I'm definitely a rare pairs writer. I think only one ship that I really write (and haven't in a while) is what would be termed a "popular" ship. I love feedback, who doesn't? However, I write the characters I love to write and I don't care if they're rare or not. I mostly write het, of course, and your discussion seems aimed at slash, but it counts in het just as much as slash. I also prefer rare ships for my slash. I love Draco/Remus, Snape/Black, Draco/Sirius, Severus/Lucius and Sirius/Lucius is my favorite slash pair and one I've even attempted to write a few times. I can appreciate Draco/Snape because the dynamic works. I'm actually not much of a fan of the "popular" ships, never reading Draco/Harry and rarely reading Sirius/Remus or Severus/Harry. Do I wish I received more feedback for the fics I've spent hours and hours writing? Heck yes. Do I regret spending five hours writing a Lucius/Narcissa, Hermione/Twins, Hermione/Adrian, Hermione/Marcus, Hermione/Blaise, Hermione/Pansy, or Hermione/Lucius? No way. I love writing the ships I enjoy and one reason I tend to focus so much on the rare pairs is because there is such a lack of fic out there to read so I sort of just write my own *grin* It would be stupid of me to think that everyone is going to embrace and love the rare pairs that I enjoy so I try not to let the lack of feedback lead me into writing a Draco/Hermione just to get reviews unless I've got an idea that really appeals to me and must be written.

By the way, I may be about ready to start brainstorming that Sirius/Lucius/Narcissa with you, if you'd like. I've only got one deadline left and it's for March so I should be okay if you're still wanting to play around with me with that fic *grin*

Inell