meta-ish question about reccing

[ratcreature]

I've been wondering how to handle a certain kind of rec. I think at the core of my dilemma is this: While I obviously rec what I like, a recs page is also always intended to be useful for other fans, other readers. And I think everybody who reads fanfic knows that you like some stories because they appeal to you in personal ways, kinks (sexual and

Comments

[janissa11]

Good questions. Maybe sidestep the issue with a little blurb very much along the lines of your final paragraph here? Seems to sum it up quite well.

[ratcreature]

The problem with a general blurb is that it isn't all that helpful for the individual story rec.

I'm not quite sure why I seem to have less problems to point out things I honestly disliked, but other things made for it so I'll still rec the story (e.g. in one B5 story I recced I pointed out that I thought the romance was OTT, the prose kind of purple in places, and people burst into tears far too easily, but I really liked the plot) than to explain why I liked things I know some others won't like. I think it is because in the first case I don't mind if it comes across as criticism, after all I honestly didn't like those parts of the story I recced, and everybody reading my rec page can see that I rec stories I had a good time reading overall, not just "perfect" stories, but I don't want to sound like I put down elements I enjoyed after all.

[bethbethbeth]

I write very teeny blurbs, but when I have caveats, I just say something like "Snape on the edge of being OOC, but..." and then move on to the good stuff.

[ratcreature]

See, I have no problem to say something like that, that I liked it for the despite some flaw. My problem is when I really enjoy something *because* the characters are OOC in certain ways as part of a type of story I like. Similar to the implied, but non-judgmental kink labels, like when I rec something saying it's a great Dom!Harry/Sub!Snape story, it's clear that there will be deviations from a strict canon characterization, But that kind of thing is not always a kink you can label neatly so that the readers of your rec page can easily judge if it's their thing

[musesfool]

I would just say, "This story really worked for me, despite what some may consider ridiculous OOC-ness, which I actually found quite interesting and enjoyable, given how it propelled the story" or something like that.

I had one story I hesitated on reccing for a long time because - well, it's a collaborative work and some of the parts were less polished than others, some had some serious tense problems, which i know is a trigger for a lot of people, but because the characterization felt so fresh and real to me, even if, yes, some folks might have considered it OOC (it's a non-magical AU), I had to finally rec it publicly. With a long blurb about what kinks it hit and why I was so hesitant about it.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, I see what you mean. It seems blurbs are a good way to go.

[brown_betty]

I think the normal disclaimer for this is, "If this is the sort of thing you like, then this is the sort of thing you like."

[ratcreature]

True, if nothing else trying to formulate a rec like that is good for figuring out why exactly you like a story, rather than being content to acknowledge "that was fun to read even though (and possibly because?) the characterization was odd"...

[thelastgoodname]

I often say something exactly like, "the story was entertaining, had you totally hooked with the plot and [I] liked the elements X, Y, and Z about it, but [I am] aware that others might think the characters are OOC, the plot full of melodrama, the whole set-up like something out of a Lord King Bad challenge."

This is because I tend to think of recs as a wholly different kettle of fish than feedback: recs are not for the author (except inasmuch as we all like more readers), but for readers. Sometimes I do offer train wreck recs, too, though, so my reccing clearly tends toward a very particular mode. I also love crack, and I forgive occasional lapses in standards, so my recs are specific to a certain type of fairly flexible reader.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, I totally agree that recs are for the readers' benefit and as such different from feedback, and I want other readers to know what I liked about a story, so that they can judge whether to give it a try, especially with stories having elements that are disliked by a significant number of other readers. I think I just worry sometimes that I sound condescending with such qualifiers, or like I'm apologizing, or am embarrassed that I like something, which is not the tone I want. The whole concept od "guilty pleasure" is not my thing. I mean, either I like something and then I stand by that, or I don't and then I'll say that.

[viciouswishes]

On top of my recs page on a website, I have a disclaimer that my recs are things I enjoyed. From my website: These are fanfiction pieces that I enjoy. Some of them are great, well-written epics, some are fun, some are very short, and others hit my kinks. Not everyone will enjoy what I recommend. Stories are in no particular order. However, those in a series are together in series order if they don't have a main page. As per my obsession, instead of completely deleting entries of dead links, I'll be simply removing the link.

As for blurbs about the fic themselves, those who read my recs have said that keeping it to one sentence and very simple is the best. Here's an example.

[ratcreature]

Hmm, my reccing style is rather more rambling in general, or rather it sometimes is. I mean, I try to say more about a story and what I liked or didn't like if I have the feeling that it's not going to be everybody's thing, to make that transparent.