fic labelling
Aug. 2nd, 2004 10:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
pezI want to ask for your opinion on fic labelling, particularly if you've been directed here from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
word_games.
I know some people from my flist are against not labelling death fics, but recently I've been thinking that I might not label them anymore. It's like, when you buy a novel at the bookshop, you wouldn't know if the character's going to die or not. Same for when you watch a movie. You will get appropriate warnings for sex, language and violence, but not for death.
Sometimes labelling a death fic just spoils the story. I don't have any death fics in the works right now, apart from [Trials of Trust], but if the death is a twist in the plot then giving warning just spoils everything doesn't it?
I don't really like labelling what pairing the story would be, too, but I guess there's no escape from that. People do pick pairings to read; I do that too. Reading the back of a book usually tells you who falls in love with who, if it's a gay story, etc etc.
So, yeah. I'm not very good at constructing a discussion or anything, but I'd like to hear as much opinion as possible. If you can, please tell me if you support not labelling death fics or not. Doesn't have to be followed up by reasons or anything (although that'd be great too). Comment away!
word_games.I know some people from my flist are against not labelling death fics, but recently I've been thinking that I might not label them anymore. It's like, when you buy a novel at the bookshop, you wouldn't know if the character's going to die or not. Same for when you watch a movie. You will get appropriate warnings for sex, language and violence, but not for death.
Sometimes labelling a death fic just spoils the story. I don't have any death fics in the works right now, apart from [Trials of Trust], but if the death is a twist in the plot then giving warning just spoils everything doesn't it?
I don't really like labelling what pairing the story would be, too, but I guess there's no escape from that. People do pick pairings to read; I do that too. Reading the back of a book usually tells you who falls in love with who, if it's a gay story, etc etc.
So, yeah. I'm not very good at constructing a discussion or anything, but I'd like to hear as much opinion as possible. If you can, please tell me if you support not labelling death fics or not. Doesn't have to be followed up by reasons or anything (although that'd be great too). Comment away!
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no subject
Date: 2004-08-02 04:50 pm (UTC)I hate labeling the pairing. I hate trying to figure out a rating. I hate writing summaries, too.
I think the idea of putting a warning (highlight to read) type deal may be a good one though, it allows people to check it out or to NOT check it out if they so desire.
Myself, I like to be surprised, but I'm not easily shocked or depressed by reading fanfic, unless it involves Hiyoshi getting his heart smashed by Ohtori, and well, I tend to like those as well as get emotionally hung up on them.
I do NOT like the fact that fans often will totally bypass good writing and dynamic characterization in favor of tepid childish fluff/pr0n involving a character they're more fond of. I hate how pairing-specific people can get in fandom sometimes.
I like to shock people, I like to surprise people. When I leave out what character or pairing my fic is about, it's because I want to try to interest people in something I think they would not otherwise read. (and since my love is an popular character, it's almost necessary =_=)
Okay, I'm going off on a tangent there.
Neeway. I'd say that what may be best is to place a highlightable warning in white text under a LJ-cut for things which may be disturbing. (assuming you use default mode for under an LJ cut, keeping the background white.)