I like to think I try to give some leeway with OOC-ness, since sometimes it has it's purposes (a character possessed, or with amnesia, for example). But there's a line, and usually I only see it as it approaches. I like AUs as much as the next person, but I like to know I'm reading an AU and that it's not an author who can't write the character. One of the fandoms I'm active in is based on a British TV series, and even though I'm an American I'll quickly back out of a fic if the characters are using too much American slang. You're spot on, the character has to be recognizable!
There's something to be said about knowing when to expand upon an idea or description in a story, and when to cut it out. I like description, but like you too much makes me skim it or skip past it, especially if it adds nothing to the plot. Similarly, I hate it when conversations come off "un-natural": I've a read a few fics where the characters almost give speeches at each other in place of dialogue, and rather than a natural back and forth the characters answer each other's multiple-topic speech with a multiple-topic response. It just throws me out of a fic, since I find myself thinking "that's now how people speak!"
I'm with you, feedback seems to have become a lost art almost. I was discussing this the other day with shiny_glor_chan about how with tumblr, which has apparently become a huge fanfic community now, people can basically "like" your story, but that doesn't tell the author what they liked or why. Similarly, I've noticed a lot of people on LJ (or fanfiction.net) simply say "Loved it!" or something equally brief. From my rather long ago forays into fic writing (I seem to have had writer's block for the last 4 years), I remember being frustrated by comments like this even though I was appreciative. I was like you, not really venturing out or putting my works out there much, so every comment was definitely cherished. But the ones that really struck me were the ones where my reviewer told me what they liked and why. Because that let me know what I was doing right, and if there was something I was trying to say or do with a fic and no one commented on it, then I knew what I was doing wrong. So I felt those comments really helped improve my writing, and really let me know if I got my intentions across. Hence my philosophy on leaving meaningful feedback. (Sometimes I'll even wait a few days after I read a fic, just to ensure I've had time to digest it and time to adequately write a complete review.)
I'm right there with you on fact stuff! Thankfully my fandoms (DCU and Torchwood/Doctor Who) are pretty good with facts and such, though a personal tick of mine is sometimes trying to figure out if something is canon or fanon. I used to somewhat obsess over this, but I've been working on reigning myself in since it's not really vital often, and fanon can be just as "factual" or compelling as actual canon. Still, glaring and major errors that go against canon can really set me off--and it's one of the reasons I've had difficulty embracing the post-reboot DCU (I mean, what still exists in continuity? Knightfall? No Man's Land? Officer Down? BW: Murderer/Fugitive? It's so frustrating at times!).
Well I'm glad you can handle my muddled mess of Parens and such! I try to use ellipses sparingly, though I used to be worse with them! And I'm glad for the discussion, because it's fun to meta on fanfiction at times, especially if we're hoping to grow as writers or readers/reviewers. Talking through issues we see in the communities can only lead to improvement (or at least, commiseration!) And I also know what you mean about certain references causing you to lose focus, there are a few I have as well, but one that springs to mind is when someone refers to someone's penis as a "dick". I know it's a common term, but being in the DCU fandom for so long, I just first associate that word with a character's name rather than a body part! Takes me a minute to refocus, and if the author persists in using the term I'll often just mentally replace it with "cock" to save my sanity some. :o)
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There's something to be said about knowing when to expand upon an idea or description in a story, and when to cut it out. I like description, but like you too much makes me skim it or skip past it, especially if it adds nothing to the plot. Similarly, I hate it when conversations come off "un-natural": I've a read a few fics where the characters almost give speeches at each other in place of dialogue, and rather than a natural back and forth the characters answer each other's multiple-topic speech with a multiple-topic response. It just throws me out of a fic, since I find myself thinking "that's now how people speak!"
I'm with you, feedback seems to have become a lost art almost. I was discussing this the other day with
I'm right there with you on fact stuff! Thankfully my fandoms (DCU and Torchwood/Doctor Who) are pretty good with facts and such, though a personal tick of mine is sometimes trying to figure out if something is canon or fanon. I used to somewhat obsess over this, but I've been working on reigning myself in since it's not really vital often, and fanon can be just as "factual" or compelling as actual canon. Still, glaring and major errors that go against canon can really set me off--and it's one of the reasons I've had difficulty embracing the post-reboot DCU (I mean, what still exists in continuity? Knightfall? No Man's Land? Officer Down? BW: Murderer/Fugitive? It's so frustrating at times!).
Well I'm glad you can handle my muddled mess of Parens and such! I try to use ellipses sparingly, though I used to be worse with them! And I'm glad for the discussion, because it's fun to meta on fanfiction at times, especially if we're hoping to grow as writers or readers/reviewers. Talking through issues we see in the communities can only lead to improvement (or at least, commiseration!) And I also know what you mean about certain references causing you to lose focus, there are a few I have as well, but one that springs to mind is when someone refers to someone's penis as a "dick". I know it's a common term, but being in the DCU fandom for so long, I just first associate that word with a character's name rather than a body part! Takes me a minute to refocus, and if the author persists in using the term I'll often just mentally replace it with "cock" to save my sanity some. :o)