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Jun. 14th, 2004 02:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
valis2Right now I am thinking. About fanfiction, my constant obsession.
History...started writing fanfiction when the Mummy came out. Wrote lots. But at that time I had no real idea that there were vast seas of it on the internet. I typed it out on my manual typewriter of joy. Life caught up to me, and I was too busy to do much of anything else. I started reading fanfiction about a year ago, and I overdosed on Mummy fanfiction, especially about Ardeth Bay. Then last November I finally got my own computer. Super happy, yes, very. And I then I read even more Mummy fanfic. I uploaded a few of my old pieces. After that I was bitten by the Severus Snape bug, and I haven't looked back.
Yes, I am obsessed. I really didn't think much of the HP books when I first read them, but now that I've reread them twice over, and read hundreds of HP fanfics, I am completely obsessed. Really.
So. On one hand, I am thinking that fanfic is an incredible wish-fulfillment fantasy, that it frees one to pursue their own goals in other artist-created settings, that it is a healthy writing exercise. On the other hand...I am destroying my life! Argh! I have so much to do, and I'm writing another chapter instead! Or reading more!!
*sigh*
Today, however, I realized why I do it. Writing is so solitary, so isolating, and usually you end up with only one person to read your thoughts. And they nearly always say..."It's nice." When you press them, they say..."I'd like to read more." Here in fanfic-land we have reviews from a multitude of people, anonymous, who a) actually have an interest in the sort of fic you're writing, and b) have no need to "be nice". My fic is on ff.net (fanfiction.net) and fa.org (fictionalley.org) and, while I have not been getting a huge quantity of reviews, they have not been the "its gr8 wrt mor plz!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!" kind. I realize that my fic is an immediate "Back button" kind of fic (many people will not even try to read it because of the plot) so I can't be too unhappy that it doesn't get as many hits or reviews as "Snape realizes that he does love Harry" fics.
But to my point. I received a review today, one that I least expected. Here it is:
I just wanted to say that this is without a doubt the greatest story I have ever read on this site, and one of the greatest stories that I have EVER read ANYWHERE! Seriously..I don't know what it is you do for a living, but if everything you write is as good as this you should think about making a profession out of it. You've got Snape down pat! I love it and I can't wait to read more.
It has made my day. Honestly. Though you are supposed to say "I write only for myself" and pose dramatically, it really does feel wonderful when someone else reads something you've written and GETS it. Though the above review is hyperbolic, it still feels nice. Anyway, those are my two cents.
You can find my fics here, if you're interested.
Ah, more fanfic babble later. Must go grocery shopping now. Must get ciabatta bread.
History...started writing fanfiction when the Mummy came out. Wrote lots. But at that time I had no real idea that there were vast seas of it on the internet. I typed it out on my manual typewriter of joy. Life caught up to me, and I was too busy to do much of anything else. I started reading fanfiction about a year ago, and I overdosed on Mummy fanfiction, especially about Ardeth Bay. Then last November I finally got my own computer. Super happy, yes, very. And I then I read even more Mummy fanfic. I uploaded a few of my old pieces. After that I was bitten by the Severus Snape bug, and I haven't looked back.
Yes, I am obsessed. I really didn't think much of the HP books when I first read them, but now that I've reread them twice over, and read hundreds of HP fanfics, I am completely obsessed. Really.
So. On one hand, I am thinking that fanfic is an incredible wish-fulfillment fantasy, that it frees one to pursue their own goals in other artist-created settings, that it is a healthy writing exercise. On the other hand...I am destroying my life! Argh! I have so much to do, and I'm writing another chapter instead! Or reading more!!
*sigh*
Today, however, I realized why I do it. Writing is so solitary, so isolating, and usually you end up with only one person to read your thoughts. And they nearly always say..."It's nice." When you press them, they say..."I'd like to read more." Here in fanfic-land we have reviews from a multitude of people, anonymous, who a) actually have an interest in the sort of fic you're writing, and b) have no need to "be nice". My fic is on ff.net (fanfiction.net) and fa.org (fictionalley.org) and, while I have not been getting a huge quantity of reviews, they have not been the "its gr8 wrt mor plz!!!!!!!!!1!!!!!!!" kind. I realize that my fic is an immediate "Back button" kind of fic (many people will not even try to read it because of the plot) so I can't be too unhappy that it doesn't get as many hits or reviews as "Snape realizes that he does love Harry" fics.
But to my point. I received a review today, one that I least expected. Here it is:
I just wanted to say that this is without a doubt the greatest story I have ever read on this site, and one of the greatest stories that I have EVER read ANYWHERE! Seriously..I don't know what it is you do for a living, but if everything you write is as good as this you should think about making a profession out of it. You've got Snape down pat! I love it and I can't wait to read more.
It has made my day. Honestly. Though you are supposed to say "I write only for myself" and pose dramatically, it really does feel wonderful when someone else reads something you've written and GETS it. Though the above review is hyperbolic, it still feels nice. Anyway, those are my two cents.
You can find my fics here, if you're interested.
Ah, more fanfic babble later. Must go grocery shopping now. Must get ciabatta bread.