You want me to write *what*?!

[dulcemia.livejournal.com]

Hi all.

Do folks ever write substantially outside their comfort zone, simply as an exercise in technical craft?

I'm prompted to ask chiefly because I have a fic request from someone that I would like to honor despite the fact that the pairing squicks my face off, but I thought perhaps it's also just an interesting general question.

It seems to me that more than any other genre, slashfic/fanfic is dependent on desire in order to be written well; i.e., most slash authors are driven to write by what they want to see happen between characters, possibilities for relationships and events that are foreclosed or unexplored in canon. In a sense, that's the fundamental (granted, abridged) definition of "transformative works," and I'm wondering if it's possible to pen a narrative that is truly successful - emotionally affecting and erotically- er... 'convincing'? - if one is writing a pairing that doesn't personally resonate. Or, to broaden the scope beyond my particular quandary, writing squicking content for one that does.

Apologies in advance if this question is deemed Wrong Comm - I realize it's not an H/D question per se, but that's my OTP, so I thought I'd start here.


(If the specifics matter to anyone replying, the request I received is for Fred/George twincest. I hasten to add that my blessings go with slashers all, whatever their preferred pairings and predilections; that tw/incest squicks me should not be interpreted to mean that I disapprove of it in any way. Live and let live, ship and let ship, and scones for everyone, my motto.)