An apology

I have been thinking, and I realized that the hg/ss story I mentioned in the hg/ss ramblings a few days ago might have been a little too identifiable, for reasons I won't get into.

First of all, let me mention that it wasn't supposed to be. I try not to mention fics publically unless I am squeeing about them. The whole point of using the fic was to use it as a base to explore hg/ss fics and their plots and foibles in general. I thought that it could stand in for many different fics of its type.

This was NOT meant to be a sporking of any kind.

Second, the fic really wasn't bad. I know that I didn't mention any positive things in the entry itself, which was a mistake, but I did mention positive aspects in the comments.

For example: I thought that the story itself was written well, and I enjoyed reading it. So much so that I actually read nearly every word of the first nineteen chapters. Normally, with fics I am using for a specific purpose, I just skim. I was actually rather intrigued by the plot, and I planned to add it to the h/c list.

Snape had several absolutely awesome lines, lines that really resonated.

Third, the author definitely, indubitably has talent. I would read more fics if she wrote them, just to see what happens when she moves beyond the few flaws apparent in this fic. We all improve as writers, after all, and we all have to start somewhere.

Fourth, judging by the comments, none of the commenters seemed to guess which fic it was. I asked a few people privately, and they all admitted that it could be any one of a dozen fics.

Let me sum this up by saying to the author: I'm sorry to have caused you any distress.

Funny how fandom develops.

I'm reading a very interesting fic right now called Morning Has Broken, and in it there is this line:

He’d begun to purchase Re’em blood, which was an expensive and rare commodity. It was used in potent Strengthening Solutions...

In tLS I have this line...

He looked closer at the bottle...“Strengthening Solution,” he said, intrigued.

“Yes,” she said curtly.

“But it’s quite concentrated...Re’em blood, perhaps...”

“It is an entirely legal blend...”

I love this synergy, when two people find a canon detail and use it in a similar way independently of each other. There's a term for this in evolution that I suddenly can't seem to remember.

marginaliana has just reminded me of that terrific essay I read last week...Thank you!

It was extremely absorbing...it talked about the specific, and the general, as applied to fandom. Certain personal details/items/inventions are so tricky and personal that no one would be able to replicate them independently, while other facts can be extrapolated from canon and show up more often in fanon. The essay says it better than I ever could.