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ljwritesThis is the promised interview with FairLadyZ2005 which I alluded to in the Featured Fic post featuring this author. I think it was a great interview; I know I learned a lot from it. It has been divided into two parts for readability. Enjoy!
FairLadyZ2005 Interview Part 1: On Fandom and Fanfic
- Lunatique: I've noticed that the earliest story on your profile is about four years old. How long have you been writing fiction in general? How did you get into it?
FairLadyZ2005: I've been writing fanfiction since the mid-90's. The Star Trek series were my gateway drug back in high school. I went to conventions, joined a fanclub, and learned what fanfiction was. Of course back then in the "dark ages" I published stuff in fanzines. Then I discovered the Internet in college and read and wrote a lot of fanfic, but it wasn't until about the mid-00's that I got the courage to start posting online. I haven't stopped since.
- You write in a variety of fandoms like I do. Is there any way in which Avatar is different from your other fandoms?
Avatar is really no different aside from being my current obsession. Any differences are probably manifesting themselves in the amount of fic I've been able to put out and in trying to be a more active reader and reviewer of other people's fics in return.
- Who are your favorite Avatar characters, and why?
Zuko! Big surprise given the title of my fic, huh? Most of my memories of watching Avatar before becoming a full fledged fan though always seemed to involve Zuko for some reason. The first full scene I remember watching of the show (beyond "The Boy in the Iceberg," I believe, though I may have seen it later on a rerun) was Zuko and Iroh cutting off their topknots. The symbolism was not lost on me (thank you Princess Mononoke). "Cave of Two Lovers" was the first full episode I remember and while annoying hippies and Aang failed to impress me at the time, Zuko and Iroh's journey fascinated me. Who was this prince in exile? What had he done to get that scar? And why was his uncle willing to travel with him?
Fire has always been my favorite element so it annoyed me that the show featured this as the element of the bad guys, but here were two characters that didn't fit that mold. And according to the premise of the show, someone was going to have to teach the Avatar firebending, that person most likely being Zuko. And guess what? He was! I remember being lucky enough to catch "The Day of Black Sun" and the second half of "Sozin's Comet" on their original airings, so I knew how things would end for Zuko, which only made me that much more excited to eventually watch the show in proper order.
Zuko combines a lot of my favorite archetypes – the prodigal son/exile with a "crossroads of destiny" moment as seen in my favorite Star Trek character Garak, the former "bad guy" in search of redemption as seen in the title character of Rurouni Kenshin (which also might explain my penchant for golden-eyed, scarred swordsmen), and the chosen one with a leadership destiny as seen in my favorite Transformer character, Rodimus Prime. Zuko's character arc is the main reason I love the show and I find that I never get tired of writing about a character like that or the relationships he has with the rest of Team Avatar and Iroh.
- What interests you about the Avatar world and story?
I think Toonzone is completely justified in calling Avatar the best Western cartoon of the past decade, another reason I checked out the show. It is the perfect fusion of the best of Eastern and Western storytelling techniques and animation, something that we in the West had never really seen before in a show to this degree. There are some shows that literally "ruin" your ability to watch other television because they have such scope and depth, and Avatar does that on every level.
I love fantasy and action cartoons. Avatar allows its characters to grow and change. It has a definite beginning, middle, and end. A good ending is one of the most important and sadly, underutilized storytelling devices in TV fiction, especially in Western animation. Avatar is just a beautiful show to watch too with its innovative backgrounds and fight scenes. As a martial artist myself I really appreciate the latter.
- How and why did you decide to write Avatar fanfic?
Complete a story as Avatar is, it also leaves you wanting more. Blame Korra if you want but I want to know what happens in between these two series. I want to explore those bonding moments between the episodes we didn't get to see in the show. I don't want the story to end, simple as that. Fanfiction is a way for it to continue to a fan's content. But I don't want to alter the story that was told in my fics. It's important to me to stick to canon as much as possible. I simply want to delve deeper and prolong the magic. I feel the same way about all the shows for which I write fanfiction.
- At my count, you have 18 A:TLA short stories up, counting "Unexpected Visitors" as one story. Do you have any favorites? What do you like about them?
It's hard to pick favorites, especially depending on what mood I'm in, but I really think I started hitting my stride around chapter three. "Hairbending" and "Burned" are two chapters I'm very proud of. They really emphasize one thing I hoped to achieve with my writing for Crown Prince Chronicles and feel like missing scenes from the show.
"Hairbending" (Chapter 3) originally came from wanting acknowledgment of Aang learning Zuko was his descendant, a chance to see Zuko in Roku's hairpiece, and a desire to be among the first to write a fic with Korra. This chapter is really a story about legacy. There is the idea in reincarnation that the people you meet in your past lives are there with you in your current life and will meet again in your future lives. I love the multi-generational nature of this chapter and exploring the theme of intertwined destinies. Plus, I love to come up with new uses for characters' elemental powers, hence "hairbending" and a chance to play around with the symbolism of Zuko's hairstyles.
"Burned" (Chapter 4) was my first Zuko/Toph chapter which seems to be the most recurring friendship pair to date. But considering it's my two favorite characters I'm not surprised. The story is simply Toph touches Zuko's scar. But to get the two characters to that point of trust is the fun part. Both of these characters have such a unique way of looking at the world that doesn't rely on sight. It allows them a place of shared vulnerabilities, but vulnerabilities that they have learned to turn into strengths. Toph is known for her toughness and Zuko is one of the few who can match her for giving as well as they get. I really enjoy all my Toko stories but this one is still my favorite. I will never tire of writing these two.
- Those are two of my favorite stories, too. "Burned," especially, was profound in Toph's insight of what makes a beautiful and interesting face, a refreshing antidote to society's obsession with appearances.
"Playing with Knives" (Chapter 15) is my most in depth Maiko tribute to date. Sometimes the best ideas come from asking the simplest of questions. In this case "Did Zuko ever show Mai that knife Uncle Iroh gave him?" Knowing Mai's love for knives it seemed a no-brainer. But a fluffy flashback fic turned into a deep and symbolic examination of their relationship. I had dabbled with writing Mai in previous chapters, but here is where I fully took the plunge. We all have characters that are hard for us to write and Mai for me has always been one of the most elusive with her lack of outward emotion. So I was surprised when Mai muse got a hold of me. I guess I find her a nice challenge for that reason and getting her right all the more satisfying, especially after a few revisions. (Thank you Lunatique!) So this story is a favorite of mine for a bunch of hard work really paying off as something rather beautiful.
- Interviewer's note: You're most welcome! There's another, relatively new author on fanfiction.net who does Toph extremely well, Amy Raine whom I hope to do a feature on once she's built up a body of work. I was reminded of her because you mentioned your difficulty with Mai, but Amy identifies most with Toph and Mai - and her Mai characterization is excellent, too. Her story Prisons of Choice draws spot-on parallels between Mai and Toph that I think might help you with your Mai, once you see the similarities between these seemingly polar opposite characters. Everyone who's reading, give Amy's stories some love, too!
- On the flip side, what about least favorites? Come on, we all have them.
When it comes to my least favorites, I find "Tea" and Eight Minutes of Truth" to be my weakest chapters.
Tea (Chapter 1) is a 100 word drabble which is a holdover from the types of chapters I got used to doing in my Green Arrow Short Stories. I don't find anything wrong with this story per se, but considering how all my other Crown Prince Chronicles chapters are longer and more in depth, this chapter feels a little out of place with its rigid structure and is hardly an impressive opening to my fic. Anyone who might be tempted to read my fic and dismiss it because of a short and unimpressive first chapter is something I worry about a bit. In short it's not bad, but I know I've done much better.
Eight Minutes of Truth (Chapter 8) on the other hand is a something of a failed experiment in first person p.o.v. The emotion I wanted to convey simply isn't there how I intended. I've used a lot of first person in my Green Arrow fics, but what works for Oliver Queen does not work for Prince Zuko, at least for me. I really hope to redo and expand this chapter at a future date as a third person piece. Maybe even parallel it with Ozai's pov in some way. I don't know yet.
- Learning and improving is half the fun, so enjoy the process. Now, on a different topic: You've said that you identify with Toph, and she certainly gets a lot of the best lines - just like she does in the show! In what sense do you identify with her?
I identify with Toph as a strong, female character. I'm also a short, tomboy, only child who tries to be full of awesome. I love Toph for her directness and sense of humor. She's the type of character who is a gift to writers for her ability to comment on any situation in a way that is fairy objective, or at least objective from the audience's p.o.v. She's so effortless to write for and has a tendency to edit her own scenes as I create them. Toph's muse could best be described as a "loud presence, small package" in my head.
Toph's blindness also forces me to write descriptions that don't involve the sense of sight which isn't always the easiest thing to do, but the character suggests herself so much to me that it becomes a joy to write rather than a chore. Just like Toph and her earthbending, writers have a way of interacting with the world that is an extension of themselves and that is ultimately made manifest on the page, and Toph tends to bring out the best interactions to mind. I'm not sure I can say much more except that it's instinctual and that Toph is a character that writes herself.
I find it interesting that she was originally intended to be male. I like Katara a lot too because I identify with her faith and optimism. But Toph feels more real to me in terms of how I was as a kid. When I was twelve, I was small and could care less about boys unless it meant trying to kick their butts at something. I like Toph for her ability not to take things too seriously and to laugh at life. Also, I'm very nearsighted so while not blind, I've had to wear glasses or contacts since first grade. I can relate a bit in the lack of vision department. But for the record, I hate having bare feet.
- Ouch, I hear you about the nearsightedness. I wore glasses since first grade, too. But unlike my sedentary self, you're a martial artist which I find seriously cool. Do you ever find yourself underestimated for being small and female?
All the time. :-) But that's the element of surprise. Once someone messes with you and knows what you can do, they respect you. More seriously though, the first lesson of martial arts is always avoid a fight whenever possible and to hang around the right people and places. The more you know, the more dangerous you are, and the element of control becomes vital. It's kind of zen but the more skilled you are, the less likely you are to want to fight. I've never had to either aside from class and tournament sparring. I've studied a few different styles such as taekwondo and judo. The style I've studied the longest is a form of northern shaolin (Fire Nation style for the interested) for ten years now. I also know some tai chi (Water Tribe style). Of course, one must still never underestimate the power of a groin strike, just ask The Boulder about that one.
It was cool to finally get a chance to try and incorporate some of that knowledge into an Avatar story "Brothers of the Blade" (Chapter 16). Sokka's straight bladed sword, the jian, is one I've worked with a lot. And Zuko's dao, which I'm skilled in the single blade version of, is a very effective saber weapon. The double dao is a very advanced form I don't even know yet, though I've seen it performed. I also have some knowledge of Aang's staff weapon, Hakoda's spear, Suki's fan, and Jet's hook swords (the current weapon I am learning). It seems most of my favorite TV shows and movies have a strong dose of martial arts.
- I'd like to talk a little about Call Down the Heavens, which is very different from your other Avatar stories. What gave you the idea? Why do you call it AU, and what do you think/hope Zuko and Aang's actual deaths will be like?
Yes, it is different, especially since I'm never figured myself the type to write a deathfic. Most of the time I can't stand them for my dislike of unhappy endings, but I do find something bittersweet and satisfying in a death where the heroes go down fighting, especially if it is thematic and involves elements of brotherhood (or sisterhood) – Butch and Sundance going off the cliff, Robin Hood shooting his last arrow with Little John at his side, etc. I could go on and on. In fact, this fic owes a huge debt to another fandom I write in, namely Transformers and fics like Paleodex's "Flames to Dust" or MariaShadow's "Blaze of Glory" involving the death of the Autobot warriors Sunstreaker and Sideswipe dying in battle. I essentially wanted to do the Aang and Zuko version of a story like that.
Legend of Korra has my mind running rampant with speculations as I'm sure it has with many fans. Aang will be dead for Korra to live, there is no getting around that. So how would it happen? I suppose he could die in his sleep surrounded by family and friends, but that doesn't make for good fiction (unless you're going for the sweet goodbye to friends and family flashback moment). Roku was murdered while battling a volcano. I can't imagine Aang's death being anything less dramatic or action packed. So if Aang goes down fighting, it would be while saving (or trying to save) one of his friends, in this case Zuko. I mentioned in my story notes how the destinies of Aang and Zuko are deeply intertwined. I believe it would be true in their deaths as much as lives.
I strongly believe that when Aang dies, Zuko will be there at his side be it violent death or bedside confession, or vice versa if Zuko goes first. Of course, my real hope is that Zuko is still alive for Korra and all that stuff about everyone being dead is a bit of a red herring. I'd love to see him as an old man badass of the show. (Interviewer's interjection: Like Iroh! *squeeeee*) If Zuko does have to go down fighting though, I hope it involves fireballs and lightning, lots of lightning. The anti-bender movement sounds like a great new enemy and I wanted to show the seeds of that. Aang falls victim to new technology, proving just how dangerous it can be. Zuko's revenge, however in character and well intentioned, fans the flames on both sides as a martyr and something to rally against. Katara's role is brief but vital as well. The stage is set for a new hero in Korra.
I called this story an AU simply because whenever Korra does air, my fic will automatically become one, so I'm just covering future developments in my story description. Also I'll probably write more fic down the line set in the same in-between time period and I don't want to contradict myself if I decide on a different outcome and confuse my readers.
- Is there any subject you're uncomfortable with writing? Anything you particularly like to write?
I've found romance in Avatar fic to be awkward to tackle in a way I never have for any other fandom. It has to do with ratings. I'm one of those people who try to keep my writing as close to the rating of the original show as possible. Sometimes I'll go a little higher with a PG as opposed to Y7 rating, but writing a T/PG-13 rated fic for a Nickolodeon cartoon feels awkward to me especially if sex may be involved. I don't mind explorations of more mature themes, but I find myself actively thinking about it in a way I never have had to for other fandoms. If I'm writing about Transformers I don't have to deal with romance. If I'm writing Star Trek or anything comic book based I know by instinct what I can get away with. But with Avatar fic I feel I'm constantly treading the line in a way that sometimes makes my head hurt. Like Zuko too often is in the show, I get confused and would prefer not to think about it. The solution would seen to be just to rate all my fics T in case they venture in that direction, but I feel that would be a disservice to readers who don't like those types of fics and my own desire to duplicate the feel of the actual show as much as possible. This is why "A Long Night" became a separate one-shot instead of part of Crown Prince Chronicles, and while it may not have been necessary, I feel better erring on the side of caution.
As for what I like to write - relationships between characters. I think I've done at least one piece for every other main character with Zuko by now, except Ty Lee (ooh, new idea). It allows me to paint a clearer picture of all the sides of my favorite character as each relationship brings out another aspect of his personality. So I can write Zuko as brotherly one chapter, angsty the next, romantic, funny, angry, the whole gamut, just like I have Zuko describe himself in "Colors" (Chapter 10).
- I noticed that, and I thought that was a great decision that kept your fic accessible while also exploring more mature content in separate stories. Do you think the rating of Crown Prince Chronicles (and your own desire to keep the original show's rating) constraining, or does it force you to find more creative ways to express your ideas? Or is it neither because you'd simply write up more mature stories as separate T-rated fics?
It's not constraining because I do have that outlet to write the "T" one-shots. I tend to have a pretty clean mind, so it's not very often I find myself straying in that direction anyway. My mind is stuck at a PG-13 level I think in terms of how far I'll go with any fandom really. I will get creative on occasion though to try and get an idea across without sacrificing the rating.
A good example is the first chapter of "Unexpected Visitors" (Chapter 11) where Zuko and Mai walk in on Iroh and Xian. Considering this idea was sparked by the same one as Zuko's ability to detect what Sokka and Suki are doing in "A Long Night" I didn't want to repeat myself within such a short span of time. Perhaps the scene Zuko walked in on was too innocent and I left too much up to the Zuko's dirty imagination of what Iroh and Xian had been up to before that pai sho game and the reader's interpretation to make the teapot bucket gag as effective as it could have been without being forced. But other readers have seemed to get it and enjoy it so who am I to say what works and what doesn't? Maybe next time I'd do it differently though and be bolder by making Unexpected Visitors its own separately posted story. Again, the technical difficulties of posting going on at Fanfiction.net hampered me forcing me to get creative in that instance. Even so, I had to also tone down Iroh and Xian's dialogue near the end of their scene in Part three (Chapter 13). It was getting rather suggestive in my head until I reminded Iroh muse that he couldn't start making out with Xian when Zuko and Mai were sleeping in the next room over. Paper walls are very thin and poor Zuko really would be traumatized for life. My Iroh muse has a very dirty mind it seems.
- As he should. :D
The interview continues at Part 2. You can read FairLady's profile and stories at Fanfiction.net.
FairLadyZ2005 Interview Part 1: On Fandom and Fanfic
I don't want the story to end, simple as that.
- Lunatique: I've noticed that the earliest story on your profile is about four years old. How long have you been writing fiction in general? How did you get into it?
FairLadyZ2005: I've been writing fanfiction since the mid-90's. The Star Trek series were my gateway drug back in high school. I went to conventions, joined a fanclub, and learned what fanfiction was. Of course back then in the "dark ages" I published stuff in fanzines. Then I discovered the Internet in college and read and wrote a lot of fanfic, but it wasn't until about the mid-00's that I got the courage to start posting online. I haven't stopped since.
- You write in a variety of fandoms like I do. Is there any way in which Avatar is different from your other fandoms?
Avatar is really no different aside from being my current obsession. Any differences are probably manifesting themselves in the amount of fic I've been able to put out and in trying to be a more active reader and reviewer of other people's fics in return.
- Who are your favorite Avatar characters, and why?
Zuko! Big surprise given the title of my fic, huh? Most of my memories of watching Avatar before becoming a full fledged fan though always seemed to involve Zuko for some reason. The first full scene I remember watching of the show (beyond "The Boy in the Iceberg," I believe, though I may have seen it later on a rerun) was Zuko and Iroh cutting off their topknots. The symbolism was not lost on me (thank you Princess Mononoke). "Cave of Two Lovers" was the first full episode I remember and while annoying hippies and Aang failed to impress me at the time, Zuko and Iroh's journey fascinated me. Who was this prince in exile? What had he done to get that scar? And why was his uncle willing to travel with him?
Fire has always been my favorite element so it annoyed me that the show featured this as the element of the bad guys, but here were two characters that didn't fit that mold. And according to the premise of the show, someone was going to have to teach the Avatar firebending, that person most likely being Zuko. And guess what? He was! I remember being lucky enough to catch "The Day of Black Sun" and the second half of "Sozin's Comet" on their original airings, so I knew how things would end for Zuko, which only made me that much more excited to eventually watch the show in proper order.
Zuko combines a lot of my favorite archetypes – the prodigal son/exile with a "crossroads of destiny" moment as seen in my favorite Star Trek character Garak, the former "bad guy" in search of redemption as seen in the title character of Rurouni Kenshin (which also might explain my penchant for golden-eyed, scarred swordsmen), and the chosen one with a leadership destiny as seen in my favorite Transformer character, Rodimus Prime. Zuko's character arc is the main reason I love the show and I find that I never get tired of writing about a character like that or the relationships he has with the rest of Team Avatar and Iroh.
- What interests you about the Avatar world and story?
I think Toonzone is completely justified in calling Avatar the best Western cartoon of the past decade, another reason I checked out the show. It is the perfect fusion of the best of Eastern and Western storytelling techniques and animation, something that we in the West had never really seen before in a show to this degree. There are some shows that literally "ruin" your ability to watch other television because they have such scope and depth, and Avatar does that on every level.
I love fantasy and action cartoons. Avatar allows its characters to grow and change. It has a definite beginning, middle, and end. A good ending is one of the most important and sadly, underutilized storytelling devices in TV fiction, especially in Western animation. Avatar is just a beautiful show to watch too with its innovative backgrounds and fight scenes. As a martial artist myself I really appreciate the latter.
- How and why did you decide to write Avatar fanfic?
Complete a story as Avatar is, it also leaves you wanting more. Blame Korra if you want but I want to know what happens in between these two series. I want to explore those bonding moments between the episodes we didn't get to see in the show. I don't want the story to end, simple as that. Fanfiction is a way for it to continue to a fan's content. But I don't want to alter the story that was told in my fics. It's important to me to stick to canon as much as possible. I simply want to delve deeper and prolong the magic. I feel the same way about all the shows for which I write fanfiction.
- At my count, you have 18 A:TLA short stories up, counting "Unexpected Visitors" as one story. Do you have any favorites? What do you like about them?
It's hard to pick favorites, especially depending on what mood I'm in, but I really think I started hitting my stride around chapter three. "Hairbending" and "Burned" are two chapters I'm very proud of. They really emphasize one thing I hoped to achieve with my writing for Crown Prince Chronicles and feel like missing scenes from the show.
"Hairbending" (Chapter 3) originally came from wanting acknowledgment of Aang learning Zuko was his descendant, a chance to see Zuko in Roku's hairpiece, and a desire to be among the first to write a fic with Korra. This chapter is really a story about legacy. There is the idea in reincarnation that the people you meet in your past lives are there with you in your current life and will meet again in your future lives. I love the multi-generational nature of this chapter and exploring the theme of intertwined destinies. Plus, I love to come up with new uses for characters' elemental powers, hence "hairbending" and a chance to play around with the symbolism of Zuko's hairstyles.
"Burned" (Chapter 4) was my first Zuko/Toph chapter which seems to be the most recurring friendship pair to date. But considering it's my two favorite characters I'm not surprised. The story is simply Toph touches Zuko's scar. But to get the two characters to that point of trust is the fun part. Both of these characters have such a unique way of looking at the world that doesn't rely on sight. It allows them a place of shared vulnerabilities, but vulnerabilities that they have learned to turn into strengths. Toph is known for her toughness and Zuko is one of the few who can match her for giving as well as they get. I really enjoy all my Toko stories but this one is still my favorite. I will never tire of writing these two.
- Those are two of my favorite stories, too. "Burned," especially, was profound in Toph's insight of what makes a beautiful and interesting face, a refreshing antidote to society's obsession with appearances.
"Playing with Knives" (Chapter 15) is my most in depth Maiko tribute to date. Sometimes the best ideas come from asking the simplest of questions. In this case "Did Zuko ever show Mai that knife Uncle Iroh gave him?" Knowing Mai's love for knives it seemed a no-brainer. But a fluffy flashback fic turned into a deep and symbolic examination of their relationship. I had dabbled with writing Mai in previous chapters, but here is where I fully took the plunge. We all have characters that are hard for us to write and Mai for me has always been one of the most elusive with her lack of outward emotion. So I was surprised when Mai muse got a hold of me. I guess I find her a nice challenge for that reason and getting her right all the more satisfying, especially after a few revisions. (Thank you Lunatique!) So this story is a favorite of mine for a bunch of hard work really paying off as something rather beautiful.
- Interviewer's note: You're most welcome! There's another, relatively new author on fanfiction.net who does Toph extremely well, Amy Raine whom I hope to do a feature on once she's built up a body of work. I was reminded of her because you mentioned your difficulty with Mai, but Amy identifies most with Toph and Mai - and her Mai characterization is excellent, too. Her story Prisons of Choice draws spot-on parallels between Mai and Toph that I think might help you with your Mai, once you see the similarities between these seemingly polar opposite characters. Everyone who's reading, give Amy's stories some love, too!
- On the flip side, what about least favorites? Come on, we all have them.
When it comes to my least favorites, I find "Tea" and Eight Minutes of Truth" to be my weakest chapters.
Tea (Chapter 1) is a 100 word drabble which is a holdover from the types of chapters I got used to doing in my Green Arrow Short Stories. I don't find anything wrong with this story per se, but considering how all my other Crown Prince Chronicles chapters are longer and more in depth, this chapter feels a little out of place with its rigid structure and is hardly an impressive opening to my fic. Anyone who might be tempted to read my fic and dismiss it because of a short and unimpressive first chapter is something I worry about a bit. In short it's not bad, but I know I've done much better.
Eight Minutes of Truth (Chapter 8) on the other hand is a something of a failed experiment in first person p.o.v. The emotion I wanted to convey simply isn't there how I intended. I've used a lot of first person in my Green Arrow fics, but what works for Oliver Queen does not work for Prince Zuko, at least for me. I really hope to redo and expand this chapter at a future date as a third person piece. Maybe even parallel it with Ozai's pov in some way. I don't know yet.
- Learning and improving is half the fun, so enjoy the process. Now, on a different topic: You've said that you identify with Toph, and she certainly gets a lot of the best lines - just like she does in the show! In what sense do you identify with her?
I identify with Toph as a strong, female character. I'm also a short, tomboy, only child who tries to be full of awesome. I love Toph for her directness and sense of humor. She's the type of character who is a gift to writers for her ability to comment on any situation in a way that is fairy objective, or at least objective from the audience's p.o.v. She's so effortless to write for and has a tendency to edit her own scenes as I create them. Toph's muse could best be described as a "loud presence, small package" in my head.
Toph's blindness also forces me to write descriptions that don't involve the sense of sight which isn't always the easiest thing to do, but the character suggests herself so much to me that it becomes a joy to write rather than a chore. Just like Toph and her earthbending, writers have a way of interacting with the world that is an extension of themselves and that is ultimately made manifest on the page, and Toph tends to bring out the best interactions to mind. I'm not sure I can say much more except that it's instinctual and that Toph is a character that writes herself.
I find it interesting that she was originally intended to be male. I like Katara a lot too because I identify with her faith and optimism. But Toph feels more real to me in terms of how I was as a kid. When I was twelve, I was small and could care less about boys unless it meant trying to kick their butts at something. I like Toph for her ability not to take things too seriously and to laugh at life. Also, I'm very nearsighted so while not blind, I've had to wear glasses or contacts since first grade. I can relate a bit in the lack of vision department. But for the record, I hate having bare feet.
- Ouch, I hear you about the nearsightedness. I wore glasses since first grade, too. But unlike my sedentary self, you're a martial artist which I find seriously cool. Do you ever find yourself underestimated for being small and female?
All the time. :-) But that's the element of surprise. Once someone messes with you and knows what you can do, they respect you. More seriously though, the first lesson of martial arts is always avoid a fight whenever possible and to hang around the right people and places. The more you know, the more dangerous you are, and the element of control becomes vital. It's kind of zen but the more skilled you are, the less likely you are to want to fight. I've never had to either aside from class and tournament sparring. I've studied a few different styles such as taekwondo and judo. The style I've studied the longest is a form of northern shaolin (Fire Nation style for the interested) for ten years now. I also know some tai chi (Water Tribe style). Of course, one must still never underestimate the power of a groin strike, just ask The Boulder about that one.
It was cool to finally get a chance to try and incorporate some of that knowledge into an Avatar story "Brothers of the Blade" (Chapter 16). Sokka's straight bladed sword, the jian, is one I've worked with a lot. And Zuko's dao, which I'm skilled in the single blade version of, is a very effective saber weapon. The double dao is a very advanced form I don't even know yet, though I've seen it performed. I also have some knowledge of Aang's staff weapon, Hakoda's spear, Suki's fan, and Jet's hook swords (the current weapon I am learning). It seems most of my favorite TV shows and movies have a strong dose of martial arts.
- I'd like to talk a little about Call Down the Heavens, which is very different from your other Avatar stories. What gave you the idea? Why do you call it AU, and what do you think/hope Zuko and Aang's actual deaths will be like?
Yes, it is different, especially since I'm never figured myself the type to write a deathfic. Most of the time I can't stand them for my dislike of unhappy endings, but I do find something bittersweet and satisfying in a death where the heroes go down fighting, especially if it is thematic and involves elements of brotherhood (or sisterhood) – Butch and Sundance going off the cliff, Robin Hood shooting his last arrow with Little John at his side, etc. I could go on and on. In fact, this fic owes a huge debt to another fandom I write in, namely Transformers and fics like Paleodex's "Flames to Dust" or MariaShadow's "Blaze of Glory" involving the death of the Autobot warriors Sunstreaker and Sideswipe dying in battle. I essentially wanted to do the Aang and Zuko version of a story like that.
Legend of Korra has my mind running rampant with speculations as I'm sure it has with many fans. Aang will be dead for Korra to live, there is no getting around that. So how would it happen? I suppose he could die in his sleep surrounded by family and friends, but that doesn't make for good fiction (unless you're going for the sweet goodbye to friends and family flashback moment). Roku was murdered while battling a volcano. I can't imagine Aang's death being anything less dramatic or action packed. So if Aang goes down fighting, it would be while saving (or trying to save) one of his friends, in this case Zuko. I mentioned in my story notes how the destinies of Aang and Zuko are deeply intertwined. I believe it would be true in their deaths as much as lives.
I strongly believe that when Aang dies, Zuko will be there at his side be it violent death or bedside confession, or vice versa if Zuko goes first. Of course, my real hope is that Zuko is still alive for Korra and all that stuff about everyone being dead is a bit of a red herring. I'd love to see him as an old man badass of the show. (Interviewer's interjection: Like Iroh! *squeeeee*) If Zuko does have to go down fighting though, I hope it involves fireballs and lightning, lots of lightning. The anti-bender movement sounds like a great new enemy and I wanted to show the seeds of that. Aang falls victim to new technology, proving just how dangerous it can be. Zuko's revenge, however in character and well intentioned, fans the flames on both sides as a martyr and something to rally against. Katara's role is brief but vital as well. The stage is set for a new hero in Korra.
I called this story an AU simply because whenever Korra does air, my fic will automatically become one, so I'm just covering future developments in my story description. Also I'll probably write more fic down the line set in the same in-between time period and I don't want to contradict myself if I decide on a different outcome and confuse my readers.
- Is there any subject you're uncomfortable with writing? Anything you particularly like to write?
I've found romance in Avatar fic to be awkward to tackle in a way I never have for any other fandom. It has to do with ratings. I'm one of those people who try to keep my writing as close to the rating of the original show as possible. Sometimes I'll go a little higher with a PG as opposed to Y7 rating, but writing a T/PG-13 rated fic for a Nickolodeon cartoon feels awkward to me especially if sex may be involved. I don't mind explorations of more mature themes, but I find myself actively thinking about it in a way I never have had to for other fandoms. If I'm writing about Transformers I don't have to deal with romance. If I'm writing Star Trek or anything comic book based I know by instinct what I can get away with. But with Avatar fic I feel I'm constantly treading the line in a way that sometimes makes my head hurt. Like Zuko too often is in the show, I get confused and would prefer not to think about it. The solution would seen to be just to rate all my fics T in case they venture in that direction, but I feel that would be a disservice to readers who don't like those types of fics and my own desire to duplicate the feel of the actual show as much as possible. This is why "A Long Night" became a separate one-shot instead of part of Crown Prince Chronicles, and while it may not have been necessary, I feel better erring on the side of caution.
As for what I like to write - relationships between characters. I think I've done at least one piece for every other main character with Zuko by now, except Ty Lee (ooh, new idea). It allows me to paint a clearer picture of all the sides of my favorite character as each relationship brings out another aspect of his personality. So I can write Zuko as brotherly one chapter, angsty the next, romantic, funny, angry, the whole gamut, just like I have Zuko describe himself in "Colors" (Chapter 10).
- I noticed that, and I thought that was a great decision that kept your fic accessible while also exploring more mature content in separate stories. Do you think the rating of Crown Prince Chronicles (and your own desire to keep the original show's rating) constraining, or does it force you to find more creative ways to express your ideas? Or is it neither because you'd simply write up more mature stories as separate T-rated fics?
It's not constraining because I do have that outlet to write the "T" one-shots. I tend to have a pretty clean mind, so it's not very often I find myself straying in that direction anyway. My mind is stuck at a PG-13 level I think in terms of how far I'll go with any fandom really. I will get creative on occasion though to try and get an idea across without sacrificing the rating.
A good example is the first chapter of "Unexpected Visitors" (Chapter 11) where Zuko and Mai walk in on Iroh and Xian. Considering this idea was sparked by the same one as Zuko's ability to detect what Sokka and Suki are doing in "A Long Night" I didn't want to repeat myself within such a short span of time. Perhaps the scene Zuko walked in on was too innocent and I left too much up to the Zuko's dirty imagination of what Iroh and Xian had been up to before that pai sho game and the reader's interpretation to make the teapot bucket gag as effective as it could have been without being forced. But other readers have seemed to get it and enjoy it so who am I to say what works and what doesn't? Maybe next time I'd do it differently though and be bolder by making Unexpected Visitors its own separately posted story. Again, the technical difficulties of posting going on at Fanfiction.net hampered me forcing me to get creative in that instance. Even so, I had to also tone down Iroh and Xian's dialogue near the end of their scene in Part three (Chapter 13). It was getting rather suggestive in my head until I reminded Iroh muse that he couldn't start making out with Xian when Zuko and Mai were sleeping in the next room over. Paper walls are very thin and poor Zuko really would be traumatized for life. My Iroh muse has a very dirty mind it seems.
- As he should. :D
The interview continues at Part 2. You can read FairLady's profile and stories at Fanfiction.net.
