Question for those interested in my Merlin/SPN fic...

[hells_half_acre]

As some of you know, I'm writing a Merlin/Supernatural crossover at the moment. It's going to be roughly 20-24k words... maybe longer. It takes place in the Merlin universe. 

Now, my question to you is: Should I change Merlin canon???

I only ask, because I started writing this fic before Merlin ended. And...well... I hated the end of Merlin. I thought it was bad writing (not so much the dialogue and the characters, but rather the plot of the final season.) So, on the one hand, I could change all that... or at least, leave it ambiguous enough that the reader could imagine that everything changed. On the other hand, I usually stick with canon in these crossovers and that's what orders them and keeps them believable and satisfying (in my opinion.) But if the canon isn't satisfying....then, maybe I should change it?

It'd mean rewriting a little of what I've done already, but not actually that much when it comes right down to it. The major changes would be to the bit that I haven't written yet anyway.

(I also still have to decide where in Supernatural's timeline Sam and Dean are going to be.)

Anyway, any thoughts would be appreciated.

PS: I know I've been writing a lot slower these days than I used to in the past... but in the past I was under- and unemployed, and these days I'm actually working full time. So, I'm finding it a bit more difficult to find time to write. I know I just have to make a better routine of it though, so I'm working on that. I haven't been working on the poor novel at all, even though I think I have a good strategy for fixing at least some of the problems. What I should really do is stop reading other peoples fanfiction. I spend far too much time doing that, I suppose. I'll shut-up now.

Comments

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Well, not exactly - you know how I write crossovers. I figured out a way to do it where Merlin canon doesn't actually have to change at all.

But, you have a point anyway, I could change things. After all, Merlin and Supernatural have two opposing messages - Supernatural believes in free will, whereas Merlin preaches only destiny.

[liliaeth]

See the thing is, yes events could still happen the same way, but I would find it more meaningful, if you took the events and chars as we see them in canon, and then have the winchesters effect one or two things that results in the future events changing. That way you'd still be sticking to canon and show how 'destiny' can be averted.

Like you said, the Winchesters being all about free will, maybe Dean could make Merlin realize that Mordred doesn't have to betray Arthur, if only he gave him the chance and the support that Mordred needs. Well that and being honest about his magic because of something that happens within the story, which instantly would have an effect on what Mordred does because of the laws against magic.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

True. And it also might solve one of my other problems with the fic, in that right now I'm mainly just using Dean and Sam as an Outsider POV and nothing more... so, it's sort of like Dean and Sam are watching Merlin, but the story isn't affected by them being there as much as it should be (or Sam and Dean aren't affected by being there.) It's hard to explain. I mean, I guess as it stands right now, I'm only exploring the dynamics of Merlin and not the dynamics of Sam and Dean....

...so, yeah... perhaps you are right, diverting destiny would be bringing an element of Supernatural to the crossover rather than just having it a Merlin story that Sam and Dean happen to be present for.

[liliaeth]

Yep, I love outsider pov, don't get me wrong. But there has to be a reason for both fandoms to be there. If one of the fandoms could easily be removed without changing the story, then really there's no point for it to be a crossover in the first place.

In this case, the point with the Winchesters is that they change events just by being around. They are pretty much a catalyst for change. That's one of their strengths as characters. But it means that if you involve them in a storyline, that things would change from how they would happen without them.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Hmm, yes, I think you are right.

So, now the question is: Do I make it ambiguous or explicit? Do I write the change, or do I just imply that it happens after this particular story ends?

[liliaeth]

well I don't know your writing habits, but for me it works best to just go with the flow of the story. See how it works out as your writing it, let the story carry you. If it feels more natural to show the change, do that, if it doesn't, then keep it ambiguous.

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... perhaps you are right once again. I think part of the problem is that if I want to make it explicit, then I have to change what I've already written...possibly? Maybe not.

I think I need to go to bed. My brain is going in loops. Thanks for talking it out with me! I definitely agree that I've gotta have the Winchesters affect the course of Merlin in SOME way, so yeah... thanks!

[liliaeth]

well another benefit of finishing a story before posting it... you can always go back and change bits in earlier parts to better fit your ending :-)