Random Fic Thought/Question
Oct. 7th, 2008 05:41 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
doc_3So I was reading some fics the other day, and this thought occurred to me:
There are certain things that can totally turn me off about a story, even if it's something I have really liked right up until that point. For me, if at any point the characters feel the need to clarify their relationship, perhaps by saying, "So are we dating now?" or "Does this make you my girlfriend?", then I am out.
I just totally lose interest in a story at that point. This holds true for any fandom I read fics in.
Do other people have this trigger, (without being specific about stories or authors - this isn't to bash anyone's writing), or am I the only one?
There are certain things that can totally turn me off about a story, even if it's something I have really liked right up until that point. For me, if at any point the characters feel the need to clarify their relationship, perhaps by saying, "So are we dating now?" or "Does this make you my girlfriend?", then I am out.
I just totally lose interest in a story at that point. This holds true for any fandom I read fics in.
Do other people have this trigger, (without being specific about stories or authors - this isn't to bash anyone's writing), or am I the only one?
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Date: 2008-10-07 11:45 pm (UTC)The short list:
- OOC behaviour. Nothing will make me run faster that having characters I know and love act like someone else. Why would I want to read that?
- Bad spelling/grammar. Come on guys, if you can't manage on your own, then ask for help from a beta. I'd like to read something that resembles the English language.
- Brennan getting pregnant. No, no, NO! Very closely followed by Brennan getting raped unless VERY carefully handled. 'Nuff said...
- Brennan & Booth bedding scenes where suddenly both of them start to swear like sailors. Huh? I guess to be fair that actually comes under point #1, OOC behaviour.
- Anything that takes canon and chucks it clear out of the window. Any fic that has Brennan and Booth meeting in grade four or in high school etc. etc. There's taking canon and putting a twist on it and then there's throwing it out the window and I can't stand that. Now, that being said, I've seen some very AU pieces that were good (Jaded Elysium by Seralis comes to mind) but to me that was a good piece about two totally different people, that wasn't Brennan and Booth).
Hmmmmm....am I picky or what? Guess I am!
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Date: 2008-10-08 12:50 am (UTC)I think my peeve is a derivative of your #1 - OOC-ness. None of the characters in any of the fandoms I read would legitimately say, "So are we dating now?" so that's likely why it gives me hives :)
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Date: 2008-10-08 06:04 am (UTC)In the Bones fandom, these people are 35 and 30/1/2 .. never can get a handle on Brennan's age.. seems to change from ep to ep! I think they are a little too mature and, for me, too deeply connected, to wonder about such semantics. The way I see it, right now (in canon) they are not together, and one day (I hope) they will be, and it will be real and serious, and not need labelling in this way.
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Date: 2008-10-08 03:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-08 05:50 am (UTC)LOL! What I was going to say :D I just don't get it. I can understand the odd 'eff' in the moment - from Booth maybe but I read something the other day where it was all going along very nicely and then suddenly Brennan goes, 'Oh God, Eff me Jeaaaaasus, Booth' or something similar and I was like... click away!
ETA: I've seen a trend for general OOCness to pop up when a fic gets to this point actually. I know it is difficult to write this kind of stuff and keep characters IC... I have struggled with it myself, but I find it odd, in a beautifully characterised fic, if they go to bed and suddenly Brennan becomes some wilting, virginal damsel, blown away by Booth's Casanova-worthy ministrations and bleating on about how she's never had it like this before... ;)
no subject
Date: 2008-10-08 10:28 am (UTC)You have such a way with words....'bleating'?? Bwahahahahahaha!
But yes, I'm with you here too. Yes, sex scenes can be hard to write, especially if there is a significant emotional impact behind it (God help me, that's exactly the scene I need to write this week-end...!) but keeping them in character is crucial. Brennan is a sexually experienced woman, Booth has also had his share of partners, he's just more subtle about it; they could likely show each other a new trick or two!
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Date: 2008-10-08 03:29 pm (UTC)That was a hilarious characterization of one of the worst moments of OOCness in a fic. And you're right - it happens far too often (*goes to check if I've ever committed that offense*) :)
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Date: 2008-10-08 10:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-09 03:22 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-09 05:20 am (UTC)Btw... *dies of icon love*
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Date: 2008-10-09 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-10-08 06:11 pm (UTC)Ah, but with Booth, Brennan reverts to her formerly virginal state.
;)
*whistles Mary had a little lamb*
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Date: 2008-10-08 10:43 pm (UTC)