Fanfiction frustration

[kelliem]

Doesn't anybody post completed longer stories any more? It seems like when I scroll through the day's posts about stories in my various fandoms, there's almost nothing there but drabbles, ficlets, and WIPs. With rare exceptions (Ardhanarishvara, anyone?) I don't read WIPs and it's really frustrating to see so many stories listed as "Part 3 of ????" Not to mention that I'm a very fast reader and a drabble or ficlet is like getting a single spoonful of ice cream instead of a bowl. ::sigh::

Comments

I'm with you.

[shiningmoon.livejournal.com]

I never read incomplete stuff.

And I never post anything that isn't complete. =)

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

Word.

This is precisely what drives me to be so multifandom. I'm always in search of non-WIP long fiction, and I go to new fandoms wqhen I can't find it in current ones.

I was so happy a few years ago when I realized that due South is one of the few fandoms where there are lots of looong stories. And they are even still being posted sometimes, so yay.

Re: I'm with you.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

For which your readers are eternally grateful.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Even being multifannish doesn't help much. I've got several fandoms I read in and it's still hard to find anything. And it's hard to be fannish over stuff where the source material doesn't interest me, though I will admit to sometimes reading SG1 or Sentinel or Pros out of desperation. :)

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

Oh, man, yeah. I don't read WIPs either, so it's really frustrating. Although I think my definition of the perfect fic length has changed in recent years. It used to be 100,000+ words, but now that I have a lot less time, I'm happier with 10,000 to 50,000 or so. Otherwise I lose too much sleep.

Er, not that I would ever complain about a 100,000+ work by you, or by you and AuK, 'cause some things are worth staying up for.

It does seem like there are fewer long stories out there, in all fandoms. Not sure why.

[raveninthewind.livejournal.com]

I tend to re-read all the long ones in every fandom that I like, in cycles. But it's such a thrill to get something new, as you know.

My latest thing is to buy eBooks from Torquere Press. I can get my m/m fix in novel length...not fannish, though.

And I did order that SGA zine that just came out.

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

I don't mind WiPs as long as they aren't abandoned completely, but I have noticed that there are less and less longer stories being posted. Plot What Plot, Too Long;Didn't Read culture of LJ or just the instant feedback gratification. May be a Bitter Old Fandom Bitch, but it's definitely changing and I don't like it. Humph!

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I have a thing in the works, but it is gen and CM. *g*

I am of no use to you.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Heh. Yeah, having kids really plays havoc with your reading time, doesn't it? And heck, I'd be happy to post a 1000 word anything now. *sigh* I hate being blocked.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've noticed the trend toward short fiction for quite a while now and I don't like it either. And for me, the problem with WIPs is that you never know if they will be abandoned or not, and it seems like abandoned is the default rather than the exception. :-P

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

I would read gen CM from you. I would read anything by you. Okay, well, except maybe BDSM or noncon 'cause those are squicks of mine but... :-)

[matociquala.livejournal.com]

I'll let you know when I have it, then!

[sensine.livejournal.com]

Heh. Out of frustration I read a Snape/Harry story, and that says a lot, seeing that I haven't even managed to complete one of the books. But whoa! I was stuck and still find long stories that satisfy my wishes. :)

That said - maybe one of the reasons why people don't post long stories anymore (and my guess is that there're stories on harddrives all around :)is that it's a bit depressing to see how few comments these long stories get (maybe they get emails, that I don't know...)after the writer has toiled away for ages on it...while short stories get lots of positive comments.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Excellent!

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

No, I think you're right. I know I've gotten tons more comments on the short, flashfic type things I have written than I have on my 'real' stories. I think it's, as madripoor_rose said above, the "TLDR" mentality (Too long, didn't read). Most people just don't seem to have the attention span for longer fic any more.

[rike-tikki-tavi.livejournal.com]

Word!

That's one of the things I always liked about your stories. Long and meaty pieces that one could sink their teeth in.

Which reminds me, I need to go back and re-read some of them and then actually sit my ass down and write some feedback.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

I guess if I want to read the type of fiction I like, I have to write it myself. Unfortunately that kind of takes all the suspense out of it. :)

WTFTLDR?

[rattlecatcher.livejournal.com]

Wait - there are people who - ?

I mean!

Okay that just makes my skin crawl.

Or is that sentence too long? Sorry, I meant to say "Skin crawl."

I admit to posting some snips in my journal because Compliment Kitty wants pets, which is another way of saying that I'm not an ego whore but an ego john, because I'll pay you to love me.

But I'm not doing it as part 38 of 1943 or anything, it's just a part that I'm happy with and want strokes. But jaheezus! There are people that wilt at the sight of something that's too long?

ick.

Re: WTFTLDR?

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

There are people that wilt at the sight of something that's too long?

Yes indeedy. I don't understand it either.

Re: WTFTLDR?

[rattlecatcher.livejournal.com]

Do they want smaller dicks, too?

Re: WTFTLDR?

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

BWAH!

Dammit. Now I have tea on my monitor. ;D

[shiningmoon.livejournal.com]

I guess if I want to read the type of fiction I like, I have to write it myself.

I hear that, sistah. :P

[sensine.livejournal.com]

Most people just don't seem to have the attention span for longer fic any more. *shudder* I do hope you're wrong, but alas - I suspect you're right. It's connected with the fact that lots of people don't read novels anymore either. (and I'm not counting us that are spoiled for ordinary fiction because of, uh, slash :)
I've gotten tons more comments on the short, flashfic type things Ah! So you, a really good and experienced writer, has seen this too. That is a pity! (But you don't let it stop you, eh?)
I wondered if it was only me, a newish amateur with few stories. But I've seen this talked about elsewhere too.
In addition I agree with those who say that the trend is to publish long stories in parts while they are written, instead of waiting and offer the finished story.
I don't mind the installment-version as long as it is a writer I trust to update regularly and to actually finish the story!

So, how to encourage new, looong fic? :)

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

A part of me blames the Het Ship/Slash Ship trend....why bother writing a long plotty story when all 90% of the responding readers care for is which two characters are going to have sex in it? I'm guilty of that in my own X Men fic. We need more gen fic, or at least plots that don't have to do with the characters' personal relationships going on AROUND the shippy stuff.

I'll read a WiP if it's still being updated fairly regularly. If the writer gives up on it, well, I'm disappointed, but enjoyed the ride as far as it went. Obviously abandoned WiPs that haven't been updated in five years? Those I don't start to read.

[caseylane.livejournal.com]

Thank you, because this is one of my biggest peeves.

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

Ugh. I'm really sorry to hear you're blocked. Do you have stuff you want to write, and it won't come out? Or just nothing you want to write?

Not trying to poke a sore spot, here. You're just one of my favorite writers ever, and the thought of you with writer's block is bumming me out.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Just nothing inspiring me lately. Actually, I have a glimmer of inspiration after watching the entire DVD set of Space: Above & Beyond last weekend, so I'm going to go with that and see what happens. (Which makes me think-- I'd love to see what your drawing skills could do with
James Morrison)

I've been blocked once before-- it lasted about a year and was hellish. I did manage to co-write a bit in September with aukestrel but other than that, I haven't done much at all this past year.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

I don't know, most of my long stories are all about the journey to the smut. :-) I blame more the "no-romo" and "ultra-realist" trend myself. Smut for smut's sake rather than slow relationship development.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean about being spoiled by slash. I keep looking for that at the bookstore and not finding it. I guess I need to check out that Torquere Press that raveninthewind mentioned.

And no, it isn't just you. I wish I knew how to encourage people to either wait and post when finished, or simply to write longer to begin with, but so far haven't figured anything out. We just live in an age of instant gratification.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Nice to know I'm not alone. I wonder if it's age-related at all? I'm tempted to do a poll about the ages of the people who prefer the longer fic.

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

Ah, I know nothing of SAAB, but I have heard its praises sung on my flist. And that's a very interesting face. Of course, my art time these days is being taken up by trying to learn watercolors, so I haven't been doing portraits....

Hope something inspires you soon!

(Wait, you mean Wide Open Space? That's like my favorite crossover of all time. You guys nailed the characters so well and made it so real you totally convinced me it's canon, and I will never be able to think of PoS or GMiBJ the same way again.)

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

If I had the ability to copy DVDs I'd burn a set of SAAB for you, but I don't. Grrr. I'm impressed you're doing watercolors, they're hard. James does have an interesting face, and fantastic eyes. And wow that looks disjointed! ;D

(Yeah, I meant WOS. It turned out well but it took a lot of whip-mistressing by aukestrel.)

[crysothemis.livejournal.com]

That's okay, I'd just feel guilty if I didn't watch them. ::g::

Watercolors are totally kicking my butt, but I'm taking a class, so I have to keep going. Actually, they're a lot of fun, and I'm learning quite a bit, so someday I may be able to actually use what I've learned. Right now I'm mostly still working on technique.

I like James's eyes a lot. They were the first thing I noticed in that pic.

(I've never been able to co-write, so I don't understand the process at all, but whatever works, works, right?)

[juliabk.livejournal.com]

Count me in as one wishing for long fics. I've written some drabble stuff, too (well, my other personality has ;-), but that's not even the same rush as writing the long stuff. It's very depressing.

[springwoof.livejournal.com]

I love to read long fics as well. Unfortunately, I tend to write them too, and it takes me a while....
You may want to keep your eye on SGA Big Bang (http://community.livejournal.com/sgabigbang/profile), where the minimum wordage to get posted will be 10,000 words and the goal is to go over 40,000 words!
Fun for all!

[aukestrel.livejournal.com]

WORD. WORDIE McWORD WORD!

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip, I'll check that out!

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Totally sucketh, don't it?

WHY DON'T PEOPLE WRITE WHAT I WANT TO READ? /entitlement... ;-D