Ellana-san is a great writer who joined fanfiction.net in 2007 and archiveofourown.org in 2013. Sheâs written in French and in English for many different fandoms: Stargate: SG-1, Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, Stargate: Atlantis, Harry Potter, The Hunger Games, and Game of Thrones.
Iâve only read her Hunger Games fanfiction but I encourage you to try her other work. I loved her completed Hayffie story Itâs The Apocalypse, Sweetheart which I actually recommended here if you want to check it out. For Hayffie Iâm also reading her WIPs Invictus and Memory Lane which are two great AUs that she updates quite regularly.
This author also answers prompts on her tumblr ellanainthetardis and has collected them in Have A Drink Sweetheart. I am amazed at the quantity and quality of her work so check out her 49 works on ao3 here and her 103 stories on ff.net here.
I love her work and she gracefully answered some questions:
1. How did you discover fanfiction?
My best friend introduced me to the marvels of fanfictionNet when we were 16 during a very boring class in which they had left us with computers. No need to say, I was sold instantly.Â
2. Why did you decide to write fanfiction?
It's not that I decided to write fanfiction... As long as I can remember, I've always come up with scenarios involving my favorite characters well before I even knew what fanfictions were so once I discovered it existed well... it was only logical to write them down and share them.Â
3. Did you read fanfiction a lot before starting to write it? If so, from what fandoms?
I think I discovered fanfictionNet around 3 pm and I started writing around 6 pm the same day ^^ I started reading and writing about Stargate SG1 first, specifically Sam/Jack fandom.Â
4. How did you feel when you posted your first fanfiction?
Well... I didn't have internet in the very beginning when I started posting (yeah, now, I look old but internet wasn't as wide spread when I was 16 it wasn't something everybody has like it is now and it was only what... 9 years ago?). I wrote the story, then give them to her and she would post them for me. All that to say I didn't have the immediate stress of waiting for reviews because I was sort of remove from the process. But I always fret when I post something because I'm waiting for feedbacks and I always hope it will be positive.Â
5. Whatâs the story/meaning behind your username?
My username is actually the name of a character from a serie of books by Pierre Bottero. She's a very cool character and probably one of my favorite ever, sort of ninja-like. It's hard to explain because it's a fantasy book but she's the best character ever and Boterro was a huge influence on my writing. The "san" was added because I think "Ellana" was already taken and my friend was into Japan at that point.Â
6. What do you think is your biggest strength and biggest weakness in your writing?
Difficult question... My strengh would be that I hardly ever hesitate I think... If I want to do something that might seem a bit of a stretch, I will find a way to make it credible. I think I'm moderately good at finding coherent explanations for odd things. My weakness... Well, if we speak English fanfictions, it would be the grammar and maybe I'm lacking a signature style, if we speak French fanfictions I tend to ramble on and on and lose myself in details.Â
7. Do you write original work, other than fanfiction?
I have several ideas and I have some projects on the side but nothing truly definite. I lack time and I have too much fun with fanfictions for now to feel the need to stop and write original.Â
8. Do you find it difficult to work on several stories at once?
I would say it depends but usually no. It's sometimes difficult to jump directly from writing a chapter from one story to writing another chapter of another story but as long as I manage to keep them separate in my head, I don't find it too difficult. I often re-read the previous chapter right before writing the next one, not only is it good for proof-reading it also helps me get grounded in the story again.Â
9. Do you have a special ritual or certain things that you do when you write?
Not particularly... I sometimes listen to music but not always. When I write, the outside world tends to fade away.Â
10. Do you refer to the original material often to help you when writing?
It depends if what I am writing is close to canon or not. If it's a deviation from canon that stays close to it, I will often check references even going as far as keeping the book open next to me and checking regularly how it goes. But when I write on a fandom, I usually have a good knowledge of canon already (otherwise I can't get involved properly with the characters) so it's not always a necessity for me to go look for information.Â
11. Is there an aspect that you donât like about writing and posting fanfiction?
What I dislike most I think is the discrepancy between the number of "follows" or "hits" and the number of reviews. I will be honest and say I don't read many fanfictions anymore (because of time mainly and because I've become difficult over the years and I want quality so I'm picky) but when I do, I try to always leave a review even if it's just to say "I like it". Too many people give up on their stories because they think they don't have a readership.Â
12. What is the biggest challenge for you when writing fanfiction?
Transcribing the scene in my head into words. I've noticed that the clearer the scene in your imagination, the hardest it is to write.Â
13. What are your favourite fanfictions for the Hayffie pairing?
Well, I have a rec tag on my blog for anyone who would be interested but my absolute favorite would be Rose-Tinted Glasses by tamerofdarkstars (and her other stories in general) and almost everything Allonsysilvertongue wrote. Lately I'm quite enjoying her Raptors Out Of Containment story.Â
14. Who are your top 5 writers that you would recommend to check out?
Assuming we are still talking hayffie : tamerofdarkstars (AO3), Allonsysilvertongue (everywhere), Capitol Grasshoper (fanfictionNet), effies-scrapbook (fanfictionNet) and Tenacious_err (on AO3).
15. You've written in French and in English, do you feel thereâs a difference in your writing according to the language? How have you experienced posting fanfiction in two languages?
Well, there is an obvious difference because I'm not as fluent in English as I am in French. It's funny though because I find narrative passages easier in French but dialogues comes more naturally in English. I don't think there is much difference in posting according to language, people are usually just as nice and enthusiastic. It depends on the fandom really.Â
16. Have you had unpleasant experiences with some of your readers?
I have been plagiarized (is that a word...) a few years back which is never pleasant. And of course there are always some people so eager to get the next chapter in a story they would send you not very nice messages that absolutely irks me because there is no point being brutal or mean when you ask for the next part of a story, if the author isn't publishing, there is generally a reason (although that didn't happen in the thg fandom).Â
17. Do you think there will be a time when you decide to stop writing fanfiction?
Maybe, yes. If I ever get to work on my original stories or if I'm bored with fanfictions... But right now, I enjoy it too much.Â
18. If you could sum up your experience as a successful fanfiction writer in three words, what would they be?
I'm not sure I'm successful, what does that even mean? I can have a lot of review on a story but next to 0 on another... I believe it's the story that counts not the author but I will give three words to the readers who send me messages: pleasure, fun, grateful.Â
19. Would you have any advice to aspiring writers?
Write. Never let yourself be discouraged but don't sulk and bristle when someone criticize your work. I always say all criticisms are good as long as they are constructive. It's natural to be angry when someone says they didn't like a part of your story (or your story a a whole), I get angry too. It's natural. Then I calm down and I realize the person might have a point and I remember it the next time. That's how you better yourself, through a lot of practice. And that's also what's good about fanfiction, you have immediate feedback so it's wise to use it. And I would also say, a beta is always a good thing to have, someone you can be friends with not a random stranger, someone who understands you and with whom you can talk things through. I'm lucky on that front, I've always had amazing betas.Â
20. Anything to say to your readers and potential readers?
I have a catch phrase on my French fanfiction: Enjoy and Review! And I will add: thank you =)
Thank you again for doing this and for your fanfiction! Check out her tumblr ellanainthetardis !