mrsronweasley | Life; on Mars; a fandom poll.

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Life; on Mars; a fandom poll.

So, I would have spent an inordinate amount of time last night trying to figure out the godd@#n m&%$@rf&%$*ing Style Sheets for Flexible Squares so I could put up my banner, but lo, I had no time, and I do have a sense of priorities. I finished my CV (it sucks, but it's done and sent away, and thank you all for your tips last night!) and organized some stuff. Today, I am going to study my ass off for the GREs, and then maybe get to watch BSG. Maybe. Probably won't have time for that, either, but hey. Priorities, right? (Sigh.) So, still no banner.

But nevertheless, I did watch Veronica Mars last night, even with, like, half of my brain involved.

MEH. I'm sorry. It was just not the quality we've all become accustomed to. I mean...what the fuck is up with Logan? Did his personality run away? Are they building up to something? So, he streaked. What was the point? Did I miss it? I must have. I hope I did. 'Cause...um. I love him, but he was boring. Sad and boring. And I don't like the lack of follow-up on the Dick-crying thing.

Unless the streaking was Dick's influence, and while Logan said Veronica is the only girl for him, that gave him leeway to suck Dick's...cock. But somehow, I doubt that.

(But I noticed the kid from "Boy Meets World" right away, and I think somebody sealed him in a time capsule, because he hasn't changed a bit. It's actually frightening. And did anybody figure out who played the professor? He looked so familiar, and I just can't place him. Help?)

I have to admit that I did blink and miss the thing with Keith - the money? What was that? Gave it to charity? Was it all a set-up? I'm confused, can somebody explain? I was busy freaking out over my CV, I'm afraid.

Um, also, WHERE'S WEEVIL.

All in all...I'm hoping it was just a singular weak episode, or that it's leading up to something more. Maybe it's because I'm not used to watching it one episodes at a time, I mean...that's just WEIRD. *g*

Anyone else's thoughts?..

I think I had about ten different things I wanted to post about, and they have all fled my brain. Dammit.

So, instead, I'll ask a few fannish questions, and pretend that it's a poll, only more fun and with fewer buttons. This way I get to not be as bored at work, and we get to talk fandom (The Best Escapism).

What makes you read a fic? As in, what gets you interested? Is it a pairing? Summary? Is it just an author you trust? What?

What makes you NOT read a fic? As in, what makes you skip the announcement, or snort in derision, or anything else? Wrong pairing? Weird premise? AU? Kidfic? Past traumatic experience? What?

What makes you leave feedback? (Same deal as above, elaborate to your heart's content.)

What makes you NOT leave feedback? (Ditto.)

I always wonder these things, about myself as well, so thought I'd ask. I'm sorry this isn't a nifty-cool poll. But, um, look! It's in bold. *nods*

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Veronica Mars was shaking her hot little booty on a chair at a sorority party, and you want to talk about the plot? I just don't get you people. ;)

Apparently Kendall figured that the Fitzpatricks would be likely to spot a bunch of money laying around, but not as likely to realize an extremely valuable piece of art.

I think Logan as a wannabe Steve McQueen from The Great Escape was pretty hilarious myself.

Well, okay, fine. She was hot. *g* But, see...I want plot, too! I want convoluted, heavy, WTF-y kind of plot! I miss that plot.

Apparently Kendall figured that the Fitzpatricks would be likely to spot a bunch of money laying around, but not as likely to realize an extremely valuable piece of art.

Oh, smart woman. So. So, what did Keith do, exactly? Sorry. I just...I missed that entire thing. :/

(Well, Logan is still cool, of course. Just... um... there's less of him. Does that make sense? He's there, but he's not there.)

Great poll, babe!

What makes you read a fic?

If I know the person who wrote it and have liked their stuff before, if I know the person who betaed and and trust them. Or if it comes recced by someone I know and trust. Or, uhm, if it's genderfuck or crossdressing or undercover in a gay bar, I'll click no matter what, because they're my bulletproof kinks. And I know it sounds picky, but honestly, I sort of need to have some knowledge of the quality of the writing before I'll click.

That said, if I'm emotionally invested in the comm, I'm more likely to read it.

stop_drop_porn, I click on every story posted. Same with

midsummer2006. God, I'm a picky bitch.

What makes you NOT read a fic?
I'm picky. I'm wicked fucking picky. Clearly. It all comes down to the parameters above. Honestly, if I know and trust the person, I'll read TURNBULL TENTACLE FIC, okay? True story. So, yeah. I rely on other people to find good stuff for me. Which. Sort of works against me, now that I think about it. Who knows what I'm missing?

What makes you leave feedback?
if I read it and have time right then, I leave feedback. Sometimes, in the morning, I'll save links of fics I want to feedback, and do it all in one fell swoop at lunch. I'm really heartfelt on my feedback - my effusiveness is genuine, b/c a well-written story brings me MUCH LOVE. and realistically, I am more likely to read, and therefore more likely to leave feedback on, a fic written by someone I know. But if I come to something via a rec, or a comm, or a kink,I make SURE to leave feedback, because I'm - greedy, and want MORE PORN from that writer, and I want them to know how much I like the fic.

What makes you NOT leave feedback?
If I'm ridiculously busy when I'm reading LJ. If Mozilla closes my tabs accidently. If the fic just doesn't do it for me (I'm very much of the "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" type). Honestly? If it's a known writer who is getting BUCKETS of feedback already, I won't leave feedback. I kind of feel like I save that squee for newish and budding writers, who maybe don't KNOW how good they are/can be.

Turnbull Tentacle Fic. Hi. You really love your friends, don't you? *g*

I totally know what you mean about being emotionally invested in a comm. I read most of GFL and SDP. I don't leave feedback as often, because I keep meaning to and never... actually... I suck. I do. I know this.

I'm really heartfelt on my feedback - my effusiveness is genuine, b/c a well-written story brings me MUCH LOVE.

See, and I love knowing that you're genuine in your feedback. Everybody wins! *g*

But if I come to something via a rec, or a comm, or a kink,I make SURE to leave feedback, because I'm - greedy, and want MORE PORN from that writer, and I want them to know how much I like the fic.

Again, with the win. Seriously, you're wonderful at leaving feedback. It always makes my heart glow a bit. *g*

I'm very much of the "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" type

Yep, me too. I just feel bad leaving slightly negative feedback. I just...back button and go on my way. Heh.

Oh, well, if it's in bold... ;p

What makes you read a fic? The summary. I adore AUs and cliché fic, as well. Also, the promise of sex doesn't hurt.

What makes you NOT read a fic? I'm not into angst-fests, so anything in the spoilers that imply gratuitous whumping is going on. Also, if there's a "part __ of 68" or something in the header.

What makes you leave feedback? Hrm. It's much easier to FB short pieces either written in or linked to from LJ. Which is a shame, because I actually prefer to read long pieces--I just find myself overwhelmed when it comes to giving FB for them, because the more I care about the piece, the more I want to do a good, detailed job about it. So I procrastinate myself out of it.

What makes you NOT leave feedback? Oh--um, I guess I mostly answered up above. I'm also unlikely to FB if I stumble upon a fic on my own through a website, and if it's an older piece everyone else has already squeed over. Or if it was written in an LJ post, and has gone into page 4 of comments saying how great it was. Or if the author is a BNF, in which case I'm afraid of giving them feedback--what if they flame me for commenting in their journal? (due South and SGA are remarkably free of such scary of BNFs, which is probably in one of the top five reasons why I love them so)

So, which cliches? *g*

Angst-fests I have a like/hate relationship with. If done well? I'll read and enjoy. If done for the sake of angsting? No, thanks.

because the more I care about the piece, the more I want to do a good, detailed job about it.

Yeah, I'm similar. I really have to FORCE myself to just sit there and pick out what I want to pick out and write all about it. I do what I can! But it IS hard. So, I totally get that.

Or if the author is a BNF, in which case I'm afraid of giving them feedback--what if they flame me for commenting in their journal?

Oh my God, do people really do that? Seriously? BUT WHY??

So, which cliches?

::coughs:: Um. Well, there's the, um. The Gee darn, there's only one bed! cliche (a holdover from X-Files). And the Undercover at a gay bar cliche. That's a particular favorite.

Though really, if you can name it, I like it. I am not picky here.

Oh my God, do people really do that? Seriously? BUT WHY?? Not in this fandom, but there were some pretty opinionated Buffy people you had to be careful about.

Ooooh, undercover at a gay bar = favorite cliche EVER. I will seriously read any fic that has it. ANY. Bulletproof, that.

but there were some pretty opinionated Buffy people you had to be careful about.

Wow. WEIRD.

I have no thoughts on Veronica Mars (sorry. Not my thing.) but I can answer questions! Because my other option is work. Which isn't really an option at all.

What makes you read a fic? As in, what gets you interested? Is it a pairing? Summary? Is it just an author you trust? What?

An author I trust, a rec from someone I think has the same tastes as me, sometimes a summary. It can be a pairing, but that depends on the fandom. For some I have an OTP, for others I read just about anything.

I'm really pretty easy--if it's there, chances are I'll read it. More than once, if I like it. If I *really* like it, I'll add it to the Giant Firefox Bookmark List of Doom. Where it will vanish and never be seen again.

Still, I figure it's the thought that counts.

What makes you NOT read a fic? As in, what makes you skip the announcement, or snort in derision, or anything else? Wrong pairing? Weird premise? AU? Kidfic? Past traumatic experience? What?

Sometimes the wrong pairing (again, depends on the fandom) and very rarely the type of story. If I'm already upset, I'm not going to read a story that announces that all the characters die painfully.

High school AUs are the bane of my fannish existence. I can't make myself read them, not even if I know they're the best AU ever written. I've finished reading exactly one HS story ever, and it was more because I liked the graphics than because I noticed the actual story.

My biggest problem is how the summary / author notes are written. If they're full of l33tspk, or big glaring multiple typos, I tend to assume that the annoyance of the bad grammar will outweigh the appeal of the story itself. Same thing if the author claims not to have proofread, or that the story sucks (not the same as asking for concrit, mind you) or that they "really hate this pairing, but I'm bored, so here you go." I'd rather read something that sombody loves and thinks is the best they can do, thanks.

What makes you leave feedback? (Same deal as above, elaborate to your heart's content.)

Finding a line that really jumps out at me. Loving the whole premise of a piece. Hot sex (doesn't even have to be that good. I'm easy.) Characters that I can hear in my head. An author that I haven't read before. Finding a kink that I didn't know I had. Long, plotty narratives that make me want to read more. Hot sex.

What makes you NOT leave feedback? (Ditto.)

Having to rush out the door, because I tend to forget to go back and comment later. Being in the middle of a marathon "must catch up with all the things I haven't read" session. Finding dozens of comments already there (because chances are that someone's already said what I have to say).

It's never been that there's nothing I like about a fic. Not leaving feedback is almost invariably a result of having too much other stuff to do and being distracted before I get to it.

Wow, see, I never thought that high school AUs were that big - where are they big? I think it's because I started out in HP where, even with R/S, it wasn't a leap to make them into HS students. Just bring 'em back to Hogwarts a few years back. *g* I can imagine that it could be fun if done well? But that's kind of like kidfic. Good kidfic - YAY. Bad kidfic? Eye-sporking.

Hot sex (doesn't even have to be that good. I'm easy.)

Ha! Well, if it's hot sex, it HAS to be good. At least the sex. *g*

It's never been that there's nothing I like about a fic.

That's cool. I have a tendency to only leave FB if I enjoyed a god 90% of the fic. Well, that's not true. But still. And I am so behind on reading! I need to...well. Okay. I guess priorities are priorities, but STILL. I feel bad. (Which is a roundabout way of saying I want to read your newest dS thing, but have to see BSG FIRST and it's been open in my tabs for, like, days now. >.<)

Wow, see, I never thought that high school AUs were that big - where are they big?

I spent a lot of time reading LFN and West Wing fanfic. People like sending them to high school. It makes my eyes bleed to read about Michael the Homecoming King and his girlfriend Nik, who's from the wrong side of the tracks but really turns out to be popular and how they go off to college together.

Same thing for Jed and Leo, the first class Pres and VP to win unanimously. In dS, these sorts of things are not as much of a threat.

(Which is a roundabout way of saying I want to read your newest dS thing, but have to see BSG FIRST and it's been open in my tabs for, like, days now.

See, watching BSG before doing other things is a good priority to have. Although wait long enough, and it won't be my newest dS thing--there's a RayK/Joe Dick five things ficlet that will probably be up today or tomorrow (done, but off getting a quick read through) that is almost entirely lacking in hot sex.

I'm not sure how that happened.

These are great questions!
What makes you read a fic?
Recs. I am newish to ds and there's alot of stuff out there and eep - some of it is just scary. I pop into hexwood occasionally but I haven't had alot of success just browsing tere. I would rather read the recs and then I get an idea of who can and can't write in a style that I like.
What makes you NOT read a fic?
Bad grammar in the description, whomping or hard core S&M, characters I'm just not interested in, overwrought writing by authors who take themselves WAY too seriously (haven't seen it in ds - this refers more to the whedonverse)
What makes you leave feedback?
If I like the story and want to support the author. Sometimes author's don't have confidence in stuff that is quite praiseworthy, like character voices, or being known as a good writer. I sometimes wish I left more explicit feed back - I HAVE gotten beyond *thunk* but it would be better if I could be more specific too.
What makes you NOT leave feedback?
If I don't like the fic. I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings. And fic is kinda putting yourself out there. I play music in an ensemble part time for a living and I can tell you - I don't want to hear bad feedback unless it's really constructive. The few times people have said really cutting things to me still stick in my craw - they could have rephrased it to be kinder. I try to keep that in mind when I leave feedback. I still feel bad that your university AU didn't work for me but it was about ME - not your story or your writing. *eyeballs creepy old profs in my department with disdain*
Thanks for doing this little little meme. It was fun.

I know exactly what you mean about the difference between negative feedback and concrit. About putting yourself out there. It IS hard, and being a musician, I can imagine that it's even more immediate than in fandom. You can SEE people either enjoying themselves or not. I used to sing, and that was always fucking TERRIFYING. So, what do you play/do? I'm curious. :P

And god, don't worry about the professor AU! Seriously. I totally understand. With some people, there's a line, and that is totally, totally acceptable. Seriously. :)

I'm glad you had fun! :D

I play in a celtic/renaissance ALL GIRL ensemble. Well - at this point we are all women (we've been together fourteen years!) At one point I wanted to rename us the Rolling Crones but they nixed that LOUDLY. I think it would have been hysterical. I play mandolin, recorder and pennywhistle and tiny bit 'o' fiddle (TM). The others play harp/viola, and cello/guitar/accordian. Plus when I'm not DROWNING in homeowrk that I am desperately avoiding - I play at Irish sessions around town. I could totally play the pennywhistle part in the Robert Mckenzie! *insert Paul Gross arms here*
I actually don't get very scared anymore - just because most everything is in my fingers - I don't really have to think about what I'm doing. So I do get to watch the audience when we play and I do feel kind of weird when I see a not so good reaction but (not bragging) - that doesn't happen that often MOSTLY because we have a bottle blond Harp player who has excellent posture, a hot figure and a big toothy smile so usually most eyes are glued to her. And those eyes have an other worldly glaze in them. I am convinced half of our success is from her POSTURE! She does look quite ethereal when she plays. Plus, oh yeah, the music is kind of fun to listen to! I certainly have a great time playing it.
YIKES! My work just crazy!

What makes you read a fic?
It's by someone whose writing I like/admire/await impatiently, it's by a friend, the header sounds interesting, it's been recced by people I trust, the pairing is one I'm in the mood for, the genre is one I'm in the mood for, there's an interesting-sounding (setting or AU or fusion) hook.

What makes you NOT read a fic?
There are squicks in the header (in warnings, pairings, or summaries), the pairing is one I'm not in the mood for, the header has typos or self-conscious disclaimers that identify the writer as a novice who doesn't know (or care) what she's doing, the header warns for spoilers for eps I haven't seen yet, the fic appears to be about something that I'm presently writing my own story about and I don't want to risk cross-pollination, I'm crazy-bizzy and have no time.

What makes you leave feedback?
If I love it. If it strikes a chord with me, even though the fic may be flawed. If it goes down like cold lemonade on a hot summer day -- meaning if it happened to be exactly what I craved/needed most at the time. If it's a tiny fandom or rare pairing I want to encourage. If it's a writer I like and want to encourage. Granted, I may be too stunned by awesomeness (or pressed for time) to leave much in the way of coherent feedback, but I'd much rather leave a simple "omg yay!!" than an impression of not having enjoyed something I liked.

What makes you NOT leave feedback?
Not enjoying the story. Age of the story -- if it was written long ago, I usually don't comment unless it affected me strongly. If the author never acknowledges feedback comments, I don't waste my time writing them unless the story gripped me so much that I feel compelled to leave feedback. If the story is good, but triggers my squicks in a way where I can't figure out how to comment without dumping all my issues on the writer, then I sometimes can't find words to comment. Fluffiness of the story -- sometimes a fic feels like a real fic, and sometimes it feels like a piece of fluff tossed out without thinking -- I tend to like real fic better.

If it goes down like cold lemonade on a hot summer day -- meaning if it happened to be exactly what I craved/needed most at the time.

Oh, I love fics like that. Mmmm... Definitely like to leave feedback, then, like you said. And it's good to see people are all about encouraging writers. I try! I do! And get distracted by things. I have the attention span of a fruit fly. But I do what I can, and will endeavor to do more in the future. Yes.

If the story is good, but triggers my squicks in a way where I can't figure out how to comment without dumping all my issues on the writer, then I sometimes can't find words to comment.

Awww. I think I know what you mean. There's that fine oversharing line where, if you get feedback that DOES dump all these issues on you, you don't...quite...know how to respond. "Ummm. Okay! I'm sorry! Ack!" doesn't sound too good. So, it's hard to tread that line when leaving feedback.

brooklinegirl sent me over here.

I vary between fic-reading and no-fic-reading moods. At the moment, I'm kind of concentrating on writing a story that is eating my life, so I'm not actually reading a lot - stories have to pass a higher bar for me to read them.

I am more likely to (begin to) read a story if it's a fandom I'm currently nuts about, if it has one of my favorite characters from that fandom or a pairing I like - alternatively, if it has a bizarre wacko pairing - if it's a crossover between fandoms I know, if it's by a writer whose other stuff I've enjoyed, if it's by a writer I've never heard of, if it's by someone I feel friendly toward on a personal level, if it's recced by someone who I know has similar tastes, if I see lots of recs for it all over, if it has an intriguing summary, if it's got an NC17 or R rating but is not characterized by the writer as a PWP, if it's between 1000 and, oh, 30,000 words. Oh, and if it has time-travel or body-switching I am so there.

I am less likely to read a story if it's a fandom I'm meh about at the moment, if it is primarily about characters I care less about or pairings that don't do as much for me, if it's by a writer I've read before and not cared for, if it's a PWP, if it's G or PG, if it's less than 500 words or more than 50,000, if there are things in the header like "My first ficcy R&R plzz!" or "Wrote this at 2am while drunk, sorry it sucks," if it's a BYOpairing, if the summary suggests like there's no plot at all. And I particularly dislike school-age versions of the characters.

I always leave feedback if I loved the story.

If I liked but didn't love the story, I'll leave feedback if the writer's a friend, if the writer's someone I want to get to know, if the writer's totally new, if I want to encourage the writer, if the story is part of a challenge I'm in, if I'm more bored than usual, if the magic 8-ball tells me that Signs Point To Yes.

If I liked but didn't love the story, I'm less likely to leave feedback if I personally dislike the writer, if I suspect that the writer personally dislikes me, if there are a bazillion comments already, if I'm running late for something, if it's an older story, if I can see that the writer doesn't respond to lj-comments, if I have sent email feedback to that writer and not received a reply.

If I am meh about or dislike a story I probably won't finish it, let alone leave feedback. The exception is if I can point to one thing that made the difference, and I am on good terms with the writer - I may send feedback (usually privately) about what didn't work for me and why.

Hello! :)

Oh, and if it has time-travel or body-switching I am so there.

Hehe, bulletproof, eh? Kind of like me and AUs. Sad, but true. (WHAT is it about AUs, I ask you!) So, why time-travel and body-switching?

if I'm more bored than usual, if the magic 8-ball tells me that Signs Point To Yes.

Awesome. See, that's the way to go. Magic 8 Ball. (Especially if it's filled with coke...which I just automatically spelled as cock...and meant to make a joke about the coke, but I'll just leave the cock and go no.)

If I liked but didn't love the story, I'm less likely to leave feedback if I personally dislike the writer, if I suspect that the writer personally dislikes me

Hmmm, I'm the same way. I have a...thing...about passing under people's radars if I don't think they like me. If that makes sense. And if other people come along and tell them that their fic is wonderful, I feel better, because they said what I wanted to, anyway. So...it kind of works out?.. Maybe?..

if it's a BYOpairing

Oh my God, I love that term. That's awesome. And, for the record, I hate fics like that, because what's the point? It just means the author didn't bother to write any characterization, and that's a big no-no in my book. I'm here for the characters. Write them, please.

I noticed though, that the "My first fic R&R LOLZ it was 2am!!!" stuff was way more prevalent in HP than dS. Like...ff.net-type HP. *shudders* That was a scary, scary place...

Thanks for coming along! :)

I used to really like AUs, but have become more picky about them, in that I'm less interested in AUs that totally plunk the characters down in a different situation that has nothing to do with canon, and more interested in AUs that draw parallels with canonical events but translated into some other world.

Bodyswitching and time travel appeal to me because they are things I personally would love to do if they were possible! But since they're not, I can only explore them through stories. (I mean, this dS bodyswap/AU thingy I'm writing now is totally my Mary Sue wishful thinking story. Because I'm never going to wake up and discover I've temporarily turned into a guy. But it would be SO COOL.) Plus, bodyswitch stories explore interesting (to me) questions of identity.

I have a...thing...about passing under people's radars if I don't think they like me.

Heh. For me, it varies. With some people, it's that I don't want to provoke or piss off the sleeping dragon, but there are very few people like that, and none in any of my current fandoms. (And in HP, there was someone who really hated my guts, but I read one of her stories and loved it, so I left a glowing comment anyway, because damn it, the story should be all that is important, and if she can't cope with my praise, that's her problem.)

With others, I feel that reading and feedback is part of the dialogue of the fannish community, and that, say, if someone's behavior indicates that she doesn't want that with me (like for example by evidently filtering me out of her lj reading, or not friending me back when her lj is largely friends-only - *cough* ) I am less inclined to give "courtesy feedback" for a story I liked but didn't adore, because it feels like I'm extending a hand where I don't get one in return. I guess this is a petty attitude, that the story should be paramount - and if it's a great story, I have no problem in overcoming my personal feelings - but "great" is, ultimately, subjective.

I noticed though, that the "My first fic R&R LOLZ it was 2am!!!" stuff was way more prevalent in HP than dS. Like...ff.net-type HP. *shudders* That was a scary, scary place...

Oh, GOD yes. Yay dS for being relatively sane. Alas, SGA has quite a bit of this sort of thing.

What makes you read a fic?
It's really subjective with me. If I'm bored, I'm likely to open just about anything. I read just about all of the F/K stories that show up on my friends list or that I see a rec for. That is, unless I know that particular author sucks, even then I might read it for laughs.

What makes you NOT read a fic?
See above, if I know that person doesn't write stories that I like. If I see bad grammar and misspelling in the header. If it's a pairing that I care nothing about. That's subjective too because I read F/V stories that normally I'd never touch because people I know and like wrote them.

What makes you leave feedback?
If the story rocks my boat, I'll leave a feedback even if it's only guh. *g* I do try to give the writers a little more than that. I try to quote a line or two that really grabbed me.

What makes you NOT leave feedback?
There's the time factor. If I'm rushed I might tell myself to come back later and leave a comment, then forget. If the story didn't do anything for me or was awful, I just move on down the road. Like most everyone else that's answered, if it's an older story, or one that has four pages of comments, I'll probably not bother. If it's a person that doesn't acknowledge feedback, ditto.

That's subjective too because I read F/V stories that normally I'd never touch because people I know and like wrote them.

Ha! Same here. There have been maybe two, three or four at most, that I've read because of the author. *g*

I do try to give the writers a little more than that. I try to quote a line or two that really grabbed me.

And that's always a good thing!

You are very good at leaving feedback. :D

Oooh, boldness!

What makes you read a fic? The pairing and the author, in that order. Which means I will read stuff by new authors if it's in a pairing I read. I'll also read new authors or pairings or even fandoms if they're recced by people I trust. Also, I tend - and I know this is terrible of me - to gravitate toward PG-13 and up ratings.

What makes you NOT read a fic? Just from looking at the fic info: Not necessarily pairing, but a bad summary, a plea to "be gentle", an advertisement that a story is not beta'd (which I know is hypocritical since I hardly ever use betas myself, but advertising it makes me nervous), warnings of BDSM, torture, noncon, or obvious spelling or grammar errors in the info alone will usually make me run screaming. Other than that, once I'm into the fic I'll usually ride it out unless I run across too many errors or am jarred by OOC characterization or dialogue.

What makes you leave feedback? I don't leave feedback on everything I've read, or even everything I've mildly enjoyed. I tend to have to really find something striking or original about a fic, or I have to love the characterization or the story or the porn. Sometimes all it takes is the porn. :)

What makes you NOT leave feedback? Like I said, it usually has to be a story that leaves me satisfied in some way, on some level - if the ending was meh or if it was a story that was readable but just left me kind of meh, I generally won't comment.

Damn, LJ ate my comment! *cries*

It boiled down to...yeah, I tend to read the higher ratings, 'cause...yeah. When I first discovered slash, I went through every NC-17 R/S fic I could get my hands on. Then, the second day, I read the rest. *g*

Sometimes all it takes is the porn. :)

Hee! Easy enough. *g*

What makes you read a fic?

For me it's basically the pairing. Anything with my pairing in DS (F/K) or SGA (John/Rodney or Rodney/Ronon), I will at least investigate. If I'm not familiar with the author, I'll read the first few paragraphs or check the comments to see if it's any good.

I have a mental list of authors for my fandoms. For them, I will always read as long as it's my pairing. I might give it a chance if it's not, because they're great writers but not usually because I'm just not interested in, for example, F/V.

What makes you NOT read a fic? As in, what makes you skip the announcement, or snort in derision, or anything else? Wrong pairing? Weird premise? AU? Kidfic? Past traumatic experience? What?

I have a mental list of writers who...well...suck. It's a pretty small list. You have to post a lot of suck before I'll remember that you suck. Basically, bad writing is what turns me off. You can often tell this from the summary and/or headers. Sometimes I have to read a paragraph or two to determine it sucks.

Pairings, definitely. I want to read my pairings and that's it. For example, I adore Speranza (who doesn't?), but I just couldn't read the Teyla-centric het SGA fic she wrote.

If the writing's good (and believe me, I don't have very high standards) and it has my pairing, then I will read just about anything though AUs aren't my favorite. Also, I avoid deathfic.

What makes you leave feedback? (Same deal as above, elaborate to your heart's content.)

If I liked it, I leave feedback. Or rather, if I got any enjoyment out of it at all, then I FB. I feel like it's my duty, my half of the "writer-reader" contract.

What makes you NOT leave feedback?

If I didn't like it. That sounds kinda disingenous, but that's really it. If I didn't get any enjoyment out of it, if I can't imagine ever wanting to read it again, if I feel reading it was a waste of time, no FB.

I'll read the first few paragraphs or check the comments to see if it's any good.

Heee! The old 'cross-check double-check' scenario. Yeah, I do that, too. And I don't read pairings I'm not attached to unless it's somebody I truly trust. And even then, it's tough, especially if it interferes with an OTP. *g* (I love me some AUs bigtime, but deathfic? Only if I'm feeling SUICIDAL.)

I feel like it's my duty, my half of the "writer-reader" contract.

Oh, I like that. I'm not as good about leaving feedback, but I try to. I mean...it's good to GET feedback, so why not make the writer smile, right?

If I didn't like it. That sounds kinda disingenous, but that's really it.

Well, see, I don't think it's diseingenuous, because...I'm of the mind that if I didn't like it, I won't leave NEGATIVE feedback. I'd feel bad, you know? I'll just move on and keep mum. In fandom, at least, I've always found that to be the best policy. So...yeah. :P

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Life; on Mars; a fandom poll.

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