kriadydragon | Not Like it used to be

For those of you who have been reading fanfiction for a long time (as in years, not months) do you find that reading fanfcition is no longer like it used to be? In that there seems to be less to read or that it's not as enjoyable as it once was when you first got into fanfic?

There are some days that, for me, reading fanfic actually kind of frustrates me. I blame it on pickiness - wanting to read something in particular, not wanting to read something that, a while ago, wouldn't have bothered me, etc. And it's always the little things that get to me the worst. Fanon cliches, lack of satisfying whump, squicks, the way the author is handling the characters, the author writing things that seem to have no point what so ever, and so on. It's not a constant, and more a problem when I'm not in a positive mood. I still enjoy reading fanfic, especially when it's a story by a favorite author (who never disappoint :D). And most of the stories that end up bugging me aren't bad stories, they just have things in them that bug me, making the story less enjoyable to read. But overall fanfic isn't as fun as it used to be.

Also for me it's kind of inevitable as I'm the same way with original stories. The more I read, the more selective I become about what I read. I'm still fairly easy to please, but at the same time easy to frustrate. I become less patient with the things that bug me, as well as become more aware of things that, once upon a time, I would have just ignored.

I know I shold just be sticking with favorite authors, but I like to give new authors a chance and, on occasion, will stumble on a story that makes all the obnoxious stories worth the search ;) However, when in a foul mood, those obnoxious stories can be torture.

Current Mood: frustrated

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Your looking at it from a readers point of view. It's hard when you read something that you can see done differently or can improve on.

I'm a reader, and though some of the stuff frustrates me, doesn't entertain me, or is just that bad (and I have come across many and not only in this fandom), there are quite a few that I have come across that were written by authors that do a fantastic job of telling the stories that entertain me like I was reading a store bought paperback, keeping the characters in character and taking me places that the TV show never has, would or could have.

You must try not to read the obnoxious stuff when in this mood. You should go back and read some of the gems. That's what I usually do when in that kind of mood.

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This is true.

It's not really about wanting to fix or improve anything - not all the time. Like I said, the stories aren't bad. Some of them are written really well, actually. It's personal stuff - personal views, personal desires and so on. And most of the time is stuff that at one time I could ignore. But, after a while (especially when it's something being done over and over again in different stories - fanon cliches, for example) it gets a little harder to ignore each time around.

And it's not the story itself that is obnoxious per se, it's stuff within the story. Stuff that I end up stumbling on. If the story itself is obnoxious, I usually don't know until half-way through. By then I keep reading, in part to know what happens and in part because I naviely think "it'll change, it'll get better." Sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't. But that's why I keep reading, for the stories that do get better and the stories that are good from start to finish.

The bad stuff I stumble onto, so it can't always be helped.

It seems to me that there are less authors who are working on being professional. There are a lot of juvenile (not talking about age...) writer's of substandard ability posting. I remember reading an author of Star Wars fics who wrote and published a novel, and the same thing for other genres.

I usually find out really fast what type of author it is within the first paragraph of the story. If the author is second rate, I don't continue to read their stories and it would take quite a bit of good reviews to get me to read anything new by them.

I will run with joy to read anything by authors that I have enjoyed in the past, but a new author can lose a reader for all time with one bad fic.

Sounds like quite some pressure to be under, but if you have the talent to write there is no pressure.

You, Kodiak, Kristen99, Tielan, Ryhmer23, bluflamingo, are SGA authors I adore, just to name a few off the top of my head.

There are some authors on my "list" that I REFUSE to read anything they write. Usually a mix of their usually bad behavior and bad writing is what gets an author placed on my list.

Yeah, bad authors really don't help. But I've even been turned away from fic written by good authors, too, but mostly for personal reasons.

For example: how we each view the characters. I'm not a fan of "oblivious/dumb Sheppard" or "Intergalactic slut Sheppard" (where he's either sleeping around, refusing to deny he laid the alien priestess, into porn, etc) because I personally don't see him that way. So even if the story is awesome, if that's the direction the story is going with John's character, even if it's just a small portion then nine times out of ten I won't read. The one time I do it's because it was easy enough to ignore.

Then there are even smaller things - things that didn't used to bother me - that I can't stand because they were done so much in so many stories. The best example for that is one I've made mention of more than once - the team getting Sheppard to purge his demons by forcing him to either talk to them, Heightmeyer or both. It's not that I didn't buy into the method... sometimes. I was just tired of seeing it in every Shep-whumper I read.

Although these days I'm actually slightly more tolerant of it because, like I said, in some stories (ones I've recently looked back on) it works. But it all comes down to how it's handled, because in some stories it strikes me as a really bad approach to helping someone suffering mental trauma.

I completely agree with you. If they're having the character act in someway out of character, it really irks me. I stop reading the fic and am now 'burned' on reading anything by that author.

I tend to approach reading the author's work more cautiously, depending on how deep their viewpoint goes. I mean, Sheppard is a guy, he likes to flirt, so I'll turn a blind eye to a few scattered moments of "guyish" behavior, depending on how light they are. If I feel it too heavy (Sheppard contemplating who he should sleep with today, for example) or I'm just not in the mood to put up with it, then I'm outta there.

I personally can't stand it when Sheppard is written as dumb/oblivious or a womanizer. That is so totally against who he is in canon. I also prefer a supportive team, not a 'suck it up' 'tough love' type story.

I deal better with issues by myself and over time. I think Sheppard is much the same way, and being 'forced' to talk it out with a professional either wouldn't work well or may be detrimental.

Although they are helpful for some people, Drs are clinical and detached. Sheppard is a private person and I couldn't see him confiding in someone that really doesn't know or understand him. (Heightmeyer is an acquaintance, and doesn't really 'know' John well.) If John needed help dealing with issues I could see him having a 'limited' conversation with one of his team and or some time alone. I understand that this is the way 'I' see Sheppard and others may not agree, but I feel much the same as you do along these lines.

There's really nothing wrong with the tough love approach as it does have it's place. But it's been done so much in H/C that it ended up getting on my nerves. I'd ended up having a major craving for stories that did something completely different, and though such stories have been written, the craving is still there.

That includes a craving to write such a story. I did with Castles in the Sky, but I would like to do so again, going with yet another approach.

I find a traumatized Sheppard fascinating... I know, I'm horrible :P

Nonononono you are NOT horrible and PLEASE do write another one!! *Squeee* that would be so cool! (erm....yes, I do understand that you are not committing to doing so, but yeah, that would be great if you did)

The 'tough love' approach has it's place but it seemed to be the only approach for the longest time (and like you said), I wanted something different.

*nods* to everything you just said. You say it better anyway. :D I should just respond with "Ditto" LOL

I tend to view John in the same way. He's not going to open up to a stranger and I see him saying exactly what a shrink would want to hear...and he'd might have a short, conversaion with a single team mate but that's about it.

Wanted to say hi Novembersga. Hadn't seen you around of late and glad to seee you poking your head around :D

Hi! *waves* :) I'm so glad you said hello. I missed LJ terribly. I've only been able to get on a few times and then for just a few minutes since before Christmas. :(

I really hope it changes soon because I'm missing sooooo much! I haven't even been able to read any of the secret santa fics and its driving my crazy!

Well, gotta run -again- don't want to be late.

I know what you're saying.

A couple of things I noticed that, for 'me' personally, is different are a.) drastically fewer fics in the genre that I read. (i.e. everything seems to be either het or slash when I'm looking for Gen or h/c friendship, and b.) when good fics suddenly take a sharp left turn about mid-way to three-fourths of the way through. It leaves me going whaaaa?

It's especially frustrating when the fic is good and I'm really into it. I've read fics (in a couple of fandoms) that start out soooo well. Well paced, good plot and wonderful character voices. Then suddenly it changes and becomes like a totally different story. (does that make sense?)

I try to ignore the parts I don't like, but sometimes it's just too much, and it causes me to lose interest in what had been a very good story up to that point. The quality of writing is still good it's just the subject matter has changed, and not to my liking.

For example, I started reading a fic (in another fandom) that was summarized as, "what would have happened to characters 'A' and 'B' if character 'C' had not done 'X'?" Then about three fourths of the way through, character 'C' DID do 'X'. The premise for the fic was, "what would have happened if he DIDN'T?" (Confused yet?)

*shrugs* I may be spoiled on the awesome fics of the select writers I read, but it's also my opinion that (in looking for new fic/authors) it's harder to find what I want/like than it used to be.

Feel free to roll your eyes because I have no idea if anything I just typed will make sense. 'I' know what I'm trying to say, just not sure I'm saying it right. :)

It makes sense :D

I may be spoiled on the awesome fics of the select writers I read, but it's also my opinion that (in looking for new fic/authors) it's harder to find what I want/like than it used to be.

Oh, definitely. I came into SGA fandom when the fandom was only two seasons old, which meant lots of really great fic (the influx of awesome fic seems at its highest when a show is young.) So, yeah, I was majorly spoiled :D.

But though there are still grea writers out there, a lot of them have either moved on to other fandoms, settled for a single genre (slash or het) or due to RL or muse issues don't write as much as they used to *raises hand sheepishly*

I try to ignore the parts I don't like, but sometimes it's just too much, and it causes me to lose interest in what had been a very good story up to that point. The quality of writing is still good it's just the subject matter has changed, and not to my liking.

This is my biggest issue right now. I do try to ignore the stuff that bugs me. But, yeah, there are some days that it's just too much. Heck, I've even been overwhelmed and put into a bad mood because of a story synopsis. I really should no better than to seek out fanfic while in a sour mood, but I always hope to stumble onto something that would help lift that mood (because I've done the rereading thing and those stories are now memorized). As I always say of myself, I never learn :/.

Another thing that frustrates me is when I have an idea for a fic and a really substandard author writes something with the same story line. I now feel as if I cannot write a fic with the plot line I thought of, because this author can come back and acuse me of plagerism...

I recently made the mistake of telling people I was writing a SGA fic along the lines of the Arabian Nights and -presto- another author wrote one. Thankfully, their fic is a McShep (which is a pairing I REALLY don't get or even like) and John is a genie. NOT the idea I was going for, thank goodness!

Although, the genie idea has some merit. Just not a freaking McShep fic... Blech!

Oh my goodness I hate it when that happens. I panick every times someone says "I'm going to write *this* kind of story" and it's the kind of story I was planning on writing.

That and when someone writes something with a concept/plot I adore, and either writes it poorly or never finishes it at all. There were two stories with the kind of plot I've been wanting to read forever, both stories well written. One I'm hoping the author finishes, the other has yet to be finished, and for the longest time I was plagued by the desire to do something similar just to have an ending.

I honestly think that's the ultimate torture when it comes to fanfiction - the story you've always wanted to read either written poorly or written wonderfully but never finished :S

I've been reading fan fic since '86, but only have been writing fan fic when I started watching Farscape.

When I developed PTSD, my fic writing went to hell. I lost the ability to articulate or follow trains of thought. It was horrible. I left so many fics unfinished, but I am going to finish them. Hopefully before I go to grad school.

I understand the pain of WIP's. I hate it when I read them and the ones I've left undone.

I say write the story anyway! It would be a crime not to.

I've seen stories that I WISH were written by certain authors because I know they would do such an awesome job with it. I don't really care if a similar story or plot is out there. It's really unavoidable. It's whether or not it's written well that interests me.

I'm sorry, I had to comment here because I caught Disney's version of Aladdin (animated of course) on t.v. while flipping channels and Aladdin reminded me so much of Sheppard in this one scene I was ROFL.

I am writing it, but because of RL it's taking longer. I also refuse to post anything until it's finished. So, it's going to be awhile.

I hate it when read a fic using a terrific plot idea and the author, due to inept ability, trashes the fic. There have been so many what I call "missed opportunities" with fics. It's so SAD!!

Even though it's taking time, I'm glad to hear you are writing it. *cheers for you*

*nods* (I don't write so I probably have no business being critical of others) but yeah, wonderful ideas that end up as missed opportunities, very sad indeed.

Oh and the theme you mentioned reminds me of an incredible piece of art done by Leyna (I think) on Deviant Art. She has many, many pieces of art that could inspire some awesome AU fics! (Well in my mind anyway *g*)

Good luck with your story! :D

OMGosh! It's funny you should mention her art pieces! I was told about her when I said something about writing this fic and I was directed to view her pieces. I still use one as inspiration. Well...somewhat.

I'm still working about how this fic will go. I change things here and there. I want to write a John/Cam piece, but not write it too slashy. In other words, save the slash in the fic for a side fic. I've got a title, "Dinarzade's Request".

I've been reading fanfiction for 10 years or so. I know what I like when I read it. I am not sure I can define what I like, but over time my bookmark collection of favourite stories really became a selection of stories by a small group of authors. That wasn't intentional. There must be a common element. It is probably a combination of talented writing and preferred genre. I do know that the stories and authors I consider favourites are ones where I watch rather than read the story. I lose sight of the author and the writing and see it played out as I read as though it were an episode on TV. The story does not have to be written by someone who uses highly descriptive language or sets the scene clearly. It is more that I am drawn into the story rather than reading it from the outside if that makes any sense.

I certainly know what I don't like.

If a story is long, I cheat. I jump through the story first skimming the chapters to see if I will like it.

I have never been a re-reader of books. I just can't read the same story twice. However, with a satisfying fanfiction, I can read them several times over. I do love the thrill of finding a new and really satisfying story.

I suppose that your skills as a discerning reader improve over time the way writing skills do.

Do you have a specific them or type of whump or comfort you would like to read these days?

As a "new writer" I appreciate that readers do venture out and sample other authors and writing styles and provide feedback.

I'm heading back now to my fic #2. I got hung up for a couple of days because two of the sections are not as well written as the rest to say the least. So of course, every time I went to work on the story, I got stuck looking at them. Having read so much that I am a "discerning reader" sometimes helps with the writing and sometimes stands in the way of getting on with it.

If a story is long, I cheat. I jump through the story first skimming the chapters to see if I will like it.

I'll admit to being guilty of that myself, especially if the story is by an author I don't know or an author who has done things in past stories that have bugged/squicked me. I know it's cheating, but I prefer being spoiled and knowing what I'm getting into rather than jumping in and being monumentally disappointed (or squicked :P).

I suppose that your skills as a discerning reader improve over time the way writing skills do.

Hmmm, I suppose that's true. I'm currently reading an original novel I'd attempted to read when I was a teen. Back then, I thought it excellent writing. Today... not quite so much.

Do you have a specific them or type of whump or comfort you would like to read these days?

Overall I'm an angst junky. Give me angsty H/C that doesn't involve gut wounds, sexual situations, poor attempts at humor, fanon cliches and quick fixes and I'll enjoy it. Oh, and of course the spelling and grammer has to be good :D Too many spelling mistakes in the first paragraph of a story has me dropping that story, fast.

Having read so much that I am a "discerning reader" sometimes helps with the writing and sometimes stands in the way of getting on with it.

Very true. It's caused me to stall on a story more than once, especially original stories.

Hmm.

I've always been a very cyclical fanfic reader. I've been in fandom since ... 1998? And I've been through a lot of fandoms. Usually I go through a really intense period of reading every fic I can get my hands on, then slowly lose interest as it starts to feel like I've read every permutation of character and situation at least once, and then drift out of the fandom.

SGA is very unusual for me in the amount of time that I've stuck around in the fandom. I don't think I've been an active reader in a fandom for 3 years before, and I know I haven't written in the same fandom for anything approaching that long. It's possible that my current decline of interest in the show and fic has something to do with just having been in the fandom for so long. (Having said that, I do seem to be cycling back into reading more fic, though I still find an awful lot of it dull, repetitive and self-similar.)

I do think that over time, it starts to feel like you're just seeing the same plots, the same kinks, the same quirks repeat over and over again, and this is a big part of why I tend to wander away. But I can also think of quite a few fandoms I left because I could never find anything to read at all, not because I was tired of what was there.

I cycle similarly in my fiction reading. I don't enjoy reading the same kind of book (murder mystery, hard SF, urban fantasy, YA fantasy) for months and months on end; I like to jump between different kinds of books, keeping it fresh and interesting.

Usually I go through a really intense period of reading every fic I can get my hands on, then slowly lose interest as it starts to feel like I've read every permutation of character and situation at least once, and then drift out of the fandom.

That's what I was wondering - if everyone, or at least most people, hit a point where reading fanfic isn't like it was. What you described seems to be my case as well; not so much that I'm getting tired of it, but the things that bug me the majority of the time are things that have been done over and over and over... everything else is a matter of personal views and my patience/tolerance levels at the time of reading.

I do think that over time, it starts to feel like you're just seeing the same plots, the same kinks, the same quirks repeat over and over again, and this is a big part of why I tend to wander away.

I think the same could also be said about writing in a single fandom for a long time. For a while, my desire to write SGA fanfic was next to nil. I think part of the reason for that is because I felt like I'd written these characters to death: I've explored them as far as I could go and now there's nothing left to explore. Which probably isn't true, I just haven't completely realized it yet.

I think part of the reason for that is because I felt like I'd written these characters to death: I've explored them as far as I could go and now there's nothing left to explore.

*nods* I thought I'd hit that point awhile back, and was surprised to find that I hadn't; I really did think that "Running on Empty" was my one big Atlantis story -- that I'd explored everything about John and Rodney that I was interested in exploring; turns out this is, obviously, not true. But I do think it's kind of true of me lately -- it's like writing a long series of books, where eventually you just run out of new, creative things to do with the characters. I think this is why I've been more interested lately in doing things with them that are really different from what I've done in the past -- writing AUs, writing various pairings, writing darkfic or deathfic. I just want to take them in new places, stretch them in new ways.

There was a post recently on author Sarah Monette's blog in which she talks about losing interest in fiction because she has trouble letting go of the analytical side of herself and enjoying the story as a story. This is not precisely what's happened to me, but I think there are elements of it -- in fanfic especially. In some ways, the more I learn about the writing craft, the deeper my appreciation for well-written stories -- I have a better understanding of what the writer is trying to do. But it also makes me very particular, and acutely aware of the flaws in the stories that I read.

i am seriously addicted to fanfic.. and its actually a bit of trouble as it distracts me from my own writing.

there is a lot of crap out there and it takes alot of weeding through to find the gems.

but i think after reading fanfic for years
its gets easier to spot the bad from the good.

i know what i like and can spot it faster.

and its actually a bit of trouble as it distracts me from my own writing.

We should start a supoprt group for that :D.

but i think after reading fanfic for years
its gets easier to spot the bad from the good.

I think I may be getting there but that blasted curiosity of mine... plus SGA is pretty much the only fanfic I read, except for the occasional Dr. Who fic. Plus plus, there are days when I'm actually desperate for something to read, which increases the chance of me stumbling on something I don't like.

But it's been a while since I've read a story that's squicked me, so progress is being made :D Unless I've just jinxed myself :(.

We should start a supoprt group for that :D.

++hehe i need one++

I think I may be getting there but that blasted curiosity of mine... plus SGA is pretty much the only fanfic I read, except for the occasional Dr. Who fic. Plus plus, there are days when I'm actually desperate for something to read, which increases the chance of me stumbling on something I don't like.

++ i can look over alot of errors and stuff to if the characterizations are good... but if the characters are off i can't read it... or if there are no descriptions etc,

i read mostly supernatural... and a bit of atlantis (as i am still really gun shy about atlantis stuff and i tend to stick to my safe writers)... i can be talked in to andromeda or farscape stories too but i hardly ever read those anymore++

But it's been a while since I've read a story that's squicked me, so progress is being made :D Unless I've just jinxed myself :(.

++hehe oh dear i hope not! ((hugs)) ++

I just caught up reading everyone's comments. This was a pretty interesting conversation and made me think about my own experience with fanfic. I'll throw my two cents in - when I started reading SGA fanfic, it had been going for a number of years so there was a gold mine of stories I'd never read. It was easy to find something I hadn't read before. Inevitably, I caught up with reading everything that had already been written and now wait on the edge of my seat for new stories to come out. So it's hard for me to gauge whether the frequency of stories being posted has gone down or not. Seems like a few authors I discovered early on aren't posting nearly as often, which is a total bummer, but I supposed that frees up some time for me to do my own writing. That's the hope anyway! :D

Inevitably, I caught up with reading everything that had already been written and now wait on the edge of my seat for new stories to come out. So it's hard for me to gauge whether the frequency of stories being posted has gone down or not.

That's what I wonder: that it isn't that there are fewer good stories, but that we've caught up on all the good stuff and, therefore, have to wait for more good stuff to come out.

Then there's the pickiness as I mentioned above - at least for me. As Friendshipper mentioned, many stories tend to be the same old, same old after a while. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but as a reader I get to craving something completely different. Sometimes not even completely different, but at least veering away from what has been done to death (using once again the example I've been using thorughout this post - the "tough love" approach to curing Sheppard of his mental trauma.) It's why my favorite authors are my favorite (such as yourself :D), because you don't do what's already been done.

Yes, to all the above.

I've found myself to be very picky about what I read in fandom based on time. I tend to only read in a circle of authors. When I first entered the fandom I read whatever appealed to me as a summary on ff.net, but found wading through so much bad fic tainted my loved of it. Now, I stay in my corner and read things that are reced my friends or on rec sites that sound appealing.

I agree there is less to read out there, only because I've become more picky when it comes to quality. Which includes my views on characterizations and yes, technical ability. It's a time thing. If I had more, I'd be more open, but I just don't. However, a lot of what I view as the 'old guard' has stopped writing because of RL issues or have drifted away for one reason or another.

I crave new fic all the time. That's why I look forward the com exchanges or things like the ficathon. Sometimes the handful of writers I love can't quit their jobs and write fanfic...don't know why ...:-P

Speaking of fic...yep, look like I need to get back to writing some.

I'm glad you're found a balance between your original writing and fanfic.

I kind of wish, sometimes, that I didn't have the time to read so much. I'm unemployed, have a lot of time on my hands, and when I'm not in the mood to write, watch TV or listen to music I go to the Internet. I seek out stories to read, but when I'm really bored will "scrape the bottom of the barrel - in other words, read those stories that initially didn't catch my interest, and it's usually those stories that end up frustrating me.

Although I honestly think it's not as bad for me as it used to be. Because I ran into so many stories that squicked me something fierce, I tread more carefully. I still run into things that frustrate me, but it's been a while since I ran into something that really squicked me.

I love ficathons. You're always gauranteed good reading in a ficathon, and able to more easily avoid the fics that bother :D

I find I'm becoming more particular about what I read. It's hard when I only want to read gen and everybody seems to want to write slash/het/things I wouldn't go near.

I also struggle with stories that can't keep people in character. Or they write SGA team fic but it's really only the John and Rodney show. Same with SG-1, Teal'c has a lot of character, make use of it.

Fanfic's about wish fulfillment, so it seems kind of inevtiable that readers - if not right away - eventually end up with the short end of the stick when it comes to stuff they want to read. Some of my own pickness is about wanting to read specific things (such as gen slave fic), but most of the time in order to get that specific something I have to keep making requests until someone obliges.

Another of my pet peeves are stories that promise equal whumping, but one of the characters (namely my favorite) doesn't get whumped at all. Or the whump is either very mediocer (a sprained ankle) or basically ignored. I find that a bit cruel, even if it does have a purpose.

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kriadydragon

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Where the Wild Things Are

Not Like it used to be

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