The “action” takes a while to get started. Not until well into the first chapter does Barbossa appear. With thirteen planned instalments, with a prologue and epilogue in addition, I felt taking the time to establish the world I was writing was appropriate and acceptable. The first chapter came out much longer than I originally intended, having as it did an entire section at the start that I hadn’t planned. In terms of what it does for more fully rounding out Evie’s world, however, I like it and have elected to leave it in. No other chapter in the series will be that long – at least, I don’t expect so! Once past the first chapter and the two characters’ initial encounter, things will begin to be more steadily paced. I had a very clear vision of the picture I wanted to paint and did so as much for my own amusement as for establishing my “original character”. Few of the other PoTC characters will appear, and when they do not it is not for any great length of time. The story is Barbossa and Evangeline-centric and I can well imagine that for this reason it will not appeal to everyone, or even most. But in addition to featuring Barbossa as a main character, it also seeks to flesh out what Evie’s own life is like on the Isle of Tortuga, shaping her as authentically as possible. In this way, the series is more inspired by PoTC, taking place in that world, rather than a fanfiction in the purest sense. You have been cautioned!
Writing is par for the course for me (I just completed a degree in creative writing) but I have not written fan fiction for something like five years! There is every chance I am woefully out of practice. Fan fiction is written for pleasure, usually self-indulgent, and this series is no exception. Therefore, although I am well aware it is clichéd, at times historically inaccurate and with a Mary-Sue-ish tinge to it, I am not particularly bothered by this nor do I seek to correct these elements. I have attempted to inject as much historical accuracy as I am aware of but also permit Disney’s generous creative licence to influence my own. Likewise, I have tried to steer away from creating someone who is nothing more than a Mary-Sue but as to how well I’ve succeeded, I’m not sure. I don’t know how much could even be gleaned from the Prologue and the First Chapter (all that is completed thus far) as so much of it details Evie’s methods and motives. I know what I have planned for her in later chapters, and she is neither sugar and spice or a prodigy in any way, but I couldn’t say anymore without giving things away!
Giving into self-indulgence I have nonetheless tried to produce a quality narrative with characters that can be empathised with and a tale that can be enjoyed. I would value your constructive critique in response to this. (Note: the changing perspective in the prologue is quite deliberate)
The whore and Barbossa is a relatively popular scenario for the obvious reasons – it’s saucy, it’s gritty, it gives fans a reason to take Barbossa’s clothes off! All noble reasons, to be sure, and they played a part in the conception of my tales too. But these are not the sole motivations. Often in fan dialogues, I encounter whore-phobic sentiments, generally belittling or demeaning comments that occur beyond the voices of fanfiction characters, for whom such sentiments would be appropriate to the times. Being a sex worker, I find this offensive and narrow-sighted and wanted to build a character who was a whore, yes, but also a human being rather than just a device for a sex scene. Who better suited to each other than whores and pirates, really? Both outcasts from society, riff-raff, scoundrels - seeking to acquire money and comfort on their own terms – to be free, rather than beholden to a higher authority. And just as pirates are often dismissed as uneducated, stupid and amoral villains, so too are whores, despite this very much not being always the case (or even mostly the case). The lack of education and respectability for whores historically was due to circumstances, not to a lack of intelligence or even of will.
Being a whore is a hard job. It requires business sense and professionalism to be a success at. There are hundreds of whores who have lived and died who were and are brilliant, beautiful, generous, spirited, ferocious women, with partners, children and families that they love and dreams and desires of their own – just like pirates.
And so Evie was born. In addition to humanising her I seek also to further dimensionalise Barbossa, an intriguing and compelling character who is both the very quinetessence of the proverbial Pirate Captain and a defier and exceeder of it.
I am hopeful that I will remain motivated enough on my own speed to finish the entire series within a couple of months, with or without feedback. But feedback is always welcome and I am quite capable of receiving constructive criticism. What I hope is that you enjoy the tale enough to give such to me.
© 1998, 1999 Truffle