NECESSARY STUFF:
The OP above gave full permission to use their post as a launchpad for this
commentary, so please don’t mistake this as either endorsement or criticism, and please do not mistake it as a group invitation to attack. I’ve
written about this phenomenon in the Rowling fandom before and this gives me another
excuse. Plus, as someone who tried to join
a fandom via this writing strategy and failed, I think I can contribute some thought
fodder on the issue of content sameness.
I’m bout to drop an essay, hobbits. This essay isn’t,
however, a critique. This is a non-evaluative observation and a writing theory. And, finally, an open
question to fellow fic writers.
BASE OBSERVATION: The
dominant writing styles in book-based fandoms mirror and pay homage to the style
of the original author.
WOW, holy heck this is a beautiful theory, and one I agree with absolutely.
I’ve noticed that stylistic imitation seems to happen more often in fandoms where the canon is heavily book-based, such as Harry Potter or Tolkien. In Avengers fandom, though, the writing was far more varied in style. I think this is bc it is mostly a visual canon (movies/comics) and people can explore different avenues of capturing it.
I’ve seen the argument made that folks enjoy the atmosphere and language of the books, and so seek out works that remind them of it.
I’ve mentioned before that I set out in Sansukh to try and channel Tolkien’s style, and so yeah, that’s a totally spot-on observation to make. Really pleased that you feel I did so, too 🙂 Thanks!
The main aim though, for me, was to capture the ‘feel’ of Tolkien’s work whilst also making it a little more accessible and fluid, bc the man could get so dense and impenetrable – less so in The Hobbit, absolutely, but LOTR can be slow and a bit arduous at times. So, I’ve stepped right away from some of his more idiosyncratic writing quirks, such as the gigantic block of descriptive text, slipping into ‘high style’ with the ‘thees and thous’ every so often – this seems to happen mostly in emotional moments – and the heroic declamations, as some examples. (Aragorn has SO MANY DECLAMATIONS)
Something else I tried to implement as the story progresses – I add more and more of my own stylistic interpretation, rather than Tolkien’s. I try to, in effect, transition away from a purely faithful ‘Tolkienesque’ style, to something sliiiiiightly more modern and blended – and far, far more emotional.
I do enjoy his dialogue syntax very much, though – particularly for the hobbits!
When it comes to your three choices detailed, I definitely fell into the first category:
Faithfully reconstruct and largely adhere to Tolkien’s style. (This is the choice most Big Fic writers in any book-based fandom make. On the downside, this limitation can feel creatively constricting. It should, however, be mentioned that some writers find this strategy ultimately increases their creativity – the stylistic constraints demand they make more daring creative choices in other realms, such as plot or characterization.)
I ABSOLUTELY find that constraints make me more creative! Well, 90 times out of 100, I do, hahaha. I enjoy writing myself into a corner and then finding the way out – it is something I’ve done again and again, it forces me to up my game. Further, the restraints placed on me by following an existing timeline/story forced me to get even more inventive! I knew that readers weren’t interested in reading the same story all over again (I mean, they could just read the book instead, sooo….) and thus I had to find new ways and new angles from which to view it, and new language with which to tell it. I am a lot fonder of simile and metaphor than Tolkien, that is for sure
In regard to your supporting/opposing notes: I would agree once again. I also personally find them irritating, both the patriarchal cultural concepts, and the feminisation of Bilbo. Both of these are aspects I have striven to eschew. I will have only succeeded imperfectly, I know, bc i am a fallible meatbag, but I hope I have managed to a greater rather than a lesser degree.
Addressing the open question now: god, I have no idea. I obviously plumped for your first option for the big fic! I have smaller Tolkien works (The Long Road, or Yours Faithfully, for instance) in which I have experimented with a very different authorial style and made very different syntactic choices. They didn’t ever reach the same sort of readership as the more Tolkien-flavoured fics. So, I don’t know, but I would be thrilled to hear more of your thoughts on the matter. Thank you so much for an engaging and thoughtful read!
I commissioned the amazing @iraya to draw the Glittering Caves scene from Sansukh Chapter 44 – and look! LOOK AT IT, it has surpassed my wildest imaginings, it is so goddamned BEAUTIFUL!! THANK YOU, you amazing, dedicated art wizard you!!
the hair!! ARMS! Light! STARS, asklfjhalsjhdfa the colours of the stone, like a sumptuous sky, the clothes, their faces I die of utter, total JOY.
GO COMMISSION IRAYA NOW, YOU WILL RECEIVE A WONDER!
Here’s the moment in question:
“Mahal sang of stone,” said Gimli, and he kissed the back of Legolas’ hand. His beard was a soft, delicious scratch. “In the void, before Elf or Dwarf or even earth came to be. He sang of stone. Now you hear the beat he used.”
“Gimli.” Legolas could not stand longer, and he dropped to his knees to bury his face into Gimli’s barrel chest. “Oh, Gimli, this is a wonder too deep for me…!”
“I do not think so, my Elf.” Gimli pushed a hand through his hair, the strands slipping between his fingers. “Not if you can hear it.”
“I will teach you to hear the singing of the leaves, the drinking of earth,” he rasped, his cheek pressed hard against Gimli’s leather jerkin. “I cannot begin to repay you for what you have given me here.”
“Daft Elf, this needs no answer.” He felt a kiss laid upon the top of his head, belying Gimli’s gruff words. “You are beloved of a Dwarf now, and this is what we are. I would be remiss indeed if I never told you.”
“Sansûkhâl,” Legolas whispered against his chest, and kissed it just over that gentle, brave, beating heart. “I have no such secrets as these, I have no wondrous gifts to give…”
“You are gift enough, to me and to the world.” Gimli said tenderly, and his hand smoothed around Legolas’ head to cup his cheek. “Never doubt that. I have barely even begun to discover what a wonder you are.”
Upon his knees, they were nearly of a height: Gimli for once a little taller than Legolas. As it was, Legolas could stretch forth and kiss Gimli easily, his neck craning forward to catch his lips.
He could not say how long they kissed, but he did know that the stars danced.
oh my god urs, that IS AMAZING…! oh my word GIMIZH! my cheeky excited imaginative lil chappie, look at him, he’s about to make some SERIOUS MISCHIEF – or possibly he has seen some cookies – OR BOTH. and WOW!! i am IN LOVE with your Gimli and Legolas, how beautiful and different they are, how I can see their personalities shining through here, alsdhgfkjsah their hands, GIMLI’S NOSE GIVES ME LIFE, Legolas’ eyes are so tender here and AHH
*hugs* I am THRILLED you enjoyed it, and oh gosh thank you, thank you SO SO SO MUCH! These are simply amazing, you are amazing..!
Aw Yiss 