I’m so thrilled to present this week’s interviewee, my friend and brilliant author Dana aka ElfyDwarf aka @youknowyoutried. Not only did she write the brilliant On Ice, she also gave us several fantastic one-shots, including Knock-Knock, Closer and Catch Me, If You Can.
GT: Can you tell me the origin of your username ElfyDwarf?
D: My username came about when I joined AO3. I'd been on various other sites before, with other UN and I didn't want to bring those fandoms and ideas with me as I'd outgrown them so I needed a new name. All my life I have been referred to as an elf and a dwarf (the fantasy kind) because I'm little but savage. So I just mashed it together and hey presto! Thy name was birthed!
GT: I think I don't need to ask where your Tumblr username came from... But can you explain what drew you to this line in particular?
D: It was a fluke, if I'm honest, to have picked it as I was bouncing off of another friend's username. Hers was the line before and I automatically finish sentences/lines in my head, or I blurt them out, can't help myself! So I changed mine to youknowyoutried and it's stuck with me. But ultimately, it has a deep meaning that I just didn't realise at the time. Mickey, at that point, had done nothing but try and try and he wasn't getting anywhere. But Lip recognised it. That was a turning point, I think, in how the Gallagher's saw him.
GT: Tell us a bit about yourself.
D: Ok, so I'm 33 and I was born in Los Angeles but raised in England. Where I'm from might give light to some readers as to how I write as I've had comments in the past about my use of grammar or spelling and when I've said I'm from England they've gone "ohhh it makes sense now!". I'm qualified in Interactive Games Development but I didn't pursue it, it was way too complex, and since my college days, I've had two daughters who are fabulous. I love the colour yellow and giraffes are the ultimate animal and because I can't have one, I've settled on a grey cat called Sípha who is incredible. The best walking fluff I could have asked for. What else... I have a joint disorder which plays havoc with my fingers (and other joints) so I don't write as much anymore, but I'm still here, and hope to unleash a new multi chapter beast at some point. I'm a friendly soul with nothing but kindness in me so... Don't be afraid to come with an ask or a simple Hello! Oh, and I've been writing since age 12, though that stuff is cringe, and in fanfiction from 15 when fanfiction.net was the big cheese
GT: What was the first fandom you read / wrote fics for?
D: The first fandom? Hmmm... I'm going to have to cast my memory stick into the abyss of my brain haha My first ever fandom was (so embarrassing) Gundam Wing. I read more than wrote and then I bounced into real person, which makes my skin crawl a bit, and went into backstreet boys. I adore them still so I cringe at the memory, but I drifted into Harry Potter, lord of the rings... I did make a solid friendship with a wonderful lady in Canada from the BSB days, who I still talk to now, 21 years later. Like you, I hope to meet her someday.
GT: Awn, that's sweet. I've made friends from several parts of the world that I still talk to over 20 years later too, I totally get this.
When did you start watching Shameless and what made you ship Ian and Mickey?
D: So shameless was a huge hit here, way before the US version was a thing, and I loved Mickey to bits but he was much more of an idiot and he and Ian were never end game. Ian married a trans man (off screen) from what I remember. Fast forward to US Shameless entering our lives. I had never heard of it! I was youtubing fan videos of Queer as Folk US for Brian and Justin cos I felt like crushing my soul with sadness and a recommended video came up with the best gay couples in TV history, or something, as the title. Not one to miss an opportunity, I had a look because I'm a sucker for gay TV icons being happy. Lock me up, don't care, they deserve love and representation. Anyway, I think it got to number 2 and there's the scene from the nightclub, the nervous energy, the 'fuck it' and that kiss! And up came their names and the show. "THERE'S ANOTHER SHAMELESS?!" I screeched at the screen. And with those characters looking like that and seemingly in a better love line than ours had. I YouTubed them.
And look what happened! Into the rabbit hole I went and I'm quite happy down here. It's been chaotic but my goodness, I love them. I think Mickey was the reason I boarded the ship. He was such a deep character and a beaut. Noel is magnetic and I think I only watched ten minutes of his Mickey before I was signing up to sail haha
GT: Was this during season 5?
D: I think I joined in season 5, but that scene I saw was from 4. Maybe I joined near the end of 4...
GT: When did you start writing Gallavich fanfiction? What made you start?
D: It all started in December 2015 and I don't really know what made me start. I think it was the combination of reading all the wonderful works out there and having an idea form in my mind that just kept pestering to get out was what kicked it all off. I started writing On Ice first, but published one shots while I worked on the first chapter. Knock Knock was the first, and within that month, On Ice was published.
GT: I don't need to tell you how much I love On Ice.
What does your writing process look like?
D: I'm old fashioned in how I write. First, I think on what it is and weed out what I deem useless points. I then note it down on paper and outline key stages, characters and all of that, I research madly if it's based around something 'real' like the Olympics, and then I start on it. I don't post as soon as it's done because I go back over it multiple times to make sure it's readable and flows, and once I'm happy, I'll post it. At that point I've usually got the next one started, too. I have notes and notes stuffed into my laptop bag! I also like to put the idea out to others to see if it's viable, too.
GT: What kind of fics do you write the most?
D: I think it's quite obvious what my top genre is lol - alternative universe. I can't be doing canon, it's hard enough watching it sometimes, so I stay away from writing it. I do read it though. I love AU as it's open for anything and I delve into smutty fires often, as you've read. I prefer multichapter but I've done a fair few one shots because sometimes you just have to get out those little side-pieces that get all up in your multi business.
GT: Do you prefer writing Ian or Mickey?
D: I prefer writing them both in equal measure. I love them both and they are so, so different that writing them together makes it so much more enjoyable. I do lean in Mickey's direction a bit more than Ian, though...
GT: What's the most fun thing about writing Gallavich?
D: That I have no idea what's gonna come out! Honestly, when I start writing, yes I have my plot points, I have my notes, but there's filling it in and there's really no telling what's going to appear on my screen. Especially when it comes to Mickey's dialogue because I'll get his voice in my head and his mannerisms and how he blurts stuff and lord knows what I'll type. Ian always feels more subdued but even he's like fire sometimes. Writing Gallavich is like eating from Forrest Hump's chocolates - you never know what you're gonna get. It's fantastic! I also love how acceptable Mickey's swearing is. Swearing is satisfying and funny sometimes, so I like the freedom he gives my muse.
GT: What's the most difficult thing?
D: Getting them across to readers the way I envision them. A lot of readers totally grasp what AU means, a good handful don't and that's where it becomes difficult. I get verbal abuse sometimes because my characters aren't as they should be. It's hard to keep them in character while they aren't required to be, do you know what I mean? I do my best but an AU isnt canon, they can be a little different. Adding in OCs is hard, too, because not everyone likes having outsiders in the Gallavich bubble. The hardest part is getting over my own criticism and low esteem, but then having mean comments...that's really hard. Helpful, constructive, yes please, but angry and demoralising? That's... Yeah, very difficult.
GT: What type of comments do you enjoy getting?
D: Oh, oh! I love getting anything that expresses that a reader enjoyed what I've written but the best? Those huge essay style comments that pick at each part of a chapter and dissect it with love for it and myself before ending in a high of "I LOVED IT" and thank you's. It feels like they're aware I'm a real person and are in the room talking to me and I feel on the top of the highest golden cloud after reading those. I vibrate with warm fuzziness! The best of the best are those where a reader will ask to find you on Tumblr and you become friends :D
GT: Who are your favorite characters aside from Ian and Mickey? Do you write them too?
D: Mandy, Carl, V and Kev. I try to add them in as much as I can because they are diverse and fun. I mean, Carl is an enigma, Mandy is strong and loving (Mickey's mirror), V is protective as hell and Kev is silly but as protective as V. Wedding scene, he's got the bat in his hands with a smirk. He comes across as a little dumb but he's really not. What's not to love about him? The rest all have their moments but not enough to rope me in.
GT: What's your favorite Gallavich fic that you’ve written so far and why?
D: I love Knock Knock because it's silly, but On Ice is the top. I love the winter Olympics and I really enjoyed picturing what I wrote as being part of it. I also enjoyed adding in OCs and giving Mickey and Mandy a better family life, as well as Ian, because there's enough hardship in canon for them, I like giving them a break. Plus, I just loved how well received it was. I felt accomplished when I had finished it and the love I got, and still get, overwhelms me to this day.
GT: What are some of your favorite fics and/or writers in the fandom?
D: I love @loftec, @thehonorarybeaumont... You know, I can't remember any other names but I loved Sexual Harassment in the Workplace [by @goodkwuestion], The Casanova Catering Conflict [by @damnnmilkovich], The Boyfriend Experience [by @jellovich], TIPDIG [also by @goodkwuestion]. I've got a lot bookmarked! So many that I can't recall the titles or authors but if I went down my bookmark list, I'd squeak "ohmygod thiiiiis!" As I find them. Honestly, the talent in this fandom is incredible.
GT: It truly is.
What are your favorite tropes?
D: Ooooh, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, strangers to lovers... Pretty much what they are, really, as they went from enemies to lovers. If you give me that, in any setting (roommates, living across the hall, neighbours, work colleagues etc) I will feast on it. I do like domestic Gallavich, too!
GT: What's a fanfic pet peeve of yours?
D: Peeve? Awful grammar and spellings. It puts me off really quickly. I understand we miss a few, it's natural, especially if someone types like lightning, but when it's every sentence or paragraph? Sorry, I'm out. You should proof read it and if you're not into doing that, at least find a Beta to help you out. I understand that English isn't everyone's first language but if you are aware you struggle with it, and are about to post in a predominantly English written group, find someone to help you. It'll only aid you, and there's plenty who will help. I also cannot stand flat characters - Ian's only manic or love sick, Mickey is angry and violent or so far up his own ass that he sees nothing else but his ego. They aren't flat. No. I also can't stand over-detailed works either. When I say this, I am deeply aware that I detail like nobody's business but I try to do it so that it works. You need to know what a room looks like, but you need not know what grain of wood the bookcase is, what wattage the bulbs are and you certainly don't need to know the thread count of the rug that came from a family run business in Italy and what their house and gardens look like. Do you see what I'm saying? Lol There's detail and there's detailed to death.
GT: What’s your favorite season of Shameless? Do you have a favorite episode?
D: I've loved everything since they got put in jail together. I mean, they're together! Their wedding was fantastic but these moments we've had since where they are joking or showing their love for each other are top level. I loved season 4 and 5 purely for their hair styles and Mickey's character development. Ultimate scene - the cop car.
GT: The "guess what, dad?" scene?
D: Yes!
GT: It's truly remarkable
What's your favorite scene with the two of them?
D: The "I love you" scene in prison. Mickey swoops in and protects Ian, he apologises for being selfish and wants Ian out and it's so wholesome to watch. Ian is raw in that scene, and their love for each other is so clear and they both see it.
GT: If you could go back and change one thing in canon, what would it be?
D: The Svetlana scene. You know the one I'm talking about. Ok, a baby was cute and only really served a purpose for Ian's mania but that child was never needed. Where are they now? Gone. That scene and resulting plot line were never needed. Never.
GT: I know you haven't written in a while, but are there any stories about them you'd still like to tell?
D: I've got one noted out and it'd be a big one if I ever get to it. It's an emergency services AU, Ian's a paramedic and Mickey a firefighter and I know, cos I've researched like a boss, that fire stations in the US have both in the same building. That one I would like to get done and out there. It would be an enemies to lovers, too.
GT: I do hope you get to write it some day, but no pressure
Ok, this was it. Any last words?
D: Thank you for thinking of me for this ❤️ I've enjoyed it so much! I'll do my best to be more active but you know where I am if you need me 😁
