Ooh, this makes me itch for a comprehensive list of "I Swear You Won't Be Wasting Your Time On Crap" list of fanfic- "Firefly", "Angel" and "Buffy". I usually give up after the fourth mispelling of Serenity or some such.

aver | July 14, 11:34 CET

"There are fans out there just can't let go." The first sentence, and this writer's already made a verbal speedbump. Shouldn't there be a that in there somewhere?

ZachsMind | July 14, 17:36 CET

Yeah, it really is hard to find decent fics out there. Hard to wade through the deluge of things that should never be written. But when you find a good one, it's very rewarding. Sadly, that's very rare. Unless you have very low standards, in which case there are TONS of great fics out there! ; )

Rogue Slayer | July 14, 20:05 CET

"Ooh, this makes me itch for a comprehensive list of "I Swear You Won't Be Wasting Your Time On Crap" list of fanfic- "Firefly", "Angel" and "Buffy". I usually give up after the fourth mispelling of Serenity or some such."

Yeah the internet has given everyone a voice, but that's not always a good thing. I've written a couple stories myself a while back (nothing special, just fun to do), but you have to be your own rigorous editor on all levels. Then have someone proofread and discuss their findings, then back to the drawing board, etc. Most people can't be bothered. There is some really good writing out there but it's probably about 95% that sucks the big hairy ones. I used to read ff but I just got tired of having to dig so hard through so much crap.

(Although finding REALLY really bad ones can be entertaining in it's own way.)

Misspellings are one of my main pet peeves as well. Especially names. How can you write 'Xander' in one sentence and then 'Zander' the next??? Or when they give characters nothing but stock lines. (Anya says something about sex and genitals or money every single time she opens her mouth.) Or far worse, when everyone is completely out of character. (Giles calling Buffy a dumb bitch and Buffy finding that quite normal.)

Then there are recurring elements that seem to have been solely invented and maintained by fandom: Willow saying 'Goddess' all the time. (She said it *once*....in Chosen. And people had her saying it years before that) The addition of the word 'Childe' to 'Sire' and how on earth do you even pronounce 'Childe'? Or how they have 'Buffy' suddenly be short for 'Elizabeth'.....WTF??

And let's not forget the endless so called AU (Alternate Universe) stories where 'Buffy is a vicar's daughter and William 'Spike' Johnson is the sexy vagabond that wonders into town'.......urggll....all we need is a Fabio cover.

But my most favorite moments? Things like these:

"...Giles looked at her intensely. "We simply MUST find the Ruby, Buffy. Because (Author's Note: I couldn't think of a good reason why they need the Ruby so just pretend there's a really important reason for it that's really good. okay?) Buffy nodded and..."

Now that's priceless.....

EdDantes | July 14, 21:45 CET

Buffy is a version of Elizabeth ,the British Queen Mother went by it when she was young ,but of course it's also a name in it's own right so I understand where that fanfic item has come from

garda39 | July 14, 22:25 CET

Sometimes, a story idea just hits you out of nowhere, something that you wanted to see or thought you should see that never happened, and then? It's all over.

That happened to me too. I've written five fics now and have many more ideas for stories but I have difficulty fleshing them out and most of my story ideas never materialize.

My latest idea is of a post-Not Fade Away Spike and Illyria story which I'm struggling with. I did write a couple addendums to it. One is a letter to Wesley from Illyria and another is about a dream Illyria keeps having.

I write fanfic because I am a writer. Poetry was my forte until last year when I was disappointed with my writing and Buffy inspired me to write about the characters I love. I've always wanted to write fiction but it took the passion I have for Buffy universe to inspire me.

I write out of love for the characters and because I never want the Buffyverse to end. I choose my stories carefully and it's always out of deep love and fascination. The scenes and events I want to see happen; I can make them happen in my imagination. Putting them into my stories is a way for me to practice my writing and to make these events unfold. It's very emotional for me.

electricspacegirl | July 14, 22:50 CET

"Buffy is a version of Elizabeth ,the British Queen Mother went by it when she was young ,but of course it's also a name in it's own right so I understand where that fanfic item has come from "

Interesting, that's the first time I hear that. At least it has some roots then. However I think it's pretty much certain by now that Buffy from the show is just called 'Buffy Anne Summers'. Not 'Elizabeth Anne Summers', so I still fail to see the why of it.

"I write out of love for the characters and because I never want the Buffyverse to end."

Yeah that's the reason we all write/read fanfic. We just want to stay in the Buffyverse however we can. Just wish it was easier finding good stuff.

EdDantes | July 15, 00:01 CET

Just found this while looking for something else entirely

If Famous Authors Wrote FanFic

last one in the list is BtVs.

Also found this comparison. While not quite on topic, still kinda funny.

herb | July 15, 00:26 CET

Love the "Famous Authors" link, Herb. I don't know Nicholas Sparks's work, but, IMO, the writer nailed Rice, Sedaris, and Rand! (And jeez, just the juxtaposition of Ayn Rand and Buffy sends chills down my spine . . . )

SoddingNancyTribe | July 15, 00:52 CET

The best thing about being called Giles is I can write Mary-Sue fan-fic and no one will know!

Um.

Damn - what a giveaway.

giles (yes, it is my real name) | July 15, 01:31 CET

Just wish it was easier finding good stuff.

That's why I'm very picky about what I fics I read. I usually stick to reading a just a few authors.

electricspacegirl | July 15, 01:53 CET