red_satin_doll | My Corner of Buffyverse Fandom and Welcome To It

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My Corner of Buffyverse Fandom and Welcome To It

Click on all images below to view full-size (They don't look at all right downsized. 'tis most distressing.) All artwork by me unless otherwise noted.

redsatindoll_birthdaybannerbyspikesredqueen2015

Gift from my amazing friend and a jewel of this fandom

spikesredqueen for my birthday (Feb 2015, not snaggable)

"Winged Buffy" banner, a gift from the fantastically talented and generous

comlodge, (June 2013, not snaggable)

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*My LJ is Hugs Central (mostly.) Appropriate and consensual ones, of course. Safety and fun are at a premium here, so play nice with one another. Leave the weapons at the door, wipe your feet on the mat, and help yourself to some tea and homemade cookies.

...by any other name. (June 2014)

* Buffy is my Big Damn Hero and my #1 HBIC - because she's flawed and human and real. Because she loves deeply; she falls down but still fights, she grieves and endures, again and again. Because she breaks the rules and finds another way; because of her intelligence, intuition and wit. Because in watching her I identify with my own issues and strengths, and have a renewed appreciation for my mom as well.

* Because in talking about her with other fans, in telling my story through her, in voicing my truth, I discover that I'm not alone in my challenges, faults, and grief; that I don't have to be imprisoned by secrets and shame; and in sharing this, I can bring comfort to others. And because at the end of the day, Buffy gives me hope; and sometimes that's enough to make getting out of bed in the morning worthwhile. And because she is just so freakin' adorable, y'all.

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Keep Her Safe (alt 1) (March 2015)

* I love intelligent discussion of , and appreciation for , the ladies of the verse and their complex interrelationships at the core of the 'verse: mothers, sisters, mentors, students, friends, lovers, enemies, allies. The Buffyverse without it's women would be a cold, barren place: ("that bright optimism that becomes a great, raw wound-red in The Body" -

the_royal_anna ). They bear witness to one another, the hurt one another when they don't mean to, they love even when it's difficult and painful to do so.

* And yes, this also includes Kennedy. No vitriol. No joke. (Tara would not approve of the hate. A lot of the complaints I've seen about her are suspicously close to those lobbed at Buffy, btw.) Entitled? Yes. Arrogant? Uh-huh - and also loyal, courageous, stubborn and gentle. She's a "queer woman of color..that is allowed to be the hero."

* The Buffy & Tara friendship/connection is one of the most underappreciated aspects of the 'verse IMO. This WILL be rectified. I ~~don't~~ ship Buffy/Tara, ~~but~~ if that's what it takes to get fandom talking about them? A fangirl's gotta do what a fangirl's gotta do. (ETA 2014: I have seen the light of the true religion: Buffy/Tara shipping. I ship those girls so freakin' hard. Now say amen, somebody.)

081cb79e-e513-4fdc-a324-339c063eb76a_zpsc9186e21

My OTF/P (August 2014)

*In fact, let's just say "No bashing female characters, period." There's plenty of other places to do that, if that's your thing. The show's failures in terms of the depictions of women, of female sexuality, the lack of mature female characters, the massive fail in terms of race and class? Always up for intelligent, civil discussion and examination.

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* OTOH, I do reserve the right to ~~bitch about~~ ~~call out their shit criticize~~ objectively analyze and take issue with certain whiny, self-absorbed males on the series and their collective patronizing jackassery. Don't get me wrong, I can understand them, sympathize with them, and so forth. Xander trying to be a "better man" than his father? Even when he gets it wrong? I heartily approve. (I'll still call him out on his shit, though.) It's simple math: Grow up, get real or go home. Also I welcome any and every opportunity to make fun of Angel. Particularly when penguins are involved. As well they should be.

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I Walk Alone, another beautiful gift from

comlodge based on her FFL picspam series for Round 18 of

seasonal_spuffy.

* I 'ship Buffy&Spike S7 . Love in action is the hardest, most painful and most worthwhile work we can ever do - and IMO it trumps "true love" romantic fantasies every time. (That said, I fully support the right to ship Buffy with anyone you damn well please.) But he is not my central focus here. Nor are any of the men of the 'verse, except in terms of how they serve Buffy's story. It turns out the protagonist of the "Buffyverse" is some gal named Buffy. Weird, huh?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh my goodness, I just fell into a meta-link spiral from days past. Fun! I love stumbling across new things, too, as well as the classics which are always worth another read. (And it's sometimes nice to re-read your own stuff from the distance provided by a few years gone by and think 'hey that was kinda insightful and well-said'.)

Also, not sure if you're familiar with

aerintine/Jamie (she was leaving Buffy fandom around the time you were joining it), but she wrote an absolutely wonderful Buffy & Tara fic, Please Don't Forgive Me, which I just know you'd adore.

WAIT. I just scrolled down to the comments and I see YOU commenting on that fic. OF COURSE. That short little fic left such an impression on me that when I saw you talking about Buffy & Tara, I immediately thought of it.

(Wow, this post has now led to me looking into old meta posts and comments on my friends journals from, like, 2010.)

Edited 2013-06-21 20:44 (UTC)

Thanks so much hon for stopping by! Have you read my Buffy & Tara meta yet from the other day? I'm really very pleased with the response it's gotten.

fray_adjacent even created some new female centric icons like the "Family" one I'm using right now. there are fans interested in the ladies, it's just so easy to fall into the same old riffs (ie Buffy & Spike, etc) Even I'm guilty of it.

I just scrolled down to the comments and I see YOU commenting on that fic. OF COURSE.

The funny thing is I'd forgotten that until just now - it was almost a year ago that I commented. (And I was the only person to comment - which proves my POINT! This cannot stand.) But I had forgotten about it, isn't that awful? I should do a Buffy & Tara rec list. It's hard

ruuger asked for some recs on the subject a few months back and I didn't have much to offer. On AO3 when i put in Buffy/Tara I got 25 fics the other day. Put them in as individual characters and you get all the thousands of fics that happen to have both of them listed but don't necessary have them interacting with each other. I love the balance of the two of them.

And I'm puzzled - "Tara and Spike" or "Tara/Spike" shows up a lot more in fandom. Which sort of confirms for me the fact that a lot of people don't like Buffy, but also I think that people see Tara as being more traditionally feminine, "nicer" and therefore a more appropriate partner for Spike? But "niceness" has a cost. If any one of the ladies in the verse - as in real life - swallow their anger, surpress it, they're "closed off", they're not feminine enough, If they express their anger they're told they don't have a right to be angry, that they're not feminine enough.

I actually have a first (very rough) draft of a B/T fic, which I promised

laynoyee first glance at, as she inspired it in our conversations. If you haven't visited her LJ or tumblr, please do; she's wonderful to talk and brainstorm with re: Buffy, Dawn, Tara etc.

I didn't plan to link to your meta so often here but it just sort of happened? (I had really meant to do a little birthday gift for you weeks ago and - didn't. My bad. The image of Buffy & Tara from OAFA I used the other day was originally supposed to be for you. *gulp*) Your meta on Buffy and depression has been on my mind a LOT lately, and I've reread it several times because it really resonates with me very strongly, but also I find myself coming up against the same sorts of things that inspired you to write it in the first place. I always wonder, do I have the same sort of courage Emmie had? Am I ready to fight for Buffy, and in doing so fight for all of us who love and identify with her? I hope so, but I doubt myself a lot.

Coincidentally, I finally read your essay on Berthe Morisot; I love (feminist) art history but I hadn't taken the time before, I think because I was seeing that painting as rather ordinary "image of a woman at her toilette" that the male artists of the day so loved to do. I hadn't ever taken the time to deconstruct it as you have. I'll have to post my thoughts over there when I've got a better hold of them in my head.

(Wow, this post has now led to me looking into old meta posts and comments on my friends journals from, like, 2010.)

I'm always commenting on old posts and old fanfics. I think of the internet as the biggest library in the world.

I haven't read it yet, alas! I've been a bit mentally exhausted, but it's on my list, it just my take me awhile. :)

The funny thing is I'd forgotten that until just now - it was almost a year ago that I commented. (And I was the only person to comment - which proves my POINT! This cannot stand.)

Thankfully, Jamie got loads of comments from the Bechdel Comment Ficathon where it was originally posted. And that's actually her first fic she'd ever written (and I remember tempting her into giving this a go? So part of me wants to TAKE CREDIT lol but no she's brilliant), so she might not have been on folks' radars yet. But still, it's glorious and more people should read it.

And I'm puzzled - "Tara and Spike" or "Tara/Spike" shows up a lot more in fandom

You know what, tho? I imagine that's because Tara and Spike were the partners on the receiving end of abuse (at least, if one fails to recognize how equally bad Buffy and Spike were to each other). So I imagine it's very much 'these two deserve better and they deserve better together'. I think it probably is more about the traditionally feminine too inasmuch as Tara's more open emotionally and very emotionally supportive (I think she views this as her function, what she has to offer). Sigh.

I didn't plan to link to your meta so often here but it just sort of happened?

Aw that requires no apology. It's very flattering! And thank you for thinking of me on my birthday. No worries about prezzies. <3

I think when it comes to writing, that honesty and openness can be a hard place to reach, but that it's a courage found through surrender and acceptance. Looking back, part of the reason I was able to write that when I did was because I felt I'd turned a corner in my life. Climbing back to my feet. And writing that was a part of standing again. And perhaps the most shocking turn was that as I waited for the first comments to my essay, worrying that people would be uncomfortable or look at me in a negative light, instead I found an immense solidarity and meeting of minds and hearts. My being open brought others to be open. When I go back to read those comments, it still gets to me -- there's a powerful and moving intimacy captured there.

I hope you do find your time and place to write. I'm in your corner looking forward to reading it, of course.

Coincidentally, I finally read your essay on Berthe Morisot; I love (feminist) art history but I hadn't taken the time before, I think because I was seeing that painting as rather ordinary "image of a woman at her toilette" that the male artists of the day so loved to do. I hadn't ever taken the time to deconstruct it as you have. I'll have to post my thoughts over there when I've got a better hold of them in my head.

OH. See, I cannot get enough of this subject! Please throw your thoughts and feels my way, if you're so inspired. I'm an eager audience. :D

INTERNET LIBRARY. BEST. It's a bit like discovering boxes and boxes of old letters between friends, isn't it?

I imagine that's because Tara and Spike were the partners on the receiving end of abuse (at least, if one fails to recognize how equally bad Buffy and Spike were to each other).

Oh and THAT just puzzles me to no end. W/T does not = B/S, although the relationships are paralle, they are not the exact same power dynamic. I said a while back on one of my earlier metas that I thought the B/S relationship was mutually abusive (but they are both consenting participants in a very unhealthy dynamic); while Willow/Tara are coded as being somewhat more similar to the common cultural conception of abusive relationships: the stronger abuser/weaker victim scenario. (Which is true in many instances but is not the whole truth.)

I got in a lot of trouble and had to backtrack a bit, but I still believe it's true. What's done to Tara is done behind her back, and we're told that Willow is more powerful (stronger) in her magicks. I think at the time the other person thought I was dissing Willow, which I wasn't. I understand and on some level sympathize with all of them; I've been on both sides of the equation (quadrangle?)

I also thought that depicting a lesbian relationship in which abuse occurs was very brave at the time and have gotten in trouble for saying that as well. but it's the dirty little secret - I was shocked 20 years ago when a friend told me she was raped by another woman because I had no idea women (much less lesbians) were capable of such things. I still believed the idealized version.

Sorry, that was a tangent, wasn't it?

BTW, I've been having some interesting conversations with

spuffy_luvr and

eilowyn about Spike/Tara shipping. It's a subject I've been afraid to broach but am finally drawing up the courage to tackle, because it's connected to larger issues re: sexual orientation and the ways we categorize relationships and sexuality in fandom and culturally.
http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/17902.html?thread=378094#t378094
http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/18670.html?view=411374#t411374

Looking back, part of the reason I was able to write that when I did was because I felt I'd turned a corner in my life. Climbing back to my feet. And writing that was a part of standing again. And perhaps the most shocking turn was that as I waited for the first comments to my essay, worrying that people would be uncomfortable or look at me in a negative light, instead I found an immense solidarity and meeting of minds and hearts. My being open brought others to be open.

YES. This is very much what I've experienced, it's just having the courage to take that first step (or in my case, taking first steps, getting bit in the ass - or at least bruised - withdrawing, until the isolation is unbearable and I take another step out. If that makes sense?) Today I was talking to

fray_adjacent12 and rec'ing your essay alongside Allie's Brosh's "Depression Pt 2" on Hyperbole and a Half. Have you read it? Superb and funny description of depression and she nails it to a T.

I've wondered, rereading your essay (and it's companion piece on depression and creativity), how things have gone since then in terms of your depression; has it been a case of a corner permanently turned, or revisited now and then? In my own case, I have a hard time remembering "this too shall pass" when I'm either up or down, although I can very easily remind others of the same.

I'm in your corner looking forward to reading it, of course.

*hugs* that means a lot to me, thank you.

It's a bit like discovering boxes and boxes of old letters between friends, isn't it?

Yes, exactly! I've always had a love for old books, letters, documents, bits and pieces that bear the marks of lives lived before my time that I can only guess at.

Hi,

trying this again. Angearia, if you go to my kerkevik lj; thence to July 21st, you will find what was a belated birthday fic for you. I hope you enjoy what you find there, and my apologies to Red Satin Doll for hijacking this post. I hope you'll forgive me.

Best wishes,
Ray.

No worries and all is forgiven - but probably not best to use this thread for such purposes in future.

ETA: I thought for some reason Emmie's

angearia's account was purged but I was mistaken. If you want her to see this message best put her name in as an active link as I just did (assuming she receives email notifications.)

Edited 2013-12-18 20:35 (UTC)

See, stuff like this is why you're awesome. I just hope to have a chance to dig into all the links I haven't already read (or written - thanks!)

I loved your Tara post, btw. I should probably add something more worthwhile than that, but I'm all brained out at the moment.

And the Dawn<->Riley (I wrote "Dawn/Riley" at first, which... yeeesh) parallels should definitely be explored. In a season about identity, Riley flunks out - goes from Reliable Cowboy Guy (always putting on an act) to nothing - and Dawn goes from nothing to Real.

See, stuff like this is why you're awesome

Aww, hon, I am verklempt! *blushes* Just - that means a lot, seriously, coming from one of my fandom role models. (It's absolutely true.) I'm curious now as to how many of these links you haven't read - I suspect you're familiar with most if not all.

I loved your Tara post, btw. I should probably add something more worthwhile than that, but I'm all brained out at the moment.

THANK YOU. I've got notes for an entire meta series about her but just doing that very first one took me weeks and about 5 drafts. I had no idea if there was any interest, how "political" should I get blah blah. The tone was really hard. And I don't really do "drafts" per se, like I do with fic, so I can't hand it off to a beta and say "help".

Congrats on the SunnyD nomination! I rec'd "not in the brochure" today, even if I am biased:
http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/18670.html I kind of feel like Tracy Ullman when she said she was so proud that the Simpsons spun off her show, so she felt like a grandmother. And then a few years later she sued Matt Groenig...ok, not the best comparison there.

In a season about identity, Riley flunks out - goes from Reliable Cowboy Guy (always putting on an act) to nothing - and Dawn goes from nothing to Real.

Oh hell to the yes! Exactly this. And the parallels really didn't occur to me admittedly until I was looking at screencaps for ITW/BT the other day and noticed the way they both wound themselves in an identical place on their arms .If you're interested in Dawn & Riley

lanoyee and I have a pretty interesting conversation about the parallels that will probably be the basis of another meta post. She's really thought about Dawn a lot more than I have, so some of her ideas are brilliant IMO. http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/17490.html (We're also talking about Robin Wood and how problematic LMPTM is; which is something else I've been dying to talk about.)

I'm still really surprised by how much hate Dawn gets vs how much fandom is willing to "overlook" Riley's transgressions, I guess because he's a guy and we shouldn't expect any better? (Or is it the larger dislike of "bitchy women" - Buffy, Dawn, Kennedy, etc?) Dawn's problems are so much bigger than his, that the more I think about him in S5 the more pathetic he becomes to me. And usually I'm all about compassion and reconsidering characters and seeing the layers, but he's the one who just absolutely - dwindles.

I heart you. :)

I heart back, sweetie! Oh, and congratulations on the SunnyD nominations! I rec'd "Live (Where you Are) on another post today: http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/18670.html

- I adore how you formatted this - it's an introduction and a links list in one!
- I'll be going through the links and watching Arrested Development tonight (that's an average Friday night for me - sigh), so expect comments and the occasional STEVE HOLT! shout out.
- I officially name

comlodge Queen of Winged!Buffy Art. You can be her loyal handmaiden.
- Re: your last bullet point, I think you'll love this vid. I immediately thought of it when I read your B/F = B/S - sex equation, though my favorite version of "Creep" will always be my sister's. I kind of made a promise to rec her whenever possible.
- I have a meta coming I think you'll love. I actually thought of you while writing it. So if I don't post it this week, bug me about it.

THANK YOU! MORE LINKS! SHINY! I'm really glad this works for you because it was really totally random in a way, I just sat and wrote at one go without any idea what I was doing. (Truth)

I've seen Brad's version a while back! We exchanged some very nice messages, he was very sweet. I haven't seen the other's though, so thank you, I always LOVE well-done video recs.

Your links are extremely timely b/c I was thinking about the Faith & Spike connection this morning a bit more; trying to decide if I should do a separate meta on that or make it a two-parter when I get to Who Are You in the Buffy & Tara series. (Which is really Tara plus Buffy plus sisterhood and motherhood metaphors etc.) What say you?

Also I'm trying to decide if I want to get my Dawn & Riley musings (with

lanoyee ) out of the way first. http://red-satin-doll.livejournal.com/17490.html?thread=368466#t368466
I may do just to get it out of the way and be done with it.

I officially name comlodge Queen of Winged!Buffy Art. You can be her loyal handmaiden.

Oh yes she's got a willing slave - although I like "handmaiden" better. :) Did you see her banner for "The One with Wings" on my earlier post?

I have a meta coming I think you'll love. I actually thought of you while writing it. So if I don't post it this week, bug me about it.

*squeals* Count on it, sister. I WILL be waiting.

BTW - I hope I didn't come across as harsh in my reply to you on the buffy & tara meta? I apologize if I did.

THANK YOU! MORE LINKS! SHINY!

I feel kind of bashful that I pimped my sister, but she is AMAZING and I want her version of "Creep" to put on a fanmix.

trying to decide if I should do a separate meta on that or make it a two-parter when I get to Who Are You in the Buffy & Tara series.

Ooh! Do Tara first! Spike and Faith get enough love as it is! They can wait patiently!

And you totally weren't harsh in the comment! I actually just put up a reply where I agree with you - Happy Family OT4 does usually center around Spike and his relationships with the girls in fic. I want some good fic from Tara's perspective now!

I feel kind of bashful that I pimped my sister

No need to, she's very talented! And that's what family is for, isn't it? I liked the recording of the song at the West end festival a bit better, even though they are outside; I can hear her voice much better. Do they have a recording? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTN-RYibmBo

Ooh! Do Tara first! Spike and Faith get enough love as it is! They can wait patiently!

*nods* Excellent point.

I reread my other comment btw and I don't know why I thought I was harsh-sounding? I think it was because I got a message from someone else that I thought read harshly to my eyes and then I worried after the fact? I'm just - weird that way. but I glanced at your comments and 100% on ALL of it, so I'll answer it detail over there.

I want some good fic from Tara's perspective now!

Yes please. (I also want fic that avoids the tendency to write "Saint Tara". )

Have you read

aerintine's "Please don't forgive me" that Emmie rec'd upthread? That's really more Buffy's POV. I have a handful of fics, not many - I'd like to do a rec list of Tara fics that people can keep adding their own recs to (maybe as a sticky post?)

ruuger posted the same question - request for Tara & Buffy fics - a few months back and I had very little to offer.

Re: your last bullet point, I think you'll love this vid. I immediately thought of it when I read your B/F = B/S - sex equation, though my favorite version of "Creep" will always be my sister's.

I found a Buffy, Spike, Faith video by afterbattle the other day and thought of you: "Your Power is Rooted in Darkness". Have you seen it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8CZc6sKb0A

Thanks for reccing me! It's an honor to be included alongside so many great posts.

Btw, sorry about not commenting on your Buffy-Tara meta. I've been pretty worn down with schoolwork lately. Although I did read and agree with what you said, unfortunately I feel like I don't have anything substantial to add? I'm so out of touch with fandom. Hopefully I can get back into the swing of it soon.

Thanks for coming by! I'm honored when someone takes the time to even read one of my posts, let alone comment; theres a million other things you could be doing. So please don't feel obligated - there are so many good posts from other people I only wish I could get to. (I have seen your name in the My Guests stats, btw, so I know you've been by. Someone in fandom I admire thinks my shit is worth reading? Best compliment ever. Lurkers rock.)

That meta is really sort of a warm-up act anyway; I think the convo threads of some of my recent posts are more interesting than the posts but isn't that how it's supposed to be? That's what got me into fandom.

I do hope you can get back into it but only when life allows and you really enjoy it? I've missed your fierce and bold intelligence re: the buffyverse. When you say schoolwork you mean your own or are you a teacher (look whose woefully out of touch.)

You are too kind, truly. And the schoolwork is my own -- university work, rather. Less of it now, though, so hopefully more time for fandom discussion.

No, I'm just about right kind. Maybe not enough kind? Anyhoo....

What subject are you studying?

I'm an English/Philosophy major with a side degree in Media. So, several subjects, really. :)

Suddenly I miss college *sigh* that sounds like a great combination of subjects - IDK about you but I always loved "cross-curriculum" studies, the overlapping connections from my English lit class to my film class etc. English/Philosophy/Media sounds perfect for that sort of thing, making connections from one to another. (But, enough about me....)

Dare I ask the stupid question, "What do you plan to do with all this?" (Not in a mommy way, mind, but genuinely curious as to how you want to put it all together.)

I totally agree. That's probably one of the things I'm enjoying most about studying.

You may dare. I am basically planning to pursue any career in the Arts. Whether this entails writing or performing or whatever, I haven't totally made up my mind. It has to be something within the creative industries, though, because that is my dreaded calling. :)

Good luck! Its a very brave thing to follow one's heart and passion. Its a very difficult thing however to focus on a path especially when, if you're like me (and it sounds like) you have a variety of interests. I think that makes someone a richer and more interesting human being; the world wants you to "make a choice". My partner heard that in art school; that painters/sculptors have to develop a "recognizable style" and stick to it because that's what galleries and buyers want; but she's always changing her style because she wants to experiment.

My biggest mistakes: switching from my initial goal of wanting to act because I compared myself to other people and found myself wanting; so I decided to be a filmmaker or a writer or a feminist film professor or - something. I couldn't stay focused on just one thing and didn't believe I was "good enough" to do what I'd wanted ever since I'd been five years old. I wish I'd stuck to my guns. (Major health and money issues were in the mix as well. Basically I've become one of those 'old gals' telling the young'ums "don't make the same mistakes I did!" So never mind me.)

Ok, enough of the lecture. ;)

Thanks! Focusing is definitely a challenge. Regrettably, one can't have everything they want.

My sympathies to you, sincerely. Self-doubt is the true evil for an artist, I completely understand. Well, that as well as illness and financial strife and whatnot -- I'm sorry to hear those problems interfered with you doing what you wanted. /o\

The lecture is appreciated, lol. I have to remind myself constantly to be brave and persevere, so your words are really very helpful.

I have to remind myself constantly to be brave and persevere, so your words are really very helpful.

I hope so! I didn't mean to come off as a gloomy pessimist (or worse - what's the phrase? "Pity ditty." *lol*)

My best friend Kendra, who is nearly half my age but we understand each other completely - money issues, family, illness, the whole ball of wax - has persevered despite everything and she's now got at least three published novels under her belt with another one forthcoming. I am absolutely in awe of her and she reminds me of what someone can do if they try hard enough. (One thing she's done is learned how to use Facebook like a pro to promote herself.)

Heh, pessimism tends to come with the territory. ;)

Your Kendra sounds wow! All the props to her.

pessimism tends to come with the territory. ;)

And here I thought it was just clinical depression. Glad to know it's not just me!

Your Kendra sounds wow! All the props to her.

She's really amazing and I'm very proud of her; she's the person I can tell anything to and she to me and we just understand one another. she just had her first book signing in NYC:
http://jasonharrispromotions.org/2013/06/08/writing-and-book-expo-america/

The article mentions the novel "Inanimate Objects" in the "about the author" section; that's the one where she credited me as one of her "Muses", so I'm probably biased. ;)

Well, that too. /o\

Ooh, those books look very interesting. Urban fantasy is totally my thing. And it's awesome that you made it in the author's note of a published novel, ha!

Yeah I tend to be a little smug - I mean, pleased - about that. Maybe more than I should? It was an interesting experience because it took her four years to finish (perseverance really does pay, who knew?), and it was very very different when she showed me the first drafts. there was a lot of brainstorming and talking and we just worked together so beautifully on this one.

Also she's one of the few people in my life who asks for my advice and actually listens to what I have to say, whether she uses it or not. Most writers in my experience ask for critiques when what they really want is petting and praise.

FYI - Her novel "Death and Mr Right" has one of the worst covers ever, but it's definitely a "don't judge by it's cover" thing. I wasn't really involved in that one but I read part of the draft and it had me laughing out loud - Death gets fired from his job and lands up rather haplessly in NYC where just getting a pair of glasses is a nightmare.

Hee, that is quite a summary. I might have to keep my eye out for that one next time I visit the bookstore.

Hi,

just wanted to let you know that it could possibly be January before i get back online. Hope things are going well for you as the holidays approach.

Still working on stories, and have three cats disturbing me at every opportunity; also giving me accusing glances every time I move and dare to disturb them :-)

Goddess watch over you in the coming year,
'tis ok to be Takei,

Ray Harley (26 Park Drive, Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland PH10 6PH

Thank you for the update, Ray, I hope all is well with you too? Things are relatively stable for my sweetie and I right at the moment - in a new apartment (after the fire in August), my back/leg pain is quite a bit better last year's injury, and so forth. Rather quiet right now, which is fine.

I'm very glad to hear you are writing - you're a role model for "showing up at the page". I need to develop a similar ethic. And those cats - ah yes, they know perfectly well they own you, don't they?

Do take care and be blessed,

Janice

I'm currently using this 'off' time to try and catalogue my fics into their various 'verses. I noticed that there are quite a few comments that lj has never notified me of, so I shall be replying to as many of those as I can in the near future.

Can't comment on my own lj right now; can't unscreen my own comments, but I wonder if you can send me a snail mail address. I plan on sending out as many solstice cards as I can on the 21st and 22nd.

Thought it was time I paid attention to that date.

Goddess watch over you both,
'tis ok to be Takei,
Ray.

ETA: Ray, can you still PM me or can I send a PM to your DW account? I don't want to put up my email addy in public.
Thank you for thinking of my sweetie and I.

Catoguing your fics sounds like a tremendous task but I always appreciate it when folks group links to their tics/art/vids etc in one handy place. Are you putting up a post on your journal and/or do you have an account in something like AO3 or ff.net, etc. I like being able to find my favorite author's works quickly w/out having to sort through all their journal posts; and Ao3 lets authors group series together, which is very handy.

Edited 2013-12-13 19:34 (UTC)

Actually I was meaning as in snail mail. You have my address above. I don't have anybody's emails saved where I can access them. I'm going to write elisi a letter soon anyway, so doing that again might be good too. If things don't sort themselves out soon, I might just start afresh with a brand new lj. I can access my old one, which should have carried on side by side with the new one, but pooter idiot me screwed that up.

Things to look for, more Faith/Tara & Dawn/Lisa, and a special look at Satsu/Gazaleh for thee. Also I'm working on ideas for a Doctor Who 'verse where The Doctor becomes female. I have four actresses in my head to work with in my head. All are British, two are Afro-caribbean, one is Sri Lankan, and one is Welsh. I'll be trying to work in the lesbian couple that have appeared; all in stories I've not seen, but nevermind that.

I'm watching Gilmore girls right now. Not RIGHT now, but I now have all seven seasons, so the possibility of Gg fanfiction is high. Also DS9 stories where Jadzia & Lenara Kahn become a rebel Trill couple. I should also start writing gay male couples really.

Ray.

Oh! You meant for me to send you an actual card or letter, how delightlfully old-fashioned *I'm laughing at myself here right now, btw*

Also I'm working on ideas for a Doctor Who 'verse where The Doctor becomes female.

I haven't seen any of the "New Who" but I watched the old school version in college (up to #7, he and Ace were one of my favorite pairings) and I used to imagine the Doctor as a woman! I didn't write fanfiction back then because it never occured to me but I sketched out a costume for her and worked out adventures, and she had a particular dialect and manner of carrying herself.
So - yes, yes, the Doctor as a woman, I'm all for it!

I haven't seen GG or DS9 (or SPN, or TVD or so many other shows people here in LJ watch - Buffy is really my only fandom. Maybe I need to spread myself out a bit *lol*)

I should also start writing gay male couples really.

This is interesting to me because I said the same thing about my own writing. As a lesbian I've only written one "lesbian love scene" in Moulin Rouge fandom and it was snuggling, not sex and the characters weren't lesbians. Which is exactly the sort of thing I'll go on about in tv shows and movies - "I want to see genuinely lesbian characters!" (Part of the reason I will never ship Tara with a male character from any fandom and don't read those stories is exactly that reason - Tara is a lesbian, full-stop; and one of the very few in US tv or movies still.)

But I don't think that there really isn't any "should". We can't predict or control who we fall in love with (IRL or in fiction), who appeals or speaks to us the most; quite a lot of people who write about m/m or f/f pairings are straight, and vice-versa. If we write what we think we "should" then we'll be unhappy with it and not enjoy the process; and that shows up in the work. Anyway, there are plenty of other authors out there writing about gay male couples; and I'd say truly LESBIAN couples are underrepresented.

So continue to write who and what you love, always!

So....I just friended you....but I have to warn you....I dislike Buffy. I don't bash/diss her or anything, and I ship Buffy/Spike, but I'm not a huge fan, so my fic and my icons don't feature her very often. :/ Hopefully that's acceptable, friend-wise. :)
I am a Dawn fan, but I often leave Buffy killed-off at the end of Season Five, because I feel like Dawn would have thrived, eventually, without her in a way she never does with her. Also, just fyi, I don't really explore the Buffy/Tara friendship.
I do appreciate the Buffy/Dawn sisterhood - I think Buffy is an amazing sister. But, I do think she has some major flaws when it comes to friendship.
As for Kennedy, I'm not a fan, but again...I don't bash/hate/diss or anything. I'm not a fan of hate, just in general.
I'm also a huge Willow/Angel shipper/fan because I think my version of her makes him a better person. I don't dislike Xander, because I identify with him in some ways. I love Giles, though. And I'm a big fan of Spike until that scene in Season Six (bathroom with Buffy). However, I do play around with the women (fan-fiction and icons) way more often cuz well, shallow of me, but they're so pretty! :D :)
And I adore Faith, and think the show could have done so much more with her character....so I tend to write good!faith....
*shrugs*
So...if any of that bugs you, feel free to not friend-back, but....if it's all good....hi!
And my name's Leander. :)

-Leander

Well I friended you back before you wrote all this so we're stuck with each other! *lol* Welcome to my little world, and thank you for actually reading this post. I need to update it something awful.

And it's all good - I don't ask that people love Buffy or even like her; I just ask, no dissing here in my little playground. If folks want to do that in their own sandbox, that's their business. (Conversely, when I come across discussion about how wonderful Character A was and what a bitch Buffy/Dawn/etc was, I don't stick my nose in. That's their space and I'm not going to change anybody's mind anyway.)

A lot of my friends here are not really Buffy fans per se, but we're still friends. Actually I have a lot of Willow fans on my flist, and there are things about Willow that bug the hell out of me, but I'm not going to bash her. Respect is the key.

I am a Dawn fan,

As well you should be! Dawn does NOT get the love she deserves and that is just so wrong IMO. *hugs* I'm assuming you and Kelsey are friends then?

I am a Dawn fan, but I often leave Buffy killed-off at the end of Season Five.....I do appreciate the Buffy/Dawn sisterhood - I think Buffy is an amazing sister.

It sounds as though your feelings towards Buffy are - complicated. *strokes chin*

I do think she has some major flaws when it comes to friendship.

What character on this show doesn't? And she has some incredible gifts. I tend to view the show through the lens of dysfunctional family dynamics because they are a symbolic family (the text makes that incredibly clear) but the same Xander who can be Supporto-Guy and is braver than he's given credit for. (and I love me some Supporto-Guy) lies, is incredibly possessive esp of women he's "in love" with, slut shames Cordy, Buffy, Anya, etc. One and the same guy. He has an awful home and it's not unlike what I grew up in. And I have brothers. Don't always like him but I understand and can love him in a way.

And so on with Willow and each character.

And I get it, because I see where each of these kids comes from - they don't have wonderful, happy hallmark card home lives.

And I adore Faith, and think the show could have done so much more with her character....so I tend to write good!faith....

TOTAL agreement there. I would have been perfectly happy with more Faith and (frankly) less Spike. (I mean I love those kids in S7 but I don't actually ship them before that. I was fine with friendship, I didn't want or need them to be lovers quite honestly.) But then again, I want to pitch Andrew out the window after S6 to make space for Faith and Dawn and people I actually cared about. (aka the women)

I've actually written post-series Fuffy but not really Spuffy, but I'm really not about "shipping" as a primary lens to view the show anyway. I don't care who Buffy "ends up with" (it's a contest? WTF?) *shrugs*

Anyhoo welcome and I hope you find stuff to enjoy here! I pimp and link to other people's stuff a lot so it's not just all about Buffy.

Yeah....I don't consider Dawn or Buffy a "bitch," because I don't like it when that word is applied solely to women in a derogatory fashion. Also because flawed does not equal bitch. :)

Me and who? No idea who Kelsey is. ;)

My feelings about Buffy as a character aren't really all that complicated. I ship Buffy/Spike, both before and during S7....and I value her relationship with Dawn because it reminds me of my relationship with my twin sister. *shrugs* I don't understand Angel/Buffy (and never will). And I really dislike the way she treats other people throughout the series. *nods*

What character on this show doesn't?
Omg I know, right!?

Xander who can be Supporto-Guy and is braver than he's given credit for. (and I love me some Supporto-Guy) lies, is incredibly possessive esp of women he's "in love" with, slut shames Cordy, Buffy, Anya....

He is braver than given credit for! He's treated mostly like this great big buffoon by many of the characters, and yet...he's so observant and brave. And then again, he does indeed slut-shame the majority of the female characters in a unforgivable type way! And he is super possessive on one hand and dismissive of their importance on the other. His family life did suck, but it's not like Jsos ever really explored that, or explored how that makes him so fragile or anything...

I want to pitch Andrew out the window after S6 to make space for Faith and Dawn and people I actually cared about.
This, please. :)

I'm really not about "shipping" as a primary lens to view the show anyway. I don't care who Buffy "ends up with" (it's a contest? WTF?) *shrugs*
While I agree that viewing a show through ships isn't necessarily what it most important, and etc., I do tend to love my ships. :) :) And, fiction-writing wise, I do care about who they all end up with, especially if I'm using that as a plot device to other things. ;)

Welcome to my world too. :)

Also because flawed does not equal bitch. :)

PREACH IT!

No idea who Kelsey is. ;)

OOPS! I should have said

kwritten. She wrote the (justly award-winning) metas on Dawn last year. She is - EVERYTHING - when it comes to Dawn Summers.

I ship Buffy/Spike, both before and during S7.

Oh, I thought you said you didn't ship them after SR. I misunderstood?

I don't understand Angel/Buffy (and never will)

I'm just bored by it, mostly. When I'm not intensely irritated. I mean, I shipped them while I watched them in S2 because I wanted Buffy to be happy, period. (And because I think Sarah and David have more chemistry than Spuffies give credit.) But in S3? Forget it. My reaction when he came back from Hell was "Oh for the love of God let the poor girl alone!" The whole can we or can't we, dumping her in a sewer and then showing up at the prom - please just make up your freaking mind and don't let the screen door hit ya on the ass on your way out, 'kay? And btw, when the heck did "moment of perfect happiness" automatically = "orgasm"? (And we had this REALLY interesting character in the person of Faith just going to waste until Bad Girls....)

Not that I'm bitter or anything. *lol*

And on the subject of Buffy, we agree to disagree. YMMV

His family life did suck, but it's not like Jsos ever really explored that, or explored how that makes him so fragile or anything

You really have to read between the lines - Restless is great but Hell's Bells is horrible; and we have NO idea of what kind of relationship we have with his mom. There must be some love there, for him to be able to like and love women to begin with, despite what he's learned watching his father. I can "read between those lines" because I've lived that story, so it's easy for me.

But they could have done so much more with it, with Willow's parents, with Hank Summers. etc

This, please. :)

Your wish is my command - or at least my fantasy.

I do tend to love my ships. :)

I think the longer I'm in fandom the less of a shipper I become - or rather, I can read almost any ship as long as the writing is good, the characterization is true and the situation is plausible. And it doesn't squick me: Tara/any male, and Dawn/Xander are no-nos (except for Eurydice's "A Stone's Throw From Yesterday" - Spuffy with Xander/Dawn side story, and she writes it so it's believable.) And Buffy/GIles is a HUGE DNW for me.

The thing for me is that a lot of times "shipping" seems to mean "love and almost total focus on Character X - and oh, yeah, that bitch Buffy". It also means a lot of times, a set of beliefs about canon and the characters that I can't sign up with. Maybe I'm just not a joiner; and it irritates me when male characters steal all the air out of the room the minute they walk in. I didn't expect a show with a female protagonist and important female characters who have relationships to ONE ANOTHER would be so male-oriented in fandom.

But then I don't read much in the way of Willow/Tara fic either. But I'm more interested in Willow, Oz and Tara by themselves than I am in them as ships.

OTOH - I've written Faith/Dawn post-series. I can completely ship those two.

Ah, no kwritten and I are not friends. I have read some of her stuff, though. :)

"Oh, I thought you said you didn't ship them after SR. I misunderstood?"
I said I don't like Spike much after that episode in S6. What I didn't add was that I do, however, love Spuffy in Season 7 - they're so...profound, I feel, in that season. :)

I'm just bored by it, mostly. When I'm not intensely irritated.
Yes, this.

moment of perfect happiness" automatically = "orgasm"
I think it's actually about...having sex/orgasm(s) with someone he is actively in love with. For example, on ATS, he has sex and he doesn't lose his soul. Have you watched ATS yet?

And, not to be totally stupid but....what does YMMV mean?

I do think with Xander you have to read between the lines, sure. But, I maintain that Joss had like between 3-6 characters that he could have done way more with, and that could have been more explained and more nuanced, that he just dropped the ball on. Xander is one, Tara is another. Faith is one. I feel like we get involved in Willow, but still...her main motivation is sketchy at best.

I'm not a fan of sticking with one ship and being so consumed that no other ships make sense. Not in BTVS or ATS or anything Joss, for that matter. But I do have ones I favor, certainly. And I admit, it takes a lot for me to be able to truly see other ships as working out, or real, or plausible. Now see, Tara/Anyone Male or Male-Identified does kind of squick me because she's pretty clear in Season Five about her feelings on being with men, and/or Willow going back to "boy town." I'm alright with Xander/Dawn provided it is after she is 18. And I'm really bugged/squicked by Buffy/Giles. This is partially because I like Giles/Joyce, and because I'm a little fond of Giles/Anya.

I didn't expect a show with a female protagonist and important female characters who have relationships to ONE ANOTHER would be so male-oriented in fandom.
And I can TOTALLY understand and appreciate that!! :) I don't think I expected it either, which is why in my fan-fiction, I tend towards focusing on a female or female-identified role.

*nods* I used to read Willow/Tara a little. I write some too. But, mostly....my BTVS/ATS fics are about rewriting key events in the show so that Faith can be good and Willow can be a powerful, good, character - and we get to find out who both of these women are. :) :)

Faith/Dawn is one I do think could be realistic after Chosen. My partner ships (and writes) them. :)

-Leander

What I didn't add was that I do, however, love Spuffy in Season 7

Ah, gotcha! If you hang around me for any length of time (1 minute or less) you will discover that I can be pretty dense and need things clarified. Occasionally with a shovel. Though I prefer tea and cookies.

Yes, this.

Sorry, Angel. Not sorry.

Have you watched ATS yet?

Nope. I'm going to have to someday, I know. I watched kaymickbee's video brave new world with a snippet of Cordy suffering from a vision headache, and a clip from You're Welcome and I could NOT stop crying. I know the storylines and I'm just not up for it right now. (Besides, we had an apartment fire in August and I'm still dealing with the ptsd and - Excuses? I got 'em.)

what does YMMV mean?

"your mileage may vary" Not stupid at all, I constantly ask people what various acronyms mean

Joss had like between 3-6 characters that he could have done way more with, and that could have been more explained and more nuanced, that he just dropped the ball on. Xander is one, Tara is another. Faith is one. I feel like we get involved in Willow, but still...her main motivation is sketchy at best.

100% agreement. I was excited early in S7 when it seemed like we were going to get a lot more Buffy and Dawn interaction and...then we didn't. (Am I the only person who enjoyed the setting of the new high school?) And damn but I loved Cassie. Loved what she brought out in Buffy and in Dawn; she was a proto-Potential and she would have fit beautifully. I get what DA POINT of killing her was, but... But then I'll still defend S7, like, I see all the flaws, I acknowledge them but I enjoy the stuff I enjoy anyway. I keep my eyes open for good fanfic that rewrites the season (Not just Spuffy) but in fact I haven't seen a lot and that surprises me.

Tara/Anyone Male or Male-Identified does kind of squick me because she's pretty clear in Season Five about her feelings on being with men

I thought the show was tremendously clear about that. I love the idea of Tara being alive in S7 and being in the episode Him and being the one woman to NOT fall under RJ's spell, like Cordy in BB&B but obviously for a different reason. And I guess I have a personal thing: here's one of the very few truly lesbian characters on American television. There are thousands of straight characters people can play with, so leave me the few lesbian characters I've got, pretty please and don't press her into heteronormative standards?

I like Giles/Joyce, and because I'm a little fond of Giles/Anya.

I ship Giles with: Jenny, Joyce, Olivia, Anya, even with Willow if it's later seasons or post-series. (It's canon! She used to have a crush on him! Heck you can see her crushing on him in the early seasons.) But Buffy? I do not get that one AT ALL. Oh, i forgot the link to Eurydice's story but maybe you already read it? It's really post-season Spuffy but Xander is the actual protagonist and the author writes Dawn as mature and sharp and the pairing really works in this story, she writes all the characters so well: http://archiveofourown.org/works/959307/chapters/1878873

my BTVS/ATS fics are about rewriting key events in the show so that Faith can be good and Willow can be a powerful, good, character - and we get to find out who both of these women are. :) :)

*adds to reading list*

Faith/Dawn is one I do think could be realistic after Chosen.

As long as I am enjoying the story, I'm pretty easy (the previously listed no-nos aside) I was going to try to ship Faith and Buffy but then realized I really ship Faith/Dawn, or at least I started writing them without intending to. Hey I'm just the author here. Oh I forgot my other no-no ship: Dawn and Andrew. ANDREW? REALLY? first he is SOOOOOO gay (I don't care about AtS) and IMO I just don't - I can't. She is MILES above that twerp.

I'm really enjoying this convo btw!

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wow！ love this art！

Hi! Feel free to join new community 20 in 20!
http://females20in20.livejournal.com/

(Sorry if I repeat myself, ignore it then:)

Hi!
Dear member of http://females20in20.livejournal.com/,
feel free to sign up for the brave new round, round 10 - http://females20in20.livejournal.com/66201.html,
the round will last longer than usual round, it will finish around 10th January, but will last longer if needed.
This is an anniversary round for females20in20, that's why it's a free round, focused on Christmas and New Year's Resolutions.
Merry Christmas!

You made remember how much someone can do with such a small little square. Glorious!

ETA: And the bigger images...forget about it.......I fainted with the one of the 3 of them :D

Edited 2016-05-06 22:52 (UTC)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

My Corner of Buffyverse Fandom and Welcome To It

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message from Ray in Scotland

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from Ray (Kerkevik) in Scotland

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LOOK AT ALL THE PRETTY!!!