self-interview: fanfic habits
Aug. 25th, 2003 12:15 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
timepiececlockDo you read fanfic specifically for character pairings?
Most of the time, though I will read a fic without any pairings if it comes highly reccomended or I find it myself and like it.
What great lengths do you go to to search down fanfic for a specific pairing?
I search summaries using the search engines (though the ff.net one doesn't always work.) Then, when I find ones that I like, I follow each signed review to the author profile, and check that reviewer's written stories and Favorites for stories of the same pairing. Then I check the original author's favorites for stories of that pairing. For each new story I find of that pairing, I check the author's lists and follow the favorites of each signed reviewer. I add to that recs I come across, and sometimes email people asking them what their favorite stories are. It's a tedious process, but leads to fruitful results, and tends to give you the better fics since people only reccomend what they likes. I've done it for Spike/Faye fic for Cowboy Bebop and I'm doing it now for Harry/Luna fic for Harry Potter. I would do it for Spuffy, but there's no need; I have so many other sources of good fic and there's way too much out there to check everyone's favorites list.
Do you enjoy fanfic that pairs a canon character with an original fanfic character?
Rarely, but there have been times. Usually I only like them if the canon character has no real love interest in canon that the OC would conflict with. For example, I used to read a lot of Legolas/OC fics. That's not always true, though--I would never and have no desire to read a Frodo/OC fic, or for that matter any romance with one of the fab four of LotR. In fact, in my head the hobbits are pretty much sexless (I ignore the whole population growth issue), because I can't handle imagining furry-footed sex.
Do you enjoy crossover fanfics that have pairings that cross characters from different shows/genres for romance?
I generally hate those. I can't remember the last crossover shipper fic I enjoyed that wasn't a parody. The X Files ones with Scully/other and the Gundam Wing ones with Heero/other really used to piss me off. Willow/Snape fics? Bring me a bucket so I can vomit at the thought.
Do you write fanfic with specific pairings?
Yes. Most of my stories are ship-specific, though not all of them. I do sometimes like angst for other reasons too, and occasionally humor.
Are you a reliable writer who updates/publishes regularly according to promises to self and pals?
No. I'm really not. It's shameful. I just lose interest in stories too quickly.
Can you handle letting a beta read your fics before posting?
I really can't take it. Even if they're nice and gentle about it, the whole thing makes me freak out like a devil in a church in the middle of a crowded room.
Have you ever written fanfic for a movie?
No, but I've read it.
Most of the time, though I will read a fic without any pairings if it comes highly reccomended or I find it myself and like it.
What great lengths do you go to to search down fanfic for a specific pairing?
I search summaries using the search engines (though the ff.net one doesn't always work.) Then, when I find ones that I like, I follow each signed review to the author profile, and check that reviewer's written stories and Favorites for stories of the same pairing. Then I check the original author's favorites for stories of that pairing. For each new story I find of that pairing, I check the author's lists and follow the favorites of each signed reviewer. I add to that recs I come across, and sometimes email people asking them what their favorite stories are. It's a tedious process, but leads to fruitful results, and tends to give you the better fics since people only reccomend what they likes. I've done it for Spike/Faye fic for Cowboy Bebop and I'm doing it now for Harry/Luna fic for Harry Potter. I would do it for Spuffy, but there's no need; I have so many other sources of good fic and there's way too much out there to check everyone's favorites list.
Do you enjoy fanfic that pairs a canon character with an original fanfic character?
Rarely, but there have been times. Usually I only like them if the canon character has no real love interest in canon that the OC would conflict with. For example, I used to read a lot of Legolas/OC fics. That's not always true, though--I would never and have no desire to read a Frodo/OC fic, or for that matter any romance with one of the fab four of LotR. In fact, in my head the hobbits are pretty much sexless (I ignore the whole population growth issue), because I can't handle imagining furry-footed sex.
Do you enjoy crossover fanfics that have pairings that cross characters from different shows/genres for romance?
I generally hate those. I can't remember the last crossover shipper fic I enjoyed that wasn't a parody. The X Files ones with Scully/other and the Gundam Wing ones with Heero/other really used to piss me off. Willow/Snape fics? Bring me a bucket so I can vomit at the thought.
Do you write fanfic with specific pairings?
Yes. Most of my stories are ship-specific, though not all of them. I do sometimes like angst for other reasons too, and occasionally humor.
Are you a reliable writer who updates/publishes regularly according to promises to self and pals?
No. I'm really not. It's shameful. I just lose interest in stories too quickly.
Can you handle letting a beta read your fics before posting?
I really can't take it. Even if they're nice and gentle about it, the whole thing makes me freak out like a devil in a church in the middle of a crowded room.
Have you ever written fanfic for a movie?
No, but I've read it.
