(no subject)

[ldhenson]

If there's one major disadvantage to being as slow a fic writer as I am, it's that you run the risk of being scooped (perfectly legitimately of course) by other fics. I've just gone through and scuttled a number of plot elements in my notes because what's been posted this past week turned out to be a bit too similar, and I haven't even read all the new stuff. What's left of my fic looks a bit gutted, as the entire middle third is now kaput.

Don't get me wrong, I'm delighted the fandom is taking off; I just wish the hamsters powering the wheels in my brain ran a little faster :-)

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/solo____/]

That really bothers me, when a writer I like says that. I mean, I can understand it, from the writer's own point of view. But as a reader, I feel that reading about a particular plot element in one writer's story doesn't mean I wouldn't like to read it (maybe even more) in a different writer's story, maybe somebody whose style I like better. I can't even count the number of times I've seen a plot done in a mediocre or downright terrible way and thought "I wish XYZ had done this / would do this: she'd do it so much better!"

And the thought that a writer as good as you might be letting other treatments of the same plot elements stop them from putting them a story is... very upsetting!

[gypsyjr.livejournal.com]

*points at the above comment*

Right. What she said. ;)

[prairiestar.livejournal.com]

There are only so many stories under the sun... and when you already have characters, backstory, etc. laid out for you as we do in fan fiction, then that makes the field of possible stories even narrower.

If someone else's story says exactly what you planned to say, so much so that you're no longer inspired to say it, then I can totally understand axing parts of your notes. It's no fun writing a story that you think is going to be redundant.

But in this fandom especially, I think there are certain scenarios (watching DVDs on Danny's couch, eating cornettos, hanging out at the pub) that are going to crop up a million times in a million stories, at least at this early stage. And there are certain themes that we as writers are going to all jump on right away in unison (Nick's "switching off" issue and surrounding Man-Psychology Issues) because they're either slashy or fascinating or both.

So I guess I'm saying... um... I want you to write some more stuff soon? :) And that I agree with solo____. And while I can't speak for other writers, I won't be bothered if you post a story that has plot elements similar to stuff I've written. 'Cos we're all ripping off Simon and Edgar, anyway. ;)