On fanfic reading and tyranny

[krossero]

The other day when reading the warnings on a fic, knowing that it was angsty, I scanned to find out if it had a happy ending. Finding no indication either way, I thought to scroll to the bottom and read the end. Gasp! When did I become *that* person? Once, I disdained those who read the end first, or at least strongly identified myself as *not* one of them. No offense intended to anyone who does read the end first, by the way.

I always just enjoyed the story, *for* the story, whether or not the end was happy. Now, I find that I have become a wimp.

From now on, I am re-dedicating myself to reading good stories, happy or not. And I will firmly squish that part of me (I suspect that this is where my muse comes from) that cringes at the hurt-with-little-comfort stories, the dark!fics, the death!fics, the *shudder*-- breakup stories.

Long live good reading!

Down with the tyranny of sugary sweetness!

*smooches to all*

Comments

[aerianya.livejournal.com]

I find myself sometimes doing that on older fic to make sure it's finished. Not much worse than invested yourself in a fic that will never have an end at all.

[krossero.livejournal.com]

Ah, yes--WIP's. *shudder* That's the worst. I sometimes wish that I could somehow shanghai someone into finishing some of my faves, even if they're not the original author....

[cross-stitchery.livejournal.com]

if you want to stress test your determination to the max try Sinead's "Another Life". i got about halfway through and then skipped through the rest (which only got more depressing). then i had to go read a whole lot of fluffy, happy fic.

[krossero.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the recommendation! I'm not sure I'll get to it right away--the determination wavers in the face of my wimpiness. But when I'm in the mood for some darkfic, I'll give it a try!

P.S.--Is it at 852?

[krossero.livejournal.com]

By the way, LOVE THE ICON!!! I know you've probably heard that a million times, but really, it can't hurt to say it again. *drools*

Praise the almighty nip/tuck!

Once upon a time...

[gillyp.livejournal.com]

I needed a happy ending too. These days I'm such a determined writer and reader of the angst and the dark - but I still like, if not a happy ending, then not an unremittingly bleak one.

Re: Once upon a time...

[krossero.livejournal.com]

Same here, I think. If there's room left to hope -- even an itsy bitsy bit-- I can manage to make my own happy ending with it. :D

[blacknblue2.livejournal.com]

I'm fine with sad fic, but I sometimes do that to find out if a story is really non-con or just faux non-con. Because you just don't know! And I don't mind the "oh, just kidding, they were role-playing," or whatever, but I have to know ahead of time. Otherwise, I'm like, "What? But...but my character wouldn't do that! He wouldn't!

[krossero.livejournal.com]

Gotcha. Non-con can be tough!