(Untitled)

Sep 06, 2004 18:09

So I was away last week, at the beach in NC - no, wait, actually it was the week before last, but when I started drafting this post it was "last week" *g*. Ah, well, better late than never, or at least I hope so ( Read more... )

fannish feelings, pros fic, fic preferences, hp fic

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shayheyred September 6 2004, 23:58:27 UTC
Just a heads up: I have entangled myself in the LJ/List kerfuffle at Pros..Lit? today by writing a "can we just knock it off" post. So I may be persona non grata momentarily. I loved your post there, though.

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justacat September 7 2004, 01:47:21 UTC
Oh, you are very brave to dive into that fray. It's always so ... so prickly over there. Not a very welcoming environment at all, and I just don't understand why it has to be that way. *sigh* I'm afraid I just slightly lost my temper - yet another snarky "oh, so the archive is only going to be accessible to LJ users" comment. Makes me wonder why I bother.

Anyway, enough whinging - there are plenty of wonderful Pros fans out there, like YOU, and that is why I bother. I'm also still eagerly awaiting your ventures into Pros fic ... I have a feeling (and I know katyabaturinsky shares it) that they will be absolutely fabulous! Been a while since we spoke ... I'd love to know how you're feeling about Pros these days, and very glad to see you participating - it's good to have some representatives of the "new" ways on those lists.

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shayheyred September 7 2004, 02:35:41 UTC
Please keep writing your wonderful Pros posts. Screw the lists, if they don't like having to come to LJ. I hate the attitude of "we won't change" just as much as I hate the occasional "lists suck" post. There's room for all. However, as I said in my Proslit post, LJ has been far more welcoming to me.

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katyabaturinsky September 7 2004, 09:26:57 UTC
"Prickly." Now there's a diplomatic way of describing that list.

Well, I'm very glad you bother, luv, and all those of us who actually welcome new blood in this fandom are most thankful for your efforts and for the presence of the_safehouse. (Especially as the list in question has just amply demonstrated why I warn all newbies to avoid it like the plague.)

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brenk September 7 2004, 11:50:58 UTC
Heh *g*. My advice is more often 'if you go there, wear rhino hide and buy in a few boxes of Kleenex'. I think, to be honest, there are some people on there who are *not* blinkered but they don't speak up (and who can blame them)and who are around for (or in hope of) some good, lively debate. I also think that if I finally abandoned ship (God knows I've been tempted many a time) - and not flouncing, just going - it'll just give more power to those who *make* it so damned prickly. So unless I get kicked off, I shall stay. For the time being anyway.

But I'm also very glad the Safehouse exists. Long may it stay open-minded and fun.

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katyabaturinsky September 7 2004, 21:14:12 UTC
Oh, I agree about the rhino hide. I don't mean to come across as some fragile little flower, wailing on about "why can't we all just get along?" I actually enjoy a good bit of the wrangling on the list, and you're right, there are plenty of sane and open-minded souls on there. But just let some poor newbie commit the cardinal sin of, say, praising Jane of Oz/Anne Higgins or criticizing Helen Raven/Kitty Fisher, and it turns into "When Sharks Attack!" Complete with chum in the water. ::shudder:: Which can also be entertaining in its own way -- but perhaps not so much for the chum. So I'm glad for alternatives such as the_safehouse for those who don't enjoy the carnage.

And I'm also glad that you perservere in wearing your asbestos undies and standing stalwart as one of the voices of reason amidst the occasional feeding frenzy. I stand in awe of your fortitude.

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brenk September 8 2004, 06:05:01 UTC
Fortitude? Hardly. A tad battle scarred right now.

So this would not be the right time to say I really don't appreciate Helen Raven, perhaps? Hee. But I don't. She's not bad, but her characterisation (as in suddenly schizo Bodie) leaves me slightly perplexed.

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I'll second that katyabaturinsky September 24 2004, 04:03:57 UTC
I had meant to reply earlier to your comments re: Helen Raven with a resounding "hear, hear." I have never understood the appeal of "Cook/Thief" and "Heat Trace." Not to question her writing ability -- she's technically quite proficient -- but who are those characters? They're not even remotely related to any Bodie & Doyle I've seen in the show, particularly in the case of Bodie. If I wanted no connection to canon, I'd read original fic.

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Re: I'll second that brenk September 25 2004, 15:01:31 UTC
Another problem I have is that the characters - even if you read them as 'original fic' - don't seem to come over as rounded or plausible in that she doesn't build things up in a way that can make me swallow some of their actions or attitudes.

But yes, she's proficient in some ways - although I still don't understand why she's wildly popular. Or... is she? Is it just a small group who talk about her a lot? Not sure *g*.

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Re: I'll second that justacat September 27 2004, 18:39:20 UTC
I suppose she's "technically quite proficient" - in that her grammar, sentence structure, etc., are basically correct. But I'm not sure whether that's enough to make a proficient writer. One of my main problems with her stories is that she has thousands too many words; she seems to have no idea when enough is enough, at least for me. I get so damn bored reading her stories - I find myself wanting to skip over huge chunks of them, because blah blah blah, how much tortured!Bodie can I read? It feels like she just doesn't know when to stop ( ... )

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Re: I'll second that brenk September 28 2004, 05:17:25 UTC
I confess I've never read Cook, as Heat Trace was more than enough to persuade me that I didn't like 'her' guys enough to bother.

But yes to the 'heaping scorn on those who don't like her' - it's rather strange - and in fact as strange as those who crusade against LJ. Because those who are in the 'against' camp, I've found, tend to be way more categorical than those on the 'for' side: most LJ users admit it's not perfect but defend their rights to enjoy it warts and all. It's the categorical nature of these things that make me shake my head. Black and white. No shades of grey.

As you say, fandom has something for everyone, so what amounts to criticising somebody else's tastes is downright infuriating. I make no secret of the fact that I'm not an AU fan, but if it makes some people happy then fine. I can even (at a pinch *g*) accept that my hottest slash leaves some people cold *g*. But I don't like the pack mentality attitude that makes you feel 'you must like This Author or you'll never be One of the Right People'.

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brenk September 7 2004, 05:51:09 UTC
From experience, some of us are born to be persona non grata at Pros Lit *g*. Particularly if you don't prefer zines to online fiction, dare to say you read/write gen - and, of course, like LJ. Or fail to be a fan of the Right Authors.

Enjoyed your post. And Cat's. And many others. It's always interesting to see who tries to discuss a problem and who slings mud and makes wild accusations, I think :)

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shayheyred September 7 2004, 16:46:32 UTC
Sigh, So much wasted energy!

In any case, thanks for the cheer. Needless to say, I'm with you on the LJ thing.

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brenk September 7 2004, 18:30:37 UTC
That's exactly it. Discuss, write, or do other stuff that adds something to fandom... but why waste time rehashing stuff over and over and over and over when it brings absolutely nothing new... and only hassle.

Hmph :)

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