Interview with angstgoddess003

Talk about "Needs No Introduction"...Let me just give you a brief background about how lucky I am to have the interview below posted on this blog and then I will let you go read it.  EZRocksAngel wrote a little fic called "Creature of Habit" I am sure you have read it.  Well, I started reading it right after I originally read "Wide Awake" so I have been leaving EZRocksAngel and Angstgoddess003 reviews for a pretty good long while.  But I didn't actually start talking to EZRocksAngel (from now on we will call her Angel) until she started writing "Daedalus in Exile" which I have reviewed here on Southern Fan Fiction Review.  As a reviewer, you always long to review the big one - If I reviewed books it would be like "Gone with the Wind".  But (as most of my friends know) I am chicken.  So, I was afraid to review Angstgoddess003 (from now on we will call her AG).  I knew she and Angel were friends and I saw Angel do a review on TLYDF.  So, I asked her if she would review one of AGs stories on SFFR.  And she said "I can do better than THAT..."  She really is an Angel.  So without further adieu I give you the AG interview conducted by Angel:

AG is on the Left and Angel is on the right.  This picture was taken at last year's Comicon.

As I'm sure almost everyone knows AG is my fandom Bestie. She's my Oprah and I'm her Gail. Is everyone tired of hearing about that? Yes, absolutely. We have lots of laughs and serious discussion and we rant and complain and make fun of each other. She talks to my husband (who encourages her love of hikus and the game KFM) and I hide from her fiance. SFR asked me to write a review of one of Sam's fics but I offered to interview her instead--I was hoping I could lure her into a false sense of security and get her to confess her deep inner secrets but...meh. She's too smart for that.


(angel in black/AG in purple)


hmmmm...questions questions questions....now that i have to think of something i can't.... OK:


Q: One thing I want to talk about is the popularity of AngstGoddess003. I know you tell people that you are quiet and a reculse etc. But for serious. YOU ARE. You are just one step away from a cat lady. How overwhelming is this popularity? How has your life changed from a year ago...

1.) Fuck you, I already am a cat lady, and it is mostly awesome.


2.) I don't feel overwhelmingly popular, I just feel more busy than usual, so that whole deduction is just... really weird to me.


Okay stop. Let's clear this up. You don't feel overwhelmingly popular. I get this BUT, I wrote a moderately popular fic. Trust me. You're popularity and my popularity are nowhere near the same. PLUS, people hate you. They make fansites about how much you suck ass. It's almost the equvilent of being on Saturday Night Live. You know you've made it big when you are asked to host the show...in fanfic, you know you've made it big when people start flaming you. It goes a bit beyond flaming with you sometimes (where WA is concerned.) So what is THAT like? It depends on the day and circumstance. Sometimes, it is so fucking hilarious. Other times, it's really baffling. Very rarely do I get truly upset by flames anymore. I'm more upset when normally rational, genuinely kind people hold me to a standard that I can't meet, even though I'd really love to.

A year ago, I was doing the exact same thing I am now, I just had a lot less emails in my inbox. And I was a little stupider.


Q:Name some of the things in your life now that wasn't a year ago or opportunities? (like comiccon, msnbc articles etc...)

Yeah, ComicCon and MSNBC articles are pretty much it. I'm an open book on my Twitter, so I share my happenings with everyone who cares. I haven't been approached by any super awesome celebrities, publishers, movie producers, etc. I'm seriously just like any other TwiFF author, but possibly with more emails. Fucking Christ, I have a lot of emails.

OH! But also, I have a better network now to find clients. Many people already know that I'm a freelance web designer. Fandom has opened me up to a large market that I hadn't been capable of tapping a year ago. IDK if that counts, but it's really great that I can make friends with new people who might also be in need of my services. (BTW I hired AG to make me a killer website for my personal business which she specified to my technotardedness which was just beyond awesome.)


Let's get the dirty stuff out of the way:



Q: WA: how does it feel to have completed this story?

Like I'm forgetting something. Like I left the house this morning and I can't remember whether or not I turned off the coffee pot. Okay. So I don't make coffee. But if I did, it'd totally feel like that. I'm still waiting to go through my PMs and get the big "WHEN ARE YOU POSTING WA EPI?!?!?" It's like a phantom limb.


Q: Name three things you would have done differently while writing WA either in the fic or as an author.


1.) I would have ended it after the gym scene. Or just made it shorter.


2.) I would have NEVER POSTED THE FAKEOUT A/N. There, I said it. It was a dumbass move and I was a dumbass for doing it.


3.) I would have gotten a beta sooner.


meh, WA bores me a little and you've done all that so here are some for the new fics:



Let's discuss your writing process:


Q:I know your fans (coughandmecough) get annoyed when you don't update quickly or start something new. I know personally that you get very inspired and go on total writing jags....like for days...then you exhaust yourself and sleep for 2 days, read 6970808 fics, make 36 banners, and THEN often start something new. I always laugh because I will see you doing all these little things to procrastinate (twitter, formspring, forum stuff) and people get very invovled with AG who is out and about talking and chatting and posting LOLZ Cats when I know what is really going on: TOTAL PROCRASTINATION. Then you go through the process again.


Comments? Denial? Admission?


It's frightening how very accurate that whole assessment was. I'm kind of laughing, A lot. I can't stop the cycles. I find that disrupting them and forcing myself on one thing just makes it shitty. I've learned to go with the flow. I'm currently in a big reading/writing phase, but know that I'll soon dip back into graphics and programming. I can't help it.


Q:In CLM though, you have gone back to a serial updating style...how does this feel?


Well I had a bunch written before I even posted. Now that I'm caught up and writing as I go, I find that the pressure of staying on the deadline is actually really effective for getting it done. I usually do CLM the night before I'm to update, then send to beta on update day. That's probably very quick. I'm kinda intrigued with how much I can knock out if I sit down and start panicking about missing the deadline. Unfortunately, it makes it nearly impossible to focus on other writing projects. Maybe this is a good thing?

Its funny because I will think you are busily working on whichever fic...happily typing along and then you pop up and start rambling about some bizarre senario, some new fic, some fetish you think is intriguing and I respond like this.

Angel: ..... ummmmm. yeah.


AG: And then Edward gets off looking at chipmunks frolicking in the front yard.

Angel:....yeah so, what about the AU?


AG: meh, yeah, I'm not feeling it right now....but these chipmunks...its like Richard Gere...

Angel: have you ever considered medication? They have some you know?

I'll neither confirm nor deny the existence of this conversation...


Q:I saw somewhere that you said CLM was close to you because you have alcholism in your family. Which story that you have written refects you the best personally?


Despite my hatred for it, WA is probably the story that's the most indicative to my personal character. A lot of my circumstances were similar to Edward's, which was unintentional, but true nonetheless. I was also very close to Bella's reclusive behavior. My own inner voice is also very similar to Edward's, so he was always easy for me to channel. I find myself struggling to pull away from that with my other stories to try something new and unique to my published stories list.


Q:What is your favorite fic that you have written?


Great Vexations is probaly my most fave published. My upcoming AU might beat it, though, ngl. I'm really hardcore in love with my AU fic. I think I've really challenged myself.

Q:Explain some ways your writing has evolved. For example, you used to write some massively epic long chapters...in fact you were one of the first I think to write 15k chapters. You know this is one of my pet peeves, as I have a life and can not take this much time out to read stories this long unless I really, REALLY, like them. We have discussed this at length. (and yes, I know we would all read anything AG writes, however long it is... I KNOW!) But recently you have gotten a little less wordy. Discuss:


I think seeing other people write those massively epic chapters really put things in perspective for me. I was like... holy fuck. Do I look like this? And when I say "like this" I mean... aimless. Like you type as you think. It isn't planned or structured, it's just from the brain through the fingertips--which sounds good, in theory, but it isn't. A tighter story is always better. It took me a while to grasp that, but once I did, I don't think I'll ever go back. I forget who said this, but a fellow FF author once said, "Make sure every word has significance." Or something like that. IDFK. Anyway, I really got to thinking about how vital most of the text in my chapter was to the story. Then I began seeing how very un-vital most of the stuff I read was becoming. People like queenofgrey, kathyrindhoops, and stellalunasky taught me that I could still enjoy using imagery and description without making it laborious for the reader.


I also like to think I've grown with internal dialog and showing versus telling. I used to make inner monolgues LOOOONG. Now, I see that it's better, more efficient, and more enjoyable to show thoughts through way of action and REAL dialog than the internal stuff.

Q:At ComicCon you announced very publically that you didn't always read reviews. I know that for a while you didn't...that things were overwhelming. Can you clarify this statment a little?


Well, I guess I should clarify that I don't often read--specifically--WA reviews. I feel like everything that could possibly be said about WA has already been said, tenfold. That might seem a little assy of me, idk, but I think I eventually got to a point where reading them was beginning to sway my views on how I wanted to resolve the story. There were just so many, and so many people being thankful and saying all these nice things. I didn't really know how to respond to something like that. I still don't. My "thank you"s are super inadequate.

I do read reviews for my other stories, though. GV and WtF don't get many, so whenever I see a new one, I always click it and read. I've been doing well with CLM, too. Rising is a small fic with only a handful of readers, but I can't not read those reviews, because they're on my LJ, and the discussion that burgeons from the subject matter with all those strong-willed ladies is always engaging.


Q:When you read a fic what are you looking for?


Relateable characters, solid writing, non-cliched interactions and plot structure, and something--some character, circustmance, situation, etc--that I haven't read before, or that's been spun in a new light. I'm mostly looking for good, non-contrived angst. It's hard to find. I'm not even sure I accomplish it in my own writing. I look for subtle and resonant emotional situations.

Q:What drives you batty (leave this list short please) PSSSSSHAAAWWW


-Chucks/clothing brand names/paragraphs full of clothing descriptions.


-Song lyrics pasted into the content of chapters. You know the kind: Few lines of lyrics, then Bella comparing her and Edward's situation to the ~very~ deep emotional themes of Blue October. Wash, rinse, repeat, until the song is over and you've been thoroughly gagged to death.


-Gesture repetition. I have a 7 eyeroll per chapter limit. Characters sometimes do nothing but sigh.


-Miscommunication that isn't resolved in 3 chapters or less.


-EPIC CHAPTERS. I know, I've been guilty in the past. I'm reformed. Short and sweet for me. I have emails to read.


-Over-description of actions. I don't care how Edward got downstairs to get himself a drink. It has nothing to do with anything.


-People TELLING me a story instead of SHOWING me a story.


-Fuckwards, period. So hard to find one that doesn't drive me batty anymore.


-Extraneous cockblocking.


-Bella Barbie


-Alice shopping


-Jake/Bella/Edward/Tanya


-Buttsecks (non-slash)

Q:What makes you so excited that I wake up to sixty five empty chat box comments from 3 AM?


-Dry Humps


-Edwards that openly ask Bella to suck his dick.


-GOOD angst.

(note: these are all true.)


Q:You and I both believe in Reccing Fics that we support and we find interesting and different. We both read stories that we do not rec for various reasons but there are certian criteria we both use for actually pimping a fic on a blog, twitter or A/N. Explain the criteria you use when reccing a fic.


-Story must have 10 chapters or more, with very few exceptions.


-Author must not have more than 1 other WIP.


-Story must be updated on an apparent and regular basis. (Twice per month or more is ideal)


-Author must not have a history of flouncing, pulling, or hiatus'ing their fics.


-The story must not be on a path that I deem boring, cliched, or contrived.


-Good writing, characterizations, and all that good stuff.


-Low review numbers help.


-First time stories make me wary. I may wait for 15 chapters with these.

I asked a couple of people to give me some questions here are two (obviously they are tired of hearing you talk about yourself)


I am tired of talking about myself. I'm fucking BORING, jfc.


Q:With your design background it's obvious you are a very creative person. Have you always wanted to write or did it sneak up on you? Do you feel like your visual artistic talent influences your storytelling?


When I was like 10 or something, I wanted to be the youngest person ever to write a novel. This lasted three hours, and then my best friend and I decided to run away and live off McDonalds "free cheeseburger" coupons (Our elementary school gave us 4 each for being on the honor roll), and THAT only lasted 4 hours (We never even made it out the house). Other than this, no. I've never truly had the urge to write fiction.

I used to write some really hilariously emo poetry in my early teens that legit got me sent away to a "hospital where people can rest"... for like 3 fucking months. I think that kind of killed my writing bug. Failing English 2 three times in a row didn't help either.

I always wanted to illustrate and spent like 6 years of my young adulthood trying to not suck (this is ongoing, btw). Writing totally snuck up on me. I figured... FF is obviously experimental anyway, just like when I used to make Buffy fanart and ended up finding a career in graphic design as a result of it. I'll try any medium once.


Q:Is there anything, anything at all that could get you to read fluff?


Oooohlalalalallala, Geekward, or AwkWard. (see....she won't even read my fluff...sniff) Write a Geekward!

Q:If you could remove one "main" character from the series, who would it be and why?


Rosalie? IDK, I think she wasn't developed enough to make her character anything other than shallow and a little confusing. I just never really got her place in the series. At least Emmett had some kind of comic relief, yanno?


Q:what is it about the dry hump that appeals to you so?


It's sex, but not. It's like... all the GOOD things about sex (the UST, the anticipation, the awkwardness of getting that close for the first time, etc) without the messy follow through. Like drinking a Diet Coke. It's not quite the same, but when you're really thirsty? It'll do.

Q:If you came across your very own CML Edward, would you let him repent and earn your forgiveness...even if he wasn't so fuckhot?


I'm a very patient and forgiving person, and a hardcore people pleaser. I'd def forgive him. Probably a lot easier than I should. My fiance is an EPIC grudge holder though, and he has no qualms in holding grudges FOR me. Seriously, once you wrong him (or me), you're fucked for life. It's intriguing. I'm so opposite. (dear god, DW scares me. and i'm pretty sure he hates me as I lure AG down the path of robporn and compulsive dry humpage.) He loves you.

Q:When creating a story, I know you have a lot of ideas running through your mind all the time, even a few stories you're writing simultaneously...what is the deciding factor that tells you you HAVE to complete this one?


When I tell angel about it, and she's interested enough in the premise to be engaged in a ten-hour brainstorm session. Then, the following day, when she brings it up again, I feel like it's worth following through.


Like how I basically just blamed angel for my every Fic ADD moment? XD (touche)


Well, readers, I hope this clears up some things? Taught you lessons about AG and her writing methods? Explained our co-dependent middle of the night relationship forged over dry humps and good fics.

thanks,
angel

Angstgoddess003 LiveJournal Account:  http://angstgoddess003.livejournal.com/26566.html

EZRocksAngel profile page:  http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1707643/EZRocksAngel

Angstgoddess003 Profile Page:  http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1713572/AngstGoddess003

TLYDF link:  http://discerningficster.blogspot.com/

Follow EZRocksAngel on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ezrocksangel

Follow Angstgoddess003 on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/AngstGoddess003

I want to Thank EZRocksAngel and Angstgoddess003 for the interview.  I appreciate them taking the time out of their busy schedules to help us out.  I hope all of you enjoyed it very much.  Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think, because you KNOW I am a comment Whore....