thoughts on posting fiction online/in LJ

[mickeym]

Morning, y'all :) (Or, well, sorta. It's still morning somewhere, right?)

So I've been pondering the writing/posting thing again -- prompted in a way by the scads of 1/? posts I'm seeing lately, along with authors who seem to think that a story with Sam/Dean or Jared/Jensen with a rating of NC-17 requires a warning for m/m sex (or a detailed listing of everything they're going to do to each other). Or the notes wherein the author says "This isn't beta'd, so ignore all the errors, and by the way, it's complete crack!" or something to that effect.

While pondering, I find myself wondering if these aren't things that maybe the author(s) just don't think about, or realize might be off-putting, or maybe the author is very new to LJ/internet/fandom/all of the above.

I've been involved in online fandom as a reader since the spring of 1996. As a writer, since the fall of 1996. I remember the very laborious process of copying and pasting my WordPerfect document into the teeny tiny box that Usenet gave us for the messageboards, and later, adapting to posting things to mailing lists, and now, to LJ. I'm far from being the expert on all things fandom, butI like to think I know a thing or two about how to present a story to an audience to engage them, rather than make them run for the hills.

I'm wondering if a basic "how-to" primer would be useful -- and if anyone out there would be interested in participating in the project? What sorts of things do YOU, as a reader and/or writer, think should be included? Fannish writing terms (drabble, ficlet, fic)? Definitions? Samples of headers? Basic coding? How not to format your post? Things that should/shouldn't be included in author notes/headers? When a story should be posted as an on-going WIP vs. when it's better to wait?

I'm not talking about a primer on how to write. That's a whole 'nother kettle of fish. But I can't help but wonder if something like a 'how to post fanfiction' wouldn't be helpful, because there are an awful lot new fans flocking to LJ daily, and I suspect I'm probably missing out on some great stories simply because of the way the story is (or isn't) presented.

Thoughts? Comments? Willingness to assist in this project? Reasons why you think this is a bad idea? Hit me! (Also, feel free to link to this wherever; I'd love to see as much input as possible.)

Comments

[winterweathered.livejournal.com]

Part of me wants to say yes, definitely.


...

But (the bitchy) part of me wants to say NO. Because I kind of like being able to tell the good fic from the possibly bad fic at first glance. Hahaha.

[mickeym.livejournal.com]

*snickers* Well, yeah. But y'know...chances are you're gonna still be able to tell. Some things just can't be hidden, no matter what ;)

[winterweathered.livejournal.com]

Like BANNERS. Don't give away the secret about how badly manipped ginormous fic banners outside of cuts are NOT ACTUALLY AWESOME.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Unless, you know, there's that COOL comm that won't let people post if the banner is out of a cut.... And OMG I have turned down a dozen people that have tried anyway lately, you know? ARGH

[winterweathered.livejournal.com]

I'm starting to not even explain to people why their posts get rejected, I just say, "Please read the community rules," and hit reject.

[raynedanser.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm getting to that point. Good grief.