cherub!

Like you, I very rarely read Human AUs - mainly because the few I have read were . . . um . . . really bad. That said, I did actually write one myself, because I just couldn't think of any way to get Xander and Angel together otherwise. There was just too much baggage between them. So, I ended up making Angel a human (but with a mysterious past) and made the characters as close to canon as I possibly could (without Angel being a vampire). But I sure wouldn't make a habit of writing Human AUs, because I love the characters just as they are.

Oops! My bad! I wrote a crack!fic with all the characters as human once, but it was supposed to be crack!fic, so. . . .

[elisi]

First of all, thank you for the birthday wishes! The young lady had a lovely day! :)

mainly because the few I have read were . . . um . . . really bad.
Heh. I read one by Nautibitz ages ago, which was a great story (and hot too), but perfectly illustrated Brab's point above, because it might just as well have been written using original characters.

I just couldn't think of any way to get Xander and Angel together otherwise. There was just too much baggage between them.
Yes, I get that. And it's obviously not exactly the 'everyone is a football captain' scenario! ;)

I love the characters just as they are.
Same here. Which is why most of my fic is post-NFA.

Oops! My bad! I wrote a crack!fic with all the characters as human once, but it was supposed to be crack!fic, so. . . .
There are different rules for crack!fic! Everything goes!

[jamalov29.livejournal.com]

Wishing a wonderful birthday to your little princess!

[elisi]

Thank you! :) She had a brilliant day.

[candleanfeather.livejournal.com]

Hee! Happy birthday to the Cherub. Two is so big! :)

[elisi]

Thank you! And two is big indeed! Where did my baby go?

Cats on crack and dancing Penises

[kitmarlowescot2.livejournal.com]

So I was looking at Mo Rocca's videos, on aol and I found this little gem. I think the video can speak for itself. Yes it does have cats on crack and a lady who draws dancing penises. And that lady's poor cats, as well.
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/category/mos-videos/

Re: Cats on crack and dancing Penises

[elisi]

*blinks* And here I was, thinking that my fic was bizarre... I don;t think I actually have any words to describe my reaction. (Although I suddenly want to go on iTunes and buy that song by Paula Abdul and Scat Cat)(I think that was his name. *g* Biiiiig wave of nostalgia!)

[missus-grace.livejournal.com]

I'm here because I saw your comment on awmp's LJ and I love the Dragonriders series. I think I've read all of them...and I've imagined my Spuffy ending up there due to a dimensional rift or something and I just love thinking about Spike on a dragon.

Anyway, I've also said all of this over on Insane Journal and I've friended you because I've been a fan of your fics for sometime and now I can't wait to see this Pern crossover if you publish it.

[elisi]

I'm here because I saw your comment on awmp's LJ and I love the Dragonriders series.
Hello again - and welcome! :)

I think I've read all of them...
I've read most, but not the latest ones.

I've imagined my Spuffy ending up there due to a dimensional rift or something and I just love thinking about Spike on a dragon.
Funnily enough it'd never really ocurred to me until very recently. It is however a fabulous idea!

I've friended you because I've been a fan of your fics for sometime
Aw, thank you! And I am writing as fast as I can, trust me... except right now I have to go and make the house look nice. Again.