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Original poster

For lovers of fanfiction...

905 replies

MrsGulDukat · 19/04/2021 11:43

Inspired by another thread by HensTeeth44, here is a thread for lovers of fan fiction either writer or just an avid reader.

I do have some unfinished Harry Potter fan fic to share but I'm at working at the moment.

Dont be afraid to share your favourites.

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6
stodgystollen · 06/05/2021 13:59

I don't really belong here as neither a reader nor a writer, but I have a question for all of you. How do you separate your internal fantasy ideas of the characters based on canon from what other FF writers do to them? Does it matter?

I have plenty of daydream universes and extra characters based around other fiction in my head, but I find it really hard to keep other people's ideas out so it doesn't spoil them. DS9 is the obvious one: it really pissed me off that Kira never got a decent boyfriend, but then finding out much later about Nana Visitor & Siddig El Tahir the lack of chemistry makes perfect sense. But now in my head both fictional Kira and Bashir are romantically unavailable!

bunglebee · 06/05/2021 14:21

How do you separate your internal fantasy ideas of the characters based on canon from what other FF writers do to them? Does it matter?

I find my ideas of characters are pretty stable. Every now and then another writer will have a brilliant elucidation of a character or situation and it's added to my headcanon. Sometimes someone explores something in a very different way and I get why and it's fun to think about and explore but it doesn't change my take on the characters much. Sometimes I just think people are straight up wrong, and no doubt they think the same about me sometimes.

There's also the question of where does canon stop in some fandoms e.g. Firefly/Serenity and Buffy both have postseries graphic novels that could be considered canon, but I don't. I take the ones written by actual showrunners as further statements of intent re: characters but I don't think the Firefly ones are very good and I hate the comic habit of reviving characters who clearly died in the show, so they are not canon as far as I'm concerned.

Icantreachthepretzels · 06/05/2021 14:32

I don't really belong here as neither a reader nor a writer, but I have a question for all of you. How do you separate your internal fantasy ideas of the characters based on canon from what other FF writers do to them? Does it matter?

I suppose it depends on how the other writer writes the character. Obviously it's all not real so whatever happens doesn't impact on canon so whether or not the fic is enjoyable comes down to whether or not I agree with the characterisation.

Obviously if I think they have missed the mark on the characters I just put it down as not being very good and don't read any more. If the characterisation is good then it's fun to see what other people do with them and maybe steal some ideas for head canons and fantasy but the final authority is always with the show/ book/ whatever so it's just a bit of added extra to spend more time with the characters I love.

Having said that, the reason I got into writing fanfic was because someone else was doing a season by season Doyle lives rewrite of Angel and they were doing it all wrong. I started reading it because I enjoyed it and then chapter by chapter I got a creeping sense that things weren't right and when I looked back at the whole thing, Doyle was a narcissistic compulsive liar with severe anger management issues, Cordelia was the most useless waste of skin that had ever existed on the printed page, Angel was the world's most fragile vampire who needed Doyle to hold his hand, wipe his ass and kiss it better when he was done and everyone else barely featured because Doyle stole all their lines, knowledge and actions.

it was just awful. Plus extra points for use of 'orbs'.

So I wrote the whole thing properly. So I guess one way of coping with other people's (mis) characterisation is to steal the idea and 'correct' it (not that there are any original ideas in fanfic - it's all just the same few tropes being done again and again. Certainly the person who galvanised me into writing didn't invent the 'Doyle lives' genre).

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Books
Icantreachthepretzels · 06/05/2021 14:34

@bunglebee Buffy canon stops at 'Chosen', Angel canon stops at 'Not Fade Away'

bunglebee · 06/05/2021 14:37

[quote Icantreachthepretzels]@bunglebee Buffy canon stops at 'Chosen', Angel canon stops at 'Not Fade Away' [/quote]
Not about to argue with you there Grin although IMO Buffy canon ends, other than odd episodes, when Oz leaves.

bunglebee · 06/05/2021 14:40

To take one example, my view on River Tam of Firefly is that post-Academy she is effectively asexual, but lots and lots and lots of people disagree and like to write about her sexual awakening. I don't mind reading that, as long as it's well-written and doesn't Mary Sue her (and it isn't exploitative and gross). I think the postshow works support my position on the matter even though I don't consider them canon I can too have my cake and eat it

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 06/05/2021 17:33

I have plenty of daydream universes and extra characters based around other fiction in my head, but I find it really hard to keep other people's ideas out so it doesn't spoil them. DS9 is the obvious one: it really pissed me off that Kira never got a decent boyfriend, but then finding out much later about Nana Visitor & Siddig El Tahir the lack of chemistry makes perfect sense. But now in my head both fictional Kira and Bashir are romantically unavailable!

I have my own headcanon so I can separate characters off in my own headcannon. Sometimes a get ideas from other writers.

It's like people put Gul Dukat with Kira or Garak with Dr Bashir.

While I can see why people do Garak and Bashir but Gul Dukat and Kira doesnt fit for me.

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stodgystollen · 06/05/2021 17:58

That's interesting, thanks! You all seem better at resisting outside influences than me.

I can't see Garak & Bashir being very good for smut. They wouldn't STFU for long enough to do the deed!

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 06/05/2021 18:21

@stodgystollen

God, all they'd do is talk!

I'm gearing up for a Garak fic with a Human woman. I've done Gul Dukat and Legate Damar.

It's Garak's turn now.

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stodgystollen · 06/05/2021 22:13

You know, I think you might have introduced me to a new hobby. Having spent all afternoon on AO3, I'm going to give writing a go. Thanks!

But no Garak & Bashir. Ever.

bunglebee · 06/05/2021 22:15

Yaaaaaaay another one enticed to the Dark Side!

You won't regret it. And YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE. 😈

Icantreachthepretzels · 06/05/2021 23:24

happy writing @stodgystollen - it;s an embarrassing secret you'll have to keep from everyone, but it's a lot of fun.

I'm having so much fun writing my HP fic - it's all I think about at the moment, and whereas I've had to force myself to do any Angel writing for ages now I can never wait to get back to a computer and start up this story again. I hope I can get to the end before I lose my enthusiasm ... but then I will be bereft that's it over.

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 07/05/2021 06:49

@stodgystollen

Enjoy. It is a fab time killer.

I'm glad I'm not the only one who hides their writing.

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bunglebee · 07/05/2021 08:17

DH knows that I write, but not what. I've actually been considering telling him and letting him read my most recent work. Other than that, it's a secret other life, but a super fun one.

It's also definitely honed my skills for writing original work. I actually feel less embarrassed about it now than I ever did. At first I was embarrassed when I kept doing it out of my early twenties, as so many fandoms are dominated by people in that bracket, but then I got the fuck over that and just accepted it's what I do. One of my writing buddies in the Firefly fandom is a man in his fifties. (Or so he says anyway, who knows.)

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 07/05/2021 08:35

I have some original work but I'm still really self conscious about it.

My fanfic I'm not but my own work I'm weirdly protective over because I'm convinced people will hate it.

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SpnBaby1967 · 07/05/2021 08:44

I thoroughly enjoy fanfiction.

Tend to read Star Trek and Supernatural mainly. Currently reading through ST Discovery/Enterprise with a focus on Captain Pike.

I've written a handful for Blue Bloods and Star Trek (2009). I have an idea in my head for a Pike fanfiction but just rarely get the time to write these days.

SpnBaby1967 · 07/05/2021 08:47

I tend to steer clear of romance fics. I like a good action/drama with a decent dose of hurt/comfort and angst in it Grin

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 07/05/2021 08:50

@SpnBaby1967

I like a romance fic but I like to see a lot of pain before the happy ending.

Characters gotta earn their happiness.

It's a good job I'm not God. I'd be awful.

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Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 07/05/2021 21:09

I can my kudos going up but still no comments. That makes me grumpy.

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bunglebee · 07/05/2021 22:24

Been there. I think there's nothing to be done though other than post some more, do something outrageously fan-serving, or beg.

Icantreachthepretzels · 08/05/2021 00:16

I think more people search by kudos than comments don't they though? So more kudos can get you more hits.

Comments are much rarer because they actually take effort - you actually have to think what to say (which is probably why people are more likely to comment if they have a complaint - because the know what it is they want to say).

I got two comments on my s4 Angel fic yesterday - from the same person but 2 comments is two comments.

Subs and Kudos are creeping up on my HP fic but bookmarks stay low and I've not had any new comments.

Icantreachthepretzels · 08/05/2021 00:21

Oh - I got a new bookmark I was typing here saying no new bookmarks Grin
still no comments though.
I also have one person who has bookmarked it in private - so I know they exist, but no one else can see them and my public number is smaller. I don't know why you;d bookmark it to private - it's not like its smut or anything. It's just good wholesome angst and slow burn.
Maybe it's because it's M/M - but literally 90% of fanfic is M/M!

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 08/05/2021 03:19

I shouldn't complain but fuck it.

It think it annoys me cause I have 4 WIP and not one of them has got any comments lately.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 08/05/2021 13:01

Yeah - I always feel guilty getting annoyed, but a part of me does think that if they're reading something and enjoying it (especially if they're coming back again and again to do so) then the least they can do is leave a comment every now and again to say that.
If for no other reason than they don't want the author to give up and abandon the story. People complain about fics that then come to a stop and never get updated and I always think 'well - did you do anything to encourage the writer when it was ongoing?'

To my mind, you buy a book you pay with money - you read a fanfic, you pay with comments.

It's why subscriptions annoy so me so much! That someone likes the fic enough to want notifications every time it updates - but still the only way they interact is in a way that benefits them and them only. It would hardly be onerous to hit the kudos button before you hit subscribe but ... nope, they're not interested in helping your fic out - they just want to read it themselves. For free. And not give anything back.

At least follows on FF.net are public- a reader can't see who follows it but they can still see numbers . Ao3 subscriptions are like the height of fanfic selfishness.

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 08/05/2021 13:26

I agree.

Offer some encouragement to the person writing the fic that you want to keep track of.

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