fullygoldy (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
fullygoldy) wrote2008-04-01 12:31 pm
fullygoldy) wrote2008-04-01 12:31 pm
To Rec or Not to Rec; Rules
(2nd try, thanks to an autosave feature that saves BLANK posts!
The other day, I was reading a story called Resilience by Tira Nog. I’d decided to read it because it was recc’d on a list that included a lot of stories I had already enjoyed, and this was practically the only thing new-to-me on the list. I figured that even if I didn’t know the reccer, our tastes seemed fairly similar.
The other day, I was reading a story called Resilience by Tira Nog. I’d decided to read it because it was recc’d on a list that included a lot of stories I had already enjoyed, and this was practically the only thing new-to-me on the list. I figured that even if I didn’t know the reccer, our tastes seemed fairly similar.
However, as I was reading this l o n g piece, I kept hearing this phrase over and over in the back of my head: “She'd so clearly gotten the spectacularly wrong idea that Rodney was a shy, sensitive guy underneath it all, and if she could only get through to his soft chewy center they'd live happily ever after.” Which is from the opening of astolat ’s delightful story, Loves Me Not.
astolat ’s delightful story, Loves Me Not.I just couldn’t help the comparison. Because the Rodney of Resilience is nothing but a soft, chewy center, and he’s accompanied by a John who is painfully self-aware. I made it through 5 chapters before I finally gave up.
Checking the bottom at last, I see that the story had a total of 10 chapters. And this is where I really, really appreciate the authors who post a clue to length along with their stories. I don’t really care whether or not they choose word count or file size, I just like to have an idea going in. Because if I’m mildly annoyed with a story, I might yet be bored enough with RL to continue reading if I think the story is going to end soon. I could tell this thing was long-ish, but it wasn’t until I had given it what I felt was more than a fair chance, that I finally bailed.
So this experience serves as a reminder to me of my own rules:
1) Stick with authors you know,
2) If you’re branching out, stick with recs from people you trust,
3) (did not come into play with this story) Avoid WIPs like the plague – even from authors you love (I’m still stuck in WIP hell withicarusancalion ’s Out of Bounds, and synecdochic ’s Take These Broken Wings (not to mention the AU fic&community this AU has spawned), and janissa11 ’s long-abandoned SN and CSI WIPs), and finally
4) Hit the back button as soon as you’ve established the characterization does not agree or mesh in any way with the characters in your head.
My slash life would be so much easier if I weren’t a softy that frequently forgets these rules.
Here is where a more detailed review of the named WIP authors would be if the autosave feature actually did anything useful. Suffice it to say,cesperanza with her one fandom/one story at a time rule has totally spoiled me for having any true patience with WIPs. Thankfully synecdochic is frighteningly prolific and usually posts completed short stories within open universes, so it doesn't usually feel like WIP hell.
1) Stick with authors you know,
2) If you’re branching out, stick with recs from people you trust,
3) (did not come into play with this story) Avoid WIPs like the plague – even from authors you love (I’m still stuck in WIP hell with
icarusancalion ’s Out of Bounds, and synecdochic ’s Take These Broken Wings (not to mention the AU fic&community this AU has spawned), and janissa11 ’s long-abandoned SN and CSI WIPs), and finally 4) Hit the back button as soon as you’ve established the characterization does not agree or mesh in any way with the characters in your head.
My slash life would be so much easier if I weren’t a softy that frequently forgets these rules.
Here is where a more detailed review of the named WIP authors would be if the autosave feature actually did anything useful. Suffice it to say,
cesperanza with her one fandom/one story at a time rule has totally spoiled me for having any true patience with WIPs. Thankfully synecdochic is frighteningly prolific and usually posts completed short stories within open universes, so it doesn't usually feel like WIP hell.