Today, I bring you an interview with Kraftychik, admin. of Fanfic-n-tastic, writer and video maker.
Krafty and I haven't known each other for a long time, but once you get to talk to her, you'll see she's one of nicest people in the fandom.
I invite you all to get to know Fanfic-n-tastic and the lady behind it!
Q: Hi, Krafty! Let's get this thing rolling talking about your site. You are the owner and creator of Fanfic-n-tastic, could you tell us a bit more about the site?
A: Basically, it is a multi-fandom fiction site.
Q: What can we find there?
A: Much like FWAR and other sites like it, the site is just a place for folks to hang out, discuss their fav fandom(s), share stories, vids, artwork & just support one another.
Q: I know that you host graphic challenges. What else can people find on the site apart from contests? Are there recs, graphics?
A: All of the above. We are still fairly new so our membership is small, but we are gaining new members and new challenges are being hosted. In fact, we have an art challenge, Story Book Romance that is just beginning & will wrap up at the end of February.
Q: Oh, yay! Artists out there, you should have a look at this new contest. Could you tell us a bit more about it?
A: Basically, you use the two pictures that are given and you create a graphic with them. You can add any textures, other pics and even text if you’d like. Entries are due by the 14th, Valentine’s Day & voting begins the next day and runs through the end of the month.
Q: Excellent! I'm already brainstorming ideas to enter a banner in the contest!
This site supports many fandoms! Which one has the biggest fans/stories?
A: Right now, Twilight is pretty much dominating the site. I think it’s mostly because our members have heard about us through other Twilight related sites. There are a couple of Hunger Games authors there though, and we have lots of videos from different fandoms. I try to feature vids that I find on YT that are from different things that I find interesting.
Q: There are so many things to do there... how do you manage them, do you have any staff?
A: Not at this time. It is just me, doing my best to run things.
Q: Oh, wow! All alone? How can you do it? Have you been part of any site before Fanfic-n-tastic?
A: Yes. I was a member & admin over at EAB, a member at Tricky Raven & also at FWAR.
Q: So you have some experience on how these sites work! Now, how did you come up with the idea of creating a site like this?
A: I had been thinking of starting my own site for about a year, and when EAB had to shut down it just seemed like the right time. I needed a new home & wanted something that was not just about Twilight or any other fandom. That is why I made it a multi-fandom site so people from all over could come together and share their love of different stuff.
Q: What if I'm not a member of Fanfic-n-tastic... why should I join the site? What do you offer that other sites don't?
A: Well, we are multi-fandom, which I think is a bit rare. The members we have are very talented and have some great stuff posted. While small places might not appeal to some, it may be the perfect place for others. You can get to know everyone and find some awesome friends.
Q: Any future plans for the site?
A: Just get more members, have more stories and do more challenges.
Q: This place is new, give it time! I'm sure it'll succeed. Well, I don't know about the rest, but I would like to know a bit more about you, Kraftychik. How did you end up in the world of fanfiction?
A: After reading Twilight, I found the ending very lacking because #1 I’m a Jacob/Bella shipper and #2 I found it a bit disappointing that there was no big fight at the end. So, I went online in search of something to fill that void. I googled and found a great story on ff.net and began reading like crazy.
Q: I think we all were disappointed with the non-war in Breaking Dawn. I know you like more than Twilight, which other fandom do you support?
A: Hunger Games, Mortal Instruments, Divergent, Roswell (tv show), The Tudors & The Chosen Ones.
There are probably more I could list, but these are my favorites.
Q: Nice! I see we have some fandoms in common, we'll have to sit down one day and chat about them! That makes me wonder the next question, does your family/friends know about Kraftychik and what she does on her free time?
A: My husband knows about everything that I do. My family knows that I make vids, but they don’t really know about my writing. They haven’t really ever supported me in anything, so I just don’t tell them.
Q: I know you write, but do you also read? If so, what are your favorite stories? Fanfiction, books?
A: I am always reading something. I practically live on fiction sites and my nook. One of my favorite Twilight stories is Stay With Me by consumedbyapathy. One of my favorite books is Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire.
Q: Do you have any favorite characters?
A: Jacob Black. He is just the epitome of unconditional love. Need I say more?!
Travis Maddox (Beautiful Disaster) is the sexiest male I have ever read. He is the perfect blend of masculine, raw, passionate man & vulnerable, caring little boy.
Q: I agree with you there! Jake is just adorable and Travis is one sexy man! *starts day dreaming with Jacob Black and Travis Maddox naked* Okay, let's focus here, how did you come up with your penname?
A: *Laughs* I have actually been asked this once before by a friend. I had this friend in high school who was this crazy, fun girl. One year, she wrote in my yearbook that I was a “krafty little bread loaf” & she “loved me like a monkey”. When I tried to think of a penname, that popped into my head and I added the “chik” part and the name was born.
Q: Oh wow! I never imagined your penname came from that! That's a fun story! Anything else you'd like to share with us? Any secrets you'd like to share?
A: I don’t think I really have secrets. Unless you count that body I buried in my back yard two years ago.
Fun facts? Hmmm….I usually use my own experiences when I write lemons. ;)
Q: Oh my God! *change the subject and pretend you didn't hear about that body buried in her yard* *laughs* So, apart from administrating, you also make graphics. Banner and videos, right? How did you get started creating banners, videos? What led you to start making them?
A: I think I started doing graphics because I had a story that I wanted a banner for and didn’t know who to ask to make one. Since then, I mostly just do them for challenges on FWAR. I’m not very good, but it’s just fun.
Q: What's do you enjoy/ create more? Banners or videos?
A: Vids are my passion!
Q: What program do you use? Have you taken video editing classes or are you self-taught?
A: I use Sony Vegas. I am completely self-taught and am always trying to improve. There are some awesome vidders out there & I often look to them for tips and tricks.
Q: How long have you been doing this?
A: I got started with vidding not long after I began reading & writing fanfiction.
Q: That's a long time! Do you remember which was the first video you've ever done?
A: Oh gosh! I think the first vid I ever made I actually deleted a while back because it sucked so hard. This one is one of my first vids & is dear to my heart: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gn2i0EIAosU&list=PL563A82237C65A6B9&index=27
Q: That looks nice! Is there a particular genre, pairing or theme you enjoy making videos for?
A: I really love doing Jake/Bella, Roswell, Hunger Games and other fandoms like Pride & Prejudice.
Q: What inspires you when creating a video?
A: Sometimes a story will inspire me, songs and sometimes I just think about how much I like a couple together and that will get the juices flowing.
Q: Which of your videos are you most proud of and why?
A: I’m not sure I really have one that I’m most proud of. There are some that I look back & just hate because I realize a mistake, but then others that just make me cry.
Q: Vidding looks like a very complex thing to do... What do you enjoy more during the process of creating? What do you dislike the most?
A: I enjoy finding the right scenes to fit a song. I dislike the time it takes to render a vid because sometimes it can take over an hour.
Q: So apart from needing lots of free time to create a video, what else do you recommend for new video makers?
A: Just keep trying and have fun with it.
Q: Do you have any favorite artist(s)?
A: Vidders? Oh goodness yes! One of my favorite vidders is Verotruth. Her stuff is just epic! Another is TheDarkestxDreams. Her effects are phenomenal!
Q: We'll check them out, but first, we'll have a look at your list of videos! Do you take requests? If so, how can we contact you?
A: I would recommend they find someone better, honestly, but they can always go to FFT, FWAR or find me on Facebook & message me. I have done requests before, and I will sometimes just dedicate something to a friend if I get inspired.
Q: So if administrating, making videos wasn't enough, you also write! Why did you start writing fanfiction?
A: I read a bunch of stuff and had this idea of how I would have ended Breaking Dawn, so I decided to give it a shot.
Q: How do you come up with your story lines?
A: Typically, I will have a dream and that is when stuff hits me. But I do sometimes get inspired by a pic prompt or a song.
Q: So with the site still new and administrating it all alone, how do you find time to write?
A: It’s hard to find time, especially lately. I have two young kids that are constantly interrupting, so I usually write when they are hanging with their grandparents or when they are asleep.
Q: Oh, you're a mom! I don't know how you ladies do it, taking care of your children and still have time to write! When writing do you plan an outline or you start writing as it comes to you?
A: I can’t do outlines. Never have been able to because it seems to stent my creative growth. I just start writing and just let it flow. Then I go back and edit later.
Q: Now, most of writers normally go through writer's block, how do you find inspiration when the ideas just won't flow?
A: I really haven’t found a good method for that yet. Sometimes, I will do a drabble that is totally unrelated to the story I’m stuck on and that helps the muse to wake up.
Q: You've been here in the fandom, writing, for quite some time now, what advice would you give to anyone who's just started writing?
A: Never try to plan a story. Just let the ideas flow out as you go and then go back later and edit what you need to. Find what works for you when you write. I use music to fuel my typing fingers. Just plug in your ear buds and crank up that playlist!
Q: You'll have to share your playlist with me some time! Let's see if my muse finally wakes up from hibernation! So, are you working on any story right now?
A: Right now, I am stuck on Midnight Road, a Jacob/Bella fic. It’s a drama/romance where Jake is imprinted, but his imprint is different from anyone else’s. Bella struggles with it and ends up running away. You’ll have to read it to find out more.
Q: Many authors are now working on orginal writings, are you one of them? Do you have any original work?
A: I was working on a novel, but I recently decided to scrap it and work on something completely different, but I haven’t actually started on the new one just yet. I am fighting with the muse over ideas.
Q: Oh, that's fantastic! You'll have to continue it! How long have you been writing your own stories?
A: I used to write stories & poetry in high school, so I guess a long time.
Q: Have you thought about self publishing?
A: Yes. I believe that is the route I’m going to take if/when I finish my book. We’ll see what happens.
Q: Best of luck, Krafty! You do so much for the fandom, keep it up! Thanks so much for taking the time to answer to all my questions and for opening up to me and share a bit about you.
Guys, if you're looking for new fandoms to discover, I suggest you join Fanfic-n-tastic. This might be the perfect place to get started and find out about different books, movies, TV shows. Go, visit Fanfic-n-tastic!
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This was fun to read! It was great to find out more about Fanfic-n-tastic, too, as I find myself drawn slowly but surely to other fandoms that I'm itching to write.
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I enjoyed this interview! Can't wait to check out the website mentioned!
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