'He's no fun when he's medicated.' 'Well, that depends on your definition of "fun" ...' by Kara
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 at 8:45 AM

Why does Fangirl always have to get naked to do anything? Because I need money to pay this month's bills I know what the fans like. I dunno. One overarching opinion for pretty much any character is that Fangirl is overdramatic and an attention whore. Besides which, it's still Mimi's story. It's a wonder everyone isn't naked right now.

I'm having some writer's block. Fortunately, I'm ahead on things, so I actually have time to sit and think. This isn't an easy story to write. Generally for any given story, I can tell it from just one point of view (an objective observer). This is as much an exercise in characterisation for me as it is a lesson in these people's weird thought processes for the readers.

Actually, a big part of this comes from assumptions from readers (like or unlike you - take your pick). I get asked at cons, by e-mail, in person, by complete strangers, etc. to let them write for me. Be it one story or extended work. And there are more than you can conceive of who ask - more people ask than I thought I had readers at all. Which, were this still a gag-a-day comic like it was for the first ... erm ... month and a half ... I'd be all over 'em.

Truth being, though, when you work with characters for five years (yep, five-year anniversary is this Saturday - celebrate accordingly), they get to be people, whether you like it or not. And part of the reason I'm doing this particular story - besides the fact that I think multiple-POV stories are frickin' hilarious - is to make myself actually work my brain a little more. But also, it's to show people that there's really no way I could take eighty-seven would-be co-writers and pick the one who'd 'get it right.' I worked with one when there was no characterisation (he helped me figure them out a bit, actually), and two since then who've pretty well bowed to any comments I've made concerning whether the character(s) would do such a thing, or if I just plain didn't like it. I don't even know how many people would be willing to let me red-pen their scripts that way. Because I'm mean.

And now you know why this part of the comic page is called a rant - I planned to shut up long ago. If you have been, tuck it back in.