
I regretfully must finally announce that Sunspots is on an extended, and perhaps permanent hiatus. I have included a link to an open letter to the fandom, and will keep the world informed as I myself journey through my writing, and try and make my way back to you... and poor, poor Clark.
I have been reading fanfiction for nigh on eight years, but, only four couples in four main fandoms (M/K, X-Files; H/D, Harry Potter; Clois, Superman; J/D, Stargate) so that's concentrated. My very early days of fanfiction (circa 1998/99) included Gargoyles and Ranma 1/2! HA HA!
After all these years and with many wide-ranging theories, ideas, and philosophies regarding fanfiction and the greater creative world I have finally taken up the keyboard. I'm sure I'll hate every story I write and I demand such perfection in an effort to avoid the norm that I fear my stories will be slow in coming.
I feel very strongly about introducing personal views on religion, politics, world events, or inventing family histories, moral dilemmas, nefarious other-worldly plots, new characters, or even dates. I tend to only go so far as what is suggested about a character (and that in itself can be a lot) and never too far beyond that. We are given a lot to work with in only the mythos of Superman and Gargoyles, and I elect to stay away from fantastic plot shifts. I explore the minds behind the actions and within the dilemmas of ordinary life, so while we are in a superhero's universe, I treat my characters like ordinary humans complete with bad mouths, interesting habits, and whiny Mondays.
Superman
I initially planned to write only within the Superman Returns universe (and did from 7/2007 to 2/2008) and started by thinking on what I hoped would one day be the Ultimate One-Shot Series, a series of unrelated one-shots celebrating the moments we live for in fiction (here, the Reveal Scene, or some other dramatic climax) without all the other plot complications that can ruin a well-written emotional moment. This project will probably never come to light.
I know nothing of the Smallville universe and have very limited knowledge of both the comic canon and the other Superman movies. Consider any obvious mistakes poetic license. I feel cross-overs are something to be handled gently and will probably never stray there. I shy away from Jason-centric fics, because while an important aspect of a story and character development I feel children have very little to say in love. So, Jason and his impact will be noted and explored, yet I fear I do not understand children well enough to write for them, or to have them figure largely in a stories meant to explore the minds and affairs of adults.
My ultimate SR story will be a multi-chaptered and regularly updated novel-length fic called, "Sunspots" that while long in coming will either be completed or removed. There is no worse feeling than liking a story and glancing up to realize it hasn't been updated in a year and a half and will probably never come to fruition. It is meant to explore and follow Lois and Clark after Superman Returns and into a intense and unpredictable period of solar activity which, among other things, leads to a complete exploration of everything that ever was and ever will be between Lois and Clark and Lois and Superman. I can tell you that I have no intention of stopping, in light of the reception this story has gotten.
To my knowledge my plot line is original and I maintain a very strict policy of not reading Superman fic while writing (which gets very boring, I'll admit). I say this because I am very aware of how original ideas creep their way into the back of your brain and what you end up considering fanon is really plagiarism. I would just like to note in case my work accidentally mirrors that of another writer, out there, somewhere (gestures to the Internet): I make every effort to maintain original ideas, moments, dialog, etc.
Leave reviews, you know as a community that they are always welcome. And I listen, I really do.
My fiction strives to be different, to avoid common clichés made within certain universes, and yet accepts well-known fanon. I am sensitive to the needs and wants of the readers, being a reader for so long, and hope to provide some genuine entertainment. PLEASE let me know if I have strayed into the wide mire of cliché.
Personal Journal, Story Community, Archived Chapters
LiveJournal: clioidae
lj Sunspots community: sunspots_ha
Old Chapter Two
Superman Movieverse Fanfiction Awards!