How TV fandom, and fanfic, ruined my perfectly good hobby of reading

[indyhat]

(Yes, I wrote an essay. Weird, I know. Moving on.)

So I have some vacation time. And there are bookstores. And I spend maybe three or four hours of said vacation time just browsing the shelves, picking up books that I've heard of, or whose authors I've heard of, and checking them out: is this the kind of book I'm in the mood for?

Comments

[entangled_now]

I used to really hate first person pov. I wouldn't read it at all. But more and more of the genres I like were doing it. I had no choice really but to force myself to get used to it, and I did, but it took me a long while.

But I know exactly what you mean about getting a feel for the story by flipping through the book. Sometimes no matter how good the story sounds, how good it is, it's written in such a way that it's not enjoyable, at all.

[indyhat]

Do you have any first-person stories you would unreservedly rec? (NB please do include any of yours in the list of prospective reccees!)

Sometimes no matter how good the story sounds, how good it is, it's written in such a way that it's not enjoyable, at all.

What do you read? Or mostly fanfic? :)

[entangled_now]

I was talking almost exclusively about books there. Though The Dresden Files and the Nightside series are some of my favourite book series and they're both in first person pov.

I don't think I have any first person stories saved, or bookmarked or anything. And I'm certain I've never written any. Hmm, I'm not sure I can even bring any to mind right now. Usually it's used as a plot device to hide the identity/gender of the pov character. Which works for me in fic sometimes but usually ends up being short and dramatic rather than long and something I'd want to read over and over.

I don't know, I like other people's pov in books. If you limit yourself to first person no one else can ever have a chapter or a scene to explain their motives.

[indyhat]

Usually it's used as a plot device to hide the identity/gender of the pov character.

See, this to me is a really sensible use of the first person. But I've almost never come across that.

I really like the omniscient PoV for writing, so you can incorporate stuff about other people, but it feels to me that when I write like that, it's a bit flakey, all over the shop. You know? Reading and writing tastes do not match! Aaagh!

[greatbigshowoff]

I am frequently disappointed by the books people rave about. There are exceptions, but I will frequently read the latest book which is having rave reviews and think "That was mostly like X but X is better." I can't think of any examples at the moment because it's late and I am up to the point of sleepwalking tired, but I will try.

[indyhat]

Huh. Did any examples come to mind since you wrote this comment? And yes, it's familiar (though more about TV shows) to be told "X is really excellent" and then watch it and be largely unmoved/unimpressed. Even from people who are really smart and whose tastes I generally agree with.

(Sorry you're so tired, btw. Looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.

NB: re the book written by my friend W, I think you can probably crack that code ;)

[greatbigshowoff]

The Historian springs to mind, along with Labyrinth by Kate Mosse. Also Artemis Fowl books.

Less tired now. It's amazing what a bit of sleep can do.

[indyhat]

Haven't read any of those, but shall add them to my "not to bother with" list ;)

[gingerberrysnap]

I don't care about plot: stories are usually pretty compelling on their own merit, once you're into them. I care about the use of language on the page, how you're going to tell the story.

Well, what's the literary saying? Their are really only a few stories and they're just being told over and over and over again. So yeah, plot really isn't a big deal for me. It's more what they do with the plot. More important is character. If I don't care about the characters, then I'll never watch, no matter how interesting the plot is. That's part of the reason why I stay away from shows that are heavy into character death or rotating casts. If my favorite character is gone, it can ruin a show for me.

This is probably personal taste, but I find this kind of writing really, really hard to stomach.

I'm not a fan of the first person. And I will toss down/back button so fast on the second person.

Even if your story and characters are entirely of your own invention, I don't think having realistic dialog or narrative voice should be too

[indyhat]

If I don't care about the characters, then I'll never watch, no matter how interesting the plot is.

Word to this. I sat, at the movies, through The Opposite Of Sex, and I swear I nearly walked out half a dozen times, but the person I was with wanted to stay, so we did. But it kind of sealed for me my apparent need to care at least a little bit (but preferably a whole lot) about at least some of the characters. If I just want them to die, it's no fun.

That's part of the reason why I stay away from shows that are heavy into character death or rotating casts. If my favorite character is gone, it can ruin a show for me.

Which shows are these, just out of interest? I don't mind character death if it's done well (struggling to think of examples though) - I find it a bit annoying if there's no suspense though, like if you know character X will survive regardless. I call it "script immunity" but I'm sure there's a better term for it.

When I'm writing, I'm most concerned about my dialogue. If you don't have realistic character voice and

[btp248]

Okay so I just stumbled onto this essay but I have the EXACT same problem. Reading fanfiction has turned me off of most fiction novels. It's mind boggling but also interesting to know I'm not the only one who feels that way.

[indyhat]

Hi! And oh good, I'm glad it's not just me. Is there anything specific about published fiction that you're finding problematic, or just that, in general, it no longer interests you?

Thanks for stopping by :)