Totally. It's not that I don't read the occassional death fic, because I often opt for them when I know the writer is good, but falling headlong into a fic that is one big burnout waiting to happen without clear, or even any, author's notes or warnings? Does not help me try and keep a positive attitude towards the genre.
Of the two or three intensely dark (character death wise, I mean) fic that most recced in the fandom I've only read one, and at the time I didn't know it was going to be such a depressingly depressing piece of well written depression. I probably *had* known it had at least one character death in it, but the extent of the topic was beyond me. Boy, way to start out in the fandom - no wonder I stuck to Harlequin!fics and virgins for months after. To this day whenever I see one of the above mentioned "famous" death fics recced somewhere I turn the other way... I don't even want to check which one is the one I read (I'd forgotten the title over time), lest I be tempted to read the story again. It's just... depressing, you know?
I had a little moment of worry (as stargateficrec is a fairly large community, and I did just rec a story that could appear to be a deathfic), but the number of times I stated clearly 'TRUST ME IT'S NOT' tells me I'm just sleepy and paranoid.
I know most people will say that we should be writing for ourselves, and I know this is delving into an entirely different kind of meta, but frankly, as much as I enjoy writing, I'll be honest and say I'd be writing something else, if it weren't for fandom. There's only so much satisfaction I can get out of writing fanfiction that no one else will ever see (and believe me, I've done it). So, to me, when it comes to warnings, it's all about readership. There are two things to overcome: 1) the fact that the word 'death' in any summary lives up to its name in terms of turnoffs for a large number of people, and 2) taking care of one's readers.
The best way to do both, in my view, is to post your warnings somewhere that isn't directly on the story itself, but to link to them prominently and clearly. sardonicsmiley recently
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There are two things to overcome: 1) the fact that the word 'death' in any summary lives up to its name in terms of turnoffs for a large number of people, and 2) taking care of one's readers.
Yes, that. I find 2) more important than 1), though, because as you said, things like this can turn into a trust issue. I'm not reading fic by authors I don't trust, period. That might lead to me missing the most beautiful love story ever written, but frankly, I don't give a damn.
Plus, you know, I wrote a story for this year's 14 Valentines where I warned for character death, even though in my head there's a second part in which the character death didn't actually happen (and I'm going to write it, some day) and a lot of people seemed to read it that way, too. The point is, I just had those two words of warning without saying except-only-really-presumed-dead, and I received a mind-blowing five pages of comments on that thing. My replies included, of course, but still. Having that kind of warning doesn't mean that no one will read your story
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Oh that's awesome about the number of comments! I usually see it as the kiss of death (something psychological that happens when people see the word), but I think that has to do with the trust thing, m'self!
I agree that sardonicsmiley has come up with a good solution to the click-if-you-want-to warnings. Perhaps she should advertise. ;)
I may have perhaps suggested the separate post thing when she had a discussion up about it, but the one post + comment links was all her. So brilliant.
AAAAND it's 4:04 AM and I still have 13,000 words to write on big bang, minimum! *scurries off to bed* <3
wotcha [hands over chocolate] I thought that the lassie in question was a newbie, but nope lots of stories on fanfiction.net -- which is actually an indictment all in itself…
peeps want warnings and they don't mind hunting for them.
Yeah, I was giving her the benefit of doubt until she linked to ff.net and said she had lots of stories there. Plus, you know, if she really is an avid reader of that comm, she should at least know that tagging one's entries is the least one can do.
Ah, yes, I remember that poll. More people should know about it. ;)
I think that if a story doesn't work unless you have no idea what it's about, the author's done something wrong. Then again, maybe I'm just arrogant. ;)
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I still maintain songfic should be a warning.
Anything I can do to cheer you up?
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Though I wouldn't say no to Tim Tams. ;p
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This comment brought to you by my intense dislike of dark, happy ending-less stories, and more so by them that don't have proper warnings.
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I know most people will say that we should be writing for ourselves, and I know this is delving into an entirely different kind of meta, but frankly, as much as I enjoy writing, I'll be honest and say I'd be writing something else, if it weren't for fandom. There's only so much satisfaction I can get out of writing fanfiction that no one else will ever see (and believe me, I've done it). So, to me, when it comes to warnings, it's all about readership. There are two things to overcome: 1) the fact that the word 'death' in any summary lives up to its name in terms of turnoffs for a large number of people, and 2) taking care of one's readers.
The best way to do both, in my view, is to post your warnings somewhere that isn't directly on the story itself, but to link to them prominently and clearly. sardonicsmiley recently ( ... )
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Yes, that. I find 2) more important than 1), though, because as you said, things like this can turn into a trust issue. I'm not reading fic by authors I don't trust, period. That might lead to me missing the most beautiful love story ever written, but frankly, I don't give a damn.
Plus, you know, I wrote a story for this year's 14 Valentines where I warned for character death, even though in my head there's a second part in which the character death didn't actually happen (and I'm going to write it, some day) and a lot of people seemed to read it that way, too. The point is, I just had those two words of warning without saying except-only-really-presumed-dead, and I received a mind-blowing five pages of comments on that thing. My replies included, of course, but still. Having that kind of warning doesn't mean that no one will read your story ( ... )
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I agree that sardonicsmiley has come up with a good solution to the click-if-you-want-to warnings. Perhaps she should advertise. ;)
I may have perhaps suggested the separate post thing when she had a discussion up about it, but the one post + comment links was all her. So brilliant.
AAAAND it's 4:04 AM and I still have 13,000 words to write on big bang, minimum! *scurries off to bed* <3
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peeps want warnings and they don't mind hunting for them.
http://jimandblair.livejournal.com/75427.html
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Ah, yes, I remember that poll. More people should know about it. ;)
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This is why goodreads has been so awesome...I can trawl through reviews and get warnings for actual, paper books!
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