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I Can't Stop Reading Your Fanfic! 3

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FOFD Since: Apr, 2013
#1: Oct 1st 2014 at 9:52:55 AM

Bleh.

I see reviews like this from time to time, and it always astounds me how some readers accomplish this; this inhuman level of dedication to any particular fan fiction. I get mighty bored some days, but staring at Fanfiction net's browser, reading verdana 10-and-a-half for more than two or three hours?

I wouldn't do it. I have never, ever read a fic that I've been glued to. I usually have to force myself to read something even when it's on a topic or part of a genre I like. But there are some 100,000+ word fics out there with reviewers who claim "this is my 3rd-4th time reading through your fic and I'm still blown away!"

Thoughts on serious fic-love?

PPPSSC Since: Nov, 2009
#2: Oct 1st 2014 at 11:44:39 AM

It makes sense to me, if the topic at hand is underused. It also makes sense that you would be attached to a particularly good story on a topic where Sturgeon's Law is in full effect.

That said, I've only had this reaction to in-progress stories (with a built-in break) and can't imagine doing it with 100,000 word stories.

Shadsie Staring At My Own Grave from Across From the Cemetery Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: My elf kissing days are over
Staring At My Own Grave
#3: Oct 1st 2014 at 1:41:56 PM

I have problems reading long fics, too - this means, much to some of my own fans' dismay, I will probably never write a single fic that long. An original novel, on the other hand, yeah. I have one that's on the back burner in need of editing that's at least that long, but fanfic? No.

I write mostly one-shots and read mostly one-shots. I do multichaptered things sometimes, but they tend to top out around 20-30K. One infamous co-write ran just about 100,000.

The sad thing is, I tend to lose patience with fanfics after a while, in both reading and writing them (even though I love them) and I start thinking, "If I am going to read/write something this long, it ought to be non-derivative." I don't know why my brain "guilts" me like that when I am a full supporter of fan-made media, but it does.

The sadder thing is that my fiancee' is the opposite of me. He writes LONG. As in, he spends literally YEARS writing a single story that has SINGLE CHAPTERS that are about 10K apiece and stuff that is at least 300,0000 words. There are only a few stories of his, so far, that I have read through - only because I followed them chapter by chapter. I haven't read all of his work. Then again, he hasn't read all of my oneshots either because we don't always share the same fandoms. It's more important to us to read and edit each other's original science fiction and fantasy work, anyway.

In any case, if anyone in fandom wants something 300,000 words from me, I will be disappointing them. They ought to add up all my short fanfics.

In which I attempt to be a writer.
IchigoPockyChama from my new account Since: Dec, 2013
#4: Oct 1st 2014 at 4:01:01 PM

These days I only read long fics if I'm sure I'll be interested in it. If it's good, I'll keep reading; if not, I'll stop. Simple.

I'm currently writing a few multichaptered stories, but neither of them are complete. To be completely honest, I'm actually more proud of my oneshots.

Don't get me wrong, there are some multichapter fics I love to death. But I don't love them to the point where I literally spend the entire day and night trying to finish it. Hell, someone just reccomended me a 30-chapter fic with 3,000-5,000 words per chapter, and I have chapter 2 open in another tab as I type this!

PrettyCoco Since: Jan, 2013
#5: Oct 1st 2014 at 4:05:55 PM

Its not that weird.

...Ok its a LITTLE weird. But good fanfics are REALLY hard to come by and you should make the most out of them.

nbs4 nibs-san has returned from the place where female tropers live Since: Aug, 2014 Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
nibs-san has returned
#6: Oct 1st 2014 at 4:09:00 PM

I've never been obsessed with a particular fanfiction, but there's one case where I read a 100,000+ one of Trauma Team and it was really, really good. I plowed through that quicker than I do with most books.

SHAMWOW IS NOT OXYCLEAN. A DOG IS NOT A BROTHER
Leaper Since: May, 2009
#7: Oct 1st 2014 at 7:45:31 PM

There also seems to be something about fanfiction (either the medium or the genre, I don't know) that lends itself better to binge reading — the kind where you look up after a few minutes and see it's been more like a few hours.

Sharysa Since: Jan, 2001
#8: Oct 1st 2014 at 7:47:37 PM

I definitely get it. Original or fanfiction, I have a tendency to spend a few hours at a time reading something that I've been sucked into. Not so often if I have school, but come summertime? Glued to my computer at some point.

For re-reads, though, I need a cool-down time of a few days. Especially if it's draining.

BlueNinja0 The Mod with the Migraine from Taking a left at Albuquerque Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
The Mod with the Migraine
#9: Oct 1st 2014 at 10:44:22 PM

Thoughts on serious fic-love?
The best fics are no different than a good book (series), and lots of people enjoy re-reading a book or a series. Admittedly, there's only two fanfics that I have re-read, unlike the number of books and full series I have read multiple times, and ironically both of them are MegaCrossovers.note 
if anyone in fandom wants something 300, 000 words from me, I will be disappointing them.
So, no 3.4 million word fics for you?

That’s the epitome of privilege right there, not considering armed nazis a threat to your life. - Silasw
FOFD Since: Apr, 2013
#10: Oct 1st 2014 at 11:10:49 PM

Books are printed, fan fics are usually viewed via glowing computer screen or tablet.

IAmNotCreativeEnough himitsu keisatsu from asa kara ban made omae o miru Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
himitsu keisatsu
#11: Oct 2nd 2014 at 10:56:52 AM

If you like a game, you replay it.

If you like a video, you rewatch it.

If you like a book, you reread it.

Fanfic is no different.

himitsu keisatsu seifu chokuzoku kokka hoanbu na no da himitsu keisatsu yami ni magireru supai katsudou torishimari
Gideoncrawle Elder statesman from Put out to pasture Since: Dec, 2012 Relationship Status: With my statistically significant other
Elder statesman
#12: Nov 4th 2014 at 2:20:20 PM

He writes LONG. As in, he spends literally YEARS writing a single story that has SINGLE CHAPTERS that are about 10K apiece and stuff that is at least 300, 0000 words

That sounds very much like the Total Drama Season 1 reimagining that I've been working on since 2010.

edited 4th Nov '14 2:20:35 PM by Gideoncrawle

Bigotry in the name of inclusion is still bigotry.
ObsidianFire Since: May, 2014 Relationship Status: Not caught up in your love affair
#13: Nov 4th 2014 at 2:35:17 PM

I've done this several times. Mostly 'cause good fanfic is really hard to come by, but also because I was the type of person who read books they love multiple times though. It also helps that I'm a speed reader and that whenever I read long fics, I makes sure to use a script to make it white type on a black background which helps with eye strain immensely.

Dorked Since: Dec, 2012
#14: Nov 4th 2014 at 3:25:45 PM

Long fics can be awesome because it means you have a lot to go through, so if you're bored and need something to do, you can just let yourself get sucked into a story. It just takes a while to actually catch up, and when you do, you're stuck waiting for the next update. That's where I'm at with quite a few of the fics I'm reading atm.

But I also find long fics fun to write. I dunno, maybe it's just a matter of preference, but I've had a great deal of fun crafting my fic series, even if it takes forever to finish a story. There's just something really rewarding about finishing a 200k+ word fic. A lot of stories get abandoned before they see completion, after all, which is always sad to see.

My Fanfiction Account | Kingdom Hearts: The Antipode series
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