Monster Post

[annerbhp]

WIPs and the Reader-Author Relationship
I've been having a very interesting discussion via email with a reader about WIPs and the reader-author experience.  It's probably no secret to anyone reading this that I am prone to having at least one long fic working in the background, being posted to chapter by chapter.  (Or two such fics, as the case may

Comments

[surreallis]

SPACE PIRATES!!

It's amazing how this idea has spread across fandom. Everyone loves space pirates! More fic!

Also, raindroproses wrote some space pirate fic that was highly amusing, but she didn't finish the series. I'm being lazy and don't have the link...

As for WIP's, I have nothing against them actually, but it depends on how quickly they're being updated as to whether I read it as a WIP or wait until it's finished. If it's not updated frequently, like every few days, I tend to forget things from one chapter to the next, and then I have to keep re-reading everything. So if the writer is a slow updater, then I wait until it's finished.

[annerbhp]

ARRR!!! It seems to be popular, but I have been digging around a lot and come up with very few examples of actual fic! Strange. I've been thinking, though...that rather than a traditional ficathon, swap a prompt, sort of thing, since there is so little fic to beging with, people could just claim a pairing/character/crossover and write a fic on that. Maybe more of a fic challenge? Hmmmm. This requires much thinkiness.

[annerbhp]

Oh...and I wrote to raindroproses and she says she has plans to continue with that series when she gets time over winter break!

[lyssie]

SPACE PIRATES. Because then I get Vala, Cam and Sam in leather with guns, yes? *looks cute*

[annerbhp]

Oh yes, certainly. :) Or maybe even Kara teaching Carter how to be a space pirate. Oh...the possibilities.

[stargazercmc]

Just a note about WIPs. I quit reading them a loooooong time ago when I was involved with X-Files fandom after someone started this brilliant, novel-length fic that was just so good... and then never finished it. There were twists and cliffhangers and reasons galore to continue writing it, and he got massive feedback on how much it was loved. He just got swamped down with real life. Understandable.

But my personality type is such that unfinished things nag in the back of my skull, sometimes literally for years. I still think about that story I read almost 10 years ago now and it drives me bonkers. So for me it's definitely not a flaw on the author's part -- it's totally my flaw.

[annerbhp]

Yes...there is always the overwhelming possibility of getting burned by an author who looses steam or finds a new shiney. As I have pointed out many times before...I don't read WIPs myself, I just really enjoy writing them. I am sure that is hypocritical. :) Not your flaw...just your right as a reader!

And once again....killing me with your Colbert....

[katcorvi]

As long as you keep writing WIPs, I will so be reading them. (Hmm, I haven't checked the Pit of Voles tonight. Should I, or is it too soon?)

Space pirates are always fun. I prefer SG1, but if you can figure out a way to put Mulder and Scully in leather out in space, that would be cool, too. Cancerman is so dastardly that he'd have to have a hook. You know I'm here to read and cheer space pirate fic.

Congrats on wining icon awards!

[annerbhp]

No need to venture into the pit of voles, I promise to email you any updates to my website. :) Don't want you to suffer unduly. (See what a caring WIP author I am? *snerk*)

I am throwing around the idea of a fic challenge rather than ficathon, that might allow non-writers to submit prompts. (because, really, readers get the short stick on that. Why should only writers get fics crafted for them?)

Congrats on wining icon awards!

Thanks! Luckily I think this obsession is beginning to fade. I really need to start spending that time writing! :)

[kellifer_fic]

For ficathons... it depends on the ficathon... :)

I've seen some that have a yearly go round but most will be one-offs...

I'm not going to attempt ucp_ficathon again mostly because it was a nightmare to match people. I would only do it if I restricted the fandoms involved and that would feel a little unfair...

[annerbhp]

Really? That is so sad to hear, but totally understandable. That must have been so much work for you. I absolutely loved that ficathon. And I really liked the fic I ended up writing, something I never would have considered writing without that prompt. But that is the magic of the ficathon, right? (When it isn't just a hair-pulling, guilt-ridden, exhausting experience) Lol. Personally, for the space pirates thing, I was thinking of making it a more claim based challenge fic thing. Would that work better for ucp?

[kellifer_fic]

Hmmm... that's a good idea... have a listing of fandoms instead and people pick and choose... *grin*

Now you have me all thinky but not for a while... have to finish off dark_gate first... :)

[havocthecat]

I'm not going to attempt ucp_ficathon again mostly because it was a nightmare to match people. I would only do it if I restricted the fandoms involved and that would feel a little unfair...

Wow, do I so feel your pain. My co-mod and I spent a lot of time going nuts with the sg_rarepairings ficathon, what with trying to match people up with their requests. Then again, I have some ideas for if we want to do that again, because running the ficathon signups was mostly fun (stories aren't due for a month yet, thank God, as I am a bad co-mod and haven't started my fic yet), and I expect that the actual posting of the fics that come of it will give us a nice, rosy glow of accomplishment.