To canon-AU or not to canon-AU....

[hells_half_acre]

My next month of ficlets is nearly upon us. If you want to leave me a prompt and haven't yet done so, head on over to my previous post.

Now, while we're on the topic of fanfic, let me complain to you about my current canon/fanfic troubles...

My main problem is that I want to write another demented'verse fic. I have had an opening all prepared (in my head) for the past two-three years... the problem is that timeline-wise, in order to use that opening, it pretty much has to be set in S9. I kept hoping that SPN would give me a good window and plot idea... but, alas, I've got nothing.

So, now my question is: Do I go AU? The last demented'verse fic I wrote was set in S7, so I'd have to catch up that time anyway, and, I think anyone who read my rewatch of S8 has probably realized that I had a lot of problems with the first half of that season. So, on the one hand, this could be my chance to change things a little...

...On the other hand, once you start changing things, where do you stop? How much do you change things? HOW do you change things? Do I still just run into the same problems?

The problem I have with AU, and the reason I very seldom write it, is because working within the constructs of canon gives me limits that I can use to form my plots... and I'm just not sure how good my writing would be without those enforced parameters. Also, going AU would remove the short-hand that I rely on with the readers, where I don't have to explain what Sam and Dean are currently working through, because the readers already know. That's what makes crossovers fun, after all - it's that half of your characters know things the other half don't, and you can have tons of double-meaning dialogue, where the reader is in on all the secrets without my having to explain what those secrets are.

Part of me is thinking I should just forget it. Put that 'verse to bed. Because if I can't think of a plot that fits, maybe that's just the end of it then. But, then, another part of me is pissed off because if I was going to end the 'verse, I'd have preferred to end on Seers, Souls and Scandinavians, rather than Brains and Bones, because SSS had a much better ending, IMO, and would have served as a brilliant 'verse ending. I remember struggling with the decision to write Brains and Bones for that reason, but in the end I did... and now I'm wondering if I shouldn't've.

Blaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah

TL;DR: Struggling to write another demented'verse fic. Not sure if I should stick to my canon-nazi ways. AU is a slippery slope. 

Comments

[franztastisch]

I feel I should say this. The first time I read demented verse, I hadn't yet got to the end of season 5. Therefore, your references to Sam in the panic room meant nothing to me. But regardless of this, I thought it was brilliant. The ftame of reference you're worrying about matters less tha you think because the story works even without it. I mean, I haven't watched past... 7x21 and I will still read and enjoy this story, if it happens. My not knowing the storyline of s8 and s9 will not change that. So even people who know those storylines will understand the story if you were to write it without that frame of reference. I wouldn't worry about that.

[franztastisch]

And cleaEly the more important question is: will Nate turn up? :P

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes he would... which is why I REALLY want to figure this out. :P

[franztastisch]

I appove of your dedication to bringing Nate to the people. :P

[hells-half-acre.livejournal.com]

Thanks! That actually does help me feel less nervous about messing around with canon. :)

[franztastisch]

I'm glad. :) An adherence to canon shouldn't be the thing that stops you writing something you want to write. :)