I'm curious

[goddessdster]

1. Of those fanfiction stories you re-read (because we all have them, hell, I've got a stack printed out in expanded folders), do you ever let the authors know you do that?  Have you ever gone back after a year or five and let an author know you're still re-reading that one story?

2. Do you ever re-read your own stories?  Not to cringe and say, "WTF

Comments

[carolinecrane]

1) I only reread badfic? It's true, there are certain stories that are SO AWFUL and yet I occasionally go back to them. I have no explanation for that kind of behavior. So no, I don't e-mail the author and tell them, "Hey, this fic still reads like a train wreck, but I am rereading it anyway!"

I do occasionally get e-mails from people telling me they're rereading some old fic of mine, though, which is kind of them. And I know a few people have binders of my Nick/Greg fics. I've seen them. They're scary!

2) Yeah, I do. Not that often, and sometimes it's just to refresh my own memory about some bit of fanon I made up along the way, because let's face it, usually I am the only one writing in my fandoms. But sometimes I just want to revisit a particular universe, and rereading lets you do that. I write rareslash because no one else will write what I want to read, after all.

[goddessdster]

And I know a few people have binders of my Nick/Greg fics. I've seen them. They're scary!

Do they decorate the binders? Because I deco--

Never mind.

Actually, I was working up the courage to ask you if you wouldn't mind sending me some of your longfic via email. Since I came late into CSI fanfic, sometimes hunting down the good stuff is tiring. Also, you don't make it easy. Also, I am lazy. I know you're busy, though, so no hurry, just thought I'd put it out there, since I have your attention and all.

:)

I write rareslash because no one else will write what I want to read, after all.

I think that's pretty amazing.

[carolinecrane]

Would you give me a list of titles? I can send you Word files of most of the long stuff, I reckon, though I have been known to write fic in Notepad or Google Docs and then delete it like a moron once it's posted, so some of it only exists on LJ. But if I have a file to send, I am happy to do it. Just let me know what you want and I'll see what I can scrounge up.

I don't know if it's amazing so much as sheer desperation, but it seems to provide entertainment for other people along the way, so it's all good.

(LOL, I have never seen a decorated one, but that would be pretty cool. And for the record, if I did that sort of thing [i.e. collected fic] I would bedazzle the shit out of that binder.)

[carolinecrane]

Oh, wait, unless you meant you don't know what long fic I have, in which case you don't know what you want, so I can just attach the long ones, sure. I think I get what you mean; some of the plotty, novella-length stuff is in the stand-alone section, and it's tough to tell what's what without a word count. I should add a word count. (Actually I am just going to throw it all up on AO3 one of these days because it is awesome and counts the words for you.)

[random_nexus]

1. I do go back to some, repeatedly, and there are only recently a few I've printed out. I started getting a little worried, because a ficcer I really liked deleted their journal last year and several fics there that I loved are forever gone. *woeface* I sometimes have re-commented, but rarely, as I worry about someone getting annoyed with the 'pointless' comment. (Although, thing is, I LOVE getting those kinds of comments, myself. Unfortunately, I've received sort of 'wtf?' responses to a few I've done in others' LJ's, which has sort of put me off.)

2. I definitely re-read my own stuff, because the whole reason I started writing was because I'm writing what I, want to read! I do cringe at some of the older stuff sometimes, but I also love some of the 'places' I've gone, just for the sake of the concept or the flavor of the world I created (good term, you!).

Interesting questions, m'dearie! Neat seeing your answer and others'.

<3

EDIT: HTML fubar

[goddessdster]

Hm. I've never had anyone think it was weird that I was re-commenting. Maybe I just know nicer fic authors than you do! ;) In fact, I was just told I had made someone's day. Which makes my day. So, weirdly, I am making myself happy through making someone else happy.

I print long stories mainly because I hate reading long stories on a computer screen, and also because it gives me something tangible to keep, not just a link (to a journal or website that may disappear, as you've experienced). Especially when I try to find favorites from over 10 years ago. People who once had websites now have livejournals, or only post their stuff to new archives I have to hunt to find. It's a pain in the ass, frankly. The fanfic may be worth it, but still. Asspain.

[random_nexus]

Yes, yes, exactly!

Well, if you every WANT to print any of my ficcery, have at. I officially give you carte blanche. *giggle* So there.

And, yes, I think it was mostly a case of crabby ficcers, but it still made me very hesitant. Ah, well. I'm in the 'That made my day!' category, myself.

:D

[ffrmusicwench]

1. Sadly, I don't tell the author, although I should. I have a couple of authors who have stories I never get tired of. I especially re-read when new stories start to suck. Now I have to go and find them and tell them! lol

2. I have a couple of stories that are favorites that I re-read all the time. One in particular is my LOCI version of A Christmas Carol. Not a very original thing to do but I got the most and best responses to it and perhaps it helps me feed my ego to know I did something that a lot of people enjoyed.

[goddessdster]

1. I think we all have favorites we always know we can turn to, but I believe in paying it forward. Even the most popular authors love to hear good things about the stories they write.

2. I love to hear which of their own stories authors like to read. And it is an awesome ego boost! We all need that.

[lynnez59]

Hmmm...

1. I don't guess I do...though when I find old stories I've never read before I do leave feedback even though the writer hasn't written anything new in years. and there are a couple of writers I pull up and re-read and will occasionally realize I never commented in the first place and take the time to comment and mention it's like the tenth time I've read it.

2. Sometimes...though most of my stories have ventured into the "they make me cringe" column mostly because I think I've gotten better as a writer since I started and the storylines just are really what I want to explore anymore. There's a couple that I just can't read because they are horribly cliche but there's one or two more recent ones that i go to occasionally to try and insire myself.

[goddessdster]

I do wonder about the inspiration. Sometimes, when I re-read unfinished stories that I like, I simply get down on myself for not finishing something that has so much potential. But I wonder if I re-read one of my earlier stories, I may be reminded how exciting it was to be in the midst of it, how passionate I was and devoted, and look what came out of it: something I think is pretty good.

Oh lord, I am tired and can barely type anymore, but I think you get my drift.