(no subject)

[cherry]

Those who know me know I love gen, and crave character studies.

I was talking to sprat this evening, and she mentioned that I'm more than likely not alone in this.

Here's the thought: Would there be interest in a multifandom community for the posting of gen fiction?

[Poll #656112]

Comments

[ex-thissuga.livejournal.com]

there is something like that out there somewhere! uh. contralamontre? let me look.

*looks*

damnit. I don't have it friended anywhere. --ame_soeur, which is a challenge community. oh. er, sorry. *G*

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Well, if there is already a multifandom gen community, that could certainly throw a wrench into my plans -- most of the responce I've had so far has been positive, though.

[ex-thissuga.livejournal.com]

yeah, I mean, I was going off MY memory, so I'm surprised there existed anything even close...

ps: It's not that I wouldn't like that kind of community (although I end up not writing that much that I consider gen; not that it's not, but it always has the canonical subtext I percieve, but--) but I don't read or write jackshit anymore. *G* so I didn't answer. because there was no box that went, "great idea! um, I suck, I probably won't participate. but great idea!"

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Hee! *snugs* There totally should have been an option for "I don't really fic any more, but I'm not going to stop you."

The nature of gen can be kind of tricky. I'm a bit more lenient in my classification than some others are -- if it's primarily a character study with background pairings, I'll accept it as gen. Most likely not for the purpose of the community, should I form it; but if it's cannon that, say, Jack Harkness would flirt with a plotted plant, it's still gen if he flirts with random people but doesn't get involved.

BTW, I am snagging those Bones as soon as my random computer memory issues are less random and less of an issue, if that's all right.

[ex-thissuga.livejournal.com]

a. gen to me = like the show and not focused on pairing; if the pairing is present (like say Wash and Zoe in Firefly!) it is a minor side note to the overall story. but that's my weird personal definition.

b. please do take bones! and let me know so I know when I can delete'em.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

a. No, I totally agree. Anything that's focused on a ship if not gen. I was only saying that if it *is* canon, you can't just ignore it.

b. I shall! Thank you again.

[isiscolo.livejournal.com]

[via friendsfriends]

I can't answer your poll, because my answer is: I like gen (and in some fandoms, that's all I read) but I don't think a multifandom gen community is a good idea, because most people read for specific fandoms.

People can always post gen stories in their own ljs, and in the fandoms I'm into there are gen-specific or gen-friendly communities to post fic or fic links. I don't see that a multifandom gen community would add anything.

Now, if you're in a fandom that has no gen-friendly communities, it might be worth creating one.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

but I don't think a multifandom gen community is a good idea, because most people read for specific fandoms.

This is actually my initial (and overwhelming) worry. Archives like Silverlake work because they have a high enough subscription level that there's something for pretty much anyone. I'm not that powerful, and I'm not sure gen is enough of a draw.

However, the rest of the response I've received has been positive, so I am still considering it. You raise some good points, though, and I shall certainly take them into consideration.

[groovekittie.livejournal.com]

I admit it. I'm a shipper whore. I love my ship fic. But everyonce in a while (like when the season is over), I craaaaaaave genfic. It's like watching the show. All my shows.

I even wrote one genfic once. haven't posted it anywhere though. Wouldn't know where to start. It's kind of short and a crossover, so there's no where to post it. lol

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

See, I realize that I'm fandom's odd duck. I absolutely adore gen and character studies -- it's not like it's all I read, but I certainly do tend to crave it. Perhaps partially because (I find) it's a smaller portion of the total.

[gloss]

Yes, please do this - I found, in reading on the FemGen 'thon masterlist, that my love of gen crosses many, many fandoms/sources and it would *rock* to have a common site.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I have been known, personally, to walk many miles through the desert for character studies.

I'm rather heartened by the response I've been seeing -- a lot of people seem interested. The largest worry, however, is the crossfandom nature of it. Would I be able to draw enough people who read a mix of fandoms for people to feel it would be worth posting there? I don't exactly carry a lot of clout in fandom in and of myself. *G*

[gloss]

Would I be able to draw enough people who read a mix of fandoms for people to feel it would be worth posting there?
I think so, particularly with good promotion - I can think of several people on my flist who'd *jump* at the chance to join and post. Would you like me to pimp this poll?

I don't exactly carry a lot of clout in fandom in and of myself.
But fandom would be a *much* cooler place if you were queen. Oh, yes. *fangirls*

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

I think so, particularly with good promotion - I can think of several people on my flist who'd *jump* at the chance to join and post. Would you like me to pimp this poll?
If you'd be so kind, I would adore it.

But fandom would be a *much* cooler place if you were queen. Oh, yes. *fangirls*
Hehehe. *giggles and bows* Thank you. (Recent discussions have raised the possibility that I am my own fandom. There are numerous pairings written only by me, and characters of whom I am the only fan. Also, upon occasions I've been known to have kerfluffles with myself.)*

* From the above, no serious delusions of grandeur on the part of cherryice should be taken.

[gloss]

Done!

Also, upon occasions I've been known to have kerfluffles with myself.
*dies*
You, too? I feel slightly comforted now. ;)

[quasi-hayley.livejournal.com]

I'd love to see a multi-fandom gen community. It's annoying to have to go to ten different comms to read gen especially because there's so few gen communities in general even in specific fandoms. Nearly everyone reads more than two fandoms so why not?

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

*nod* I have no problem with ship fic, I don't, it's just that a lot of the time what I'm craving is character interaction without romance, or character studies. A lot of fandoms (large and small) are dominated by ship fic, and in small fandoms it isn't worth setting up a gen com.

I'm still a bit worried about the 'making everyone think they have a readership' bit, but you're correct in that most people these days have multiple fandoms, or are at least willing to read outside their home fandom.

I find gen fic to be more accessible when approaching new fandoms, as well. It's possible I'm the only one who feels that way, though. *G*

[quasi-hayley.livejournal.com]

I get that. Plus I find that sometimes, 'ship fic can get samey. There tends to be a lot of stories dealing with the same pairing in the same way and you only get the real character development in gen fics. In 'ship fics any character devel. tends to be with the sole purpose of making the pairing viable. Not that I don't love 'ship fic. Especially with strange, obscure and sometimes controversial pairings.

Isn't there a quote about 'if you build it they will come'?

If you pimp it to the fandom newsletters (like daily_snitch, su_herald, middleearthnews and the_cortex to name a few) then you're bound to get a good amount of interest solely from that and I know there's even more fandom newsletters around.

I know what you mean about gen fic being more accessible. Certainly from a writing point of view when you're learning new characters, it's hard to immediately jump into 'shipping someone when you're not sure of them. And from a reading point of view, it's nice to get to know the individual characters and how fandom sees them before you go picking 'ships!

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

I had difficulty choosing an option, because I do write gen, just not very often. I like reading it, though, especially character vignettes, so I'd be very interested in checking the community out once it's done.

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

*nod* It's possible I have the somewhat selfish hope that this would actually help spawn a bit more gen, at least upon occasion.

Most response thus far seems fairly positive.

[zellieh]

[here via a friend of a friend]
I like your idea. I think it makes sense to make gen multi-fandom, because there is usually less gen fic than slash/ship/het/f-slash fic in any fandom; also there's a lot of fen crossover between fandoms. ^_^

I know in sga I get most of my gen fic from sga_newsletter, which has a lovely little gen section. *g*

[cherryice.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm so glad you're interested. There does tend to be less gen around than ship fic, which is why I'm hoping this isn't coming across as ship bashing -- I write, read, and adore that as well.

You might be interested to know that due to the positive feedback I received, I have started a com -- it's called gen_fen, and I'm currently encouraging people to post one or two of their older pieces before I submit it to the newsletters (and hope they include it).

I adore how sga_newsletter has things separated out into categories, though I do tend to comb them all for Ford fics. Let's just say it's been a while since I found one.