GIP again and Gen Fic

[lillianmorgan]

Firstly, more GIPpy goodness. I have two icons made by for me by spikesloveslave and I love them both. Thank you!

Thanks so much to everyone who commented on The Misty Isle. I’m really overwhelmed.

Comments

[makd]

ITA. Gen fic is VERY popular with fans like me who don't 'ship or who don't have an OTP

[lillianmorgan]

Thanks for your thoughts.
that Internet fans are more likely to read fic, hence more likely to "succomb" to reading 'shipper fic than non-Internet fans,
Yes, I suppose it depends on how people are drawn into the fandom, or why they use the Internt to read fic or try to get something more out of the 'verse. I can only speak from my own experience, which at the time, was to see what might have happened to Spike after Grave and to try and tease out more from his relationship (though not necessarily sexual) with Buffy.
And, I think that just may be true of other non-'shippers/non-OTPers out there.
Oh certainly agree with you there. Reading gen fic also cuts down on the biases against other characters which tends to frustrate me in some 'ships. Although sometimes it certainly seems more expedient to 'ship one pairing because that cuts down on the amount of reading (*g*).
Interestingly, I just posted a rec for the new Spangel site, A Reference Key, and one person commented, asking if there was a gen fic site for non-'shippers. Of course

[hesadevil]

I looked at a few of those sites and those that weren't non-fuctional are not accepting any more fics. I was really asking makd for sites that accepted only non-shipper fic and were still archiving new stuff. There doesn't seem to be one

[spikendru]

The main gen site I enjoyed was Walk With Heroes--they specifically gave awards to non-shippy fics. Unfortunately, there weren't enough fics nominated to continue with the awards, but the site is still up with links to genfic that had been previously nominated. http://www.walkwithheroes.org/

This seems to be a sort of chicken/egg situation, in which not enough people are reading/commenting on genfic so not enough writers are writing it which causes the closings of sites devoted to genfic; or the closing of sites and lack of interest causes people to stop writing genfic. It's a shame.

[semby]

I’m also quite intrigued given the fact that most of my own reading tends to be ship-py that the gen fic resonated so strongly with people.

I notice for myself that I tend to seek out more ship-py fics, but when a genfic just happens to come along I will read it and usually enjoy it just as much as the shippy stuff. I think the reason it holds a broad appeal is because most people have set favorite ships and ships they don't like: there are certain pairings that I just won't read. Whereas gen doesn't exclude anyone in that way. Certainly people still have characters they don't like, but I think there are more shippers who don't stray from their safety-zone.

And I love the icon!

[lillianmorgan]

Heee! I'm glad you like the icon. It's the bedhead and expression that does it for me *g*
I think you've certainly hit the mark with the idea that gen fic doesn't tend to exclude. For one thing, I get frustrated when some writers create quite skewed characterisations of my favourite characters, just because it suits the 'ship.
I notice for myself that I tend to seek out more ship-py fics, but when a genfic just happens to come along I will read it and usually enjoy it just as much as the shippy stuff.
Yes, I totally agree! :)
Btw, good luck with your moviequoteminis fic. I like your quote :)

[semby]

It is a fun quote! Good luck with yours too - you got a classic!

[lillianmorgan]

Heh. Yoda ;)

[jans_intentions]

I think if you write a longer story that is more involved you might end up leaving the main ship a bit or something. I admit, I was a bit anxious with the KEPT I just put up for that very reason. Because when you have 'other' relationships and so on, it can be seen as very threatning to the romantic main ship. I don't know how to write a story that is complex like the shows were and like real life is and not have diversity of characters and shipping.

To me, the most unlikely pairings and friendships are the most interesting. :)

You did a great story there. No wonder you had a lovely response.

jan

[lillianmorgan]

Because when you have 'other' relationships and so on, it can be seen as very threatning to the romantic main ship.
Yes, I imagine if you have people who read the fic mainly for the one 'ship and then other 'ships appear what do you find? They stop reading? Or keep commenting? Apart from the fact that it's a wonderful story and the creative process is so important, it also sort of makes for an interesting experiment.
To me, the most unlikely pairings and friendships are the most interesting. :)
That's really interesting; would you consider that to mean non-canon relationships then? Or just different ways of interpreting canon relationships?
You did a great story there. No wonder you had a lovely response.
Thanks! That's very kind. I was a bit shocked because I think I've definitely written better and enjoyed more one or two of the other fics, so I wondered what it was that people enjoyed. Heh.
And after this I'm off to curl in bed and read Kept. :)

[jans_intentions]

I can really only give you my own experiences with shippers/non shipper readers, but if you will remember the Robin character in KEPT, who is an original character, when she ends up in bed with the boys, I was told by some S/X readers that they stopped reading because they didn't like this other character having sex with the 'ship.'

And I'm sure that this one may also lead to some discomfort if S/X is the total passion of readers. I always draw outside the lines though and because I don't have an OTP, I guess I don't write the pure story. And I can read just about any ship because of it and get into it if it's well done. In fact, my very good friend, myfeetshowit often writes friendship pairing stories that aren't of a romantic nature and I find her work to be very interesting and different

[lillianmorgan]

Thanks for your really insightful suggestions. I kinda did a facepalm moment when I realised I'd asked all these questions! So thanks for answering them.
And I can read just about any ship because of it and get into it if it's well done.
Yes, I find very similar. But the key is always the well-done-ness. Although, sometimes I am less likely to forgive on a pairing I'm not so attuned to than with a spangel or spuffy fic, say.
In fact, my very good friend, myfeetshowit often writes friendship pairing stories that aren't of a romantic nature and I find her work to be very interesting and different.
Yes, frimfram has also recced The Vorpal Blade to me, which I hope to read on Friday. ::fingers crossed::
One friend of mine did her best writing for a Spike/Other story and now is doing spuffy and is getting far better fb for it.Isn't that really interesting? I guess maybe people aren't able to step outside their comfort zones? Or some people prefer to stay within canon and stick to canon relationships? I'm not sure. The nature of feedback is a weird, though as

[earth_vexer]

That's a cute icon!

This has probably been stated already, but I think one of the attractions to shippy fic is that you more or less know what you're going to get. It's a comfort thing. I generally don't seek out gen fic, not because I must read pairings, but because I'm lazy. I don't know what to expect from a gen fic story (and the author too, if it's someone new to me). I tend to go for what's safe. (But sometimes I just want teh sex.)

Now, if someone happens to rec a gen fic (such as The Misty Isle), I will be more likely to check it out.

[lillianmorgan]

Thanks for your thoughts :)
This has probably been stated already, but I think one of the attractions to shippy fic is that you more or less know what you're going to get.
Yes, that's a good point. In that the resolution is plotted out for you too, I guess. Unless a character is going to go way OOC you know that Buffy is always going to deny her feelings for Spike, and Spike is going to test her limits, say.
(But sometimes I just want teh sex.)
Heeeee :) Yeah... I probably agree with you there.
Now, if someone happens to rec a gen fic (such as The Misty Isle), I will be more likely to check it out.
A good argument for pimping then :)
Btw, mind if I friend you?

[earth_vexer]

A good argument for pimping then :)
Most definitely. Word-of-mouth is great. :)

Btw, mind if I friend you?
I would be delighted. I'll friend you back, of course.

[lillianmorgan]

Cool. :) Done.