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itsadrizzit) wrote2018-01-05 12:17 pm
Fandom Snowflake Challenge: Day 4
Day 4
In your own space, create a fannish wishlist. No limits on size or type of fanwork; just tell us what you’d like to see. Leave a comment in this post saying you did it. Include a link to your post if you feel comfortable doing so. And if you grant a wish, do the same thing!
Once more I'm a day late to the party, but I'm hoping I can manage two posts today and get caught up. In this case, the biggest item on my wishlist has been stated much more eloquently by others and there has been much discourse around it in the past day since everyone else posted, so I will just link you to some conversations happening here and here before I add my thoughts since I rather feel like the person who showed up fifteen minutes late to the meeting and burst in with my brilliant idea that everyone has already finished discussing. I keep telling myself someday I'll be relevant. I keep being wrong.
That done, here is my wishlist in no particular order. It gets a bit self-indulgent and existential in parts, as is the way of any wishlist I manage to throw together:
- Transformative Works Statements
- Time
- Curated Rec Lists
- More podficcers in my fandoms
1. Transformative Works Statements
This is the thing that others have said much better than I, but that doesn't mean I shouldn't still include them, since there are still those out there who don't even know that Transformative Works Statements are something that exists, let alone their utility.
Essentially, these statements express your intentions for what people can/cannot do with you work. They're something that makes things easier for those creating transformative or derivative works of your work since you express your preferences up front, which saves podficcers or artists or translators or remixers or vidders or whatever the time and energy of contacting you to ask permission to create their art based on your art AND it saves you (should you choose) having to answer all those asks.
Many podficcers, myself included, won't even consider making a podfic unless the author has blanket permission to do so, and in my case I generally won't even read a fic unless the author has blanket permission. I realise this is a bit of a hardline and as far as I know I may be the only one with this stance. It's not that I don't think that other fics aren't lovely or captivating or monumentally worth reading...it's that I have a VERY limited time to read fic (see #2 below) and I don't want to run the risk of reading something, falling in love with it to the point that I want to podfic it, and then have to go through the process of asking permission and possibly not hearing back. I get really excited to create things and I 100% understand that authors don't owe me anything, but I want to know that if I fall in love with a fic I can podfic it and the best way for me to do that is limit myself to things that give me permission to do so up front. I have a lot of anxiety and awkwardness around asking authors permissions and this is a way I manage both my time and my self-care. I come off as really blunt here, I realise. I'm not. I'm also an author. I respect the right of refusal. I just also exercise my own right of refusal to read.
So. Transformative Works statements. They can be yes. they can be no, they can be maybe. The whole point is for you to express your intentions so that people know. Put it in your AO3 profile. Put it on your Tumblr page. Put it on your DW. Put it wherever your fic is posted. If you give a "maybe, please ask" that's fine, but then give a place where it will be convenient for people to ask AND where you will somewhat regularly check the messages. Often, podficcers are on a deadline for fests/gifts/challenges and we spend a lot of time playing the "is the author just busy or have they left fandom or are they blatantly ignoring my ask" game, which none of us wants to play, trust me.
I want to re-emphasise. IT IS OKAY TO SAY NO. People have their reasons for not wanting derivative works created and that's fine. You don't owe those reasons to anyone. It's better to (respectfully) say "Sorry, but please don't make transformative works based on my work." than to say nothing. Note: I say "respectfully". I mean, your profile and your statement are your own, so do whatever you need, but don't expect podficcers and other artists not to get a bit upset at you if you say "Podfic is awful and doesn't count as an art form and I hate it so please don't do it because it's gross."
2.TIME
Yes, okay. We all want time. I get that. But! Lately as I become more involved in fandom, I'm noticing that I don't have time for all of: consume canon/source material, create fanworks, participate in reading/consuming others' fanworks, comment on others' fanworks and respond to the comments on your own fanworks. Honestly, it's two full-time jobs for me somehow and I honestly don't know how most of you manage it. I can MAYBE do two out of those things, but three just has me spending every waking moment that I'm not off doing my actual job just trying to keep my head above water in fandom, and that is not the fandom experience I want.
Sadly, consuming others' work and commenting/responding to comments is the thing that falls by the wayside more often than not, which has the effect of making me feel rude and selfish and also slightly disconnected from fandom, neither of which is what I want.
So I need to find time or a balance or a better system or...SOMETHING.
Which brings me to #3.
3. Someone to make me curated fic/podfic/fanwork rec lists
I told you we were getting a bit self-serving.
So here's the thing. I would LOVE to read more fanfic. I would. For one thing, it's hard to podfic if you haven't actually *read* any fic, since you haven't found anything to record. For another, I have all these fandoms that I say "I am in this fandom" and LOVE the canon, but when it comes to actual fannish spaces I'm like ehhhhh I haven't actually read a single fic in that fandom. Again, this makes me feel a bit disconnected since I feel like I can't always fully participate. For another, it makes me feel a bit selfish because I have friends in those fandoms and I want to read their work, but I just...don't. And they are highly supportive of me and my work and then I'm over here like "thanks for loving my content, I can't be bothered with yours!"
This will come off.........poorly, I think, but I'm nothing if not blunt and honest and I never learned how to temper my answers with niceties the way many other more eloquent people have, but...I really don't have time to read anything but the best fic. It's true. I mean, the idea of taking the time and effort to wade through things I don't like is just...I'd rather just not read anything. I acknowledge that this is me being precious because FANDOM IS FREE and no one owes me anything, but it's the way things are.
Partly, this is why I choose podfic over fic most of the time. 1. because I can listen to it all day while working or commuting or walking so I can actually consume it in spaces where I can't consume fic. 2. It's usually, at its heart, a fic rec. Someone else in this fandom has taken the time to read this story and loved it so much that they wanted to read it over and over again and then listen to it over and over again as they edit. Safe to assume, it's probably pretty good fic. 3. I can put it on in the background so if it's not the best work, eh, I can shift my focus elsewhere.
That said, I'm usually pretty conscious to leave feedback for the fic author if I enjoyed their story via the podfic. I think that's important. I can compliment the podficcer on their reading, but if the story itself moved me, it's important to also tell the author that, since they are the ones that crafted the narrative.
So, what I want, is some way to easily access a compiled lists of "If you read no other fic in this fandom, I recommend you read these". And then I will read them. Because sometimes I look for fic I want to read and it takes me an entire evening and I have 50 AO3 tabs open and I just look at it in despair like...fuck it...and close the whole situation, thereby negating all the work of my evening, and that makes me sad because I want to read fic.
4. More podfic in my fandoms
Grasping at straws here. I exist mostly in small fandoms and small spaces within those fandoms and even fewer podficcers hanging out in those fandoms and just...it's not that I *mind* creating my own fanworks, it's just SO LOVELY to think that there are fandoms where you can listen to OTHER PEOPLE read you stories instead of just the sound of your own voice. Add to this my point above that in many cases podfic is the way I consume fic/participate in fandom and it's just...when you're the only one in your space making the podfics you then have to do all the legwork of reading the fic yourself and it takes more time and we're back in this circle of FANDOM IS EXHAUSTING.
So....those are my thoughts. I understand that they are not necessarily nice and that they are probably coming off as harsh. That's just sort of...the way I communicate, for better or worse. I wish I had the art of putting things delicately, but it's not in my culture, sadly. I'm happy to engage (respectfully) on any of this because I assure you that I'm well-meaning and probably just not coming off as well as I want to. Thanks for reading this far if you've made it.
no 3 isn't self serving at all
The thing with fandom nowadays is that writers tend to be sensitive (and wondering WHY NOT ME ME ME ME) if their fic isn't on the best of. Also, especially with football RPF (the fandom of which we currently share) it's fairly... territorial, and there are just some teams/characters/pairings people won't read for love nor money, and it's not a fandom that offers a lot 'gen' fic.
You have people from various teams wondering why people don't write for their clubs! I do remember seeing two 'best of' end of year lists by individual members of the fandom, but friends tend to rec other friends (although last minute sub had a lot of good fics this year, I will admit).
Probably just as how there are monthly prompt tumblrs for fandom, there could be a monthly rec on, but like you say, fandom is WORK.
No 4. it's just SO LOVELY to think that there are fandoms where you can listen to OTHER PEOPLE read you stories instead of just the sound of your own voice.
I... kinda know your feels? In terms of say writing pairings and getting tired of your own writing (which is why I write prompts for people, tbh, because it keeps me interested and interesting, but I digress). It's like, of COURSE, you can cook your meals and what you eat is serviceable, but sometimes you want to go somewhere else and eat what someone else has prepared because they might add a different spice that makes it all new again!
Also, you can only learn when you see what other people are doing (even if it's just to say, Gracious no, I'd NEVER DO THAT).
Alas, I'm no Radio 4 presenter so my reading voice isn't the greatest. If someone could walk me through Garageband 2017 (YOU HEAR ME FANDOM), I'd give podficcing another attempt and do try to do something.
Re: no 3 isn't self serving at all
Yeah, we've had the conversation about operating in your rarepairs and small corners of the fandom multiple times and just...I don't mind listening to my own podfic (some podficcers LOATHE it), but it's always nice to have a fresh take on things. I know you know those feels like...I just want to consume the thing without doing the work sometimes. 100%. This is why I so deeply appreciate when others make fic/podfic for me like...it's just a breath of fresh air for me to sit back and just enjoy without having to put in all the time.
Re: no 3 isn't self serving at all
Nah, they can go kick rocks, because it's not even about identifying new fic. Sometimes, it's not just if the fic is good (although it is 90 percent of the thing) but if it suits the mood that you're in. Rec lists are good for that. Which is why you had crack_van over in LJ and a person reccing 4 fics over the month for various fandoms and pairings, it was awesome. You got a primer of the pairing, what the person liked about said pairing, and oh, here are fics showing exactly why the pairing is the ONE TRUE WAY.
Recommendations from people tend to include how a fic made them feel, and some people tend to be in the mood for domestic or coffee AU vs canon compliant, versus song fic, or wing fic or just plan PWP. Is it Tropey to the point of parody (which can be fun), or is it deeply poetic to the point of tears.
Even by reading someone's rec, you can go, "Ah, a fluffy fic about x/y picking gingham curtains for their bedroom? Adorable !" and read/listen to that under the covers on a Sunday with the terrible weather confined to outside. I UNDERSTAND DEM FEELS.
Also, rec lists help in terms of discovering new to you writers, and they do separate the wheat from the chaff (although one man's meat is another man's poison, etc). In addition, back in the day (fandom old, here), if you found one good writer, you were assured there were five more in the vicinity of their LJ, because they travelled in packs (be it beta'ing each other's work, or chattering in each other's LJs, or riffing through RPGs, etc) and they'd be in the same fandom.
Nowadays, I do know good writers in my part of Tumblr but they write for teams I can't be arsed to read about (which I won't go into there). I've got nothing but love for them and if push came to shove, I'd beta the fic in good faith and cheer them on, but... my fandom involvement stops there. Sorry, not sorry.
I know you know those feels like...I just want to consume the thing without doing the work sometimes. 100%.
Yes. Sometimes, you want to sit at a table and get a meal served for you, and not wanting to make the sausage, as it were. I do understand those feelings frightfully well.
I know that you are unapologetic about these things, so I won't do the "Oh, don't apologise...", I'll just say that I too, know those feels. Also, it's a fandom wishlist, no? In matters like these, if you don't ask, you don't get.
Re: no 3 isn't self serving at all
Nowadays, I do know good writers in my part of Tumblr but they write for teams I can't be arsed to read about (which I won't go into there). I've got nothing but love for them and if push came to shove, I'd beta the fic in good faith and cheer them on, but... my fandom involvement stops there. Sorry, not sorry.
YES THIS!!! I follow a lot of talented writers, but when it comes to what they write I'm like...ehhhhhh not my thing. I want to support them because they are friends and many are supportive of me, but like...I guess we can just be friends who don't read one another's work because that pairing will never do anything for me no matter how brilliant the writing.
I know that you are unapologetic about these things
It's true. I'm too old to feel shame over stating my opinions (unless they are obviously wrong or harmful, of course) all the time. As you said, if you don't ask, you don't get.
Thanks
Re: no 3 isn't self serving at all
Yeah! I get on like a house on fire with a Man United fan on Tumblr (she's bae) to the point where I've written Man United fic for her, and will encourage her with her stories but... I won't read her main pairing. I mean, the (fandom) heart wants what it wants. My heart wants interesting prompts about people/situations that I actually like. :D
comment on transformative works
The thing with energy that you put into things where you think you should, it's the bits that you neglect which will cripple you and you not knowing it. Hence that strange Bjork song All is full of love when she talks about being given love but how it might come from directions you weren't looking in, or the sources you didn't even think about (okay, it's a weird song, but the sentiment still stands).
If I didn't have a BP on my profile we never would have 'met', and gotten podfic of my work (which, what?) because of The Schrödinger's Cat of Asking and steeling yourself for whatever answer might come your way. As in, yeah, there's no BP, so let me ask, but suppose the writer says yes, no, maybe so? Or not answer at all and my desire is eroding like a sandbank in a hurricane. For the sake of your own self and time, you do have to move on. If a writer can't see that and be moved to do a statement of TW/ BP (even if it's a no, ppl), well, some people can't be helped, I guess.
Re: comment on transformative works
Re: comment on transformative works
Quite! It starts and ends there. Because it's not just permission for people to podfic, but to make video and comics and just general transformative works. In the defence of a lot of newer writers to the fandom, a lot of them just don't know. I do give them a link to a few examples, and more times than not they've amended their profiles (but to be fair, those are the ones who don't moan).
Oh well, if ONE person comes across this and amends their profiles for a BP, that's something. But honestly, although I'm a part of the tribe, a lot of us writers are kinda...entitled.
There are a million and a half fanfics out there...a transformative works statement is a sure boost towards getting me to notice yours if that's what you need/want.
If people don't know the value of a Transformative Works statement, they should know now.
a couple of recs
The series is Infinite Protection and Coffee Detail, by Owlet. The premise is that at the end of Winter Soldier, Bucky's mission resets from Kill Steve to Protect Steve. It's stunningly written, funny and snarky and heartbreaking and just the best. Which is what you requested.
http://archiveofourown.org/series/195689
If you like Star Trek (reboot) at all, here's an excellent couple of fics by Sinestrated:
Hurricane - Focused on Wynonna Kirk, and why she's such a badass mom. http://archiveofourown.org/works/859437
Antigravity - 5 times Spock was surprised by Kirk's brilliance, and one time he saw it coming. http://archiveofourown.org/works/887915
Re: a couple of recs
Not huge into MCU, but I may check this out. I did like the Star Trek reboot movies and these sound worth a read.
THANK YOU for the recs!
Re: a couple of recs
Re: a couple of recs
Thanks again!
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For a more complete list of pairings and likes/dislikes, see this post that talks about it in detail.
Here are my most main fandoms, although it is almost certainly not an exhaustive list:
There is probably other stuff I'm missing.
As for fic I'd specifically like...my challenge to myself this year is to actually READ fic, so I sadly can't say "OMG I WANT A PODFIC OF THIS" for anything other than Yuri on Ice and some Football RPF right now. That said, my AO3 bookmarks link here is a good collection of things I like and/or was thinking of podficcing myself sometime so it's the best I've got.
And if none of that inspires you, that's just fine! I appreciate the thought!
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