Meet ‘Oumayma’ (also known as Oumy), a 23-year-old fanfiction writer from Morocco. In the summary for a recent Shadowhunters fanfic, featuring Magnus and Alec (a.k.a. “Malec”), she describes it as “… the enemies-to-lovers cellist Malec AU nobody asked for.” We might not have asked for it, but it is beautifully written, not unlike classical music itself, the story is sometimes delicate, sometimes angry, and always capturing our hearts.
Describe yourself in three words.
Introvert, chill, funny (I think, at least; maybe people just laugh out of pity).
What fandoms have you been in and have written fanfics for?
As a fandom consumer, I’ve been in quite a few, (Marvel and Throne of Glass being the most prominent ones). As a fandom creator, Shadowhunters is the only one. I’ve also recently started getting into The Untamed fandom and I’m enjoying the new dynamics and characters immensely.
What inspired you to start writing fanfiction?
In the beginning, writing fanfiction was a means for me to get to know my writing style better. As a teen, I was mostly into writing short stories and poetry, which was great but didn’t really give me much room to get to know my narration style. When I got an idea for an original novel, I was terrified of writing a complex plot and full-fledged characters. Fanfiction was an efficient way to expose my writing and get instant feedback about my strengths and weaknesses. I didn’t realize how addictive it was as a genre and how I would fall in love with the idea of putting the same characters into new worlds, exploring their dynamics and reactions every time. I also see fanfiction as a do-over. It’s where you can fix problems you had with canon material, where you can give due to characters that were perhaps underrated or poorly executed. It’s basically a clean slate that allows you to give back to a community that embraced you.
What is your favorite thing you have written?
I love all my stories, but I think #2Cfic qualifies, mostly because it was a spur-of-the-moment thing that wrote itself in a way. On most days, I have to struggle to get words on a page and doubt them every step of the way. 2C was the only thing I wrote that didn’t change one bit in editing. It just came out exactly the way I intended for it and it’ll always be memorable because of that.
Tell us about your process. When you sit down to write a new story, do you plan it all out in advance, with an ending in mind? Or do you go with the flow and let the story lead you?
It’s a little bit of both. From my experience, outlining is crucial to a story, especially if it’s going to be lengthy. When I get a story idea, I’ll do a bit of research to see if it’s feasible and how I can make it work, then don’t force it. I think that’s a big part of the creative process. I let the progression of events play out in my mind, building the story brick by brick. Whether it’s in the shower or on a walk, I’ll let my brain work out the kinks in the story, taking notes from time to time until I have a definite beginning, end, and consecutive plot twists. This can take a day, a week, sometimes months. From then on, it’s a matter of splitting those events into chapters, then scenes. That’s where I let myself go with the flow. I’ll write the scene anyhow I want, letting the mood lead the narrative and the dialogue. The important thing is that I know what’s coming next. I find that it’s reassuring and also helpful because I can then afford to write scenes out of order. If I just start writing without a clear objective in mind, I tend to get stuck somewhere along the way, just asking myself, “Now what?” and that just causes writing blocks.
Do you have an all-time favorite couple? If so, what is it about their relationship that draws you to them?
The answer is, surprising to no one, Malec. Beyond the stellar non-stereotypical representation they afford the LGBTQ+ community, Malec, to me, is what a healthy relationship is all about. Two equally strong individuals, coming together to offer each other a safe space to grow and be fully themselves. In my opinion, true love is in the details and that’s where Malec excels. They’re not a couple that thrives through grand gestures (though they are so good at those), they’re the couple that cares and comforts through small, inconsequential gestures that make up everyday life. A meal, a kiss on the cheek, a caress, a “how you’re doing?”, a jealous tiff, etc. In a world of angels and demons, they are fully grounded in reality, which is a very appealing concept for a hopeless romantic like myself.
What is your favorite fanfiction to read more than once?
Too many to count. The Shadowhunters fandom has an abundance of talented writers. I think I’ve read “Bright Lights, Small Town” by @L_ecrit and “If you got the money, I’ve got the time” by @jwrites_ a few times each.
If someone learned something from reading any one of your stories, what would you hope they learned?
Unconsciously, I always find that my stories gravitate towards a central theme of family and finding your place in the world. So, I guess the lesson I hope people take is, and Lorenzo Rey said it best, that “families can be made.” I’m a firm believer in that. Also, I hope that through my stories, people learn that they are always stronger than they believe, and that they can find a certain inner peace and strength within, if they surround themselves with the right people.
What do you love about Shadowhunters, and what inspired you to start writing fanfiction for it?
Authentic representation is definitely one of the strong points that made me fall for Shadowhunters, but I think what remains most poignant especially now that the show is over, is the found family trope. The dynamic between characters is my favorite thing about the show, and it was also the most interesting part of writing fanfiction for it. The idea that with every story, I could explore a whole new relationship, expose this hidden side of a character I never contemplated before. By reading fellow writers’ fanfiction, I realized that I wanted to create that for myself, this feeling of, “Huh, I didn’t think these characters would get along, but I see it now. They have an interesting rapport,” or, “I never thought this character had that depth to them, but now I see where it stems from,” and that’s how I felt motivated to go for it.
As a writer, do you have a special trick for balancing integrity and details of the original characters with your own plot?
I mostly try to stay as faithful to the characters as possible. When I’m attempting to write a character into a new world, I ask myself, “How would they react in this or that situation?” or, “How would they be in this or that profession or relationship?” It helps me know how far I can push my own plot on the character. It happens that I have to rethink my own creative process because it just doesn’t fit a character’s persona or it comes off as contradictory, and I think that’s fine. The most important thing is that your narrative needs to make sense. One of my favorite comments to receive is, “This character would do that.” It means that I was able to merge my world and the established characters seamlessly, and that’s the goal.
What has been the best part of your fandom experience so far?
The feeling of community is what stands out the most. You feel surrounded by like-minded people who share the same interests, who understand why you would cry for a fictional character and not look at you weird for it. It still astounds me to this day how much people care in this fandom. Virtual strangers you meet through a screen who genuinely care for your well-being. It’s beautiful. Moreover; it’s a very low-pressure environment. As an extreme introvert, I appreciate the idea that I don’t have to make a lot of effort to belong to the community. These people are here to stay, no matter my headspace. True, fandom experience isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, but I believe that you can curate your space by filtering out anything that causes you anxiety and only engaging in topics that bring you joy.
List your social medias and websites so fans can find you.
Twitter: @OumyLightwood
AO3: Oumy
