Songfic?

[popkin16]

How exactly do you write a songfic?

I have an idea for one I've tried writing a couple times, but I just have no idea what I'm doing. Does the actual fanfic part have to match the lyrics, or can the overall...er...plot of the fic match the song? I can't seem to explain it better than that. Oh well, I'll just write it and then hide it away. *shrug*

I never seem to be happy with my writing, so I'm too afraid to post anything. I'm a wuss, I guess. -.-

Comments

[tigersilver.livejournal.com]

Hey, I think I just wrote one, if by 'songfic' you mean fic inspired by a song. What a coincidence O-O. Plus, it's a little cookie for your kind self.
PS. Don't hide it - post it! I wanna read it, you know...

[popkin16]

What a coincidence! At this very moment I'm reading your songfic. XD It absolutely rocks, of course, and I'm pretty sure it's going to leave me wanting more of your writing.

So it's a songfic, then. Everytime I hear the song, I think of this pairing, so I thought I'd write about it. The fic isn't for PSoH, though I have written a one-shot for that (and am in the middle of two multi-chaptered fics). The problem is, I don't have a beta and I'm too insecure to post on LJ (especially when people who write very, very well - like you - want to read it. EEP).

Sorry for the whining, and for going on and on about it. -.-

[flakedice.livejournal.com]

I've never written on but I'm pretty sure you can do it however you want.

Oh and do post post something. No one's going to jump on you :D I'm sure there's nothing wrong with your writing :D

[popkin16]

Maybe I'll just post the songfic on FFN and see how it goes. *shrug*

LOL! Thank you. Ah, but you haven't read my writing! I think my problem isn't grammar so much as I worry whether I've got the characters as IC as possible. Which I never think I do.

And I'd be so embarassed if people who's writing skills I respected could barely read my work.

But we'll see - maybe I will post something.

[sexgodclari.livejournal.com]

this is a weird question. there is no one way to write a story any more than there is one way to paint a picture. you are using a poem (the musical element generally does not come into play in the writing) to tell a story. so tell the story to the best of your ability and utilize the poem, or its elements and themes, as you see fit.

worry about content first, then format. find out what you want to say and think about how that would be best expressed. trying to fit a nebulous idea within a preconceived framework is generally very difficult and does not work for most people. of course, there are exceptions. tchaikovsky liked it.

write first, worry later.

[popkin16]

Well, I did finish it :D I just wasn't sure if the actual fic part of it should match the lyrics. Like if the song says, "I want to dance all night with you" or something, does the fic part have to be about dancing all night? Or can it be about, say, someone wishing to spend all night with someone.

Gah, I'm not putting this very well.

But thank you so much for your advice, I really appreciate it. XD

[sexgodclari.livejournal.com]

again, that is entirely up to you. "does the fic part have to be about dancing all night? Or can it be about, say, someone wishing to spend all night with someone." ---why would the former have to be true? where are these preconceived standards coming from?

welcome to the community, by the way.

[popkin16]

They're not really preconceived standards, more the questions of an inexperienced writer. I've never written a songfic before, and haven't read all that many either. I wasn't sure if there was a certain format to follow or not.

Thanks! I'm really glad to be here. XD

[sexgodclari.livejournal.com]

it may be of help to you to not think of them as a particular kind of story so much as just, well, a story. give everything your best shot even if you have no idea what you're doing. you can learn a lot just by flailing around. that's not to say you can substitute for real research, but it's good to practice as much as possible.

as you can see by the stuff in the comm i write a lot, but not very well. i keep on nonetheless and have worked pretty hard at it.

if you have an aim name we can chat that way, if you like.

[popkin16]

You're absolutely right - practice is really helpful when it comes to improving your writing, and flailing around does have it's positive side. I suppose I was just worried about people wondering, "WTF is she doing?" while reading my stuff. I'm still sort of new at this :)

I think you write just fine, by the way! And I'd love to chat, but I only have yahoo and msn :( Would you happen to have either of those? And may I friend you on LJ?

[sexgodclari.livejournal.com]

i would not friend this journal as it is only for writing and contains no pertinent updates.

i am on yahoo messenger as masignormaunduttor.