Something kokopelli mentioned in another thread got me to wondering - how old are most HP FanFic authors?

Its been suggested that most are late teens, but oddly enough the ones whose ages I know are all a fair bit older.

Myself, I'm a 24 year old Undergraduate in Engineering, and a Paramedic/Rescue Technician.

So, authors, who are you?

I think you'll find that the average age of the authors tends to vary from archive to archive. Kokopelli was specifically talking about fanfiction.net and I'm fairly sure that the average age is under 20 there.

For those who have published work here on the Song, I would wager that the average age would be above 20.

Personally, I'm 30.

QUOTE (Mr.Intel @ Nov 10 2003, 01:31 PM)

I think you'll find that the average age of the authors tends to vary from archive to archive. Kokopelli was specifically talking about fanfiction.net and I'm fairly sure that the average age is under 20 there. For those who have published work here on the Song, I would wager that the average age would be above 20. Personally, I'm 30.

Good point. I'd still be interested in the ages of authors here. I'm afraid this is the only archive where I read discussion bboards, so this is the only place I can get info.

I would agree with Mr.Intel and guess that the average age here would be higher.

The reason for the average age difference is likely because sites that beta stories tend to attract better writers and its the older writers who have had more experience writing, that post their work on those sites. Other sites that don't beta their stories have more young writers because they accept almost any stories and so they post their work there seeking recognition.

As for me I'm 15.

I'm ancient, and that's all you need to know (although my author name pretty much screams out the nasty truth)....

I'm 18, and would like to point out that none us has answered the question 'who are you'. That's a complicated one, and defintely something I won't answer on a message board.

Joe, who inserts ninjas into the conversation when he has nothing else to say

I'm 30 as of Oct. 19. Beyond that, I refuse to say. I don't think I'm that easy to categorize in any case.

Aibhinn

I'm a stay at home Mum, supposedly working on my PhD in Consumer Nutrition. But dealing with a preschooler who is autistic (and currently suffering chickenpox) puts a bit of a damper on things, study-wise.

Stories pop into my head usually at around 2 am, in full paragraphs. On Saturday night, for example, 863 words of my latest story 'Pig' appeared in my head, and I came down to type it up...

Allie
around the same vintage as Mr Intel

Me? I'm a 36 year old wife, mother of 2 boys and caretaker of 2 dogs, a psychotic cat, and a bazillion fish.

I'm also a molecular biologist/plant scientist, handbell ringer and alto in my church choir.

I feel like I'm on a game-show or something.

-Julie (not published here yet, but I have something in my beta's in-box )

I am a 39 (almost 40--gasp!)wife and mother of 4 little boys, ages 2 1/2 to 9, that works outside the home for her sanity!

My profession is Medical Technology, (I have a BSMT) but I have specialized in Microbiology for 16 years, and I am currently the Research Technologist at my local hospital. I do specialized infectious disease testing and assist with lab projects for residents/doctors/nurses/etc. I also do most of my department's technical writing (including procedure manuals), and database building.

In my spare time (which I have precious little of), I enjoy my new hobby of creative writing, reading, and watching my boys do whatever they are currently doing. I also try to volunteer at their school when possible (I have 3 in school). I have also found I am really enjoying the experience of pre-betaing (and learning a lot too!)

Susan (one of the "golden oldies" of the site...and one of the new authors!)

Me? 32 yr old stay at home mom of 4 yr old boy

Holding down the double digits quite nicely at 46, married, 3 kids, batch of pets, government attorney by day, cub scout leader and writer by night (actually, I do most of my writing during the day, but that's another story).

JEC

a/k/a Kokopelli

The best writers are older (ducking behind asbestos for now).

I'm 18 as well - about to be archived here

As for who I am, you're right, that IS a difficult question to answer - especially if you're not quite sure of it yourself - so I'll leave it at this: I'm a university student living in Canada.

Who me? Me fortymumble (mumble = 7 ), University lecturer/Professional Engineer, married, two sons, two cats, too many hobbies -- of which fic writing is one. Originally from Australia, but currently domiciled in sunny Bristol in the UK.

All I can say is, if a man in 19th century clothing appears and asks me, "Who are you?" I'm callin' in airstrikes!

Phil, B5 fan and, so far, the oldest one to respond to this thread. Can (or will ) anyone here claim to be older, or do I get the Lazarus Long Memorial Official Site Curmudgeon Award?

QUOTE (Tarkas @ Nov 12 2003, 08:14 AM)

All I can say is, if a man in 19th century clothing appears and asks me, "Who are you?" I'm callin' in airstrikes! Phil, B5 fan and, so far, the oldest one to respond to this thread. Can (or will ) anyone here claim to be older, or do I get the Lazarus Long Memorial Official Site Curmudgeon Award?

Well, right now I'm wearing sweats and have no plans to follow up with "What is it you want? Where are you going? Who do you serve, and who do you trust?" so I think you can hold off on the airstrikes.

I don't think you can claim Lazarus Long when you're only one year older than another member. How about "Slipstick Libby"?

I'm a 24 year-old student of Art History. I don't have any children (nor will I for quite a long time) but I do have a cat - Molly - who I love desperately.

*is a 16 year old writer that wonders if he got lost*

Actually, anyone know if any response is sent if your story gets killed?

I'm a 19 yr old author who is about to be archived here!:D as to who I am?! I have no clue whatsoever!! I actually went to College after I graduated in 2002 for a year but then decided I had no idea what I wanted to go for and I thought I didn't want to waste my time and money at college trying to figure it out so I moved home and am just trying to find myself while working a part-time job and watching my 5 month old nephew! I write stories all the time but I rarely write my own characters and actually I rarely let people read what I wrote but I had the courage to send in one of my stories hopefully people will like it and that will give me more courage to send in another story maybe one that is actually a few chapters long even!

theres my 2 sickles

LUV YA
Katie
aka
oliverwoodubmine

QUOTE (Tarkas @ Nov 12 2003, 01:14 PM)

Who me? Me fortymumble (mumble = 7 ), University lecturer/Professional Engineer, married, two sons, two cats, too many hobbies -- of which fic writing is one. Originally from Australia, but currently domiciled in sunny Bristol in the UK. All I can say is, if a man in 19th century clothing appears and asks me, "Who are you?" I'm callin' in airstrikes! Phil, B5 fan and, so far, the oldest one to respond to this thread. Can (or will ) anyone here claim to be older, or do I get the Lazarus Long Memorial Official Site Curmudgeon Award?

Actually I want the old curmudgeon award. I'm a 59 year old writer. I have 6 dogs in the house (Collies) One wife and two cats, a wild imagination and I enjoy life.

Good Lord, many of you people have one leg in the grave already!!! *Ducks hurled objects*

Seriously, I thinks it's great to see how the Harry Potter universe captured the hearts of such a diverse crowds.

As to who I am? I'll let you know when the war of the voices in my head has died down and only one remains. However, the shell the voices reside in is currently 23.

LOL. Well, I think it's brilliant that so many people of so many different ages dabble in the world of fanfiction.

As for age, well, the older you are, the wiser you get. Hopefully.

I don't think age really matters so much as writing. It makes sense that people who are older write better - they've had more practice after all. And then you have people like me, who like sites like this because it forces them to improve their writing.

I think the beta system is genius. It's more fun than anything to get feedback, especially at places like this where more people read it than review it (well...it's true). One of the benefits of ff.net is you get lots of reviews - there are just so many people on that site. It's nice to have someone critique your writing. For instance, I honestly always thought it was "CONSTANT VILIGENCE!" until Amy pointed it out to me. (My mind works in strange ways...)

Anyway, I'm a young-un. Sixteen (finally!)

Chocolate kisses,
Bekken

Hi, everyone. I'm 21 years old, British and currently training as a student radiographer (X-Ray Tech to you Americans). I have no kids or pets at the moment, although i do have a younger brother.

I'm 24/M.
Let's put it this way. If I worked at the Ministry, it would be in a cubicle on Level 2. Which is not to say I work in a cubicle.

H.G.

I'm 15, and even if I do write sometimes, I'm Spanish so my English is far from being good enough for me to write a story in English(no matter what Faelaern says ).

As for who I am, well, I'm a high school student who will most likely work as a coder... in fact, I am working in a graphical MMORPG(massive multiplayer online role playing game) which should be playable in a few... months, hopefully, and I hope many of you will try it out *cough*shamelessplug*cough*

QUOTE (Bekken @ Nov 14 2003, 09:45 AM)

One of the benefits of ff.net is you get lots of reviews - there are just so many people on that site.

Really? I've found that to be distinctly not the case. I get more reviews here than I ever did on ff.net, and of a much higher quality in terms of feedback. When I first started writing I was ecstatic to get five one sentence reviews per chapter. I guess a lot of authors tend to get buried in the landslide. But I don't mind, as I've found a cosier home.

The beta-ing adds much to the quality, though. I agree wholehardedly about that. It's like a worthy-of-your-time stamp of approval--you have a much better chance of finding quality stories. And I *heart* my beta. She has taught me so much.

QUOTE

I don't think age really matters so much as writing.

That is definitely true. I tend to think age is not so much of an issue as people make it out to be. I'm 20, but I've always felt older than I really am.

I'm also a college student, so I guess I fit right cosily into most people's ideas of what a typical fanfic author should be. But I don't think that's really important, either. My writing has changed since I started at, oh, age five. But the fact that I do hasn't. So I doubt it will when I am no longer 20, and no longer a college student. It just so happens that my stories (for the most part) are all about Harry Potter right now. I'm ok with that.

The typical youth has a) time and energy and c) lack of responsibility which summed together equals TIME TO WRITE

Those of us who have slid around this sun a few more times have a) more experience (good and bad) and often perspective.

There are a number of very talented teens who are writing brilliant stuff, some of it stuff that I read over and over again. This being said, the reason I avoid FF.net like the plague is that the quantity (of wretched writing) takes on a quality all its own.

JEC

QUOTE (Gridley @ Nov 12 2003, 02:18 PM)

I don't think you can claim Lazarus Long when you're only one year older than another member. How about "Slipstick Libby"?

It's a bit late to be responding to this, but...

I'm thinking more Jubal Harshaw.

Aibhinn
("FRONT!")

QUOTE

*is a 16 year old writer that wonders if he got lost* Actually, anyone know if any response is sent if your story gets killed?

First of all, in answer to Lowet's question of a few days ago: if a story is not accepted, a note is sent out to explain why we didn't accept the story and/or how it can be improved, etc., etc. We don't just leave you wondering!! (We're not THAT evil!!! )


Secondly, re: who I am... well, I'll write that for my dissertation, ok? <G> But in general, I'm a wife/mom and teacher who's also working on her doctorate in sociology.

And I'm forty two <cough, choke, cough> ... so... yeah, there are plenty of us older fans around, apparently. <G>

~Sherry

*whacks Sherry on the back* Feeling better now, hon?

Yeah, well, I'm 35 and I work in Marketing Intelligence and Research. Great job. I get to be online all day. Just... like... here... *crosses eyes*

I tend to stick to writing... er... other things these days. I have some fanfic up and I will probably finish my multichaptered fic before I die. I think.

Jo (who might have actually replied to this thread before, but is tired and doesn't really mind replying again)

QUOTE (Sherylyn @ Nov 18 2003, 05:26 PM)

And I'm forty two <cough, choke, cough> ... so... yeah, there are plenty of us older fans around, apparently. <G> ~Sherry

Sherry, you mean to say you are The Answer to the Great Question about Life the Universe and Everything??

Wow!!

Allie

QUOTE

Sherry, you mean to say you are The Answer to the Great Question about Life the Universe and Everything?? Wow!!  Allie

LOL Of course!! I mean, if an HP-related "Founder" doesn't have those answers, who would??! (Well, besides JKR, but she hasn't yet deigned to speak to us personally yet! <G>)

~Sherry

*looks at Sherry's title*

*smirks*

Jo (in an evil mood)

I think age does not matter when it comes to writing. It surprises me most of the times to learn that the best fics I've read were written by authors younger than I was.

I don't know about the other fanfiction archives because I don't usually go into the discussion boards, I usually lurk around (like in here).

Btw, I'm 20, turning 21 this December.

QUOTE

I don't think you can claim Lazarus Long when you're only one year older than another member. How about "Slipstick Libby"?

Oh, I wasn't claiming to be Lazarus; I just named the prize after him. Asking, "Is there anyone here older than I am?" inevitably brings Methuselah's Children to mind.

And yes, I think I'd rather be "Slipstick" than Lazarus -- but it'd have to be the original rather than Elizabeth the clone.

QUOTE

It's a bit late to be responding to this, but... I'm thinking more Jubal Harshaw.

Urk... How am I supposed to take that?

Actually, if I had to be a Heinlein character, my preference at the moment would be Zeb Carter for one very good reason: the lovely and talented Gay Deceiver! I have a crush on that car... Actually, in another fandom, I'm reputed to own her little sister -- the multiverse's first 6D-capable motorcycle! But that's another story...

Phil, who is not going to explain why said bike is now known as Gabriella...

Hello,

My name is Jill and I'm a Harry Potter fan.

I am old enough to be Daniel Radcliffe's mother, but not old enough to be his grandmother. (I am happy to see there are fans here who are older than 44.)

I've been writing fanfiction for over 20 years. I occasionally write original fiction and have the rejection slips to prove it.

I am a 'database support specialist', which means I help people use the blessed database. (Mantra at work: "I get paid for this. I get paid for this. I get PAID for this.")

My current ambitions are: to get started writing my next (strictly AU) HP story, to send off another original story to a fantasy magazine (maybe they'll accept it now that I don't need the money -- see above mantra) and to learn how to spell "occassionally" I mean "ocasionally", er "occasionally" without resorting to a dictionary or the spellchecker.

As for favorite HP site (other than here): SugarQuill has some very good stories. Fanfiction.net has a wide range of stories in a wide range of quality. (I find that I average five reviews at ff.net for every one that I get at SQ.net. I find the percentage of thoughtful and helpful reviews to be about the same at both places. I also find ff.net's user interface to be extremely user friendly. I've wrestled with professional sites that weren't nearly as well set up.)

Nice to meet you all, I'll try to contribute useful reviews.

QUOTE

I find that I average five reviews at ff.net for every one that I get at SQ.net. I find the percentage of thoughtful and helpful reviews to be about the same at both places.

??

Am I the only one that this is NOT the case for? My ff.net reviews are outnumbered by my SQ reviews by... a lot. More than twice. I wonder why I even bother posting there, but for the few that actually have substance.

In fact, the only time I got any huge number of reviews was for the story that had the word "smut" in the summary (it was not smut).

QUOTE (BasilM @ Nov 22 2003, 05:32 PM)

In fact, the only time I got any huge number of reviews was for the story that had the word "smut" in the summary (it was not smut).

I know exactly what you mean. Before ff.net stopped hosting NC17 stories I had a couple of those up there. One story in particular recieved more reviews than all of my other stories put together have yet recieved, and in all places they are archived!

The strange thing was, it is not that great a story. I am fairly flippant when I write under normal cirtcumstance, and when it comes to smut I just cannot bring myself to take it in anyway seriously.

Oddness.

allie

Not technically a writer, per se (although I have a couple of plot bunnies rumbling around in my brain... but every good idea I come up with already seems to be out there done by someone else... where's that Gryffendor bravery when I need it?) but I thought I'd weigh in.

I'm 44 and am amazed at the presence you youngsters (mere children!!!!) exhibit in your writing and in your lives. I didn't discover what I wanted to be until I was at least 35 and it's still in a state of high flux (I graduated with a BSN in nursing in 2000 - but I think eventually I want to get into some kind of nursing research/technical writing - I really don't do well with "bedside care" - but need to get some experience at it before I become credible to the rest of the nursing world...)

Before nursing school, I earned a Math/Comp. Sci degree which I never used, and then I had babies - and I was priviledged to be stay-at-home-mommy to my two daughters who are in high school now (or at least I had to keep reminding myself it was a priviledge - it's such a deadly difficult job much of the time!!!) and probably the world's worst "housekeeper" - which I still am but at least now that I'm "working outside the home", I have a semi-legitimate excuse for. My hubby is an electrical engineer and a Saint - for putting up with me for all these years until I could "find myself" - hoping some day to earn enough doing what I do so that he can retire early and persue his dreams (he's a self-taught classical guitar player - sooooo cool!)

Ah me. Glad to read a little about some of you that share so freely your gifts of words and friendship! Happy Thanksgiving to the Americans here - and a good weekend to the rest of you!

Well, I seem to be one of the younger authors here.

I'm a 15 year old French Canadian and that's about all I'll say as to the subject of who I am. (see profile for more details)

Toodles,

~SilverAries

QUOTE (ChaoticK @ Nov 22 2003, 11:35 AM)

I'm 44 and am amazed at the presence you youngsters (mere children!!!!) exhibit in your writing and in your lives. I didn't discover what I wanted to be until I was at least 35 and it's still in a state of high flux (I graduated with a BSN in nursing in 2000 - but I think eventually I want to get into some kind of nursing research/technical writing - I really don't do well with "bedside care" - but need to get some experience at it before I become credible to the rest of the nursing world...)

You know, it does my heart good to know there is someone, somewhere who didn't know what they wanted to be 'til they were 35. It means I have at least 3 years yet before I have to make that determination, cause I still don't know.



Delylah

QUOTE (Delylah @ Nov 24 2003, 07:52 AM)

You know, it does my heart good to know there is someone, somewhere who didn't know what they wanted to be 'til they were 35.  It means I have at least 3 years yet before I have to make that determination, cause I still don't know. Delylah

I'm 30 and have changed majors three times. Now I have a handful of classes left until I graduate and I already have questions about how to work my degree into my desires. Who said you have to stick with one thing in life anyway? Lack of a clearly defined goal hasn't stopped me from getting married and raising a family, or enjoying the non-work parts of my life. Part-time author, budding classical guitarist, wannabe funiture builder, pre-professional gardener, and former private pilot. Why limit one's self?

Well, I'm 51 (though I prefer to use the term 17 for the third time...) and when I grow up... Oops! (Been there, done that, used it to develop a really wierd sense of humour!)

Lets just say that the approximate 21,000,000 words of fiction I've written (Not to mention the 13, 501, 217 words for articles, reports, and evaluations) over the past 13 years (When I got my first wordprocessor that counted words -- I suspect that over my lifetime I've probably tripled both numbers, but don't want to reenter all that hardcopy ranging from handwritten (Circa 1960-ish)and manually typed (Post 1968) to my current Mac Backed Up Electronic files) were of uneven quality, though several large bits and pieces have been professionally published, and I've run through several genres of fan fiction (Anyone old enough to remember "Dark Shadows"? How about "Kimba, the White Lion"?) with overzealous enthusiasm.

Did I just write that in one sentence?

And it's obvious that Lazarus Long is a mere child when compared to the 2,000 year old man. (Mel Brooks will live forever!)

I'm a 16 year old student. And let me say that I'm attracted to sites like SQ, PS.net, (the old GT), and others like it is because of its higher standards. I like to finish with the best possible work I can do.

Dancer

[QUOTE=Delylah,Nov 24 2003, 02:52 PM] [/QUOTE]
You know, it does my heart good to know there is someone, somewhere who didn't know what they wanted to be 'til they were 35. It means I have at least 3 years yet before I have to make that determination, cause I still don't know.[/QUOTE]

No worries. My dad, who is 56, still asks himself what he wants to be when he grows up.
I've changed my major 5 times and will probably never be satisfied with what I choose to do with my degrees. I also think its a good thing that you don't know what you want to do---it says a lot about your inability to be complaisant and satisfied with the mundane (I have to say that because I have the same problem ) I'm graduating with an MS in Deaf Educ. and I don't really want to be a teacher...not really. I want to write but so does every other Tom, Dick, and Harry. *Sigh*

Just turned 37 here. The oddity is that while I've written little tidbits (mostly original) over the years (mostly within the last 7), this last few months has been the first time I've really been serious about writing, so I can't claim experience, despite my age *L*

I don't have anything at ff.net, but I find that I get 2-3 (or more) reviews at SQ for every review at FA. Haven't posted anything here, mostly because 1) Not sure I want to go through the beta process a second time (SQ and then here) and 2) My current project (a Susan Bones fic) is a bit off of the usual focus of the stories on this site.

Oh gee, I feel so little. 17 next month. *sighs* Well.

<Note to rdehwyll: I love your Slaughterhous Five Quote. Point of interest- "So it goes" is "S'il va" in french, and therefore my favourite french phrase. And I take German.>

QUOTE (Ashtur an'Vangan @ Dec 1 2003, 11:23 PM)

Haven't posted anything here, mostly because 1) Not sure I want to go through the beta process a second time (SQ and then here) and 2)  My current project (a Susan Bones fic) is a bit off of the usual focus of the stories on this site.

Usually when you have one beta its good enough for the other sites... I'm not sure how that works *here*, but I post my stories at Checkmated and SQ without them being edited a second time. You should ask the beta mums. And I know I'm speaking for most of us when I say I like variety!

Well, I doubt that my fics will ever surface here (naturally, since I keep deleting them after I've finished. Mad, you say). Although one of them did made it at ff.net (pen name is Fedilia).

I'm 13 now.


Here are my two Knuts,
Fedilia

Well, I'm 27 at the last count, claim to be a programmer, or at least thats what it says on my paycheck.

I've done a lot of fanfiction in another fandom, and recently moved over to HP where the people are nicer.

I also seem to be one of the minority, in that I'm male, but I don't let it get me down to much