Er, what's the fannish etiquette surrounding swiping someone else's fic idea? There IS no real fannish etiquette for that, is there? Beyond, of course, "don't do it
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aww.. that's really sad! I mean, not the swiping part, but just that you didn't realize it until you got 2000 words in. As far as etiquette goes, I think it extends as far as if the person actually will be able to see the fic when and where you post it. Another variable is that you could actually mention it to the person, and asked if they ever got anywhere on that idea, and if you wrote something on it, if they'd like to read it.
That's always fine. I mean, the rewards for writing a good fic are quite minimal, minus the rewards that one feels inside. I mean, writing a nice fic is an accomplishment, and your own pride in your work is about all that you get from it, minus a few comments from strangers.
That said, the other person will suffer not a bit if you finish it, are happy with it, and share it with a few people you know. The only way they'd suffer is if you posted it someplace where they hang out, and they were still working on the same fic and you either beat them to the punch, or showed them up terribly.
Maybe you could write serialized fics? I think that's how some people get away with the problem of how to finish one. You don't really ever have to finish a serialized fic. You can just write, "to be continued...." and be done with it.
Heh, I don't think anyone would need to be concerned about my showing them up. I'm a little more concerned with getting people marginally in character. But it's nice of you to suggest so.
Maybe you could write serialized fics? I think that's how some people get away with the problem of how to finish one. You don't really ever have to finish a serialized fic. You can just write, "to be continued...." and be done with it.
But wouldn't people then expect you to continue it? I know if I saw, "to be continued," I'd think that it would be, well, continued.
I think sometimes people FAIL to continue the story, which isn't the same thing as just leaving it off on purpose. Maybe it's the difference of the fandoms we're in? I don't know if I've ever seen someone do that on purpose.
I always promised myself that I would never post any part of a fic I hadn't finished, just to avoid doing that to people. Because it's just unfair to get into a fic and have to stop half-way through and never finish. Why get invested if there's never going to be a resolution, you know? That's why a lot of people won't read fics-in-progress, because they're afraid they won't be finished.
You are right though, writing is often satisfying just for itself. No one's seen my poetry in years, but that doesn't make it less fun to write. :)
That's always fine. I mean, the rewards for writing a good fic are quite minimal, minus the rewards that one feels inside. I mean, writing a nice fic is an accomplishment, and your own pride in your work is about all that you get from it, minus a few comments from strangers.
That said, the other person will suffer not a bit if you finish it, are happy with it, and share it with a few people you know. The only way they'd suffer is if you posted it someplace where they hang out, and they were still working on the same fic and you either beat them to the punch, or showed them up terribly.
Maybe you could write serialized fics? I think that's how some people get away with the problem of how to finish one. You don't really ever have to finish a serialized fic. You can just write, "to be continued...." and be done with it.
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Maybe you could write serialized fics? I think that's how some people get away with the problem of how to finish one. You don't really ever have to finish a serialized fic. You can just write, "to be continued...." and be done with it.
But wouldn't people then expect you to continue it? I know if I saw, "to be continued," I'd think that it would be, well, continued.
I think sometimes people FAIL to continue the story, which isn't the same thing as just leaving it off on purpose. Maybe it's the difference of the fandoms we're in? I don't know if I've ever seen someone do that on purpose.
I always promised myself that I would never post any part of a fic I hadn't finished, just to avoid doing that to people. Because it's just unfair to get into a fic and have to stop half-way through and never finish. Why get invested if there's never going to be a resolution, you know? That's why a lot of people won't read fics-in-progress, because they're afraid they won't be finished.
You are right though, writing is often satisfying just for itself. No one's seen my poetry in years, but that doesn't make it less fun to write. :)
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