What erks you in fandom???

[jujubakiller]

I'm having dificulty explaining without naming the story, and I dont want to do that. But it's something like the character spend the whole story suffering and fighting over something that's never explained. It gets really tiring after a while, especially when the story is on the last chapters and it seems like its not goig to be explained. So, it's all abou the character's emotions, wihtout any context. I hope I made myself clear. Sometime the fact that english isn't my first language doesn't help either.

Ah, unresolved issues. Those can be a bitch. But the story's almost over, and there's still nothing to say what happened? That's weird.

I've done that in a few of my stories -- one of which is in my profile -- you know, introduce a past thing that's still affecting the present story and get people wondering what it is before I actually reveal it. But I always intend to let people in on what happened eventually. And usually after that, whatever it was starts getting resolved.

I don't understand why any writer would do something like that without at least cluing people in as to what it was. Have people -- any of the reviewers -- mentioned this? Does the writer intend to give some sort of idea when the big reveal will be?

Now, I'm seriously curious.

The problem is, I don't think there will be a big reveal. I don't think there will be any explanations. If you're very curious, you can PM, then I can tell what story it is, and it will be easier explaining my issues with it.

[alexajaye]

I don't always do so good with the PMs. I'll try.

In case it doesn't work, here's my email --> joellenwilliamson@yahoo.com

[Sylvianna]

There are very few fics where, when a gay male character is introduced, he doesn't behave lile Albert from The Birdcage. What's up with that?! I mean, I've seen a couple of fics where there is a gay female and the gay aspect only comes to play when she chooses a partner, but is not obvious otherwise. However with male characters it's always this "the best girlfriend with a penis a girl could ever have" and extremely often it is just another Alice but with a penis. It doesn't matter if it's Mike, Jake, Riley... their original (canon) personalities don't make a difference, they're not canon characters with changed circumstances; they're a completely different character with no similarities to the original besides the name.

What's up with always having homosexual male characters behaving like that? I don't know very many, but the ones I know you wouldn't know they're gay unless they told you straight away or they have come out and you have the chance to meet their partners. They're not this extremely effeminate, histerical and oversensitive stereotype concerned only with fashion.

And why the double standard? Because I haven't seen a single fic where a gay female character dresses like a man, behaves like a man or even has her appearance modified to actually look like a man? I mean, I was once at a party where no one would convince me that certain person was a girl, although she actually was. I didn't speak with her so I don't know about her voice, but her appearance? I would have bet an arm that she was a boy. However, in fics, it's never the gay female character the one that is obvious with her sexual preferences, no. She still dresses like a girl, behaves like a girl and no one would know she is gay unless she told you so. But with male characters... it's like authors don't know gay men besides the parodies Hollywood use in its "exclusively for women consumption films".

I didn't have a problem with this until recently, because I can see why in one or two stories, that character would be interesting to have for comic relief and as the friend that helps the female main character get her HEA when said main character has no other friends. But when you realize that not a single fic portrays gay men in a different light (unless you read slash, but as I said, it's not my cup of tea) while the very few that have a gay woman in it don't make a parody of her character, it starts bothering me.

[WithMe92]

Sylvianna this sort of ties in with yours, when B/E have friends of the opposite sex the author automatically makes them gay. If your characters can't trust their significant other to be around someone who's straight then there is a major problem there.

[alexajaye]

Or, if Bella's best friends isn't gay, then they're automatically wary of Edward. Sometimes it's Alice, which I guess makes sense. But almost always, it's Jake or Jasper or some other guy who automatically hates Edward and doesn't want Bella to be with him. And this almost always evolves into her best friend seeing how much he loves her and wants her to be with him and not Edward. I'm kind of reading a story right now where this is the case, and not only did the author make Jasper out to be the villain to destroy Bella and Edward, she dragged Alice into the mix.

I get that people want realism, but sometimes, there is such a thing as taking it too far. If the guy's your best friend, he should see how the new guy in your life makes you happy. It shouldn't be about him if you are. And it also shows how bad Bella's judgment is because she continues to think, he just has to get to know you, but Jasper almost never gives Edward a chance. And when Bella goes to tell Jasper they can't be friends anymore, Edward jumps to the conclusion that Bella's leaving him. It was so fricking over-dramatic.

[jujubakiller]

Or, if Bella's best friends isn't gay, then they're automatically wary of Edward. Sometimes it's Alice, which I guess makes sense. But almost always, it's Jake or Jasper or some other guy who automatically hates Edward and doesn't want Bella to be with him. And this almost always evolves into her best friend seeing how much he loves her and wants her to be with him and not Edward. I'm kind of reading a story right now where this is the case, and not only did the author make Jasper out to be the villain to destroy Bella and Edward, she dragged Alice into the mix.

I get that people want realism, but sometimes, there is such a thing as taking it too far. If the guy's your best friend, he should see how the new guy in your life makes you happy. It shouldn't be about him if you are. And it also shows how bad Bella's judgment is because she continues to think, he just has to get to know you, but Jasper almost never gives Edward a chance. And when Bella goes to tell Jasper they can't be friends anymore, Edward jumps to the conclusion that Bella's leaving him. It was so fricking over-dramatic.

I've been reading this story too. I was really enjoying it until all the drama started. I still like it, but it was very dramatic.

[alexajaye]

I've been reading this story too. I was really enjoying it until all the drama started. I still like it, but it was very dramatic.

Oh, I agree. The relationship she built between Edward and Bella was really sweet and beautiful, but I just didn't understand why she had to make Jasper the bad guy -- not just with Bella, but with Alice too. I mean, I get that Bella was sheltered most of her life and had no idea of things, but again, if Jasper was really her best friend, he would've seen that she was happy.

It wouldn't have turned into this whole tug of war as to who she wanted to have in her life more. I'd love to read a story where the villain comes from outside their circle, you know, like it was in the books. That to me is a good representation of good fan fiction. I always think about writing it, but I'm trying to transition out of fan fiction.

[jujubakiller]

I've been reading this story too. I was really enjoying it until all the drama started. I still like it, but it was very dramatic.

Oh, I agree. The relationship she built between Edward and Bella was really sweet and beautiful, but I just didn't understand why she had to make Jasper the bad guy -- not just with Bella, but with Alice too. I mean, I get that Bella was sheltered most of her life and had no idea of things, but again, if Jasper was really her best friend, he would've seen that she was happy.

It wouldn't have turned into this whole tug of war as to who she wanted to have in her life more. I'd love to read a story where the villain comes from outside their circle, you know, like it was in the books. That to me is a good representation of good fan fiction. I always think about writing it, but I'm trying to transition out of fan fiction.

I'm trying to remember the name of this fic now, can you PM me?

[Sylvianna]

Sylvianna this sort of ties in with yours, when B/E have friends of the opposite sex the author automatically makes them gay. If your characters can't trust their significant other to be around someone who's straight then there is a major problem there.

So true...Particularly with Bella. All authors tend to use Alice for Edward and, since she is his sister, no need to make her gay. Now that I think about it, I don't recall many- if any- fics where Edward's best friend is a girl who is not Bella, Alice or Rosalie. Tanya doesn't count because they never portray her as "just a friend" for Edward. The only times Tanya is not the competition is when she's involved with someone else, and those are part of the only instances when Tanya is not a bitch. See? It's all related! LOL

I'd love to read a story where the villain comes from outside their circle, you know, like it was in the books.

I don't exactly have a problem with Bella's friends being wary of Edward in stories- or the other way around-, particularly when Edward is at fault (i.e. he is or has been a womanizer and no one knows that he's changed yet). I can understand and sympathize with those characters keeping a watchful eye and not being completely sold out on the idea for quite a while (until they actually see that Edward is good with Bella) because that's what a friend does, s/he is capable to have a perspective with the aid of a cool head that Bella doesn't have when she lets her emotions rule her decissions. It also makes it entertaining.

However, I agree that there are authors that for the sake of drama or angst take it to a level that is a bit over the top. You, as the friend, may not like your friend's boyfriend and maybe, when you are alone with her you may try to make her understand your perspective. But you never put her in a situation such a "choose between him or me" because:

a) that's only for lovers, not for friends.

b) When someone is in love, they're going to choose the person they love. They will stop meeting with you or calling you, effectively kicking you out of their life and, if something does go wrong, you 've left your friend alone and vulnerable. That's not what a good friend does.

The only thing I don''t like is that sometimes Bella's male friends behave like fathers, not friends. I don't know if my experiences are so different. I've had more male friends than girl friends all my life. The boys's perspective is invaluable, particularly when you're dealing with matters of the heart. But none of them pull the "protective" shit out. They listen, they tell you what they think, and then they move on to another topic. Who are they to stop you from meeting the guy you're crushing on even if they don't like him? (and I've seen a Jasper, a Jake, etc. doing something like that, trying to prevent Bella from having any contact with Edward and I would say that Bella should be more worried about her controlling friends than a womanizer, for instance, Edward).

It leaves me confused about how many real male friends some of these authors have because, in my experience, none of mine would ever do that kind of thing. But then again, my father would not give a speech to my boyfriend when he first meets him and my brothers would not threaten him. For them it's always been my life and they're there to support me in the good and in the bad, even if the bad comes from me messing up. My friends are the same, but with less intensity (they have their own lives to get worried about too!).

So I'm not really able to understand that kind of intrusive and controlling behaviour from friends and family in so many fics. I find it too "soap opera"-like.

[PaperMoon]

I am relatively new to the fandom, but I see a LOT of the following and it bugs the ever living shit out of me.

When people write their stories in first person with multiple pov's. Don't get me wrong--I enjoy getting multiple points of view, and I think it takes a lot of creativity for the writer to use the voice of more than one character. But, what i HATE is when they write an entire chapter in one character's point of view, only to REWRITE the same exact chapter with the same exact content in ANOTHER character's point of view.

I can't help but feel that each chapter of a story should move that story forward somehow, but so many writers waste so much of their own and their reader's time with repetition. Come on, people! There is nothing wrong with making references to what HAPPENED in a previous chapter, but what makes you think people want to read each chapter two times in a row. It's exhausting and nothing makes me drop it like it's hot faster than that.

I really don't want to offend anyone, but I've abandoned many a story that had the potential to be a really great story because i find myself reading every chapter twice.

There. It's out.