Happy Birthday, Viki! (Plus thoughts on exchanges...)

[emmagrant01]

Today is geoviki's birthday, and I hope she has a great one! I was honored to meet Viki at The Witching Hour years ago, and it was so great to get a chance to sit across from her and talk. There's nothing quite like meeting a favorite author in person, you know? It's like, wow, all of those fics I loved came from the brain of this actual person sitting in front of me! She's funny and smart, and an all-around lovely person -- one we're incredibly lucky to have in fandom. Happy Birthday, darling!

~*~*~*~*~

On a completely unrelated note, I've really been enjoying reading holiday exchange fics. I've carved out time for it this year, and though I have no hope of reading everything, I tend to look for intriguing pairings and summaries and just click and see how it goes. I used to pick fics to read by comment counts, but I don't any more. They can be pretty misleading, honestly. There are some real gems this year with comment counts only in the teens, and after reading them I wonder why there are so few comments. In many cases, I think it's the pairing that might be turning people off. People have their faves, and there's nothing wrong with that. I've always found holiday exchanges to be a great opportunity to read outside of your comfort zone, though.

Another thing I love about fic exchanges is the spirit in which (most) people participate in them. Most of these fics were written by people who worked really hard to create a fic tailored to their recipient's request -- not an easy thing to do for someone you don't know well, or when the request is off the beaten path of what you usually write. But the whole point of exchanges is to create GIFTS for others, and I love that aspect of it. I'm sure some people approach writing for exchanges in a very selfish way, thinking it's going to be their "big break" and being disappointed when their fic doesn't get the attention they think it deserves, but whatever. Bah, humbug on them. ;-)

So part of the fun of reading these fics is to read the comment left by the recipient, to see how they reacted. Very often their reaction helps me appreciate aspects of the fic that may not have worked so perfectly for me, and I appreciate getting that perspective. After all, it doesn't matter what *I* think of the gift. That fic wasn't written to please me, or you, or anyone else but the recipient. And there's something really cool about seeing that unfold. :-)

Comments

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

And there's something really cool about seeing that unfold. :-)

It is!! My smutmas gift was so freakin' awesome that I have it bookmarked on my treo browser to read even when I'm out of the house!!! I can't wait to squee at the author after the reveal.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Eee! No gifts have been posted for me yet, and I'm looking forward to it!

[maple-mahogany.livejournal.com]

I've been really trying to keep up with the fests this year as well.

(it's the 16th, so I don't think I'm giving much away in saying mine has been posted)

I tend to look for intriguing pairings and summaries
I've received some really flattering and kind comments but relatively few. I think I didn't write a very intriguing summary. Just another lesson learned! :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

It's hard to write good summaries, you know? They need to be just long enough, but not too long, tantalizing without giving it all away, and hint that there might be some cool surprises in store for the reader. I'm not so good at that either. :-P

I suppose I can say that one fic I wrote out of the three exchanges I'm participating in has been posted. The recipient really seemed to love it, which was just awesome. It didn't get a stellar amount of comments, but the ones it did get were all very thoughtful and almost all from fandom people whose opinions I really respect -- that was very cool, I have to say.

[xylodemon.livejournal.com]

The recipient really seemed to love it, which was just awesome. It didn't get a stellar amount of comments, but the ones it did get were all very thoughtful and almost all from fandom people whose opinions I really respect -- that was very cool, I have to say.

Yes. That's it, exactly.

One of my fest fics has gone up, and it didn't get a million, frillon comments, but I'm not fussed. The comments it did get were thoughtful and encouraging, and most importantly, my recipient was pleased -- like, I went out and bought her a jumper, and as it turned out, it was precisely the jumper she'd been wanting -- and *that* is a wonderful feeling, because these are *gifts*.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

There are so many fics out right now, it's almost impossible to read most of them and leave comments, so even some of the most incredible fics are getting few comments. I like to read the summary and the first few paragraphs, and if I'm hooked by then, I keep reading. I also will check after the reveal to read fics by writers I know I enjoy.

I expect commenting will pick up after the reveal, and when writers post their fics on their LJs.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I saw someone comment recently that they only read exchange fics that had 50+ comments, because those were obviously the "good" ones. It sort of made me go 0_o, because very few fics in any exchanges have that many comments this year, ya know? It seems like last year comment counts were a lot higher at this point in time. I don't know why people would be commenting less, but there's definitely been a drop-off from previous years.

Still, my experience has been that it's not a foolproof way to pick out the ones I'll enjoy the most, for whatever that's worth. Reading the first few paragraphs is a much better indicator of whether or not I'm going to like it. :-)

[florahart]

Plus, once people start choosing that way, the differential just gets worse and worse--if it was A with 50 and B with 15, then people all go read A and comment because obv with 50 comments it's good, now we have A with 63 and B with 16 because someone wandered in mean time, and that only makes that look that much more true, even though it's a false supposition underlying.

*sigh*

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Good point. And to add to it, A may have been written for someone who had a pretty big flist and squeed about it on her LJ, so it was brought to the attention of a larger number of people than B, whose recipient appreciated it just as much but didn't have such a large audience to tell how good it was.

But I guess that's what happens in fandom the rest of the year, when you think about it. :-P

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

It sort of made me go 0_o, because very few fics in any exchanges have that many comments this year, ya know? It seems like last year comment counts were a lot higher at this point in time. I don't know why people would be commenting less, but there's definitely been a drop-off from previous years.

I've noticed this myself. Do you think it has anything to do with the migration to other journaling services? Maybe, maybe not, since I've noticed a drop-off on all fest commenting, no matter where they're being hosted. Odd.

[kerryblaze.livejournal.com]

I've considered that too. The change to other services. The exchange that I run, bestmates_xmas, is still on LJ and it's running pretty consistent with last year's.

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

It's a curious thing. Admittedly, I don't have a boatload of evidence -- I'm doing all I can to keep up with merry smutmas and hd holidays, but I haven't noticed any other significant changes in the exchanges. I can't speak for hd holidays as much, but smutmas is being run with its usual efficiency and professionalism. And the stories have been wonderful!

And I've witnessed what Emma has discussed above. Some absolutely amazing fics aren't receiving the amount of comments I would expect.

It is a mystery.

[xylodemon.livejournal.com]

I've noticed this myself. Do you think it has anything to do with the migration to other journaling services? Maybe, maybe not, since I've noticed a drop-off on all fest commenting, no matter where they're being hosted. Odd.

I had a long phone conversation with themostepotente last night on this very subject, and we both decided the migration has *everything* to do with it. There seems to be less commenting all around, but at merry_smutmas and smutty_claus, it feels like it's significantly less.

I mean, it may be a combination of things. There are *a lot* of fests this year, full stop. And these fests seem to be producing a lot of really long fics -- like, 20K+ words -- so people may just be running behind. People also may be avoiding stuff labelled DH/Epilogue compliant out of personal preference. But I really think the migration is playing a part. I was clicking around IJ the other night out of sheer boredom, and I realised that any given user's friends-list/friends-of list is smaller at IJ, which leads me to believe that some people just didn't make the move. And maybe people are put off by the idea of leaving anon comments.

I don't know. I've read some phenomenal, just phenomenal things at merry_smutmas this year. Only, the comments don't seem to be reflecting that. Take the fic that was written for me this round -- last I checked, it had ~ 30 comments, and as wonderful as it is, last year, it would've had closer to 60 or 70.

/waffle

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I'm sure the migration has something to with it, yeah. I maintain journals everywhere the fests I follow are located, and they all have LJ feeds, so it's just a matter of clicking a link -- really the same as clicking a cut. But if I didn't have a journal to log into, maybe I'd feel differently about commenting?

I've been really impressed with the Smutmas fics I've read this year, and surprised that the comment counts are so low. But I've also noticed that the people wwho are commenting are leaving really thoughtful feedback, so maybe that makes up for it. :-)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

But there were a ton of novella-length fics last year, in Smutmas in particular. I remember people commenting about how many long fics plotty there were and writing meta about how the exchange culture had changed from being about writing PWPs to writing long fics. In fact, I interviewed Gina for Slashcast last year and that was one of the things we talked about. If nothing else, I'm struck that there are fewer long fics this year than last -- though I haven't actually done a count to check.

[norton-gale.livejournal.com]

I'm bookmarking a number of them to read on my vacation. I don't know what it is about holiday fics this year, but I agree; they certainly seem to be long!

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely. I've seen comments that struck e as so petty I could only imagine it was jealousy. :-P

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

Yeah, ditto to both: geoviki is a wondeful asset to fandom and about the fest fics. I've been reading (a lot, probably too much) and yeah folks tastes are different. I've been posting my recs and reading other recs and comments as well. And it's been obvious that what scratches my itch may not be in line with everyone else and vice versa. There are some fics with lots of comments and recs and I'm o.0 "I don't get it" and others I adored that it doesn't seem like that many people are reading (but I think the one's that do - love it). It's also sad that the reading burnout does happen a bit in the middle of the fest and some of the later fics get less reads just by virtue of a smaller readership. I'm a bit conflicted because I want people to have the opportunity to participate, but some of the fests are really too big.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

There does seem to be burnout too, absolutely. People always bitch about when their fic gets posted as if the mods do it on purpose just to slight them. I think some people are missing the point of all this. :-P

[romaine24.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I haven't had time to read all of the fics I've wanted to for hd_holidays and smutty_claus. I'm hoping it's not too uncommon to go back in January and read the ones I missed. Between work and home, getting ready for Christmas, I have about an hour to read at night.

Thanks for the recs for merry_smutmas as that is one I haven't followed at all.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I haven't even started on hd_holidays yet, not bestmatesxmas or snupin_santa. There are so many fics this time of year!

[libby-drew.livejournal.com]

their reaction helps me appreciate aspects of the fic that may not have worked so perfectly for me, and I appreciate getting that perspective.

I love to read the recipients' squeeful comments. It puts me in the holiday spirit. ;)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Yes, absolutely!

[ms-mindfunk.livejournal.com]

But the whole point of exchanges is to create GIFTS for others, and I love that aspect of it. I'm sure some people approach writing for exchanges in a very selfish way, thinking it's going to be their "big break" and being disappointed when their fic doesn't get the attention they think it deserves, but whatever.

Are there really people who think that way? I've only done two exchanges so far, but both stories came about by trying to craft something within the parameters of what the recipient said s/he wanted. Yeah, I want the fic to be well received, particularly as someone who hasn't put that much writing out there and wants as much feedback as possible, but a "big break"? A break into what, exactly?

I do think that exchange fics are meant to please more than just the recipient, though. When I write something, it has to please me, first of all. Secondly, I want it to please the recipient. I want to knock her socks off, if possible, since it's a gift. After that, I'd like others to enjoy it. I don't need to make a bunch of top ten lists, or be recc'd all over the place, or garner 100 reviews. I just want people to like it, to gain pleasure and enjoyment from this thing I created. I don't think that's such a bad thing.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Are there really people who think that way?

Sadly, yes. I've seen comments to that effect several times, and it always makes me wonder wtf those folks are thinking. I can only assume there are more people who feel that way and just don't say it. Otherwise, why would so many people bitch about when their fic was posted and accuse the mods of various fests of playing favorites?

And it's definitely true that you aren't just writing that fic for the recipient. I think it was Viki who once said that in the end the gift fic you write becomes part of your catalog of fic, regardless of who you wrote it for. It should be something you're proud to include in your fandom CV, absolutely.

My issue is with the people who clearly are in it for personal glory and don't even try to write a fic to someone else's request. Remember the wank last year when someone wrote a gift fic mocking the recipient's request? :-P

[ashe-frost.livejournal.com]

I've been reading all the exchanges, as well. I've even ventured out of the old OTP to read a couple. This year has some really interesting stuff, and a lot of long plottyness, and I'm really enjoying everything. There's quite a lot of fantastic art, as well.

I'd love to have joined in with writing.. However, I tried in July and something came up which made my fic rushed and actually quite horrible, and I was so embarrassed I still can't read all of the great fic that must have been posted during that exchange. Doomed to read-only mode forever, for me, it seems.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

The art is always a lot of fun, isn't it? This is the time of year that I really wish I could draw!

[ciel-vert.livejournal.com]

I was doing really well with both hd_hols and smutmas the first week, but since then I've just been bookmarking and reading when I can. I need to go back and leave comments on some of them, though. Oops! :)

I agree, though, it is a lot of fun reading all of the squee. I try not to even pay attention to the wank. It's all so silly.

And if geoviki is watching, Happy Birthday! You don't know me, but I know your fics well and they are among my faves! :)

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I have no hope of keeping up with all of it! I'm just trying to read a handful of fics a day, which is more than I could accomplish last year.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Thank you! And I do know you - at least I've seen your name often enough in and among the same fans. :-)

[moia.livejournal.com]

This is the first time the fic fest season is after the canon has completed - perhaps some people that have been reading last year lost interest? I haven't noticed many people leaving fandom, but who knows?
I'm at least giving a try to all fics on smutmas and hd holidays - I agree reading the first few paragraphs is the best way to see if you'll like it :) Especially in hd holidays where I'm a week behind posting, some fics that have loads more comments aren't my favourites... but I'm not a big commenter, I often don't know what to say :/

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

There are a number of theories as to why comment counts are down, and that's one of them, yeah. I'm not sure, but I'd guess it's probably a combination of things.

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

Thank you, Emma darling! I'm so pleased we got to meet early in our fandom "careers" - it's been a long (strange?) trip, huh?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

You're right - you can't just pick which fics to read based on review-counts. Longer fics are often put on to-read lists by readers, instead of being read-and-reviewed immediately, just due to lack of time. One of the most amazing fics I read in the exchanges was actually novel-length. I lost sleep reading it, and it was worth every minute. Great fic. But it took a while for its review count to go up because it was such a long read.

I can see why some people think that certain exchanges are a way to "be seen". All the "cool people" post on those exchanges, and to be part of what some people see as an elite group is a huge thing for some people. When I was newer to the LJ part of fandom, I remember being told that all the best writers are on [fill in the name of fic exchange here]. I thought to myself, "Wow, if only I could be on that exchange, too!" I don't think of it like that anymore, but it's easy to get a bit starstruck in a community like this.

When I write a fic for an exchange, I write it FOR the recipient. I do a bit of digging to see what sorts of things the recipient likes, beyond just the list of kinks and squicks on his/her request post. I use the request post for direct inspiration and try to incorporate as much of the unique stuff from that post into the fic as possible, making the story something uniquely tailored to that person's likes. Personally, I LOVE having a list of likes and dislikes to work from... it often gets me to approach my writing from completely new angles, and I come up with ideas that I never would have had otherwise. The fic has to be written FOR the recipient... but I have to like my own writing, too.

I can't write something that I wouldn't be willing to read. I have to be satisfied enough with the results to feel proud of posting it, even if nobody EVER found out that I wrote it. I'd know, and that would be enough. And more to the point, I also know that the fic will be posted for public viewing. I can't post a fic on an exchange that I would be ashamed to post on my own journal. Even if the pairing, kinks, and situations are not everyone's favourite, it still has to be quality work on some level.

I don't have time to write 90,000 words for an exchange like some amazing author did for that one incredible Smutmas fic (which I will eventually re-read once the exchange is over). But still, even if I write 5,000 words or less, they have to be good. The fic that someone wrote for Furiosity over on Smutmas... that fic wasn't really long, but it was EXQUISITE.

I also love reading recipient's responses to fics. The best ones are the long, rambling responses from recipients, and you can just feel the utter squeefulness exuding from the posts, and you KNOW that someone got what they wanted. Sometimes, though, I know that recipients post carefully worded thank-you's, like obligatory thank-you cards written after a wedding when half the gifts were secretly returned to the store. Those are the ones that make me sad. Even if I didn't like someone else's gift-fic, I want the recipient to love it. If it didn't seem like that person really DID love it, then I feel bad on their behalf. Make sense?

Last year, I participated in two exchanges. One of the gifts I received was the most amazing gift-fic EVER. It was EVERYTHING I loved in a fic. I don't care if other people thought it was great - I loved it. The other fic... didn't even feel as if it had anything to do with the requests/kinks I listed. In fact, it had a few things that I specifically don't like. It seemed like a randomly written fic that was hastily finished to fill a requirement. I still said that I liked it, and thanked the writer, but it left me disappointed, and I was the recipient. I saw a couple of fics in the exchanges this year that seemed like that one (not in content, but in "feel"), and it reminded me of that.

So, if you'll forgive my random rambling, I hope some of that made sense.

Also, I still hope you, and whoever else had ruffled feathers from my LJ post, will forgive my inappropriate and pointless emotional rant. I hope that some of what I wrote here explains more of what I was thinking when I wrote that.