Abandoned Fics

[marajade007.livejournal.com]

Hello All

Not sure this is the right community for this but
I can't think of any other community that I can start
a discussion in this matter...

I have been thinking lately that maybe some of the abandoned
fics could be taken on by some of the great writers we still have in this
fandom... With the authors permission if they can be found
and if not can an abandoned fic be co opted and finished.

It's just a thought... I for one would like Mechanical Michelangelo
to be finished... I know of a few other fics that are in the same boat!

Any thoughts?

Thanks in Advance

Comments

[orange-fonts.livejournal.com]

WOW! I like...

That is a very good idea actually. I often read comments about hoping certain fics would be completed and not to mention most of these abandoned fics are really good.

I know of some authors which allowed other writers to continue their unfinished works. Some might not agree because sometimes such creations are like their "baby" and on the other side some authors may not be comfortable finishing works they have not started or not their own.

But it could be taken as a challenge :-) and yes I personally have some abandoned fics which I wished were not left unfinished :-(

With author's permission, yes.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

I know there are a host of fics that I'd love to see finished, but seeing them finished by another isn't always the best solution. The reason we love those fics is because of the skill of the writer. Someone else taking it on might not do it justice.

The Mask begun by (http://www.monjouet.org/qaffiction.htm) sian265 and finished by (http://sydneyalexis.livejournal.com/120971.html#cutid1) sydneyalexis is a great example of a fic being finished well by another. However, Sydney had been Sian265's beta-reader, and took over the fic at Sian265's request.

Someone once asked if they could finish one of my abandoned stories. I agreed, but I assumed that she would pick up where I left off. Instead, she rewrote big chunks of my story and blurred the line between what was my story and what was hers. I was not comfortable with the story being posted in that way, and asked her not to post.

So, my vote, as a reader and a writer, is that finishing another's fic should ideally be done only with the original author's permission. If you are unable to contact the original writer to get permission, then DISCLAIMER like crazy. Make it very clear what part is another's, what part is yours, and that you did it without permission. And of course, if you do ask for permission, and the original writer says, "No," then hands off.

[echelonizi.livejournal.com]

I've thought about doing this before, and i would definately be up for it.

We could do it in a round robin kind of way? Therefor everyone who likes the fic will get a say in how it ends. I dunno :) It's just a suggestion. We could make a community for finishing them, talk about how we want it done?

We should definately get the author's permission, unless they have completely left Lj and aren't responding to any comments any more.

:) xo

[teatotaller.livejournal.com]

One story that I think is a good candidate for this is Slip Away by branwen77. I know the author has let some of her other stories be adopted.

[vie-hero.livejournal.com]

Oh my God i second this story!!
it's a very good fic and so sad it left unfinished like that
hope someone can get permission and continue it

[josieb1.livejournal.com]

I was going to mention that one, its the one I would most like to see completed

[amelialourdes.livejournal.com]

Part of me wants to say "with author's permission" and the stronger part wants to say "absolutely not" if only for the reason that mysid listed above. It's different if an author were working with another author as mysid pointed out but to have a new author come in with a different writing style, not working with the original author sort of ruins the purpose of the fic. I'd never want to see Randall's Coup de Grace or Quiet Men finished by someone else because they don't know the original conclusion or its original intent. So, I know I'm not for this idea.

But, someone suggested in here doing some kind of round robin in which one person takes a part of the story and then passes it on to the next person to continue. That's not a bad idea for a community.

[eileen-donovan.livejournal.com]

This is something that should never be done without the author's permission specifically to the new author and even then, for a number of reasons, it's sketchy. I can't imagine ever doing it, nor would I give someone else permission if I had an abandoned story, which I don't. :)

[meta1960.livejournal.com]

To put my two cents her, this is my opinion.
Well, I'm just a very eager reader, but many times I've asked my self a question: why does an author start several stories and have maybe only 2 chapters on each (I've seen this on qaf-fic/atp/).

There a authors with this kind of act way back in years 2003, 04, 05 and never came back to them, or even answer a request, if they intend to finish them. So, yes for the permission issue, but as mysid said, sometimes that just doesn't work.

I can understand that authors get fed with this stuff, but so am I sometimes. When this kind of thing happens, they should take some kind of hiatus, explain to the readers what is happening and then commit themselves to finish what they started. I think that is a way to be honest to themselves and to their audience.

Metka

[ipitydaf00l.livejournal.com]

I have mixed feelings, but the one that stands out the most is just "no". There are many fanfics (not just QAF related ones) that I've seen over the years become abandoned and each time I feel such a loss and wish they were completed.

However, each particular writer has their own style of writing and sometimes it's because of that why I am drawn into stories. It's hard for anyone else to come in even working with the original author to imitate something that is unique to the individual. Then again, here comes the issue of even if you did get permission to finish someone else's fic then you don't really know their ideas for finishing it, how they were going to come to the conclusion they decided on, etc. (Even if they were willing to give you the information, the way one would chose to go about that process would vastly differ and if the author is going to provide a detailed point for point they might as well pick up and finish themselves.)

Taking over without permission seems wrong to me, because if you have no idea where they were going with the fic who knows if others will like the ending and can ruin it, even if the intentions were well-meaning.

Basically, this is a TL;DR way of saying that yes, while I wish a few of the fics I've found that were abandoned were completed, I can't imagine anyone else being able to take over for the original author and it be the same for me.

[josieb1.livejournal.com]

Maybe the unfinsihed fics could be used as plot bunnies? Just an idea

[wjsc99.livejournal.com]

I'd love it if stories were *never* posted unless they were finished. QAF is the only fandom I've ever participated in where unfinished fics or wip's are common practice. I'd never heard of such a practice, before.

I never, ever begin reading a wip, as I was seriously burned during my first few weeks in the fandom.

[mysid.livejournal.com]

WIP's are a bad idea all around. I must admit that I left two stories (in a previous fandom) unfinished, but in my defense, I posted them believing that they were finished one-shots. But then I had an idea for a second chapter, and a third, and before I knew it I was many chapters in. The problem was, I didn't know where I was going. I still regret that they were never finished, but my muse for that fandom retired.

Now, I absolutely won't post unless a work is complete. And I definitely avoid reading WIP's.

[court1429.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how many fics I've noticed when scrolling my flist that have an author's note that says something about "I have no idea where I'm going with this." And my immediate thought is "then why the fuck are you posting?"

And there are authors I've noticed when I'm looking for tagging info who have multiple abandoned fics. It's like they get a scene in their head and start writing and then just lose their train of thought, but who cares? They've had another idea! If I read those authors in the first place, I sure would quit. lol

[mysid.livejournal.com]

"I have no idea where I'm going with this." And my immediate thought is "then why the fuck are you posting?"

Sing it, Sister!

And yes, there are certain writers notorious for multiple unfinished WIP's. Finish one story before you start another.

[wjsc99.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how many fics I've noticed when scrolling my flist that have an author's note that says something about "I have no idea where I'm going with this."

---------------------

I don't write fanfic, but do make part of my living as a writer. I never sit down to a new project without first writing an outline which carefully details the beginning, middle and end of the story. Variations may occur along the way, but a writer MUST know where they're headed when they start.

Years into the fandom, and I'm still amazed by this 'abandoned stories' phenomena.

As for the OP, I don't think adopted stories are a good idea, except in very rare circumstances. I like the idea of wip's as plot bunnies . . . but that would just spawn more abandoned stories. :-(

[kellydeer.livejournal.com]

Amen, wjsc99! I feel the exact same way. I believe all fics should be finished before posting & I, like you, never even start reading a WIP no matter how good they sound!

I am keeping an eye on a couple in the FanFiction.Net community that look like they are going to be great (and very long).

Queer As Folk: Never Say Never by QAFfan (listed as complete, but hasn't all been posted yet) I was in touch with the author and she said she listed it that way because it has been completed, but she does seem to post the chapters religiously every week.
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2180573/QAFfan


THE GREAT DIVIDE by Nightvision55 (also seems to post religiously weekly)
http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2079566/Nightvision55

But I will not begin reading until complete & all posted!

[court1429.livejournal.com]

Aside from a)really wanting a few fics to be finished and b) wishing to fuck authors wouldn't abandon fics, I would have to weigh in on the NO side of this fence with a few exceptions.

As noted, Sydneyalexis was Sian's beta and knew sian's B/J voice. While tagging, I ran across a comment Xie made at some point saying Vamphile had given her permission to finish Blue Monday. Again, Xie was Vamp's beta and is closely in tune with Vamp's B/J voice.

In the real world, I remember Nancy Pickard was given permission to finish a Virginia Rich book, or maybe write a new book using Virginia Rich's characters. It was quite faithful to the original tone as far as I remember, but it's probably been 15 years since I read it.

I'd say never without an author's permission and if I was an author contemplating giving such permission to someone I didn't know, I'd damn sure want to see samples of their writing "as me" before I'd give it. ;)

[pheobe129129.livejournal.com]

If other authors are inspired to finish off a story I think it would be a great idea to let them do it. It doesn't even have to be the official ending, just a possible way the story could go. It could be like fanfiction of fanfiction. And if the endings are crappy, I don’t understand how that would hurt anyone. It’s better than nothing.

Besides, if permission from an author is granted to finish some of their WIP's because they aren’t interested in doing it themselves anymore, there’s a great chance that we could end up with some really good completed fics and that would be awesome.

[silvaofhope.livejournal.com]

But then you could come across more problems. To be honest, what I might consider a really great fic, you might think is horrible. You have no idea how many times I've come across a "You have to read this, it's amazing!" comment, and after reading a few paragraph ended thinking "Really? Someone actually considers this a great piece of fiction?!"

So if someone adopts a story and writes their own ending, you are bound to come across people who will say it's perfect, and then other people who will think the writer didn't do any justice to the original author and instead ruined the story. I say if the author gives permission for their story to be completed by someone, then good for them, but I would be highly weary of reading the continuation...especially if it's written by someone I've never heard about.

[marajade007.livejournal.com]

Hello

WOW my post has certainly sparked some discussion
about abandoned fics.

I enjoyed reading all the viewpoints it certainly gave
me somethings to think about...

I like the idea of using the abandoned fics as plot bunnies
this seems about the best option unless we can convince some of the authors to finish what they began...

I remember one author did not want to finish her story but she gave
us a summary as to where the story was going and we got resolution that way!

I am having issues with my eyes at the moment otherwise I would have answered all your messages individually instead of the way I have

So is there any consensus on how to proceed?

Cheers