One of the many delights we receive from running this blog is connecting the readers to the writers of their favorite Richonne-centric stories. This month we had the tremendous opportunity to ask @cake-by-thepound some questions about her writing process, why she decided to write Richonne fanfiction and what her weapon of choice would be in the event that the ZA actually occurs.
Richonnefics (RF): What does your writing process look like?
cakebythepound (CBTP): It’s probably a little strange, to be honest. Before I start a multi-chapter fic, I study any relevant issues of the comic, and I’ll usually do a rewatch of the show. Sometimes, from start to finish; sometimes, just a season or two. But it helps me a lot in my outline, because I can draw from each character’s history as I’m trying to project a future for them. And once I get through that, I start on an outline. I decide on how many chapters I want to write, and then I detail what will happen in each. Sometimes this takes a couple of days, sometimes a couple of weeks, but I think it’s the most important part of my process. If I don’t have an outline, I can pretty much guarantee I won’t finish the story. (Haha!) As for the actual writing, it’s kind of all over the place. A lot of my favorite scenes have come to me while I’m in the middle of something else (like sleep), and I have to jot it down in my phone. Whenever I set aside time to actually write, it turns into browsing Tumblr and watching some movie for the hundredth time, because I'm terrible that way. So I write in chunks, I do my best to write in chronological order, and it’ll usually get done, somehow, within a week or so!
RF: Your process seems very methodical and organized to me. I do some of these things myself. Have you always enjoyed writing and why did you start writing Richonne fiction?
CBTP: Funny enough, I’ve never really thought about this, but I actually have. I remember being like 8 years old, taking drama classes, and I was so much more interested in the story on the page than trying to act it out. I wanted to know who came up with it. How do I do that part? And up through high school, teachers would tell me I was a good writer, and I suppose I kind of believed them. (College was a different story, but we don’t have to get into that, haha.) But I really do love the art of storytelling.
I started writing Richonne because I found myself shipping them as soon as I watched the first episode of S4. I had never really shipped anyone before, but this was immediate and intense, and by the time that season ended, I knew I was done for. They had me, completely. So that summer, I was searching for any stories I could find to quell my need for more of their relationship. But then, there wasn’t much to choose from at that point, and about halfway through the hiatus, I was either rereading the same fics over and over, or waiting desperately for someone to update! Eventually, I just decided I could write my own stories to get my fix. Because why not? It took a while for me to actually post them, but it was really about just wanting to expand that world for myself.
RF: The struggle is real with shipping and wanting more, for sure. What is your least favorite part of the writing process?
CBTP: Editing! It’s the worst. Like, I totally understand why Andy doesn’t watch himself on screen, because I often hate reading my own writing. On editing days, I spend a lot of time procrastinating, proceeded by a lot of cringing.
RF: *whispers* I love editing! (Tee hee)! What is your most favorite part of the writing process?
CBTP: I love outlining a story. There’s something very fulfilling about starting with just a kernel of an idea and expanding it into an entire journey. Before all the frustration of writer’s block, before ever worrying about how it’ll be received, it’s the very beginning of something new. And that’s pretty exciting.
RF: Awesome! Do you have a favorite fanfiction writer? If so, who and why?
CBTP: So as I mentioned, when I first started reading Richonne a couple of years ago, there wasn’t a whole lot going on. But the fics that I read repeatedly, the authors that inspired me to write my own stories, they’re the ones that really stay with me. So @jedi-master-aurora, @pennylane714, and the sublime @siancore, I have such great affection for, and I really can’t thank them enough for being pioneers of this Richonne fanfiction experience.
RF: Is there any habit you have to do while writing?
CBTP: Well, I do my best writing in silence. But I’m the worst, so I rarely actually do that, lol. I tend to end up using old episodes of Mad Men or Breaking Bad as background noise. And somewhere in the back of mind, I think I’m hoping good writing will breed good writing.
RF: That seems logical to me. I must try that tactic! LOL! Now for the fun, semi related question. If an actual ZA were to occur, what would be your weapon of choice?
CBTP: To be honest, I would definitely die within the first week of a ZA, so I wouldn’t even have time to choose a weapon! But imagining I’m a member of Team Family, I’d totally want Michonne’s katana. Silent and deadly - I can’t think of a better weapon in that situation. Much like Michonne herself, it’s perfect!
RF: Thank you so much @cake-by-thepound for allowing us into your writer’s world. We appreciate you and your wonderful stories so much. You can check out more of cake’s fanfiction here! <3
