Wayfarers Ch. 8

[kriadydragon]

More Wayfarers

http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3452726/8/

I can't wait to get this story and Resonance done so I can finally start on an original fic. Hopefully that'll lead me to being on the internet less. I get home from a chruch-related funtion, get on the net, head on over to LJ and run into someone making a request for sex fic. That is just... so wrong considering where I was just an hour ago. As much as I love hanging out on LJ, talking to people, partaking in disucssions, reading fic, etc; Some days it makes me nervous getting on here, and other times it leaves me feeling very irritable. It's kind of the same reason I don't read the news paper. There are just some things I don't want to know about, and I've never been good at handling anything controversal.

Anyone else have this problem?

Comments

[karri-kln1671.livejournal.com]

I grew up in an exceedingly conservative family in an exceedingly conservative part of the country, so I've a very low tolerance. Thus SGA_flashfic ended up getting unfriended and Sheppard_HC comes and goes on my friend's list. Today, fortunately, the poster was considerate enough to put things under a cut.

This would be the reason I make my own communities when I get interested in a fandom, rather than try to integrate into what's already out there. I'm too prudish for most mainstream fandom groups. :\

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I think what really bothers me is the kind of stuff people are into. Way too much sex, whether het or slash, half the time fore the mere sake of having sex in the story.

It's also gotten me quite resolved on not opening my original works to fanfiction. As much as I would like to because fanfic is fun, I've worked hard on the characters I created and would hate to run into a story where the writer absolutely skews that characterization for the sake of a particular kind of story (or because they think they're being clever and giving a new spin on the character). I don't want my characters butchered.

[bratfarrar]

I feel much the same way, which is why I keep trimming my friends list.

Actually, it's a problem I've had with fantasy and sci-fi writing in general - I've been burned enough times that I now read books by only a few authors that have shown themselves to be trustworthy.

It's also one reason why I write - because no one is writing the things I want to read.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Actually, it's a problem I've had with fantasy and sci-fi writing in general - I've been burned enough times that I now read books by only a few authors that have shown themselves to be trustworthy.

That's why I browse the young adult section more than the adult section. It's also why I haven't read anything knew for a while.

It's also one reason why I write - because no one is writing the things I want to read.

Yep, that's why I write. I would say that that's why most writers write, but when it comes to fantasy it seems like most writers are just trying to be the next Tolkein or C.S. Lewis, regurgitating what's already been done to death.

[bratfarrar]

it seems like most writers are just trying to be the next Tolkein or C.S. Lewis, regurgitating what's already been done to death.

And if you have some other end in writing than the story, if you're doing it mainly because you want to be read, it doesn't work. It's one thing to follow in Tolkien's footsteps by creating a complete and detailed world - it's something else entirely to write a carbon-copy. Copies are always inferior to the original.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I suppose I've developed a high tolerance for some stuff, that is, I'm willing to go "meh, not my cup of tea, not at all," when the slash and het fic notices come through. I just don't read them, and fortunately, never have to see more than a sentence or two that I know not to open 'em. The thing is in tv/scifi fandom, it's basically impossible not to trip over this stuff anymore. It seems to be the way things are. Heck, seen just as bad in bookstores in regular books.

So far I don't think I've unfriended anyone on LJ, probably because most people I friend write stuff I like, and I'm also bad at friending people who friend me becuase they want to read my news stuff but I may not necessarily not want to know about their dating habits ;)

And after seeing some CSI related lists burn up over the Grissom/Sara stuff, some of the SGA stuff seems tame, which is sorta sad to say! ;)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

The thing is in tv/scifi fandom, it's basically impossible not to trip over this stuff anymore. It seems to be the way things are. Heck, seen just as bad in bookstores in regular books.

I think that's kind of my issue - that this is so prevalent it's getting harder to find stuff that doesn't have it. (And the synopsis alone of some fics... *shudders*.)

I just let things get to me too easily, and I'm still getting the hang of avoiding what needs to be avoided. Curiosity is kind of my bane in that. I read a synopsis that sounds interesting, there's no warnings so I click on it anyways and... oops. Either that or I read the reviews and get annoyed with the reviewers (especially the character bashers.) I need to stop fic-searching and just stick with the people I know.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

I think my favorite horrid synopsis on a story is "I'm lousy at writing these things" which makes me go, uh, and you're better at writing a story? Hmmmmmm.

I'll check out unknown authors but usually can tell within a few seconds of scanning a story (gen, etc.) if I'll read the rest.

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I Used to give such authors the benefit of the doubt since sometimes a synopsis can be tricky to write. I soon realized that the majority of authors who skimp on the synopsis usually aren't that good.

I'll check out unknown authors but usually can tell within a few seconds of scanning a story (gen, etc.) if I'll read the rest.

I used to skip to the end. These days I just read the reviews as they tell me plenty without the nasty surprises.

What really boils me, though, is people who refuse to give warnings because "they give too much away". How does saying it's slash, has "adult themes", swearing, etc. give anything away? It's not that they have to put detail warnings, just enough to prepare the readers.

[wraithfodder.livejournal.com]

Yes, if it's slash, I want to know up front, before I even start reading the story. Ditto with 'ship', etc. stories. Heck, I'm warned of stuff like with regular books, fanfic should be no different.

[padawan-aneiki.livejournal.com]

I totally understand and agree...the focus on sex in the culture in general has gotten SO out of hand. And twisted! Sex was never meant to be what it's become in "popular culture."

So I also am careful of what I read, where I go, who I hang out with online, but I've also found many wonderful people, writers and friends here so...I try not to let the bad spoil the good for me. :)

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

I try not to let the bad spoil the good for me. :)

I need to do that but I always get so anal about things.

Sex was never meant to be what it's become in "popular culture."

Totally agree. It's all about pleasure these days, not love, and seems to get more and more disgusting turning people into nothing more than bodies to do it with. But what really sucks is how it's so prevalent in everything that it's created the mindset that it's not possible to have story or show without some kind of sexual interaction.

[padawan-aneiki.livejournal.com]

Well dear if you ever wanna talk or anything...I can offer up my email addy, or my AIM or YIM nicknames if you'd like to chat. :)

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

gads when i grow up i want to be able to write like you... no joke!

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

okay now i've read the story... a bit of a more proper comment

i am sooo not in to sex fics... i don't know if its my church background or not...

but it just seems unnecessary to read about. there are so many story out there they are screaming to be told... why would i want to read about that?

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

but it just seems unnecessary to read about. there are so many story out there they are screaming to be told... why would i want to read about that?

What people don't get is how this crap gets stuck in your head, even if all you read is one line. I stumbled on such a line while trying to skip a sex scene, nothing overly graphic but even to this day it still makes me nauseas.

I hate to say it, but on occasion, depending on the story, the author makes it necessary for the characters to have sex (say if there's an illigitimate child to be involved later... which are the kind of stories I hate.) But do they really need all the graphic details? Even in a romance novel.

As for centering a story around sex, focusing on that while using very detailed descriptions, to me that's just plain porn.

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

totally agree. I have read some of it because they contained some really great stories while skipping over the sex stuff... and it always makes me wonder how spectacular it could have been with out the sex...

and its not a gay or hetero thing... i don't care about that at all... its just the graphic sex... don't care what kind it is

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

More than the sex scenes, I hate it when an author feels they need to make their character a pervert. So not only is there sex scenes to worry about, but putting up with the "heroes" dirty thoughts as well. I have yet to understand the appeal of such a character. Personally, I tend to care about them a lot less, and in the terms of a book or story will quit reading the work.

[parisindy.livejournal.com]

i don't know if i have read any like that!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

You see it more in TV than read about it, and where I have read it is mostly in fanfic. There was a show, can't remember the name, where the character was - for lack of a better word - a little too "horny". More so than any character I've seen on any other show. The show was amusing but I didn't have a lot of empathy for the guy. When it was cancelled, I was actually kind of glad.

[kontiki.livejournal.com]

...so, who are your favorite, reliable authors? I would not want to miss out on any good stories!! ;-)

And speaking of good stories...

They get caught so close to getting to the stargate...I thought *I* was going to have heart failure! Great Job!!

[kriadydragon.livejournal.com]

Diana Wynn Jones. Her books are both hilarious as well as safe morally. I highly recommend Howl's Moving Castel, Dark Lord of Derkholm and its sequal Year of the Griffin. (I have her recc'ed over at The Book Den.)

Ursula K. LeGuinn is another.

And that's kind of it. My other favorite authors are kind of up in the air in that some books they've done are really good, and others have me dumping them back at the library the same day I check them out *shrugs*.