Fanfics - author and reader's POV

[katikat]

Fanfiction, love it. Love to read it and love to write it. But on both sides of this fanfic-y fence I encounter problems...

As an author: My biggest problem is keeping the characters IC - in-character - in h/c and/or angsty fics. The hurt!part is easy, even their reaction to said hurt. But what about the comfort? What's too little, what's too much? What's still IC and what's already OOC - out-of-character? How far can you go and still keep the characters recognizable?

I mean, take for example Supernatural - that one is quite easy. Basically, everything goes XP We've seen both Sam and Dean hurt, we've seen them cry and hug and take care each other - so, as long as the author avoids stupid pet names, everything else goes.

But what about White Collar? Several times we've seen Neal go all teary-eyed and/or scared, but so far, there hasn't been any serious h/c on the show. I mean, Neal is the resident damsel in distress and Peter's usual reaction to "Neal in peril" is anger - at Rice, at Fowler... But I'm not sure how Peter would react if he had to actually comfort someone - his "cowboy up" speech suggests that he would not go all mushy, so... We need more data!

As a reader: My pet-peeve? OOC behavior. Cringe-worthy pet names - that one hurts. I just can't imagine Peter calling Neal "my boy" or whatnot, yowza! /o\ I mean, Peter barely calls Elizabeth "honey"!

Another thing - when I read a fic and the description just doesn't fit. How did character A and character B get from the kitchen into the living room? Or when they are in a certain position together - like sitting on a couch and hugging - and I just can't imagine it, no matter how many times I read the description. Is he leaning against her with his back? If so, then how can she be hugging him like that?

A short while ago, I read a fic that many people had raved about - and I could barely get through it. In it, El was standing at the foot of the stairs, Neal and Peter were upstairs, but suddenly, El was leading Neal towards the couch. How did he get downstairs? When? While he and Peter were arguing? I need the author to tell me that, to walk me through it, even if in just a few short words!

So, what's your problems and/or pet-peeves?

Comments

[asta77.livejournal.com]

I'm right there with you on the peeves as a reader. I've actually quit reading several WC fics because Peter starts spouting a long list of endearments at Neal and that is NOT the Peter I know. I mean, this is a man who most of the time calls his wife "Elizabeth" or "El" so why would he be all cutesy with Neal?

And transitions don't have to be time consuming in fic so it annoys me when writers feel they can gloss over them. I'm totally taken out of a fic if I don't know how a character got from Point A to Point B.

Another distraction is when a character seems to have three hands. As in the character has their arms (plural) wrapped around the other person, yet they are also giving them a hand job. Huh?

[katikat.livejournal.com]

Ha, I love the three hands thingy! I work as a translator so when I come across something like that in a book, I always scratch my head, wondering what to do with that and how to smooth it over... :P

[bientot.livejournal.com]

There have been panels at Escapade where people brought in fanfic sex scenes and volunteers (remaining fully clothed!) attempted re-enactment to establish whether or not it was even possible, and just how many hands/legs/whatever were involved - sort of a fannish Myth Busters.

I'd say having extra limbs definitely qualifies as OOC!

BTW - very interesting discussion. Yes.

[katikat.livejournal.com]

OMG, I would love to see that! On the other hand, being in the audience and seeing my own fic re-enacted like that - ouch!