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Sometimes, I've gotta share...
What feels like a long time ago, I wrote a Harry Potter fanfiction. I started writing in 2003, and finished in 2007. It was Harry/Draco. It was really fucking LONG. When I started, I'd had high hopes that maybe people would like it. To my delight, people started reading it. Then a LOT of people started reading it. It got translated into a half-dozen languages. Because of that fanfiction, I made incredible friends, went on amazing adventures, and met the wonderful woman who became my wife.
But it's been a few years since I finished the story. I figured it would get forgotten and buried in the depths of the internet. Time - the great machine that slowly grinds the universe to dust in its unrelenting cogs. I figured "Eclipse" would be forgotten, too.
But every couple of days, another review on that old story trickles in. This one... floored me. It was anonymous, so I couldn't even reply. But I wanted to share. So... directly from the e-mail I got from ff.net:
Mijan,
A new review/comment has been submitted to your story.
Story: Eclipse
Chapter: 20. All Good Things
From: J.A. Reader ()
-------------------
Wow.
For the past couple of chapters even as I have been reading this I have been
trying to think of some way to write a review that would be worthy to be put
up for this story. It took me two days to read the fiction in its entirety and
now I cannot regret a minute of the hours that it took me to do so. For you, I
know, it took a lot longer to write; and I owe it to happy coincidence that I
only first discovered this story long after its completion. I have, in fact,
skim-read this story on more than one occasion beforehand, inevitably missing
out on the most important scenes but still finding it a wonderful story
nonetheless. Reading this in full, word for word, was very different from
skim-reading. And much more satisfying.
This story is on a level above every fanfiction I have ever read. It is
literally incomparable to even the most compelling and well-written stories I
have read before it, and ever since discovering it I admit that it has been
impossible to find an equal or "superior". I have encountered fanfiction
authors who have impressed me, and I have read more than twenty 100,000+ word
fanfictions word-for-word (not to mention hundreds of other fanfictions), and
have generally come across many talented people throughout this search. After
a while of such reading, a sort of writing-hierarchy develops in your mind;
who's the best, who's good, who's okay. Your story is literally the best I
have ever read online. In fact, I can honestly say that I enjoyed reading this
one story more than I did any individual Harry Potter book, and it is perhaps
second only to the series as a whole.
The reason? J.K. Rowling wrote a series that was ground-breaking and
magnificent; you wrote something that was awe-inspiring and profound. I cannot
even begin to write on a more specific level about how much I enjoyed reading
this. It has become, without a doubt, one of my favorite stories-in both
electronic and paper format. Your writing style captivated me, your story
absolutely enthralled me, and I loved your characters even more than I ever
did in the last two books of the series. Perhaps even more than in any portion
of the series. They were absolutely perfect-literally, your characterizations
are the most spot-on and stunning that I have ever read in fanfiction. I'm
amazed. I'm awed. And I'm incredibly impressed.
The development of this story was riveting, and I loved every minute of it.
This was the fanfiction that interested me in Draco and Harry as a romantic
pairing, even before I had read it through completely. This was the fanfiction
that set the bar; since then, it has remained at the highest level. I loved
how you were able to have a compelling plot without becoming bogged down in
details. I loved how you subtly created Harry and Draco's friendship, as well
as their future relationship. The subtlety was phenomenal; I was so happy to
find that you did not rush it and just jump straight into M-rated scenes from
the start. It ruins a lot, I feel, to ignore the psychology of the characters
in favor of reckless, "passionate" sex scenes that do nothing for convincing
the dubious reader of a relationship's true potential and beauty.
*This* was beautiful. And all I can truly say for it is thank you. Thank you
for writing a story that has literally changed my entire perspective on the HP
fandom, and all other fandoms, for that matter. Thank you for giving closure
to a series that, towards its finale, fell flat and awkward for me and other
readers, namely those that would be and still are supporters of other ships.
Thank you for giving me a truly marvelous read, as well as every other reader
who has had the incredible privilege to read this.
Thank you for writing a phenomenal story.
Yours,
~Just Another (Incredibly Impressed) Reader
_____________________________
Whoever you are... thank you.
But it's been a few years since I finished the story. I figured it would get forgotten and buried in the depths of the internet. Time - the great machine that slowly grinds the universe to dust in its unrelenting cogs. I figured "Eclipse" would be forgotten, too.
But every couple of days, another review on that old story trickles in. This one... floored me. It was anonymous, so I couldn't even reply. But I wanted to share. So... directly from the e-mail I got from ff.net:
Mijan,
A new review/comment has been submitted to your story.
Story: Eclipse
Chapter: 20. All Good Things
From: J.A. Reader ()
-------------------
Wow.
For the past couple of chapters even as I have been reading this I have been
trying to think of some way to write a review that would be worthy to be put
up for this story. It took me two days to read the fiction in its entirety and
now I cannot regret a minute of the hours that it took me to do so. For you, I
know, it took a lot longer to write; and I owe it to happy coincidence that I
only first discovered this story long after its completion. I have, in fact,
skim-read this story on more than one occasion beforehand, inevitably missing
out on the most important scenes but still finding it a wonderful story
nonetheless. Reading this in full, word for word, was very different from
skim-reading. And much more satisfying.
This story is on a level above every fanfiction I have ever read. It is
literally incomparable to even the most compelling and well-written stories I
have read before it, and ever since discovering it I admit that it has been
impossible to find an equal or "superior". I have encountered fanfiction
authors who have impressed me, and I have read more than twenty 100,000+ word
fanfictions word-for-word (not to mention hundreds of other fanfictions), and
have generally come across many talented people throughout this search. After
a while of such reading, a sort of writing-hierarchy develops in your mind;
who's the best, who's good, who's okay. Your story is literally the best I
have ever read online. In fact, I can honestly say that I enjoyed reading this
one story more than I did any individual Harry Potter book, and it is perhaps
second only to the series as a whole.
The reason? J.K. Rowling wrote a series that was ground-breaking and
magnificent; you wrote something that was awe-inspiring and profound. I cannot
even begin to write on a more specific level about how much I enjoyed reading
this. It has become, without a doubt, one of my favorite stories-in both
electronic and paper format. Your writing style captivated me, your story
absolutely enthralled me, and I loved your characters even more than I ever
did in the last two books of the series. Perhaps even more than in any portion
of the series. They were absolutely perfect-literally, your characterizations
are the most spot-on and stunning that I have ever read in fanfiction. I'm
amazed. I'm awed. And I'm incredibly impressed.
The development of this story was riveting, and I loved every minute of it.
This was the fanfiction that interested me in Draco and Harry as a romantic
pairing, even before I had read it through completely. This was the fanfiction
that set the bar; since then, it has remained at the highest level. I loved
how you were able to have a compelling plot without becoming bogged down in
details. I loved how you subtly created Harry and Draco's friendship, as well
as their future relationship. The subtlety was phenomenal; I was so happy to
find that you did not rush it and just jump straight into M-rated scenes from
the start. It ruins a lot, I feel, to ignore the psychology of the characters
in favor of reckless, "passionate" sex scenes that do nothing for convincing
the dubious reader of a relationship's true potential and beauty.
*This* was beautiful. And all I can truly say for it is thank you. Thank you
for writing a story that has literally changed my entire perspective on the HP
fandom, and all other fandoms, for that matter. Thank you for giving closure
to a series that, towards its finale, fell flat and awkward for me and other
readers, namely those that would be and still are supporters of other ships.
Thank you for giving me a truly marvelous read, as well as every other reader
who has had the incredible privilege to read this.
Thank you for writing a phenomenal story.
Yours,
~Just Another (Incredibly Impressed) Reader
_____________________________
Whoever you are... thank you.
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(BTW, your fics were damned awesome in their own right! *fangirls*)
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I know, I need to upload it and convert it. Someday, when I have a couple of spare hours, I'll do it. So many things I need to do. :(
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Also, I need to read this sometime, even if it isn't my usual HP pairing. I'm sure it's amazing. <3
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I love how fanfics and fandom, and the people in fandom have such an incredible capacity to transform one's life. :D
♥
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<3
HD
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Well, crud. Now I need to reread it. O.o
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I would be wibbling over that. Damn, that's much deserved reader love right there.
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You then suggested I read 'Left My Heart'....haha, I think it is great that emma was the first to comment. My first H/D read and my first adult read in one place.
I never really read anything before you brought me into the H/D community. A very thriving community that taught me latin, ancient mythos, entire professions, theoretical science and razor sharp wit. Your fic not only opened a new territory for me but that introduction to 'community' pushed me to read more outside of fanfiction.
Mijan, Eclipse has been and will always be one of my all-time favorite reads because of the connection, so wholly, I felt Harry and Draco make throughout their journey.
I'm glad someone was able to express so impeccably the words I am certainly could not find.
A much deserved review. :D
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It's just so cool that you've got actual FANS! <3
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Truly, though, we were in awe, and now more than anything I want to go back and re-read Eclipse again!
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I wish I could express myself like that in my reviews.
It's been years since I've read Eclipse I need to re-read it now.
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And makes me realise I don't think I ever read the finale o.O, will have to lovingly re-read the whole thing sometime, and I can't wait.
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(Anonymous) 2011-02-25 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)I have always wondered what happened to the sequel Convergence. For a couple of years I checked about once a month whether you had decided to continue it, but you never did. I am just curious to know the reason behind your decision. Nevertheless, thank you for enriching my life.