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Something that frustrates me in the world of both reading and writing are those stories that wow a vast majority of its reader, yet I can't figure out why. It's not that I think the story is terrible, but that the story simply wasn't all that great to me.
Most of the time it's about my personal taste, and that some stories that strike a cord with others won't strike a cord with me. But it leaves me a tad frustrated at times because I'm left wondering if there's something I missed during the reading, something others see that I'm blind to. I'll read a story that reads like so many stories I've come across before, yet something about that particular story raises it above the like stories that had come before, but I don't see what that something is.
Other times I wonder if readers are simply reading something into the story that isn't there - the story is complicated, confusing, therefore it must be good.
With fanfiction stories, especially stories that contain a concept done many times by other authors, I wonder if favoritism is involved. The story's focus leans a little more toward a particular, popular, character in a particular way (emotionally, physically) so it attracts more interest.
I'll be honest in that this tends to generate my jealous side. I'll have a story that's of a similar concept to those that seem to be blowing people away, and I can't understand why the other story is more popular. Most of the time, yeah, the other stories are better written. But sometimes, I wonder why the other story is attracting more readers than my own when, to me, both stories aren't all that different.
*Shrugs* It's not something I worry about on a continual basis, but as someone trying to advance their writing skills, its fodder for the jealousy bug.
Most of the time it's about my personal taste, and that some stories that strike a cord with others won't strike a cord with me. But it leaves me a tad frustrated at times because I'm left wondering if there's something I missed during the reading, something others see that I'm blind to. I'll read a story that reads like so many stories I've come across before, yet something about that particular story raises it above the like stories that had come before, but I don't see what that something is.
Other times I wonder if readers are simply reading something into the story that isn't there - the story is complicated, confusing, therefore it must be good.
With fanfiction stories, especially stories that contain a concept done many times by other authors, I wonder if favoritism is involved. The story's focus leans a little more toward a particular, popular, character in a particular way (emotionally, physically) so it attracts more interest.
I'll be honest in that this tends to generate my jealous side. I'll have a story that's of a similar concept to those that seem to be blowing people away, and I can't understand why the other story is more popular. Most of the time, yeah, the other stories are better written. But sometimes, I wonder why the other story is attracting more readers than my own when, to me, both stories aren't all that different.
*Shrugs* It's not something I worry about on a continual basis, but as someone trying to advance their writing skills, its fodder for the jealousy bug.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 07:06 pm (UTC)From:It exists not just in ff, but in films, book, tv....
You name it, it is there, yet so many times it is presented to us as though there were some quality to it, e.g. the film No Country For Old Men.
I was appalled by it. It was ugly. PERIOD.
When it received all numerous accolades, I wondered if I had seen
the same film.
The scent of mediocrity was all of it, yet it was acclaimed.
While I can understand why you might feel the way you do,
don't dignify it by allowing it to take you down the jealousy
road, whether it happens constantly or occasionally.
Your writing is above it all.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 08:13 pm (UTC)From:In fanfic, for example, a well-written Sheppard/McKay friendship with a touch of humor and McKay whump will probably get a lot more readers than Shep-whumper where it's just Sheppard.
Or if the story is "different." I've seen stories that, though the quality isn't poor neither is it great, they get recommended and gushed over though I can't figure out why. But after thinking about it I came to realize these stories contained something that was popular with a large audience - Ex. Sheppard/Atlantis or Sheppard/Teyla or Rodney/any team member but Sheppard.
It's why slash is so popular - it's not that a majority of SGA fans see the characters as gay, some just like the concept.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-11 11:07 pm (UTC)From:I watched the film I mentioned and wondered if I was watching the same film.
I liked Transformers. I don't read reviews of critics because basically their opinion is no better than mine. It is an opinion after all, yet when I voiced my dissent, I was shouted down by so many who just LOVED Old Country. Of course it could have been because I pointed out that if I wanted UGLY, it sure was it in spades; the men, the scenery, the storyline. IMO there was NOTHING whatsoever redeeming about it.
Some cannot seem to move past the need to have Rodney and Sheppard in some sort of idyllic situation. Real life is NOT like that. Real life is more like what you reflected in Fighting the Good Fight. That is real life, yet most would rather read of humor and a light touch of whump. I don't see it that way and if you present otherwise, many times they scoff at it as though it were somehow unreal. These are the same who see Sheppard and Teyla as an item. In real life that would never happen. I was chastised when I pointed out that he would never allow it to happen. PERIOD. And it is due to his role as officer in charge of the military expedition. Even though she is not military, she is a member of his team. When you have fraternization, discipline breaks down. The lines that have been drawn are not disappearing and it not only breaks down for those involved but those who serve along side them. I provided this same reasoning to her but she dismissed it totally. Even in his subconscious it would never happen, e.g in Conversion, they are in the combat room and he kisses her and even though he is infected with the retrovirus, he realizes it is not acceptable. It is written all over his face. That is how much it is not done.
I too have noticed popular themes and frankly feel that the field is a bit stale out there save for a few writers.
I will not even comment on slash as we have been down that road before. Suffice to say, it is of no interest to me.