I don't really have much more to say to this than what alixtii says above, but...
Well. I used the word 'message,' but I might as well have used the word 'theme,' or maybe something like 'the point.' If I'm writing a story, the original idea has *something* in it that I'm trying to express/describe/exhibit. It may be something like "and this is a question that canon never answered, and I'm going to try," or it could be something like "this, right here, is what I believe about the characters," or it could be something else entirely. *Whatever* it is, I'm going to back it up as best as I can, and I'm going to do my best to get it *out* there, and I think that a lot of writers feel the same. It's not about making the characters dance to the tune I'm playing, it's about knowing what that tune *is*, and setting it up to let the characters do what they want to do to the music in question.
In any event, I'm *aware* of what I'm doing and what I'm saying, and if, by chance, in order to be true to the characters I have to let the story speak in problematic language, I'm going to be *damned* sure that I do my best to be clear that it's the story/characters -- and *not* me.
Re: part 2
Well. I used the word 'message,' but I might as well have used the word 'theme,' or maybe something like 'the point.' If I'm writing a story, the original idea has *something* in it that I'm trying to express/describe/exhibit. It may be something like "and this is a question that canon never answered, and I'm going to try," or it could be something like "this, right here, is what I believe about the characters," or it could be something else entirely. *Whatever* it is, I'm going to back it up as best as I can, and I'm going to do my best to get it *out* there, and I think that a lot of writers feel the same. It's not about making the characters dance to the tune I'm playing, it's about knowing what that tune *is*, and setting it up to let the characters do what they want to do to the music in question.
In any event, I'm *aware* of what I'm doing and what I'm saying, and if, by chance, in order to be true to the characters I have to let the story speak in problematic language, I'm going to be *damned* sure that I do my best to be clear that it's the story/characters -- and *not* me.
*This* is how SPN has failed.