fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #5769 ]

[ SECRET POST #5769 ]

⌈ Secret Post #5789 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 69 secrets from Secret Submission Post #826.
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.

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04. https://i.imgur.com/TjTdxTl.png

I must admit, I prefer longfics. That way I get to spend more time with all the characters and worlds that I love. Fanfic: I'm in it for a longtime, not just a good time.

I want to spend more time with these characters! I want more exhaustively detailed descriptions of their feelings and interactions and relationship with each other. That's why I'm here.

+2

I'll admit I've reread some very nice short fics, but man do they leave me craving for more :(((

+100

Same. But darned if I am not impressed by people who can write a short, punchy work. (I am not one of them XD)

I’m not sure what the distinction is supposed to be between thoughtful and thoughtless fic. I guess the problem could be with crackfic like “Luna Eats an Oreo,” but those are short because the joke can’t be stretched any farther.

Edited 2022-10-22 20:34 (UTC)

Leaving aside the rest of this nonsense for now, it's "useless as tits on a bull," not rare. Bulls have nipples. They're like most male mammals that way.

Fair, OP.

I'm not looking for deep connections and a long story with in depth characters (most times). Most times I just want to capture a moment and short fics can do that, offer that instant gratification. I myself often setup a lot so my fics can be a little long. I'm envious of writers who can capture a moment well. Or to put me on an emotional roller coaster in so few words.

Like, I think people are looking for a tv show/series meanwhile I'm looking for music videos, short films, 90 minute movies...shorter forms of storytelling. but not just poems.

Not to say I think short fics are "better". I think I just find the experimentation more investing in short fics since I know I don't have to stick around the world for too long. And I think it's impressive a writer can suck me into their world in a short fic.

I do love long fics and I respect writers who can write long fics because they're really hard to write, to plan out. As a writer, it's so much fun to be absorbed in the world of the fic I'm writing.
As a reader though, my attention wanders and I feel bad that I take forever to finish a fic.

I hear ya on this. It's why when I was in the AOS!Trek fandom I'd say about 90% of my bookmarks were longfics. The shortest ones were usually around 4,000, enough to keep me entertained while eating lunch.

I disagree on most of these points.

I disagree that good short fics are extremely rare, as that has not been my experience. I disagree with calling fanfic (which people do for fun and for free) “lazy.” I disagree with calling imagines (which people do for fun and for free without claiming they're anything other than what they are) “lazy.” I disagree with how you’re characterizing people who create fan content throughout this secret. And while obviously there is no law or rule forcing anyone to give a shout out to other creators whose content served as inspiration--nor should there be--I personally will always shout out other creators who inspired me, because why wouldn’t I want to acknowledge them in that way and spread the positivity around? Appreciation and acknowledgement are not zero sum games, after all.

+1 on all of this.

found the short-fic writers, LOL

I love writing very short fic but I realize it's not what everybody is looking for. I wouldn't say anything I've written is just a "plot bunny" and I do put work into my stories.

But if that's not what people want to read, fine. Other people do want to read it and that's good too.

Edited 2022-10-22 21:34 (UTC)

I also don't like short fics and prefer writing long fics myself.

But your anger about short fic seems... disproportionate?

People in fandom are writing what they want and sharing it, for free, most often with no external editorial advice.

On top of that, a lot of the people in fandom are young and/or inexperienced writers. Many aren't interested in writing longfic as it is intimidating, but many others use short fic to practise writing, gauge engagement with their ideas and get feedback. And many of those choose not to write longer fic if their shorter fic doesn't get the hits they want, as the effort to reward doesn't seem worth it.

What I'm trying to say is, it's pretty damn entitled to go on a rant about how fandom doesn't cater to your interests specifically, without even trying to imagine the perspective of the writers themselves.

Here's this old chestnut to cap it all off: Want more of X? Write it yourself!

The anger is because they are a shortfic fan, but there was a comment a little while back about not liking shortfics and now they are trying to write an ultra extremist parody of it to try and make people who prefer longfics look bad.

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(Anonymous) - 2022-10-23 19:48 (UTC) - Expand

Are you, er, trying to start a fight, OP?

This discussion might be more interesting if we hadn't already had it last week.

exactly

Short fics are my favorites. I enjoy reading them before bed and I don't need them to be super deep or anything. I enjoy longer fics too, but most of the time, I just wanna read about my OTP being silly and decorating a cake.

Alright. Got it the first time.

I think it depends on the type of fic. For example, I don't need PWPs to be super long, and sometimes short can be written really well.

I've seen this argument for as long as I've been part of fandom, going on 23 years. The claim is that longfic is intrinsically "better" than shortfic, because reasons.

That's your opinion -- IE, there is no objective measurement of "better". Of course, you are totally entitled to your opinion; we like what we like, and there's really no changing it.

But I take exception to your classification of all shortfic as "lazy" and "low-effort thoughtless nonsense". Some of it is, but some of everything is poorly-crafted and unsatisfying. I've seen and enjoyed shortfic that was expertly crafted, each word carefully chosen for its impact, that left me deeply moved -- and it's not as rare as you imply.

You're also denigrating those authors who work damn hard to write shortfic, and simply can't manage longer stories. Their stories may not be to your taste, and sometimes they're not to mine, but they have just as much right to write and post their fic as do the authors of longfic. Someone likes their stories, and that's all that's necessary; no one claims that every story should or will appeal to every reader.

Everyone has their preferences, and no one suggests that we should learn to like what we don't prefer. But there's no need to label your non-preferred genre as "bad" just because you, personally, don't like it. The solution is really quite simple -- set your search parameters for >3,000 words -- or >5,000 if you prefer -- and you won't even see the shortfic and the "imagines".

I remember this comment from the last secret bitching about short fics.

Honestly I have always found people trying to make stupid rules for fanfic, and fan art absurd. It's a fucking hobby people do for fun. Stop treating it like it's a job where the writer, or artist owes you something.

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(Anonymous) - 2022-10-23 13:02 (UTC) - Expand

I like reading short fics :) I get to read as many as I want in my fandom and have a very good time.

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