Pondering about my fic, "Influence of Demons".

It's rather dark. I kinda knew it'd be dark when I came up with the concept, but I hadn't realized how dark it would get. And I don't think it's dark as in "angsty" cause it's not really. It's just bleak and disturbing and quite twisted. I feel very odd for writing something like it.

But I set myself up for a challenge inadvertently with it. When I'd written the first chapter, I'd intended the entire fic to be from Spike's POV. He is the dominant character (Which is very different, as I'm used to a more dominant Buffy). However, as I let the first chapter sit and I read and reread it, I was annoyed by how much Buffy seemed like just a prop. Spike's character is so inwardly-focused and so isolated that telling the story from his POV sheds very little light on what's going on with Buffy. And I definitely didn't want her to be a prop.

So I decided to alternate POVs by chapter. The next chapter was from Buffy's viewpoint, which was fabulous. Suddenly, I had Buffy. Of course, Buffy's going through her issues. Like Spike, she's fairly self-centered at the moment. So Spike ends up being little more than a sketchy watercolor of a character from Buffy's viewpoint.



I like this. Oh, I like this a lot. I like how unreliable Spike is as a viewpoint character. He thinks he's in control of himself and of Buffy. However, we see from Buffy's point of view that he's erratic and talks to himself. She sees him as insane.

Buffy's character, especially, has been difficult for me. I love Buffy when she's being strong. So far, she's practically been playing the victim. The only, only way I would ever do that to Buffy is in an extreme situation such as this. Having lost her Slayer powers, trapped for years in a demon dimension. She's withdrawn from herself. So her journey for the fic is to get back to being "Buffy" for her return home.

Where they are is the starting point. It's the lowest of the low for them. Influence is kinda my exploration of the darker side of the show, of the characters, and of people. Originally, it didn't have much of a plot. However, as I worked the concept out, a plot developed from it so by the time I started actually writing, I had a pretty intricate story. Unfortunately, with a lot of OCs and backstory, which I'm always afraid of putting in fanfics. Backstory, especially, can be difficult to stick in there. Knowing how to introduce information, when to do so, keeping from doing exposition dumps. There's, obviously, more backstory that needs to be revealed at some point, but the story hasn't asked for it, yet.

Yeah, I do what the story tells me to. Although, unlike Lingering, I do know how the ending for this will turn out. For fics with a heavy plot, I try to make sure I have a way for the characters to get through the final conflict, otherwise I'd have to leave it unfinished or call upon a deus ex machina. Neither a good option. So, yes, the ending is planned for.

Okay, I guess I should stop talking about writing fics and actually work on some writing. Actually, I'm gonna switch gears and work on the next chapter of Murphy. Cause I'm just spontaneous like that. :)

Austin was fantastic. Abe was wonderful. I had a great time. :)