A Fanfic Reader Blog
I figured it was time for me to use my LJ to journal/blog my thoughts about fanfic. Put up or shut up, right? It's super long and you'll definitely not read all of it, but fuck it, I don't feel like reading tonight and I'm the first to admit that I can not write a story to save the world. But I felt like writing my thoughts on this so... oh, I should probably add a disclaimer up front and say that I’m not as smart as I think I am and these opinions are solely mine, but I’m not going to do that.
Summary, schmummary, I’m readin’ what mah girlz read.
Most readers depend on the opinions of our friends. We have those (chat groups, twitter friends, community buds, or established website reviewers) that we follow or talk to regularly and expect to don the fanfic condom and pop cherries for us. Our virtual friends who brave the Ff.n frontier and try new stories and then come back sometimes scarred, and we love you for that, to break it down for us who are too scared, lazy, or jaded to venture in to new stories on our own. A good summary and exceptional banner may draw you in, but you brave the cliched shop-a-holic Alices; exaggeratedly self-esteem lacking Bellas; and cursing hung-like-a-horse Edwards on our behalf. Thank you.
Hey, I like Poker Face as much as the next gal, but I’m not faking a birth on SNL or buying a blue-bobbed wig.
Just because a story has eleventy billion comments does not make it a great read. Maybe I’m becoming cynical (ok, “more” cynical) or maybe I’m just not ‘getting it’, but I’ve found that stories with an obscene number of comments seem to really piss me off. I’ve tried psycho-analyzing myself on this subject. Am I only nit-picking and finding things to hate because once a story gets that much notoriety in the fandom it seems negativity is sure to follow? Am I’m too cool for the popular kids - in my own mind? Or am I genuinely appalled that everyone I know is reading a story that causes me to rage? Why in the hell am I allowing myself to rage over a fanfiction story? Shit, I really am human and IDGAF, I love me some fic! It’s my opinion, I can cry if I wanna.
Then, I come across a story with 5000+ comments that I actually like and, yes, it’s total shite, but fuck me if I can’t stop reading it. Oops, I did it again. Baby, bye bye bye. I got 99 problems, but a fic ain’t one. In other words, and really only my opinion, a large number of comments can mean a story rates on the metaphorical scale of pop song to fic ratio anywhere from the catchy “Bad Romance” to WTF?OMG!ThisIsShit “Friday”.
Still with me?
She said it. I said it. They say it. So say we all.
Why do some readers fear a story written in third person and what makes us run away from the first person perspective? I’d like to advocate on behalf of the third person story. I went through a phase where I wholeheartedly preferred my main character to speak directly to me. First person stories (example: I’m Bella Swan) drew me in and made the experience more personal or intimate for me. However, these days I’m leaning toward third person (example: She is Bella Swan) because it is less likely writers will over-indulge their main character. Third person stories seem to allow less room to annihilate a lead’s short comings. Please note, though, that third person stories can still facilitate an over descriptive narrative. Sometimes it’s ok to just say the grass was green. It doesn’t have to be dew-dropped, effervescently smooth, and jade grass standing like soldiers ready to meet the dawn.
I sincerely believe that first person stories invite the authors to get lost inside their characters’ minds which in turn creates an environment that presents too many thoughts or carries the author away on tangents that make us fall out of like with that character. The best first person point of view stories are those that are able to share a character’s views while still knowing when to pull in the reins.
Every person has a limit as to what they’ll share with the world or themselves, and an author who recognizes and can define that is pretty much awesome. Letting your Bella go on too long about how inadequate she feels about herself can take the reader from compassion to complacency in a flash (or in this case, a really long, wordy, repetitive chapter).
I said metrosexual not whimpy pussy.
If your going to tackle a male POV in your story, please remember that men think differently than women. It’s hard to accomplish and I can only think of a handful of authors who are able to do it. You can have a caring Edward; however, when he starts going on and on about he’s going to worship Bella and what a goddess she is and blah, blah, blah... Well, you’ve lost me. Give him some spine, but keep in mind: a male POV does not necessarily mean an M rating for curse words. We’re not stupid enough to think he grew balls because he’s now going to fucking worship Bella and what a damn goddess she fucking is.
It’s ok to make a charming Edward. It’s ok to have him worship Bella. Just remember that most men exhibit romantic tendencies with less words and more actions. And, the ones who do “say” it more than “show” it are probably lying or covering up something. (Yeah, I said it. I didn’t say ALL MEN, so back off!) It only takes 3 words for him to say, “I love you”. But, it takes approximately 25 chapters and an epilogue for him to show it.
What you hear is not a test, I’m a rappin’ to the beat. Me, the group, and my friends are gonna try to move your feet.
I hesitate to say this next part because most of the authors I read already know this nugget of truth. But, I feel I must type it because there are still so many who don’t seem to believe it: Not all of your readers want your witty notes before and/or after a chapter.
I’m a strong believer in less is more. I appreciate author’s who want to give credit, note thanks, supply links, etc. However, I appreciate them more when they tell me to visit their profile for all that shit. I understand some readers like to make BFFs with, and get to know the writers. I am not one of them. It is frustrating to get in to a story and then a bold author note catches my attention and for some petty, indescribable reason, I flounce because of something the author said.
Wait! Please let me try to clarify without making all of you hate me. Sometimes when authors publish a note with their chapters - fuck, who am I kidding more than half of the time - they involuntarily open a window that should have remain shut. Perhaps you can’t help defending your story against a comment you received that you didn’t like. Maybe you want to encourage me to vote for your story in contests I don’t care about. Or, you just want to share what’s going on in your personal life. Possibly, you feel like you need to explain what will happen or what just happened in the chapter. Any of these, along with many other seemingly innocuous little things, can turn a reader off.
I, for one, know that if I had to read a book and every chapter had a note from the author thanking her editor; yelling at readers for not loving the last chapter; and telling me that her kid had a cold... well, I don’t know even know what to say here. I have nothing witty or sarcastic to insert here.
It’s not all bitching. I feel love, too. What? Shut up, I do!
I know it seems like we complain a lot. Things like: that story never updates; that author is blackmailing for reviews; I hate cliffies. But, please, authors, know that we truly do love what you give us. (Not everything for all of us, but some of us for everything) Even a fic with 17 reviews has some readers and they appreciate the free gift of entertainment you are providing us. Not every story hits it out of the ball park, but a lot of stories do touch a lot of human beings on all kinds of different levels. I, personally, have read a shitton of fics that I’ve connected with. I’ve had my eyes opened to various topics that I hadn’t really thought about before, and I’ve came across stories that made me feel like the author was inside my own head.
Fanfic can be amazing and what one finds annoying another finds enjoyment. Just because I am complaining that your fic is too fluffy today does not mean I won’t be all over that tomorrow. Sure, I’m hating the depressing chapter after chapter angst right now, but I know I will be full on PMSing next week and hovering over my laptop with tissues and chocolate - probably stalking your twitter, too. So, authors, thank you for writing. Thank you for your patience with us and for your acceptance that our opinions change daily and there are just too many variables to control how one reader will feel about or respond to your story.
If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me.
What’s that thing my BFF is always saying to me? Oh yeah, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. And to her I reply, “Bite me!”
I always feel bad when I have a negative comment to share with other posters/readers about a story I’ve read. I have to give myself a pep talk before I click on the little icon to post my comment because I worry that the author will see it and I’ll have hurt their feelings. Then I realize that I appreciate the sharing relationship I have with those other posters/readers and rely on their opinion and, as I get to know them, I find that what they might like or dislike in a story can save me time and frustration. Because I do let fic frustrate me. I get so engulfed in a story, so consumed by plots, that I create the world of that individual fic inside my mind. I move in, rearrange the furniture, pop popcorn and sometimes I even fucking talk to them. (They haven’t answered yet, thank gods, but lord knows I’ve yelled at Bella more times than I can count!)
The key is to surround yourself with a community or friend base that you trust. Not a group who will turn mean and start personal attacks! If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’re just not nice and while mean people kick ass, vindictive and intentionally hurtful people suck. (Unless they’re characters in a fic. No, even then, they suck, but they have purpose. Ask yourself, are you a character in a fic? I didn’t think so!)
Know that our passion-filled comments, whether in communities, on twitter, or on other blogs/websites mean we’re communicating and discussing something that you wrote. And please... bottom line... please remember there are a ton of things you don’t like that you talk about to your friends. I know it’s hard, but remember we love the human, even if we don’t love the story.
Yeah, that was a monster post. I promise I'm not even high!
Summary, schmummary, I’m readin’ what mah girlz read.
Most readers depend on the opinions of our friends. We have those (chat groups, twitter friends, community buds, or established website reviewers) that we follow or talk to regularly and expect to don the fanfic condom and pop cherries for us. Our virtual friends who brave the Ff.n frontier and try new stories and then come back sometimes scarred, and we love you for that, to break it down for us who are too scared, lazy, or jaded to venture in to new stories on our own. A good summary and exceptional banner may draw you in, but you brave the cliched shop-a-holic Alices; exaggeratedly self-esteem lacking Bellas; and cursing hung-like-a-horse Edwards on our behalf. Thank you.
Hey, I like Poker Face as much as the next gal, but I’m not faking a birth on SNL or buying a blue-bobbed wig.
Just because a story has eleventy billion comments does not make it a great read. Maybe I’m becoming cynical (ok, “more” cynical) or maybe I’m just not ‘getting it’, but I’ve found that stories with an obscene number of comments seem to really piss me off. I’ve tried psycho-analyzing myself on this subject. Am I only nit-picking and finding things to hate because once a story gets that much notoriety in the fandom it seems negativity is sure to follow? Am I’m too cool for the popular kids - in my own mind? Or am I genuinely appalled that everyone I know is reading a story that causes me to rage? Why in the hell am I allowing myself to rage over a fanfiction story? Shit, I really am human and IDGAF, I love me some fic! It’s my opinion, I can cry if I wanna.
Then, I come across a story with 5000+ comments that I actually like and, yes, it’s total shite, but fuck me if I can’t stop reading it. Oops, I did it again. Baby, bye bye bye. I got 99 problems, but a fic ain’t one. In other words, and really only my opinion, a large number of comments can mean a story rates on the metaphorical scale of pop song to fic ratio anywhere from the catchy “Bad Romance” to WTF?OMG!ThisIsShit “Friday”.
Still with me?
She said it. I said it. They say it. So say we all.
Why do some readers fear a story written in third person and what makes us run away from the first person perspective? I’d like to advocate on behalf of the third person story. I went through a phase where I wholeheartedly preferred my main character to speak directly to me. First person stories (example: I’m Bella Swan) drew me in and made the experience more personal or intimate for me. However, these days I’m leaning toward third person (example: She is Bella Swan) because it is less likely writers will over-indulge their main character. Third person stories seem to allow less room to annihilate a lead’s short comings. Please note, though, that third person stories can still facilitate an over descriptive narrative. Sometimes it’s ok to just say the grass was green. It doesn’t have to be dew-dropped, effervescently smooth, and jade grass standing like soldiers ready to meet the dawn.
I sincerely believe that first person stories invite the authors to get lost inside their characters’ minds which in turn creates an environment that presents too many thoughts or carries the author away on tangents that make us fall out of like with that character. The best first person point of view stories are those that are able to share a character’s views while still knowing when to pull in the reins.
Every person has a limit as to what they’ll share with the world or themselves, and an author who recognizes and can define that is pretty much awesome. Letting your Bella go on too long about how inadequate she feels about herself can take the reader from compassion to complacency in a flash (or in this case, a really long, wordy, repetitive chapter).
I said metrosexual not whimpy pussy.
If your going to tackle a male POV in your story, please remember that men think differently than women. It’s hard to accomplish and I can only think of a handful of authors who are able to do it. You can have a caring Edward; however, when he starts going on and on about he’s going to worship Bella and what a goddess she is and blah, blah, blah... Well, you’ve lost me. Give him some spine, but keep in mind: a male POV does not necessarily mean an M rating for curse words. We’re not stupid enough to think he grew balls because he’s now going to fucking worship Bella and what a damn goddess she fucking is.
It’s ok to make a charming Edward. It’s ok to have him worship Bella. Just remember that most men exhibit romantic tendencies with less words and more actions. And, the ones who do “say” it more than “show” it are probably lying or covering up something. (Yeah, I said it. I didn’t say ALL MEN, so back off!) It only takes 3 words for him to say, “I love you”. But, it takes approximately 25 chapters and an epilogue for him to show it.
What you hear is not a test, I’m a rappin’ to the beat. Me, the group, and my friends are gonna try to move your feet.
I hesitate to say this next part because most of the authors I read already know this nugget of truth. But, I feel I must type it because there are still so many who don’t seem to believe it: Not all of your readers want your witty notes before and/or after a chapter.
I’m a strong believer in less is more. I appreciate author’s who want to give credit, note thanks, supply links, etc. However, I appreciate them more when they tell me to visit their profile for all that shit. I understand some readers like to make BFFs with, and get to know the writers. I am not one of them. It is frustrating to get in to a story and then a bold author note catches my attention and for some petty, indescribable reason, I flounce because of something the author said.
Wait! Please let me try to clarify without making all of you hate me. Sometimes when authors publish a note with their chapters - fuck, who am I kidding more than half of the time - they involuntarily open a window that should have remain shut. Perhaps you can’t help defending your story against a comment you received that you didn’t like. Maybe you want to encourage me to vote for your story in contests I don’t care about. Or, you just want to share what’s going on in your personal life. Possibly, you feel like you need to explain what will happen or what just happened in the chapter. Any of these, along with many other seemingly innocuous little things, can turn a reader off.
I, for one, know that if I had to read a book and every chapter had a note from the author thanking her editor; yelling at readers for not loving the last chapter; and telling me that her kid had a cold... well, I don’t know even know what to say here. I have nothing witty or sarcastic to insert here.
It’s not all bitching. I feel love, too. What? Shut up, I do!
I know it seems like we complain a lot. Things like: that story never updates; that author is blackmailing for reviews; I hate cliffies. But, please, authors, know that we truly do love what you give us. (Not everything for all of us, but some of us for everything) Even a fic with 17 reviews has some readers and they appreciate the free gift of entertainment you are providing us. Not every story hits it out of the ball park, but a lot of stories do touch a lot of human beings on all kinds of different levels. I, personally, have read a shitton of fics that I’ve connected with. I’ve had my eyes opened to various topics that I hadn’t really thought about before, and I’ve came across stories that made me feel like the author was inside my own head.
Fanfic can be amazing and what one finds annoying another finds enjoyment. Just because I am complaining that your fic is too fluffy today does not mean I won’t be all over that tomorrow. Sure, I’m hating the depressing chapter after chapter angst right now, but I know I will be full on PMSing next week and hovering over my laptop with tissues and chocolate - probably stalking your twitter, too. So, authors, thank you for writing. Thank you for your patience with us and for your acceptance that our opinions change daily and there are just too many variables to control how one reader will feel about or respond to your story.
If you don’t have anything nice to say, come sit by me.
What’s that thing my BFF is always saying to me? Oh yeah, if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all. And to her I reply, “Bite me!”
I always feel bad when I have a negative comment to share with other posters/readers about a story I’ve read. I have to give myself a pep talk before I click on the little icon to post my comment because I worry that the author will see it and I’ll have hurt their feelings. Then I realize that I appreciate the sharing relationship I have with those other posters/readers and rely on their opinion and, as I get to know them, I find that what they might like or dislike in a story can save me time and frustration. Because I do let fic frustrate me. I get so engulfed in a story, so consumed by plots, that I create the world of that individual fic inside my mind. I move in, rearrange the furniture, pop popcorn and sometimes I even fucking talk to them. (They haven’t answered yet, thank gods, but lord knows I’ve yelled at Bella more times than I can count!)
The key is to surround yourself with a community or friend base that you trust. Not a group who will turn mean and start personal attacks! If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’re just not nice and while mean people kick ass, vindictive and intentionally hurtful people suck. (Unless they’re characters in a fic. No, even then, they suck, but they have purpose. Ask yourself, are you a character in a fic? I didn’t think so!)
Know that our passion-filled comments, whether in communities, on twitter, or on other blogs/websites mean we’re communicating and discussing something that you wrote. And please... bottom line... please remember there are a ton of things you don’t like that you talk about to your friends. I know it’s hard, but remember we love the human, even if we don’t love the story.
Yeah, that was a monster post. I promise I'm not even high!