Fanfic Ideas and the Creative Process... (was Quidditch!Ron)

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Ebony Elizabeth Thomas" <ebonyink at h...> 
wrote: 

A very thought-provoking post (as usual)!

I started writing poetry at 5.  It was a parody of a Beatles song, 
called 'Oh, Help, Baby, Baby, Give Me Back My Liver'.  

I wrote my first serious poem at 7, after my sister was still-born, 
and progressed to plays, short stories, and the Great English Novel 
(I know I'm American--it was an accident of birth).  I also write 
lyrics. I am published (The Jesse Stuart Creative Writing Workshop) 
In fact, I'd never *not* been able to write, until 9 years ago & a 
depression that lasted until I discovered fanfiction.
I was searching for stuff to read to tide me over until the next 
installments of all my favourites, found some *horrid* fic (probably 
written by 11 year olds), and I mentally told myself that I could 
write better than that.  And I started writing again & now I can't 
stop.

I carry notebooks around with me everywhere.  If I see something that 
intrigues me, or get an idea, I write it down.  Right then and there. 
(those memo thingys would work the same way--please don't write and 
drive!) That way, I don't forget ideas.  
> 
> BTW, I am THRILLED to be teaching high school Creative Writing next 
year. I 
> just came from a meeting downtown... my new school was just 
selected for a 
> Pen/Faulkner Writers-in-Residence grant sponsored by Ford Motor 
Company.  
> That means that *six* times next year, a number of *really* famous 
pro 
> novelists will be teaching half-day classes in fiction to my 
creative 
> writing students.  People like Maxine Hong Kingston, Frank McCourt, 
Amy 
> Tan... and the writer confers with the creative writing teacher 
before and 
> afterwards... *faints from happiness*  Just had to share.  I'm so 
excited 
> about this.  It's been a success in D.C. and elsewhere... thank 
goodness to 
> Ford for bringing it to Detroit.

Oh, Ebony, I'm *so* envious!  What a wonderful chance to rub elbows 
with some of the best. (Not that I've ever read their works--just 
noticed them on the bestseller lists)  I've been in that situation 
before & have found it very stimulating.  It's been my experience 
that *most* famous writers are really nice, down to earth, and 
incredibly supportive.  

Peace & Plenty, 

Parker
> 
> > --Ebony AKA AngieJ
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