Dear Readers,

Welcome to the Lois & Clark The New Adventure of Superman Writer's Showcase. At the bottom of this web site you will findlinks to past featured writers. Just click on the any writer's name you might have missed or want to read again and you will be taken to their interview.

This week's Featured Writer is of the unusual kind. ;) She's one of our more imaginative writers since she managed to write four stories before she ever saw her first episode. I think I will let her tell you the rest ...

Now, in keeping with Annie's famous words, without further ado I am proud and honored to present this week's Writer in the Writer's Showcase ...

Annette, Labrat, Kaethel, Avia

Personal Information

Author name
Hazel

E-mail addresses
IHazel@yahoo.com

Residence
Jerusalem, Israel

List, AOL, or web affiliations
Loiscla fanfic list, Zoomway's fanfic message boards

Lois and Clark or Superman Status

How long have you been watching L&C?
I saw my first episode of LnC in October 2000 - two years after I became a FoLC and over a year after I started writing fanfic. Yes, I am that bizarre incarnation a FoLC converted to LnC without ever having seen an episode. All credit, or blame if you prefer, goes to the marvelous fanfic authors who drew me into a world I'd never seen and moved me to try and shape it on my own. I've seen five episodes total now, and I doubt the opportunity will arise to see any others; but it doesn't matter, because the world of fanfic is so much deeper and richer than the episodes themselves! When I did finally get to see my first episode - it was "Don't Tug on Superman's Cape" - Kathy Brown asked if I thought it would affect how I wrote Lois and Clark. After much consideration, I decided that it would not. After reading hundreds of rewrites and episode adaptations, watching the actual show felt like reading another fanfic - and not necessarily as good as many of the fanfics on the archive! The only difference was that the episodes were unquestionably canon. <g>

How long have you been a fan of Superman?
The character has fascinated me for decades. I'm not sure when I first discovered Superman; growing up in America causes a person to absorb a great deal through osmosis. <g> I admired his integrity in the good old days, when "Big Blue Boy Scout" was actually a compliment. I did have the opportunity to watch the first two Superman movies on television, and if I ever saw a Superman comic book at a friend's house, I'd pick it up and read it; but other than a certain fondness for blue eyes and black hair, it never went any further than that.

Then, in search of fanfic to read - *any* fanfic - I accidentally stumbled on Margaret Brignell's webpage. I read several of her stories without realizing that they were based on the LnC universe. It wasn't until I'd followed her link to Debby Stark's FTP page and read Dawning 10 that I suddenly realized that no, it wasn't a typo Clark had *brown* eyes. Brown? Hey, what happened to blue? This isn't the Superman I thought I knew... One link led to another, until it culminated in two weeks of bliss as I downloaded every single fic on the archive and read them through. To this day, I have read so many rewrites of the "argh arc" that I'm still not entirely sure what actually happened on the show. Some people might say that's a good thing. <g>

How long have you been writing?
I composed my first poem when I was seven and haven't stopped writing since. Some people doodled in class; I wrote rhymes and many of my friends' English essays. Today, I am a professional writer under at least four different pseudonyms (none of which is Hazel <g>). Because my writing time at the computer *should* be bringing in the groceries, LnC fanfic is a hobby that I can only indulge guiltily. At least it has less calories than chocolate!

How long have you been writing L&C fanfic?
When I made my first tentative forays into fanfic in the summer of 1999, I was afraid to write about Lois and Clark; I didn't think I knew them well enough to create them on paper (or screen, as the case may be). My first two stories were about Lara and Jor-El, characters that were featured only briefly in the episodes; with such a blank slate for my use, I felt I was treading on safe ground. My next fanfic was about Clark, but I deliberately kept all other major characters in the background. When that brief incursion proved successful, I was finally willing to take the plunge and write a full-fledged fanfic about both Lois and Clark.

What types of Fanfic have you written?
I've written a few short pieces, but my longer fics have both been episode rewrites. Specifically, rewrites of "Tempus, Anyone?" The challenge will be to see if I can write about a different subject matter in the future - although if I ever do get a chance to see the actual episode, I just might be tempted to rewrite it a third time. <g>

Most recent story posted? Where?
"Superman Pie," a filk that was performed at LAFF 2000 and which can be found at the fanfic archive.

Favorite story you have written? Why?
It's a toss-up between my two "Tempus, Anyone?" rewrites "The Mirror Crack'd" and "A Certain Point of View." Both were technically writing exercises - my excuse for "wasting" time at fanfic <g>. With "Mirror," I stuck strictly to Lois' POV and tweaked the story along the way by omitting H.G. Wells, my least favorite LnC character. The writing was a lot of fun and I'd like to think that the result was entertaining.

CPOV, on the other hand, was much more challenging. Not only did I restrict myself to writing from first person POV, but I also chose to make my narrator a character that most FoLCs dislike intensely. In the end, though, I took great satisfaction in seeing that the character, despite remaining true to her characterization on the show, became human, understandable, and even sympathetic.

I suppose it depends on how you define "favorite." "Mirror" was the most fun to write, and the easiest to go back and reread; but I'm proudest of CPOV, because it makes the reader *think*, and maybe even change a long-held perception.

Current project/projects?
One of my first forays into fanfic was a two-part thirty-minute challenge that I'd like to resurrect and expand into a full-fledged story. Other than that, I would love to take our perception of H.G. Wells and his vision of Utopia and twist that just a little. It would be unfair, though, to label either of these projects as "current." It might be better to say "hopefully sometime within the next year or so." <g>

Personal picks of other Fanfics you have read?
There are too many to list, and I hesitate to name authors at the risk of inadvertently leaving out some of the best. Many of the Kerth nominees over the years have been on my personal favorites list, though, so it might be best to simply point a new reader in that direction.

General Interview Questions

What attracted you to writing Fanfic and what about it do you enjoy?
I wrote my first fanfic when I was ten, a "novel" (about twenty loose-leaf pages long, including illustrations <g>) about the Hardy Boys. Of course, I didn't know the term "fanfic" at the time; it was simply taking a world that someone else had created and borrowing their playground for a while. I once read an excellent analogy while creating your own universe is akin to trying to stay afloat in the middle of the ocean, writing in an established world is as comfortable as swimming in a heated pool in your own backyard. LnC is one of the few genres that has inspired me to actively participate, and I don't think all the credit goes entirely to the show. A large part of my enjoyment in writing fanfic is the chance to be part of FoLCdom itself, one of the friendliest fandoms you'll ever find.

What about the L&C and the characters do you like the most?
Lois and Clark are real people with problems (and hat hair <g>), yet they can serve as an inspiration. I always liked Superman because he took the moral high ground, and even in a '90s show, LnC continued to show Superman doing the right thing even when it wasn't the easy thing.

How do you feel about being nominated for your first Kerth Award?
One of my more amusing contributions to FoLCdom has been the acronym FDK for "feedback." The premise is that feedback about a story is like a drug, giving the author a high that is so addictive it inspires a need to write more fanfic in order to get more FDK. Now, take that feeling, and multiply it by a thousand or so... That should just about cover it.

What story of yours was nominated for a Kerth Award and could you tell about it?
"The Mirror Crack'd," which retold the story of "Tempus, Anyone?" without H.G. Wells along for the ride. The guy is only a plot exposition vehicle, so it was fun to get rid of him. <g>

Have you ever been nominated for the Kerth Award before? If so, please name the fanfic and tell something about it.
1999 was my first year as an author, so I wasn't eligible before that. "Mirror" was nominated in two different categories (two more than I expected), and I was also nominated for New Author. Not winning didn't matter in the slightest; it was so overwhelming to be nominated that I kept Genevieve's site with my name on it bookmarked for months!

What are you working on now and where do you see it going?
I am not actually working on anything now, although my vaguely proposed story ideas have been granted permission to ferment in the back of my mind. You never know what might pop up unexpectedly.

What is your opinion about the following types of L&C fanfic's?
Action?
Unless the story is a short vignette, I think action is necessary. I wouldn't like an A-plot without the B-plot to heighten its impact and carry the story beyond a mere villain bash fest, but a B-plot without any action to give impetus can be, to my mind, rather boring.

Drama?
I adore drama and suspense. I am less enamored of angst for its own sake. <g> Stories that involve endless recriminations and anguish simply because Lois and Clark never have an honest five-minute conversation can be incredibly frustrating.

Humor?
I think humor is an essential part to writing. Comedy itself is subjective, but even a serious fic should have some light-hearted moments. A good example of this is Carol Malo's "Connections," which includes a brief glimpse of Jason Trask explaining the finer points of wrestling to the Elders of New Krypton; or LabRat's "Caped Fear," an incredibly intense drama that still managed to include that classic quote, "Superman was stuck in an elevator?"

Round Robin?
RRs are marvelous for comedy, but I don't think I've ever read a serious round robin that I really liked. When I do read round robins, the best part is trying to recognize and identify the different authors by their writing styles.

Nfic?
My religious principles preclude reading nfic. Please don't sympathize with me; I'm quite happy this way.

Has *everything* been done in your opinion, and if not, what is left?
What's left? Try everything! <g> The stories will continue to write themselves, changing and evolving even as our perceptions of Lois and Clark's story does. I find it interesting that there tend to be "trends" in writing - for example, many authors last year chose to write a revelation with a calm Lois instead of a furious one. Nevertheless, two authors can start writing from the exact same outline and produce two completely different stories. Lois and Clark fanfic is still going strong. I am constantly looking forward to the next fabulous new author to appear, as well as anticipating great new stories from well- loved regulars in FoLCdom.

What do you think makes the best story?
Good writing technique is crucial. A beta reader and spell-checker are indispensable. If those elements are present in a story, I'm willing to try just about anything, and will probably like it.

Would you like to add a link or URL to your favorite fanfic for the readers to sample your writing?
Works in progress and various silly vignettes are on Zoomway's message boards, at http//www.zoomway.com/boards. The superb index to the boards is located at http//www.geocities.com/Area51/Meteor/7378/lnc.html.

Where is the best place for a reader to locate your work?
http//www.lcfanfic.com/authorh.htm#hazel

Open Forum For Author Comments
I started writing fanfic in a small attempt to thank other authors for the hours of pleasure they've given me; but I never would have gotten beyond my silly crossover if I hadn't received the warm encouragement of my fellow FoLCs. We all begin as new authors at one point or another; I thank those that were there before me who helped me along the way, and I hope I'll be there to help the newcomers who continue to keep FoLCdom alive and thriving.