TA TALKS BACK: READING WHILE YOU WAIT
TA fan Dawn talks about the life after the Twilight saga and how much she loves fanfiction:
Right now, Twilight fans are at a standstill. We went to the theaters in droves over the holidays to see the first chapter of our favorite saga come to life. We repeatedly watched clips of our favorite scenes on YouTube. We reserved three copies of the DVD so that we could watch one, save one, and have a spare in case we wore the first one out. We stayed up until midnight to get our hands on that previous DVD first. We re-read all of the books – and even pick up ‘The Host’ so we can get our Stephenie Meyer fix until Edward gets his say in ‘The Book Whose Name I Dare Not Speak’. We watch the boards daily, hoping to catch a glimpse of RPatt or KStew on location for New Moon as we wait impatiently for the second chapter to hit the silver screen.OK, so maybe that’s just me….
But I have a feeling that I am not alone here. Shortly after the DVD hit shelves and I watched the movie with audio commentary more times than I care to admit, I felt a little empty inside. I started asking myself, ‘What do I do now?’ I didn’t want to stalk the boards TOO much… I didn’t want to reread the Twilight saga for the umpteemth time (even though I did anyway). I have months until the next movie comes out. How was I going to occupy my time until then?
Lo and behold, an old pasttime of mine has been revived.
Back when I was a young, impressionable teenager, I feel in love with ‘the X-Files’. Not just the characters (Scully is still my she-ro) but the mytharc and the development of their personas. I knew Scully and Mulder inside and out. And watching episodes repeatedly was not enough for me. So, after I watched some of my favorite episodes on DVD, I decided to look inside my treasure trove of X-Files collectibles (yeah… I was that obsessed) and I came across a familiar friend.
A manila folder full of my favorite X-Files fan fiction.
I remember sitting at my computer for hours reading, and rereading, my favorite stories. Stories that encapsulated all that Mulder and Scully were about penned by everyday people like you and me. And these authors made my love of the X-Files blossom even more.
Big bright light bulb moment. With the advent of the internet, a google of fans, writers chomping at the bit for new material, and the need for instant gratification of our Twilight needs, there MUST be a ginormous collection of Twilight fanfic. Why didn’t I think of this sooner?
Maybe because I was browsing the TA boards and laughing like a schoolgirl about Rob’s comments in the audio commentary. Sometimes a girl can’t help herself.
So, I went online and began to search. It took me awhile to find some good stuff and I struck a goldmine with the Twilighted boards (http://www.twilighted.net). High-quality Twilight fanfic indeed!!! I didn’t care what books I needed to read for class or how many papers I had to grade for my students…. and I was giddy with joy! There are some VERY talented writers out there and I am so glad that there are people out there just like me who can’t wait until Ms. Meyer finishes ‘The Book Whose Name I Dare Not Speak’. And they get it. They get Edward and Bella and what they’re made of. They understand their little quirks and intricacies, so much so that I think they may even outshine Ms. Meyer herself.
And then, after two weeks of utter bliss with what I found on the Twilighted boards, I came across the ultimate Twilight fanfic, ‘Wide Awake’ by AngstGoddess003 (http://angstgoddess003.livejournal.com/ – each chapter is listed in the left-hand toolbar). Rated MA/NC-17 for dark themes, this multi-chapter novel chronicles Edward and Bella’s journeys to healing through a common bond – an inability to sleep. Their nightmares cause them to alienate themselves from their loved ones and gravitate towards one another.
My, my.
This is, by far, the BEST fanfic I have ever read. And from a fanfic newbie, no less. This is how I spent my entire weekend. I read all 47 chapters to date in less than 48 hours (give or take nap breaks and irritated requests for meals from my seven-year-old). It’s an All-Human Alternate Universe story but her characterizations of Bella and the entire Cullen clan are spot-on. I laughed, I cried, I got hungry (you’ll understand why when you read it), and I screamed at Bella and Edward on countless occasions (and yes, I know they’re fictional characters, but it’s that believable). And, yes, I have started to re-read it. Seven chapters last night alone .. until my body crapped out and I couldn’t keep my eyes open. It’s a work-in-progress but definitely worth the commitment. My world will end when this fanfic does. If you have not read it, I recommend that you STOP reading my praise and link over to AngstGoddess003′s website IMMEDIATELY. GETONTHEBLOG! NOW!
So, until New Moon hits the theaters, I have another Twilight obsession – Twilight saga fanfic. I’m curious, TAers. What gems have you found out there in Fanfic-land? What stories take your breath away? I need other stories (and authors) to obsess about!
Talk Back to us….what do you think?
