Why do we do FanFic as we do? by AGrey

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

Why do we do FanFic as we do?

POSTED BY: AGREY
UPDATED: Tuesday, June 1, 2004 18:20
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VIEWED: 1815
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Saturday, May 29, 2004 5:50 PM

Why is it that just about all of the FanFic on this site are posted in segmented little chapters?
I understand that it is a work in progress, and I understand having different stories for different arcs, but not for each chapter.
It would be just as easy (and a whole Hell of a lot easier for the readers) if the author just updated the original post as he made changes.
Hence the original question: Why do those who are writing stories that take longer than a single post (i.e., they are still writing it when they first post, which would, as far as I can tell, include most of this site's habitants) publish each chapter seprately?
It only clogs up the Blue Sun Room and makes large stories harder to follow.
So why do you all do it?
I would really like to hear the reason why.
(Unless it is just so the most recent post is on top...in which case, it is simply either a lack in your own writing abilities or a cheap attempt to maximize the attention grabbing...or perhaps I am being too cynical...but still, WHY?)

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Monday, May 31, 2004 7:33 PM

NEROLI

Actually, as a reader of fanfics, I have to disagree that it is harder to follow longer stories in multiple parts. I can't always read the long ones in one sitting, but when that is how they are posted I feel like I have to because it is so hard to find the place where I left off if I don't.

Also, if the author updates a previously posted story then there is no way to find out they updated without hunting the story down every couple days or so and scrolling all the way down and hope you see something there you haven't seen the first million times you did this. I like being able to see that the stories I am following have been added too.

As an author, I like the way FanFiction.net is set up for chapters to be linked as one story the best of all the boards I post too. But, here, they are not set up that way...so I do the best I can to make things as easy to read for others as I can. Things I would post as a short chapter there I wait till I get several of to post here. I think either way you do it there are going to be some people who would find it easier another way, unfortunately.

But if you are trying to follow a story you can seriously narrow your search down by looking at the authors profile, it will list all their stories in the Blue Sun Room in reverse order of when they were posted...and only that authors stories. Makes it a lot easier to find all the chapters.

The Old Broad Monkey

http://p221.ezboard.com/bfireflyfanficawards

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Monday, May 31, 2004 8:11 PM

CASSANDRAE

I was waiting for someone else to respond to this first, figures it be you Neroli!

I was a reader of fanfiction for years, before recently trying my hand at writing some, FF of course. It's been a growing experiance, with errors along the way, but good stuff also.

I agree with what Neroli said. Sometimes, longer stories that are posted in one section are harder to read than the ones posted in seqments. Reading on the computer is straining to the eyes, not like reading a book. So let's say a story is over thirty chapters or twenty chapters long, to read that in one sitting? And if you need to pause, it's a pain going back to find your place. Not everyone has the time to read a story in one sitting, so it happens.

It's not for the lack of writing talent nor to be the attention grabber. You might be a bit cynical, but then again I been told the same.

Not every author has the time to be writing very frequently or daily, so it helps to get feedback on how the story is going from other people. Helpful comments and insights from readers do wonders, even if you have a beta. For ex. a grammer mistake or if something doesn't sound right with the plot, or if the story drags in places, and finally if a character's voice doesn't sound right. Granted this could all be fixed after the story is over, which many are revised anyway. It helps to keep the author alert, at least to me any way as a beginning writer.

And like every writer, if you have a story in your head and it wants out, so out it goes. Muses are tricky that way. Same goes for writer's block, it helps to know half of your story is out there, and that people are reading it. It's satisfying, at least to me. It's a storyteller's job to keep it's audience at the edge of their seat, leaving them wanting more.

Hailing all
Browncoats:
http://p221.ezboard.com/bfireflyfanficawards

The Brat Monkey
~~~~~~~~~~
MAL
"Maybe you're right. Maybe we're soulmates."

INARA
"Yes. Great. I wish you hundreds of fat children."

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Monday, May 31, 2004 8:34 PM

NEROLI

Yeah well, I figured we were all waiting for someone else to respond first. LOL

I do want to add a thought here about the ego thing. I figure since there is an entire thread dedicated to my ego I might as well admit I have one.

I write fanfic for my own enjoyment, but I post it so that others can read it. I mean, seriously, why post it if you don't want it read? And the way this board is set up the best way to let people know you have new stuff for them to read is to post it as another chapter.

It's not an ego thing in the "Oh, my story is so great it deserves to be on the front page" way, it's ego in a "hey, I wrote this and I want to share it with others that might enjoy it" way.

Plus, you know, you get more reviews that way. Reviews are good, joyous, happy things. So sue me, I love getting them and anyway I can get more of them, I will take.

The Old Broad Monkey

http://p221.ezboard.com/bfireflyfanficawards

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Tuesday, June 1, 2004 2:33 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

I agree w/ Neroli & Cassandrae on the fact that fan fic posted in chapters is much easier to read than one long piece posted all at once. It is easier on the author and those reading to post up in chapters than all at once, and makes it easier to take breaks and come back to the story if you wish.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Tuesday, June 1, 2004 4:12 AM

IDEFIX

Quote:
Originally posted by Cassandrae:
I agree with what Neroli said. Sometimes, longer stories that are posted in one section are harder to read than the ones posted in seqments. Reading on the computer is straining to the eyes, not like reading a book. So let's say a story is over thirty chapters or twenty chapters long, to read that in one sitting? And if you need to pause, it's a pain going back to find your place. Not everyone has the time to read a story in one sitting, so it happens.

and that's just the reason why I would prefer to have the story in one big piece. because I rather _NOT_ read it on a PC screen because it's bad for the eyes. I usually copy FanFic to my PDA, a Sony Clie SL10 black&white 320x320 pixels (for easy reading), PalmOS with batteries and read it like a book in bed or on a train to work or waiting for something somewhere. I use a tool called TL-PDB wich integrates into IE and with a toolbarbutton copy the text from one page to a pdb file. hotsync to the PDA and read in MobipocketReader. both TL-PDB and MobipocketReader are free and the hardware really isn't expensive anymore and you can read easily for hours. I recently bought a second used one to have one as backup, it cost me 40 euros, that's maybe 50 dollar or so. but you have to buy it used or refurbished because they don't make black&white ones anymore and the colour devices all have build in accus and mostly very bright high contrast screens that aren't so good for the eyes either. the black and white or rather black with green backlight screens are easy on the eyes (at least mine) and the units with batteries can be used for hours, just change the accus between the PDA and a charger, every 5 hours in case of my Clie.

I just wanted to tell this maybe it will help someones eyes. FanFic can be a real addiction ;o)

Idefix

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Tuesday, June 1, 2004 9:39 AM

CHANNAIN

i DO aim to misbehave

Because super long posts would take forever and a day to load on a 56K modem - as the owner of one, I know of which I speak.

Because I only write a chapter at a time and take my time with it. Too much, really, but what do you do?

In a way, it's like we're writing the old dime novels again. Or like the sci-fi magazines that brought out installments of a full story on a monthly basis (Whoa - did I just show my age with that one, or my intelligence?

)

We have art so as not to die of truth ~ Neitzsche
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

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Tuesday, June 1, 2004 6:20 PM

JEBBYPAL

Umm, well most of us do end up posting our finished product in its entirety w/out chapters to the glow archive---you just have to be willing to wait.

Others do fanfiction.net but it's in chapters there.

Everyone has their preferences (which i've come to prefer blue sun's style just cause now that i've read the old stuff i don't hang on every word of an epic for 2hrs hurriedly reading while chastising myself for wasting time) and you can't satisfy everyone all of the time. Doubt haken's going to go and change things now since most of us probably don't want to (and we writers love the posting system he has. It's so shiny!!!)

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. If you really don't like chapters, keep checking glow every day and bemoan the fact that we don't post there often.

another reason i like chapters -- not as many slow weeks w/ no new fic!

The Strawberry Monkey
http://p221.ezboard.com/bfireflyfanficawards

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