Meet Heather! Known as ‘Clockworkswan,’ she is a 20-year-old fanfiction author from England.
How long have you been writing?
Given that I have an awful memory, I can’t remember when I properly began to write. But ever since high school, I’ve known that I never wanted to stop.
How did you get involved in the Shadowhunters fandom?
When the casting announcements began. I’d read a few of the books and I wasn’t super invested, but my interest in the show was piqued, so I slowly infiltrated – oops, I mean joined – the cool weirdos that are the Shadowhunters fandom.
What is the appeal of fanfiction to you?
It introduces new layers, depth, and content to worlds with endless possibilities. There’s something beautiful in the freedom of fanfiction; no romance is too cheesy, and certainly no idea is too indulgent! It can be enjoyable but also tough. Fanfiction pushes you to interpret and examine rich worlds while building your own as well. Honestly, it’s a magical, diverse pocket of space in the universe.
What character or aspect of the Shadowhunters world makes you want to write?
There are so many aspects to explore, but a stand-out for me has to be the dynamics between the characters. The core characters are all complicated and complex – a dream come true for writers and viewers. Getting to explore what the show unfortunately doesn’t always have time to do is incredibly satisfying. I love writing from new points of view and seeing what happens between characters you’d never think would interact. The Shadowhunters world has an array of wonderful characters to do just that with.
What emotion do you most like to write and why?
What’s so enjoyable about writing is exploring emotions – both your own, and characters’ emotions. Writing encourages you to think deeply about why characters act certain ways, and what emotions you can bring out in your readers, too. Personally, I have a particular enjoyment for exploring trust, acceptance, and fear. There’s nothing as satisfying as seeing a character face their fears and grow from them. Overall, however, I’m a fan of bringing out conflicted emotions as a way to really represent characters as complex.
What is your favorite fanfiction trope?
Oh, goodness. But there are so many! I’m a sucker for a good ‘adaptation-from-a-film’ fic, especially when the author’s care goes into creating parallels or blending worlds together.
What ships do you ship, and why do you love them so much?
Hmm, surprisingly, I rather like this pairing between a Shadowhunter and a High Warlock. I’ll let you work that out. But apart from Malec, I also adore Jem/Tessa from The Infernal Devices series, because their love was always presented with such tenderness and respect. Surrounded by doomed lovers and ‘will they/won’t they’ cliches, Jem/Tessa have this beautiful power in the mature strength of their love. Overall, give me a ship with respect, trust, and passion, and I’ll be hooked from the get-go!
What’s your favorite scene you’ve ever written?
Hmm, that’s a tough one. One that comes to mind is a hurt/comfort scene I wrote in Chapter 17 of my agent AU fic, ‘Kiss With a Fist,’ after an attack on the Institute. It was one of those scenes that had many layers and was a joy to write and squeeze all the emotions out of. I got to explore inner struggles, but ultimately, I hope, represent the strength in Malec’s bond. It’s what I love about the pairing, and the show itself – the encouragement to keep fighting but to also let others in, to gain strength from love and support.
Share with us an out of context line from one of your stories.
“I don’t want to be a hero,” he says quietly. “I just want to be me.”
What has been the best part of your fandom experience so far?
So, so many things. The people are unforgettable, the artists and writers are insanely talented, and there’s never a dull moment. Like the show itself, the fandom’s diversity makes it a strong one. There are different voices of all ages, sexualities, and genders who come together to celebrate a wonderful show, to embrace our differences and present them with flourish and pride.
Like what you see? You can read Clockworkswan’s fanfiction on Archive of Our Own, or follow her on Tumblr and Twitter.
