lirazel: An outdoor scene from the film Picnic at Hanging Rock ([btvs] what would buffy do?)
lirazel ([personal profile] lirazel) wrote2011-06-28 10:40 am

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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 [livejournal.com profile] 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 [livejournal.com profile] 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 [livejournal.com profile] 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!

[identity profile] brunettepet.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 03:48 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 03:55 pm (UTC)(link)
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!

[identity profile] norwie2010.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes. These three are definitely a joy to read. :)
lutamira: ([btvs] [b/s] fanfic?)

[personal profile] lutamira 2011-06-28 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
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!
lutamira: ([btvs] [spike] bloody marvelous)

[personal profile] lutamira 2011-06-28 04:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Do it! Read DUST! It's so good!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
We have good taste! :D

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:30 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds fun! Thanks a lot! I always need new time wasters!

[identity profile] local-max.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
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!

[identity profile] ever-neutral.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:44 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:52 pm (UTC)(link)
Awww! Total coincidence, I swear!

You're welcome! :D

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] local-max.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 04:54 pm (UTC)(link)
:D

[identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
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.
next_to_normal: (Default)

[personal profile] next_to_normal 2011-06-28 05:07 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:21 pm (UTC)(link)
It's not a WIP anymore. :) I presume you're talking about the future fic "Home IS Where They Have To Take You In"? People have said very kind things about it (to me, anyway. lol)

[identity profile] catbirdfish.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the recs! I've wanted to get into Spuffy, but haven't known where to start.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, you finished it? EXCELLENT. And yes, that's the one I was talking about. Great!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, that about sums up my relationship with fic at this point.

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 05:27 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, awesome! And if you need a place to start, I wrote this little post that has some recs in it....
molly_may: (Buffy reading fanfic - vampkiss)

[personal profile] molly_may 2011-06-28 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the recs! I'm currently only reading one of these (Dust), so I'm looking forward to checking out the other two!

[identity profile] bloodypoetry.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
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*

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
They are lovely! Enjoy!

[identity profile] penny-lane-42.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 06:36 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] knifeedgefic.livejournal.com 2011-06-28 06:49 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

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