34 replies to this topic

[Urvy]

Inspired by a piece that Mara wrote here eons ago about JN fan fiction, I've decided to throw my hat into this ring and discuss Betty Quinlan's piece of mind about her portrayal in the fandom, especially in fanfics.

This is dedicated to Stacy and other Betty Q supporters and JxBers and multishippers out there.

Good evening, fans. If you do not know who I am, I am Betty Quinlan, one of the many characters that appeared in Jimmy Neutron, which ran from 2002 until 2006. I maybe a bit player in the show, appearing in backgrounds and such, but I did have key roles in several episodes, namely "Party at Neutron's", "Out Darn Spotlight", and my least favorite, "Vanishing Act". But after the show ended, my castmates and I faced an uncertain future, since the final episode was rushed. This is what the fan base comes to play. As I read some of these fanfics on my computer day by day, some of those fics I'm flattered, but the fandon has its dark side. Some of these fics I found online breaks my heart. Why do some of these fics break my heart? I'll tell you my opinion on this...

First and foremost, portraying me as a seductress? Isin't that like unfair to portray me like that? I admit Jimmy had a crush on me, but me as a seducer?! What kind of sick mind would let the fandom portray me in this unfair light? To justify their love of Jimmy and Cindy at my expense? I think not! If someone who supported me and Jimmy together, would they do the same to Cindy? How would Cindy feel about that? Explain that to me! Sure, she is a self-centered, bullying, agressive girl, but she's 11! I'm 11 as well, and my brain hasn't been fully developed yet, neither is Cindy's. And some of these fics I saw online are brainless and too mushy, even for my taste! Two wrongs don't make a right, you know.

And about that whole villain thing... Oh boy, were in a controversial matter here. I saw a fic where it's unfinished, "League of Villains II" to be exact. This fic had me and April The Gorlock joining the League of Villains! SERIOUSLY? Me, in the League of Villains?! This is beyond ludicrous in this girl''s opinion. And April joining the LoV? That's ridiculous! And these fics were Nick is portrayed as an abusive husband/boyfriend? GET REAL PEOPLE! What did we do to you or Jimmy or Cindy? NOTHING! We don't deserve to be portrayed in a negative light for your stereotypical Jimmy/Cindy mush fests! Even Twilight fans have better IQ's than those who belong in the J/C Lunatic Fringe, and I don;t even like Twilight!

Oh boy, almost half of the JN fics I see are nothing but mushy love fests that aren't done very well. And why does it have to be couples all the time? A guy by the name of Urvy posted two fics that involved me, and only one of them had a me and Jimmy moment, but those elements took a back seat to the action where I've met this Batman guy. He's a pretty neat crimefigher and all. And he then did a 2nd fic as me as THE STAR! yes, he took me, a background character who made a few appearances, to be the main focus of his story. And I was a Galactic Guardian, filling in for this other Betty Urvy likes. And you know what? That story had almost no traces of the relationship me and Jimmy have, because pairings took a back seat to story, like those Pixar films! And furthermore, he developed me as a mutli-dimensional character, an upgrade from being a background character and a sigh of relief from those other cookie-cutter fics that portray me as a seductress or evil.

Sure, I may had appeared in only a handfull of episodes, and I didn't get a spot in this Mara girl's epic space opera, "The Other Side of Tomorrow", I do have fans and supporters of me being with Jimmy, two examples are that Urvy guy and a girl by the name of Stacy. They're very nice people and there's also fans of me and my relationship with Jimmy out there in this site I found called "I Dream of Jimmy", nice name for a fansite, I may add. Where everyone's treated as an equal, not as outsiders. Sure, the members of said site disagree on things, but it's still a family out there, where Jimmy/Betty fans AND Jimmy/Cindy fans talk to one another.

In closing, if you're gonna add me in a fic soon, please think it over and consider the fact that I got fans as much as Vortex, Jimmy, Sheen, and other characters do. And try not to make fics with parings as mushy and one-dimensional like the ones out there. That way, everyone one can be treated as equals and get fair amounts of being featured.

Thank you all, and have a nice day!

-Betty Quinlan

[Urvy]

By the way, this thing took 2 months to finish. I've decided to finish it tonight and then post it for the world to see! And Mara, your Cindy and Libby POV on fics was the inspiration for this piece, I dedicate this to you as well!

[J/C AVA]

Hahahahahahaha!!

Right on Urv- er- I mean Betty!

It's undeniable that I'm a HUGE J/Cer, but just the fact that so-called "writers" can put someone as nice as Betty Quinlan COMPLETLEY out of character, in personality and in situation just irks me all the more. No doubt I like J/B cause they do seem cute together and Betty has a sweet, caring personality that sadly Cindy never gets. She can learn a thing or two from Betty's example of how to treat Jimmy, not that Jimmy can't be an ego-head either but you get my drift.

But yeah, what Betty gets in out of character fics just isn't fair and irks me just as much. She's just as an important character as Cindy and Libby and it's unfair that she gets bashed around.

Nice one, Betty.

@Urvy:

[Urvy]

Glad you liked it, Pedro! Yeah, I believed it was time for Betty to open up on her opinions on cookie-cutter fanfics, and now was her time.

[underwater]

This is good Urvy, and you make a lot of great points about Betty fanfiction writers.

My suggestion for you would to be to work on "voice" - it's supposed to be Betty talking, but it sounds like you (Urvy) talking. I know it's hard for an adult guy to sound like a 12 year old girl, but you can try re-watching episodes with Betty and taking notes on how she speaks. Then you can use these mannerisms in your writing to make it seem more authentic.

So ya, keep writing, good points, but work on voice.


Corinne

[Urvy]

How can you tell? The show was off the air, and I consider that a behind-the-scenes issue.

Anyway, glad you agreed with me on the points. Anyone else?

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Good job, Urv!

[Urvy]

Thanks, Em! I worked hard and long on this piece to finish it.

[okmeamithinknow]

This is good Urvy, and you make a lot of great points about Betty fanfiction writers.

My suggestion for you would to be to work on "voice" - it's supposed to be Betty talking, but it sounds like you (Urvy) talking. I know it's hard for an adult guy to sound like a 12 year old girl, but you can try re-watching episodes with Betty and taking notes on how she speaks. Then you can use these mannerisms in your writing to make it seem more authentic.

So ya, keep writing, good points, but work on voice.


Corinne

I actually agree with this. I feel like it's you writing as Betty, not Betty writing as herself.

~Crys~

[Urvy]

Well, it's hard to stay in character, plus it's my 1st time doing voice

[okmeamithinknow]

That's fine. It's your first time writing in voice. Work on it and you could get it down.

~Crys~

[Urvy]

Ok then, but I dunno how Mara did this when she did her little piece a while back.

[okmeamithinknow]

Practice. Better developed characters in which to base her writing. Practice.

~Crys~

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Mara, I'd like to know what the 3 guys have to say about all that fanfiction running around... I bet it'd be HYSTERICAL, especially from Sheen!!!

[Urvy]

That I would like to see as well.

[Mara=^.^=]

So write it, Em.

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Urvy]

That way, the JN characters' POV on fics comes full circle

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

I'm not as good as YOU are at that, Mara! You ROCK at it!!

[TrippedUp]

Thank god! I hate when the only conflict a writer can come up with is a nice character gone OOC. Betty is nice, but not a pushover (Vanishing Act) She's not a seductress, evil, or conniving.

Dean isn't an abusive prick, he's just the stereotypical cool kid (until his running gag with the skateboard)

Cindy isn't touchy feely every 5 seconds, but also she doesn't beat Jimmy up and is completely cruel. She's 11 year old mean.

Jimmy is a lover of science. What's with the fics where he does nothing scientific and just goes gaga for the girl chosen for the fic?

I remember a story where Libby turned into a prick to Sheen, and barely apologized before they got together. Just no.

And also, Sheen isn't supposed to sound intellectual and unfunny.

And lastly, Carl is in the show people! Don't just include the couples and ignore him or give him some random perfect GF OC.


It's just really hard to find decent JN fanfiction nowadays...

[Katia11]

=) Urv, excellent work. It is hard to capture Betty because we don't see her much, but you had some good points.

Keep going, Urv! I love reading your stuff and watching you progress! That's my favorite part about reading an authors work.