Writing novel-length fanfic
Oct. 10th, 2004 05:50 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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novel_fanfic
There've been several conversations lately about the way the H/D sub-fandom has changed in recent years. One thing I heard mentioned a few times was that there aren't many epic fics being written any more. A few people even suggested this was a sign of the decline of the fandom, that the change in canon or in the size or average age of writers in the fandom was to blame.
As a writer of novel-length fic in two fandoms, I'm not sure I agree. Recent conversations have led me to believe that part of the problem is that the culture of LJ is neither conducive to nor supportive of the writing of novel-length fic, in any fandom. The temptation to abandon your 60,000-word novel and start posting frequent short fics is great, considering that it gets the writer just as much feedback as that novel she quietly slaved over for six months. And it gets her recced a lot, by the people who do the reccing.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that writing novels is "better" or "more worthy" than writing other kinds of fanfic -- not at all. I simply think it's more difficult to do in an LJ-based fandom. LJ seems geared toward instant gratification, and the writers who post lots of short fic are rewarded more for doing so. Many novel-writers just don't get the same sort of attention, which is unfortunate, IMHO. (Of course, someone else recently noted that you never see shorter fics on people's "Top Ten Fics of All Time" lists, either.)
I have some questions, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
1. Do you write novel-length fanfic? Why or why not?
2. Are you currently working on a novel-length fic? If so, are you posting it as a WIP, or will you wait until it's finished to post it -- or something in between?
3. What do you think about my claim that the culture of LJ is not conducive to the production of novel-length fanfic?
4. Do you have any ideas about how we as a community could better support the writers of novel-length fic? For example, is there any interest in a comm along these lines?
novel_fanficThere've been several conversations lately about the way the H/D sub-fandom has changed in recent years. One thing I heard mentioned a few times was that there aren't many epic fics being written any more. A few people even suggested this was a sign of the decline of the fandom, that the change in canon or in the size or average age of writers in the fandom was to blame.
As a writer of novel-length fic in two fandoms, I'm not sure I agree. Recent conversations have led me to believe that part of the problem is that the culture of LJ is neither conducive to nor supportive of the writing of novel-length fic, in any fandom. The temptation to abandon your 60,000-word novel and start posting frequent short fics is great, considering that it gets the writer just as much feedback as that novel she quietly slaved over for six months. And it gets her recced a lot, by the people who do the reccing.
Now, I don't want to give the impression that writing novels is "better" or "more worthy" than writing other kinds of fanfic -- not at all. I simply think it's more difficult to do in an LJ-based fandom. LJ seems geared toward instant gratification, and the writers who post lots of short fic are rewarded more for doing so. Many novel-writers just don't get the same sort of attention, which is unfortunate, IMHO. (Of course, someone else recently noted that you never see shorter fics on people's "Top Ten Fics of All Time" lists, either.)
I have some questions, and I'd love to hear your thoughts.
1. Do you write novel-length fanfic? Why or why not?
2. Are you currently working on a novel-length fic? If so, are you posting it as a WIP, or will you wait until it's finished to post it -- or something in between?
3. What do you think about my claim that the culture of LJ is not conducive to the production of novel-length fanfic?
4. Do you have any ideas about how we as a community could better support the writers of novel-length fic? For example, is there any interest in a comm along these lines?
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no subject
Date: 2004-10-10 08:21 pm (UTC)Back my claim/thought about LJ, though. I'm continually refining my point through this dialogue, but here's what I'm suggesting at this point in time: For (possibly new) writers who enter a fandom via LJ, there isn't much incentive or support to write novel-length fic. I'm not sure, but I'm wondering if there might be a way to support people in that process. the instant big response to this post tells me that there are indeed people out there working on novel-length fic, but aren't posting it here for a variety of reasons.
I keep forgetting you were on MA! I associate you with HP! :-D
no subject
Date: 2004-10-11 08:39 am (UTC)Probably because I lurked in TPM, but am an opinionated woman when it comes to HP ;)
For (possibly new) writers who enter a fandom via LJ, there isn't much incentive or support to write novel-length fic.
Hmm.. because they get instant gratification for shorter fics? I see your point. And I'll raise the "LJ imposes a certain structure on your novel-length fic" point again. I couldn't see something like "Lust Over Pendle" originating on LJ, for instance.