Fandom Poll and Discussion: The Fundamental Fanfiction Exchange Thread

[themostepotente]

Since fanfiction exchanges seem to be so big in fandom, I thought I would do a huge discussion to gauge everyone's opinions on them. The two biggest Potterverse exchanges -- merry_smutmas and reversathon -- were huge successes and this year will mark the third round of merry_smutmas, now in full swing.

First off, I'd like to start by applauding the efforts of gmth hostess of merry_smutmas, fluffyllama hostess of reversathon, lysrouge and lizardspots hostesses of hpvalensmut, starrysummer hostess of hp_springsmut, and underlucius hostess of the first annual harry_holidays. I know it can be very time consuming, and without the cooperation of its participants, quite hectic I'd imagine.

I, for one, am a big fan of fic exchanges and have participated in four since I joined fandom. I regret passing on this year's reversathon, but I hope to participate next year and happily enjoyed the entries of those that did.

And this year's merry_smutmas looks to be the biggest and baddest yet!

So without further adieu, I bring you the ultimate fan fiction exchange thread: part poll and part discussion. Looking forward to everyone's thoughts and input!

[Poll #561327]

And what's a TMP discussion without a few essay-type questions? *G*

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

--P

Comments

[catrinella.livejournal.com]

I've done a number of exchanges in other fandoms. merry_smutmas will be my first HP exchange, and I think Gina is already sick of me. ;-) (here through daily_snitch, btw.)

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.
If the match was good, I am happy. I don't mind being asked to stretch a bit, as I like a challenge, but I once got a match where I think the host simply mixed up the list without reading the requests and strengths first. I did my best, which was merely adequate. My gift fic was painful to read, as the writer clearly had no interest in my requested topic.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?
Complainers - in 95% of cases, suck it up. It's a challenge. If you want to write a specific fic, write it. Post it elsewhere. Don't bitch because you can't use your One True Idea for this exchange. In the other cases, reassignment or help with brainstorming, or gentle mediation between giver and giftee, can do wonders.

Drop-outs - as others have said, it depends on the reason. Disappearing is just bad form, and should result in bans (with room, of course, for immediate disaster - fic never comes first in those cases).

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)
Love it. I'm already mostly done with my Smutmas fic, so I'll be open for pinches in both Smutmas and harry_holidays if needed. I like deadlines and challenges. That said, as a recipient, I appreciated knowing that someone pinch-hit for me. It made the gift a bit more special.

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?
A very small one in the Tick fandom almost ten years ago. I can't find that story any more (egad, it was typed, but it was perhaps the funniest thing I've ever written.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is going to sound conceited, but I'm pretty convinced that I'm an okay writer, so most of the time I know what I've written will come out all right.

Marksy, you are WAY more than just 'okay.' Christ, when you mentioned conceited, I thought you might actually mean it. *G*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Actually, what really bugs me are the people who pull a vanishing act--sign up and never post anything, never respond to the mod's prodding, just kinda disappear. It's like, hello, way to commit...

Happened to me at hp_springsmut last year. Luckily, I received something from underlucius. I love her writing, so I'm sure I got the better deal.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

*chuckles* I made you give me a different assignment last year. Did you want to kill me? *G*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Dayum, Snoy, you wrote me a novel! *G*

So unless there's some really big issue, like, if I received an assignment to write Albus/Stan fluff, then I don't see any reason why I would complain.

If anyone could write this pairing, you could. With a side o' Stawkes I might add :-)

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I might complain just so you'll bitch-slap me. *G*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I try a lot harder when I'm writing a gift fic.

So do I. Therefore I'd never submit a PWP.

[licoricegirl.livejournal.com]

You would. :D Would you like me to use nails or leave them out?

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Use the nails, baby. Use the nails.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I was hesitant about my harry_holidays assignment, because the girl liked het and I'm as slashy as they get, but then I asked a few questions and found out she likes filthy slash smut as well. :D

I think fic exchanges should be one or the other unless otherwise specified.

[licoricegirl.livejournal.com]

*curls hand and rears back while staring at THAT ICON OMG*

Yeah, I'm good at multi-tasking.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

If it's a personal reason that crops up, well, that's unavoidable.

See florahart's being hit by a car excuse :P

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I expect that most people would find little things to alter in fics they wrote that long ago.

Nothing irritates me more than finding mistakes years later.

[lore]

1.) Are you generally satisfied or unsatisfied with the fics you submit? Explain.

Generally, unsatisfied, but only because I look at what everyone else is producing and feel inadequate and sorry for my recipient. I think if I had written and posted the same stories just on my own, I wouldn't feel so bad about them.

2.) How do you think the drop-outs (last minute or otherwise) and the complainers (those who are unsatisfied with their assignments and bitch to the hostess) should be handled?

Honestly, I think exchange mods should have a sooper sekrit community they can join and trade the names of people who flake out and why. I totally understand about RL issues (I'm avoiding some now by writing this), but I would want to know if someone did it before or had a pattern of it.

Some girl I stressed out about writing for flaked out on the exchange, but it was a small, more personal group who was doing it, and I doubt any of the bigger exchange mods would have noticed. But I see this girl around posting, volunteering for other exchanges and having the general respect of her peers, and I wonder if she's cleaned up her act or if she's just quietly fooling everyone.

3.) What are your thoughts on pinch-hitting? (Writing a last minute emergency fic)

I think they are all amazing people, but I do wonder if they would sometimes write longer or more involved stories if they were given the same kind of time everyone originally had. I also think they should be given some sort of special consideration the next time the exchange is run or the next time the mod runs a different exchange.

For example, the merry_smutmas pinch-hitters are being offered paid LJ time for their trouble this year. But I think a better reward, or maybe a more motivating one, might be having an automatic spot on next year's exchange list, because competition to sign up for that exchange is so high. Kind of a "Hey, you did me a solid, now you have a solid 'in' for next year, if you want it." Or, they could take the LJ time. ;)

Man, I'm presumptuous. I'm really just using Smutmas as an example, because it's the one that's been on my mind and has the most competition for places in the exchange. I don't know why I think about these things, I would never be brave enough to try and sign up for it. Anyway....

4.) And lastly, what has been your favorite fic exchange and why?

I'd have to say Dear Santa, the smaller, more personal exchange, which is why I'm not linking it. I had all the highs (omg I received such an excellent story) and lows (the bailing girl and the utter inadequacy of my own offering) there.

love, lore

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

The first year we did Smutmas, I had a bunch of people drop out of the fest *after* their own gifts were posted. I was livid, which is why I changed the posting process last year so that wouldn't occur again.

That's just scandalous.

I've had several people drop out of Smutmas over the past two years, and I am nurturing a secret little grudge against every single one of them. It has an impact on every interaction I have with them from that point on.

You give people THREE months to write 1000 words, and I think that's MORE than generous. 1000 words fercrissakes, that's all. There's no excuse, really.

Well I can't really answer that objectively. :-) Of the two I've participated in, I think I enjoyed hp_remix the most, because I got to write one of my OTPs for that fest (Snape/Lucius).

It's always great when you get to write your OTP :-) And you? Snape/Lucius? No. *G*

[happiestwhen.livejournal.com]

I know, I ramble leik woah. *headdesk*

Hahaha, oh, but Albus/Stan is on the list of pairings that are Not Allowed. Because a) Stan is spotty hate, b) his accent is hard to write, and c) something like 'Spotted Beard' really doesn't have enough pizazz to be a good ship name. :P

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Didn't you win Lusty Month of May?

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I don't know, maybe I'm still naive enough to find it inconceivable that anybody would complain about something another person put so much effort into, unless it was an obviously shoddy piece of work.

You'd be surprised.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I'm really glad you're in this year's fest, Beth. I look forward to trying to guess which one is yours.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Dude, I totally forgot about hp_remix. I officially suck ass :P

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

You with a laundry list of no-nos? I don't believe it.

[xylodemon.livejournal.com]

I'm a pretty sick bitch. But yeah. No Dumblesmut. Or fluff.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

A hospital stay is totally excusable, Em. You suck. Just in the dirty, porny sorta way. *G*

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

You're right. My bad. I should have included more artist specific questions.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

Sometimes you can't meet as many requests as you'd like, and that's okay.