On headcanons

[lightofdaye]

So I've been meaning to write one of those likes/dislikes, headcanony posts. So my SC recipient or any one else writing for me has a better idea of what I like. And I can't write a blessed thing.


I'd like to say. Oh I'll read anything. Which is blatantly not true. Or that'll read anything that the author believes in and so forth. Which may be true but doesn't really a potential author that much.

On the other hand it feels like there's a kernel to truth to it. I could list all my head cannons from the general (James Sirius = cocky to hide insecurities) to the ridiculously specific (Fred II = accident, George/Angelina had a shotgun marriage) but surely an author's going to be better off going with their head canon/style rather than trying to cram mine into their writing. Especially the more precise stuff.

Then again, an exchange is supposed to be writing things tailed the recipient, but as a writer I'd always rather be handed a rough concept or idea than some thing specific, that would feel like I was just filling in the blanks of their outline.

What do you think F-list? Do you prefer specifics or generalisations? How much of someone's head canon would you want to know when writing for them? How much would you change yours when writing a gift?

Comments

[torino10154]

I think when writing a gift for someone else you have to be very careful of your own head canon. The person's request might be for something that really doesn't fit how you see things.

Now specific requests are OK, especially in extensive signups like Smutty has. There are lots of places to fill in all the different things you like. I like jumping off points, bits of ideas, not full developed fic outlines.

So IDK look at what you asked for and just add any extra details you might not have wanted to take the time to put in the signup or had forgotten to mention. "Oh, I also really like XYZ."

Basically I try my best to hit their request but as you know, I'm limited by my skills. I'd probably try not to completely upend someone's head canon but if it just didn't work for me, I'd avoid mentioning it at all.

[lightofdaye]

Definitely a balance to be struck there between how you write and the needs of the giftee.

[tamlane.livejournal.com]

It couldn't hurt to do a likes/dislikes/headcanon post. It's not part of your sign-up, so I don't see why the author would feel compelled to follow it laboriously, you know? I'm sorry, I have no other helpful thoughts on exchange fests. :\

[lightofdaye]

No worries. That's good advice I may still do a post like that to lay down somethings in greater detail.

[nearlyconscious.livejournal.com]

I would love to know loads, tbh. Even if I don't use everything.

[lightofdaye]

XD More food for thought eh?

[nearlyconscious.livejournal.com]

Yep. I think the person making the gift shouldn't feel compelled to follow everything, but it's nice to have more info. You can classify by order of how much you love the headcanons.

[nutmeg-44.livejournal.com]

I think I like a combination of both. When I give prompts I try to be general - the pairings I like, the genres/features I like (humour, wit/banter, no character death, trio-bashing etc.), kinks/squicks if necessary - but generally not a lot of specific details. Those are just the basic things I look for in all stories.

For the particular story I'll give a few random things like feather boa, barrel of pineapples or someone ends up naked in public or something like that. I usually want to see what the writer will give me, not so much saddle them them with too many specifics. If I get too specific, I might as well write it myself.

[lightofdaye]

:) That's a very good approach.

[nutmeg-44.livejournal.com]

Why, thank you! :D

This approach makes it easy for me to give prompts as well, because it can be any arbitrary thing - mirrors, a car back-firing, a lost pet - that will spark the most interesting stories. I also love prompts that are famous quotes. My faves are Oscar Wilde, May West and Marilyn Monroe.