What Makes a Good Story?

[doc_3]

I read and read and read  - thousands of fics a year I'd say - and I find myself wishing every time that somewhere, someone, would compile a complete anthology of 'the good ones.'   Then I ask myself that who decides which ones are 'the good ones'; after all, everyone has different tastes.  So I wonder what makes a good story?  To me, it's in canon and in character for an ongoing tv show, and in character for a movie, because the very nature of a story based on a movie can't be in canon if it occurs after the events of said movie.  How does everyone else judge?

Comments

Cam

[doc-3.livejournal.com]

Cam is a brilliant example - one I didn't think of to start with. I love to find out more about these characters through the fics, so I like it when authors expand on what we know of them, but I have to *recognize* them - you were right on the mark with that.

Re: Cam

[only-more-love.livejournal.com]

A good piece of fanfic fills in the blanks that naturally exist in a show or movie. It expands on the source material/character in a believable way. It makes me think, "Yeah, that IS how it was." Even if I'd never considered it COULD be like that until I read the story.

I've always felt that shows and movies paint in broad strokes, while the written word can go in and paint the fine details and gradations. What I love most about writing and reading fanfic is the chance to delve more deeply into the characters I love.

Re: Cam

[tempertemper.livejournal.com]

Yeah! That thing about filling in the blanks and making you think 'that IS how it was' really rings true.

Oh and I agree with all the other salient points above.. aren't I lazy this evening. Now if I could just write some damn fic I'd be OK :(

[doc-3.livejournal.com]

Lazy? You can't help it if great minds all think alike right? After thinking about it, I think that is EXACTLY what makes a good fic - thinking 'this is the true story' behind these characters.