Harry/Ginny = Vanilla?

[pumpkinpasty]

I won't pretend I'm not spamming your flists tonight. Ahaha.

But, okay. I am musing.

Must Harry/Ginny always be considered vanilla? Why?

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Generally speaking, I don't like this 'fandom stereotype' (presuming I have to give it a name). In and around fandom, I get the feeling that because I choose to write H/G, and because it's my OTP,

Comments

[wildmagelet]

Totally agree with you. I love stmargarets's brand of fluff, because it's still well-written and wonderful and like comfort food in the form of fanfic, but a lot of the H/G stories out there are overly saccharine and a bit...yeah, bland. I don't want to be overly critical, because anyone who will fly the pro-Ginny and H/G flags has my vote, to start with, and there are a bunch of intimidatingly talented writers out there, but there is a serious lack of fics that don't revolve around Harry and Ginny's marriage and offspring as the main backbone of the plot. I think it might get even worse now after DH, because as much as I appreciated the sentiment behind the epilogue, as a long-time H/G shipper, it really didn't do the ship any favours

[pumpkinpasty]

You are so not; I have no idea what you are talking about.

Honestly, I've sort of always assumed that you were like me -- that you needed those little moments between Harry and Ginny fleshed out, like in "Restless" and "ask me no questions."

It's as though just because it's a canon fact, there needs to be no basis for the relationship. Which is ludicrous.

You? Ftw. You've hit the mark. Yes. ♥

You know, it occurs to me now that this entire post could be a nicer way of saying TRY HARDER PLS FANDOM. And if it is? I am Mean-with-a-capital-M. D:

But yes! I have no problem with fluff; I have a problem with underdevelopment and bad characterization. Which is, to be honest, rampant in H/G. And you've found the reason, you genius you.

I would totes be on im talking to you now, if not for the fact that I am not home and am lacking any form of messenger. But ILU. AND ALSO MISS YOU. SO DON'T HATE ME.

[pumpkinpasty]

Atrocity PFFT. This post has been linked elsewhere and the world LOVES YOUR HATE SEX, lmao. And you. Because you rock and roll like granite and etc.

I do know what you mean. ♥

And oh. For a little while, I was the same way -- all about "how many friends does pumpkin_fics have?" and "how many reviews did suchandsuch get" and blech. But now I'm just happy to write, and to post, and if people like it? Great. If they don't? That's fine, too.

♥ ♥

[uponadream]

Hmm, well, honestly, right now I don't mind the fluffy fic. We're in a period where the last book just ended, we went through a horrible war with all these characters, but Jo left us, and the characters, in a very happy state. Which is why there's probably a ton of fluffy fic. People will write their fluffy stuff right now, with the characters happily married, with their kids, etc. It's what is on everyone's mind right after finishing, so it's what they'll be writing.

However, I do see what you mean, and I'm thinking, and hoping, too, that after we've done a bit of the fluff (and again, I must stress here that I really can't blame anyone giving fluff to Harry after all he suffered), we'll ease into the more, well... not flat-out angst-y stuff, but the kind of fics you're describing.

For example, I would love to see a fic that deals with some of the issues that will undoubtedly come up between them. Like someone brought up on penny_sieve's journal about Ginny having issues with always being told she's too young, and I'd LOVE to see that

[pumpkinpasty]

HI.

I am busy replying to all of these comments with my ramblings and whatnot, but I had to stop to say ZOMG HATE!SEX FTW.

I ♥ BOTH OF YOU.

[pumpkinpasty]

Well, okay -- these have long since been my opinions on H/G fic. DH completely and totally aside. And I haven't really noticed much of a rise in mindless fluff, actually, since DH -- but that could be because I'm actively avoiding it now. :/

And I think, also, that I probably didn't make it clear that I'm not asking for angst, no, but just -- more realism, I guess. Harry and Ginny CAN be utterly happy -- honestly, if the fluff went away I would WEEP -- but I just think that it could be handled better, I suppose. They are people, after all. They are not blindly happy, and they are not perfect. They have lives. And the mindless fluff and perfection and constant toothache-wedding-sweetness in their relationship just makes me want to hit the red X button with a giant stick.

It's so hard to explain what I mean, precisely; I hesitated to make this post for that reason. But I'm trying! XD

I'm thinking of this in terms of characterization, and I probably didn't make that clear, either. Give Harry all the fluff you can, sure -- but keep

[only_for_one]

I totally get where you're coming from. I confess that I do love fluffy marriage/sex/baby fics, but I've become really particular about who I read lately. When I first entered fandom I'd read anything that came my way, but I've since grown out of that (and am pretty happy I did). I, myself, have always been a big fan of ambiguous, slightly angsty, makes-you-jealous-you-didn't-write-it-first fic. I think that's why I write a lot of drabbles, it keeps me from falling straight into fluff (which is SO easy with H/G). Admittedly, I do fall into fluff quite a bit, although I like to think that my fanfic isn't so sweet it makes your teeth hurt...not that I really know, I could just be in complete denial :P

But anyway, to end a really long, rambling comment- I think your point's completely valid, and probably something that needed to be said.

[pumpkinpasty]

Bah, no! You're not in denial -- actually, I tend to think that your drabbles are fairly unique, in terms of H/G fandom. :D You tend to go for the humour in the ship, which is so, so rare, and muchly appreciated! ♥

[only_for_one]

Well thank you! I'm glad there are people out there who like to laugh as much as I do :D

[rosie_posie7]

WORD. (I'm so well spoken)

I won't repeat what the others have already said, but your post reminded me of what's probably the best H/G fic I've ever read - Save Me, by Sara EK. It has its fluffy moments yes - but they're not... hmmm fluffy fluffy?? (fails at explaining) What I mean is that she writes Harry and Ginny with their own issues, not mature enough to know how to deal with them - in love, yes, but not perfect-always-saying-the-rigth-thing-at-all-the-time in love. She wrote way back in 2003, but I always go back for a quick reread.
And let's not forget Alchemila's The Test of Time - harry and ginny both fluffly in love, but the fic itself doesn't go down that road.

Save Me!!! Yes!

[mariantarielle]

"Save Me" was one of my first H/G fics and it is still one of my favorites (I go back for a reread now and then too)! I totally second this.

I'm really picky about which stories I'll read all the way through. If the characterizations irritate me in the slightest I quit. I think that's why I've never really thought about what pumpkinpasty is talking about, but when I reflect on it, she's right. Though I don't feel like I can say it too loudly since I'm just glad there are people out there who write when I can't.

"Save Me" is fantastic though! Thanks for bringing it up!