This interview was first posted in 2004.
Oracle is one of the fascinating newer voices in XF Fanfic. She’s an accomplished young Australian writer, already with quite a number of awards to her credit! Invidiosa.com is very, VERY proud to be hosting her stories. You can find Oracle’s stories here.
When did you start writing XF fanfic? How did you start?
It all started in 1997. People were still dancing the Macarena. I was twelve years old and had a major crush on David Duchovny. I knew nothing about the X-files because my parents wouldn’t let me watch it, so I started reading about it religiously. I snuck peeks in episode guides at bookstores, read the TV program blurbs every week and found articles in pre-teen magazines.
By the time the movie came out I’d turned thirteen and my parents decided I was old enough to watch it. Despite being confused by everything from Jiffy Pop Poppers (okay, what are they? can someone please explain?) to FEMA, “the secret government”, I joined a league of ‘shippers around the world who muttered “damn bee” after a certain scene. When I walked out of that cinema, I knew I had to watch every episode in the series, even if I had to lie, cheat, steal or sell my own family members to do so.
I discovered the internet, I discovered ‘shippers and noromos, and then I discovered fanfic. At first I thought it was something akin to FAQs, so I ignored the links to it. I can’t remember how I figured out what it was— I think a Hanson-obsessed friend told me about it.
Once I started reading fanfic I couldn’t get enough. But for the first few years I didn’t read anything rated higher than PG-13. My parents should never have sent me to a Catholic school. To be safe, I stuck to UST, noromo fic and character deaths until I was sixteen, when I finally said ‘to hell with it’ and started reading every M/S fanfic I could get my hands on. Writing and posting my own fanfic was a natural progression from there. I’ve wanted to be a published author for as many years as I’ve been obsessed with the X-files. When I finally decided to take the plunge into writing fanfic it took several failed experiments before I wrote something I considered good enough to post. I posted my first fanfic, It is, in late September 2002.
What else do you write?
Since I was thirteen I’ve written hundreds of terrible poems. They’re more a way for me to explore my own emotions than anything else. At least, that’s what I tell myself before committing them to the recycle bin.
I’ve also written several short stories, mostly for school assignments. One of these won an award at my high school and was printed in the annual magazine. Yep, that’s as close to being published as I’ve ever been.
The biggest writing project I’ve ever completed is an un-publishable novel, which I began at thirteen, revised over and over again, and finally sent to Penguin when I was seventeen without much hope. After about a year and a half they sent me a polite letter telling me my characterizations needed work. They were right. There were also enough loose ends in the plot to knit a sweater, so I’ve moved on to other things.
Now that high school’s finally over I’m writing another novel. It’s at the 37, 000 word mark at the moment and actually has a plot that’s going somewhere—definitely a good sign. Hopefully I’ll have it done by the end of the year.
Do you have a writing process?
When I’m writing I don’t think about eating, sleeping, studying, or even going to the bathroom. I listen carefully to what the story is saying and write it down. If it’s a long story I might write a plan first, just to make sure my wayward brain doesn’t forget where the plot is going. But most of the time these plans become pretty useless as the story takes on a life of its own.
I’ve heard people mock writers who say they can’t control their own stories. How hard can it be, right? Wrong. For me, at least. There’s a difference between words that feel right and words I’d like to put in. There’s also a difference between writing a story down and writing a story in the direction I want it to go. When I’m writing, I try to disconnect from myself completely. IMO, most of the time I don’t entirely succeed, but I don’t entirely fail, either.
While writing I’ll go over and over the story to make sure it has a rhythm that pleases me. Sometimes I’ll mark places that don’t sound right, then go back to them later when I’m in a different mood. I’ll often play music to suit the rhythm I’m aiming for.
When I’m satisfied with what I’ve written for the time being, my concentration clicks off like a light switch and I have to go do something else for a while before I can write again.
I know when I’ve finished a story because I’ll feel satisfied after reading it. I’m not aiming for perfection, but for the best work I’m capable of. It’s kind of like testing the ripeness of a fruit. If you squeeze the story in your mind it should feel right to you, and that’s the best you can do.
Has the series ending affected the way or what you write?
No, not at all. I didn’t start posting fanfic until after the series ended, and for me writing fanfic is more about writing than the show anyway.
You were recently awarded a Spooky for Outstanding New Writer. Do you feel like this accolade has inspired you or do you think this has put more pressure on you as a fanfic writer?
I don’t really think about it much. I mean, it was fantastic to win a Spooky Award, but it hasn’t made a difference to how I write, how much I write, or how I feel about what I’m writing. I guess what it did do was give me a bit more confidence in the XF community, where I sometimes feel clumsy, out of it and very young.
Do you think being a non-American gives you a different perspective when writing X-Files Fanfic?
Australian culture has become about as saturated in American culture as you can get. Our speech is rife with Americanisms, we watch American TV shows and movies, we wear American clothes, we listen to American music and we keep up with American politics. I could name more former U.S. Presidents than former Australian Prime Ministers, and I’m sure many young Australians could say the same.
That said, I think there are still definite differences between Australian and American culture. IMO, Australians are generally more taciturn, more private and less ready to gush with praise. And Americans are more open, more willing to communicate. There are no Australian talk shows like Dr. Phil, Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake and Oprah, and I think that’s because Australians are less ready to air their private lives and grievances to total strangers.
Basic Australian culture is all about facing the music with stoicism, not throwing in the towel, keeping yourself to yourself, having a go, giving everyone a fair go, taking responsibility for your actions, dealing with what life throws at you, minding your own business, not dobbing your mates in, being easy going, seeing the sense of humour in every situation, etc. Although I’m not sure if this gives me a different perspective when writing fanfic, it does sometimes affect the way I interact with the XF community and the way I perceive interactions between fans.
But usually I don’t think about my identity as an Australian when I’m online. To tell you the truth, I’m not your typical Aussie sheila. My family is well-travelled–we’ve been all over the globe. We lived in the States for six months when I was eight years old, and I had a wonderful time there.
Also, Australia is becoming more multicultural every day. I have friends from Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, India, Singapore, South Africa, Vietnam, Bulgaria, Italy, the U.S., England, Greece and China. After so many experiences with other cultures, I don’t think my perspective is strictly Australian any longer. Or in Tori Amos terms, I’m definitely more of a raisin than a cornflake girl.
There are, of course, stories I can’t write because I’m not American. I’ve read fanfics that are very pro-U.S., you know, very “land of the free, home of the brave”, and I’ll never write anything like that. Also, I’ve read fanfics that are set somewhere specific within the U.S.–Annie Sewell-Jennings’ ‘Skin’, for example–and I can’t do that, I don’t have enough RL experience. I’m okay with writing about Washington D.C. because there are certain landmarks I can throw in–the reflecting pool, the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Potomac and the cherry blossom trees–and I can do your average small town, but usually I steer away from being specific.
So far, you’ve mostly written from Mulder or Scully’s POV. From which POV do you prefer to write?
I don’t have a preference. I write from the POV I feel I need to use in order for a story to work. Sometimes Scully’s perspective works better, sometimes Mulder’s. Sometimes it’s better just to go omniscient, so both of their perspectives can be included relatively easily. It all depends on what I’m interested in exploring.
Which of your own stories is your favourite story and why?
Keeping Melissa just might be. I’ve never written in the second person before and I don’t see it done much, but I think I managed to pull it off despite my lack of experience. While writing the story I kept thinking—Is this actually possible or am I kidding myself? At one point I almost gave up, but it was an important story to me, with some RL issues I wanted to get off my chest, so I persevered.
Care to speculate on the second XF movie?
Is it definitely happening? If Duchovny and Anderson are involved, I’m there. I don’t care what Chris Carter does any more. I’m too much of a crazy fan to miss out on a second XF movie. He can dress them up like chihuahuas and I’ll still go watch.
Do you have any upcoming stories or projects to look out for?
I always have upcoming stories because I can’t stop myself from writing fanfic. It’s a compulsion. If I’m not careful I’ll end up being the first Australian on the Dr. Phil show.
At the moment I’m working on about four different stories, some of which may not pan out. I might start something new too. I’m thinking of doing a Halloween story, seeing as, living in Australia, I never get to celebrate Halloween. I live vicariously through descriptions of American candy in fanfic. Mmm…Reese’s pieces.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers out there?
Fanfic is a safe, easy way to write stories, experiment with different writing styles and receive feedback. If you’re thinking of posting a fanfic, give it a go. Why not? What’s the worst that can happen? Although…if your self-worth rests entirely upon whether your story is a success or not, seek professional help before posting.
General advice: If you’re looking for the best (hottest) M/S smut, go to Fred and Ginger’s Smut Classics. And buy yourself an air-conditioner.
I’m going to make like Emma Brightman and thank the kind people who’ve beta-ed my stories—Artemis, Vickie, Lib and Jody. Also, thanks to everyone who’s read my stuff. Bloody oath, mates, if not for you I’d have to take up crocodile wrestling. Struth. And thank you Circe, for giving my stories a beautiful home and for this fantastic interview.
Also…can’t contain my excitement. Today I found a set of second hand Season Five DVDs for fifty bucks! Bad Blood, baby. Whoo! If you’re thinking of buying XF DVDs, don’t buy them on Amazon—get them second hand.