lirazel | i try not to be a snob, but it just happens with fanfic and with poetry

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i try not to be a snob, but it just happens with fanfic and with poetry

I have become SO PICKY about fanfic, y'all. I will literally read three or four sentences and decide, "This is not well written. I am closing this tab." It makes it VERY HARD to find good stuff, being so picky.

*sigh*

Because I have a lot of free time at work and I am always looking for ways to waste time, but I've just recently finished rereading ALL of my favorite BtVS fics and now I'm trying to find new stuff, but almost all of it is not very good? And like, I want people to keep writing because my stuff was definitely not very good when I started writing, so I'm glad they have a platform and everything, I just don't want to read it? So I have started being pretty bored at work and just reading Indian Country Today Media Network because did you know that I have a passion for Native Studies? Because I do, even though it's not something I talk about loads. But sometimes I just want to read something nice and fanfic-y, and I am having SUCH A HARD TIME finding new good stuff. So this is just to say that I am ALWAYS open to recs for fandoms that I follow. Just in case you were holding any back.

So I thought I'd do a rec-post thing? Three BtVS fics I am reading now and loving? People who might actually be interested in these are probably already reading them, but just in case?

And a note: I usually don't read WIPs because I've been burned by unfinished fics too many times (note: this is not me being entitled and demanding that people finish. Life happens or interest wanes, and it's okay--I've abandoned fics too many times to count. But I rarely want to knowingly subject myself to a cliffhanger of an ending if I don't have to, you know?). But all of these are WIPs in their own ways, and the first and last I'm reading in chunks because I like to sustain the mood of a fic? So I wait till about five chapters are posted and then I read all of them together? Sometimes more than five chapters. But that is what I do. You can wait till they're finished or read them now or not even read them at all. It is up to you.

+ Embers by

coalitiongirl. I need to say upfront that I read this on Elysian Fields and so I have not been good about reviewing? I am most profoundly sorry because this fic is currently ONE OF THE BEST THINGS IN MY LIFE. Post-S8 (but don't let that stop you!) with seriously one of my very favorite Buffy-and-Spike relationships I've read in fic. They're both so them and they're both madly in love but they think the other doesn't love them back and so they keep sending all these mixed signals and everyone else knows they're madly in love and it is both angsty and fluffy all at the same time (how do you manage to write that? I wish I knew!). And also there is plot and cameos from Faith and Illyria and Angel and Dawn and Xander. And I love it.

+ The Green Card 'Verse by

brutti_ma_buoni. Another one of the BEST THINGS IN MY LIFE. Basically, for plotty reasons the Scoobies decide that Buffy needs to marry Spike to keep him around? In other hands this would be a lighthearted comedy romp, but

brutti_ma_buoni decides to go realistic with it. I...might maybe have mentioned once or twice possibly that I have a hell of a kink for couples who get married first and then fall in love? Um, yeah. So this obviously hits said kink. It also has fun and inventive twists on canon, and one of the most fun things about it is noticing which things have changed and why. Also, each fic is its own fic, not a chapter, so there's lots of different POVs and also it keeps me from being terrified as I usually am by WIPs, since it technically isn't one.

+ Dust by

knifeedgefic. Everyone in Sunnydale is asleep except for Buffy and Spike, who can't wake any of them up. Watch them fight! Watch them snark! Watch them be weirdly and uncomfortably domestic! Watch Spike pretty much have an identity crisis when he figures out that he actually likes Buffy! Gah, these two are so weird and wonderful, and this fic is so very, very well written. Read it! Read all of these! Your life will be better, I swear!

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I got like that with Buffy fic, frustrated and then bored by same old same old. I started playing in different pastures and moved into other fandoms. I might have to dabble back in because your third rec sounds right in my wheelhouse! Thanks for the recs.

Yeah, it happens. It's frustrating! In the past I would just go and reread my favorites, but you don't want to do that too too often, so now I'm flailing about with little to read! It is sad.

You're welcome! I am sure you will enjoy!

Do it! Read DUST! It's so good!

Yes. These three are definitely a joy to read. :)

We have good taste! :D

This has nothing to do with fanfic recs, but when I'm bored at work, I end up scanning A.L. Daily a lot. Basically a massive linkspam, it posts a couple new things everyday, including reviews of new books, editorials, picspams, etc, etc, all culled from around the web by a group of charmingly pretentious professor-types.

Have fun!

Sounds fun! Thanks a lot! I always need new time wasters!

I have become SO PICKY about fanfic, y'all. I will literally read three or four sentences and decide, "This is not well written. I am closing this tab." It makes it VERY HARD to find good stuff, being so picky.

Haha, I wonder what brings this up, the day after I post my first fic! (just joking, I know that's not what you meant)

Thanks for the rec!

Awww! Total coincidence, I swear!

You're welcome! :D

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local-max.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 16:54 (UTC) - Expand

I will literally read three or four sentences and decide, "This is not well written. I am closing this tab."

SO MUCH THIS.

Haha, I totally -support- those recs. Except I've only read two chapters of 'Dust', but I'm counting on it to be awesome.

Sometimes it's less than three sentences. Sometimes I literally read the first sentence and decide from there. And that doesn't even take into account all of the ones I don't even open because the title/summary was so bad. Oh, man.

I think you'll enjoy it. It's got lots of Buffy and Spike just being themselves together, which I thoroughly enjoy. Plus, it takes its time developing the relationship, which is something that's rare in fic, I think.

Yep, yep and yep. I'm just cheered that there are three such worthy fics out there all at the same time. I've been a little worried about my fandom and my ability to find things I want to read.

There's a not-bad-at-all fic at the BSV titled Times Fool by MsJane. My first look at it was "Meh, possibilities but needs polish". However, she picked up some betas and the story has grown on me. Might be worth taking a look at it.

Ooooh, thanks! I also have your WIP on my to-read list, and I had totally forgotten about it until you commented. I might have to add it to my "read-in-chunks" list instead of my "read-when-finished" list so that I have more to do at work! :D I've heard very good things about it.

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slaymesoftly.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 17:21 (UTC) - Expand

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penny-lane-42.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 17:25 (UTC) - Expand

Heh, yeah, I've gotten the same way about fanfic. I think it's partly that I've read so much that unless it's something really outstanding and original, it all kinda sounds the same. Also, I have zero tolerance for bad grammar.

I have found that dabbling in other fandoms, I am a lot less picky, just because it doesn't feel like I've already read it all before.

Yeah, that about sums up my relationship with fic at this point.

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silverusagi - 2011-06-29 07:11 (UTC) - Expand

Thanks for the recs! I've wanted to get into Spuffy, but haven't known where to start.

Oh, awesome! And if you need a place to start, I wrote this little post that has some recs in it....

Thanks for the recs! I'm currently only reading one of these (Dust), so I'm looking forward to checking out the other two!

They are lovely! Enjoy!

I have been there for years. It's a hard place to be hee. Finding something new that is well written is like finding gold; I squee about it for hours.

Also, Buffy fanfic has totally, totally spoiled me. I am in a new fandom now (I finally have two fandoms, this is amazing), and that fandoms fic? Ugh. While Jossverse fic will be say, 95% crap, 5% gems, that fandom is more like 99.9%/.1%. *sobs*

While Jossverse fic will be say, 95% crap, 5% gems, that fandom is more like 99.9%/.1%. *sobs*

Sadness! It really does amaze me that there are some fandoms that have much higher quality than others. And it's never anything that you could predict, either. It's amazing.

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bloodypoetry.livejournal.com - 2011-06-29 05:01 (UTC) - Expand

Oh! Thank you so much for the wonderful rec! I'm so glad you're enjoying DUST.

And I wholeheartedly support the other two recs. They're both on my current reading list, and I squee a bit every time they update.

Also, I'll second an earlier recommendation for "Time's Fool". Really loving that one.

You are welcome! I always get super excited when new people join the fandom, and it is even more exciting when those people are talented and write good fic. And you write epics, and we can never have enough epics (also, I am jealous of your ability to write them). Anyway! It is good and I like it.

I will add that one to my list then. I don't tend to spend much time on BSV because the layout is so dark (it can't be read covertly while at work the way I can open someone's fic on lj in light format), so I'm glad to be pointed right to the good stuff.

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knifeedgefic.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 19:00 (UTC) - Expand

The Green Card 'Verse is currently providing my daily doses of LIFE IS AWESOME and I'M LUCKY TO READ THIS.

I want SO BADLY for it to keep going for 2 more seasons. SO. BADLY. It's a completely unreasonable want. But when it comes to fic, I'm hardly reasonable.

As a learning-author myself, I appreciate your willingness to read newer things by folks who might have started rough. It's precisely this sort of thing that makes fandom such a supportive, wonderful place to be.

IT IS SO EXCELLENT. I would probably die of happiness if she kept it going all the way to "Chosen," though that would be quite an undertaking, so I would completely understand why she might not want to. I'm just THRILLED TO DEATH with what we've got!

I absolutely hate the kind of communities that make fun of bad fic. We all started somewhere, and most of us started out really bad (I know I did). So any kind of mockery or dismissal of people whose fic isn't that great makes me angry, actually. Fandom absolutely does need to be that kind of understanding and encouraging place. I have no time for people who think they're superior.

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brutti-ma-buoni.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 21:01 (UTC) - Expand

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aerintine.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 23:40 (UTC) - Expand

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blackfrancine.livejournal.com - 2011-06-29 00:59 (UTC) - Expand

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aerintine.livejournal.com - 2011-06-29 01:08 (UTC) - Expand

Other than beta'ing for Slaymesoftly, I have hardly read a Buffy fic since I got my Kindle. I have actually been reading real books again, and I find that when I do need a Buffy fix I tend to go back to an old favourite rather than trying something new. Your recs do sound interesting though, so next time I need a fix I'll give one of them a try.

Actual books! I remember those! :D

Yeah, if you need your fix and the classics aren't doing it for you, these are all great choices!

Lauren! Listen to me! I don't know if you've read a fic I recc'd when I was doing 30 days of Buffy--or if you even read that post (I don't remember). But if you didn't/haven't--then I beg you to read this because I really, really think you'll like it. Though you may need to give it more than 4 sentences--I won't commit to the first 4 sentences being literary gold--they might be. I just don't remember. But, seriously, it's among the best written fics I've ever read. The author is a literature professor and YA novelist. So... she's a badass. And she's FUNNY.

But--some disclosures are necessary: It's a WIP, being very slowly updated. And it's sort of in keeping with the tone of the show--darkish comedy, with some romantic overtones (and tones, not just overtones--because it is SPUFFY, after all), and a touch of action--but it's not angsty. Or... it sort of is, but it covers the angst with comedy. I don't know. Just read it. Read 1 page. If you don't like it--I understand. Actually, I don't understand because that fic is glorious, but I will accept it.

Okay. I'm done trying to peer pressure you now--so I'll go back and actually read your post. (Because I just saw the title and the part before the cut and jumped straight to commenting. I can't help it if I'm excitable. I couldn't contain my rec for even a second longer).

One of my favorite things about you is that you are excitable. I do not think I would like you nearly as much if you don't get worked about things. So.

Anyway! I am now beyond excited to check this out. And I am certain I will like it. Thank you. Quality fic recs! Excellence!

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blackfrancine.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 21:05 (UTC) - Expand

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penny-lane-42.livejournal.com - 2011-06-28 21:10 (UTC) - Expand

Thank you - for all three recs, because two are on my 'to read' list, but I needed a nudge to make sure they actually get started. And for the third, obviously, thanks so much!

You're welcome! I never want to miss the good stuff, and I'm sure others are the same, so I like to share. Thanks for providing me with my (almost) daily doses of happy!

So this is just to say that I am ALWAYS open to recs for fandoms that I follow. Just in case you were holding any back.

LIKE I WOULD EVER DO THIS.

My Buffy reading has been pretty piecemeal lately; mostly just things from the flist - I think together,

brutti_ma_buoni,

seasonal_spuffy, and

sb_fag_ends account for about 85% of all the Buffyverse fic I've read this year. Possibly more.

However. If you're even remotely interested in reading SPN fic,

spngenlove is a gen recs comm that rocks my socks off.

The thing about the Buffyverse is it's an older enough fandom that there's good stuff out there, if you're willing to look. Newer fandoms don't have as mature writers and it's noticeable in the fiction (I'm looking at you, Community!), so we're really lucky to have what we have already do.

knifeedge and

brutti_ma_buoni are a blessing to the fandom. With writers like Holly and Eurydice moving on to other fandoms, I was worried the Buffyverse was losing all of it's great writers, and here these two are, plugging away. And I can't praise

coalitiongirl enough. She is so multitalented it's almost hard to be her friend, but she's honestly one of the nicest people and I love chatting with her on tumblr.

If you haven't already read everything by her, read Holly's stuff. She has an amazing Buffyverse/The West Wing crossover fic that's so good I would be a terrible friend not to recommend it. Then my all-time favorite fic is Niamh's Originsverse which is one of those massive season 6 re-write verses that is both beautiful and devastating. It has all my kinks: Spike, Buffy and Dawn being a family, Tara being strong and self-assertive, Wesley, Spike and Giles being bros. While it's way too good to be called a bashing fic, Willow, Xander and Angel don't fare too well and all of their negative qualities are on display, though Xander and Willow have some redemption in the last story. Angel, not so much, but it's not an Angel who's very likable to begin with.

Edited 2011-06-28 22:30 (UTC)

That's a great list -- in addition to Time's Fool, rec'd by others, above, I find myself stalking the internet looking for updates of all of these.

You have exxxcellent taste!

We both have excellent taste! :D

I'm trying to find new stuff, but almost all of it is not very good?

Yeah...that's how I felt after a while. And even the things that were good had been done. And done and done. LOL.

So true. There are certain scenarios I've read so often that I have NO DESIRE to read them again.

I used to be like that, until I moved to a smaller fandom and now I'm all "Well, sure the fic is about a Mary Sue and the writer can't spell the names of the characters and has some kind of grudge against proper capitalisation, but maybe I still should give the story a chance..." :D

As for recs, I keep a list on Delicious of all the fics that I've liked. It's a pretty motley selection, and mostly older stuff since I've been reading less Buffyverse fics in the last few years, but maybe you'll find something new and interesting there.

Hahaha! Scarcity will do that to you, I guess!

Thanks for the link! I'll have to poke around and see if I kind find anything new!

Just found this via Petzi, and I was all excited for recs (I've been suffering the same phenomenon as you lately- after two years of fandom I think I've finally gotten through all the older epic fics ~~multiple times~~ and now the dearth of new fic is beginning to hit me), and then I saw Embers on here! Thank you so much! (And you've written some of the most gorgeous SB that I've ever read, so seeing it on your rec list? Kind of made my morning.) :)

I don't read WIPs, usually, either, and I'm waiting for Dust to be finished before I start it, but that summary is the first that's made the plot clear and it's nearly tempted me. (And I've started the Green Card 'verse but I've been waiting for a chance to sit down and read through properly.) From what I know, though, those are the two best fics out there right now, though I've also heard good things about Time's Fool.

(Correct me if I'm wrong, but are you also pieandsweettea on Tumblr? It's so hard to keep track of these things sometimes. :/)

You're so welcome! I read pretty much the whole thing this past Saturday and nearly died of love for it. And I hope I don't sound patronizing when I say this, but reading it really showed me how much you've grown as a writer. I mean, I really loved The Rose, for instance, but Embers has just gone to a whole new level.

The good thing about waiting for Dust is that you know it'll probably be finished in a reasonable amount of time.

knifeedgefic is incredibly consistent as a writer, which makes me jealous. So waiting is understandable. And I'm sure you'll very much enjoy the Green Card 'verse once you get the time for it.

I am! And your tumblr is a constant source of joy for me--all those beautiful gifs!

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coalitiongirl.livejournal.com - 2011-06-30 00:02 (UTC) - Expand

It always feels good when you have something in common with all these talented Spuffy people - we all recommend the same fics. I second all three, and also Time's Fool. May I add "The Girl with the Flaxen Hair" by Unbridled Brunette? http://unbridled-b.livejournal.com/tag/the%20girl%20with%20flaxen%20hair. A nice Buffy/William WIP.

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