Hot (literally) recs

[geoviki]

Sometimes I think I've got fandom back-asswards. It seems to me, upon reflection, that an author gains most from writing WsIP and a reader from reading competed stories. I do it the other way round. I dump whole stories on the world that are too long and folks cringe at reading, and I get hooked on chaptered WsIP that I can't keep in my brain long enough. I was of a mood to write an entry declaiming my obligations as a writer to you, but I think perhaps I need more wine for that. It gets mushy and maudlin.

Lots of WsIP I read, though, have been recently finished. Is it the season's change? Is it synchronicity?

My favorite is hackthis's Trade. Everyone and her sister has talked about this fic, but I waited until it was all done, and then fell into it wholeheartedly. The quality of the writing is terrific, the characterizations fascinating, the dialogue sparking, the AU plot unique. So good.

Another one I've been following for a long time is novembersnow's Tomorrow and Tomorrow And Tomorrow. The last three paragraphs, especially, worked their magic on me.

Then there's an intriguing Draco/Snape fic by isolde - Twelve Days. This, too, has a cool ending, and that's all I'll say. But Isolde's characterizations are always so well done - this story has an interesting cameo by Hagrid, who's notoriously hard to write. Draco is 15 during most of the story, so note that if you don't enjoy that type of story.

CorvetteClaire's Adamant and Starlight is finished, too. This is a sequel to Thicker Than Blood, but I haven't seen many mentions of the fact that it's now complete. And Claire states there'll be a third story coming. It's a true H/D set in Hogwarts. It's the one where Draco has this nifty crystal hand.

I neglected to mention that jamoche's Draco/Neville WIP, The Language of Flowers has a new chapter. I love this pairing, and the story has a plot device that I like to use myself quite a bit, so of course it appeals to me!

abbycadabra has another wrenching H/D, poetic and unique as she always writes - Salvation & Sacrament . I don't know where she comes up with her ideas, but few other authors come close to being so innovative. I love her perspective and the way she tugs at my poor abused heart.

First really hot day - summer must be here. My computer room is on the top floor of our house and it's toasty. I'd put shorts on, but I'd have to shave first. TMI, I'm sure. But you know I was a hippy; you should expect these things.

Comments

[geoviki.livejournal.com]

That's intriguing. Who was your reading partner? And I think you are absolutely right about folks wanting to beat JKR's fanfic.

If you release a whole story at once (which I encourage writers to do) be prepared for a huge drop-off in comments. I'm just sayin'. Still, I think the overall effect for the reader is much more powerful. WsIP can be avoided until they're finished, but it's really hard to postpone when one's friendslist is buzzing about how great a certain fic is. And I still read WsIPs - just not blindly the way I did when I was new to the fandom.

[charlotteschaos.livejournal.com]

He doesn't really maintain an LJ, but he commented right around the time I did on Skyehawke ;) Rather effusively, too ;) We don't always agree on fic, so when we do, it's got to be good.

I think I'm just coming to new conclusions. I am fairly new to fanfic writing and I sort of blundered in not at all knowing what I was doing. I wrote a one shot. "Change My World" I called it, and it was just a silly story about H/D meeting up in a hallway after curfew and kissing. Nothing special, and though I didn't know it at the time, terribly trite.

I'd written a handful of other stories, but nothing I'd really posted to a community or anything, so when I posted it to harrydraco and got many excited comments and calls to continue the story, I was pretty excited. Of course, now i realize that a lot of times, that's just the comment people make when they like something, or find it decently written. But at the time... I really didn't know this. I had other reasons for continuing the story (partially an earlier dare from a friend and to escape dealing with the holidays), but basically, I put out a "sequel." I think I ended up about 4 chapters in before I decided I needed a plot. *snorts*

I also got invited to post it to different communities, and people suggested posting in other communities, so then... it was plastered everywhere. This is all just October/November.

I finally finished the story in January and was relieved. And then depressed. It didn't feel finished. I wanted to continue, but I didn't want to keep the rigorous pace. So I told everyone I was finished and wrote the first three chapters of a sequel. But I got anxious and leaked out that I was working on it. Flist squeaked. I've learned nothing about peer pressure.

emmagrant01 announced her sequel and that she was going to post weekly. I was far enough ahead that it felt feasable and reasonable, so I chose Sunday and decided to do it that way.

I'm down to the last 2 chapters. It's written and most of the way edited... but I'm tired again. I was done. I was ahead of schedule, but it's still ended up feeling like I was backed against the wall to tell the story and I'm sure my editing has suffered.

In the midst of this, I'm comparing how I'm enjoying reading a WiP vs a completed fic, and as a reader... it's so much better to have it all at once.

But yes, there is a huge drop off in comments, I'm sure. I know that when I release a chapter the same people comment, and it multiplies the number of comments and visits. However, learning to write better and telling a good story is, in theory, more important than feeding my ego ;) In theory. We'll see how well that goes in practice. I seem less interested in writing sex of late anyway, so perhaps my flist will defect soon enough.

Maybe I'll finally get back to writing original stories. :D

Whew, evidently I needed to vent ;) Sorry about the spammy ramble!