Thinking about fest fics

[valis2]

I'm all caught up with the fest fics, which makes me happy beyond belief. I have only one left open. There seem to be a LOT of really long fics this year, and I really am noticing some similar themes with fest fics this time (er, that I actually noticed this time, I should say). First, a lot seem to have a lot of exposition at the beginning, and sometimes it's done smoothly and sometimes...not so smoothly. Also, there seem to be some fics where a red pen might have come in handy; I wonder if people think they have to get to a certain wordcount. I've seen a few fics that could have used a bit of cutting. And fics hosted elsewhere seem to swallow hyphens and other important characters.

I think it's the nature of the beast, though. When you have another's plot to follow, or prompt, when you actually have a single identifiable reader who is the "recipient," I think it causes a bit more stress. Not only do you have a responsibility to try to make it up to their standards, but you're hobbled by certain requirements of pairing/plot/theme, and it's a rather different experience...at least it is for me. It can be freeing to write like this as well, but honestly, it is more difficult than something which naturally engages you.

Part of the problem is the "set-up" you've been asked to write. You have to get to a certain place first before you can start the brunt of the writing (usually, at least). If they've asked for "post-war, SS/HG, Hermione=Minister of Magic, Severus feeling very inadequate, happy ending"...well, then, you have to first provide the background for the reader. I kind of wish that more fest fic writers would include the prompt, if it is this specific; it would lighten their load, I think. Fest fic readers are pretty adept at knowing the groundwork; after all, that's the thing about fanfic, it's all there beforehand...we don't have to set the stage as intensively as someone writing an original fic. Anyway, getting through the setup can be a daunting task, and it's hard to make the exposition flow well in the beginning, and not have it sound like an expanded laundry list. "Minister of Magic is Hermione...check. Severus has outburst where he says he's inadequate...check. Post-war...check. etc."

Another odd thing I've seen once or twice is the "I tried writing your prompt, but this is what happened instead" note, which always frightens me a little when I see it. I don't know about you, but I saw some very detailed prompts, prompts that some recipients worked on very diligently in order to receive a fic that is in line with their tastes. Theoretically, the exchanges operate on getting everyone to write someone else's laundry list of likes and dislikes, allowing everyone to receive a fic that (in theory) they'll adore. If you take "Snape/Filch, uses for boomslang skin, unrequited love, mirror of Erised, angst" and turn it into "Snape/Filch/Dobby, broom closet, fruitcake, comedy," then even though you've written something for someone else (which is a wonderful act in itself, absolutely), the intent of the fest has been subverted, and there is a greater chance that the recipient will be sad. When you've moved genres from dark, intense angst to light, fluffy comedy, chances are it won't satisfy the recipient as much as the original tone would have.

Now, I'm not saying that the prompts are completely ironclad blueprints. A lot of people wiggle within the prompts and come up with better, amazing fics, and even big changes are sometimes a good thing. I'm just saying that I always feel a little sad when I see that, because I wonder how the recipient felt. Behind the prompt there is probably a fantasy, or a scenario, which the recipient adores. Seeing the longing, aching looks Filch gives Snape when he spies on him morphed into Dobby juggling fruitcakes and then doing a burlesque for Filch and Snape is such a big change, and I can't imagine the recipient being entirely happy with it.

I've seen a couple amazing fics this year so far, and I'm really grateful for all the hard work everyone puts into it. But it is also interesting to see how fics emerge from this challenge with certain things in common, and how some fics overcome those problems anyway.

bronze_ribbons has an absolutely terrific primer on fest etiquette that is packed with common sense and gracious courtesy, unlike the preceding judgmental, snobby babblings I've subjected you to here. ha!

ETA: Hello to newsletter people! *waves* This is mostly just babblings, honestly, and please understand that it was just meant as a quick rant...I love fests, and these were just some observations I've made this year so far.

Comments

[schemingreader.livejournal.com]

Some of those prompts are just so far out, though. In a smutfest the whole point seems to be thinking up kinks, and that can be really boring! Even in some fests that are pairing-based, where you can give plotty prompts, the requests are all about the kinks.

I think that the authors who succeed are the ones who find a way to make the fic their own. Not to say that the writers should abandon the prompts, of course. But sometimes sticking too closely is what causes that weird sense that the story is structured like a joke, in which exposition is the set up and smut is the punchline. But the fest fics we like are structured like short stories, in which a protagonist has to confront and resolve a conflict.

I also think that sometimes people respond to what they think the person making the request usually likes, rather than to what she or he has put in the prompt. I know I did that with my Smutmas story.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I think that the authors who succeed are the ones who find a way to make the fic their own.

Oh, totally. I think a lot of really great fics just transcend the laundry list, and are beautiful, self-contained stories.

And sometimes, of course, the prompts are really vague, which means the writer has a lot more leeway.

But the fest fics we like are structured like short stories, in which a protagonist has to confront and resolve a conflict.

I totally agree. I like fics with a point (and smut, ha) if possible. I'm not as keen on fics that go nowhere, and take their time about it.

And of course, there's a difference between plotting out a story where a conflict is resolved, and plotting out a story where the conflict is resolved and the characters grow and change. I generally lean toward the second option.

I also think that sometimes people respond to what they think the person making the request usually likes, rather than to what she or he has put in the prompt.

That's always awesome when it happens. When you can incorporate even more into the fic because you know it's a kind the recipient likes, or a plot idea that would appeal to them...that's the best kind of fest fic!

[snegurochka_lee]

"I tried writing your prompt, but this is what happened instead"

I agree with you that the author/artist should try their best to do the scenario that was requested, but there's also this: on one of my fest stories this year, I slaved and slaved and read and reread the request a thousand times, and tweaked and edited and put my all into the story and all of that. When it was done, I did one last check of the request, and realised... I'd put in something the recipience specifically asked not to get.

I sat down and cried, I'm not even kidding.

It was too late to start over, and the mistake was too big to just cut out, without wrecking the rest of the story. I decided I had to just accept that I'd made a big mistake and hope that there were enough other things in the story that the recipient asked for that he/she wouldn't mind the error too much.

So, um, point? I guess that everyone makes mistakes, and saving the writer's sanity is maybe more important sometimes... ;) I hope, at least. Maybe my recipient is waiting to kill me after the reveal, who knows... :(

[valis2.livejournal.com]

When it was done, I did one last check of the request, and realised... I'd put in something the recipience specifically asked not to get.

Dude, I did something very similar this year. I didn't notice that the person had asked very specifically for something NOT to be in it, and I had included it, so I had to do some scrambling. I was lucky, though, because I hadn't gone too far (only about half-way), so I caught it (literally) in the nick of time, and was able to morph it. I totally sympathize.

So, um, point? I guess that everyone makes mistakes, and saving the writer's sanity is maybe more important sometimes... ;) I hope, at least.

Oh, I totally understand. But still, I feel sad for the bewildered recipient when a really specific prompt is completely discarded, and a near-opposite scenario is constructed. ;)

I mean, it's all good, really. And then there are the problems with dropouts, where a fic has to be changed to be given to someone else, you know? Honestly, just the fact that someone wrote something for someone else is terrific.

*hugs*

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

LOL! Since I happen to be right here at the moment, what was that thing? *g*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Actually it was for this year's snupin santa piece.

Your prompt last year was quite lovely, it was so nice and vague! In fact, I just reread the fic, and I'm so thankful it turned out all right. I was completely crazy when I was writing it...writing for such a terrific writer made me mental!

This year's prompt was...detailed. I still feel silly about it, because all I had to do was keep reading and I would have never bothered with the side plot I included, but, as usual, I read the prompt approximately 23946872348 times, and I only read the "likes/dislikes" once. My memory is what I call "substitutive," and once I had read the likes/dislikes, I replaced it with the feeling that my normal writing style would suffice. Only when I reread it...a detail popped out that destroyed a subplot!

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

You know, the same sort of thing happened with one of my stories, so I tracked down one of the recipient's best fandom friends and asked her to beta for me...just to make sure the recipient would be happy with the story.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

What a clever idea!

[snegurochka_lee]

Yeah, I ended up frantically emailing a few of her friends to see how great the damage would be. Thankfully, they seemed to be of the mind that my own sanity was worth more than the error, so... we'll see.

*headdesks again about it* :)

[chazpure.livejournal.com]

Oh, *ow*! That just hurts so much when it happens. {{{hugs}}}

I had a near-miss with something like that one of my stories this year. I was outlining and writing and ticking off the story elements and the requested kinks and writing away...la-la-la, this-is-coming-together-nicely...

And then I happened to re-read the squick list and looked back at the story, and realized that the whole concept I'd come up with sort of hinged on at *least* strongly-implying two of the recipient's major squicks, and it would be a far better story if they weren't just implied...

I cussed for half a day and had to start all over again. :-/ Fortunately I was only in my "chunky outline" stage, and I had enough time (taking gracious mods into consideration!) for a do-over. *rg*

I'm sure you wrote a fantabulous story, and I hope the recipient just loves it to pieces, even though it has that one element in it. Maybe it'll be just like the dash of salt you need to bring out the flavor in something sweet. {{{{hugs}}}}

[snegurochka_lee]

Heh. *glances around* It is now entirely possible I shouldn't have shared all that. ;) It'll be fine, I'm sure. Um. *zips lip in order to preserve some semblance of anonymity again* :D

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

Poor you!

And it probably isn't so bad . . . as long as the recipient wasn't me, with a pairing character death. :D

[snegurochka_lee]

Oh god no, I would never put in something like character death and then shrug it off if the recipient didn't want it! My mistake was much more minor, or else I would have changed it. :)

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

I've found it useful when writing a fic (or doing art) to have the full prompt plus kink & squick list in the notes until ready to post, so all I have to do is scroll to the top of the page to make sure I'm on track. Or else have it on a notepad file if it's art.

I think I've only been really dissapointed once so far with a prompt I've given, I seem to be lucky enough with them to either get a good writer/artist claim it, or else no one touches it. The one time I was dissapointed was with an anonymous prompt (I set up a h/c scenario, and the fic was a noncon), but then I should have been more specific about the mood I wanted.

I still really like the prompt, so I'm probably going to repost it elsewhere with some small changes & another pairing.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I've found it useful when writing a fic (or doing art) to have the full prompt plus kink & squick list in the notes until ready to post

Yeah, I C&Ped the prompt, and I really should have put the kink/squick list under it. Wise words!

The one time I was dissapointed was with an anonymous prompt (I set up a h/c scenario, and the fic was a noncon), but then I should have been more specific about the mood I wanted.

I am really starting to develop the opinion that it's a good idea to be a little extra specific in the areas you don't want to be disappointed. To the point I'm thinking of putting actual characterizations like "Dominating!Severus" in. Then again, I'd hate to be too specific, and drive people crazy trying to write it.

Once again, there's a fine line.

I'm always wondering, though, about unused prompts. I'm sure there's an etiquette about them somewhere. I wonder if you can go back after a fest and look through prompts and write fics based on them. I'm sure people wouldn't mind, as long as credit was given.

[corvus-coronis.livejournal.com]

I know that there are several groups I've left unused propmts at (under my usename, not anonymous) - I'm thinking of contacting the mods & asking them if it's ok for me to archive/advertise them elsewhere, with a link back to the appropriate group post if they require it. I mentioned in the snupin_santa signup that I was going to put my unused exchange prompts up for grabs when it was over, but I'll see what the mods have planned for them first.

[bronze-ribbons.livejournal.com]

*blush* I'm glad you found it worthwhile!

As for unused prompts, I've seen them linked in things like birthday comm advisories (e.g., "This is what we know ____ likes..."), so as far as I can tell, it's okay to play with those bunnies once the fest is over -- at least if it's going to be a gift to the same person. (If it's not -- e.g., a gift to a third party -- I'd at least ask them for permission first. And if they were to say no, well, it's not as if I lack for other plots...)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It was a terrific primer! I reread it again, and it just makes so much sense.

And thanks for the bunny advice! I saw so many interesting prompts that I was sad that 4/5 of them would never be used...

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

Arrgh, I tried to leave a comment earlier but it didn't work.

Many thanks for this entry! A lot of this can apply to art as well as fic. I hope my recipient enjoys my (simplified) version of her request. I'd hate to disappoint! The primer link is awesome. Lots of good things to think about.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Bronze ribbons totally rocks. I love the easy, concise way she's put together her primer; it's fantastic.

[angiepen.livejournal.com]

[Here from metafandom. [wave]]

When you have another's plot to follow, or prompt, when you actually have a single identifiable reader who is the "recipient," I think it causes a bit more stress.

Definitely. [nodnod] And moreso in some cases than in others. [laugh/flail] I did a Secret Santa type fest this year for the First Time Ever and happened to get a writer I admire very much. I almost fell out of my chair when I saw whom they'd given me and I was all stressed out because the kind of story she asked for is a type she does wonderfully well and with which I have much less experience [cough] so I was all, "Ack! I can't do this! She's gonna hate it!!!" [facepalm]

It would've been a lot easier if I'd gotten someone I'd never heard of, seriously, because I wouldn't have worried about it so much. In this case, I do know what she likes and what her preferences are and so I'm all worried that my story won't measure up. If I didn't know the recipient, though, then I'd read the prompt and look at some of the stories she's written and go from there -- sort of an "ignorance is bliss" kind of thing. :P

I don't know. I'm sure it'll turn out just fine but I won't find out until the stories are posted and that's still not for a while.

Angie, chewing on a fingernail

[valis2.livejournal.com]

*waves*

Wow, I didn't expect this to be linked, honestly, because it's just me moaning and complaining, as always. ha!

did a Secret Santa type fest this year for the First Time Ever and happened to get a writer I admire very much.

Oh, isn't that terrifying? Last year I wrote a story for bethbethbeth, who is extraordinarily talented, and I was just completely banging my head against the desk through the entire process.

I'm still watching the process, and crossing my fingers about everything. I love that snupin_santa allows you to guess who wrote each piece at the bottom of each entry; it's so interesting! I always wonder if anyone will guess which piece is mine.

*hugs* I hope your fic is well-received!

[kyuuketsukirui.livejournal.com]

Unless it's like a FQF where people give a summary-type description of what they want, I never think of the prompts as something I have to include every one of. I just assume that it's a list of things they enjoy, just as the squicks is a list of things they dislike. So I try to include a few things from the likes list, but I certainly wouldn't do all of them.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

For snupin_santa, there was a list of likes and dislikes, AND there were also extremely specific prompts where whole scenarios were written up. I saw several very long prompts...even mine were pretty detailed. So kind of like what you're saying about the FQF. That's where this rant came from. heh! I really didn't expect it to get linked. ;)

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

Fest prompts vary enough that my experience in trying to write them has been... interesting. I think I've always managed to keep within the guidelines that the prompts give, and avoid named squicks, but sometimes it's been very difficult.

What I find most challenging, to the point of tearing my hair out, is being given really detailed plot-related prompts rather than some general ideas. It's hard to make something that detailed my own, because my imagination may not work along the same lines as the recipient; I start to get annoyed and wonder why this person didn't just write the exact fic she wanted herself, and that's not a very helpful attitude to have.

OTOH, having no prompt or scenario other than a few requested kinks to potentially include or squicks to avoid can mean hoping frantically for the muse to come through with an idea. *pokes bunnies*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Fest prompts vary enough that my experience in trying to write them has been... interesting. I think I've always managed to keep within the guidelines that the prompts give, and avoid named squicks, but sometimes it's been very difficult.

I've only tried my hand at two, but both times it was definitely a stretching experience...I can't agree with you more!

And I totally get what you're saying about the extremes. My prompt this year leaned toward one of the extremes, and wow, was it ever a tough thing to set up!

Thanks for commenting!

[celandineb.livejournal.com]

My prompt this year leaned toward one of the extremes, and wow, was it ever a tough thing to set up!

I had one at each of those extremes this holiday, writing for four exchanges. Yeep. And, well, in the interests of anonymity, suffice it to say that a great deal of effort went to waste in at least one case of the four. *sighs* Otoh one was very rewarding indeed, so I guess it averages out as being worth it.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It is difficult, especially because you have a specific person in mind...I cringe at the thought of disappointing someone!

[imkalena.livejournal.com]

"I tried writing your prompt, but this is what happened instead"

*head in hands* I did this. I tried, it morphed. Fortunately, my recipient was pretty much like me -- vanilla sex and a big side order of plot and she was very happy, for which I'm truly grateful.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Oh, thank goodness! I always get worried about things like that. ;) I'm happy it worked out!