[ SECRET POST #3369 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #3369 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

01.


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02. http://i.imgur.com/6Q4pNb9.gifv
[moving .gif]


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03.
[Mulan 2]


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04.


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05.


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06.
(Devil May Cry)


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07.


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08.
(Justin Lukach, Departures)


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09.


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10.
[New Tricks]


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11.


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12.
[One Direction]


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13.
(rantasmo)


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14.


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15.
[Killer Instinct for xbox one]


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16.
[Fallen London]


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17.


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18. [SPOILERS for The Blacklist]




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19. [SPOILERS for Zootopia]




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20. [SPOILERS for Boku dake ga Inai Machi (ERASED)]




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21. [SPOILERS for House of Cards (Character Death)]




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22. [WARNING for rape/sexual assault]



















Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 000 secrets from Secret Submission Post #481.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

07. http://i67.tinypic.com/2niz6ee.jpg

Transcript by OP

[fscom]

I accidentally became a BNF (or at least a medium one) in a small fandom.
It was a case of right place at the right time rather than any exceptional talent. Now I am writing a fic that runs counter to the ethos of the show.

Before my unexpected rise, I wanted to write it to see whether I could sell this premise to the skeptics. Now I am tempted to write OOC fluff and lower people's expectations of my writing.
(I won't. I know I won't. I have too much respect for the amazing readers and writers in the fandom, and too much pride. But I am tempted.)

OP

[(Anonymous)]

Oh man, I swear that seemed easier to read when I wrote it! Sorry :(

[fingalsanteater]

If you are a BNF they'll probably like it no matter what.

[(Anonymous)]

Be the change you want to see OP!

[silverr]

Another option is to post it under a second/sockpuppet account. You still get to write it, people get to read it, but you keep it separate from your BNF status (which, inadvertent or not, seems to matter to you.)

[(Anonymous)]

Honestly, I considered it, but think that my voice is distinctive enough (for the fandom) and there are enough people aware I'm writing it that it wouldn't work.

And it's less that the status matters and more I *don't* want it. I mean, it's a lovely ego stroke to hear "I don't usually read X but I'd give yours a shot", but the (largely self-inflicted) pressure to always be BETTER than the last fic is not what I signed up for. LOL So if I fumbled a fic where people were already prepared for suckage, I can feel like I went back to my own obscure little corner without being so awful that nobody would read my next fics.

[(Anonymous)]

And on a second read, I assume you got that it mattered from the pride statement! Which is a fair enough reading. It's more that I am a perfectionist who will not turn out subpar work deliberately.

[(Anonymous)]

unsolicited advice OP, write the entire story you want to write, sit on it a month or two without looking at it, reread it and then decide if it is subpar or not.

A few months time can give you a lot of perspective and a chance to 'cleanse' your mind with other projects. Kind of like eating grapes or... pickled ginger.

[(Anonymous)]

By the time I finish it, the early bits will have been waiting months! lol I think the problem re: subpar and such is that I could write the few thousand words of OOC fluff. It might lower expectations, and would require far less thought. But what I really want to do is to do this idea WELL; I want to tackle the characterisations and the themes and the really meaty side of things. It's why I decided to write the idea despite reservations in the first place. And if it sucks, it won't be through lack of effort.

But I could knock out that OOC fluff in two hours and become "decent but not OMG IT'S YOU" again. And there is a certain appeal in that. (The story, the readers, and my own perectionism deserve better than to actually DO it. But it is occasionally fun to contemplate.)

[(Anonymous)]

NAYRT

You know I follow some writers that put out some really meaty serious stories that I love, but then they also write some silly fluff and honestly I love that too. It's neat to see a writer switch it up.

[(Anonymous)]

I do write fluff! I think this is one of the cases where it would make more sense with the specifics but the specifics are too specific, if that makes sense? It's... there is trope X; it's a common enough trope, but it runs very, very counter to who the characters are and what they stand for. I could write it as a bit of fluff--there would be readers because there are always readers for that trope--or I could stay true to the characters and the source, and *attempt* (not necessarily succeed, but put in a damn good effort) to make it emotionally plausible and tackle some of the issues that make the source so wonderful.

And if I'm going to write Trope X, I *want* it to be good; I'm convincing myself it could work as much as I'm convincing the readers, really. But when I'm 30K into a fic and still layering the subplots and nowhere near where I expected to be and I have well-meant comments reminding me that people have Expectations now and I find myself wishing that a better writer was taking this story on to do it justice? I find myself going "But, but... I could just write a few thousand words of fluff and never deal with Expectations again!" I won't--the story deserves better, the fandom deserves better (it is, seriously, amazing), and I won't be happy unless I do my best and I *am* excited to write something with these themes. I just wish I'd written this fic BEFORE I discovered the weight of other people's expectations.

[(Anonymous)]

you are allowed to write fluff on the side. really, big meaty projects almost require fluff relief stories to take off the pressure.

I'm sorry. I was under the impression you hadn't posted any of this 'big meaty' story yet. You're only at 80 odd pages (yes, that is roughly 30,000 words.) please, try to relax. If you were at 300 pages (160,000 words) and still layering in subplots, I'd be a lot more worried. (Has been there.) You sound like you really want to try and do this story justice. Just, also, don't be afraid to look at your premise and edit it down to something manageable in ONE story. You can pick up the other ideas for sequels or later stories.

And don't worry about months, there are fans that will wait years. *hugs*

this type of stuff comes with a learning curve. remember how much you want to write that particular story and do the best you can.

[(Anonymous)]

Honestly, on a second read this secret was really poorly worded! The long fic isn't posted but (rather accidentally) teased through fluffy side projects. Maybe I need to vent more fluff feelings in that direction. Although the fic itself needs moments of fluff.

And thank you for the perspective about length--this fandom does tend towards shorter fics: the longest is "only" 100Kish (I can say only because I wrote it!), and most long fics are more 60-70 thousand. To still be setting stuff up at this stage is me going "Oh god, this is going to be long again. So much for simple." And during my last long fic I did finally have to say "This one fic cannot be social commentary AND destructive AND bittersweet AND flesh out every minor character AND provide them with thematic arcs"-- you'd think I'd have taken on the lesson after that one! :D

[silverr]

Well, only you know what would truly make you happy, but here's my 2 cents.

You have no obligation to always top yourself (really, look at the number of successful published authors who recycle the 'same old same old' book after book).

My principle is, write what you want, but only if it's fun for you and makes you happy. If tossing out something new and different that you feel is inferior gets you out of the spotlight (and if being out of the spotlight would make you happy), then you might as do it. (I've always believed that Thomas Harris wrote Hannibal to get readers off his back :p). Trying something new might lower you audience's expectations, but it's also possible that an entirely new crop of readers might adore you. It's a burden you'll have to risk.

P.S. Unless your style is very VERY distinctive -- I'm talking ee cummings here -- then I wouldn't worry about a second pen name anyhow. If readers DO notice a similarity, they'll probably just assume that this new person is imitating you. :p

P.P.S. Oh, I agree that "I never read X but I read this" is one of the most wonderful comments to get.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you! :) (And the other posters, who I have forgotten to address in my vain attempts to explain without giving the fandom away!)

Honestly, as much as I want to lower people's expectations I want to do this story justice even more. Doing it well--or as well as I can, because it is TOUGH--is what will make me happier. But when it's fighting me I think of how much nicer it would be to knock out a couple of thousand words and never deal with expectations again. LOL

As for the second pen name; I've, uh, written some very short ficlets that deal with this continuity. Not hugely popular ones, but enough that people would put two and two together. It is a *small* fandom. And if I changed the specifics it wouldn't be the same story anymore, if you know what I mean? So I'm stuck admitting to this fic whether it ends up sucking despite my efforts(preferable), securing my status as One Who Writes Meaty Fics, or somewhere in between.

[silverr]

Honestly, as much as I want to lower people's expectations I want to do this story justice even more. Doing it well--or as well as I can, because it is TOUGH--is what will make me happier. But when it's fighting me I think of how much nicer it would be to knock out a couple of thousand words and never deal with expectations again. LOL

I completely understand this.

In the end, unless you're giving tours to Panderville, it's tough to predict reader response. ~ I still say, write what you want, post a) when it meets your standards;, or b) when your beta gives you the green light, or c) when you're entirely sick of it (which at least allows you to move on to something else).

And keep in mind, it's always possible to sneak in and do stealth edits after something is posted. *grins*

[(Anonymous)]

Thanks again. Especially on the stealth edits front; for some reason that's never occured to me! And the advantage to posting this secret is trying to explain it without identifying the fandom has reminded me of the things I'm most enthusiastic about. The timing couldn't be worse--I'm about to go on a trip where writing time will be extremely limited--but it's been helpful! :D

[silverr]

(I mean, you can't shift HUGE chunks around to change major plot points, but to me it's entirely legit to fine-tune word choices, or resequence a conversation by moving the paragraphs around. In my experience even re-readers rarely notice -- and if they do, usually they say that the story is 'even better than they remember!' which I consider a win-win.)

Have fun! The break and the forced non-writing is likely to give you quite a good buildup of steam pressure by the time you get back.

[rivulet027]

Write what make you happy. Write what you'd want to go back and read.