[Ms Irate & Grumpy yet Gentler than Average Reader at your service]

[reenka]

I think I'm experiencing a resurgence of... something. Or other. Fandomy. I blame MsScribe!!1 >:O!!
    But anyway, I think furiosity's Don't Like? Don't Read! a Tragedie in Five Acts pretty much sums up my life in fandom :D :D Hahaha, I too was Ms Gentle Reader once upon a time. And then I read too many questionable fics of the same questionably plausible pairing for a questionably long time, 'tis true. *wibble*

What I wanted to say was-- though I have no problem with headers/warnings etc. in theory, I've never seen them as useful in the 'don't like, don't read' fangirl philosophy of avoiding fics I wouldn't like...
    

Sometimes (if I trust the source), I've enjoyed pairings that make no sense in theory and which I would've avoided, normally, based on warning alone (like Draco/Dumbledore) or scenarios I generally find squicky (like Lucius/Draco chan). Basically, what warnings don't address (beyond the obvious usefulness of pairing labels for shippers) is the question of quality, which is overriding in terms of what makes a fic readable. Not only that, even given pure writing quality, it doesn't address fanon characterization issues-- I mean, even if you did warn for fanon!Draco, say, it would depend on the author as to what that means in practice. (Meaning, very different characterizations are still fanon stereotypes, some more palatable than others to a particular reader.)

I think for some people, it -would- be enough to know a fic doesn't include their worst squicks (like, for me it would be deathfic & rapefic + ice-prince!Draco) and/or included their biggest kinks (for me it'd probably be stuff no one ever warns for, like snark & cute plot-devices like detentions or potions and such). Myself, I'd just be a lot more careful with stuff that really squicks me, as in, I'm less likely to trust an author I don't know, and more likely if the unknown wrote a favorite cliche of mine, like Harry & Draco need to fuck or the world will END (no one does that anymore, man). I mean, to me, my squicks are really a fuzzy line, 'cause many of the best H/D fics have included death, like Olympia's and Amalin's and Maya's, and a lot of the sexiest scenes for me walk the edge of consent (and it's really a toss up whether you could call it rape from another person's pov).
    (And need I even say that ice-prince!Draco is in nearly all the well-written/classic H/D I myself loved?)

More detailed things like reviews aren't reliable either, 'cause so much depends on a reviewer's individual bias. Just yesterday, I came across a glowing review of a popular fic I absolutely hate, written by an apparently intelligent reader in articulate terms. If anything, often the more 'intelligent' and articulate reviewers seem to go easier on fics than I do 'cause they focus more on the writing itself & less on canonical plausibility or stuff that's particular to a ship (like, how a particular fic reflects or comments on the ship, which always concerns me).

So basically I don't care about the things people warn for one way or another (like I've never read a fic I'd say had a true Mary Sue, no matter how white-washed Draco gets), and never get warnings for what really annoys me (like flowery writing, stupid fanon excuses, shmoopy sex, Sex God!Draco, etc). Possibly warnings are meant for more 'standard' readers... whatever -those- are. I don't know, really. Are there really People Who'll Read Anything Well-written or People Who Read For Kink & that's it?
~~

So many people hatin' on H/D fanon cliches here made me a happy, happy (less alone!) fanpoodle! :X!

Comments

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

You may think that-- about the bittersweetness-- but hey yo, I've got to finish the post-OoTP novella (you also read, right? eh? no? can't remember, but you'd prolly like it more 'cause it's more... H/D-ey). Seriously. NO REST FOR THE PROCRASTINATORS WICKED. That one's easier 'cause I'm not really stuck on any point, just know it too well or something. Plus finish the Draco deathfic 'cause it ROCKS, if I do say so myself (AND I DO). And the titles thing was me throwing out ideas to you, you know! :P!

I... I have no idea how to 'get to know' people in real life, 'cause usually they just pounce me say hi on their own. I'm just the quiet weird-looking girl in the corner. Uh... but the campus is actually a lot like Binghamton campus 'cause it was built in the 60s/70s/whatever, so it's a lot of brick buildings and glass and indoor courtyards and fountains (it's really odd how they don't fountain water and just sort of sit there making you have to walk around them sometimes).

I've only been to Brighton once & the nearby village once for groceries! Brighton's really cool! I should actually post my notes on it (I took notes!! even though I forgot my camera, there's this place that reminds me of Diagon Alley 'cause of the winding... alleyness of it, um). Yes. Everything's a lot cleaner! AND EVERYONE HAS AN ENGLISH ACCENT, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT??! D: Seriously. Um. Plus everything closes at like -four-. I'm actually considering taking this one random guy on the mailing list for the summer school up on his offer to travel together with strangers, but, y'know... STRANGE GUY so :/

[stellabelle.livejournal.com]

I don't know if I've read your post-OotP novella. What's it called? I don't think I have--you've sent me two shorter ones, though. Throwing out ideas to moi? For writing? HAHAHAHA :(((((( Well anyway, I'm glad one of us is hard at work! :)

Well, you know, even if you don't meet people (which I'm sure you will--probably in your classes at least), you can spend the summer in quiet contemplation, and, like, take nature walks and travel around the countryside and in general do Very Awesome Things of that sort. It'd be fun!

You forgot your camera?! Buy disposable ones, please! I'm expecting about four hundred million pictures, or at least a few rolls. :) Uh...maybe you should just meet up with the strange guy for coffee first, like, in a very crowded coffee shop with a window in the bathroom so you could run away if you had to. :P

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Ah... yeah, you probably haven't, but here, it's 'The Crucible (http://reenka.expecto-patronum.net/wip/_hp_flight.html)'... I've got a goodly amount for affection for it 'cause it's got a lost of my post-OoTP ideas and a Harry pov I like (both Harry & Draco) plus, you know, a liner plot (CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?), but suspect I haven't sent it to show you 'cause you said you don't have the patience to read longer things :)) So! I mean! What do you think of Ouroboros for a title! :P And... well, I'm not working hard so much as... making it to class, at least. Today I was 3 minutes late, but ^^;;

Hehe, I meant I forgot my camera in my room :> Though perhaps I should hold the pictures hostage for whenever you make it to NYC :)) *strokes chin thoughtfully*

...I'm pretty pessimistic re: the strange guy, 'cause who would ask for company on a mailing list?? I dunno, also I don't get along well with 'normal' people, so it could turn weird fast. I'm not sure what's too pessimistic & what's just sensibly pessimistic in this sort of situation ><;; eheheh.

[stellabelle.livejournal.com]

Okay! Will read. :D Did I really say I don't have the patience to read long fics? AHAHAHAHA. Oh, man. That sounds so rude of me! :((( Although that was true while I was in school and had my thesis and stuff, but now that it's summer...! And also, it's true I don't have the patience to read long fics that eventually turn to crap, which is...er...lots of them, so. Uh.
Anyway, I like the title. :) I'll have to read the new parts (whenever you write them! :P) to be able to say something that's actually helpful, but. Yes.

Haha, I thought you meant you completely forgot your camera! :P I'm glad you didn't! Lots and lots of pictures, please! :) I just spent two hours on Saturday looking at all the pictures my friend Melissa took in Ireland, so beware! I, like, pore over every one. "OOOH! WHERE'S THIS?!"

Yeah, I definitely think it's a bit odd, but. I was just saying, if you were at all interested in meeting up with him, then I'd meet for coffee first (which I'm sure you'd do). Since you don't seem to care that much, don't even worry about it, man. :)

[yourpoison.livejournal.com]

Hahah I've discovered that one way to avoid longfics-go-to-crap burn-out syndrome is just to write them randomly so you don't get all bored & stuff by the end. *__* Instead, you get bored & restless near the beginning!! Which is just as bad but gets you less fangirls 'cause you can't post it as a wip :/ :/

Okay, here's a bit which is at the beginning now, which is melodramatic and contains running because of the old title, y'know, with... the running... uh.
The boy ran, a hollow terror nipping at his heels.

Tears blinded his vision as he wiped them angrily away. He couldn't quite see where he was going in the dark in any case, but all he knew was that he had to keep going-- he couldn't let himself fall. He couldn't stop and rest. He couldn't use magic this close to Hogwarts, not when they could use it to track him. Not now.

He didn't have the breath to curse them, any of them. The night air was heavy with mist and the earth was soft and damp, pulling at his feet, trying to keep him from freedom. Not that he had any illusions about that now, if he'd stopped to think about it. He didn't stop.

Near collapse with exhaustion and gasping from the awful stitch at his side, faint and furious and shit scared all in hopelessly tangled layers, he ran harder. After a moment, without further warning, it started to rain.

+ + +

Draco Malfoy didn't believe in fate. He believed in getting what he wanted.

The summer after fifth year, Auntie Bellatrix came over to Malfoy Manor [etcetc]