paraka | Fic Reading Habits

Fic Reading Habits

So, I've been talking in a couple places to

paradise_city about fanfic, and our preferences.
The thing is, I'm not really comfortable talking about which fics I like, and which ones I don't. To some extent, I don't like leaving *comments* to fics, because then people will *know* I read it. It doesn't matter if it's the fandoms latest *hit* that already has 8 pages of comments, or if I'm the first to leave a comment (and it's been up for a month) it makes me nervous. I have to be in a very specific mood, or be affected by a fic in a very specific way before I leave a comment. And yes, I feel shame over this. Especially considering how much of a feedback whore I am.

But it comes down to not feeling comfortable having people know what fics I read; what type I enjoy. Because sometimes? The fandom's latest hit just doesn't impress me, or one that I just couldn't stop reading? I know other people would mock. Also, I read a lot of kink fic, and I'm kind of freaked out about what those fics reveal about me.

It also feels weird to admit that I hardly read any fics with ratings less than NC-17. When you say things like that, it sounds like you're just there for the sex, and really, most of the time I'm *not.* I skim sex scenes a lot, and hardly ever read PWPs, but won't read a longer one that doesn't have a high rating. I was talking on a com about this (ok, it was a com about how author's rate their fic, and how there's no reason for us to under rate it, but this came up), and someone said that they do that too, because it generally guarantees that the main couple get together (even if it's only temporary), and sex often conveys a level of intimacy that she's searching for. I think that's sort of it for me. I want for there to be a certain lever of intimacy in my fics (and I like my subtext textual, so I look for ones with sex).

Anyways, wandering off topic here, but I wanted to ask:
How comfortable are you with sharing your reading habits?
Are there any fics out there that you like/dislike, but are hesitant to admit it?

I always have anon comments available on my LJ, so feel free to use it, but I'm really interested in hearing people's responses to these questions. :)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I think I'm pretty comfortable sharing my reading habits but it's not something I volunteer, much like being in fandom to people in RL. I will say that I almost always read NC-17 and it's partly for the sex but the intimacy is definitely one of the most important parts, that feeling of deep connection you often find there and I'm more able to get an emotional response. I like finding stuff I wouldn't see in the source text and sex between guys usually isn't one of them. I'd be a bit more hesitant sharing any kink fic I like but then again it's fandom which is generally pretty accepting of most things. I'm fine with leaving comments to anything because I assume that either no ones reading besides the author or that readers have already read the story and don't mind it. In the end, who cares what you read, fandom's there for you to explore everything there is.

I think I'm pretty comfortable sharing my reading habits but it's not something I volunteer, much like being in fandom to people in RL.
Yeah, that's kind of what it's like for me. It's not like I'm always thinking "OMG! What if someone finds out I read this fic!" But I get kind of nervous talking about what it is I like to read. My best friend was the one who got me interested in fandom, and she's in about 50 different fandoms at any one time, because she only reads a fic if it's been rec'ed in three different places, so she used to mock me when I'd tell her what I was reading (I'm generally only in one fandom at a time, you can't just read perfect stuff if you're sticking to one fandom), I think that's where a lot of my insecurities come from.

That, and the QaF fandom was really hard on bad fic. I mean, there were two different communities set up to mock or complain about bad fic, and considering how small the fandom is...
Then there were those bad fic awards that really divided the fandom (which I think is where my paranoia about leaving comments comes from).

Even in SGA I've come across it, there's this one person on my flist who often makes posts mocking bad fic, except most of them I've read. Even if I didn't *love* them, I still didn't hate them or anything, so it makes me uncomfortable. And there are a lot of "Serious business" fics in this fandom, that everyone seems to go crazy over (Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lose, or Written By the Victor's) and I... just don't love them. I'm more likely to go crazy over the fic where Rodney gives birth to ducks.

I will say that I almost always read NC-17 and it's partly for the sex but the intimacy is definitely one of the most important parts, that feeling of deep connection you often find there and I'm more able to get an emotional response.
*nods*

I assume that either no ones reading besides the author
I... always read the first page of comments. Always. Does no one else do this? Am I just weird? Granted you're right, I did just finish reading the fic, but I'll finish reading a fic I didn't like, just because I have this compulsion to finish what I started (I'm getting better and closing the window, but still, most of the time, I finish it, even if I *hate* it, which will have me going o_O at the people leaving gushing comments of love, maybe that too, is why I hesitate in leaving comments...).

fandom's there for you to explore everything there is.
Oh if asked outright I'll tell you what I read, but like you said, I just don't feel the need to advertise. But after reading the rest of the comments, I'm beginning to think I'm just weird :P

I tend to go through bouts of not leaving feedback, because I'm lazy and everyone else's feedback is always more interesting than mine. I try to leave feedback for the more rare pairings to encourage the authors, but if a fic is really popular I often won't bother.

I am not ashamed of anything I read. I like what I like. Although, to be honest, I'm not ultra kinky, either. I will occasionally attempt to read something outside my comfort zone, either out of curiosity (some weird kink fic) or because of who wrote it (like the mpreg I managed to make myself finish--NEVER AGAIN), but not that often. There are also elements that I sometimes like in fic that I wouldn't in real life (like non-con). Also, if I don't like something, I'm not ashamed to admit it. Certain pairings really squick me, I can't stand mpreg , I'm not fond of most kidfic, etc.

I will admit that I'm a total intimacy junkie. My main reason for reading fic is for the emotional connection. I don't need actual sex as long as there is a strong emotional bond, but it's kind of a given that most fic with close emotion also has sex, which is why I don't read much genfic.

I tend to go through bouts of not leaving feedback, because I'm lazy and everyone else's feedback is always more interesting than mine.
Yeah, I will admit, laziness is the primary reason I don't leave a lot of feedback, and the other big factor is that I generally have no idea what to say. I try to leave more feedback when I'm reading Numb3rs fic, because it's a smaller fandom, but I'm *bad* at it, I once left a comment basically saying "I want to leave a comment to show that appreciate your sharing this, and encourage you to continue, but I have no idea what to say, so here." She smiled and said I could just leave a &heart; if I wanted. :P

Although, to be honest, I'm not ultra kinky
Says the woman using an icon of Brian tying Ben to the bed. :P

I do read kinky fics, and a lot of AUs and perfect characterizations aren't necessarily on the top of my list of what makes fic good. All are things that a lot of other people turn their nose down at. So it makes me a little self conscious.

Also, if I don't like something, I'm not ashamed to admit it. Certain pairings really squick me, I can't stand mpreg , I'm not fond of most kidfic, etc.
*pulls out special icons, just for you*
But actually, I don't mind mpreg in the right fanoms (QaF was *not* one of those fandoms) and kid fic is great if it's done right. :)

HAHA well, I guess what I mean is that I don't do the hardcore kink...I like someone tied to the bed and teased until they beg, but not tied to the bed and beaten, or wrapped in cellophane and duct tape.

I don't dislike all kidfic. I generally like the QaF fic with Gus, but then he's a canon character. It's mostly just that I'm not overly fond of children in general, and don't identify with the "this child completes our life OMG" mentality of most kidfic. That said, I love the Farm in Iowa AU in SGA. It really all depends on the author and whether or not the kids are unrealistically precocious. As for mpreg, it's just totally EEW! to me. Like scat and water sports.

perfect characterizations aren't necessarily on the top of my list of what makes fic good.

I agree. I tend to be more of a stickler for characterization in canon fic than I am in AUs, but I can give a bit of leeway as long as the deviation isn't extreme, because everyone's interpretation of a character is slightly different. Now, if something is too off, like dialogue that a character would never say in any realistic interpretation of canon, then it'll throw me clean out of a fic, but otherwise I can be a bit bendy.

There are a lot of fics that "people in the know" have gone "Pfft!" at that I really like, and fic that others have gone apenuts over that I didn't particulary care for. To each their own, I reckon.

HAHA well, I guess what I mean is that I don't do the hardcore kink...I like someone tied to the bed and teased until they beg, but not tied to the bed and beaten, or wrapped in cellophane and duct tape.
You've... actually run across fics with those kinks?
I'm trying to think back, but I can only think of 4 or so fics that go beyond light spanking or other types of light physical pain (and only 2 of those were in SGA and tried to show the relationship as a healthy one since I'm excluding non-con). Although, I suppose there must be more, since when I started writing this, I originally said none, but more and more kept popping up in my head.
Fanfic seems to be the place where everyone explores light bondage.

I don't dislike all kidfic. I generally like the QaF fic with Gus, but then he's a canon character. I don't dislike all kidfic. I generally like the QaF fic with Gus, but then he's a canon character.
:P See, I have a really strong maternal instinct (to the point where at certain hormonal times in my late teens I wanted to jump the nearest man and impregnate myself, I'm so not joking) so I love those kinds of fics, but yeah, it's just one of those things that you either like or don't.

It really all depends on the author and whether or not the kids are unrealistically precocious.
Yeah, that gets me. I wonder sometimes if the author has ever spent anytime around actual children. There are some fics where the kid is supposed to be 5, talks like a 3 year old, thinks like 10 year old, and never does anything bad. It makes you wonder, since it doesn't matter how good the kid is, most people wish they'd go away, at least for a little while, at least once a week :P

As for mpreg, it's just totally EEW! to me. Like scat and water sports.
Like I said, I couldn't take mpreg in the QaF fandom, mostly because no one was able to *handle* it at *all* ("Oh, didn't you know? Men are just *able* to have kids. They forgot to mention that in canon, but it's true.") and the fact that, as you said, there are already kids on the show, and so they already have an established way of getting kids if they want more for a fic. But with fandoms like HP and SGA, well they already have all these things that are outside our norm, that adding mpreg can be doable, even if it's still a huge stretch. Also, I love fics that mock mpreg like these ones (QaF) or Fuzzy Duck Smell (SGA).

Now, if something is too off, like dialogue that a character would never say in any realistic interpretation of canon, then it'll throw me clean out of a fic, but otherwise I can be a bit bendy.
Ha, there's a discussion going on in a comm I'm in about dialogue that throws us out of fics, specifically when an author does a bad job of writing a character whose nationality is different from their own. Nothing can throw you out like that. I remember having a discussion once with

sunshineandrage about a QaF fic where Brian and Justin went up to Canada to visit Gus, and the amount of things that they got wrong about Canada... Or when people completely change the way Rodney speaks in SGA fic, because they're trying to make him sound "Canadian" but don't realize that how Rodney speaks on the show, is how most Canadians speak. Of course, I notice the Canadian thing a lot, since I'm Canadian, I'm sure a lot of non-Canadians wouldn't even notice.

There are a lot of fics that "people in the know" have gone "Pfft!" at that I really like, and fic that others have gone apenuts over that I didn't particulary care for.
Yeah, it's that reaction that kind of made me write this post. Jut makes me wonder sometimes, ya know? :)

Hmmmmm. I'm a fic junkie, and use fic (and to some degree the source media itself) as a roller coaster. Which is why I'm fine with kink, rape-fic, apocalyptic!fic and dark!fic. I want fic to make me feel, even if that reaction is a shiver up my spine.

So I tend to go for long fic, with at least an R rating. I will generally only read drabbles from writers I know and who know that I've seen it. That way I'm guilted into reading and leaving feedback. *veg*

I hate AU's. High school, wild west, non-stargate SGA. Can't stand them. I read fic for more of what I see on the screen or read in the book. I am a genre junkie and will pick up a novel if I want something else. I don't want John, Rodney, Don Eppes etc as faces pasted onto another body.

And finally... because I can talk under wet cement and am not sure i've actually answered your questions... I'm better at leaving feedback than I was. LJ has done that to me. I feel guilty if someone who knows me writes something and I don't read it. Which means I have to tell them I've read it. Which means I have to leave feedback! But I tell them up front what I don't read. My N3 flisters know I only read gen and slash, so don't expect me to read or leave feedback for het.

I'm beginning to think I'm opinionated... *veg*

Edited because I can't type... *sigh*

I want fic to make me feel, even if that reaction is a shiver up my spine.
So much *yes* to that. I can forgive an awful lot of OOCness and other things if a fic can make me *feel* (OOCness seems to be one of the first things people tend to criticize, which gets me, since it's arguable one of the most changeable factors IMO).

I will generally only read drabbles from writers I know and who know that I've seen it. That way I'm guilted into reading and leaving feedback.
There are very few people on my flist that I friended because of their writing (maybe 2 or 3?) so I actually feel no obligation to leave feedback to their fic. Actually, there are quite a few author's on my flist whom I'm surprised to find out that they're an author, because I had never read their work. As far as I can remember actually, I've only left feedback once to an author on my current flist, and it wasn't anyone I was close to.
That seems really weird now that I think about it....

I hate AU's. High school, wild west, non-stargate SGA. Can't stand them... I don't want John, Rodney, Don Eppes etc as faces pasted onto another body.
Ha, AUs are probably some of my favourite fics. If I were to make a list of my top 5 fic, I'm pretty sure they'd all be AUs. I think I read fanfic because I like the familiarity of the characters and setting, but I'm willing to really stretch that familiarity, as I said in the first part of my comment.

I'm better at leaving feedback than I was. LJ has done that to me. I
Yeah, it's a lot easier to leave a comment than it is to write up an e-mail. Especially since it's ok to leave short "Yay!" comments, but, personally, I'd feel stupid doing the same via e-mail.

But yeah, interesting answers. So far, there aren't that many people who feel the need to *hide* what they like, so maybe I'm just weird.

I wonder how much of what we read has to do with (a) where we get our reading material and (b) what our friends read, both of which are linked. Personally, I'd love to read more SGA gen -- I love SGA gen. But I tend to get most of my links from rec lists, and most of the reccers I read lean toward NC-17 fic and away from gen fic. The same happens when people on my flist discuss fic they've read. I'm sure if I read more gen fic I'd have a better gen fic fan presence on my flist, but it's hard to get into that cycle.

As far as liking/disliking fics, there are some popular fics out there that don't really read as fic to me. The characters are just a bit too difficult to recognize as the written equivalent of their televised selves that it's easier (and more enjoyable) to read it more as original fic. For example, I had a really hard time getting into the Nantucket series. I think the authors are great and the stories appeal to my love of the everyday, mundane story, but those characters aren't John and Rodney to me. They're too sedate, too flat, completely missing that spark that really defines those characters. I didn't enjoy it at all as John/Rodney fic, but when I read it as fic with original characters who are have sort of John and Rodneyish personalities, it's much more enjoyable.

I think everyone has a set of traits that define their favorite characters. When those traits are contradicted or missing, it ruins that particular fic for that particular person, regardless of the quality of the work. I've never actually discussed that with anyone though, so it's just a pet theory, really.

Great post. Looking forward to reading more replies.

I wonder how much of what we read has to do with (a) where we get our reading material
Oh definitely. When I first started reading fic, I'd read anything I would come across, and then I'd troll through fandom archives reading all those fics. Then when I started reading in SGA, I basically went exclusively from rec lists, not I get most of me reading from my flist. Each of those different ways of finding fics led to my reading very different types of fic.

(b) what our friends read, both of which are linked.
*nods again*
It's not even just that cycle of which you spoke, but too, you'll find that each section of fandom (be it the difference between Gen/Het/Slash, or even just the difference between different pairings or certain character-centric fics) interpret fandom differently, and will have a separate set of fanon. I mostly read McShep, but there are a lot of other pairings I think are good (Rodney/Ronon, Rodney/Carson, Ronon/Teyla, Ronon/Elizabeth, Ronon/Radek, Radek/Lorne, etc.) but when I try to read fics with those pairings, I sometimes find the characters unrecognizable. Especially if it's a het pairing. I seem to find reading fics with different pairings OOC in a way that some of the more OOC McShep fics. Maybe it's because I've been reading MCShep for too long and now find any fic where they aren't a couple OOC, but... I don't think that's it, because I've read a few other pairing fics written by author's I know, and don't feel that. I think it does come down to how specific subsections of fandom decided to interpret canon. What do you think?

Personally, I'd love to read more SGA gen -- I love SGA gen. But I tend to get most of my links from rec lists, and most of the reccers I read lean toward NC-17 fic and away from gen fic.
Yeah, I totally get that. It's just so much easier to read what's coming at you rather than try to find a new place and build from there. I know I've told you this before, but I started off in SGA as a McBeck shipper. I had no interest what so ever in McShep, but my best friend and then room mate was reading McShep, and kept telling me about all these great fics she was reading, and I somehow got sucked over. And since there's such a huge presence of McShep available on LJ, I got stuck in that pairing. Not that I'm complaining :P

there are some popular fics out there that don't really read as fic to me. The characters are just a bit too difficult to recognize as the written equivalent of their televised selves that it's easier (and more enjoyable) to read it more as original fic.
I do that all the time, and I think that I have an easier time of that than a lot of other people. So long as I can respect the character as it's being portrayed, I have no problem reading a fic, even if it's really OOC (if the character is constantly crying, or acting just plain stupid, *that's* when I feel it's OOC, but I suppose it's more that I don't *like* the character). As you'll probably notice in my big ass To-Read list I sent to you there are a lot of AUs, crack!fic, and darker, emotional (and what most people call OOC) fics on it.
I think I read fic for different reasons than others. I read fic because there seems to be the kind of stories I want to read available than there are in bookstores. The familiarity of characters and settings just means I'm more likely to like those things than if I go in and read an original story. Seeing what's missing from the show is very much secondary for me.

For example, I had a really hard time getting into the Nantucket series.
You know, that's one of those fics I just haven't gotten around to reading yet. It's on my To-Read list, and I've listened to some of the pod fics that have been done for it, but they didn't have be running over to read the whole thing. That's the one where John is hurt and moves to Nantucket, and has a dog named Cash, right? I think you're right about the characters missing that spark, the bits I had listened to had me thinking what is this? because I couldn't really recognize the characters or see where the story was going. But that could totally be because I've only listened to parts. One day, I will actually try reading it. :P

I think everyone has a set of traits that define their favorite characters. When those traits are contradicted or missing, it ruins that particular fic for that particular person, regardless of the quality of the work
*nods*
I've had discussions that skirt this topic, but hardly anyone comes out and actually talks about it. Replying to comments on this thread has really made me come to terms with the kinds of fic I read; which of those traits I regard more highly than others, and already I can see where they clash with those that others hold as important.
Like that link I had given to you about that discussion I had with

amireal where she was saying it throws her out of a story if it seems improbable (how she lives in the SGA fandom with that idea I'm not quite sure...), bad medicine, societies that look like they'd implode if actually lived, reasons behind actions and plot devices; those are things that heavily influence her like or dislike of a story. But to me, some of the more improbable situations appeal to me. I love romance, and courtship, I nearly died of glee when

sgaflashfic held their harlequin challenge, and I have the harlequin comm on my flist. Mostly though, I want a fic to make me *feel*. That's what's most important to me. It can be the most outrageous piece of science thought up, but if it makes me laugh? Still good. It could have the character's be really OOC, but if it makes me cry? I'll love it. Because that's what I look for in fic. Something like Freedom's Just Another Word For Nothing Left to Lost didn't wow me the first time I read it, because it wasn't able to hit me emotionally (when I listened to the pod fic it was able to get me, but the first time it just left me feeling kind of meh) but something like Edges? It had me crying as I read it, and for most of the night after I finished. Every time I read it, it makes me cry, and I *love* it for that.

[Old comment, hi. Cleaning out email again. I'll try to keep the spam to a minimum.]

Mostly though, I want a fic to make me *feel*.
Yes, yesyesyes. I tend not to read a lot of angst because SGA's my happy fandom, but that one fic where Rodney cheated on John stayed with me. I think it was even written by one of those authors I don't like a lot, but the writing and the idea and...all of it, really. I still think about and I read it forever and a day ago. That fic in particular really made me feel and I really admire that.

I've been meaning to make some recs lately, and now I'll have do a little bit of thinking about the role the ability to feel a fic plays in reccing. Hmm. Thanks. :)

one fic where Rodney cheated on John stayed with me.
Oh, link?

And while the ability to make me cry is something I admire in a fic, that's not the only way to make me feel. Going "awww" or laughing is just as valid.
Yesterday at work I was stuck doing a really boring job (and will probably do the same today :-/) but was grinning like a loon, because I was listening to the podfic of Catch 19.

Actually a couple of times people at work have commented because I have a big smile on my face while staring at a spread sheet or something similarly boring, not realizing that I'm really listening to fic.

Also, as a side not on listening to stories. You know how you said you were uncomfortable listening to the porny moments, and I said I wasn't? Well, I don't know why, but the book I'm listening to now makes me really uncomfortable when they get to the porny moments. I'm not sure if it's because it's a professional reader doing it, or the fact that it's not fic, and so the porny bits are a lot more flowery than fic porn is, but it makes me squirm. :S

I read mostly NC-17 when I first got into fic, flush with the new joy of OMG, my boys doing it, and not just doing it, falling in looove. Which I think is what you're saying about sex and intimacy. But once I'd exhausted most of the NC-17 that was around then, I was more or less forced to read other ratings and found just as much looove.
In SGA!? You've run out of things to read in the SGA fandom!?

I think I actually started the other way, reading anything, and then narrowing it down to the higher rated stuff. But that's mostly because my fist fandom was Queer as Folk, so there was always at least implied boy love :P Now that I've been in fandoms where there are lots of different pairings available, and lots with no pairings at all, I find I use ratings as a way to see if it fits into what I'm looking for. But that's not to say I don't read things with other ratings, I just don't go out looking for it, but if something pops up on my flist, and can catch my attention, I'll read it, or at least put it on my To-Read list.

I discovered how much amazing genfic there was out there, most times with just as much looove--just expressed differently.
Yeah, I know there can be a lot of love expressed in gen fic. I just find myself getting impatient if the fic is very long, since I'm one of those people that likes my subtext textual :P So will pick up on the subtext and want the to *do* something about it, and nothing pisses gen writers off more than saying that (not that I ever have, I'm not stupid, but apparently people do :S).
I do love short gen though, that just gives a little look into what life is like for our team.

As for sharing my reading habits. Not in RL, no. Only a select few, by which I mean literally two, have any idea I'm in fandom.
There are actually a few people in my RL who know, but that's mostly because I found out about fandom from people I know in RL.
But it's really hard to explain fandom to people who haven't experienced it. Once a guy at work asked me what I was reading, and I sort of tried to explain, but once we got to slash ("It sound violent" "Errr, not really, it has nothing to do with slasher movies") I stopped, because I just was *not* going to go there.

But in terms of what people on the internet think? I don't care. I have yet to run across the most filthy-disgusting-baby-eating story in fandom that I adore and no one else does. Because if that story is out there, and I do adore it, I know that fandom is such that other people adore it too, and a lot of them are less shy than me in saying so. I think fandom is an extremely accepting place, that's one thing I love about it.
See, I think my problem is, I actually have come across situations where things I've read and liked have gotten disdain from others. My best friend, the one who introduced me to fandom, in the early days would just shake her head when I'd talk about the kind of fics I was reading. There have been plenty of occasions on my flist where fics that I have read and liked have been attacked or mocked. And lastly there's me rolling my eyes at my little sister when she talks about the kind of fics she reads (that I wouldn't touch if they were the last fics on earth if her explanation is anything to go by).
So I've come across people not accepting what other people read and like (I've even done it myself). Granted when I do it, I tend to just think, wow, I don't want to read that myself, but still hold the thought that if just one person enjoyed a fic (and I include the author here) than it's worthwhile, and that's probably true for the other people who have made me feel like that, but still, I think I make things bigger in my head than they really are.

I don't give the best feedback, I know, but I also know that as a writer I might like the really detailed comments the best, but I treasure each and every one.
Yeah, that's what I have to tell myself whenever I'm trying to talk myself into leaving comments. I know I'm a total feedback whore, and just a little can get me started again (even if I don't end up *finishing* as has been the case for the past *year*).

How comfortable are you with sharing your reading habits? Are there any fics out there that you like/dislike, but are hesitant to admit it?

Somewhat comfortable. I don't comment as much as I should in response to fic I like, but that has more to do with general laziness on my part than wanting to hide my fic taste from others. Like

anoel said above, I tend to think that the only people who'd read my feedback and therefore know that I liked such and such a fic would be those that shared my appreciation of it so that's not something I really worry about.

But yeah, there are a lot of "classics" by BNFs in my various fandoms I would never admit to disliking 'cause I don't want to piss people off.

Rec'ing fic on the other hand is trickier. To be fair, I rarely rec fic on my lj, but when I do, it's always stuff I think is amazing, objectively speaking, never the crack!fic that I so enjoy.

I also shy away from lower rated fic and balk at gen-centric fic. Ironically enough, I don't really care for sex scenes that aren't preceded by a lot of PG type stuff beforehand because it's the build-up I love. I'm a sucker for first time fic, and always feel cheated if somehow the characters are already aware of their feelings for each other or fall into each other's arms by the second page.

Meanwhile, it took me forever to try the Retrograde Series in SGA fandom because I knew it was gen for like the first five books and that when the slash finally cropped up it'd be in the form of Rodney/John/Teyla which isn't really my cup o' tea. But when I buckled down and forced myself to give it a go, I totally fell in love with it. Same with that HP Sacrifices Series I told you about before wherein there's 3 and 1/2 massive books before the slash enters into it, and I was so sure that the AU premise and the fact that it'd take so long for the H/D stuff to start up would put me off, but in the end, it wound up being my very favorite fic series to date. So yeah, I'm inconsistent to the max.

I don't comment as much as I should in response to fic I like, but that has more to do with general laziness on my part than wanting to hide my fic taste from others.
I know it didn't come off as such in my post, but the main reason I don't comment more is from pure laziness. The hiding fic habits is just a sort of side thing that only comes up once in a while with less than mainstream fic that I might read.

But yeah, there are a lot of "classics" by BNFs in my various fandoms I would never admit to disliking 'cause I don't want to piss people off.
Yeah, there are some fics that some people going on about being *soo* good, or really *deep* or what have you, that I read, and just go meh to. The most recent for me is Written by the Victors, people seemed to be going *crazy* about that fic, there were vids and art and fanfic made for it, but when I finally got to the fic... I didn't hate it or anything, but it didn't feel special to me either.

Rec'ing fic on the other hand is trickier. To be fair, I rarely rec fic on my lj, but when I do, it's always stuff I think is amazing, objectively speaking, never the crack!fic that I so enjoy.
See, I would so be behind people rec'ing more crack fic. Like, I love how

eleveninches seems to always be rec'ing crack fic. I think the last one she linked to publicly was one where everyone was *Turkeys*. That's just awesome.

I also shy away from lower rated fic and balk at gen-centric fic. Ironically enough, I don't really care for sex scenes that aren't preceded by a lot of PG type stuff beforehand because it's the build-up I love.
Yes! Exactly! That's exactly what I'm like.

I'm a sucker for first time fic, and always feel cheated if somehow the characters are already aware of their feelings for each other or fall into each other's arms by the second page.
Yeah most of the pre-established fics that I read tend to be short, and just they guys having fun. Although I can think of a few that I love that aren't like that....

Meanwhile, it took me forever to try the Retrograde Series in SGA fandom because I knew it was gen for like the first five books and that when the slash finally cropped up it'd be in the form of Rodney/John/Teyla which isn't really my cup o' tea.
OMG, I don't know if I could read that. I do love the build up, but if there aren't strong hints and aborted actions along the way it would drive me *crazy*.
But then again, I spent a large part of my teenage years reading romance novels, so that kind of courtship is often what I'm looking for in fic.

So yeah, I'm inconsistent to the max.
You know, I thought I as too, but the more I respond to comments in this thread, the more I realize that I do actually have a pretty clear idea of what it is I like to read. I just had never really stopped to think about it before.

I think the last one she linked to publicly was one where everyone was *Turkeys*. That's just awesome.

I LOVED THAT FIC! It was even more amazing than my heretofore favorite penguin!McShep fics. :D

I'm going to have to move it up on my To-Read list.
The premise alone sounded pretty awesome.

I tend not to comment either, but not because I don't want people to know what I'm reading, just because I'm too lazy. And of course I feel terribly guilty about that because I too am a comment whore. Another reason is that I usually read fics several days or weeks after they've been posted, and that always makes me feel awkward for some reason. It makes no sense whatsoever, but that's my little pea brain for you. The only fics I make a point of commenting on are ones written by someone I know, and then it's only because I worry that if I don't comment, the author will think I either didn't read it or didn't like it.

How comfortable are you with sharing your reading habits?
I'm actually pretty comfortable, but I have to be asked. I used to be a fic slut, meaning I would read just about anything and everything. Even mpreg. The only rule I had was that it had to be B/J (no B/other or J/other) centric. Now my tastes are a bit more refined: I won't read mpreg (unless it's tongue-in-cheek), or AU that's *too* AU (Brian and Justin meeting under completely different circumstances is fine, but they can't be vampires or anything, nor can it be in a different time period).

Another thing that has just recently changed is that I never used to read any other fandoms other than B/J. Lately I've been reading a lot of Luke/Noah fic from As The World Turns, which I started watching when I found out that there was a cute gay couple on the show. For some reason, I'm only interested in actual gay couples who are together on the show, rather than characters who are only together in someone's imagination.

Are there any fics out there that you like/dislike, but are hesitant to admit it?
I like most of Gaedhal's stuff, though I've seen her stuff referred to as badfic. *shrugs* And I'm not reluctant to admit it, but I dislike the whole concept of Brian/Mikey fic. In fact, I resent any author who paints Mikey in a positive light. Lol.

I tend not to comment either, but not because I don't want people to know what I'm reading, just because I'm too lazy.
Yes, well, I'll admit, laziness is my number one factor in not commenting. Also, I tend to do most of my reading when I'm lying down in bed, with my laptop on the table beside me, so it's not all that easy to type.

Another reason is that I usually read fics several days or weeks after they've been posted, and that always makes me feel awkward for some reason. It makes no sense whatsoever, but that's my little pea brain for you.
Oh that never hold me back. That'll stop me from responding to comments (I feel dumb replying to something when they commented like a week ago), but with fics...I think it can actually be beneficial to get comments a little while after, because as a comment whore, it can help get me motivated if I'm in a dry spell. I tend to go through phases where I work a lot, and then long long times doing nothing, but getting a comment during one of those dry spells can pull me out of it.

The only fics I make a point of commenting on are ones written by someone I know, and then it's only because I worry that if I don't comment, the author will think I either didn't read it or didn't like it.
You know, I never think of doing that. In fact, I won't get to reading a story by someone on my flist any faster than I would any other fic. But then again, I think there's only one person on my flist who I friended for their fic, and actually talk to them (the rest I either friended for reasons other than their fics, or they're BNFs that don't actually talk to me).

I used to be a fic slut, meaning I would read just about anything and everything. Even mpreg.
Yeah, with QaF I would read whatever I could find, and would constantly check out the archives to see what was there, now I hardly ever look for fic, since it all comes to me (via my flist, or rec lists).

Now my tastes are a bit more refined: I won't read mpreg (unless it's tongue-in-cheek), or AU that's *too* AU (Brian and Justin meeting under completely different circumstances is fine, but they can't be vampires or anything, nor can it be in a different time period).
What!? No AUs? That's totally my bread and butter. And QaF had some classics, like that one author who wrote the one where Brain was a 1920s gangster, or Justin was a Celtic warrior, and I think she wrote a high school AU. Was her name Joanne? I don't know, but she wrote some of the best crazy premise AUs. :P

For some reason, I'm only interested in actual gay couples who are together on the show, rather than characters who are only together in someone's imagination.
You know, if you change your mind, McKay/Sheppard is almost canon. Actually I'm pretty sure there are some essays floating around about how John is gay in canon (and to be honest, last weeks ep, I could totally see he with the way John looked totally *pained* while being forced to "flirt" with Larrin).
So yes, I will totally get over my fear of sharing my fic tastes if you change your mind.

I like most of Gaedhal's stuff, though I've seen her stuff referred to as badfic. *shrugs*
Yeah, the QaF fandom is actually pretty harsh on what they consider bad!fic, especially considering they don't have an abundance of good fic.
But it seems they put any sort of AU (although not ARs, where they start from the beginning but change things) under the category of "Bad!Fic"

I dislike the whole concept of Brian/Mikey fic. In fact, I resent any author who paints Mikey in a positive light. Lol.
*sigh* I hate it when people turn Michael evil. He was a really nice guy! Sure I don't want to read Brian/Michael, but keep him in character! Please!
But the again, I was a closet Justin/Michael shipper. *points at icon*
Although, there are a lot of people like you, that hate him in any positive light. I found if funny that at bjfic.net there was an anti-Michael warning tag.

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