![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
May Writing Meme: Days 14-15
May. 15th, 2011 08:36 pm14. Do you make literary or cultural references in your work? If so, what sources do you usually draw on? How do you decide whether to make (or keep, when editing) a particular reference?
Short of titles, I don't really draw much on references for the sake of references. Instead, I compile a set of references based very much on what I feel is right for the characters. I'll use works mentioned as important in canon, as a jumping off point. Or choose references based on what sort of fits within their knowledge and interests.
Akiyama, for example, tends to refer to neurology, psychology, common scams, and oddly enough, paranormal/occult phenomena (because he very strongly doesn't believe in them).
Rikku would go through, probably make references to half-a-dozen bits of Spiran pop-culture, geography, mixed in with some chemistry and mechanical goodies.
15. What repeated themes do you see running through your work?
Hmmm....women kissing and having sex?
Seriously, I can think of a few themes. I work a lot with the idea of people presenting one front or face, even to themselves, while being big huge bundles of feelings on the inside. And relatedly, people hurtling towards some important event knowing that they need to stop, and then either choosing to stop or fully abandoning themselves.
Resilience too. There's a thread of "Fuck you, I'm living," that goes through all my stories. People have minds, hearts, strength, etc, even if they're not powerful or really valued themselves.
Oh, and dancing. I have a disproportionately high amount of fics where characters dance, it seems.
( Every day is a writing day. )
Short of titles, I don't really draw much on references for the sake of references. Instead, I compile a set of references based very much on what I feel is right for the characters. I'll use works mentioned as important in canon, as a jumping off point. Or choose references based on what sort of fits within their knowledge and interests.
Akiyama, for example, tends to refer to neurology, psychology, common scams, and oddly enough, paranormal/occult phenomena (because he very strongly doesn't believe in them).
Rikku would go through, probably make references to half-a-dozen bits of Spiran pop-culture, geography, mixed in with some chemistry and mechanical goodies.
15. What repeated themes do you see running through your work?
Hmmm....women kissing and having sex?
Seriously, I can think of a few themes. I work a lot with the idea of people presenting one front or face, even to themselves, while being big huge bundles of feelings on the inside. And relatedly, people hurtling towards some important event knowing that they need to stop, and then either choosing to stop or fully abandoning themselves.
Resilience too. There's a thread of "Fuck you, I'm living," that goes through all my stories. People have minds, hearts, strength, etc, even if they're not powerful or really valued themselves.
Oh, and dancing. I have a disproportionately high amount of fics where characters dance, it seems.
( Every day is a writing day. )
