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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
Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 18:37

@HensTeeth44

Yes, it happens quite a bit.

I've read many fics that havent been finished and wont probably ever get finished.

It really annoys me.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 18:55

As someone who is new to all this, does this happen often!! I'm genuinely gutted as it was a really good story as well. I could cry

Yes. What you read is called a 'WIP' (work in progress) and plenty of the more experienced fanfic readers won't touch them with a barge pole.

If you find something that looks really good but isn't complete you should always check to see when it was published and when it was last updated - because if hasn't been updated since 2013, chances are they're never coming back. But if it was updated last week and published under a year ago - chances are there will be more to come.

All readers hate it - but all writers do it, because they run out of inspiration, or steam or just stop caring.

This is why I ALWAYS leave comments/ reviews on WIP fanfics that I'm enjoying (assuming I find them if they're still being updated). The best way to keep a writer going is to let them know that you are out there and appreciate their work.
If a writer abandons a story and you never gave them a word of encouragement when you had the chance ... then you've only got yourself to blame.

@HensTeeth44 - if you want chapter 26 and you're not already years too late, leave them a comment saying how much you enjoyed it and how you can't wait for the update.
Even if you are years too late - a comment might remind them the story exists and inspire them to start writing again.

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 19:06

Reviews really do inspire me to keep going, even if its just one loyal reader.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Books
Fyredraca · 21/04/2021 19:08

Oh it's gutting when a great story is left. I totally understand why it happens but it's so upsetting.
I read a brilliant one called The Hematic. It was amazing. Exciting, intriguing, hot af, many many chapters and then bang.
I hope it's because the writer is too busy for fan fiction as they have written several best sellers.

FreeFallingFree · 21/04/2021 19:20

@HensTeeth44

Man I have just finished reading such a hot fanfic, around 25 chapters or something....but its not finished and is left on a massive cliffhanger!!! 😩😩😩 As someone who is new to all this, does this happen often!! I'm genuinely gutted as it was a really good story as well. I could cry! 😂😂
Yes, it's very common, in some fandoms more common than completed fic. Ultimately, it is free content and there are no guarantees it will be finished. That said, AO3, Wattpad and FFnet, the three biggest multi fandom sites, all have the functionality to filter out incomplete work, so it should be clear from the front page if something is a WIP or not. And I would always recommending paying attention to the fic front page including tags, warnings and ratings, because pretty much any content goes...
Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 19:44

On the bright side HensTeeth44's distress at reading a WIP has guilted me into spending the evening writing the next chapter for (one of) my own WIPs.

I haven't worked on it since October Blush

It's a Buffy/ Angel cross over set in s4/1 where Angel gets kidnapped by the Initiative when he comes to Sunnydale and whackiness ensues.
I have the premise to a sequel to it planned out in my head but I haven't even made it to the end yet Blush

That is one problem with fanfic writer's - too many ideas, and they abandon old ones in order to start the new one ... and wind up never finishing that either.

That's why, if you want to read it all, you have to review it. Let them know it's worth their time to stay focused.

(In no way am I bitter about the person who recently spent a couple of weeks loyally coming back to read an 88 chapter, 320K word story and then ...nothing. Really? 88 Chapters? over 300 000 words? You kept coming back? Not even "I enjoyed this"? And they must have enjoyed it because they moved straight onto the next story in the series. This one's over 350K words. If they don't review at the end of that - I'm deleting the next fic in the series Grin)

bunglebee · 21/04/2021 19:53

@MrsGulDukat

Reviews really do inspire me to keep going, even if its just one loyal reader.
For real. The lengths I will go to for a detailed review, and the excitement that I get when someone leaves me one, is sort of worrying.
Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 20:06

For real. The lengths I will go to for a detailed review, and the excitement that I get when someone leaves me one, is sort of worrying.

It is sad isn't it? It makes my day when I get a review - especially a detailed one that shows they really engaged with the chapter. I feel like I should have more going on in my life ...

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 20:10

Well, I'm now up to 5 works in progress.

I blame you lot for this!!

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Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 20:11

I get a real thrill when I get reviews. It makes me happy that people have enjoyed it enough to write a review.

I've got one fic that on AO3 with no reviews. I think I went too far with it.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 20:25

I've got one fic that on AO3 with no reviews. I think I went too far with it.

Which fandom was in it? 'Angel' has a really low rate of fan interaction - obviously it has significantly less hits because it's not as popular, but it seems like proportionally less of those hits ever interact. I've got 3 stories with no comments on Ao3 (though 2 of them are oneshots) and 2 without reviews on FF.net (not the same stories though - one of my 0 comment AO3 stories has 117 reviews on FF.net).

It might be the fandom rather than the story?

And if anybody hated it they'd certainly let you know - it is the internet.

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 20:28

It's Cyberpunk 2077.

It's pretty active atm and I have two other fics in that fandom.

It's basically a bit of porn with plot, with a liberal use of the C word. Shame, really enjoyed writing that.

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HensTeeth44 · 21/04/2021 20:28

Thank you everyone for your tips and guidance...i will certainly pay better attention to the tags next time. I don't think I can cope without knowing how this one ends! I'm popping off to write a kick arse review now as it was only updated last time in March 21, so I am hanging on to the hope that the author might come back and finish it.

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 20:29

I've finished and uploaded the Lucius Malfoy fic that I never finished for ages.

I can see it disappearing down the page on AO3.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 20:48

Yeah, the HP page moves so fast that I don't know how any fic ever gets any traction - so many of them must just get lost forever. It really puts me off writing and publishing for the fandom - there must surely be a happy medium between deader than dead and too active to keep up with.

@MrsGulDukat What's your username on AO3?

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 20:50

@Icantreachthepretzels

SparklyQuarians is my username.

I've been knocked down to the second page already. This is why I was reluctant to publish in HP. It's saturated with fics.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 21:09

@MrsGulDukat commented, kudos'd and bookmarked - in an attempt to lure more readers in from the wild 😂

I hope you write a second chapter - it's a good premise.

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 21:15

@Icantreachthepretzels

Thanks for taking the time to read it. I really appreciate it. I will get a second chapter in. Cassie has to face the music after all.

Bloody "Corking" I'm gonna be random laughing for weeks now.

OP posts:
Bang4Bond · 21/04/2021 21:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 21:20

Maybe "corking" can be an activity Cassie and Lucius bond over - he looks the type to enjoy a champagne enema Grin

It'll make a beautiful love story - Romeo and Juliet eat your heart out.

Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 21:22

@Bang4Bond - what fandoms are you in? (or what T.V/films/ books do you enjoy if you're not up with the lingo) Fanfic can be...well, it's not for the fainthearted Grin

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 21:25

Well, Cassie really has limited choices.

Fall for Lucius.
Go back to Percy.
Die!.
Or she goes off to foreign lands to start anew.

We'll see what happens.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 21:28

I'd choose Lucius over Percy any day of the week and twice on Sundays!

Original poster
MrsGulDukat · 21/04/2021 21:30

I would too but, that make for good story telling if there aint no conflict of feelings/interest.

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Icantreachthepretzels · 21/04/2021 23:12

This video seems perfect for a MN fanfic thread - ships in law. Shipping and in laws a true blend on MN and fandom

Coley makes so much fan content - her channel is really worth checking out if you're not already familiar with it, especially her fan fic cafe/ fan fic lab/ fan art parlour series