Fandom Discussion: Rarepairs and Response

[themostepotente]

I've been thinking about this for awhile, and I've just now gotten around to posting about it.

What is it about certain rarepairs and a lack of feedback that has some wondering; Is it worth my time to continue writing them?

I'm talking Snape/Lucius, Snape/Draco, Lucius/Sirius, Snape/Filch, and a host of others I can't think of right now, because fuckin' A it's 4 a.m., time for us vampiric types to be in their coffins.

But I mean c'mon -- Snape/Lucius? WTF, people. So effing hot, but every time I see a SS/LM fic, it gets next to no feedback. It doth boggles thy mind.

Snape/Draco is another one. I've seen some GORGEOUS Snaco, and yet the feedback SUCKS MY CYBERCOCK.

Not very encouraging, I can imagine, if you've ever wanted to attempt something different.

Someone once told me that Snarry, Harry/Draco, and Remus/Sirius comprises the backbone (skeletal system) of fandom. But man, what about the other systems?

So if you are a rarepairs writer, does the lack of feedback influence your writing them? Or do you just say 'Fuck the masses. I like it, and I'm still writing it!'

--P

Comments

[tipgardner.livejournal.com]

Hmm...my reading tends more to be driven by the writing qualities of the author. Do I like the style, structure, plot, etc.? That tends to drive me more than the pairing.

As far as writing is concerned, I haven't found an appreciable lowering or rise in feedback for my rareslash pairings versus my H/D for the most part. I find that if I post to the comms, I get more feedback, regardless of pair. Even my Patilcest got a decent amount of feedback in spite of warnings that I didn't think I'd managed to pull it off well at all. So, I would say if one's voice resonates with a good core of readers, even if it's a small number of readers as in my case, one will receive decent feedback.

I think to grow one's readership, if that is goal, a focus on more common pairs might make sense. But if that's not the concern, than I would say write what you like, just make it well written.

[themostepotente.livejournal.com]

I think to grow one's readership, if that is goal, a focus on more common pairs might make sense. But if that's not the concern, than I would say write what you like, just make it well written.

Some people, like atdelphi started out writing rare pairs, and have managed to become the exception. She does well writing Snape/Filch and Snape/Dumbledore.