What do YOU think? Fanworks exchange edition.

[apple_pathways]

You all realize that I see you as a ready pool of research subjects, don't you? I've spent far too long studying the social sciences. While I can appreciate the qualitative approach, when it comes down to it, I want DATA!

Feed me? Please???

The season of fic exchanges is upon us. This is my first year both writing fan fiction, and participating in these exchanges. While overall the experience has been fun, there's still some issues I'm trying to wrap my head around. Behind the cut I've compiled a poll about fanworks exchanges, and fic exchanges in particular. If you've participated in any at all ever, even as a spectator, I'd like to hear what you think. The results are viewable only to me, so feel free to be honest. (I'm not in a position to judge!)

Give the circle thingies a tick, and then we can have a lovely chat in the comments. :) What sort of exchanges do you do? Do you stress over them? Are you generally happy with your gifts, or do you get your hopes too high? Ever have a nightmare gift/recipient? Bad/good experiences? (I PROMISE SOME DAY I WILL WRITE A BOOK WITH ALL OF THE USELESS KNOWLEDGE I'VE TORTURED OUT OF YOU, MY DEAR FLIST! All shall not be for naught.) ;)



[Poll #1661044]



ETA: There's one more thing I'd like to get opinions on! Is MPreg something you need to warn for? I want to archive my 10, Donna, Jack fic, and warning for MPreg kinda ruins the ending. It works out fine here, where I can hide the warning under white text, and leave it up to sensitive readers to highlight for the warning if they're worried about being squicked, but that method wouldn't be an option in other places.

I know warning for MPreg is the convention in a lot of communities, but is that because it's a serious squick or because a lot of people just don't care for it? Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

Comments

[sabriel75.livejournal.com]

You know I hadn't even thought of feedback when I wrote my stories this year and it's my first year ever doing fests and I did three.

The two stories that have posted received better squee from other people than the actual recipients. They both commented with lovely comments, but the capslock Squee wasn't in either of them after reading my story. I dunno. I don't think that I would ever be able to really write something magnificent for other people in fandom without them already liking my style. I'm quite distinct and very literary in my fandom writing and most people find it too thinky-introspective and so I struggled with whether to do any of these. But I think it was a good thing for me because it forced me to write other people's prompts and expand my offerings, but still hone my way of writing. Does that make sense? And maybe even though I didn't quite meet my giftee's expectations, hopefully, they did receive something worth reading and a little thrill having something personal for them.

And then I wrote three drabbles for an exchange but since it was planejane I really felt I could give her what she wanted.

[alt_universe_me.livejournal.com]

I participated in three fests this year, and one of my fics that I wrote hasn't even been posted yet (I may post it myself soon if the mod doesn't show up soon, because that's what another recipient did).

As for how specific I was when giving my prompts, it depended on the fest. I was more picky about my Torchwood prompt than I was about my Doctor Who prompts, basically because there are tons of writers who write my usual pairing in Torchwood fandom and I wanted something a little different this time. For the Doctor Who fics, I really didn't care what I received as long as they had my characters. Both turned out to be awesome, btw. Here's the link to the the other DW fic you may not have seen yet. I would suggest reading it even if you don't love River as much as I do, because it's just too hilarious! http://promethia-tenk.livejournal.com/17175.html.

Anyway, for my dwsanta fic my recipient left me a very long and lovely comment, and they said they loved it 'for real', so I can only assume they were serious and not just being nice. For the Torchwood fic exchange, my recipient didn't comment at all! I was pretty disappointed by that, but I did get several nice comments from other people, so I'm not sure what to make of it. For the fics I received, I was really happy with all of them, they were wonderful! But even if they hadn't been, I would never just not comment. I think it's pretty rude for someone not to comment, especially since I had their fic beta'd and way past the word count and everything. But, you know, it's all for fun, and all in all I would probably participate again next year. :D

[roh-wyn.livejournal.com]

I just realized that my poll answers are somewhat inconsistent, lol.

Let me start off by saying that fic exchanges are bear to organize, and I appreciate that the mods only have so much wiggle room to play with.

This is the second time I've participated in any holiday exchanges, and both times, an exchange has left me going "bzuh?" The first time it was because I got a fic that was very clearly the opposite of what I requested, in terms of genre, pairing, etc. I could just NOT understand why that happened, and I was deeply disappointed. But I sort of grit my teeth and thanked the person anyway.

This year, for a fest I have not yet submitted my piece for, I've been asked to provide a gift that is (a) not one of the things I offered, and (b) for a ship I did not express interest in writing. I have no idea why this happens, but again, it puts me in a really tough spot. I have to write something well outside my comfort zone, and the giftee will almost certainly be disappointed.

IDK, it's tough all around.

(You guys are doing a great job with sherlockmas, on the other hand. No complaints! :))

[ladylovelace.livejournal.com]

I am not going to mess up your poll data by being the odd one out, and here's why:

I love fic exchanges. LOVE. Except for the part where I can't ask for anything because a) I just can't ask for things and b) as horrible as it is, I don't trust anyone else to write my ideas. And the ones I've been tempted by always ask for a prompt :(

So I sign up as a pinch hitter whenever I get the chance.

I have a basic theory on srs warnings: If it is potentially triggery, it gets warned for.

I also have a theory on what is actually triggery and what makes people go 'eww' - MPreg falls under the 'eww' category, because logically you cannot have been traumatised by past experience of something that is physically impossible. If you think you've been traumatised by something written, well... go read De Sade and get back to me.

So yeah. Sex and violence get warned for like they do on ~tv~ (because I am aware it would be expecting too much of the majority to have actually picked up a novel for their own entertainment) and everything else, they can go cry in a corner for being the whiny brats they are. I am no longer interested in their opinion after that. (Seriously, if I'm terrified of cockroaches and I can read The Metamorphosis, everyone else can suck it up).

I V MUCH APPROVE OF THESE SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS, EVEN BEING A TEST SUBJECT, JSYK

[lemniciate.livejournal.com]

I didn't answer that last point just because I agree with both extremes of it. It's perfectly within the recipient's right to bitch about something but I think it should be done where the gifter won't see it. Double standards, me? Of course not.

As for the mpreg: if that's warned for, unless it's an author I love and trust I wouldn't click on the fic. Sometimes I backspace even if it's by authors I like. It's a borderline squick thing for me, I guess? Furthermore, if I read an mpreg fic that wasn't warned for I'd probably harbour burning hatred for that author forevermore. Uuuh, this could just be because I'm a bitch, I'm sure most other people are much more reasonable! :OOO

Anyway! Back to exchanges: I love the idea of exchanges and always look forward to them. I didn't do any this year simply because I've been in a dry writing spell and didn't want to have to default. I don't really care too much about receiving a brilliant fic; for me it's the excitement and stress of writing something good for someone else that's the fun part, if that makes sense? The deadline and pressure of not disappointing someone motivates me more. Following on from this, usually I love comments (WHO DOESN'T XD) and I'd love for people to like whatever gift fic I write, but as long as the recipient (seems to) likes it then I'm all good.

Ummm, good/bad experiences: I tend to think if the mods are on the ball with the exchange chances are things will end up well. Even if participants drop out, if the mods are great and organised then people will still be happy.

[rewindclunkplay.livejournal.com]

OMG, dub-con tentacle watersports fic where they adopt kittens at the end ARE MY FAVOURITE BUT I CAN NEVER FIND THEM ANYWHERE.