Question So I'm writing timeline-changing character-snaffling fanfiction...

I'm in progress of basically playing around and exercising my mad author skillz (disclaimer, not actually mad or skilled, questionably an author) on a piece of purely for my own fun (and unashamed self-insert Mary so sue me) fan-fiction. So the thing I'm curious about is

1. Would this be welcomed or disapproved of? I'm shamelessly borrowing characters that don't belong to me, and monkeying with the timeline (albeit, with attention to what's already there). I feel this may be received as naughty.

2. Would posting it on this site when it's done be a good thing or not? This is more an exercise and personal fun than anything else so I don't plan to go any further than here with it. Or should I bury it in concrete with wards carved into it and never mention it again?

Starting with #2 first:

If you just want to share it with "the locals", the story could be posted as its own thread on the "Fabrication Lab".

For somewhat more exposure to the world, WhatIF/Independent Fiction publication is an option. You'd need to contact Kristen for the upgraded access needed for that.

For small short stories (<1k words), the Micro-Scenes thread may be an option.


As far as borrowing characters goes (#1), just remember that the author might be one of the people providing feedback. It is fan fiction after all (Whateley fan fiction is unusual in that the canon characters are often in supporting roles, if any), and it's Kayda's own fault if she forgets her horse.

If you want to use author's characters, it would be polite just to ask first. I doubt if anyone would say no for a WhatIf, but courtesy is appreciated.

I'll have to do that when I'm at the stage of "it's written, now laugh at it and point" and I know which dramatis personae I'm going to be snaffling. (So far mostly Sara (quelle surprise), but cameos already by Carson and Paige and probably gonna be at least walk ins by all the Kimbas.)

Not sure what to do if the authors aren't around, though?

JulesMorrison wrote: Not sure what to do if the authors aren't around, though?

Basically? No pushing forward their character's character arc. (Jade becoming a Hare Krishna, Tennyo Eats Hell, etc.)

Can't push their arc, I'm in a new timeline triggered off by an event that didn't canonically happen. (Little miss author insert falls through a portal into Whateley.)

BTW, the story hook is, what if someone arrives at Whateley with an information bomb in their head, because they've read Whateley as fiction, and the wiki too?

Well, speaking as the only Canon Author for Team Kimba, I give you a provisional okay. Just keep it within the character parameters set by the original authors- no making Billie a vocal racist bigot, or Nikki a round-heeled bimbo who's gone out behind the track shed with every member of the football team, and you're golden

Bran's back on the website so if you post the story she'll likely see it. As a fellow Sara lover I can tell ye she's aweshome!

But, I have a bit more of an Envy ship in mind *Wink*.

Bek D Corbin wrote: Well, speaking as the only Canon Author for Team Kimba, I give you a provisional okay. Just keep it within the character parameters set by the original authors- no making Billie a vocal racist bigot, or Nikki a round-heeled bimbo who's gone out behind the track shed with every member of the football team, and you're golden

Thank you, and absolutely! Even though I'm only playing around, my inner critic is bugging me to detail-re-read everyone's stories just to try and get the nuances right.

Also the characters would get grumpy with me if I mis-portrayed them. I really don't want any of the Kimbas grumpy at me. Especially those two terrifying forces of nature. Eep!

JulesMorrison wrote:

Bek D Corbin wrote: Well, speaking as the only Canon Author for Team Kimba, I give you a provisional okay. Just keep it within the character parameters set by the original authors- no making Billie a vocal racist bigot, or Nikki a round-heeled bimbo who's gone out behind the track shed with every member of the football team, and you're golden

Thank you, and absolutely! Even though I'm only playing around, my inner critic is bugging me to detail-re-read everyone's stories just to try and get the nuances right.

That's less of a problem than most people would think. If I'm writing anything somewhat serious (It happens!) I prefer the characters to be as consistent with their past portrayals as circumstances allow.

And, I landed part 1, over here . Enjoy.

Ah! Interesting.

Betting she's dumped in 'cause some Alien Space Bat wants to mess with the Whateleyverse.

Or you just want a personal SI Slice of Life Fanfic.

Either or.

Maybe rename this thread, and/or move it to be the official discussion thread.

Malady wrote: Maybe rename this thread, and/or move it to be the official discussion thread.

I think "Can I do this thing here?" is okay here.

"I've done this thing, here on the forum. Feedback?" does need its own thread in Project Discussion

I thought the idea was folks would feedback in the post's own thread? But silence seems to be the order of the day for most posts there so okay, I'll go make a Project Discussion post...

And done.

Coming back to this post over a year later, I'm amused re-reading it. So much has happened, it really took off, heh. Also I am happy to have made friends through this, I got to be close with Branwen who is awesome.

Billie still isn't a racist. Nikki's heels may be rounding a little, but she remains Nikki.

Fun fun, to change a universe and meet all the interesting people in it.

For those curious, the whole thing so far is collected over at https://archiveofourown.org/series/2116215 and it's ongoing, currently comprising 286250 words and rising by another 2000-ish word serial part every week or so.

Big story is big.