Hi guys,

I've been wishing for a thread like this since I first got here. We have the Self Pimpage thread, but I'd like this thread to be a bit different. Instead of just a place to link to your work, I'd like this to be a place for discussion and help with the actual writing.

On other forums I've been on for other shows, there was always a fanfic thread where, yes, you could post links to your work, but in addition you could:

-ask for editing help
-post ideas of things you'd like to see in fanfic (authors and non-authors alike)
-bounce ideas off each other
-critique each other's work (constructively of course)
-discuss and organize ficathons and challenges and that sort of thing

There's still not nearly enough Burn Notice fanfic out there, and the pickings are especially slim right now during hiatus, so anything to get people motivated and talking about fanfic would be great.

So I hope this can be useful to some people.

I'm going to post again in a minute to ask for ideas about the piece I'm trying to a hold on. And Sydney...maybe you want to ask about those ideas you mentioned to me this morning? And anyone else, please feel free to jump in. If you're not a writer or you're just not working on anything right now, how about linking to one of your favorite Burn Notice fics?

Okay, so there are two scenes in Signals and Codes that have just been nagging at me ever since the finale aired, but I just don't know how to go about attacking them. The scenes are the two scenes back to back at the end of the episode, first when Michael walks into the hanger to talk to Diego and he's so confident at first that he just KNOWS the Company is going to give him his job back based on that case they just solved. But Diego shoots him down and then the look on Michael's face is just so devastated. You can just see in his face that he is completely and utterly crushed. Then he goes back to the loft and Fi has dinner waiting for him, and he just ends up taking everything out on her with the whole "Why can't you be with me" speech. What I'd like to do is sort of expand those scenes with a) what Michael is thinking about before he gets to the hanger, what he's thinking about after talking to Diego on his way home, and then c) what Fi is thinking after leaving the loft.

Looking back on things, they seem like such pivotal scenes for the first half of the season. In the beginning of the season (Friends and Family, Question and Answer, End Run, Fearless Leader) Michael is learning what life without Management is going to be like. Then at the end of Fearless Leader he's so happy because he's gotten rid of Paxton and now he feels like he can really delve into getting "back in" (although of course Fi has other ideas). Then the case for Signals and Codes falls in his lap and it's just the perfect way to prove that he's not any kind of traitor. But when that falls through for him, what happens in the very next episode? Here comes Strickler. If the agency had been more interested in Michael after the Signals and Codes case, or even if Diego just hadn't been so hostile about it, I doubt that Michael would have gotten in that deep with Strickler...and of course we all know where that ends up come Long Way Back. So, I think those two scenes are really important to the arch of the season because it really marks Michael's lowest point of desperation, and I'd like to explore his feelings more in that moment and also Fi's reaction to his feelings.

My problem, in writing the fic however is...what does one do with the dialogue that's directly from the show? I've seen some people put in too many lines from the show and then get ragged on for basically just rewriting a scene straight out of the episode. But then, if the lines aren't there, then it might be hard for a reader to follow through a, b, and c as it hops over the scenes from the episode. Does that make any sense? It's kind of hard to explain. I have the two scenes transcribed and then I've been sort of writing around them, but I'm not sure if I should keep them in or cut them out of the final product, and I can't finish the actual fanfic parts without deciding, because if I cut the real scenes out then I need to add more explanations and exposition to the fanfic scenes. So I've just been going around and around with myself for weeks and it's a big mess...thoughts anyone?

In writing for any fic that you're taking a scene from an episode and say adding to it or what have you...the best thing is to get the high points of the scene. For example if you're adding a character to the ep and running aling with it and you put said character in the scene the best thing to do is tell it from their perspective and just put in the high points of the conversation and put in the characters thoughts as the conversation moves on. I hope I'm making sense. I hope that helps. If not let me know.

As in...put in one or two key lines, but not every single line of dialogue? That could work.

Exactly. Add what you want your character to say or what have you but yeah, put the key lines in and the scene is done.

That's a really good way to do it. That way you won't have to repeat the whole scene but you still get enough of the detail for it to flow nicely!

funny you mention Deigo for I have been watching several episodes over and over and noticed that initially Deigo stated that he did not want to help Michael find out any info re: Strickler, Michael literally shoved a piece of paper with stricklers name on it in his face requesting more info....Deigo's last words in the last episode was "do you know who you were dealing with" or (what kind of people you were dealing with?) then 'SPLAT' duh...THAT IS WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO FIND OUT! and maybe if Diego helped him in the first place he would still be alive...

I know this is not what you were intending for this thread but it seemed like an opportunity to throw that thought out there....

Well analyzing that kind of thing is always helpful to make sure what you're writing fits with the show. And who knows what ideas that kind of discussion will spark in someone somewhere, so...no problem! And I agree with you about Diego. I think there's a lot of room to explore his character in some kind of fic. I wish we'd seen more of him on the actual show.

Great idea for a thread, petunia! OK in regards to dialogue used from the show, I try to limit my dialogue to three lines or less, that's just my rule, that doesn't have to be your rule, that way you really, really have to do something different, you know? You can't just turn it into a rehash of the episode with a word thrown in here and there. I, frankly, have a very, very difficult time writing anything based on an episode, granted I think it is great for character development that you wanted to see but I find it kind of insulting to the original writer, like if they wanted it in there they would have written it that way originally. I had such a struggle writing "Campbell's Waiting" because of that reason, I thought I was being insulting to the original writer, Alfredo Barrios, JR. who wrote such an excellent episode all around, IMHO. I mean I get the need for them, but I'm just putting out there how I feel about them.

Yeah, I guess I don't have a problem with it because I know they don't have the luxury of expanding on things. They're constricted to what, 16 roughly 45 minute episodes. There's only so much they can fit in, so it doesn't bother me. I know they're all awesome writers and could do so much more if they had the time to show it, but alas... Plus, they should know, if it wasn't an excellent, inspiring show to begin with no one would care about writing fic for it. I watch A LOT of TV, but there are only a couple shows I've ever felt compelled to write for.

You working on anything right now?

I'm always working on something. I think, I have, what 3 fanfics going right now? That sounds right, three that are all in various stages of development.

I can't wait to read them

Hi all

I just wanted to let you know that the ideas offered up earlier by "me" were actually my daughter. She writes all the time and does tons of fanfics and I thought she would be helpful so I asked her to comment. If anyone has a question please feel free to ask it and I will send it her way like I did today.

bcmom

This is such a wonderful idea for a thread petunia846

I've started writing a fan fic. Here is a little preview of the first draft:

"I left her because you don't marry someone when you love somebody else," Michael said.

Fi remained still, leaning gently against the door frame to the balcony. Her eyes never leaving Michael’s as he spoke.

Michael reached his hand out to Fi and intertwined his fingers with hers. She smiled and closed her eyes briefly enjoying the moment and the feeling of Michael’s warm hand intertwined with her own.

Michael could tell that he had caught Fi off guard when she flinched slightly as he moved closer and gently brushed his lips against her closed eyelids.



Let me know what you think

Okay, let me see if I've got this right: You want to rewrite a scene that's already been done, yet with a slightly different take on it?

I do this some times in the fiction I write. I'll get "stuck", not knowing how to proceed. I'll picture the scene with all the characters (like a television scene), but I'll "walk" around the scene, maybe pick another character to focus on. Sometimes I'll pull back, describe the scene. That way I can perhaps spy something else, a little detail, to concentrate on and take the story to a different level.

My suggestion is to take a small part of the scene, use a tad bit of the dialog from it... but focus away from the scene as soon as possible. That way you aren't rewriting something we've all seen, but you're kicking off from something familiar.

No, actually. I don't want to rewrite the scenes, I want to write what happened immediately before and after them. I just don't know if that will make sense without the actual scenes as well.

Before and after? Hmm... I can see doing one or the other, but both might be pushing it a bit.

Thus the issue.

Hey Petunia,

Are you thinking back stories. I started writing one and was wondering if this is a consideration...

What I mean...

How Michael and FI met.

Sam's and Michael's first job

Michael leaving home.

Maddie's decisions (marrying frank, early life...)

Is that what you are thinking about?????

MsSully

Well, if you quote the scene chapter and verse, then you'll need to include a lot of "thinking" in your writing. That is, include heavily what the characters are thinking to maybe explain why they are acting/reacting the way they do.

Is that more what you're looking for? Otherwise, I'm not sure what the point of the fan fic is.

Meh. Nevermind about my story. It'll either come or it won't. I'll figure it out.

Great ideas MsSully. I'd love to see stories for all of those.


Here are a couple of my favorite Burn Notice fics.

This one just came out recently on LJ: Thanksgiving
And this is like my favorite of all time, but it's not finished (Which is tragic! If you're reading, A.B. Allaway, please keep going!): Michael and Fiona Fall In Love

Thanks for posting the last fan fic - Michael & Fiona Fall In Love - I had never read it before! It's sooo amazing

Thanks Pet.

Like the last story...little romantic novely...but I love reading ideas for backstories.

I'd love to see someone have a go at writing a fan fic for their prediction of what will happen between Michael and Fi in season 3, in relation to these two spoilers:

OH I know! Before the kiss they go to a karaoke bar!

I loved the story you wrote about that!!! I just loved it!

MsSully

Hee! That was a fun story.

I love that fic you wrote It was the cutest!

Here's a new Hot Spot fic on FF.

Fanfic is driving me crazy right now. There are three completely different stories I had an idea for, but getting any of them down on paper has been like pulling teeth.

Hey Petunia,

Lovin' the FanFic! Thanks for info on the links and stories...great stuff and sites.

MsSully

Great idea for a thread! I saw it and immediately had to click. I personally have some of my stuff on fanfiction.net (see my sig for the link) and I always love reading FiRocks's stories.

About Michael and Fiona Fall in Love, I too am so sad it's just stopped in the middle. I was really enjoying myself. And I also agree that there is a lack of BN fanfic. I mean, Psych has like 20 times the number of fics on FF alone, that's not to mention the entire site devoted to it. But I think what we do have is very good, quality over quantity.

When I get stuck on what I'm working on, which is currently more things than I can count, I will be coming here and asking for advice from all of you wonderful people. Maybe you guys will end up alleviating the issues I keep having with writer's block.

Anyway, I'm very excited about this thread, even if I can't take full advantage of it right now because reviews have sucked me into finishing my new NCIS fic quickly before I go back to puttering along at the things I want to accomplish for Burn Notice.

Hi PineappleYogurt! Hurry up with that other fic and then come back to us. I love talking about writing and the process and details and stuff. Thanks for popping in! :)

Hi, guys. I was really happy to see this thread. I wasn't sure whether fanfiction was supposed to be our little "dirty secret" or not. I think it's NBC's web site that won't let you even mention fanfiction. LOL I've really enjoyed learning (to some extent, anyway) how to write and I think fanfiction is a great way to start. It's been very educational for me, like how do you turn a first draft into a second draft or does this sound like this character or what makes a story, anyway.
I've got a story just finished but November is a hard month for me, because of nanowritmo (the thing where you write a 50,000 word first draft of a novel - in a month!). So I'll probably wait til December to post. I wanna get it up before the show starts again in January because Matt Nix may do something that will make the story not make sense anymore. LOL.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and how much I've enjoyed reading this thread. (AND the spoiler thread (311) - ohhhhh my gosh.) Keep up the good writing. As soon as I get my story totally done, I can go back and read all the fanfiction I've missed.

Oooh...

*bows to you*

LillyHobbs! Author of another one of my most favoritest BN fics ever! I can't wait to read what you're working on. I know what you mean about hurrying to get things done before the show starts back up again. Fortunately or unfortunately we still have a couple months. With all of the holidays and stuff though, things get crazy and this time of year just flies by. Best of luck! Come back soon. :)

Double posting (sorry) to point you in the direction of the first thing that has come out of the pipeline...

There is now a second chapter to my first Burn Notice fic, so creatively titled, Continuation of Long Way Back. ;)

I wasn't planning to continue the story any more when I wrote the first chapter, but after rewatching the first part of the season one weekend, I went a read the story again and then some more of it just magically appeared on my computer screen. I love when it's easy like that. The stories that come easily are nice little morsels of instant gratification to hold you over while you fight with the stories that don't come easily.

Really wonderful writing. I am such in awe of people who can write creatively. Sadly, it is not in my skill set --I am an attorney by profession and we tend to write to persuade, not entertain. Reading fanfic is a wonderful way to escape for me - thanks for your work and keep on writing!

Hi everyone! OK I was wondering if there was a fic out there that dealt with their scars and the stories behind them. Kind of like an extension of the scene from "Broken Rules", you know? I had an idea but I wanted to make sure that I'm not stealing someone else's before I start working on it. Thanks for any information!

I can't think of anything Fi. The first thing that came to mind after reading your post was Those First Five Times, but I went back and reread it and it has nothing to do with what you're thinking. I would love to see you write that though. I've actually suggested that as an idea to friends who were looking for fanfic prompts, but no one ever ran with it. I say, go for it!

Oh that would be so cool! I'd love to see you write that