A Quick Slash Q and A
My dear friend Ben (Vice President of S.Q.U.E.E and mastermind of Operation W.I.B.B.L.E) is currently embroiled in a rather interesting discussion (read argument) on a message board regarding fanfic.
In order to enable him to argue more effectively he sent me a quick questionnaire and asked me to fill it in. I asked if he would like some more responses from other fanfic writers and he was suitably delighted by the suggestion:
Therefore, if you could spare a few minutes to answer these questions I and Ben would be grateful. You can either send them to me by email or you can email them direct to Ben. He will treat all responses as confidential.
Please also post your responses on your LJ, or here as a reply, if at all possible as I'd love to see what everyone's thoughts are on this:
Quick Slash Writer's Quiz
*1*. Why do you write slash? What do you get out of it?
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
*4* Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
*5* Why one fandom over another?
*1*. Why do you write slash? What do you get out of it?
In short: It turns me on. Het sex doesn't do much for me unless in very particular circumstances. Good written porn is hard to come by and extremely beneficial. There should be more of it. If I find two characters that I find attractive together and I can slash them..I will!
To lesser extent I write slash because I see sub-text in TV shows or films or books or comics and I want to write the sub-text story. Or because there are things that happen as canon in a series or film which I want to put my own interpretation/spin on it...particularly if I don't like what the actual writers are doing.
Occasionally I will just fall in love with a character and want to write about them. This is probably most noticeable with Methos as I find the actual character so fascinating. This is why I am tending these days to leaning toward slashing Methos with just about anyone.
Or to quote![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lastrega "Methos is the little black dress of fandom, he goes with anyone"
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
Not really no. Most of the time I view this type of argument as people making excuses for the fact they are writing porn about fanfic characters. I don't feel I need to justify what I do. If you want to write gaycentric stories as a statement you would be better off writing original stuff and trying to get it published.
I can see why it its a valid argument, its just not one I particularly subscribe to.
Occasionally, for a laugh, I (or others) have slashed a character who is held out as being uber-masculine but infact is in my (or others) eyes very camp, or so *obviously* doing it with [insert character name]. Very occasionally I have been known to write drabbles just to piss people off. This is usually in response to overt "he/she
can't possibly be gay are you on crack?" Or "all slash is evil" type posts or comments.
To be honest I tend to have more problems with the fact that I like BDSM. That area of fic tends to get singled out for abuse and I will often write BDSM fic as a statement to show how it should be done or to prove that there is a lot more to it then most people realise.
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
Because I like sex. I particularly like the idea of hot sex between two men or two women.
No sex in a story tends to bore me.
*4*. Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
I have preferences for particular pairings such as Methos/Duncan, Methos/Kronos, Obi Wan/Qui Gon, Budd/Exley, Robin/Will, Lucius/Snape, Aragorn/Boromir, Maturin/Aubrey, Jack/Will, Wolverine/Gambit etc but on the whole I'll read anything so long as its well-written and hot. I am a fandom slut.
There are very few things/pairings which squick me and which I wouldn't at least give a go..
*5*. Why one fandom over another?
Depends if I find a character or premise that stimulates the creative juices! *grins* On the whole it tends to start with me finding a character attractive and then it goes on from there.
Fandoms where I fail to get interested in the idea and story premise don't tend to hold my attention for very long, however strongly I like one of the characters.
If I find a character attractive and I get interested in the universe they inhabit then I can get obsessed very quickly.
Ben's Email is: bastard_apotheosis@hotmail.com
In order to enable him to argue more effectively he sent me a quick questionnaire and asked me to fill it in. I asked if he would like some more responses from other fanfic writers and he was suitably delighted by the suggestion:
Therefore, if you could spare a few minutes to answer these questions I and Ben would be grateful. You can either send them to me by email or you can email them direct to Ben. He will treat all responses as confidential.
Please also post your responses on your LJ, or here as a reply, if at all possible as I'd love to see what everyone's thoughts are on this:
Quick Slash Writer's Quiz
*1*. Why do you write slash? What do you get out of it?
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
*4* Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
*5* Why one fandom over another?
*1*. Why do you write slash? What do you get out of it?
In short: It turns me on. Het sex doesn't do much for me unless in very particular circumstances. Good written porn is hard to come by and extremely beneficial. There should be more of it. If I find two characters that I find attractive together and I can slash them..I will!
To lesser extent I write slash because I see sub-text in TV shows or films or books or comics and I want to write the sub-text story. Or because there are things that happen as canon in a series or film which I want to put my own interpretation/spin on it...particularly if I don't like what the actual writers are doing.
Occasionally I will just fall in love with a character and want to write about them. This is probably most noticeable with Methos as I find the actual character so fascinating. This is why I am tending these days to leaning toward slashing Methos with just about anyone.
Or to quote
lastrega "Methos is the little black dress of fandom, he goes with anyone"*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
Not really no. Most of the time I view this type of argument as people making excuses for the fact they are writing porn about fanfic characters. I don't feel I need to justify what I do. If you want to write gaycentric stories as a statement you would be better off writing original stuff and trying to get it published.
I can see why it its a valid argument, its just not one I particularly subscribe to.
Occasionally, for a laugh, I (or others) have slashed a character who is held out as being uber-masculine but infact is in my (or others) eyes very camp, or so *obviously* doing it with [insert character name]. Very occasionally I have been known to write drabbles just to piss people off. This is usually in response to overt "he/she
can't possibly be gay are you on crack?" Or "all slash is evil" type posts or comments.
To be honest I tend to have more problems with the fact that I like BDSM. That area of fic tends to get singled out for abuse and I will often write BDSM fic as a statement to show how it should be done or to prove that there is a lot more to it then most people realise.
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
Because I like sex. I particularly like the idea of hot sex between two men or two women.
No sex in a story tends to bore me.
*4*. Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
I have preferences for particular pairings such as Methos/Duncan, Methos/Kronos, Obi Wan/Qui Gon, Budd/Exley, Robin/Will, Lucius/Snape, Aragorn/Boromir, Maturin/Aubrey, Jack/Will, Wolverine/Gambit etc but on the whole I'll read anything so long as its well-written and hot. I am a fandom slut.
There are very few things/pairings which squick me and which I wouldn't at least give a go..
*5*. Why one fandom over another?
Depends if I find a character or premise that stimulates the creative juices! *grins* On the whole it tends to start with me finding a character attractive and then it goes on from there.
Fandoms where I fail to get interested in the idea and story premise don't tend to hold my attention for very long, however strongly I like one of the characters.
If I find a character attractive and I get interested in the universe they inhabit then I can get obsessed very quickly.
Ben's Email is: bastard_apotheosis@hotmail.com
no subject
Enjoyment, mostly. I don't deny that I *really* get off on other people's fic, too, but as for me writing it, I enjoy writing it, I enjoy creating the situations for the characters to deal with, and in most cases, there's a very explicit chemistry or bond between the characters in the first place that makes me consider writing slash about them, and it's the exploration of that bond/relationship that makes slash so much fun to write. And, did I mention the sex?
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
Actually, only once. I actually wrote a couple of fics dealing with the overturning of the sodomy laws, and how the characters reacted and felt better about themselves, because their feelings/relationship was no longer an illegal/dirty thing, but as a general rule, no, I don't. The only things I worry about are ages of consent when necessary.
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
Because ordinary fanfic is boring, and as a very sweeping generalization, most regular fanfic forgets about characterization and everything else in favor of self-insertion for the hero. And that's just not my thing. I watch a show/movie/book etc for the characters, not for myself. If I want to read about myself banging Jack Sparrow, well that's what I've got a fantasy life and a vibrator for, know what I mean?
*4* Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
that actually depends on the fandom and who the pairing is. For example, my current fandom is Smallville. I'll read pretty much anything in Smallville. I'm addicted that way. The only things I won't read are Pete Ross/Male, because that just doesn't jive with me. Doesn't mean I haven't thought it on occasion, but overall, that's not how I see the character. Otherwise? Bring it on.
In the Buffyverse, however? I have only a few pairings I'll read and that's it, mainly because I either don't like the character (Angel/Angelus) or I don't think the relationship is sexual (Buffy/Giles? Ewww!! Joyce/Giles, yes. Buffy/Giles, ewwww).
*5* Why one fandom over another?
Because it's a fandom I like. It's as simple as that. If I watch a show, I like it, and I see the chemistry between the characters, then I write it. There's shows I watch that I've written normal (heterosexual) fanfic about, but it's the ones with slash chemistry that really draw me, because I like a show and an atmosphere where guys are comfortable enough to show affection with each other.
no subject
I like it. I find het paring boring and it's not like there's not a ton of canon het parings to find out there. I like relationships that are edgy in some way or another and ones that buck people's assumptions are intrinsically more interesting than ones that fufill them.
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
Very much so. I'm very interested in acceptance and rejection, particularly for personal things like sexual desires. For the most part, I try to keep it to a minimum in my slash writing - I save my rants for my LJ ;) However, many of my stories at least aknowledge that people are uncomfortable with homosexuality or BDSM - even people who are otherwise good friends or decent human beings. I also try to present BDSM in particuar as balanced as I can (in what is essentially a fantasy).
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
I do write 'ordinary' fanfic but - when in other novels the author conveniently skips time or cuts to the burnign candles or uses euphamisms - I continue writing. Plus - I like porn.
*4* Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
LOL - what one true pairing? We're all making this up in the first place! However - no, I'll read almost any pairing by authors I like or that look interesting. I have my favorites but I'm not religious about it.
*5* Why one fandom over another?
My interests change over time. I started in Start Trek with Kirk/Spock and currently spend time in X-men. I need a world that seems full of options, which is why Smallville dosent interest me very much - it dosen't feel very open to me.
no subject
*1*. Why do you write slash? What do you get out of it?
It's fun, and boyz together are such nice eye candy! :D I also think that men loving men (platonically/sexually/ whatever) is wrongly persecuted in our society. This is my way of flipping the bird to the attitude that guys must never show that they care about each other because 'OMG people might think they're fags!!' < /sarcasm>
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash?
A little (see above). It's more for the enjoyment factor, though. Some of the slash 'theories' out there just make me go 'WTF?' WEG ("You write slash because you're not getting enough dick" is one such 'theory'. Excuse me while I go laugh in the corner.)
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic?
Define 'ordinary' fanfic! It's all 'ordinary'! I tend toward slash just because same sex pairings are so little utilised in fiction of any sort. It's not so much the novelty as being able to indirectly express/read about *my* not so straightness, a recognition that these characters have some of the same feelings that I do. I don't get that from het fic nearly as much.
*4* Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot?
I'll read pretty much any pairing as long as it's good. I have my favourites, of course, but I don't limit myself to those.
*5* Why one fandom over another?
Good question. Usually it depends on whether or not the story grabbed me. The Cute Guy/Girl actor thing is very secondary.
-Fishgoat
no subject
*2*. Do you consider/Have you considered the theoretical aspect of slash writing - eg, slash as a political statement or a way of correcting implicitly homophobic or obviously censored texts? Has that ever affected the way you've thought about slash? Slash does not equal politics for me. It's about sex and relationships, whether short or long term. I don't think there's anything brave or heroic about writing slash. I write what I enjoy.
*3*. Why slash, as opposed to ordinary fanfic? Before I was aware of such a term, I was writing it. I had to be careful who saw it, lest they make judgments. Slash is like flavors, it all depends on what I have a taste for. I like to think of FanFic as being a big tree, and all the different types of fic being the branches. It's all storytelling in the end and all related.
*4* Are you opposed to slash that is not One True Pairing oriented, or do you not care as long as it's well-written/hot? I'm not OTP oriented in the least. If the writer is skilled enough to make it believable and it's grammatically correct, I will give it a read. Draw me in, and you'll keep me for the length of the story.
*5* Why one fandom over another? I've got to have a passing familiarity and interest in the fandom to be able to enjoy the fan fiction.