Full interview with DAx on the subject of fan-fiction.
Interview conducted by Eurout writer faith for an article on the International Day of Femslash 2009.
Interview held on July third, 2009.

How long have you been a (fan-fiction) writer?
Wow...first question and you're going to make me feel old. I started writing femslash on October 28, 1995. That was the date of the first ever female/female kiss in the Star Trek universe (Rejoined - Star Trek: Deep Space Nine). Actually, to be honest, that was the first episode of Trek that I ever watched and it had everything to do with the promos that were running every 20 minutes the week before the show.

Why did you get into writing fan-fiction and how?
The exclusion of lesbian and gay story lines has been a long running tradition in both television and movies. In the early to mid nineties TV shows wised up and decided they could bump their ratings by teasing us as an audience in order to get us to watch, while never having to actually provide the pay off. This included shows that even seemed to be catered to our tastes and desires. Take Xena for example. If there was ever a show tailor made for lesbians, that was it. The relationship between Xena and Gabrielle was complex and intense, often sliding into sensual if not flat out sexual, and yet in the end, the Xena and Gabrielle that we actually got to see together were played by Renee O' Connor and... Ted Raimi? Repeat after me: WTF?? Sure, they flat out admitted that they were the reincarnations of our much beloved duo, but we still didn't get the actual couple! In subsequent years we were treated to innuendo and 'subtext' in all shapes and sizes (ie Janeway/Seven, Alex/Olivia, Casey/Olivia, Warner/Olivia...wow Olivia gets around!) but still no pay off! THAT is why I started writing fanfiction. I wanted these characters that I loved and valued to actually play out the story arcs that I wanted to see. And I knew if I waited I would be old and gray before it really happened so I decided to take matters into my own hands. My first story was a very small piece called Choices (It's bad, really! Don't read it!) that centered on Kira and Dax from the DS9 series. I wrote one more DS9 story, a much longer and more involved piece about Dax, before moving on to Xena. That is when I really got involved in the femslash community for the first time. And THERE you will find my reason for doing this for over 15 years. The people I have met and the friends I have made are amazing! There is a HUGE social network stretched around the globe made up of people who all want the same thing.

For our girls, whomever they might be, to finally have a happy ending.

Dammit!

Why do people write fan-fiction, in your opinion?
I can't speak for all writers, but I know why I do it and why some of the people I know do it. We are dissatisfied by what we are asked to accept and be happy with. Name one long term lesbian or gay couple in television that is just simply that. (And no Will and Grace do not count!) When we ARE given characters who are supposed to represent us, they invariably end up being altered to make them more 'understandable' or 'sympathetic' to the main stream. As a lesbian, I can honestly tell you that I don't just randomly decide I want to sleep with a man! That's just NOT going to happen. Hence, the lesbian thing! And yet, with the characters that are supposed to represent 'us' in the media, this is a very common occurrence! It is insulting and demoralizing and downright ridiculous. Do straight characters just suddenly decide they want to be gay for a day or two?

Why do people read fan-fiction, in your opinion?
I read it because... ok, yeah I am a sap and a hopeless romantic! I want the girl to get the girl and I want to get caught up in the romance and the story and just forget, even if only for a moment, that I don't get to see that when I turn on my TV.

That, and I'm subversive. Yeah! Fanfic Ninja...that's me.

What do you think of the International Day of Femslash initiative?
I think the IDF is fantastic!  Fanfiction is a cultural phenomenon and we need new blood coming in and supplying new ideas and visions in order for it to continue growing!  Visibility is key and so is making sure everyone knows just how loud we can be!  I know a LOT of industry people who quietly watch fanfic trends (Even if they say they aren't allowed to read it!).  We are a huge collectively creative voice and the IDF gives us a venue in which to set it free and make it known!

Who is your your favorite pairing and why?
Oh...wow. That is like asking what my favorite position is. They're all kind of fabulous, even when they suck... (Ok, you're going to edit that part yeah? LOL)

I like a lot of different pairings. Xena and Gabrielle, Janeway and Seven, Alex and Olivia, Olivia and Natalia. I guess I would have to say that my favorites would have to be the ones that were the most fun to write. And those would be Janeway/Seven and Alex/Olivia. They are so completely different and yet they both require a strict adherence to canon. J/7 because the Trek verse and all of its followers are SO exact about its history, and Alex/Olivia because, to write them, you kind of need a law degree and intimate knowledge of the New York City Police Department. Anything that makes me do research is wonderful because it expands my mind and makes me learn something instead of just making it up as I go along. I still have to shape it, make it fit...and that is the best mental jigsaw puzzle there is!

What's the best fan-fiction story you have ever read?
Well... In all honesty, the best fanfiction story I ever read was by K.E. Lane. I don't know that it could really be called fanfic... I think it was loosely fanfic at one point, kind of a 'what if' situation. It's called Playing The Role Of Herself and it's actually available as a novel now. (Support your author! Buy it on Amazon!) It is sweet and scary and funny and altogether wonderful! I highly recommend it.

And okay, if you're going to make me play by the rules, then I would have to say that my favorite, strictly fanfic piece would be Perchance to Dream by Otter. You can find it here: http://tenderware.home.gate.net/perchance.htm

What is the best fan-fiction story you have ever wrote?
Gah... that would imply that I have ever liked anything that I wrote. But I guess it would be a tie between Thin Frames (Alex and Olivia) and the What Comes After... series. (Janeway/Seven). The latter is hilarious because I SWORE I would never write a post-Endgame fic. LOL Blew that out of the water! (Yeah, well...I also swore I would never write a PWP... and I have at least 4 of those too!!)

Where can we find your work?
You can find the Star Trek: Voyager-Janeway/Seven, DS9, and Xena fanfic at Perfection's Home Page:
http://www.legionsofnephthys.com/j7fiction/

You can find the Law and Order:SVU - Alex/Olivia fanfic at The ADA's Office:
http://www.legionsofnephthys.com/ADAsOffice/

And you can find the Otalia fanfic at IncandescentFire. (Because I refuse to make ANOTHER website dammit!)
http://incandescentfire.com/index.php?showforum=251

Anything else you want to share with the class?
I have had several people ask me when the right time to end a story is. I think the answer is a great rule when it comes to writing and life in general.

Do it until your done.

Write, love... LIVE for yourself and it won't matter what anyone else thinks.

Long Live the Rabid Lesbian Horde!

This interview was conducted in accordance to the Eurout rules and regulations. Opinions offered in the interview are those of the interviewee and do not, per definition, reflect those of the Eurout staff. This interview belongs to Eurout, it’s writer faith and interviewee DAx. Do not use without permission. For permission please write to faith by using the following e-mail address, faithful_chosen@hotmail.com. Thank you for reading.