Harry Potter Roundtable Discussion VII: The Advantages and Pitfalls of Next Gen Fics

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Topic: The Advantages and Pitfalls of Next Gen Fics submitted by marguerite_26

For the purposes of this discussion, Next Gen Fics refers to fics where any of the children from the Epilogue are featured prominently (including fics

Comments

[rhye]

Personally, I only like reading next gen fics when they inform my understanding of canon. I don't mind reading about the kids having revelations or thoughts about their parents. When the kids are simply OCs with convenient JKR-given names, though, then I obviously have no investment in them and therefore no interest in reading about them.

[marguerite_26]

I feel that way, too. My favourite next gen characterisations are those that are not mirror images to their parents but have a connection to them in some way that makes you feel you know them.

So a son of Harry/Ginny might have a trace of Harry's courage, a bit of George's mischievousness... and so on.

It does help keep my invested.

[daddybear716]

The mirror image of the parents has always irked me. A sure way for a fic to lose my interest is Draco being written as Mini-Lucius.

While I've not written any Next-Gen, their appeal would be similar to why I enjoy writing Charlie Weasley. We know so little about him in canon, so you have a base of him as a Weasley and Dragon Keeper and much else is pretty much open.

[marguerite_26]

oh! very interesting comparison with Charlie Weasley. Yes, we know some basics, right? He was brought up by the Weasley's but chose to move away (that says a lot!) and the extreme hotness of the dragon keeper thing.

But mostly, he's a blank slate. And conveniently not married. ;)

I agree that makes for a very interesting characters. And very much like the Next Gen kids in some ways. You have room to play, but also some background you can guess at that you need to stay true to.

I love a character that has glimpses of their parents, but also their experiences really molded them. And older Draco as a mini-Lucius would work for me, but only if the mask cracks at times to show Draco's insecurity and cowardice that we see in canon.

edited to fix html mess up!

[blamebrampton]

- What compels you to write/draw Next Gen fics?

I've only managed two-and-a-bit, but it's the sense of what the future can hold that excites me. Whether it's technology or politics, I like the worldbuilding possibilities.

I also like seeing how you get to a happy family given what's come before (if you stick to canon), or -- in the work of some other writers -- how it all falls apart.

The only thing that makes me not want to read next-gen is when it has no connection to the world we know, they are just handy names slapped onto characters that have no connection with the events of canon and then sent of to have adventures or create pron.

Even if the kids are different to their parents, we need to see and understand why and how. It's perfectly valid that they might all want to rebel, but rebelling still means you must be aware of what you are rebelling against, not suddenly utterly unconnected with it.

[marguerite_26]

Even if the kids are different to their parents, we need to see and understand why and how.

Yes, exactly. While it is in someways 'easy' to make them like their parents (Rose, for example is often a Hermione clone in the little I have read of her). But when an author can take on of these kids and give them a unique personality and justify it and make me believe? that's golden.

Also, politics? Really? you? heh.
But yes, I must agree that the future of the wizarding world in which these kids were raised holds many opportunities for great plots. And it too influences characterisations.

[blamebrampton]

Also, politics? Really? you? heh

I knew you would be shocked!

[kareina]

I know I was ;-)

[marguerite_26]

What do you like most/least about reading fic with the Next Gen kids featured? What I like most about the next gen fics is the mixture of freedom and constraints. In both reading and writing next gen fics, I love to see fascinating characterisations. And that does not me 'original characters' but characterisation that are a unique look at what the children of Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione might be like taking into the fact that the children are raised in a post-war world with the Trio as a Heroes and Draco likely not and a Wizarding World of the future that is unknown

[tuawahine]

the mixture of freedom and constraints
Yes, that is exactly it.
On the one hand, their individual character traits can be anything we want them to be. On the other hand, they were shaped by the world and people we know from canon, and that is a wonderful mix to play with, imo.

[facecat]

What makes you not want to read Next Gen fics.
Mostly, my resolute disbelief in the epilogue. (Hey, it's my fantasy, let me go with it ;) )
Secondly, there's really nothing to base them on except some names in a short chapter at the end of a book. Now that does not stop me from reading a story where they are part of it as the children of the main characters, but not as the focal point. FWIW I don't read Marauder era fics either for much the same reason even tho those characters do have a bit more info available about them. That isn't to say there aren't excellent NextGen fics out there because writers in this fandom are wonderfully imaginative. NextGen just isn't my cuppa.

I hope that makes sense. As you've probably noticed I have difficulty conveying my meaning sometimes.

[marguerite_26]

That makes perfect sense.

I once said that I have two distinct 'canons' in my head. Epilogue Compliant and EWE, I some how turn one off and the other on as I need it. It comes in handy. Because when I write H/D there is simply no epilogue ever in my head. I don't consider myself writing AU. The Epilogue just never happened.

Until I pick up a next gen fic and I hold the epilogue close to my heart and thank my lucky stars for it. LOL!

I think what draws me to the epilogue kids that never interested me in the Maraurders - well first, they all had shitty fates and that kinda kills my muse - is that I adore Harry and Draco so much that I want to know their kids. I want to know how they turned out, what the wizarding world was like to grow up in post-war.

yikes! that got a bit tl;rd. Sorry about that!

[facecat]

lol - no problem - I like hearing/seeing what motivates people.

I adore Harry and Draco so much that I want to know their kids.
Yes, I adore them also, so I don't mind if their kids are part of a fic that is *shudders* epilogue compliant.

Thanx.

[marguerite_26]

Overcoming that horrible 'perfect ending, everyone marries the person they crushed on at 16 and had beautiful children' Epilogue is understandably difficult. :)

[coffee_n_cocoa]

- Do you have a favourite/least favourite Next Gen kid? Why?
My favorite next gen kid is Teddy. Actually, he's the only one I actually give a fig about, maybe because he's the only one who appears before the epilogue. I prefer reading about him in crossgen pairings with Harry, Charlie, or Neville.

My least favorite next gen kids are James, Al, and Lily. HBP pretty much destroyed any chance I had of liking H/G in any capacity whatsoever, and that antipathy extends to their kids. I just can't imagine the misery of H/G's marriage lasting long enough to produce three kids. Maybe if there were more fics with them with their parents divorced and them being happier for it I might be more inclined to give them a chance.

- What makes you not want to read Next Gen fics.
Basically, any fic pairing James, Al, or Lily makes me skip right past.

I have canon grievances, oh yes. *nods*

[marguerite_26]

Teddy is certainly in a different category than the other kids to me as well. He exists in both the full-canon and the ewe-canon. And since I have never shipped Remus/Tonks have never have any issues with Teddy. ;)

And Harry/Teddy? yes, please.

Teddy really is a wonderful character with Tonks's morphing talents and the possibility of Remus's wolfy influences and being brought up and orphan, part of the family and yet not. A lot of depth there.

[aidenface]

I can't agree enough with Harry and Ginny. He is her first crush and her first "love." I'm sure she had her own relationship troubles with Dean Thomas, the one guy other she dated. And don't even get me started on Harry. They barely had a relationship build-up. It was all obsession until he gave in to some girl liking him and gave her a chance.

I love fics where something dramatic happens in the family; Harry dies, Ginny leaves, and the Potters are forced to survive without the lost parent. As depressing as that sounds, I think it's for the better if Harry and Ginny weren't together.

And as far as Teddy, it's Siruis/Harry all over again ♥

[marguerite_26]

I do love the parallels of Harry/Teddy with Sirius/Harry. ♥

Actually, liking Harry/Teddy got me to go back and read Sirius/Harry. :)