(no subject)

[pensnest]

I have been soothing my soul with glasspainting lately, which means going out into the conservatory (it gets lovely and warm when the sun comes over the house) and listening to a book on tape (yes, actual tape) as I potter. And I'm a bit horrified that, while the story reader can usually *act*, he/she cannot always *read*. They can't find their way properly through a sentence and carry the momentum as far as it needs to be carried. It's really irritating. What is infuriating is that in 'The Unknown Ajax' there were many uses of the word 'exacerbate'… and I am certain that they should have been uses of the word 'exasperate'. Gah. I can only conclude that there was no producer involved. Unless (she added, darkly) the exasperating exacerbation faux pas was the producer's fault. I've just flicked through the book to see whether the mistake was Heyer's, but couldn't find any examples. It seems unlikely.

Remix is open for signups… and I don't think I had better sign up. Sad, really, as I've done some good stuff with this challenge in the past. But unless there is someone else signing up for popslash, I see no point. It's still *my* fandom, but it isn't current for (apparently) anyone else, and I don't think it's right.

Anybody want to do a private popslash remix with me?

Comments

[sperrywink]

Ouch about the audiobooks.

I've never gotten into remixing other people's stories, and I am kind of booked up with writing for the moment, but I did consider it for a second. Sorry I came down on the other side.

[pensnest]

I've rather enjoyed the Remix challenge, and I'm very happy with most of the stories I've produced for it in the past—remix is like 'fanfic squared', really. But I know it doesn't appeal to everyone, and garners very few comments, too. I just suspect that if I signed up for this year's, I'd have to be paired with someone who has popslash, or ST:TNG, in their fanfic history, and they'd probably be disappointed not to get something more, um, contemporary. It's not a gift exchange, but it sorta feels like one!

[ullman]

I totally considered it as well, even though I vowed never to go there again, hee! But my mind is so all over the place at the moment, and so I fear I wouldn't be able to come up with anything coherent regardless.

[pensnest]

As I said to sperrywink, I'd feel a bit bad if I signed up for this year's challenge, knowing that my fandoms are old ones and anyone paired with me would have to delve back into her own fandom history - and my own recipient would probably be disappointed as well.

I've just finished a story which kinda ate me for a while, so I'm in that at-a-loss place and need a kick to get me writing something else. I feel so much *better* when I'm writing something... does that apply to you, too?

[ullman]

Not quite, apart from the stories for MtYG I simply don't write any more. And honestly, while I enjoyed the writing part of the process both times, I've become increasingly disheartened by the aftermath. So I guess I just decided not to put myself out there any more, and without another fandom that just means no more writing altogether.

I still hope I'll get a brilliant original fic idea at some point in time, which I will happily write. But as far as fanfiction goes, I think I'm just not cut out for it, hee.

[pensnest]

I've been very disheartened of late at the lack of feedback - I still love my popslash, and have more stories to write, but it's a lot of time and effort to invest for, well, very little return. I've also been contemplating whether I might be able to write original fic, and I suppose I could, but it's the feedback and the community that are really my rewards, and I've other reasons for not being particularly keen on trying to write for money. It's a sad thing.

[ullman]

I don't think I'll ever write for money, but I used to write for me. And I'd be able to ignore that if I wrote in a thriving fandom, so perhaps it's a good thing. Doesn't mean it's not indeed rather disheartening to find that it seems impossible to revive popslash on some level.

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Oh man, I know it's ridiculous, but sometimes when I overhear people talking about popslash using past tense terminology or implying it's somehow "done", I get hit by this overwhelming wave of...I don't know, exactly! Not quite regret, not quite anger. But it's strong. :) The voices in my head like to compare m'boys with the young gents of more "au courant" fandoms (woobified werewolves and hockey players: meh) and poke and prod at them for faults; the voices in my head can get kinda bitchy, sometimes.

Sadly, I don't think I have a big enough oeuvre to take part in a remix challenge! It wouldn't be fair to my partner. Not to mention the whole concept freaks me out, just a bit. It's intimidating, no?

[pensnest]

I Just Don't Understand why or how anyone could actually stop being a popslasher. And it makes me sad (mostly) and angry that my fandom is, shall we say, quiet these days. I just can't find it in me to love another fandom as much.

I've always thought of Remix as a very 'writerly' challenge - it does have its scary moments, but on the other hand, you don't need to worry about plot, because someone else has done that for you! I've managed quite a variety of different responses: a 'very secret diary of JC Chasez'; rewriting from the bodyguard's POV; one character talking to his psychiatrist; five years into the future from the original; In Space; blank verse; and (I was a bit disappointed with myself for this one) POV change (to the frog's point of view).

I think the qualification for the Remix Challenge is 5 fics in the fandom; I think my own offerings make their own difficulties, as I have written, ahem, more than 150 popslash stories. Unless the remixer already knows my stories and has a particular one in mind (withdiamonds remixed my 'If You Want To Fly', which she already loved), she generally starts at the top of the list and grabs the first one she can use.

But the offer stands - if you'd like to do a remix with just me, I'll have a go at one of your stories and you can have a go at one of mine. It could be a fun way to give the concept a try-out!

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

To paraphrase Homer Simpson: "Why do we need new fandoms?! Everyone knows slash attained perfection in 2004!"

I'm gonna let this be a lesson to get my head out of my ass and WRITE. MORE. FIC, so that the next time one of these challenges rolls around I'm not stuck looking like the fannish equivalent of that one losery guy who always claims he's broke whenever all his friends are chipping in to order a pizza. :)

(Also: waiting almost three months to send me a comment notification?! Not cool, LJ. Not cool.)

[pensnest]

I'd love to have more stories around to read! It's the thing I miss most about pop fandom, really—I've just come back from a week of intensive squee at Camp Sparkle, so that side of things is at least intermittently healthy, but stories just aren't getting any attention. And I want that 'conversation' to keep going.

So, write moar!

[brandywine28.livejournal.com]

Yes, ma'am! *gives a stony-faced salute to my computer screen*

(SOOOO jealous of all your Camp stories, btw :)

[kira-j.livejournal.com]

I freaking adore remix. Best thing that ever happen in popfic. I would love to see an informal one around but couldn't participate. I reckon people could get away with remixing a fic without the writer's permission but that's probably frowned upon.

[pensnest]

OK, wtf LJ with the non-existant comment notifications...

I've always been a bit puzzled by the way some fans insist that remixing one another is Not On. However. I have remixed the Lava Lamp story without, er, mentioning it to the original author, as it might seem unkind.... (omg cannot type today)

I love the remix challenge. Maybe next time it comes around I'll get my act together and just ask people to toss their names into a challenge hat, so we can each just pick a story and remix it.