Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Fanfic Related L&C -Growing Up Together

And if this type of story has never been written before, does anyone else think that it has potential? Maybe I could post it in the Challenge thread!

I'd love to hear what you think!
Mirage

Mirage,

I've never read a story like that, but I think it has potential.

Go ahead and post it as a Challenge, and let's see what happens!

- Vicki

Mirage, I started writing a story like that a long time ago, but it didn't go very far. I might go back to working on it someday.

- Laura

- Vicki

A New Beginning, by Christy Landrum, nearly fits the bill:) It's set in Smallville when Clark is 17, and assumes that Lois lives there too. But she doesn't live next door - just close by. (at least, close by for a farm community )
It's a really good story, about 200 k long - well worth the read

cc m

Hi!

Vicki - I'm getting right to it!

Laura, I'd really encourage you to pick it up again, it could make a really great story! If you need a BR, help brainstorming or any help at all, I'm completely here for you anytime you need me, just e-mail me, k?

And Carol, thanks for the reference! That one's going down on my to-read list!

But since no one's said anything about an actual written-and-out-there neighbor story, I'm gonna go ahead and post it in the Challenge board!

Hopefully soneone will rise to the challenge!

Mirage

So how would this work? Would they live in Smallville or Metropolis?

Erm...good question!

Personally, I would prefer Smallville just because I so love the Farmboy side of Clark. And Lois could just be a young, tough cyncial kinda girl. And I mean, she doesn't have to have a farm (not everyone in Smallville does, right?), so her personality wouldn't have to deviate so much from what it originally is, I think.

About how old would you want them to be? I mean, could she move to Smallville when she was like 12, or would you want them to have known each other from a younger age? Eight, five, babies?

Also, if it does take place in Smallville, living "next door" could actually mean they live pretty far from each other...

I think the story would have to be in Smallville for Clark to have the true naivete that he does. And no Lois wouldn't have to be a farm kid. My mother grew up in a town like Smallville. Her father owned the general store and was the train depot agent and postmaster. In those small towns the post office was very often in the general store - in fact the beach town next to us up until about 5 years ago had a post office in a clothing store.

You could still have her father be a doctor and her mother a nurse and just have the divorce come earlied and the alcoholism. After that there are all sorts of way to take this but have Ellen and the girls wind up in Smallville because that is where Ellen is able to get a job. Maybe she or Sam went to school with the town doctor or spouse and they are trying to help her back on her feet by giving her a job. Of course Lois would hate moving to a hick town even if she was 5 years old. So you can make her whatever age works, although I think she would have to be at least 10 years old (my opinion).

Okay, in the story I have had a vague outline for for 4-5 years, Lois has to move to Smallville after her parents' divorce. There is a custody battle, and Ellen takes them to the middle of nowhere -- where they are away from Sam. Of course Lois hates it and tries at all costs to get back to Metropolis. Her mom rents a small house on a back corner of the Kents' farm. Ellen gets a job as a nurse at a local Kansas hospital -- probably not in Smallville, but the nearest "city". Lois meets Clark and initially thinks of him as a hick, but comes to see him as a friend.

- Laura

I guess I should have been a little more specific...it's my first time suggesting a story!

When I first thought of such a story, what I had in mind was that they would have known each other since they were in diapers (practically since birth, maybe Martha, Jonathan, Ellen and Sam were friends? or maybe Martha and Jonathan, being the nice people that they are, helped Ellen and Sam settle into Smallville). But then I realize that Lois might not have the type of personality that she has if she grew up in this type of setting. So I guess maybe they should meet at about 8 or 9 so that Lois has time to establish her personality first, as a hot-headed, fiery, perhaps even cynical, mini city-slicker. But I mean, if anyone can somehow cleverly work in the two characters to be faithful to the show even if they meet as babies, then so much the better!

And the second point is also true, they wouldn't exactly be very close together geographically even if they were neighbors. But I mean, they could have gone to school/community functions together, played Little League (I can see Lois as an athletic child, with Sam having wanted a boy and all) and since they'd be neighbors, perhaps Lois and Lucy would go over to be babysat by the Kents whenever the Lanes were fighting.

I agree wholeheartedly with kmar as well. Clark needs to be a farmboy to maintain his naivete and Lois' parents could still be a doctor and nurse. Maybe Sam and/or Ellen wanted to actually make a difference so they decided to work in a small town, where there was a shortage of medical personnel instead of the big city? Or maybe they couldn't find work in the city. Or any of kmar's suggestions are feasible too, I think.

But Laura has some really cool ideas brewing in her notebook too, so I'm gonna see what happens with her idea!

Mirage

Hey everyone!

Deja vu..I was just thinking about the whole growing up together thing to myself, and of course love the ideas ya'll have come up with! But what about this:

For some reason that I'm not creative enough to think of at the moment, her family hates the Kents, while a teenage Lois and Clark are rendezvous-ing behind their back.
Hint of Romeo and Juliet, right? The forbidden is always more appealing. Maybe on arrival, Lois would be prohibited from making friends with Clark; that way, she would be seeking out the illicit as Lois always is.

But this way, Laura's idea would work: Ellen would probably have to be single. "Men are dirt" might come into play here.

Just thinking out loud here guys!

Sarah

I disagree, I think if Clark was raised in a war zone he'd still have a little of that optimistic naivety. It seems his naivety stems from his belief that there’s a little something good in everyone, which the Kents instilled in him, rather than the other way around. I think no matter where they live, the Kents would still try and instill those values in him. But, for the sake of the story, if he was raised in Smallville until he was – say, 10 years old, then he’d still be very naïve IMO.

And, I think it would make much more sense if the Kents ended up in Metropolis, the story would probably have more continuity. Say for instance Mr. Kent fell ill and they had to move to Metropolis for treatment, seems more probable than the Lanes moving to whoop whoop :p They wouldn’t need to go all the way to Smallville, Kansas to end up someplace “backwater”. It provides plenty of opportunity for them to meet – I imagine Clark would be spending a lot of time in the hospital with his father and Lois might be there while hers worked, etc.

But, I digress, it’s neither my challenge or my story, so if it’s Smallville ye want, Smallville ye shall get.

Sarah, that's fantabulous! I think that would make an awesome story. The only problem I see with it is, I have a lot of trouble imagining Martha and Jonathan really disliking someone a lot...maybe if they thought that Lois was a bad influence to Clark, which is why they need to keep them apart? But then that kinda kicks away another aspect of the story I love - the way the Kents just love Lois unconditionally almost from Day 1 because she means so much to Clark. But if anyone wants to or could go ahead with this idea, I'd love to see it happen and I'd be perfectly happy to brainstorm/BR/edit/help in any way!

And David: I think what you say is valid, I agree that a lot of Clark's personality comes from Martha and Jonathan. But then I also think that the setting has something to do with it... I'm not trying to make generalizations or anything here, but part of what makes M&J so likeable is their 'countryfolk niceness', I think. Of course, I'm not suggesting that city dwellers are inherently mean or anything, but that's just a thought. BUT! Again, if anyone wants to go ahead with THIS idea, I'd be happy to help see it through as well. But the only thing is, I can't bear to see Jonathan gravely ill! (Or sick enough to have to move his whole family to the city just so he can seek medical help.) But anyway, I'm open to new ideas, especially if anyone decides to take a stab at writing!

Mirage

Ah, but I don't think a move to the city would turn our lovable country bumpkins J&M into inherently mean city dwellers, after all, they were raised country folk

I do agree about making Jonathan sick - it's not a pleasant scenario, but there could be other ways.

In any case, it would be an interesting read

I'd write it myself, but a) I'm not much of a writer, b) Two stories are already niggling at the back of my brain, and c) I must admit all the stringent talk about grammar has me wary of posting anything I may write anyway.

Aww! Don't let it affect you that way, David. Seriously - while readers here do appreciate good grammar in fic, we are very nice with newbie writers. Plus, that's what beta-readers are for. If you need help with grammar, you'll find plenty of willing volunteers. And, as well, when you send stories to the archive you'll get an editor assigned to look over the story for typos, grammar and so on.

Speaking personally, the only time I'll give up on a writer just because of poor grammar is if I've got the impression that the author isn't trying to improve - ie if suggestions have been made and help offered and the author is still making the same errors.

So post your stories - I promise to comment and be nice


Wendy

Wendy's right, David! Never, ever, ever keep a story to yourself because of any grammar issues you think you may have, because there are always LOTS of us here eager to read, edit, and help improve your story!

Mirage

^ Thanks

I'll definately consider it.

But you're forgeting a)

Oh, come on, work with us here, David! The more you write, the better you get, and the more you'll like writing altogether! Take it from a professional procrastinator...putting these things off does NOT help.
And Mirage:
"The only problem I see with it is, I have a lot of trouble imagining Martha and Jonathan really disliking someone a lot...maybe if they thought that Lois was a bad influence to Clark, which is why they need to keep them apart? "

(sorry, don't know how to do the cool post copy thing)
What if Clark felt so guilty about the behind Lois' parents back thing that he just didn't tell his parents about Lois? Or maybe they could be in on it to...hmm...

Sarah

In the pilot, Clark and his dad have a discussion in which Clark says he just wants to be normal, find a girl, get married, have a family. His dad makes a remark to the effect, "We don't know if that is possible."

He probably meant, we don't know if you can father children. But the comment could also be taken to apply to the entire scenario (find a girl, get married, etc.)

When I add this remark to the "dissected like a frog" fears, I don't think it is too far-fetched to imagine that his dad would not have been too keen on Clark getting close to a girl, expecially when he was younger. I know that canon has young Clark dating Lana Lang. But I don't think it would be too hard for an author to come up with a convincing story in which Clark's dad thinks Clark is still too young to get serious about any girl, then adds on his fears of discovery, and actively discourages too close a friendship between teenage Clark and teenage Lois.

The mom, though, is another story. She does seem to support Clark unconditionally. Still, in the hands of one of the excellent writers here on these boards, I'm sure it could be done.

- Vicki

i,m trying to find the story about lois and clark with the brain mcnight song on it.
and also i how two title that i have a problem writting ( my sweet lois ) and ( all that i wanted to do...) need ideas thks.

It's easier than it looks, Sarah.

See those Instant UBB Code buttons at the bottom of your posting screen? Just hit 'quote' and then cut and paste the text you want to use in between the two codes which appear. Make sure there are no spaces between the codes and the text and that's all you need to do.

LabRat

Ooh, nice! Thanks, Labrat.

I now feel included.

Hi!

Yep, I definitely think that's plausible, Sarah. I think it would be more Clark-like if he just didn't tell his parents and feel guilty. I mean, guilt is a huge theme in many fics, isn't it?

I completely agree, Vicki. And maybe there'd be some tension too, out of love. And maybe Clark could have had a bad experience w/ his dad with a previous girlfriend, which is why he ends up not telling his parents?

lovesuper97: If your fics are pertaining to this theme, I'd be more than happy to help you brainstorm or BR or whatever else you need! I admittedly don't have a lot of free time, which is why I don't brainstorm or BR on a regular basis (because otherwise I would), but I've been waiting to see this kind of fic for a very, very long time (I've read one which sort of had a similar 'growing up' theme, but...it wasn't my type of story), SO! Yes, I'll do anything to contribute.

And I think that we have really good ideas going on in here too, but if only someone would take a stab at writing? *puppy-dog eyes*

Mirage

Mmm, Mirage and Vicki, that's excellent. Does anyone know if Clark's parents, especially his dad, approved/ liked Lana? Maybe if Johnathan didn't, that could be the basis for his...what? Paranoia? Hehe, maybe not quite that, but...

lovesuper97- Me too! I would love to help in any way I can with your fics. If you could just enlighten us with a little more details, we'll all be glad to help.

Sarah

P.s.How long would this kind of story have to be?

I'm not sure, Sarah. I'll ask my Smallville-obsessed friends to see if they know, and I'll tell you!

As for the length of the story: (from the famous words of one of my former English teachers) as long as it needs to be! I mean, I used to be a strictly vignettes-only fic reader, but luckily I eventually came to my senses and started reading the longer ones, which are so worth it, and now I'm addicted!

But honestly, when I was helping Laura brainstorm HER story, I anticipated quite a long fic, because she had a lot of awesome little details and anecdotes that I didn't want to tell her to scrap, and there were a couple elements that I wanted to see, as well. And actually, the ideas she came up with were really, really good and brimming with potential but unfortunately, the process had to be postponed because she's got a lot going on in her life right now.

My point is, length really shouldn't be an issue. If anyone decides to try writing, feel free to make it as long or as short as you want it; I'll be with you every step of the way (if you want me there), even if it's as long as Caped Fear! I've never believed in capping a piece of work and setting restrictions before it's even been tried out, because so many things can happen in the creative process, it just doesn't make sense. I think it's much better to just go with the flow, develop the ideas and write some of it first, and see where it takes you.

Cheers!
Mirage:)

I have given in!!!!

Ok, everybody, I have given this much thought (do I really have time for this, what if I make a fool of myself, etc.), and I've decided that I will *attempt* to at least get a good start on this story. We've come up with some great ideas, and I would hate for all of them to just stay ideas, forgotten on this lonely little message board forever and ever! But I'm going to need tons of help, because, quite frankly, I haven't written much fanfic. I write a lot outside of fandom, though.

So I'll do (start) it on one condition: if I get help!!

In a state of euphoria,
Sarah

Hi Sarah,

If you want, maybe we can write this together. I have a lot of ideas, but I am having trouble starting it. mirage_woods has a ton of great ideas, too -- and I was going to write it as soon as my life got a little easier. But if you want to brainstorm or write together, I am here .

- Laura
lxu2@cwru.edu