Background: This whole thing is part of the what-if scenario of gender flipping the characters of The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. A chance remark on the relevant Animesuki thread made me write a short scenario on the matter.

Recently, a group of fans have begun to make audio dramas of various works on this, and my scenario is one of them.

It's a really weird feeling to hear my stories being spoken aloud, not by myself.

Tags: fandom, fic, haruhi, random ramblings

Just a heads-up to anyone who has me on friendslist for whatever ominous reason: I'll probably be using this LJ as a storage of my various fic chapters, with little to no explanation or background inherent (I'll be more than happy to elaborate in comments, though, since I Like Talking About Myself). Therefore, expect random floods as I post up chapters in rapid succession. Some of these will be fanfic, written contrary to established opinions on What Makes Good Fanfic.

I'll also be willing to take concrit on these posted chapters, with the caveat that sometimes it's not a plot hole, but a plot hook. Also, I repeat myself often, especially if I really like a turn of phrase.

On a completely unrelated note, for some reason today the words "USB Thumb Drive" completely vanished from my vocabulary for most of the day. This is not the first time this has happened (as kalium well knows), but I fear that I have created the Legend Of The Thingie.

Tags: fandom

Sometimes I have to wonder about strongly-worded demands (I hesitate to use the word "threat", since I can't seem to feel in any way threatened by it) emailed to me for a source of a H-game, when the demander quite clearly states that they are only fourteen years old.

For all that I try to find the right words for every situation, there is really nothing I can say to that which will not either make me seem insensitive, or incriminate me.

Tags: fandom, rant

(When the series first began:)
Me: "I'm thinking that this particular bit of ill-explained canon works this way. This will be the basis for a fanfic I'm planning, so if there's anything wrong with it, anything at all, please mention it, since it is the foundation upon which the fanfic is built, and if it has any sort of flaw, the fanfic will not be able to work."

Others: "Looks good, can't find any problems, go for it."


(In the middle of the series:)
Me: "Hey, guys, remember the fanfic I was planning? I still haven't started it, since the canon has a way of changing for no real reason due to extra sources outside the series itself, but to confirm, is the theory I worked out for that particular bit of canon still valid? If you don't remember, I'll just copy-and-paste it here."

Others: "Looks good, can't find any problems, go for it."


(Some months after the end of the series:)
Me: "Yes, it's me again, and I'm just about to start that fanfic I've been planning. I'd like another confirmation that the idea I had for the bit of canon is still valid and not contradictory; if you've forgotten, I'll copy-and-paste it here. Again, this will be absolutely essential to my fanfic, and if there's anything, anything at all which doesn't jive, please mention as much, even if it's completely trivial and irrelevant."

Others: "Looks good, can't find any problems, go for it."


(Second chapter released:)
Others: "What the hell? This doesn't work this way! You'd better change it."

Me: "I'm sorry? I specificially asked about this three times, and got a green light all three times. I also mentioned that it will not be changeable, since it is the basis for the fanfic in the first place. Do you have a source?"

Others: *provides out-of-series source, which was released prior to the series actually beginning*

Me: *headdesk*

Tags: fandom, fanfic, rant

(I'm not locking this friends-only because of the standing policy of having everything without sensitive personal info open to the public. No secrets here, except those which are easily personally identifiable.)

I'm not sure if this is even true, and I think that it is probably not very nice of me to say so, but experiences since I started really making my presence known via fanfics, original fiction, and blogging, seems to point to the vaguest of indications that I seem to be able to attract fangirls, for some reason I cannot fathom.

Now, normally I obviously wouldn't mind, and would probably be extremely flattered, albeit with the usual sense of not exactly knowing how to be flattered, since I get it so rarely in Real Life. However, and I am well aware that this is akin to looking the gift horse in the mouth, I kind of wish that the fangirls in question can actually use a close facsimile to proper English.

Because while I know that I'm supposed to be grateful for the comments and attention and such, there's this insistent part of me who doesn't care about being rude but does care about spelling and grammar, and it usually takes all my self-control not to correct the mistakes.

It's a character failing of mine.

EDIT: Come to think of it, part of it may be because said fangirls seem to be fixated on me as a person, rather than whatever work I created (be it a fanfic or a blog post). Obviously by "fangirls" I'm not using the term to mean every person of a female persuasion who happens to like whatever I do, but rather a concept which I admit is less than charitable, but I have trouble seeing in any other way.

It just feels a bit too personal, especially when the conversation suddenly turns to questions which assume that I'm some sort of authority on something. I mean, I'm just this guy, you know? And so I try to tiptoe as politely as I can around the issue, which means that I can't correct their spelling/grammar without feeling like a complete jerk.

Tags: fandom

One problem with trying to ask questions of certain aspects of slash fandom is that it's almost impossible to get a straight answer out of them.

Tags: fandom

Drinking games in general, when applied to fandom, tend to have long, complicated lists of events to look out for, with many shots/sips being taken during common occurrences. The goal appears to get as drunk as quickly as possible without immediately passing out.

Also, these drinking game lists are complex enough to rival DM tables.

I think I've found a flaw in this activity.

Tags: fandom, geekery

The key to having fun in a fandom is to be a fan.

This means that one should forget all about what other people think, and just let loose with all the enthusiasm and joy one felt when one first discovered the fandom. Do this for everything: discussing the latest instalment in the plot, hunting for random references and speculations in the details, and even coming up with one's own characters in the world.

Want to gush over how cute a character is? Go ahead. Want to write a Mary Sue story in the setting? Feel free. Forget about whether it's "good" or "acceptable", just be a fan. If you like something, no matter how "unrefined" or "lowbrow" it may be, proclaim it proudly. Never be ashamed for being a fan.

And if you find yourself no longer a fan, then just leave. No hard feelings in any direction, but to be considered part of a fandom, one must actually be a fan.

And be understanding and patient with others who are truly new to fandoms, and are brimming with enthusiasm and joy, the sort that you had when you were new as well.

This is one of those things where I just want to smack myself for not realizing (or remembering) sooner. It's so easy to lose sight of the meaning of being a fan in the first place, especially when one encounters that thing called Generally-Accepted Opinions. These are not always bad, but they are also not always good.

Tags: fandom, notes to self

But... but... impossible to strangle yourself like that... should show up in autopsy... impossible to miss... "false denouement" makes no sense...

*head asplode*

EDIT: A fire, to simplify matters, requires at least three things: oxygen, fuel, and a source of heat.

Oxygen, mostly, is in good supply in the scene. A source of heat can also be easily obtained.

I don't care how smart of a criminal you are, setting fire to a stone building is probably going to take a bit more work than that, and leave more traces of how the fire started, considering you went through all this effort to create a Locked Room Mystery.

Tags: fandom

I'm not feeling threatened by you because you claim to be a "strong woman".

I'm feeling threatened by you because you're being incredibly and unnecessarily nasty.

One does not have to insult everyone else to be "strong".

Tags: fandom, rant
Apparently now I am: angry

I just got yelled at for posting spoilers in a spoiler thread.

I'm not entirely certain how to respond.

Tags: fandom, wtf
Apparently now I am: confused

How can you disagree with someone and tell them that what they're saying is not rational, but not put them immediately on the defensive?

Because I have no idea how to put across the idea that a roleplayer in a Massively Multiplayer Online Game really has no grounds to feel superior to a fanfiction writer.

EDIT: I suppose I should mention that I'm not in the best of moods already due to various RL stuff, and I'm trying to be the Big Man and walk away from it instead of losing my temper. But even after three hours of slamming villainous heads in CoH, I'm still seething, and I know that I'm not going to be able to get to sleep tonight with my brain insisting on dwelling on this. I could always stay up until I finally feel exhausted enough to sleep, but that is not very healthy.

Why does being the Mature One have to be so hard?

Tags: fandom
Apparently now I am: annoyed

The Singapore Anime News Network forum is a lot quieter than I remember it being before.

Lost my password to it, but I can probably try to guess. Hm...

Tags: anime, fandom, nostalgia

Something that would be useful for future reference, applicable to fandom and RL and whatever. This is just a pre-emptive thing, and nothing serious has happened yet, but I'd like it to stay that way.

So, I'd just like to say: "Please don't drag me into it without good justification."

I refuse to play favourites. Saves time and frustration.

EDIT: On a completely unrelated and probably TMI note, there appears to be ice in the toilet bowl.

Tags: fandom, sad excuse for a life

Yes, I know you're feeling very bad due to biological stuff that happens only to women, and there's no way men can understand. I know you have had very bad experiences with men in general, from old boyfriends to whatever.

You have told us all of this, repeatedly.

But please, please don't take it out on me.

Because while you may have Issues, I'm pretty sure that I'm not the cause of any of them.

Sometimes it's very difficult to be the only guy in a girl-oriented fandom community.

Tags: fandom
Apparently now I am: ah, ccs fandom

Now, nobody's actually asked me about these yet. However, I have nothing better to post about at the moment, so I thought I would list out how I personally view various fannish things.

( I like to hear the sound of my own keyboard.Collapse )

One day I will actually write my thoughts on moe.

One day.

Tags: fandom, ramblings

Why am I a horrible person for liking Sakura/Tomoyo (and Fate/Nanoha and assorted other yuri pairings), when you ship various Harry Potter slash pairings?

No, really.

Tags: fandom, wtf