UFG+portfolio

This Wikipedia page gives the history of fanficiton and tells about the different types. There are various types of fanficiton which take on various forms such as relationship to cannon, romantic pairings, crossovers, and alternate universes. Alternate universes interests me the most…it is a retelling of a story in which either different events happen alternating the story or the story is retold in another genre and setting. I think I am going to do this for my UFG project [] This Wikipedia page goes into more depth describing what alternate universe fan fiction is. It describes it is most often used when a characters history, actions, or place changes altering the story. It also lists examples of the most popular alternate universe fanfiction such as Star Trek and Harry Potter. [] I found this website very helpful in my research. I noticed that the world of fanfiction seems to have its own language, using terms and letter codes to exaplin certain elements in the genre. This website is some what of a dictionary or encyclopedia regarding the language of fanfiction. [|http://www.fanfiction.net/book/#] This is a great site for fan fiction examples here are thousands of examples of fanfiction from different categories including Twilight, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, To kill a Mocking bird. The list seems endless and is my main source for fanfiction examples. [] This is a link from the previous page that lists many fanfiction writings of Harry Potter mostly concerning alternate universes. They vary in length and topic. Some stories talk about different relationships among characters slightly altering the main story while other invent whole new characters such as Harry Potters brother. They show the wide range of ways a person can write fanfiction mostly revolving around a “what if” scenario. [] This is another example from the main page but it explains how fanfiction could be written in journal form in which each journal entry is a chapter and should briefly explain key points in a first person point of view.
 * __Annotated Bibliography__**
 * __[]__**

**__Users Guide to Fanfiction__** Fanfiction can be a really fun way to retell a story and change it in anyway you choose. Most fanfiction is not written for publication but for the purpose of the writers own enjoyment as well as the enjoyment of other fanfiction fans and are usually posted on the internet in fanfiction forums or blogs. Fanfiction is a form of fiction in which the author takes a piece of fiction already in existence and alters in a variety of ways. The author can make a change in the story that will affect the entire outcome of the story such as leaving one or both of Harry Potter’s parents alive. The author could also take the setting of a story and change that such as putting the characters of Twilight in 18th England. The writer can also write cross over’s in which a character from one piece of fiction finds himself in the universe of another piece of fiction such as Luke Skywalker as a character in War of the Worlds. The options are almost limitless due to the wide variety of literary and media sources. The point of fanfiction is for fun and a creative outlet. The author should stretch his mind when creating fanfiction and tell a story that they think is interesting regardless of if it stays true to the original text or not. It is also a great way for a writer to explore the creative writing craft for the first time because so much of the story and characters are already written for them, they just decide what the characters do and where the story takes place.

for my two examples of fan fiction I chose a retlling of John Milton's poem //Paradise Lost// and Washington Irving's //The Legend of Sleepy Hallow.// __**Drafts**__ **__Book 9.5__** Satan watched Eve throughout most of the afternoon as she did her daily gardening, and maintaining of the land, her work eventually found her in the vicinity of the forbidden tree of knowledge. She stopped her work and looked thoughtfully at the forbidden fruit dangling so lushly from the strong branches. She approached the tree in a dream like state of curiosity and reached to pluck a fruit when she heard the most seductive and dreamy voice she could ever have imagined. “Looks divine does it not?” said the snake as he slithered down from the tree. Startled Eve gasped and jumped back from the tree. “Fear not my fair lady, I mean you no harm, in fact I am here to assist you.” The snake said in the most lullaby like tone. For in his long sleepless night Satan developed the most brilliant plan, a plan that would not only guarantee his existence in the garden but make him ruler of the most wondrous place that could ever exist. Satan realized that the trusting God was all to trusting and this would be his down fall. In his anguish Satan came to realize the one and only way to defeat God once and for all. Satan’s rationale went like this; God’s existence depends solely on mans faith in him. For without mans love for him he holds no power over him. If Satan could, without trickery, get God’s own creation to outright and knowingly turn their back on God it would be his ultimate failure. And with God in such a weak state, Satan could take rule of paradise. And as long as more people in paradise worshiped him he would maintain the power necessary to keep God at bay. He would take God’s own game and play it against him. He would create a son just like God had and send this son to paradise and bring with him not only word of Satan but would also bring hell itself. He would keep his promise to sin and death and let them also partake in the happenings of paradise. However as a final insult to God the humans who populated this new paradise would welcome sin for he would show them the enjoyment in it. Eve is startled to discover that the voice is coming from the snake and through short breaths manages to inquire how the snake could possibly be talking when she has not seen any other animals in paradise speak the language she does. “I do apologize for startling you.” Satan croons “would you be more comfortable if I took a form you are more familiar with?” as he said this he morphed into the most handsome male specimen she could ever have imagined. His form was much like that of Adams except with darker longer hair, taller, more muscular, and with extremely defined facial features. Eve was simply awestruck; she couldn’t tell if she was more fearful of the morphing or astonished by the physique of the man in front of her. Satan slowly approaches her and reaches for her hand, she hesitantly hands it to him and stutters “Who are you?” “That my dear, will be answered very shortly and with all the honesty that I am promising in what I will tell you next. As I stated before I mean you no harm, I am here to present to you a choice and the choice is yours to make. I will tell you of two possible futures and you will choose which one you wish to happen.” With a hint of curiosity as well as fear Eve urged Satan to go on. “You have been put in the garden by God and have been told you may eat from any tree except the one whose fruit most entices you, this fruit tastes no different from any other fruit in the garden, looks just like all other fruit of its kind in the garden and smells no riper than any other here in paradise. Yet, you are drawn to it more than any other fruit, I witnessed you not moments ago dreaming of plunging your teeth into the bright red of its skin. The truth is you are only drawn to it because you are a creature of temptation; you are less of a creature than God for God has no temptation and for that I truly pity him. You and I both are creatures of temptation and no matter what we are told it is our blessing that we will eventually give into these temptations. How much longer will you be able to hold out? Certainly not for eternity, and when you do give in what do you think your punishment will be?” Seemingly to have lost her ability to speak Eve merely shook her head in fear of the answer. “Yes my dear Eve, it will be banishment from the garden. This beautiful paradise will be lost to you as it was lost to me. However I can offer you a different path. A path that guarantees you a spot as the queen of all you can see. You will indulge in every temptation you desire. In your current state you must answer both to man and God, but it need not be, you can be higher than God if you choose. I am Satan and that as well as everything I have spoken to you about is the truth. I offer you my hand in marriage and you and I will rule paradise for eternity.” * Satan reached for the sharpest branch from the tree of knowledge and sliced it across his palm; he then took Eves hand and did the same to her. Eve Then plucked a fruit from the tree and standing side by side, hand in hand, blood infusing in an eternal bond they lifted their heads to the heavens and each took a bite of the fruit. God nor his son nor his angels ever stepped foot in paradise again for this conscious defying act was all it took to defeat God. There was nothing climactic about his cessation, no bolts of light from the heavens sent to earth, no rumbling of thunder, no great whirlwinds, He simply vanished, the only proof that he ever existed took the form the lonely man wandering the garden and Satan’s new bride. The intertwining of blood and consumption of fruit was the consummation of their marriage as well as the plantation of the seed of their first son, Malcolm the god of passion as well as their first daughter Vevila the goddess of vanity. Malcolm and Vevila were sent down to paradise to complete the most important tasks they ever will. While Satan and Eve will remain the grandparents of the human race Malcolm and Vevila will be the parents. In the garden they found Adam and explained to him the turn of events but tell him not to worry he may see Eve again and be offered the opportunity to be her loyal servant in the new paradise. They tell Adam that his God is gone and he has nothing to worry about by denouncing him, and if he does and cooperates with them he will earn his place next to Eve. All he has to do is eat from the tree and give Vevila two children; one male and one female so that Malcolm and Vevila may populate the earth with his offspring. Adam refuses to believe his God is dead and refuses to denounce him with such a hideous act as that. Malcolm and Vevila try and persuade him by saying the fact that they exist as the son and daughter of Satan and Eve proves their truth. They also warn that they will get the children they desire with or with out his cooperation. Adam still holds God to his heart as he drops to his knees in prayer. Malcolm proceeds to physically restrain Adams protests as he attempts to ward off Vevila but his struggles prove useless against the much stronger couple. Satisfied that she has conceived twins (one male and one female) she signals to Malcolm that their work here is done. Malcolm looks Adam in the eye with a tone of sorrow says “your future will thank you.” Adam then bursts into flames for a mere second leaving no remnants in this garden of paradise. * While Satan and Eve watched from the highest mountain in paradise their two offspring populated the rest of paradise and with the help of Sin and Death Satan’s paradise took shape. The population lived their life in a state of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, acedia, envy, pride, and vainglory. As ordered from Malcolm and Vevila the humans who lived in this state did so in respect of Adam, the human who never got the chance to live on paradise as humans should.
 * NOTE**
 * __“The Marriage”__**


 * After the peer reviewing process the reader didnt really have much of idea of the events that came before this. So after reviewing the original work I saw that MIlton included an argument section to the poem, so I decided that I would include an argument in my piece at the begnining in order to give the reader a brief synoposis of what happened prior to when I change the events of the story.**

__Ichabods Journal__ The following is a selection of excerpts from Ichabod Crane’s personal journal describing the events from before his arrival in Tarry Town up to the events that took place after his mysterious disappearance from Tarry Town.

__August 23rd 2005__ FINALLY!!! I’m not going to lie, I was starting to get a little nervous. It’s been three months sense I earned my teaching degree, and the possibility of a job was getting narrower and narrower. But somehow things always seem to come together at the last minute for me. Today I got a call from The Hudson River Valley school district, they said they were impressed with my interview and offered me a job in Tarry Town. I’ve never been to Tarry Town, hell, I’ve never even heard of the damn place. But desperate times call for desperate measures. After doing some research online I found that Tarry Town seems to be a quaint little village, kind of like a small country town you see in the old movies. I thought it might be nice to get away from the city for a year or two, kind of collect my thoughts, relax, and get into some more of those crazy witchcraft books, which lately I haven’t been able to put down, especially that one by Cotton Mather “History of New England Witchcraft” I think it’s called. Anyway, my plane leaves tomorrow morning, and I must say I’m surprisingly excited about the whole thing.

__September 1st 2005__ Well, it’s been a week sense my arrival in Tarry Town, or as the locals call it, Sleepy Hallow. It’s a serene little village completely lacking all the excitement of Connecticut, which I am used to. I find a lot of common interest with most of the people here, which is good. Almost everybody, like me, seems to love horror and sci-fi flicks. I’ve been told that every weekend the local movie theatre runs a double feature B horror or sci-fi film night, can’t wait to go next weekend. Start work tomorrow, well see how that goes…

__September 4th 2005__ Not much to talk about, it’s been a pretty boring week. No incidents at school, the kids are all pretty respectable and eager to learn. I think I’m going to start teaching voice lessons again, I’ve got plenty of time on my hands after the school day, and could use the extra cash…believe it or not the Hudson River Valley School Distract isn’t the highest paid in the country. Plans for the weekend…Friday I’m Going to check out the double feature at the theatre and Saturday I think Ill head up to the local bar called Washington’s for a burger and a few beers, maybe try and make some friends.

__September 6th 2005__ Pretty awesome weekend! The films Friday were really good. The first one was a B film shot in black and white about couple who had to hide the fact that her daughter was a witch, but she was sick of hiding it and went on a rampage at her elementary school eventually setting it on fire. The second was about a family of devil worshipers who lived in a quit suburb, the neighbors found out and a lynch mob hanged them all. I don’t know why I see these damned movies, every time I do it’s impossible for me to sleep, I can never stop thinking “what if that really happened?” it freaks me out…but I guess that’s part of the excitement.

This fun night at the movies doesn’t even come close to Saturday. Saturday I think I may have fallen in love. So I’m sitting at the bar by myself drinking a bottle of bud and bullshitting with the bar tender, when this chick walks in and sits at a table by herself. I ask the bartender (Irving is his name I think) who the hell she is, he tells me her name is Katrina Van Tessel, but she goes by Kat. He tells me her family founded Sleep Hallow a loooong time ago. Her father owns damn near half the town, the bed and breakfast, the hotel, three of the towns seven restaurants, he even owns the bar stool that my ass was sitting in at that very moment. He went on to suggest that if I like my heart and neck kept in one piece I should let her sit alone with her vodka and tonic and let some other idiot approach her. He told me she’ll play me like a fiddle, the same way she does every other fool that falls for her. He then leans in and whispers to me to look down and the far end of the bar, but do it casually. I glance in the direction he suggests and find a beast of a man with a jaw line so strong it could cut diamonds. He must have been 6’5” and 300 pounds of pure muscle, even I had to admit he was damn good looking. Irving told me his name is Brom, but people call him Bones and he’s had his eye on Kat for the last year and half, and if I was as wise as any school teacher aught to be I should stay the hell away. Recalling on my high school nick name “Scarecrow” I decided to heed Irving’s advice, but I watched her reflection in the mirror behind the bar all night. With each passing moment and downed drink I grew more and more infatuated with her. Needless to say Sunday was hell.

__September 7th 2005__ I can not believe what happened today! A week ago I posted fliers around town about my teaching voice lessons. Today was the first class…she showed up! KAT SHOWED UP! I tried to play it cool, and act like I didn’t notice her from the bar Saturday night, but I’m such a stumbling buffoon when it comes to women, I’m sure she could tell I’m into her. But the odd thing is she seemed into me as well. The lesson went well even with my nervous stuttering; she seemed to think it was cute. After the class she wrote her number on a piece of sheet music, then leaned in and kissed me on the cheek with a little giggle and then left. This is all too good to be true.

__September 10th 2005__ Been texting with Kat every day, the more I talk to her the more I fall for her. She’s a real sweet girl, but that’s not the only attraction. If this works out between us I could live one hell of a life of leisure and luxury. Not at first of course, but she’s the only child and pops doesn’t look like he’s got too many years left in him. I’m just saying a vacation home in the Bahamas has always been a dream of mine.

I think Bones knows I’m into Kat, some pretty weird stuff has been happening to me throughout the week. There’s a strange dog that follows me everywhere I go barking at me, it never gets too close or seems likes it’s going to attack it just barks. Yesterday after lunch period I returned to a class room unexplainably full of smoke. I think Bones has something to do with it. I’ve seen him around town quit a bit, always on his Harley and griming at me like he’s mere seconds away from giving me the ass whopping of a life time. Whatever though, he’s just jealous that the girl he wants is into a school teacher and Mr. badass biker.

__September 11th 2005__ Got a text from Kat today inviting me to a party at the Washinton Bar (which her father owns) tomorrow. The party starts right after the movies. It’s going to be a pretty awesome night. CAN’T WAIT!

__October 15th 2005__ It’s been over a month sense I last wrote, and a lot has happened sense my last entry. I’m not sure even how to tell what has happened, I’m not even sure if I believe what has happened. I’m still scared out of my mind. I guess I’ll start at the beginning…

I was all ready to go to the theatre for the horror double feature then Kats party after. I got in my car but it wouldn’t start. I never was good with cars, so I asked a guy who lived two doors down from the house I was renting if he could take a look at it. He said he could fix it for 50 bucks but it wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow. I explained to him about the party and he offered to drop me off. At this point the movies already started so I just had him take me straight to the bar. I was the only one their so I had a drink with Irving and talked to him about how great it was going with me and Kat. Soon after, people began to file in. The party was a blast, plenty of good food and drink (which I indulged in heavily) I had a few dances with Kat which was amazing. Though the whole time I could feel Bones’ eyes staring daggers into my back, I didn’t care, I was dancing with my lovely Kat. After the band stopped playing everyone sat down at tables and began talking. I overheard Bones talking about the movie they saw tonight. Never able to ignore a good horror story I listened in, and I think Bones knew I was listening because his already boisterous tone increased in volume. He said the movie was based on a local legend.

The movie took place in the 1950’s and was a biker/horror flick. The main character was a 17 year old kid who couldn’t ride his bike fast enough; he was always trying to beat his speed record. On a dark night he attempted to break his previous record, while taking a sharp corner right by the town’s only church just past the bridge, he hit a wet spot. He fell off his bike but slid quite a ways. The paramedics found his body the following morning…headless. The head was never found and is assumed to have fallen in the river and drifted far form the town of Sleepy Hallow. The young man’s ghost is believed to haunt the town searching for a replacement for his lost head.

Bones was so theatrical in telling the story that I felt as if I had seen the movie myself. I got that feeling I always get when I watch these kinds of flicks, utter fear. At this point I didn’t want to walk home alone, so I asked Kat if I could stay with her for the night, much to my surprise she shot that idea down. Now, not only was I scared out of mind but I was embarrassed as hell. I figured anything was better than showing my face around here tonight, even a long walk home.

With the headless biker tale still fresh in my mind I started my journey home quite terrified and crestfallen. About 30 minutes into my journey I realized what I was approaching…the bridge in which the fabled biker lost his head. Upon this realization I heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle…but not just any motor cycle, it sounded just like Bone’s supped up Harley. I’ve seen Bones all around town on his bike, the rumbling of his engine is unmistakable. But as usual fear over took me and I began to panic, blocking out all logic, I ran as fast as I could, but no matter how long and lanky your legs are, no one can outrun a bike. I heard it gaining on me, I turned to look, and to this day I swear, I saw a headless rider. That was the last thing I remember seeing. The moment I registered what I was seeing I was knocked out.

I awoke at dawn soaking wet and groggy. Soon the memories of the previous night slowly came back. I looked around and all I could find was a black motorcycle helmet lying on the ground about 10 feet from where I was laying. Without hesitation, I took off my wet sports jacket, threw it to ground and ran like hell.

I reached the outskirts of the town without seeing a soul (I don’t know if I was thankful for this or not.) I called a cab from my cell, and that was the last I ever saw of Tarry Town.

__May 17th 2010__ New York is great! It’s always been a dream of mine to live here, and it’s finally come true. Me, Ichabod Crane, a Lawyer in the great city of New York, who’d have thought? What more could I ask for? I got a great job, a little extra cash in my pocket and a beautiful girl on my arm. Speaking of which I think I’ll take Kathy to the movies tonight, there’s a great little theatre in the Village that plays old B horror flicks.

__Book 9.5__
 * During the peer review process the reader liekd everything about the piece except for a few grammitical and spelling errors. So I kept the content of the piece the same but corrected the grammer and spelling mistakes.
 * __FINAL DRAFTS__**

__“The Marriage”__

__Argument__ As we last saw God’s beloved first creation, Adam and Eve in the first part of book nine they were sleeping peacefully and safe in God’s created paradise. After his eight day fall from heaven Satan made his way form hell to the garden gates. He cleverly sneaks over the gates and past the guards. However upon entering this beautiful garden he is suddenly stricken with great grief and sent into a state of anguish. This is caused by his first glimpse at the extreme beauty of the garden (it being more beautiful than heaven itself) and his realization that he will never be a part of it. He then finds a slumbering snake and enters it body. Adam and Eve rise with the morning sun and set about their daily chores separately…which worked to Satan’s advantage. Our tale picks up here with the disguised Satan following behind Eve as she goes about her daily chores. Satan watched Eve throughout most of the afternoon as she did her daily gardening, and maintaining of the land, her work eventually found her in the vicinity of the forbidden tree of knowledge. She stopped her work and looked thoughtfully at the forbidden fruit dangling so lushly from the strong branches. She approached the tree in a dream like state of curiosity and reached to pluck a fruit when she heard the most seductive and dreamy voice she could ever have imagined. “Looks divine does it not?” said the snake as he slithered down from the tree. Startled Eve gasped and jumped back from the tree. “Fear not my fair lady, I mean you no harm, in fact I am here to assist you.” The snake said in the most lullaby like tone. For in his long sleepless night Satan developed the most brilliant plan, a plan that would not only guarantee his existence in the garden but make him ruler of the most wondrous place that could ever exist. Satan realized that the trusting God was all to trusting and this would be his down fall. In his anguish Satan came to realize the one and only way to defeat God once and for all. Satan’s rationale went like this; God’s existence depends solely on mans faith in him. For without mans love for him he holds no power over him. If Satan could, without trickery, get God’s own creation to outright and knowingly turn their back on God it would be his ultimate failure. And with God in such a weak state, Satan could take rule of paradise. And as long as more people in paradise worshiped him he would maintain the power necessary to keep God at bay. He would take God’s own game and play it against him. He would create a son just like God had and send this son to paradise and bring with him not only word of Satan but would also bring hell itself. He would keep his promise to sin and death and let them also partake in the happenings of paradise. However as a final insult to God the humans who populated this new paradise would welcome sin for he would show them the enjoyment in it. Eve is startled to discover that the voice is coming from the snake and through short breaths manages to inquire how the snake could possibly be talking when she has not seen any other animals in paradise speak the language she does. “I do apologize for startling you.” Satan croons “would you be more comfortable if I took a form you are more familiar with?” as he said this he morphed into the most handsome male specimen she could ever have imagined. His form was much like that of Adams except with darker longer hair, taller, more muscular, and with extremely defined facial features. Eve was simply awestruck; she couldn’t tell if she was more fearful of the morphing or astonished by the physique of the man in front of her. Satan slowly approaches her and reaches for her hand, she hesitantly hands it to him and stutters “Who are you?” “That my dear, will be answered very shortly and with all the honesty that I am promising in what I will tell you next. As I stated before I mean you no harm, I am here to present to you a choice and the choice is yours to make. I will tell you of two possible futures and you will choose which one you wish to happen.” With a hint of curiosity as well as fear Eve urged Satan to go on. “You have been put in the garden by God and have been told you may eat from any tree except the one whose fruit most entices you, this fruit tastes no different from any other fruit in the garden, looks just like all other fruit of its kind in the garden and smells no riper than any other here in paradise. Yet, you are drawn to it more than any other fruit, I witnessed you not moments ago dreaming of plunging your teeth into the bright red of its skin. The truth is you are only drawn to it because you are a creature of temptation; you are less of a creature than God for God has no temptation and for that I truly pity him. You and I both are creatures of temptation and no matter what we are told it is our blessing that we will eventually give into these temptations. How much longer will you be able to hold out? Certainly not for eternity, and when you do give in what do you think your punishment will be?” Seemingly to have lost her ability to speak Eve merely shook her head in fear of the answer. “Yes my dear Eve, it will be banishment from the garden. This beautiful paradise will be lost to you as it was lost to me. However I can offer you a different path. A path that guarantees you a spot as the queen of all you can see. You will indulge in every temptation you desire. In your current state you must answer both to man and God, but it need not be, you can be higher than God if you choose. I am Satan and that as well as everything I have spoken to you about is the truth. I offer you my hand in marriage and you and I will rule paradise for eternity.” * Satan reached for the sharpest branch from the tree of knowledge and sliced it across his palm; he then took Eves hand and did the same to her. Eve Then plucked a fruit from the tree and standing side by side, hand in hand, blood infusing in an eternal bond they lifted their heads to the heavens and each took a bite of the fruit. God nor his son nor his angels ever stepped foot in paradise again for this conscious defying act was all it took to defeat God. There was nothing climactic about his cessation, no bolts of light from the heavens sent to earth, no rumbling of thunder, no great whirlwinds, He simply vanished, the only proof that he ever existed took the form the lonely man wandering the garden and Satan’s new bride. The intertwining of blood and consumption of fruit was the consummation of their marriage as well as the plantation of the seed of their first son, Malcolm the god of passion as well as their first daughter Vevila the goddess of vanity. Malcolm and Vevila were sent down to paradise to complete the most important tasks they ever will. While Satan and Eve will remain the grandparents of the human race Malcolm and Vevila will be the parents. In the garden they found Adam and explained to him the turn of events but tell him not to worry he may see Eve again and be offered the opportunity to be her loyal servant in the new paradise. They tell Adam that his God is gone and he has nothing to worry about by denouncing him, and if he does and cooperates with them he will earn his place next to Eve. All he has to do is eat from the tree and give Vevila two children; one male and one female so that Malcolm and Vevila may populate the earth with his offspring. Adam refuses to believe his God is dead and refuses to denounce him with such a hideous act as that. Malcolm and Vevila try and persuade him by saying the fact that they exist as the son and daughter of Satan and Eve proves their truth. They also warn that they will get the children they desire with or with out his cooperation. Adam still holds God to his heart as he drops to his knees in prayer. Malcolm proceeds to physically restrain Adams protests as he attempts to ward off Vevila but his struggles prove useless against the much stronger couple. Satisfied that she has conceived twins (one male and one female) she signals to Malcolm that their work here is done. Malcolm looks Adam in the eye with a tone of sorrow says “your future will thank you.” Adam then bursts into flames for a mere second leaving no remnants in this garden of paradise. *
 * While Satan and Eve watched from the highest mountain in paradise their two offspring populated the rest of paradise and with the help of Sin and Death Satan’s paradise took shape. The population lived their life in a state of lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, acedia, envy, pride, and vainglory. As ordered from Malcolm and Vevila the humans who lived in this state did so in respect of Adam, the human who never got the chance to live on paradise as humans should.**


 * __Ichabods Journal__**


 * The following is a selection of excerpts from Ichabod Crane’s personal journal describing the events from before his arrival in Tarry Town up to the events that took place after his mysterious disappearance from Tarry Town.**

__August 23rd 2005__
 * FINALLY!!! I’m not going to lie, I was starting to get a little nervous. It’s been three months since I earned my teaching degree, and the possibility of a job was getting narrower and narrower. But somehow things always seem to come together at the last minute for me. Today I got a call from The Hudson River Valley school district, they said they were impressed with my interview and offered me a job in Tarry Town. I’ve never been to Tarry Town, hell, I’ve never even heard of the damn place. But desperate times call for desperate measures. After doing some research online I found that Tarry Town seems to be a quaint little village, kind of like a small country town you see in the old movies. I thought it might be nice to get away from the city for a year or two, kind of collect my thoughts, relax, and get into some more of those crazy witchcraft books, which lately I haven’t been able to put down, especially that one by Cotton Mather “History of New England Witchcraft” I think it’s called. Anyway, my plane leaves tomorrow morning, and I must say I’m surprisingly excited about the whole thing.**

__September 1st 2005__
 * Well, it’s been a week since my arrival in Tarry Town, or as the locals call it, Sleepy Hallow. It’s a serene little village completely lacking all the excitement of Connecticut, which I am used to. I find a lot of common interest with most of the people here, which is good. Almost everybody, like me, seems to love horror and sci-fi flicks. I’ve been told that every weekend the local movie theatre runs a double feature B horror or sci-fi film night, can’t wait to go next weekend. Start work tomorrow, well see how that goes…**

__September 4th 2005__
 * Not much to talk about, it’s been a pretty boring week. No incidents at school, the kids are all pretty respectable and eager to learn. I think I’m going to start teaching voice lessons again, I’ve got plenty of time on my hands after the school day, and could use the extra cash…believe it or not the Hudson River Valley School Distract isn’t the highest paid in the country. Plans for the weekend…Friday I’m Going to check out the double feature at the theatre and Saturday I think Ill head up to the local bar called Washington’s for a burger and a few beers, maybe try and make some friends.**

__September 6th 2005__
 * Pretty awesome weekend! The films Friday were really good. The first one was a B film shot in black and white about couple who had to hide the fact that her daughter was a witch, but she was sick of hiding it and went on a rampage at her elementary school eventually setting it on fire. The second was about a family of devil worshipers who lived in a quiet suburb, the neighbors found out and a lynch mob hanged them all. I don’t know why I see these damned movies, every time I do it’s impossible for me to sleep, I can never stop thinking “what if that really happened?” it freaks me out…but I guess that’s part of the excitement.**


 * This fun night at the movies doesn’t even come close to Saturday. Saturday I think I may have fallen in love. So I’m sitting at the bar by myself drinking a bottle of bud and bullshitting with the bar tender, when this chick walks in and sits at a table by herself. I ask the bartender (Irving is his name I think) who the hell she is, he tells me her name is Katrina Van Tessel, but she goes by Kat. He tells me her family founded Sleep Hallow a loooong time ago. Her father owns damn near half the town, the bed and breakfast, the hotel, three of the towns seven restaurants, he even owns the bar stool that my ass was sitting in at that very moment. He went on to suggest that if I like my heart and neck kept in one piece I should let her sit alone with her vodka and tonic and let some other idiot approach her. He told me she’ll play me like a fiddle, the same way she does every other fool that falls for her. He then leans in and whispers to me to look down and the far end of the bar, but do it casually. I glance in the direction he suggests and find a beast of a man with a jaw line so strong it could cut diamonds. He must have been 6’5” and 300 pounds of pure muscle, even I had to admit he was damn good looking. Irving told me his name is Brom, but people call him Bones and he’s had his eye on Kat for the last year and half, and if I was as wise as any school teacher aught to be I should stay the hell away. Recalling on my high school nick name “Scarecrow” I decided to heed Irving’s advice, but I watched her reflection in the mirror behind the bar all night. With each passing moment and downed drink I grew more and more infatuated with her. Needless to say Sunday was hell.**

__September 7th 2005__
 * I can not believe what happened today! A week ago I posted fliers around town about my teaching voice lessons. Today was the first class…she showed up! KAT SHOWED UP! I tried to play it cool, and act like I didn’t notice her from the bar Saturday night, but I’m such a stumbling buffoon when it comes to women, I’m sure she could tell I’m into her. But the odd thing is she seemed into me as well. The lesson went well even with my nervous stuttering; she seemed to think it was cute. After the class she wrote her number on a piece of sheet music, then leaned in and kissed me on the cheek with a little giggle and then left. This is all too good to be true.**

__September 10th 2005__
 * Been texting with Kat every day, the more I talk to her the more I fall for her. She’s a real sweet girl, but that’s not the only attraction. If this works out between us I could live one hell of a life of leisure and luxury. Not at first of course, but she’s the only child and pops doesn’t look like he’s got too many years left in him. I’m just saying a vacation home in the Bahamas has always been a dream of mine.**


 * I think Bones knows I’m into Kat, some pretty weird stuff has been happening to me throughout the week. There’s a strange dog that follows me everywhere I go barking at me, it never gets too close or seems likes it’s going to attack it just barks. Yesterday after lunch period I returned to a class room unexplainably full of smoke. I think Bones has something to do with it. I’ve seen him around town quit a bit, always on his Harley and griming at me like he’s mere seconds away from giving me the ass whopping of a life time. Whatever though, he’s just jealous that the girl he wants is into a school teacher and Mr. badass biker.**

__September 11th 2005__
 * Got a text from Kat today inviting me to a party at the Washinton Bar (which her father owns) tomorrow. The party starts right after the movies. It’s going to be a pretty awesome night. CAN’T WAIT!**

__October 15th 2005__
 * It’s been over a month since I last wrote, and a lot has happened since my last entry. I’m not sure even how to tell what has happened, I’m not even sure if I believe what has happened. I’m still scared out of my mind. I guess I’ll start at the beginning…**


 * I was all ready to go to the theatre for the horror double feature then Kats party after. I got in my car but it wouldn’t start. I never was good with cars, so I asked a guy who lived two doors down from the house I was renting if he could take a look at it. He said he could fix it for 50 bucks but it wouldn’t be ready until tomorrow. I explained to him about the party and he offered to drop me off. At this point the movies already started so I just had him take me straight to the bar. I was the only one their so I had a drink with Irving and talked to him about how great it was going with me and Kat. Soon after, people began to file in. The party was a blast, plenty of good food and drink (which I indulged in heavily) I had a few dances with Kat which was amazing. Though the whole time I could feel Bones’ eyes staring daggers into my back, I didn’t care, I was dancing with my lovely Kat. After the band stopped playing everyone sat down at tables and began talking. I overheard Bones talking about the movie they saw tonight. Never able to ignore a good horror story I listened in, and I think Bones knew I was listening because his already boisterous tone increased in volume. He said the movie was based on a local legend.**


 * The movie took place in the 1950’s and was a biker/horror flick. The main character was a 17 year old kid who couldn’t ride his bike fast enough; he was always trying to beat his speed record. On a dark night he attempted to break his previous record, while taking a sharp corner right by the town’s only church just past the bridge, he hit a wet spot. He fell off his bike but slid quite a ways. The paramedics found his body the following morning…headless. The head was never found and is assumed to have fallen in the river and drifted far form the town of Sleepy Hallow. The young man’s ghost is believed to haunt the town searching for a replacement for his lost head.**


 * Bones was so theatrical in telling the story that I felt as if I had seen the movie myself. I got that feeling I always get when I watch these kinds of flicks, utter fear. At this point I didn’t want to walk home alone, so I asked Kat if I could stay with her for the night, much to my surprise she shot that idea down. Now, not only was I scared out of mind but I was embarrassed as hell. I figured anything was better than showing my face around here tonight, even a long walk home.**


 * With the headless biker tale still fresh in my mind I started my journey home quite terrified and crestfallen. About 30 minutes into my journey I realized what I was approaching…the bridge in which the fabled biker lost his head. Upon this realization I heard the unmistakable sound of a motorcycle…but not just any motor cycle, it sounded just like Bone’s supped up Harley. I’ve seen Bones all around town on his bike, the rumbling of his engine is unmistakable. But as usual fear over took me and I began to panic, blocking out all logic, I ran as fast as I could, but no matter how long and lanky your legs are, no one can outrun a bike. I heard it gaining on me, I turned to look, and to this day I swear, I saw a headless rider. That was the last thing I remember seeing. The moment I registered what I was seeing I was knocked out.**


 * I awoke at dawn soaking wet and groggy. Soon the memories of the previous night slowly came back. I looked around and all I could find was a black motorcycle helmet lying on the ground about 10 feet from where I was laying. Without hesitation, I took off my wet sports jacket, threw it to ground and ran like hell.**


 * I reached the outskirts of the town without seeing a soul (I don’t know if I was thankful for this or not.) I called a cab from my cell, and that was the last I ever saw of Tarry Town.**

__May 17th 2010__ __REFLECTION__
 * New York is great! It’s always been a dream of mine to live here, and it’s finally come true. Me, Ichabod Crane, a Lawyer in the great city of New York, who’d have thought? What more could I ask for? I got a great job, a little extra cash in my pocket and a beautiful girl on my arm. Speaking of which I think I’ll take Kathy to the movies tonight, there’s a great little theatre in the Village that plays old B horror flicks.**


 * I really enjoyed writing both of these pieces and feel I have made a decent amount of progress considering I have never written fan fiction before. Both of my peer editors said they really enjoyed reading the pieces and that I seem to have a knack for this style of writing. After reading the pieces back to myself I am pretty satisfied with how they turned out. I am especially satisfied with how the two piece are different but still in the same genre (one piece is a retelling of the story through a different medium and setting while the other piece completely alters the ending of the story.) What I would like to hear back about regarding these two pieces is rather the changes I made to the original pieces were enough to effectively tell the story as well as if they changes were enough in order to consider it fan fiction. I personally think it was executed well enough but another reader who is familiar with the original pieces should help me realize any changes that could make it a better piece of fan fiction.**

__Reflections of genre__** I over looked the amount of creative thinking and planning that goes into this type of writing. It isn’t a style that can be made up as you go along. In order for a piece to be effective fan fiction the writer needs to creatively plan ahead how they will change the story while at the same time keeping it close enough to the original work that the reader can still see the parallels. The mode of writing that fits this genre most is narration. Narration is the most effective way to tell a story and that is what fan fiction is…the retelling of a story. The conventions of this style of writing are that they expound upon or change an author’s original piece of writing in a creative way either by changing the setting or time, changing the characters, or changing the events in the story all together. These pieces are very rarely published and are mostly posted online for other fans of fan fiction to read. The topic of abusing conventions is an interesting one in this genre. The whole genre itself seems to revolve around abusing creative conventions. The fan fiction abuses the liberty of changing an author’s original piece of work in the mere thought of creating fan fiction. Other discoveries I have made about this genre is that it is not as easy as one might think. I found it pretty difficult in changing an authors writing, it almost felt as if I were doing something wrong. I struggled with keep the story somewhat true to the author’s original tone and ideas, while at the same time giving my own creativity. But, I also discovered how fun writing in this style is. After I set aside my reservations about changing an authors work I kind of looked at it as playing god in someone else universe. I had the power to change the characters and the outcome of events within a set of boundaries which made it challenging and fun at the same time.