Get to Know the Author

balloonarcade asked: 
24) have you ever become an expert on something you previously knew nothing about, in order to better a scene or a story?

XD @weewoo-and-go-go-go-bot-rangers asked the same question so I’ll answer you both here.

Short answer is no, but that’s because I don’t really retain anything in depth when I’m doing story research, so I can’t become an expert. But do I research things? OMG yes. A small samplings of things that I have researched for a story:

• War memorial designs
• Miranda rights
• How to do a cavity search
• How Grindr really works (practical research >.> )
• Tank construction
• Movies, tv shows and hit songs from 1984-1985
• Roman infantry formations
• French and Scottish court structures
• Reasons people lose faith in a deity (or otherwise stop believing)

…and that’s just for my TF fics. Non-TF fic research included human trafficking, border patrol command structures, and IT security systems.

I’d be really curious to know what my dossier at the FBI looks like by now! :D

Get to Know the Author

I-am-menial asked: 2, 12, 14, 21 and 22 thanks!

2) what work of yours, if any, are you the most embarrassed about existing? 

Oh gosh. I won’t just tell you what it is but where it is. It’s in a series of binders in my basement, written longhand on notebook paper. In high school my best friend and I wrote an ongoing, self-insert Dragonriders of Pern fanfic. This thing is massive and awful and it shall never see the light of day, but that was the very first fanfics I ever wrote. XD

12) your weaknesses as an author 

Hmm. Finding a character’s voice can be really hard for me, so I tend to stick to characters that I am comfortable with. And the characters I’m comfortable with are the ones that I can really relate to. As a result, I’m afraid some of my characters sound a lot alike. :/

14) do you make playlists for your current wips? 

No. Oh my gosh, I’d never get anything done. XD I’ve done playlists for finished works, after the fact, and I have written a few fics based on a song (working on another right now). But creating a playlist to listen to while writing a specific story? No. I have several general writing playlists that I listen to instead: mostly trance, synthwave and dance/electronica.

21) what do you think when you read over your older work? 

Usually I’m ok with it, except I can see stylistic changes that I’d make in wording. But I think that’s just me growing as an author. Some of the oldest of my fics existing online (circa 1996 or so) sound a little dated to my ears now, but I wouldn’t go back and change them.

22) are there any subjects that make you uncomfortable to write? 

Probably? But then I just steer clear of those topics and don’t write them. Mostly. 

I did have a moment of “should I even be writing this” not too long ago when I wrote a ficlet about Bluestreak being a gay (human) male who was estranged from his father. I’d never been in that situation before myself, and I knew that I might not - get it right, I guess? Emotionally? But that’s writing: extrapolating your own experience into someone else’s. I figured that someone would tell me if I got it horribly wrong, and no one’s done that yet. If someone does, I’ll consider the feedback and either change the story or add a disclaimer.

Thanks for all the questions! :D

Get to Know the Author

Anonymous asked: 24 and 25 please

I just answered 24 here. :) Popular question!

25) copy/paste a few sentences or a short paragraph that you’re particularly proud of 

Hmm. I had a hard time picking something! It feels like some of my best stuff is wrapped up with spoilers. So, have a little bit from The Colour of Your Optics.

***

Bluestreak sat on the couch reading his comm pad, and looked up at him when he came in. “So, uh, your brother is looking for you,” he said with a concerned tone.

Frowning, Sunstreaker grabbed his comm pad, which he’d left on the table the previous evening. He saw about half a dozen missed messages from Sideswipe. “I told him I was spending the night,” he grumbled. Then he saw that they were all from the past groon or so.

Morning, Sunshine! Give me a ping back when you’re up.

Hey Sunny, page me when you get this.

Holy Primus, are you two still fragging? There’s no way. Give me a ring when you get up.

Helloooo? Are you there? Did you forget to charge your pad?

Come on, Sunny. Pull yourself away from your cute little Praxian for a klik and answer me.

I tried comming you, but you’ve got yourself set as Do Not Disturb. Starting to get worried. Give me a call!

That’s it. I’m messaging Bluestreak. If it turns out he’s a serial killer and you’re stuffed in a garbage chute, I’m going to be really mad.

Sunstreaker looked up at Bluestreak, an indignant expression on his face. “He said he was going to message you because I wasn’t picking up,” he said.

Bluestreak waved his pad. “Yup, that’s how I know he tried messaging you first.” He read from his comm pad. “He said, ‘If you’re done blowing my brother’s breakers, can you please have him comm me right away?’”