My first foray into fan fiction was through the Star Trek: The Next Generation universe in the late 1990's. I am an ardent Picard/Crusher fan and have written a few stories of my own that were posted years ago via another group that I'm beginning to repost here.

My taste in fan fiction has taken a surprising path over the years. TNG led me back to TOS where I developed an unexpected (to me anyway) attachment for Spock/Chapel although I've never felt compelled to write for them.

In the last few years I have branched out beyond the sci-fi genre but I seem to be drawn to the same romantic scenario of man/woman with an obstacle (real or perceived but almost always self-imposed) to the relationship.

Next stop on the obsession, er, interest, train was The West Wing where I singled out C.J. and Toby for my devotion (I accept Danny as an alternate because a couple of authors capture the pairing really well). I have a hot mess of multiple half finished stories that make up my own private alternate universe arc for them that at the moment seem unlikely to ever surface beyond my own computer.

A recent stint of unemployment gave me far too much free time which I partially filled in by following two additional pairings. Using the sci-fi plot bunny of time travel (well, my own version of it), I've now moved from the 24thcentury (TNG) through the 23rd century (TOS) past the new millennium (West Wing) to a new stop in mid-20th century (Perry Mason... and honestly, who couldn't love Della?) then a last gigantic leap to the 19th century (Gunsmoke - ah, Matt and Kitty, the 'longest non-permanent relationship in history' to quote one of their own episodes).

I don't feel the need to write for Matt and Kitty, but there are now two more stories in my hot mess file that center on Perry and Della. Who knows what might happen next?

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

12/21/09

A couple of thoughts since 07/12/09

So I quit lurking, signed up at FFN and posted my profile.

A mere two weeks after declaring that I didn't feel the need to write for Matt and Kitty I posted a drabble on the Gunsmoke site and a second one a week after that. Just goes to show a person should be careful which declarations they put in writing.

oxo

My first story was posted 07/16/09 and since then my work has been read by people in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Revar, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, USA.

Not every country for every story or in every month but there are quite a few constants. Thank you all.

I have no explanation for why, out of all those countries, the fact that there is someone in Malaysia reading my work completely boggles my mind, but it does.

oxo

Things I've learned about writing -- or words of not even close to wisdom

Write for yourself.

You may think as the writer that you have all the control but the characters will quickly show you otherwise as they take off in directions you never planned. Sometimes they're right, sometimes you have to herd them back in line.

Grammar and punctuation are very good things; beta readers are even better things.

If the person you trust enough to beta your work makes a plot suggestion that goes against what you feel is right for your story, do it your way.

Take all constructive criticism as a genuine wish not for you to change but to improve.

Kind, constructive words in posted reviews make you feel good. Looking at the stats page and seeing that your stories are being read and re-read is a pretty good form of ego stroking, too.

Your readers may be happy with the finished product you post but you'll never be fully satisfied with your own work. Read stuff you wrote/posted years ago -- or last week -- and you'll find things you want to change.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

06/20/10

So, that's it... I've posted the last of my stockpiled P/C stories. A reader has given me a challenge, but I'm not getting anything to jell right now, so that pot will continue to simmer... along with all the other pots I've got going.

oxo

I've been lucky enough to add pins for Cyprus, Europe, Hong Kong, Iraq, Isle of Man, Kuwait, Macedonia, Puerto Rico, Saudi Arabia, Trinidad & Tobago, United Arab Emirates and Uruguay to my 'Readers Around The World' map. Thank you, everyone, for reading!!

oxo

I have now posted in three fandoms -- TNG, Gunsmoke and Perry Mason. Trust me, I never thought that would happen.

oxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

09/10/12

Well, apparently, updating my profile on a regular basis is not my strong suit. It has been over two years I last managed to pull something together. I hope my stories speak for themselves when I can't be bothered to speak for myself.

The one thing I should never be lax about is thanking all the people who read my stories, the new ones as they are posted and the ones so old they'd have cobwebs on them if they weren't being read so often.

My 'Readers Around The World' map now has pins for Afghanistan, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brunei Darussalam, Cayman Islands, Estonia, Ghana, Guernsey, Jamaica, Nepal, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Togo, Tunisia, Venezuela. You're all wonderful!