(no subject)

[turps]

A stomp around the estate, getting an apology over text and reading a few chapters of a terrible fic I have on the go have washed away that bad mood, which I'm so glad about. I hate being all annoyed and pissy.

So, lets celebrate with a meme gacked from a load of people.

Ask Me My Fandom Opinion

How it works:

Ask me one fandom-related question in the comments. This can be fandom specific, general, or about fandom/lj stuff/fic writing/etc. in general.

Just one question, please, but it can (and perhaps should) have sub-parts.

That's it. It can be as normal or odd as you like.

I know I don't talk about them as often, but I do play in many fandoms. So go ahead, ask away. Don't make me look like a loser with no replies.

Comments

[strippedhalo.livejournal.com]

1.
a) Which of your fandoms do you really wish had more (or maybe just better) people writing in it?
b) In your fandoms with lots of writers, which pairing(s) do you wish more (or maybe just better) people were writing?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I want to latch onto you now and give you a big old hug. I always worry no one will ask anything *g*

(a)I'm saying popslash for this. More for the more people, not better, because I stand by my belief that popslash has amazing writers. I'm in awe of loads of writers in the fandom, and that's so cool. Scary too when you write yourself. But I do wish there was more. The fandom isn't small really, but I look at fandoms like Supernatural and SGA and drool over the thought of multiple stories posted day after day. I missed that in popslash and I imagine it must have been wonderful.

(b) This is predictable, and purely selfish, but I'm going to say trickc. Again, there's people who write the pairing wonderfully, but often I find mtself reading stereotypical Chris!crackmonkey JC!kitty stories and they drive me insane. I think it's lazy writing and does a disservice to the people they're trying to portray. I'd love to read a long meaty plotty trickc story. Something I can get my teeth into.

Of course, it then comes back to people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones and all that.

Thanks for the questions, you really made me think.

[silveryscrape.livejournal.com]

Do you think pop fandom has been taken over by a Cult of Nice?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Interesting question.

My initial reaction is to say no. But that's because I think it's never wrong to be nice to people. I believe that anyone that wants to write, should write, and should be able to post without fear of ridicule.

The problem is, that can go too far. Personally I know that I've become a better writer because I have people around me that tell me the truth. They could have played nice, shook those pom poms, but they didn't. They pointed out every writing mistake I made, and because of that I've improved.

Thing is, what's right for me isn't right for everyone, and there's a difference between asking for crit and having it heaped on you unexpectedly. That's why I think crit should take place in private. Or places where you especially ask for it, like the reading room comm.

I know popslash isn't always a happy happy joy joy place. I know stories get rubbished and people bitched about, that's the nature of fandom. Last time I admitted this I was defriended, but I hold my hands up to bitching on AIM and in mail. I have people I trust and will listen to me rant and that's good. Because when it comes down to it, I'd never do anything like that in public.

If that means I've joined the cult of nice, well, so be it. I don't get why anyone would want to hurt another person's feelings. But I also know I walk that line of being hypercritical at times.

In an ideal world I want this fandom to feel safe, for people to post something without worrying it'll be torn to shreds. But also for an option when the nice gloves come off when you need that harsh look, for someone to say, you'll be so much better if....

I honestly don't know if I've answered your question. I know I'll be thinking more on it this afternoon.

Thanks for asking.

[withdiamonds.livejournal.com]

And do *you* think that's a good thing or a bad thing?

[castalie.livejournal.com]

Even though you write more RPS than FPS and the answer should be obvious, I still wonder; do you think it's easier to write RPS or FPS? Do you struggle more when you write the former? Or is it the same to you?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

This meme is really making me think.

Personally I find it just as easy writing RPS as FPS. Both have their own canon, it's just rps tends to stretch on and ever evolve.

I suppose it depends on how you look at things too. See, for me when I write Nslash I'm not writing the actual Chris Kirkpatrick or Lance Bass. I'm writing something based on them. I'm taking what I've seen on screen, in interviews etc and that evolves into the characterisation of them that lives in my head. My slash Chris is a step to the side of the real Chris. Same name, description, actions, but it's not him. Not totally. I don't know what he does in his own home, I can guess, put together clues and make my own conclusions, but I don't know for sure. Which surely is close to what we do for FPS.

I really can't see that much difference between Blair saying that he travelled a lot when he was a kid, and Chris saying he slept in his car. We take those statements and build on them. Use them how we wish in stories.

I guess for me, the only way it's easier is how much I emerge myself in a fandom. For a long time it's been popslash, and therefore the writing for that comes easier. But when I was deep in TS, the stories for that fandom came just as easy.

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

glad you were able to blow the cobwebs away [and that you got an apology]

I know you post to at least one, but, really, what is the point of a locked fiction community? What makes people set them up that way? Post to them? [I genuinely do not understand - fic's to be read, isnt it?]

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I imagine we would have both said sorry if he hadn't had to go to work. As it was he had to leave when we were both angry and that's never good.

Fic is to be read, and I don't get locking a community either. I do post to one, though didn't actually realise it was automatically locked until I'd posted many times, which shows how observant I am. Hopefully the mods of the comm will read this and reply, because I'd like to know too.

Actually, I have a horrible feeling I may have linked to a locked post over there, which is inexcusable. I'm going to check that out once I've posted this.

Moving away from that specific comm. I suspect some comms are locked because the mods want to retain some illusion of hosting exclusive content that people have to join to see. More comm members equals popularity I suppose.

I do understand that some people post stories under a lock due to past bad experiences, and while I think it's a shame, I also think everyone should feel secure posting their stories, and if that means a lock, so be it.

So, in conclusion. I posted under a lock because I didn't realise, which is the worst excuse ever I know.

[rikes]

Do you think there are active popslash communities elsewhere outside "our" LJ community (by which I mean people within 10 degrees of separation from us or something), or is everybody connected to the lj popslashers? (Compare with: Is there life outside earth?)

It's entirely possible that I'm not making much sense.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I think there is, but not as big or connected as ours is. I belong to some yahoo groups, I tend to forget about them until every now and then a story is posted. It pops up in my email, and I read and wonder that it's by someone I don't know.

I always assume that 'we're' the popslash fandom, and by we I mean me, the popslashers on my flist, and the popslashers on their flists. Then someone will post to popstoryfinders and I'm all, wtf?! Who's that? As I tend to assume that I know the whole fandom, even if it's just by name. Yes, I'm just that egotistical.

I can get your outside earth refrence. Like, we're the central hub, but there's groups out there, small planets maybe, who write and talk to each other. Then every now and then they communicate to earth via yahoo groups, sending stories that remind us they're there.

I assume they're happy in their isolation. It's not that difficult to become part of the popslash community. There's always someone there to welcome you in. So I guess those other fans are happy chatting in their small groups, not needing the connection that LJ provides.

And I hope that makes sense as an answer :)

[turloughishere.livejournal.com]

Why JC? What is it that you find fascinating about him?

The reason I'm asking is that I've come to realise that while I think JC's decorative to look at, as a character in stories I find even Justin (who I don't find decorative at all :-) more interesting. What is it that I'm missing?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You guys ask some cool questions.

Okay, JC.

Does, because Chris loves him and they're going to live happily ever after count? No? Okay then.

First, I'll admit that my JC love came about because of Chris. Chris is... well, you know how I feel about him. At first when I watched footage no one existed but Chris, but then I widened my gaze and realised those other four guys were cool too.

I think the problem you may have with JC in stories is he tends to be written stereotypically a lot of times. Sleepy, vague, rambling, bendy, very sexual and on and on. Which is fine, I won't say that can't be him because those stereotypes evolved from things he said or did, but at the same time. If I'd mentioned I like to sleep maybe twice, or said because yes once, and that defined me as a character from them on in, I'd be so pissed.

JC fascinates me because he's so changeable and I think he's pretty deep. He plays the industry game like the pro he is yet at the same time is willing to push for what he wants. He works really hard and seems determined to achieve his goals however he can. It's the way he makes videos like ADDIDAS, the salad tossing and sex references, and he knows people will be talking about it, yet does it anyway. The way he throws himself into performing, that he really does love the music.

The way he signs his name JC Chasez when he only needs that C once. That he's there for his friends when they need him. The way he hangs with his brother and tones down his show when his mom is watching. I really think he has a deep affection for all the other guys. Warning, tin hat ahead, but pictures like the ones from Challenge, where Chris is sitting all grumpy and JC is bending behind him, pointing something out. It makes my heart all glowy, because I think they're not as close as they were but there's something there, a bond that won't snap.

It's how he has this huge silly laugh, yet laughs without holding anything back. How he gets pissed off when he thinks people are messing around when they should be recording. That he wears what he likes and be damned what other people think. I don't care what anyone says, he rocked the porn stache because he wore that outfit like he loved it.

He's just, JC, and I think he's amazing.

[luxshine.livejournal.com]

Do you think there's a reason why the popslash fandom works more thorugh individual journals while some communities simply dry up and end up abandoned?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of it is due to the mods of the coms. You can't force people to post but you can encourage, and the comms need that encouragement. For example, I'm a member of a lot of the Chris comms, but I don't post there. I tend to forget I'm even a member until I look at my user info.

A more specific example. The trickc day comm was a success last year, this year the mods seem to have pretty much moved on so the day was almost forgotten. Which is a shame as it prompted some good stuff last year. By contrast, the JuC day comm is still going strong, because it has people who work at keeping it going. Challenges and swaps, all that stuff.

There's plenty of posting in popslash, but people need to stop visiting each other at 'home' and go gather at a public space. Sadly I'm not sure how to achieve that.

[ihearthings-ii.livejournal.com]

TELL ME WHAT THE GREATEST PAIRING IN THE WORLD IS???

( psssst, there might be a clue in my icon. just saying. )

[turps33.livejournal.com]

IT IS TRICKC OBVIOUSLY!!!11!!

So much love for my boys!

[milosflaca.livejournal.com]

o.k I was talking to Adalisa, and our little chat ended up in the popslash topic (as usual). We started talking about pairings and how people tend to like different pairings because those specific parings of their liking tend to somehow "click" in their head. She asked me to explain her the Sweet and Low pairing and why I feel a relationship could feel natural among them. So I did, she did the same with the choey and so on.
Then we stopped in the Chris-Jc paring, and whoa! we didn't know how to explain the paring.
So it would be nice if you can explain me why do you think Chris and Jc works. Were did fans got the idea that it could work. I'm really curious here :)
and yes, this has been an insightful meme. I've been reading questions and aswers all over lj. As a newcomer it's really helping me to understand the fandom even more.

[turps33.livejournal.com]

You've got it :)

You can see the beginnings of trickc in euro days. Back then JC and Chris were the only ones that were old enough to have actually lived in the real world before finding fame. Joey too to an extent, but he lived with his family, JC and Chris were out on their own, trying to make it. Which gave them that connection.

There's various bits of footage that shows that they're good friends, and have remained friends. Did you know that a few years ago the Kirkpatricks and the Chasez family spent Thanksgiving together? Their families are good friends and I still think JC and Chris are friends too.

There's a picture that all trickc fans love. A few challenges ago JC got sunburned really badly, during skills Chris came up to him, put his arms around him from the back, and just gently hugged. It was the sweetest thing. At Joey's wedding, Chris greeted JC was a huge hug that was lovely to see. At the last skills Chris was obviously in a grumpy mood, but JC came and stood right behind him, and stayed there, and they really have no concept of personal space.

They've been pictured at parties together, spent time on the threemanbus with Justin. It's just clear that they really did like each other a lot, and I still believe that. The basis is totally there for a slash relationship. You just have to know where to look.










I hope that helps, because I just adore them.

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

Tell me about your first slash pairing and how does it compare to your current favorite pairing?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

Oh, a trip to the past. I like :)

My first slash pairing was Chakotay/Paris. Like all my slash pairings I loved them because of Tom. I always have a character I adore more in every pairing. It's just the way it is. I was never truely in the Voyager fandom, I was really new and shy so didn't talk often, especially as it was back in the days of email groups.

So, here I was, a newbie slasher, and discovered that C/P was a world of Tommy bashing and h/c fic. I was in heaven. It amuses me that I fell so hard and have stayed so long in popslash, because all previous fandoms were heavy on the darkfic stories and this one isn't at all.


My favourite pairing now is trickc. ( I can feel your shock from here ) Even now reading about them, seeing pictures etc makes me feel happy.

They tend to have different kinds of stories written about them. Like I said above, C/P was very heavy on the angst and hurt. At least the stuff I read was, I'm willing to admit that some people could have looked for the romantic 'normal' stuff. Trickc not so much, but there is a lot of friendship, love and just being together, and that's cool. Also, much turning into things and utter crack, but well, that happens in trek fic too.

I'm not sure if you can compare trickc to C/P, except I can honestly say that I love both pairings. I never leave loved pairings behind, I just add more and more.

Dude, ramble much.

[duoshinigami.livejournal.com]

If youhad to rid the fandom world of one sparkly boy who would choose and why?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

OMG! You're evil!

Okay, lets think this through.

Chris. No way in hell. He's just, Chris.
JC. Chris' boyfriend and he'd cry if he was gone I mentioned above why I like JC so much, so, he stays.
Joey. Joey's lovely! He's friendly and hot, gives great hugs and he's got a gorgeous family. He stays too.
Lance. Lance makes me smile, he's so happy and funny and hot too.
Justin. I like Justin, a lot. I enjoy his music and think he's cool. He stays too.

Kevin. Kevin was my first sparkly crush. I still love him now. He wore a manskirt! He's cool and has to stay.
Nick. Nick loves his family even though they're cracked in the head. He's a big old ball of smiles and he has to stay. Plus, he's part of my BSB OTP.
Howie. Okay, this is where things get difficult. I like Howie, I love how passionate his is, and that he's really good to fans.
Brian. His smile makes me smile too. He's a huge goofball and isn't afraid to walk his own path.
AJ. I admire him so much and he's got one hell of a voice.

Man, it has to be one of those three. Okay, Howie.

Sorry Howie!

[vaudevilles.livejournal.com]

Do you think it's possible for people who don't write fanfic to beta?

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I do.

Beta reading and writing are two different things, and I really don't think you have to do one to do the other.

That's especially true as there's so many different types of beta reader. Those who catch grammar mistakes, those who're great with actual story formation, those who catch characterisation mess ups. Or if you're lucky, people who catch it all.

If you can read, if you know the famdom ( or don't, but that's just for grammar betas ) if you're willing to say what you think, you've got something to offer.

I've got betas who don't write, and I treasure their opinion the same as I do all my betas.

[bayouskye.livejournal.com]

Hmmmm... how come you've never written me porn? Or you know just a ficlet in general?

*snickers and flees*

[turps33.livejournal.com]

I have no idea!

But I shall rectify that. Just, remind me after SeSa ;)

[toeprint.livejournal.com]

Why do you love badfic? Is badfic the equivalent of a cheesy movie - watched for pure entertainment value?