So what's a real TS fic?

[mab_browne]

When I posted Sideline as a WIP, I remarked a few times that the plot had crack tendencies, and Bev was kind enough to comment that she didn’t see crack at all. And this led to me having thoughts about my perception of the ‘desirable’ TS plot and why I felt that way.

Comments

[janedavitt]

Interesting post! I'm too new to have a grasp of the history of this fandom yet (there's a lot of it :-)) but I've been in one fandom(s) (Buffy and Angel) which went from being open canon to closed and that has a definite, sometimes clear, sometimes subtle, knock-on effect on the fic. I'm guessing a lot of those classics (which I've discovered and loved) were written while the show was still airing, still fluid

[mab_browne]

Babbling is no problem. *g* And yes indeed, many of the 'classics' were written when everything was very fluid indeed. And I am so with you on the contradictory nature of fandom, exasperating and glorious creature that it is.

I really like the fact that I can't get jossed with TS, and from a slash pov, the series finale is about as good as it gets - our boys go off into the sunset together sans any inconvenient women.

I don't mean this post to sound 'poor oppressed me' because many of the perceptions we bring to fandoms can become rods to beat our own backs. But is interesting to look back from a three years perspective and think about what I came in with and what I'm operating on now, which is, I think, becoming quite different. ::blesses LJ::

[snycock]

"But I truly do believe it's fatal to our creativity and self esteem to want this...(clipped for length)We have to just write what we write and do our best

To thine own self be true

[ponders_life]

But lately I have found myself wondering if feedback has a negative effect on my writing process. Am I avoiding certain stories or styles or scenes because I think people won't like them?

I hope not! I firmly believe that a good writer can "sell" any idea, no matter how seemingly far-fetched. I also believe that pushing the envelope is healthy, and that no one has the right to determine what is and isn't "acceptable" within a fandom -- that borders on censorship which, in my opinion, is unacceptable. So, please continue to write what you want to write!

[mab_browne]

Thank you for the support *g* Absolutely I know that feedback is a snare and delusion, but just now and again... I was joking with EE in the weekend about the size of SGA and that I had fandom envy.

I don't think that it has ever bothered me enough to want to hang up my word processor, and I suspect that part of the issue (besides my issues *eg*) is the method of entering fandom. Different areas of approach create different perspectives, and given that TS has been my obsessive love for over three years, I felt like a little retrospective.

And as far as the wacky side of fandom goes, I indulged myself with a few synopses here

[snycock]

So what does it mean to have "crack tendencies"? I've not heard this term before...

Interestingly, within the last few months there was a discussion on L-Prospect about whether TS still inspired writers, which seemed to be a variant of the "new TS writers suck" debate. I don't know that there was any resolution...there didn't even seem to be any discussion, really, as several folks (myself included) who were relatively new to the fandom weighed in with our opinions (for the most part positive), but there was never any comeback or response from the original poster.

Jen

[sara_merry99]

I'm *vastly* tired of these "new TS writers suck" whinges on the TS mailing lists. A lot of the people who write those are rabidly anti LiveJournal and therefore are missing a lot of wonderful fic, alot of wonderful *vitality* in the fandom that they think simply isn't happening. It's very frustrating.

And they're very dogmatic in their assertions.

I actually think that it's not that "new TS writers suck"--that's observably not the case--but more that new TS writers aren't writing the types of stories that they like.

If I look at the mailing lists I almost feel like TS fandom is moribund or something. Look at LJ and it's quite vital indeed. There seem to be quite a few newbies in the fandom, many of whom are writing and posting fics.

At this point I mainly keep my mailing list subscriptions because I need to be able to post LMFA updates to the lists.

On recent TS fic

[ponders_life]

When I dipped my toe into the TS fandom in May 2005 and started reading fic, I found about about the tensions in the fandom pretty quickly, and made a conscious decision to remain a lurker and not get involved, for the sake of my blood pressure :) (I got fairly active in the BuffytVS fandom, and the wank wore me down). But that means I haven't been giving sufficient feedback to TS writers I respect (like you), so I'm delurking.

For what it's worth, for this year's LMFAs, I made a point to nominate only stories that had been written/posted in the last year or so because I got sick of seeing the same pre-2000 stories coming up every year. I've also made a point to rec recent fics (including yours) in my LJ.

Re: On recent TS fic

[sara_merry99]

There are definitely some tensions in the fandom, though, frankly, I see them in the lists way more than I see them on LJ. Maybe I'm a little selective in my LJing (and I always seem to be late to the party when thre are wanks on LJ) but really TS fandom in ts_talk and elsewhere is really very nice.

And thanks for the rec of my story!! I really appreciate that!

[sara_merry99]

There seems to have been a bit of a change in TS fic over the last few years--there's been a big influx of new fans (mostly on LJ).

I think janedavitt's point about a lot of the "classics" having been written when the show was still on the air is a good one. Also the early writers in a fandom shape the fanon and shape the expectations of the readers

[mab_browne]

By all means blither away, because if I was talking to the void I'd probably get a little pissed off...

FB changing what you write - I've never changed a story because I think that it will be more 'popular' if I do something. And I had much encouragement to add a more cheerful coda to 'A Day Must Come' for example. And ditto as to my personal opinions of stories - this is why I'm sometimes gobsmacked/amused by fb because it doesn't equate to how I feel about story's quality.

Schmoop - yeah, I'm just not a schmoopy person, which doesn't mean that I don't have a deep vein of sentimentality in me - but I'm kind of suspicious of it, even as I use it...

[sara_merry99]

I have a tendency to schmoop, though I seem to be outgrowing it. ;)

Different fandoms for different reading fixes.

[ponders_life]

It is possible that in a slash-dom with a wide variety of fandoms, that people read TS to get their emotional schmoop fix. If they want a different feel, a different *vibe* they go to a different fandom.

As a reader, I can confirm this, although I look to TS for more than just emotional schmoop (I also have a weakness for good police procedurals, alternate how-they-met AUs, and futurefic).

I got into my first fandom (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) for the snark, then fell for the Spike/Xander pairing (my first slash couple!). Then I discovered the opposites-attract allure of Jim/Blair. I enjoy due South for the fish-out-of-water quirky humor and a different flavor of opposites-attract pairing (Benton Fraser/Ray Kowalski), and Stargate Atlantis gives me more snark, but in men who are closer to my own age (McKay/Sheppard).

[batgurl10]

OK, first let me say that I have been reading this FAVORITE of mine fandom for 5 looong years. I make no bones about the kind of stories I like to read. They usually tend towards jim being a strong cop like figure to blairs younger more naive bent! There Ive said it! oh, and my preferences are top jim to bottom blair. There--Ive aired my dirty laundry :-D

[mab_browne]

everyone will have different ideas about what is considered an ideal TS story

Exactly - but it's sometimes harder to believe in that tolerant ideal as a writer than as a reader. And who is that person in capitals in your list? ;-) Thanks.

Long stories - there does seem to be a tendency to shorter stories - is this because lj encourages shorter term work and 'instant fb' or is it that people are more comfortable with posting shorter stories in their own space rather than an archive? It's an interesting question. I know that it took me a while to build up to writing longer stories, and it still looks a little scary from the beginning of the process.

[starwatcher307]

.
Long stories - there does seem to be a tendency to shorter stories - is this because lj encourages shorter term work and 'instant fb' or is it that people are more comfortable with posting shorter stories in their own space rather than an archive? It's an interesting question.I think there are so many answers to "why more short stories than long?" As you said

[mab_browne]

Lots of options there for consideration.

I don't think LJ is restricting anybody

It's interesting to consider how the mechanics of how LJ works may or may not influence the communities that form in it, but you're quite right that an 'acceptable' story length is definitely a community/individual rather than a forum thing.