devFeature IV - Magic-fan

Firstly, sorry for the lack of updates lately. The RW has been a bit hectic. I'd just like to remind everyone that we will not accept any pieces that are already in 5 or more groups. As it is, we decline more pieces than can accept because of this rule. And, please submit to the correct folder.

Please welcome thestaccatobutterfly to staff and KeanuWantRoomService back Go say hi and thanks - they don't bite.

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(I know a devFeature has not been posted since October 2010 - I'm sorry. This will be done monthly and on time this year.)

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February Feature Deviant is:

Magic-fan ·

Magic-fan is the founder of Literary-Perceptions and a well known and loved figure in the literature community.

Interview

How long have you been using dA?
It depends on how you look at it. My account was made on December 23rd, 2007 out of sheer impulse after a friend mentioned the site, only to be forgotten after that. Then sometime during the following summer, I came across deviantArt again and recalled that I made an account. I managed to remember my password, so I logged in and started sharing my work. The rest, as they say, is history.

Favourite author?
This isn’t a question I can answer properly; I don’t have a favorite author, merely those I find extremely talented. Who’s written works I prefer to read depends entirely on my mood and the novel in question. Currently, I am quite a fan of Jenna Black and Ilona Andrews’s novels.

Favourite novel?
The answer to this question is the same as the previous; it is ever-changing. At this moment, I enjoy reading, and rereading, On the Edge by Ilona Andrews. It’s an amazing novel that’s great for fantasy readers and anyone looking for a good, but light read.

Favourite poem?
Alone by Mary Angelou

Recommended reading? - 4-5 novels/plays/poems etc you would suggest to others to read
On the Edge by Ilona Andrews.
The Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews.
The Morgan Kingsley series by Jenna Black.
Sign of the Crescent by Debbie Federici.
The Georgina Kincaid series by Richelle Mead.

How long have you been writing for?
I’ve been writing for years and I daresay as long as I can remember. However, back then I only wrote short little tales of no significance. The first one I remember was a page long about pirates searching for treasure and when they finally found the chest, it turned out to be dog biscuits. Don’t ask.
It was around the time I made my deviantArt account that I started focusing more on writing and doing my best to improve. So you could say I’ve been writing, seriously, for about three years.

What kind of literature to do you write?
I write a little bit of everything – poetry and prose, each of varying genres. Even so, my main focus tends to be fictional prose, leaning towards the dark fantasy and mystery/crime genres. It gives so many options and different ideas to be written!

How did you get into writing?
To be honest, I don’t quite remember. I’ve always been an avid reader and when I was twelve, I began writing fan fiction. It was because of that, that I truly became interested in writing and eventually wanted to create my own worlds and characters, like in the many novels I enjoy.

Why do you write?
It’s hard to give a specific answer, but I think the most obvious would be “for me”, as self-centered as it may sound. Writing helps me take a step away from stress in real life and lets me enjoy other things. It helps me express my emotions and creativity, which is an amazing help when life gets tough.
Of course, an added bonus is when others enjoy reading what I’ve written; that pushes me to keep going.

Do you believe there is an aspect to a piece of literature that will make it successful, and if so, what do you think it is?
Everything about literature can make it successful, but it depends on how it’s used. If readers can relate to the characters, it’s already a big bonus and will help the piece be more successful. Describing a setting and letting readers see the world the tale takes place in is also good, as well as portraying the emotion the characters feel.
Every tiny detail has the potential to make a piece of literature successful if used right.

Do you become attached to your characters? If so, what is it about them that causes you to do so?
Mostly, I do tend to become attached to them. The journey as a writer, carrying the characters through their tale, is a long, rough road and after all the time spent writing about them, I can’t help but feel attached. Characters become like friends I spend time with every day; I love spending time with them and we may argue at times or get annoyed, but in the end, I’ll miss them when they’re gone.

Could you kill off a character?
Yes. In fact, I have a habit of planning at least one character death in most of the stories I work on or plan to work on in the future. Life isn’t perfect, even in a novel, so even if I end up attached to a character; I have no choice but to do what my muse helped me plan. After all, the plots tend to form before I properly create the characters, so by the time I create the character bios; I’ve already passed the point of no return. Death adds depth and realism into a story; people pass away, even in novels – it’s a natural thing. I see no reason to prevent it from happening.

Why do you like dA as a place to post your work? And, do you feel you receive constructive feedback on your work?
I enjoy posting my work on deviantArt for multiple reasons. Firstly, it is much easier than having to send each individual piece to my friends separately to get their opinions on it. Most of them have a deviantArt account, so posting it once gives them all the chance to read it.
Secondly, the community is amazing and I enjoy getting constructive criticism on my written works. Though my friends are honest, I always want to get opinions from people who aren’t biased. And yes, I do feel that I get constructive criticism on my work. At some times, it can be a little difficult, but with the critique feature, forums and groups, there’s always bound to be someone who is willing to help.

You are an admin for DailyLitDeviations (DLD). What is it that you do for DLD and what got you involved with it?
My task for DailyLitDeviations is quite simple. Four times a week, I send in suggestions of literature pieces (prose, in my case) that I believe deserve to be featured. I browse deviantArt galleries and groups to find those pieces and also accept suggestions from anyone on deviantArt who has something they wish to see featured. I also judge contests for them when they host contests and I have the time.
I found DLD over a year and a half ago and was an avid reader of the pieces they featured in their news articles. It was around the time I wanted to get more involved with the community on deviantArt, so when they advertised that they were looking for new admins, I jumped at the opportunity and before I knew it, I joined the ranks of DLD.

You founded and run the group Literary-Perceptions. What made you decide to start the group and what has helped to keep the group going?
My initial thought when planning the group was that I wanted to help writers on deviantArt – help them grow as writers and learn more about the art they focus on. After days of planning out projects, preparing articles and blogs, I finally started up the group and it’s been going strong ever since.
What helps me keep the group going is definitely the community; the members. There’s great activity in the group’s inquiries, prompts and current A, B, C’s of Emotions project. Having active members has helped a lot; without them, it would be a lot harder to keep things going.

Do you have any advice for people when joining groups or getting the most of out dA?
The best advice I can offer is to know what you want from a group. If you’re looking to get constructive criticism on yours works, then look for groups that offer that. If you want regular prompts to give you ideas for writing, then see if the groups you’re considering have a prompt project. Another thing to check is if the group admins update the group regularly. When joining a group, it’s always important to know that the group is being run correctly. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t join a group that missed a prompt one week – the admins have lives, too. Everyone misses something on occasion and overall, just take in the bigger picture before deciding.
To get the most out of deviantArt, you have to give back to the community. If you want comments, make sure to comment on other people’s works and eventually that favor will be returned. Be active on the forums or in chat. If you want exposure, participate in contests and prompts, join groups and participate in their projects. It’s the little things that matter and in the end, those things will gather and you’ll get back what you gave.

You worked with foreign language submissions for DLD. Do you have any advice for people when submitting non-English works? And, are there any groups you would recommend for people wishing to post non-English pieces?
Essentially, my advice for writers in other languages is the same as other writers; be active in the forums, chats and groups. There are plenty of specific language-based groups, such as LaRevolucionEscrita, Plumes-FR, deutsch and Nederlanders.
Those are a few groups that are great to go to. Also look out for normal literature groups; some have specific folders in their gallery for foreign languages, for example SixWordStories and Literary-Perceptions.
It can also help to have an English translation, either in the deviation itself or the author’s comments. That might not be possible for everyone due to the language barrier, or the length of the piece, but for shorter works, it’s definitely an idea.

Do you have any tips for aspiring writers? Best advice?
Read, write, edit, ask for feedback and seek inspiration from unlikely sources. Rinse and repeat.
If you wake up one day and decide, “I want to write!”, then don’t expect your first pieces to be perfect. Though it may not seem it at times, writing is a difficult process that takes time to learn. Visual artists learn anatomy, shading, coloring and so many more skills to improve their craft. We writers are no different, but we learn other things: Characterization, sentence structure, attention to detail, grammar and plotting. All these vary between genres and types of literature; a romantic poem has a much different structure than a horror story, for example.
In the poem, you would focus on the emotions, a romantic setting and words that cause readers to go all fuzzy inside. Perhaps you’ll choose a setting that people can relate to? However cliché, a candlelit dinner is something many readers will have knowledge of and that will help touch their hearts.
In a horror story, you cause fear and dread. You have no choice but to capture your readers in a thrilling tale that prevents them from sleeping at night and keeps them on the edge of their seat in anticipation of what surprise will come next. Make them so scared that they want to put the book down and never touch it again, but at the same time are so entranced that they must continue reading. And once they’ve finished, make them want to pick it up again.
Don’t be afraid to receive feedback and constructive criticism; receive it, read it, ponder it, and put it to practice. Even if you don’t think, “Oh, they said I can improve that, I must edit it right this second!”, you’ll still remember what you read in the back of your mind and it will show in future writings.

Works to Check Out
Tales of the Forbidden | Tales of the Forbidden -1- | -Poem- The Show | Sex, Guns and Lies | Letter to... A New Year's Self

Thank you Magic-fan for taking the time to do this.

If you'd would like to suggest a deviant for the next devFeature please send PennedPaper or AlecWolfe a note.