People, if you email us an don't get a response in a couple of days, please check your spam folder.  I don't always get to reply right away, but within a few days you'll certainly have gotten a reply.  And there are many times that I reply and then I don't hear back, only to get another email months later asking for help again.

Also, there are some people that email us asking for help, but don't include their pen name.  How are we to help you if you don't include all of the information needed to help you?  Please remember to include it in your email. :)

--Katie on 01/18/10 - 11:58AM 1 Comments

Congratulations to Nicole (evenangelsfall22) for being the Featured Story with Martini's and Mistletoe.  If you haven't read it yet, go catch up!  It's a wonderful story!

Also, the next featured story will be selected from the expected 18 exchange fics, and chances are it will be a series of them that will be featured.  There are two fics posted so far, and you can find those in our categories, under Challenges and Contests, and then as the January 2010 Fic Exchange.

Happy reading everyone!

--Katie on 01/03/10 - 09:53PM 0 Comments

We have been invited to participate in a fic exchange.  Fellow Sophie, Julia, is hoping to entice us to write again, and I couldn't think of a better way to get us old RL fic writers going again.

Having begun reading and writing for the Gossip Girl fandom, I can't tell you how lucky we are as Sophies, to have that many talented writers.  We have so many, and the only reason we don't have more fics is because only so few of us have continued writing.  So lets get off our lazy bottoms and get to writing!

Find more information on the actual exchange here.  The direct link to the exchange community is here.  The exchange is hosted at dreamwidth.org, which was started by former LiveJournal support staff, and it runs in a similar, but better way.  Now, you do NOT need an account at dreamwidth to participate, as you can post annonymously.  But if you have a LiveJournal or Blogger account, you can sign up for an Open ID account, which links you very nicely (I have opted for this option).  Another option is to get a paid account unless you can get a free invite from someone.  But I repeat: YOU DO NOT NEED AN ACCOUNT TO PARTICIPATE.  It is completely unnecessary.  If you already have LJ, use that :-).

I'm actually very excited for this, because I will also be writing, which I have not done for RL in a very, very long time (yes, I am ashamed).  And we are hoping to get some of our best writers to come out of retirement with this fun little project.  So please join us.  If you have any questions, feel free to post below and I will be replying to you with any questions I can answer.

--Katie on 11/28/09 - 10:43PM 2 Comments

Congratulations to Julie (ACE732) for being this month's featured author, and her story, Just Her Luck!  Click here to read her interview at the forum.  Don't forget to leave her a review!

--Katie on 08/08/09 - 07:05PM 3 Comments

Effective January 1, 2009, all inactive accounts will be automatically deleted.  An inactive account is one that might log in every day, but has never posted a review or added a favorite.  If this is you, I'd try to do something about it if you want to keep your account.  Writers need not worry.

--Katie on 11/21/08 - 08:17PM 0 Comments

Persuasion is this months Featured Story.  Congratulations to cuppa joe!

 

Congratulations to Nicole (evenangelsfall22)! She is this months Featured Author.  You can view the mini-interview at the forum later today.

--Katie on 03/01/08 - 02:04PM 3 Comments

Hey everyone!

After a long hiatus, we're bringing it back! It's time to nominate for featured author and story for the month of March.

Remember, we're only nominating right now so if the story or author you wanted to nominate is already on the list, there's no need to nominate it twice.

**Nominations end Sunday 2/24! Come on, let's start seeing some nominations here - too many fabulous stories and authors  on this site to not have more nominations than what we do! :)

--Nicole on 02/17/08 - 10:31PM 26 Comments

If you ever need any help with the site, logging in, or viewing stories, PLEASE, include your pen name in your request for help.  Otherwise, your request might go unanswered.

I'm always happy to troubleshoot and figure out what a problem is, but I can't help you if I don't know who you are.

--Katie on 11/25/07 - 12:20PM 2 Comments

Congrats to this month's featured. 

 

Worlds Together is the Featured Story for the month.

 

Featured Author Kavi Leighanna.  Make sure you read her interview in our forum.  Or just click here.  You can also leave her (or any past featured author) a message there. :-)

--Katie on 10/01/07 - 06:38PM 2 Comments

Hi everyone!  It's time to nominate for featured story and author for the month of October.

Please remember that we're only nominating right now, not voting.  So if the fic you wanted to nominate was already mentioned, you don't have to nominate it twice.

--Katie on 09/08/07 - 10:39AM 5 Comments

Couldn't help myself so here it is, this months featured author inverview with Liane :)

Congratulations Liane for being this months Featured Author and Story with Ode to the Avocado.

By popular vote and request of a number of people, we are also featuring Lorelai's Heart. *sigh*  It will forever be one of my personal favorites.  The kind you never get tired of reading over and over and over.  So after reading below, go read! (or re-read)



1.    How did you discover the world of fan fiction?

I spent a lot of time one summer two years ago in Fanforum, and there was a thread that dealt with Gilmore Girls fanfic. The idea was foreign to me, that fans actually wrote their own versions of the show. I didn't think I would like reading it--I was thinking I liked the show well enough as it is, why bother reading other people's take on it? Sure enough, the first few I browsed through were sort of meh... Then I discovered "Kismet", by Kit--one of them "classics", which I thoroughly loved and enjoyed. I was intrigued with the new facets she revealed with these old, familiar characters. I was hooked from then on. I don't read fan fiction other than Gilmore Girls, though, and I confess I don't read much of it at all now, other than a couple of stories I'm following through to the end.



2.    What is your favorite Gilmore Girls episode and why?

Can I say all of Season 1? Classic, funny, quick, heartwarming, real. None of the heartwrenching shipping (yet). And can I say all of Season 5? Because of the heartwrenching shipping , and the different dynamic that Logan and a maturing Rory brought to the show. "You Jump, I Jump, Jack", and "But I'm A Gilmore" are the two episodes that remain the quintessential Rory-and-Logan for me. It's how they started, how they officially became a couple; those episodes showcase how they are.


3.   When did you first become interested in Rory and Logan?

Again, in "You Jump, I Jump, Jack". Logan's spontaneity and spiritedness and intelligence was the perfect complement to Rory's careful, grounded nature. The sparks were flying when they dropped from the scaffold! The umbrellas, the ballgowns and tuxes, the held hands--I confess I got caught up in the romance (without the cheese) of it all. I knew then that Logan was the one for her (...and a hex on you, DR!).


4.    What is your favorite story that you've written and why?

Lorelai's Heart. I normally don't reread my stories, but this is an exception. I can read it over and over, as if I weren't the author! It challenged me (I had written it for a Rory ficathon, for my friend Alida/fulfilled); it is based on a passage from The Time Traveler's Wife, one of my most favorite novels. Before LH, I don't think I spent as much forethought and reflection on writing a fic. It was my first time
to write using Rory's "voice", and I really tried to develop her character and the conflict and emotions she was going through. Plus, I thoroughly enjoyed writing the "future" of Rory and Logan, rambunctious kids and all.



5.    For many of us fan fiction is a guilty pleasure. How many people in your everyday life know you write/read fan fiction?

No one. When you say fan fiction is a guilty pleasure, it really, really is a *guilty* pleasure for me! Because I'm a very busy person in real life, with big girl responsibilities on my shoulders. I'll probably confess it to my husband. Any day now.



6.    Are you ever tempted to change your future chapters because of suggestions or ideas in the replies you get, or just the overall reactions?

When I write, I begin with the end in mind. I have the first and last chapter (or the first and last paragraph, if one-shot) fleshed out, down to the visuals and snippets of dialogue, before filling in the middle. So I know where I'm taking the readers, despite whatever reactions--positive or negative--they may have. But even though I'm thinking "it's my story", I always try to make the experience interesting and surprising and touching to the reader. And I'm so gratified to get feedback that readers cried, or laughed, or enjoyed, or at least thought about what I've written. I really appreciate that.



7.    What is your favorite story that someone else has written and why?

I'll limit my answer to RL fanfic, or else my head will explode. Still, there are several--"Future Tense" by fulfilled, because of the whole gamut of emotions she manages to evoke in a one-shot piece about Logan in London; "Symmetry" and "She" by Lady M, the former because of the Lorelai-Logan dynamic, the latter because it is such a cerebral account of Rory and Logan meeting in an alternate universe; practically everything written by abc79de, because I simply love how she writes; "Banana Pancakes" by evenangelsfall, because it is fun and squee-ish and is quintessential Rory and Logan circa season 5. (*stops to breathe* Now you, go and read!)



8.    If you could be anywhere you wanted, and do anything you wanted, where would you be and what would you be doing right now?

I would either be writing or reading a good book in bed, somewhere in...oh, maybe some country in Western Europe.  There will be cheese and chocolate somewhere in the picture. My kids are taking their afternoon nap. (And their mother would be, of course, well-renowned in her profession, despite spending a lazy afternoon at home, woohoo!)


--Katie on 08/01/07 - 08:49PM 4 Comments

Due to spaming on the site, I've had to turn off the unsigned reviews.  But that doesn't mean we don't want you reviewing :-)

If you haven't done so, please register and make sure you're signed on to the site so you can review as you read. Thanks!

--Katie on 07/19/07 - 05:15PM 2 Comments

Congratulations to Lily for being this months featured author and also featured story with Giving Fate a Hand.  Read below to learn a little more about her.

 

1. What is your favorite Gilmore Girls episode and why?

This one is a toughy because no matter how much my romantic side loved the Valentine episode or the Hay Bale Maze one, those don't really represent their relationship to me. My fav episode is probably either Written in the Stars or Jews and Chinese Food, although I get a good chuckle out of But I'm a Gilmore too. I think that I like all of those because they were all such integral parts of R/L relationship advancement. If I had to pick one, then Written in the Stars--nothing like a beautiful beginning.  

1. How did you discover the world of fan fiction?

In 2000, I stumbled across a Jane Austen fan fic forum, and stayed within the Jane Austen realm for years. Eventually, I looked for some Harry Potter stuff (which, mostly I don't like) and then when I got caught up on Gilmore Girls a year ago and decided that Logan was too hot for words, I searched fan fic out for that since last season was so disappointing. 

1. When did you become interested in Rory and Logan?  Were you hooked from the beginning, or did they grow on you?

I had actually stopped regularly watching GG a year or so before. I never really cared for Dean. When I caught a rerun before the season with Logan started and found out that virginal Rory did it with Dean, in her house, on the eve of the open house for DFI, I was gobsmacked, and not in a good way. At some point, I caught another re-run and Logan's character was in it. And wow. That is one fine-looking man. I watched and loved what they did with his character, and I thought that maybe just maybe, he might be able to help Rory redeem herself. Until ASP left, I thought I was right. Crusties and raspberries to this last season! So I guess that's a long way of saying Logan and his character hooked me.

1. Where did you get the inspiration from your storyline(s) from?

Well, for GFaH, honestly it was a progression. When I first ran across a Rory/Logan arranged marriage story, I'm pretty certain that I burst out laughing and thought "yeah, because that would ever happen." I'm pretty sure that I skipped the story and read just about everything else first. Then, having an obsessive need to read more juicy R/L stories, I broke down and read the beginning of Happily Ever After. And it was wonderful. And I'm still sad that it was never finished. I read several other arranged marriage stories that I felt ranged from well-written but not ruddy likely to not so well-written and even less ruddy likely. I think it was just a progression for me, where I thought, I wonder if it could be done more realistically--showing both emotional and physical development on a more realistic pace. So I decided to take a crack at it. In any story that I write, I tend to need to know that it will be an exercise in my crawling into a character's mind and putting that down on paper (or keyboard). So that aspect was important to me.

1. Are you ever tempted to change future chapters because of suggestions or ideas in the reviews you get?

Tempted yes, actually do it, nope. I don't write off the cuff. I have an outline, so that I know that during a particular chapter the plot needs to advance in a certain way. Then while writing, the details, funny bits etc. just naturally come out. But I have to stick to the goal. So, while some of the ideas in reviews are great, they can't be incorporated into the story. I think it's tricky too because I've usually written 4-5 chapters ahead of what I've actually posted. So, by then, many of the suggestions are moot because I've already passed the point in R/L development for the suggestion to work or make sense. Some other suggestions, like them going on a date, I had always intended to do--it just wasn't on my outline until much later. I really try to keep the integrity of my outline as I write a story because I think it's too easy to get side-tracked, and then the whole package falls apart.  

1. What authors do you admire or inspire you? It doesn't have to be another fan fiction writer.

That's tough to say. Right now, I stand in awe of Liane's ability to convey such powerful emotion in Ode to Avocado (which is what I voted for :)). I suppose that my preference in fan fiction writers changes as my interests do. In terms of who I admire in fandom generally, a woman named Pamela Aidan. She wrote a 3-novel story of Fitzwilliam Darcy's POV of the entire Pride and Prejudice novel. It's extremely well-written. Doesn't start things without finishing them etc. And, what really makes my brain start whirring, she's been published. She did one ofthose "do-it-yourself" online places first that sold through amazon. When amazon saw how well she did, they notified a bona fide publisher and they made her an offer. And now they publish her. Truly inspiring that her love for a story and her fan fic is actually published and making money out there.

1. For many of us fan fiction is a guilty pleasure.  How many people in your everyday life know you write/read fan fiction?

I just confessed to my dearest friend in grad school simply because it's too big to not mention. Clearly when I have a glassy look and am typing a million miles an hour without looking at my case books, I'm not studying. But generally no, not even my significant other knows that I write :) It's my little secret. 

1. If you could be anywhere you wanted, and do anything you wanted, where would you be and what would you be doing right now?

Anywhere in France--especially the southern coast near the Atlantic. I spent time there years ago, and still miss it. And I would be done with school and actually working in my profession, or maybe writing. I have a fantasy of eventually becoming a bona fide writer. Fantasies are good to have.

1. Something interesting about yourself you'd like to share?

 I'm a mom to a younger child, in grad school, who left a good career to do something I've always wanted to do. i like to believe that it's never too late to do anything. Bonus--however unpopular--I would love to see CW pull their heads out of their ass and make a Logan spin off show. Without Rory. If they don't, I might write one anyway. of course, it will just be me and the crickets reading it.

--Katie on 07/01/07 - 09:20AM 4 Comments

The forum is back up!

We're still kind of under construction, but otherwise we're good to go.  Feel free to register and start posting :-)

--Katie on 05/25/07 - 06:34PM 4 Comments

Please nominate a story and author to be featured in April.  Make note that it's not nesessary to nomintate a story or an author twice.

--Katie on 03/23/07 - 07:18PM 13 Comments

We've posted a new challenge!

This is an open challenge for anyone who wants to participate.  It's to commemorate the 200th Sophie Thread at fanforum.com.  All stories must be finished by the time the 200th thread goes up, which might be in a couple of weeks.  All stories submitted will be added to the first post of that thread, and added to it's own special sub-category here at Illusive.

The story must include:

• A "200" theme.  You may choose whatever that "200" is.
• Rory and Logan celebrating.
• No LDB events.

Have fun people!  If you have any questions, email us at illusivexfic@gmail.com. 

You can respond to it here.

--Katie on 02/25/07 - 08:46AM 0 Comments

 

Double Congratulations to Lauren! (ALuv82)

She is this months Featured Author, and also wrote this months Featured Story.  Here's a mini-interview so we can get to know her a little better.  Enjoy :-)

1. What is your favorite Gilmore Girls episode and why?

 

So you go straight to the tough questions, huh?  I guess if I had to choose I’d say my favorite episode is “Partings."  I know a lot of people hated it for what happened with the whole Lorelai/Luke/Chris thing but I actually thought it was a really natural thing for Lorelai to do.  It was really heartbreaking but really true to their characters.  Lorelai had to stop hiding what she was feeling from Luke and in the end, she ran to Chris because it’s what she’s always done when things get tough in her love life.  Plus, of course, there was all the Rory and Logan goodness.  I laughed, I cried, I laughed at the fact that a TV show could make me cry so hard.  Logan and Rory have both grown up a lot since they got together and it was impressive to see them both react to such a painful experience in such a grown up way.  When Logan told Rory to ask him to stay and she said she couldn’t—I think that was a huge step for her; she was actually putting someone else’s need before her own—not something she’s generally been great at in the past.  Overall, I just think it was such a poignant episode that really showed what the characters are all about.

 

If I had to choose my favorite non-Rogan episode, I would say it’s “The Big One.”  Who doesn’t love a good virgin outing on national television?

 

1. When did you become interested in writing Rory and Logan fan fiction?

 

Hmm, well I first became interested in writing fan fiction back in my Buffy obsessed days.  After Buffy went off the air I kind of lost interest.  Then one day I was looking up something about Gilmore Girls, I can’t remember what, and I came across a Rogan fan fic and it just kind of renewed my interest.  I started reading a few and then not too long after I decided to take a stab at writing one and thus was born Skip a Beat.

 

1. How did you discover the world of fan fiction?  Is this your first time writing it?

 

Hmm, well I sort of mentioned that above but I guess I’ll go into a bit more detail here.  I believe it was the fourth season of Buffy and I was looking for some spoilers when I came across a site The Buffy Cross and Stake.  It was a spoiler board and people there posted a lot of fan fiction as well as other stuff like wallpapers and whatnot.  So, along with satisfying my spoiler cravings, it opened up a whole new interest area for me.

 

1. What is your preferred time of day to write?

 

It’s difficult for me to pinpoint a preferred time because as a vet student I have a very erratic schedule.  It’s pretty much whenever I have time.  Usually, I’d say I like to write in the afternoons right after I get home from school…when I get home from school at a reasonable hour that is, which is becoming more and more of a rarity unfortunately.  But again, mostly it’s just whenever I have the time.

 

1. Where did you get the inspiration for your stories?

 

Everywhere.  Sometimes it’s a song, sometimes it’s another fanfic, and sometimes it’s just a quote that turns into a conversation that turns into a story.  It’s hard to pinpoint just one place that my ideas come from.

 

1. Are you ever tempted to change your future chapters because of suggestions or ideas in the feedback you get?  

 

No.  I pretty much know where my story is going when I start writing it and it’s set in stone.  I will add minor things here and there as filler chapters, based on suggestions like, “will you bring Honor back?” or if a few people mention wanting to see a reaction or something that I hadn’t considered adding, but I never change my plot.  I often get a lot of pressure in my reviews to rush things and I guess you could technically say I feel “tempted” but I never seriously consider changing it.  I know sometimes people get frustrated because I tend to drag things out, but in the end, I think my stories benefit from me knowing exactly what I want them to be.

 

1. For many of us fan fiction is a guilty pleasure.  How many people in your everyday life know you write/read fan fiction?

 

To be perfectly honest, hardly any.  I think my family knows, but that’s about it.  I think my old roommates thought I did a lot more studying than I actually did.  I think I partially feel guilty for writing when I should be studying and I don’t like my friends at school to know because they’ll think I’m a slacker or something.

 

1. If you could be anywhere you wanted, and do anything you wanted, where would you be and what would you be doing?

 

I’d be a couple of years in the future, actually a vet and not just a vet student with crappy hours and no pay.  I’m basically at that stage now where I work in the hospital at school only I have 12+ hour days, minimal respect, and I pay them tens of thousands of dollars instead of getting a salary.  If I could, I’d fast forward a bit and I’d be working in New York City with a fabulous apartment I can’t afford and a little bit of freedom with my time.

 

 

--Katie on 02/01/07 - 04:46AM 3 Comments

Have you Sophies or supporters of the Rory-Logan pairing been hankering for more screentime, and a more substantial story arc, for Rory Gilmore and Logan Huntzberger?

If yes, then participate in the Ace of Hearts campaign, where you can contact the executives of the CW and GG to express your sentiments. Visit the campaign site for more information: Ace of Hearts

--Liane on 01/21/07 - 04:00PM 0 Comments

Hi everyone!

I've added the Featured Author option again.  If there is an author you'd like to nominate for next month, let us know here.

--Katie on 01/11/07 - 09:23PM 2 Comments

Happy New Year everyone!

And congratulations to cuppa joe and Mayflies for making the Featured Story of the Month.

--Katie on 12/31/06 - 08:58PM 1 Comments

Submissions are now open again.  I also added a new skin, with the pretty banner courtesy of Jill :-)

To all readers, please nominate a story for the featured story of the month here.  Just leave us a comment.  I'll be updating the poll soon, and we can have a new Featured Story by January.No big opening announcement has been officially made yet, as we're still sorting some minor things out.

--Katie on 12/18/06 - 07:34AM 4 Comments

Attention EVERYONE!

In case you haven't noticed here, or read a status posted at ff.net, we're up and running on a READ ONLY basis.

That means that if you're an author, you currently don't have access to your account/profile.  It means that if you're a reader and you try to contact an author, that author isn't going to get the message because they have no access to their profile.  It also means that one of your stories will be up, but another three are missing, or that you can't log in because you're not registered at all.

Please, pretty please be patient for just a little bit longer.  I know it's hard considering how much we've missed this place, but we are almost done.  I promise.  Everyone will have access to their accounts soon, updates will be posted, and all will be right in the world again.

DO NOT REGISTER IF YOU WERE AN AUTHOR BEFORE.  We will be letting you know what to do in a week or two.

If you were only a reader, please register and start adding authors and fics to your favorites, and do them a favor and leave a review.  The author will really appreciate it, and there's no other way to contact them at the moment.

As soon as we're done, you'll be getting the full details of what our life has been like these past three months, lol.  The READ ONLY basis is very temporary.  I had two options.  One, to put a coming soon sign up and keep you all really waiting, or letting you access us while we worked on it.  The mods and I thought this would be nice for all our readers, while it let us keep the control we need at the moment.

We are thrilled to be back just as much as you are.  We really appreciate everyone's patience, and we are SOOOOO incredibly grateful to everyone that's helped us regain the archive.  Your help will not go uncredited.

Love,

Katie

--Katie on 12/13/06 - 10:40PM 0 Comments

This is just a VERY quick note to all of our readers and authors.

Authors, please wait until we finish updating all of the stories to make any changes, add chapters, or submit new stories.  If you're trying to log on, email us at illusivexfic@gmail.com so we can send you instructions.

To all our readers, thank you for all of your patience!  Hang in there, we're almost done.

--Katie on 12/05/06 - 02:03PM 0 Comments