Holiday Fic Exchanges... what's good to read?

[mijan]

Allow me to fix this post to what it should have been:

Please rec me some fics from the holiday exchanges.  I've seen the recs lists that are posted on some of the more prominent journals, and I've read quite a few of those recs, but I'm still seeking more.  I have limited time (I work two jobs), and I'd like to get the maximum enjoyment out of the limited time that I have for reading fics.

Most of you know my preferred pairings, but I'll read anything CLEVER... plotty, unique, or just really well written/executed.  Even the "usual tricks" written well would be good. 

Tell me what you liked, and why, and give this poor, desperate, overworked fangirl some extra reading fodder.

Thanks!

Comments

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

I'm not gonna rec something but I know what you mean. I've gotten a not so good gift before, but I'm like....what do I do?

<3

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Well, this has nothing to do with the fic that was written for me. I haven't seen that one yet, so I have no idea if it'll be awesome or pathetic. But in the meantime... it's the usual way it goes with exchanges. Some really awesome fics, and some really weak ones. I just want to read some really good fics right now without digging through every single one. I don't have TIME to read them all.

So... no fics to rec? *pouts*

[dramedy.livejournal.com]

You act like I'm had time to read them yet, either. @.@

Sorry!! D: D:

[mijan.livejournal.com]

LOL! *pets* Tis okay. I'm mostly joking.

*gives chocolate*

[r-grayjoy.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've been following multiple fests pretty closely, and there is definitely an exceptionally high proportion of truly awful fic this time around. (Obviously, I'm not tacky enough to say which fics or which fests, or to comment negatively on anonymous gift fics, but yeah.) I have noticed an influx of new people in the fandom since the release of DH, and a lot of "newbies" signing up for fests, so I'm thinking that might have something to do with it.

Okay, recs. Not sure what you've already read, but I'll see what I can do. :P

HERE is a list of fest recs that I put up last week. There might be some there that you've missed that might interest you. I don't have too much since then, because I've been in the middle of finals and have fallen behind on reading. Although I did read Kiss a Boy in London Town on Smutmas earlier, and really, really liked it. The disclaimer here is that I generally am not into "rentboy" type fics AT ALL, but this story is so far beyond the usual cliches that it's something else entirely. YMMV!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... I'd read all the Smutmas ones you listed except the Snape/Lockhart one.

I hadn't been following Harry_Holidays, but I'll go check those out. HD_Holidays was my "second fest" to follow, so Harry_holidays fell by the wayside.

I've had a hard time breaking past pre-epilogue canon with the Harry/Snape thing, but maybe I should give more of the Snarry_Holidays fics a chance. I've read a few, but not the ones you listed. I'll give them a go.

Are you going to put up a more recent recs list? Week 2? We're into the 3rd week now, yes? *grins hopefully* Or do you have any recs off the top of your head? Any combinations of Harry, Draco, and/or Snape? *bribes with chocolate*

[lunalovegoddess.livejournal.com]

Kiss a Boy in London Town was really fulfilling. I totally agree with you.

[kupukello.livejournal.com]

My method is to wait a few days and only read the fics that have got at least 50 comments, and the ones with more than 100 are the best.

I wasn't that fond of "The Price We Pay for Wings", it wasn't bad per se, but it still didn't do much for me.

Four Paper Dragons I liked, and Fade to Silver. High Priced was quite nice too (if maybe a bit too schmoopy, but I LIKE fluff!), and A Fair Cop.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I used to do that, but comment totals seem unusually low this year. I've read some real gems that only have comment counts in the teens -- those were mostly less popular pairings, which I think is the reason they are getting as much attention. But reading pairings outside the norm is part of what can be really cool about these exchanges, IMO.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

The thing is, I also like long fics. Those don't get the comment-counts as quickly, and by the time the number of comments goes up, they've fallen out of the spotlight. For example, I liked Occam's Razor, and I think it was something like 90,000 words long. At first, it had one of the lower comment-counts of the fics posted in that time frame because it was so long, and it takes people a while to read those. Some people just don't bother to read the long ones, either.

Also, the highest comment-counts are for art... and I hate to say it, but I've only seen ONE piece of art that I really LOVED this year. There were a couple pieces that I liked, but the rest didn't do ANYTHING for me... yet they had more comments than almost any fic.

I don't like fluff, but I'll read the other three. Thanks!

[kupukello.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah, art gets far more comments than anything else, but that's probably because they are fast to view. And you are right about the quality too, and my is it embarrassing to miss the fact that the summary said "ARTIST" instead of "AUTHOR" and have your work computer show boy bits in an open office...

I'm halfway through The secret lives of Shadowmen. It's looooong and so far it's been really good too (with only 19 comments ;) so I'm keeping my hopes up that the ending will be good too.

My definition of "fluff" is "a story with a plot with a happy ending and snogging" :P Nothing turns me faster away from a fic than a) a sad ending b) any stories in established relationships c) infidelity.

[gossymer.livejournal.com]

This season, I'm pretty much going to wait until I get back from vacation and then dive into the fics. By that time, authors might be revealed and most of the best fics ma have been recced so *crosses fingers* might avoid the usual stress.

For my boy on boy needs, I'm looking to original slash fic instead haha XD

[webbapettigrew.livejournal.com]

I just read a really lousy fic on one of the holiday fanfic exchanges

And that's precisely why I don't do those anymore. I was always petrified that I'd be the one to write the crap fic. I remember getting people I didn't even know. I'd try to read their journals and get some sort of idea of what made them tick and what their kinks were but in the end, I always felt I'd written something stale and not that good. That's the danger of being in a writing circle where you might get anything.

Hell, to see me try to write slash for example? It'd just be sad. People would point and laugh. I have absolutely no skillz there. :-D

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Well, there's always the fact that you say which pairings you're willing to write, and which ones you won't write.

For me, when I read the list of kinks and squicks, likes and dislikes, and so on... it actually gives me plot ideas. I find it to be a fun prompt.

The only way a fic sucks is if you put absolutely no effort into it. The ones I read that made me feel as if I'd wasted my time... it felt as if the writer had followed the cheap-porn formula, written it in as short a form as possible, gave a minimal amount of development, and so on. I'm sure you know the type. You don't have to write spectacular porn to make a good exchange fic. Just write a FIC. The best fic I received last year had okay-ish porn, but a WONDERFUL plot and beautiful writing. That's what I love.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

The last four entries on my LJ are holiday exchange recs, FWIW. :-)

I've followed Smutmas for four years now and others as they've popped up, and I think this year has the same level of quality as always. I certainly haven't noticed a drop-off in quality -- some fics are stunning, most are solid, and some are mediocre -- same as always. I've found in the past that fics that veer from the most popular pairings are usually the best bets, and I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because I'm more open-minded about those, or maybe because I don't read them any other time of year so they seem really fresh and interesting? I've hardly read any H/D yet, though I'll get to it eventually.

And, er... you do realize you've just freaked out everyone whose fics have already been posted, right? Keep in mind that we all wrote these fics FOR other people, to THEIR tastes -- not our own, and not yours, honestly. In some cases, we stretched ourselves to write pairings, plot devices, and endings that we wouldn't have otherwise. But we did it because we were creating gifts for other people, in the spirit of a holiday exchange. Just a thought...

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Awww, Emma, I didn't mean it like that! There were some fics that I've read that were AMAZING. And I KNOW that the fics were written for specific people with specific tastes in mind. I know that the fic I wrote was designed specifically for the person whose request I was given, and that person has preferences and kinks that aren't necessarily mine, either. I wrote a "kink" that I'd never even considered before, much less written.

I guess I'm looking for unique, well-developed ideas in fics. There are DEFINITELY fics on the exchanges that have that. I've read some. Really REALLY clever fics with great ideas. I know they weren't written for me, but I loved them nonetheless. I just want to ask people what THEY liked, and see if I can go off of people's recs, instead of just randomly clicking. Maybe I should have made that more clear.

Did I create wank with this post? Should I delete or something?

Seriously, I just wanted people's fic recs, and for them to rec them for whatever reasons they see fit.

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

I figured you were probably just asking for recs, but honestly, my first impression of your post was that you were saying "OMG Smutmas SUCKS this year and I've read NOTHING good." And here my flist is full of squee and recs, and I've read many fics that I loved so much they've pulled me back into fandom (after a couple of months of drifting away). If you just wanted recs, why preface it with so much negativity -- especially about gifts people are creating for each other?

Just my opinion, perhaps, but it seemed OOC for you to be so snarky about it, especially in a public post.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I guess I'm feeling OOC for myself lately. Stress at work, perhaps. Not enough time to myself.

You're right - I shouldn't have done that. I think I was taking out all of my vent-ish stress on the wrong target.

Is the damage done, or should I try to make reparations?

[emmagrant01.livejournal.com]

Eh, it happens. You ruffled some feathers out there, but we all do every now and then. Force knows I have... Best to chalk it up to experience and move on. ;-)

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

You Didn't Think They Just Sold It To Him, Did You? Twins/Draco - no plot whatsoever but ::fans self:: INCREDIBLY hot

The Secret Lives of Shadow Men (long) - H/D, epilogue compliant, hot and plotty

Weakness Snape/Draco, Draco/OMC - set during DH. Not plotty but intriguing.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I read both of the Smutmas ones. I thought the premise of the first one there was very clever, but I like a plot. And really, it wasn't that hot. I do BDSM in real life... and that writing of a sadomasochistic situation didn't do anything for me.

The second one seems right up my alley. I love plotty, canon-compliant stuff. Thank you for the rec! *gives you chocolate*

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

Ooh, chocolate! nom nom nom.

And really, it wasn't that hot.

::shrugs:: I just love a helpless Draco.

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

Thank you for making this post, as I'm finding it next to impossible shuffling through all the fics to find the good ones as well. I'm horribly behind on reading, and my To Read list is growing by the day.

From what I have read, besides those recc'd above, The Most Unlikely of Places has stuck out. It's H/D, long (nearly 36,000 words), a fab original plot, very hot, the pace is perfect and characterization is spot on. I don't think you'll be dissapointed with this!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the rec! H/D Holidays feels like Harry/Draco overload to me, and it's so hard to wade through to find the decent stuff.

What else is on your to-read list? How do you pick your to-read list? And where are the good recs lists?

Sorry, I'm flailing today.

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

Ooh I forgot to mention, 101 Ways to Heal your Wizarding Woes was also awesome. I've heard Cupid and A Glass, Shattered are also pretty good, but I haven't read them yet.

My Faves list and To Read list are in the sticky post on my journal, though it's currently in progress and I have a tonne to be added. Most on their are the classics, as I'm still working my way through those. Generally I decide what to read based on feedback - if there's a decent amount of positive comments, especially from authors or readers I respect, then chances are I'll read it! ruffians tears through fics like nobody's business (I don't know how she does it!) and always recc's me the ones she liked, so those usually end up on the list as well. My del.icio.us page has a lot of links too, and they're all sorted into various categories including the fests they come from. All in all I'm just about drowning in fic, lol!

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... you have a very long to-read list! *laughs* You'll read my fic, yes? *puppy eyes*

[stitchesandlace.livejournal.com]

Hahah I know, it looks like I have no risk of running out for a decade or so.

And of course I'll read yours!! I've been meaning to forever, and that list isn't in any particular order, so I will read it next! <3

[anathema91.livejournal.com]

Oh please, like you need to make puppy eyes to convince someone to read Eclipse...

It's only friggin' fantastic and anyone who has even spent 5 minutes in fandom would know that! Silly girl!

*hugs*

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*shrugs* For the longest time, I couldn't get people to read it if I begged. And I was mostly joking. *grins*

And not everyone likes it, silly yourself. It's just a fic. As it was pointed out to me, everyone has different tastes. I'm sure there are plenty of people who think it's the worst fic in fandom. That's how it goes.

[anathema91.livejournal.com]

I'm sure there are plenty of people who think it's the worst fic in fandom.
Even taking different tastes into consideration, I find that hard to believe.

Having said that, I'm extremely biased because Eclipse is one of my all time faves, so maybe you're right. ;-P

[mijan.livejournal.com]

LOL... I'm glad you like it! Of course, there are Harry Potter fans who even think that JKR has written a few mediocre books in the series. You can't please everyone all the time. You're lucky if you can please some people SOME of the time. If you write with the intent to make everyone love your work, you'll fail. If you write something that YOU will love, or something for a specific audience (or in the case of the fic exchanges, one specific person), then you can only hope to please that audience. If other people happen to like it, then that's a bonus!

Take Eclipse, for example. I wrote that for myself. My intended audience was people who didn't believe that Harry/Draco could feel like it came out of canon. It was for people who wanted PG-13 fic, not smut. I had plenty of people say that they thought the boys should have had sex. I've had people tell me that they should have snogged sooner. I've had people tell me that the kiss at the end ruined it. And I've had one girl in particular tell me how much she HATED my characterization of Draco, (She likes her Draco suave, sexy, and wearing leather pants.), and that it's one of the H/D fics she can't stand. It's okay... I wasn't writing for her. She can read the Draco Trilogy.

The authors in the fic exchanges were writing for a specific audience - their recipients. If they pleased their audience, then that's what matters. Pleasing OTHER readers is just a bonus at that point. I'm hoping to find fics that might please ME as well as just the specific recipients. But just like people review my PG-13 fic and ask why there's no sex, I can look for fics that weren't written FOR me, and ask if there's something better.

You can't please everyone. But you can please yourself. (In more ways than one.) :D

[anathema91.livejournal.com]

If you write with the intent to make everyone love your work, you'll fail.
I agree wholeheartedly. I write for me. I always have. It's cheaper than therapy. The exception, of course is holiday exchange fests, but this year's HD_Hols is the first time I've dared to participate. It was interesting to write for someone else. I think I liked it. It definitely made me more diligent.

And I know it won't necessarily appeal to everyone, but frankly, I don't care. :) If it puts a smile on my recipient's face, then my job is done.

And it's so true about people's tastes. One of my favourite things about Eclipse was your characterization of Draco. And at the time, I actually had no issues with leather pants!Draco. I even enjoyed a few fics that featured him in that style. It really didn't fit with my vision of Draco from canon, but at that point, I was just happy to see some fic in which Draco was more than a bit player. (that's how I fell into the HD side of fandom to begin with.)

I've since become much more picky, but that's mainly due to people like you and furiosity, who actually managed to write a Draco who was IMO much more in line with canon, and now I'm spoiled. I'll still read fics featuring a less canon-like Draco, but I don't enjoy them nearly as much! I think that's why I love Eclipse. Because even more than 2 years later, I can read it and still love it, whereas some of the other fics I read and loved back then kinda make me cringe now...

BTW, I've read some good fics in the exchanges that I'll try to link to when I get home from work...

Oh, and pleasing yourself... never a bad thing! ;-)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*grins*

Yeah, that one girl in particular said that my Draco was horribly out of character, and she considered leather-pants!Draco to be IN character. To each her own, yes?

I like writing for other people, too. And even when we write for ourselves, when we POST fics, that means we're writing them for others, too. I write things that I enjoy reading and writing, but if I'm going to post them for public viewing, I'll make sure I'm giving it my best effort. Some people excuse lousy grammar, tons of typos, and horrible writing by saying, "Well, I write for MEEEEEE! So nyeah!" And my response is always, "Then why did you post it and ask people to read/review?" (Bear in mind, the people who do that are NOT the people who read/write in this LJ circle. Think more in terms of FF.net.)

[anathema91.livejournal.com]

LOL! You gotta love the people who don't quite grasp the difference between fanon and canon...

Oh man, the bad grammar people drive me crazy! I don't care how good the premise of a fic is, bad grammar or bad spelling leads to a big ol' click of the back button for me! It's one of my pet peeves.

And personally, I just don't understand why someone would want to post something that wasn't a positive reflection of themselves. I guess we're just the anal types here!

[anathema91.livejournal.com]

I made a post of my fest favourites so far: here

But if you don't wanna go look at that, then I'll also say that as of tonight my absolute favourite fic so far is:

Rise from the Ashes (Teddy Lupin/Cedric Diggory)

It's sooooo amazingly good. So beautiful. Funny in spots, heartbreaking in others, but utterly and completely satisfying. (and no you don't have to build up emotional strength to read it.)

[mijan.livejournal.com]

*adds huggles, for good measure*

[anathema91.livejournal.com]

I second the rec for 101 Ways. I loved that fic.

Cupid is great! One of my faves of the fest so far!

Haven't read A Glass, Shattered yet.

[daddybear716.livejournal.com]

Hey I am very close to finishing up my latest Viktor/Ron fic. It is post DH and also involves Harry, Neville, Dean and Seamus. Would you be interested in giving it a read-over before I post?

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I could do that, but I have to head to work in a few minutes. E-mail it to me, perhaps? :)

[daddybear716.livejournal.com]

LOL! you realize that you are the poster child for Instant Gratification? When I say I am very close to finishing I mean sometime this week, not sometime in the next 2 minutes.

I am very inspiration bound with my writing, that's why I can never do these exchanges. I lose interest before I've written anything or never finish it. I have a Valentines Harry/Cedric from 2 years ago that still isn't finished. It is deliciously filthy so I will finish it one day. Maybe for Valentine's Day 2008. LOL

[mijan.livejournal.com]

Hey! There's nothing wrong with instant gratification! But seriously, when you said that you were close to finishing, I thought you meant sometime over the next few hours. That's all.

Whenever you're done, send it along! Filthy smutty guttery porn! YAY! Is there BDSM involved? :D

[silvertoekee.livejournal.com]

Hm haven't seen to many good fic exchanges this year either but I am still digging away for some. Here is some fics i like so far....

Love is like a Razorblade Not a bad plot and pretty long which is what I like :D, My Other Life, The Price We Pay For Wings.

[mijan.livejournal.com]

I read, and loved, "Love Like a Razorblade". Wonderful fic. I read and enjoyed "My Other Life", but as you could see by my review-comment, I wished the writer had developed the idea more.

I plan to read "The Price We Pay for Wings" when I feel I have the emotional capacity for what people claim is a real wringer of a fic.

Anything else?

(I know, I'm begging pathetically, but I can't help it.)

Re. The Price We Pay for Wings

[flamewarrior.livejournal.com]

I didn't find it as emotionally wringing as many people are saying. Emotionally gripping, yes, but essentially hopeful. I only cried at one bit, but because of the love expressed in the loss, not the loss itself, so much. ::shrugs:: YMMV. :-)

[silvertoekee.livejournal.com]

Hm I am noticing alot of the writers are kind of stopping abruptly in the story or just have way to much dialog or description. Sigh makes it hard to read or I just skim it and go on :(.

Lets see well this one The Living Half isn't to bad but I get lost in the dialog alot, you probably read Written in the Stars which is a good one.

Shoot need to keep on browsing haha and I wonder did I read The Price We Pay for Wings (might need tissues hmm?)

[grey-hunter.livejournal.com]

reccing recs: you should read what emmagrant01 and painless_j recs, they are usually spot on. I only read hd_holidays right now (personal interest), and the other ones when I'm caught up on that one. And I'll totally rec every good fic I've read when the reveal is over and I know the authors (making up my list as I go). I guess I have an easier time to select because fics that pair Harry and Draco with anyone else are out, and so are fics with Snape or Ron having sex, and het fics because I just don't find them that interesting. You know, I've heard it from other people that the quality of the fics this year isn't as high as before, but I think it's mainly because there are a lot more authors participating, and because some of the old players have withdrawn from the fandom, which really is sad because I've read a fic whose whole atmosphere said its author has written her (I'm pretty sure it's a she) last H/D fic. :( The fic was very good otherwise (okay, not everything about it was perfect but it was very original) and it made me sad.

(Oh, and, reading the comments: I loathe fluff, but I liked High Priced. It's not fluff, in fact, Draco is really IC in it.)