Just Playing Smart A Style Guide for West Wing Fan Writers
"I know women who can blow the walls off brick buildings. This reads like it was written by a girl."
-- Sam Seaborn, "The Fall's Gonna Kill You"
"We can all be better teachers."
-- C.J. Cregg, "Take Out The Trash Day"
You watch The West Wing. You write. And wouldn't you love to see that woman get together with that man? Wouldn't you love to find out what happened when we faded to black on that scene?
Welcome to the world of fan fiction.
Like television, or literature, or films, the vast majority of what's produced is mediocre. If you really love the show, or you really love writing, and you want to do justice to yourself and the characters, you've got to do better than that. The worst thing you can do in the world is assume you have nothing to learn, because we all do. And we can all learn from each other. What follows are some of the lessons I've picked up along the way, and some of the best places to find out more. I offer this advice -- no judgments on anyone -- in hopes that it will help someone out there make a mediocre story into an excellent story. We can all be better writers.
Loosely defined, fan fiction is any writing that contains the characters of an existing work by someone who's not you. Technically, it's a violation of copyright, unless it's a parody, but historically (and by historically, I mean over the last twenty-five or thirty years, though fanfic predates that) the creators of television series and films have chosen to ignore it rather than legislate against it. The advent of the Internet has led to the widespread circulation of fan fiction, particularly via mailing lists. There's some terminology it helps to know.
A. Shipper: short for "relationship supporter." It means an author who supports a romantic relationship between a particular pair of characters (I've also heard "rooter" used in the same context), or a story that focuses on romance.
B. Gen/Het/Slash: categories of fan fiction, used in a wide variety of fandoms. "Gen" is short for "General" and refers to any and all stories that aren't centered on sexual or romantic relationships. "Het" refers to a story centered on a heterosexual relationship, though it's a less common term than the other two. "Slash" refers to a story centered on a same-sex pairing. It originates from Star Trek stories featuring the Kirk/Spock relationship, but applies to female/female as well as male/male pairings. Slash is hard to do well. It's the redheaded stepchild of fan fiction, and is banned from certain lists. Check for clearance before you post.
C. Erotica: Stories focused primarily on sexual content, equivalent to a high R or NC-17 rating. Also referred to as smut, but smut can just be a component of a larger whole.
D. Canon: the things we officially know from the show about characters and events and situations. Anything that's happened or been said on the show is canonical (even the stuff that contradicts the other stuff, like the shooting that apparently took place in both May and August, or Leo being Boston Irish from Chicago). Opinions differ, but generally comments outside the show by the writers and actors are considered helpful information, but are not definitive canon (because they can always change their minds until it's on tape). You're not absolutely bound by canon, but it's generally wisest not to ditch it too much without a good reason.
E. Alternate Universe: a story that knowingly contradicts the show's canon (one that kills off a major character, for example) in such a way that it cannot be compatible with what we've seen on the air.
F. Fandom: this seems obvious, but what the hell. It's a collective term for fans and fan writers for a given show, e.g. "I write in several fandoms, including The West Wing."
G. Spoilers: statements, quotations, references, or anything that will give away the plot content of an unreleased movie or unaired episode of a TV show. Basically, it's any information about an upcoming episode beyond what you can read in TV Guide. See the Netiquette section for "spoiler space" and how to use it.
H. Post-ep: another obvious one. A post-ep story takes place immediately after the events of an episode, or may even be a missing scene from the episode. They virtually always contain spoilers.
I. Songfic: a story framed by the lyrics of a song. These can be powerful, or (frequently) they can be very cheesy. Therefore, they should be done rarely, or in original ways, if at all.
J. Evil fic:
1. A story in which all kinds of unnecessary angst and misery are inflicted on a character (if you kill Sam's parents, wreck his car, and have someone rob his house, all in one story, chances are you're writing an evil story).
2. A story which is intentionally ridiculous, bizarre, and surreal (if you have little blue aliens visit Sam and work mind control over him, chances are you're writing an evil story). I've also heard this called "badfic."
Yes, there are right and wrong ways to behave on fan fiction mailing lists. These aren't hard and fast rules, but a set of general guidelines, so we can all get along.
A. There are lists for fanfic and there are lists for discussion. If you've got a question or comment about the show (and you can't find it yourself -- research links are in the final section of this guide), there are appropriate forums on Usenet and on the web for posting that. Limit yourself to on-topic discussion, and if you wander off, take it to private email.
B. If you've got a specific question for a story, and you've done a little research on your own without much help, please don't cross-post it to every list you belong to; you don't need answers from fifteen different people. Start by posting it to one list, and then spread out if you haven't received a timely reply.
C. Spoiler space is a touchy issue, and one for which there's no absolute standard, but the general rule is, if you're talking about an episode of a television show, use at least a full screen of empty space before stating any spoilers -- until the day after the episode has aired coast-to-coast on the continental United States. After that, it's fair game (I know this is hard on international readers, but we're talking about American television and so that's the standard). If you're replying to spoilers, be very, very certain that your message reveals no information before removing spoiler space. It's also a good idea to tag your message by putting "Spoilers!" in the subject line. Remember that many of us just don't want to know.
D. Warnings. Generally, it's considered good form to provide a warning if your story has explicit language or graphic sexual or violent content. Even putting an R-rating on your story will often suffice. Make sure the list you're posting to is up for this kind of content before you do it, though. Some people like warnings on stories that are particularly tear-jerking or funny, but this isn't essential.
E. Archiving. If you're willing to have your story archived on someone's, mention that when you post it (most lists have an archive associated with them; check the list pages on Yahoogroups). If you're not, mention that too, or request that archives ask permission. If you're someone who archives stories, don't put anyone's stuff up without asking; that's just bad form. Links to archives can be found in the final section of this guide.
F. Signature files. If yours is more than, say, ten lines long, it's too long. Your message doesn't need to go on for days. Show some restraint.
G. Feedback:
1. It's bad netiquette to beg for feedback. There's nothing wrong with saying "please send feedback" or "feedback would be appreciated" or "feedback makes the world go around." However, posting something like "send me feedback or I won't write anymore and I'll jump off the roof" is generally not cool. We all love to get feedback, but if that's the only reason you're writing, then you shouldn't be writing at all.
2. Like I said, we all love to get feedback. In part, at least, you get as good as you give. Take the time to feedback other authors. If you especially like a story, or even a scene, say so. Encourage good writers (please, don't encourage bad ones). People who've gotten feedback from you are more likely to pay attention when you write.
So you're writing a story, and I'm assuming you're hoping that people will read it, enjoy it, and send you feedback. Before you even start to worry about plot, accuracy, character, and so on, there are simple things you can do in everything you write to make your work more polished and readable.
A. Spell-check. Spell-check. Spell-check. You're writing this on a computer, or at least typing a finished draft, right? Virtually every word-processor and e-mail program these days contains an automatic spell-checker, and they don't catch everything, but it's a good start. Please, please, please spell-check. It can't be said enough, and it goes so far. Specific tips follow at the end of this section.
B. Once you've checked your spelling, check your grammar. I can't tell you how many times I've stopped reading a story because I couldn't take the number of errors I've run across. It's not your strong suit? Give your story to a friend; give it to your mom; ask someone on the lists to beta-read for you and you'll find people are more than willing to help. Don't assume you don't need it. Specific tips follow at the end of this section.
C. Tag the beginning of your story with at least a title, a summary, your name/e-mail, and a disclaimer stating that the characters aren't yours. Feel free to add thanks and notes and comments, but remember that the longer your opening tags get, the less likely people are to read down to your story. Also remember that they're the first thing readers see, so try and spell/format them properly.
D. When you send a story out on a mailing list, always-always-always leave a blank line between paragraphs. White space helps make your story legible on a computer screen. And start a new paragraph every time you have a new character speaking. Every single time. Without exception.
E. Don't try using italics, bold, underlines, or other fancy formatting on the mailing list; they don't come through properly in all e-mail programs. Use *asterisks* and _underlines_ instead to indicate italicized text.
F. West Wing characters' names, according to closed captioning, are spelled as follows:
Josiah "Jed" Bartlet/Abbey Bartlet
John Hoynes (Not Haynes.)
Leo McGarry (It's not really Leopold, that was a joke.)
Josh Lyman
Toby Ziegler (Not Zeigler. Ziegler. Ziegler.)
C.J. Cregg (The periods would seem to be optional.)
Sam Seaborn
Donna Moss
Charlie Young
Ainsley Hayes
Oh, also? It's spelled POTOMAC. God. Potomac.
If you aren't sure about a character's name, position, family, background, or anything else, all the canonical information can be found at Susannah's lovely site, Jedbartlet.com.
G. General spelling and grammar notes. Most of you probably already know these things, but a little refresher can't hurt:
Your: Belonging to you. You're: "You are."
Were: past-tense verb, as in, "We were going." We're: "We are."
Its: Belonging to it. It's: "It is."
There: A location, as in, "over there." Their: Belonging to them. They're: "They are."
Plurals never take apostrophes.
"Would have" or "would've" is okay. "Would of" is not.
Then: Indicates time, as in, "I walked to the store and then left." Than: Comparative, as in: "I like walking better than driving."
Breath: A noun. "Josh took a deep breath." Breathe: A verb. "Josh stopped to breathe."
Lose: To misplace, as in, "I'm losing my mind." Loose: Not tight, as in, "I've got a screw loose."
"All right" is two words. So is "a lot."
Ellipses (...) have three periods; don't overdo them. Please watch your commas and semicolons. Please remember quotation marks around your dialogue. Punctuation is your friend; use it wisely.
Once more with feeling: Run a spell check! If you need more help, check out http://www.grammarnow.com or ask someone on the lists to help you. There are more resources in the final section of this guide.
Fan-fiction writers have to contend with a sort of double-edged sword. On the one hand, you're spared the problem of acquainting your readers with the characters. On the other, you have to keep those characters, and the other aspects of your stories, at least somewhat consistent with the existing show. Otherwise, your stories will be sub-par and readers will lose interest quickly. Here are a handful of ideas on how to get that done.
A. Try to keep everyone behaving as they would on the show. It'd be sweet to have Toby drop to his knees and declare his undying love for C.J. (or whoever) -- but is it really something he would do? Would Leo cry in public? Would Abbey let someone get away with verbally abusing her? The answer is no. Of course everyone sees the characters differently, but there are certain things we can just rule out. And as much fun as you might think it would be, it isn't true to the show, so write an original story or let the people be who they are. Remember, there's no shame in asking for help in doing this.
B. In general -- and I should stress that there are exceptions -- it's not a good idea to focus your story on an original character. If you're writing fan fiction, your story should concentrate on the existing characters, and original characters should be used to supplement that. If you're more interested in your own creation than the existing characters, write an original story and publish it and make some money.
C. As far as plot goes, there's no reason you have to stick to what they could do on the show. There's no reason you can't send the entire staff to Borneo, or do an entire story about someone's internal thoughts. Do try and remember, however, that people like fanfic because they like the show, and straying too far from that will cause many readers to lose interest. Make sure you don't neglect to have everyone doing his or her job.
D. Not all stories have a plot. Some are just banter; some are just smut. There's nothing wrong with that -- but it shouldn't be your priority. Try to have some kind of point, or at least some kind of conflict, in most of what you write. Otherwise? Yawn.
E. Crossovers. Don't shoehorn them. If you have a reasonable idea that could link your story with another fandom (X-Files seems like a natural example) then yeah, run with it. But it's hard to mix the distinct styles of two series, and it's even harder when they don't coincide in setting. So don't try and bring on the Star Trek crossovers unless you're prepared to get really inventive, or really silly. Which is okay, too, if you're going for parody. But be conscious of what you're doing, always.
F. Post-episode stories. Unless you write it right after the episode, or you're sure you have a unique take on events, you should probably refrain. There do not need to be seven different monologues relating C.J.'s thoughts at the end of a given episode. Do something original, or do something unrelated. Don't be redundant.
G. Brevity, it's said, is the soul of wit. In other words, you don't need to write a fifty-page story. Two or three is fine, if you can get it done. The longer you draw it out, the more likely you are to lose readers. Learn to be concise, and you'll be more effective.
H. Even if your story is fifty pages long, that doesn't mean you should send it out in fifty pieces. Generally anything up to ten or twelve pages can be sent in one post. It's okay if your parts are smaller, but they shouldn't be tiny. At least three pages should be the cut-off point. Also, there's no reason to send works in progress out in tiny bits, especially because you or your readers might lose interest in the story. Wait until it's done to post.
I. Try to write in natural dialogue. How often do you say "I do not think so" or "I will see you?" You don't. You'll do better to use contractions. How often do you say your best friend's name at the end of a sentence ("I don't know, Sam." -- "I'm telling you, Josh." -- "I'm not sure, Sam")? Not that much. Even words like "gonna" are okay if used well. Try reading your dialogue out loud. If it sounds awkward or stiff, it's not there yet.
J. There's an issue of cursing in stories. People do swear, and television does have its limits, and since the show takes place in a high-stress environment, it wouldn't be unreasonable for a few naughty words to pop up. However, use them very sparingly, and don't sprinkle your story with cursing for no reason.
K. Pay attention to the way people talk on the show. Aaron Sorkin is a writer with a very distinct style of dialogue, but it's harder to imitate than you might think. Just having everyone say "thing" and "guy" and "you know" over and over again doesn't count. The better your dialogue is, the more authentic and enjoyable your story will be. And that is -- or should be -- exactly what you're going for.
1. Susannah's lovely site has an up-to-date episode guide and detailed information on all the major and minor characters (if you need to name a senator, for example, or find out where Sam went to college or who C.J. used to work for):
JedBartlet.com
2. The best fan fiction links page I've found so far: Amanda's Resources
And many more good tips from various people are here.
3. It's dirty but it had to be done. Most slash (most fanfic, in fact) is written by women, so if you want to get the smutty stuff right: Minotaur's Sex Tips For Slash Writers
C. Political and news resources.
1. Need something for people to be working on? Check out what the (unfortunately) real White House is doing: White House News
And since we're talking about a fictional Democratic administration, it helps to know the Party's politics: The Democratic National Committee
1. Most of the mailing lists are on Yahoo Groups -- a search will help you out some, though the site's annoying. If you're reading this, chances are you already know this, but the biggest West Wing fiction list is this one.
2. The biggest, broadest West Wing fanfic archive is this one.
Another wide-range one is Jenny's archive. The Best & Brightest is heavy on CJ/Toby, and also heavy on quality. Our Boys has both West Wing and Sports Night (including some great slash). Spark. Because I'm shameless. And many more.
