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NH Summer brings out the Big Bangs - the massive efforts that are always due within days of each other. Then the NH autumn brings out a slew of small ficathons. Then it's winter and there's solstice, yuletide, and (the named and unashamed) Christmas ficathons.
In the last couple of years, I've kind of realised that I join ficathons because I don't get the kinds of fics I want to read any other way. And even then, I don't always get the fics I want to read.
What do I want to read in my fanfic? Action/adventure fics with a male/female relationship, and where the female character is not only permitted to be awesome but actively encouraged to be. And, frankly, that's rather rare, in any of my fandoms. Even the writers who like the female characters tend to focus on the male ones. And I don't want to be thrown a bone by the slashers when they deign to include my favourite female characters; I want something where my favourite female character is awesome and happens to be attractive to the guy who makes up the other half of my pairing preference.
Actually, I think that what I really want is a genderswapped heroic narrative trope: where the girl solves all the problems, gets involved in all the action, and gets the guy into the bargain!
There don't seem to be too many of those around...
In the last couple of years, I've kind of realised that I join ficathons because I don't get the kinds of fics I want to read any other way. And even then, I don't always get the fics I want to read.
What do I want to read in my fanfic? Action/adventure fics with a male/female relationship, and where the female character is not only permitted to be awesome but actively encouraged to be. And, frankly, that's rather rare, in any of my fandoms. Even the writers who like the female characters tend to focus on the male ones. And I don't want to be thrown a bone by the slashers when they deign to include my favourite female characters; I want something where my favourite female character is awesome and happens to be attractive to the guy who makes up the other half of my pairing preference.
Actually, I think that what I really want is a genderswapped heroic narrative trope: where the girl solves all the problems, gets involved in all the action, and gets the guy into the bargain!
There don't seem to be too many of those around...
no subject
You are very right about how rare the type of fic you want is. And I'm just as guilty as all the rest. I think we are socialized to see things from the male POV by all the stuff we watch/read/hear that is made to avoid scaring off those delicate male egos by making them participate in a female POV.
The fact that I spent my entire childhood hoping to grow up and get a chance to be a little boy probably didn't help. I internalized that lesson faster than most. Isn't it ironic that despite that, what am I? A happily married hetero stay at home mom.
The universe is laughing at me.
Still, like many another, I do find that I tend to emphasize the male POV/role more than the female. It's a known issue, and I'm working on it.
I missed your birthday this year. Right now, Muse is laughing at me, and skipping away and refusing to answer to any calls for anything except comment fic, but I'll see what I can scare up when Muse is feeling kinder and less puckish.
Please, please don't hold your breath. I'd hate to be responsible for your demise!