Harry Potter crack fic recs

[gioiamia]

Do y'all like reading WIPs? I've been rec'ing fics over at Know-It-Alls for awhile now and I've found that since that time I tend to avoid WIPs, because I hate recommending a fic that I can't be sure will ever be completed, or completed well. So I'm curious as to what y'alls reading habits are. Do you read fics that are still in progress? Do

Comments

[harmony_bites]

I liked reading WIPs when I was new to the fandom, and theoretically, if they updated frequently, and you could rely on them to actually finish and finish well, there's no greater ride. I remember getting hooked on one early on, and it would update and I'd *run* to read. If updated frequently enough, you don't forget what's gone before, and yet you can take it in nice installments--if it updates at least once a week.

But since I've been disappointed--repeatedly. And I don't blame the authors at all--I have one of those WIPs. Things happen. I got battered by someone ripping off a part, by a beta from hell that went AWOL--other things. They helped drain my love for an enthusiasm from the story.

I got hooked into the fandom and my OTP by a abandoned fic, Falling Further In. So I wouldn't say I'd never read one--it would have to come very highly recommended by someone I trust, and it would be far down my TBR list.

These days, partly because of KIA, I keep a spreadsheet. If a story hits at least 40K in my OTP, I give it a try. I find that if a work reaches at least that length, the likelihood it'll get finished is much higher, and that way I can catch up before I have say 250k of fic on my plate.

I did really enjoy "Breeding Season" My favorite SSHG Crackfic pleasure is mundungus42. You might want to try her Trail of the Black Star or To Make Much of Time.

[gioiamia]

If updated frequently enough, you don't forget what's gone before, and yet you can take it in nice installments--if it updates at least once a week.

I used to read so many WIPs that I would easily get their plots confused after awhile. It was frustrating and embarrassing, honestly! Made me feel rather stupid! I've been less inclined to read many WIPs since then.

I don't blame the authors at all--I have one of those WIPs

I assume you've received or seen the type of snotty feedback left on WIPs and MIA fics by certain readers with overly developed senses of entitlement? It amazes me how mean readers can be, demanding immediate updates and insulting the author for losing interest in the fic.

On the other hand, the fear of leaving a fic MIA is what led me to almost always post fics AFTER I had written the entire story. The one time I made an exception to that rule, the fic was never completed. *eye-roll*

I'm definitely adding Mundugus' fics to my TBR list!

[harmony_bites]

Yeah, I've gotten those kinds of feedbacks--though not as much as others, since my fic isn't that popular really--partly I'm sure exactly because of those infrequent updates--which makes it even harder in some ways. I wonder sometimes why bother just for about--oh five people. Otoh, the WIP is my first longfic, I hate leaving things unfinished, and every time I return to it I learn a lot.

On the other hand, the fear of leaving a fic MIA is what led me to almost always post fics AFTER I had written the entire story.

I'll never do it again. From now on I will finish and have a first round beta on a story before I ever post the first chapter. Too many things can go wrong, internally and externally. I saw the whole Accountable wank. I know that had Dyce not finished her first draft, that story would have never finished posting. And just in terms of writing, posting a WIP makes it hard to make course corrections and see a story whole.