Great job with (I think) the first guest essay! I agree with all your points, to varying degrees. My #1 turnoff when reading fanfic: bad dialogue, followed by bad grammar. Canon is also very, very important to me.
I was unfortunate to read some really, really bad fanfic in another fandom before falling in love with PB, and it turned me off fanfic for a long time. Thank goodness I gave it another try, and got hooked, reading and writing.
It's funny to me that you put such emphasis on the title: I hardly ever give it much thought. But good summaries are important to me, which is ironic, since I'm terrible at summarizing my own work. I like how you described the whole AU catagory. There are so many subtle shades of AU...I'm still learning. But whatever the AU universe, it has to be believable, and you make it believable by having the characters act as they would in canon (at least for me).
Summaries don't really matter to me, because I can't tell you how many times I've had people not read my summaries and then complain about what I was writing. I look at the pairings and the category, and of course, the title ;-) I'm know, I'm a freak.
I used to have a fairly poor opinion of fanfic until I found some good stuff myself. I must say though that PB has an overwhelming amount of good authors.
Yes, PB does have a disproportionately large number of good authors. Lucky us! And it's too bad that people ignore the summaries and warnings. That's why they're there. If people can't be bothered to read them, then they get what they deserve, I suppose.
And I think the reason we all like the thoughts, mannerisms, and dialogue to remain in character is because by definition fanfic is for readers already emotionally invested in a character. What the author should do, in my opinion, is either fill in gaps, put the characters in new situations that ring true, or both. It's an extension of the canon PB universe, and expansion, if you will. Usually, when my favorite characters are acting completely out of character, either intentionally by the author or due to poor writing, I'm turned off.
I have stretched myself to try a few new things lately though, and there are exceptions, although precious few.
I know I would never have dreamed of putting Linc and Sara together romantically if they hadn't killed Veronica. But what started it all for me was looking at the situation and thinking, if I were her, and I was alone someone with these men, would I really not notice Lincoln? Of course, for me, it's all about Linc, but I had to be creative to come up with a way for Sara to notice Linc, and to build off the anger we know she felt towards Michael. But you know, that whole *too much plot in my porn* thing doesn't afflict everyone. In fact, now, in canon, I'd find it very hard to write a story where Sara fell for Linc over Mike because of the way S2 ended. Early S2 Sara I could convince to fall for the other brother, late S2 Sara, not so much.
And I know what you mean about expanding the canon, because often I feel things I've written or read in other great fics is exactly what must have happened. It feels so canon, I almost can't separate them.
I think my comments may be too long, so I'm breaking this up.
Very very interesting! Your list is not at all like mine and that is very intriguing to me since I know for a fact we like many of the same stories. But that's what makes hearing your insights that much more interesting.
Like wrldpossibility, I'm surprised to see you listed the title. That is one of the last things I ever think about when reading fanfic. You could list 20 fics and I may have read all of them and loved them, but would probably only recognize a half dozen titles, that's how little I pay attention to that. I'm the same way with movies and music
( ... )
I know, Linc saying baby...that's totally in character, even though I've never actually heard him say it. *sighs* *flails* *fans herself*
Anyway....
As for the title, I have a very, very, very good memory. Titles are important to me, and I remember stuff by that. That's probably why I'm such a freak about it.
I think I had Linc call someone sweetcheeks once, but he was being a smart ass. It's ringing a bell for me...
And yes, Linc curses like a sailor in fanfic, as I'm sure he would if were on cable. ;-)
I know what you mean about Americanisms. I have had moments where that's bothered me, but if the other requirements are met, I find I can overlook that. Isn't that funny? Why can I get over one thing, but not another? Who knows.
As for those who think it's canon for Linc (or Michael even) to say cupcake butter bottom, I need to see their I.D., because I'm just guessing they are a mite young...
As for those who think it's canon for Linc (or Michael even) to say cupcake butter bottom, I need to see their I.D., because I'm just guessing they are a mite young...
Well, okay, maybe Michael or Lincoln wouldn't say it but it is *so* canon!Bellick. You know it is.
I tried to clarify the canon thing because I could see people jumping on me for saying slash isn't canon but Linc/Sara or Michael/Veronica is. (But you and I sekritly know M/V IS canon.)
What you say about canon in the slash stories is my biggest fear. See, I think halfshellvenus writes an AMAZING Lincoln. The gen stuff I've read of hers is just brilliant, so I make a wide berth around the slash. Just as I know some deep shippers avoid the L/S stuff, and I can commiserate 100%.
But I do tend to read one author and if I like them, I'll read their other stuff, and so that often allows me to see the characters in new situations that I might not have bought except that that author put them there. Remember when we talked about Michael's LLI/OCD thing from Two Decades? That was something you sold me on (as is most of the mental health issues you give to Michael in various forms). Which reminds me, your sexually deviant Michael in Thursdays is exactly the Michael I have being sexually deviant with Veronica in Sweet Misery. I mean, yeah he 'loves'
( ... )
And lol! But I thought your Misery Michael was far more sexually twisted than my Thursdays, and I would have said you were taking the bigger chance Is that because I actually wrote the sex? Unlike some people *points randomly* who want to write the sex but instead write cute kid Michael and Lincoln? See I viewed the hundreds of partners as far more off-putting that dallying with your brother's girlfriend. But just ask happywriter06 nothing is worse than Veronica sleeping with Michael. No matter what Linc does, Veronica is the badder person. I love how we all view it differently. :D
And, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since you can read my mind, but you love Conquistador too? Seriously, my favorite line in the whole thing: Oh, and by the way, he can get hard again.
Yes, go to bed, but reply to this when you get a chance... ;-)
I said in the second paragraph, "it’s just a given that spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. If you have a hard time with that, get a beta and cling to them with all your might."
It's just my opinion but if you don't already know that's important, I hardly think you're reading something of this nature to have a conversation about it.
I am happy to have someone else on board regarding the title. It's not just me! yay!
First of all, your avatar is made of awesome. That really cracked me up!
I said in the second paragraph - Ah, that you did, my mistake! Goes to show I was a bit in a hurry. Sorry about that. Though I might have still listed it as one of my five major turnoffs.
It's just my opinion but if you don't already know that's important, I hardly think you're reading something of this nature to have a conversation about it. That's probably absolutely true. The things you pointed out are certainly worthwhile for improving the story of the fic.
I was also glad to hear I'm not the only one with a problem considering all kinds of AUs and cross-overs. I just can't find it within myself to read cross-overs at all, basically. As for AUs - I love them, as long as they're canon in the sense that for me AU fics too have to have a certain amount of credibility. They have to be able to convince me that this could really happen in the world of Prison Break.
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I was unfortunate to read some really, really bad fanfic in another fandom before falling in love with PB, and it turned me off fanfic for a long time. Thank goodness I gave it another try, and got hooked, reading and writing.
It's funny to me that you put such emphasis on the title: I hardly ever give it much thought. But good summaries are important to me, which is ironic, since I'm terrible at summarizing my own work. I like how you described the whole AU catagory. There are so many subtle shades of AU...I'm still learning. But whatever the AU universe, it has to be believable, and you make it believable by having the characters act as they would in canon (at least for me).
Great job!
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I used to have a fairly poor opinion of fanfic until I found some good stuff myself. I must say though that PB has an overwhelming amount of good authors.
Reply
And I think the reason we all like the thoughts, mannerisms, and dialogue to remain in character is because by definition fanfic is for readers already emotionally invested in a character. What the author should do, in my opinion, is either fill in gaps, put the characters in new situations that ring true, or both. It's an extension of the canon PB universe, and expansion, if you will. Usually, when my favorite characters are acting completely out of character, either intentionally by the author or due to poor writing, I'm turned off.
I have stretched myself to try a few new things lately though, and there are exceptions, although precious few.
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And I know what you mean about expanding the canon, because often I feel things I've written or read in other great fics is exactly what must have happened. It feels so canon, I almost can't separate them.
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Very very interesting! Your list is not at all like mine and that is very intriguing to me since I know for a fact we like many of the same stories. But that's what makes hearing your insights that much more interesting.
Like wrldpossibility, I'm surprised to see you listed the title. That is one of the last things I ever think about when reading fanfic. You could list 20 fics and I may have read all of them and loved them, but would probably only recognize a half dozen titles, that's how little I pay attention to that. I'm the same way with movies and music ( ... )
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Anyway....
As for the title, I have a very, very, very good memory. Titles are important to me, and I remember stuff by that. That's probably why I'm such a freak about it.
I think I had Linc call someone sweetcheeks once, but he was being a smart ass. It's ringing a bell for me...
And yes, Linc curses like a sailor in fanfic, as I'm sure he would if were on cable. ;-)
I know what you mean about Americanisms. I have had moments where that's bothered me, but if the other requirements are met, I find I can overlook that. Isn't that funny? Why can I get over one thing, but not another? Who knows.
As for those who think it's canon for Linc (or Michael even) to say cupcake butter bottom, I need to see their I.D., because I'm just guessing they are a mite young...
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Well, okay, maybe Michael or Lincoln wouldn't say it but it is *so* canon!Bellick. You know it is.
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What you say about canon in the slash stories is my biggest fear. See, I think halfshellvenus writes an AMAZING Lincoln. The gen stuff I've read of hers is just brilliant, so I make a wide berth around the slash. Just as I know some deep shippers avoid the L/S stuff, and I can commiserate 100%.
But I do tend to read one author and if I like them, I'll read their other stuff, and so that often allows me to see the characters in new situations that I might not have bought except that that author put them there. Remember when we talked about Michael's LLI/OCD thing from Two Decades? That was something you sold me on (as is most of the mental health issues you give to Michael in various forms). Which reminds me, your sexually deviant Michael in Thursdays is exactly the Michael I have being sexually deviant with Veronica in Sweet Misery. I mean, yeah he 'loves' ( ... )
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Is that because I actually wrote the sex? Unlike some people *points randomly* who want to write the sex but instead write cute kid Michael and Lincoln? See I viewed the hundreds of partners as far more off-putting that dallying with your brother's girlfriend. But just ask happywriter06 nothing is worse than Veronica sleeping with Michael. No matter what Linc does, Veronica is the badder person. I love how we all view it differently. :D
And, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised since you can read my mind, but you love Conquistador too? Seriously, my favorite line in the whole thing: Oh, and by the way, he can get hard again.
Just love it.
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I said in the second paragraph, "it’s just a given that spelling, grammar and punctuation are important. If you have a hard time with that, get a beta and cling to them with all your might."
It's just my opinion but if you don't already know that's important, I hardly think you're reading something of this nature to have a conversation about it.
I am happy to have someone else on board regarding the title. It's not just me! yay!
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I said in the second paragraph -
Ah, that you did, my mistake! Goes to show I was a bit in a hurry. Sorry about that. Though I might have still listed it as one of my five major turnoffs.
It's just my opinion but if you don't already know that's important, I hardly think you're reading something of this nature to have a conversation about it.
That's probably absolutely true. The things you pointed out are certainly worthwhile for improving the story of the fic.
I was also glad to hear I'm not the only one with a problem considering all kinds of AUs and cross-overs. I just can't find it within myself to read cross-overs at all, basically. As for AUs - I love them, as long as they're canon in the sense that for me AU fics too have to have a certain amount of credibility. They have to be able to convince me that this could really happen in the world of Prison Break.
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