fic discussion communities or fanfic "book club"?

[netlagd.livejournal.com]

Are there any discussion communities where folks discuss individual fanfic or groups/genres.
Not necessarily a rec site or critique, per se, but rather a discussion about what goes on in a story what the author might have meant, themes, whether a story goes too far.

FWIW, I don't consider this something for coffeeclub - any time I've attempted to discuss a particular fic or author, the discussion has been shut down.

I'm imagining something more along the line of marathons or a book club where everyone reads a fic then discusses the fic. Come to think of it, there used to be something like this, but it was rather structured, I'm looking for something less structured where someone might start a thread and others pick up the conversation.

Comments

[michele659.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't want a story that was really poorly done to be a part of a discussion group. I think that's why people read things like "badfic quotes".I don't mean everyone has to like the story,or that everyone needs to think it was well written. I would,however, like to see people suggest stories that everyone reading would want to discuss for the content,not because they were appalled by the quality,jmo.
Oh,and I definitely agree that it should be a mixture of old and new stories and writers.Finding and discussing new authors and stories is important to keep the fandom from stagnating.

[netlagd.livejournal.com]

playing devil's advocate here - I've seen people wax poetic for fics that I have viewed as being poorly written, plotted or characterized. Beauty (and bad!fic) is in the eye of the beholder.

[michele659.livejournal.com]

LOL-that's true! I've seen the same thing. What I meant was that the person suggesting a fic for discussion not pick it because he or she thinks it's poorly written(and/or has bad grammar)and so would be good to make fun of. It doesn't have to mean that the person who brings it up has to love it,just not pick it so everyone can spork it.
Also,there are certain stories I read that I like,but I still question some parts of the characterization or plot. I have nothing against a critque of a story. I think that's what makes a discussion interesting.

[netlagd.livejournal.com]

It's funny, I guess I got this idea of a discussion group in my head because I would like a place to go and say "I just finished reading this fic and..."

Kind of what's on your nightstand today. And others could join in and say - yeah I read that, what was up with that crazy interlude with the tv show?

Basically, what I'm reading...

Then if tagged properly, people could go and find various discussions on certain fics.

Red and Court have done an amazing job tagging entries here and it is really helpful in finding things.

[anyusa0030.livejournal.com]

if you keep the discussion about charector and plotline you can avoid the fight of whether a fic is good or bad .the reason people have the disagreement as to do with the fact that some writers and readers have never watched the show.anyways i hope this happen,sounds really good.

[netlagd.livejournal.com]

the reason people have the disagreement as to do with the fact that some writers and readers have never watched the show

*shakes head and wonky rattling noise occurs*

WTF?! I can understand that some readers have never seen the show if they live outside of the areas where the show widely broadcast.

HOWEVER, how can one write fanfic about a TV show having never seen it?

It boggles the mind... that's... that's... that's just so wrong in so many ways!?