Random Thoughts

[emmagrant01]

1. I don't do snaps cup memes or so-called "honesty" memes. I have no issues with people who do, but I guess I don't really see the point. I don't like feeling like I'm fishing for compliments, and "honesty" memes seem more like offering yourself up to be bitched at. Like a lot of folks, I go online for fun, and hearing what people don't like about me is not fun. I'd rather not know, to be honest. :-P

2. Every now and then I'll get a comment on a one-shot fic encouraging me to "write more soon!!1!". I always wonder if these are from folks who have primarily participated in fandom via FFN or something. It's as if every fic is viewed as a potential WIP and they want to be sure to let me know they'll be on the lookout for the next part. It's sort of odd. I feel like saying, "Actually, I ended the story there for a very good reason." But I don't, of course.

3. A lot of people commented on my recent Harry/Ron fic saying that they usually don't like the pairing but enjoyed the fic, which I (of course) love to hear. And though I like Harry/Ron, it's a pairing I tend to be really picky about as a reader. I prefer characterizations that are as close to canon as possible, I prefer fics set during canon, and so on. But with other pairings (like Harry/Draco, for example) I feel a lot of freedom to tinker with characterizations and enjoy that as a reader. It could just be a matter of Ron being a character we know really well in canon, where Draco isn't known so much, so it seems more reasonable to me to take his character in different directions. But we get a really clear view of Ron in canon, so it seems like a writer has to work really hard to justify a change in the character. Or maybe it's just OTPism -- after reading and writing a lot of H/D, I look for fresh takes on the characters, but with other pairings that's not what I'm looking for. Hmmm.

Comments

[plaid-slytherin.livejournal.com]

2. I know exactly what you mean. I think it's more or less why I abandoned my old FFN account (also, the fics sucked because they were written in junior high...). If I write a WiP, you'll know it... because I should hope that I'm a talented enough writer that you can at least tell if the story's over...

PS

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

It's always a compliment when people say they'd love to know what happens next, but unlike in the case above, it's meant simply as a compliment, without any expectation that you're actually going to write a sequel. In some cases, I feel like sequels lesson the impact of stories, and so I would think really hard before doing one. I certainly wouldn't do it just because there seems to be an interest, you know?

[plaid-slytherin.livejournal.com]

Right. Many years ago, I wrote a one-shot for an anime fandom and then I wrote a sequel... but it wasn't really a sequel, it just took place in the same universe because there was nothing to say it didn't. You certainly didn't need to have read one to get the other. (Of course, they were both established relationship of a canon ship so that could be something...) Before I posted the sequel, people were reviewing the first fic... like they thought it was Chapter One of something.

PS

[helens78]

re: 1 and "honesty" memes. That just seems so negative, and it's impossible to take stuff like that back, you know? It's the kind of thing that would stick with a person forever, and no matter how much you genuinely like somebody, if you say "I hate hearing about your dog", you're never gonna get that ground back.

I wouldn't mind doing a "be honest: tell me one thing you like about me" kind of meme, but then I think compliments are nice when they come up spontaneously. It's just hard to strike a balance between being able to say "I really admire how open you are, especially when a lot of stuff in your life the last few years has been complete crap" and worrying that one is sucking up. :D

re: 3 -- really interesting how you're looking for totally different things in H/R and H/D, not just the dynamic but even the setting and characterizations. I know you've written some Harry/Ginny; I have really got to go look that up. :D I've been wanting to read some of that lately, but HP is so big it's intimidating.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely. There are things that annoy me about many people, but that's just the way people are. No one is perfect, but we're all ourselves here (generally speaking). I would really rather not know that I was annoying someone with my every post, because again, that would take some of the fun out of this for me. They could just choose not to watch me and we'll all be happier, you know? I used to be concerned when someone un-friended me and on a few occasions asked them why. That never turned out well. :-P

HP is so huge, which can be a good thing and a bad thing. Mostly I find it a good thing. Rather than one huge fandom, it seems to operate like 20 fandoms with a common canon, so there's always something new, or a different sandbox to play in if you get tired of your current one.

[gracefulfool.livejournal.com]

Re:2 - I imagine you're probably right, but it's always possible they meant 'write more soon!!1!' as 'I hope to read more, yet completely unconnected, fic from you in the future!!1!' Maybe?

;)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

In this case it's hard to tell. I don't mean to complain, but it's sort of interesting that in some parts of fandom one-shots aren't the common form of fic.

[hapendfro.livejournal.com]

"Actually, I ended the story there for a very good reason."

I think that is really a very valid and important statement. Stories are set in one particular moment in time, like a snapshot, so to speak.

And I personally, sometimes, prefer to decide on my own, what the rest of the story is.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

One-shots really are snapshots, and I often wonder if people find them unsatisfying to read. I guess I don't, and I also love them as a writer. I like the way you can tightly focus on a single storyline and get across a very particular message. And yeah, I also like the author to leave a bit of the story to my imagination! ;-)

[ausmac.livejournal.com]

I feel much the same as you re Point 1. I'm never sure whether its due to my personal insecurities or a dislike of the thing as a matter of taste. If others want to do it, that's fine, but I avoid them. And yes, I've often had the 'write more'. I try to take it positively - they've obviously enjoyed what I wrote and want more of the same. Sort of like it's a tasty meal, I guess (-:

[daddybear716.livejournal.com]

I think I loved your Harry/Ron for all the reasons that I love your writing in general. You're really able to convey the workings of a male relationship. Your description of men kissing is so true to life, which is a main thing I love.

It wasn't until after I commented on the story that I realized one of the things I really liked about it was the small bit about Ron's facial hair. Something I've seen you put in other stories as well, which is part of kissing a man that a lot of writers don't get.

[grey-hunter.livejournal.com]

2. Actually, I think that is a general expression for when one couldn't be assed to whip up a real comment just wants you to know they have read it and liked it. Must be a shorthand for 'looking forward to whatever you write next'. I think next step will be when it gets abbreviated to 'WMS' to be used by people who are either too lazy or like to sound like groupies or don't know English well enough to sweat out a review. :D