getithere | fic discussion communities or fanfic "book club"?

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.

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From:

michele659.livejournal.com

I think that would be fun-provided the author gives permission and there's actual discussion of the fic,instead of a lot of people trying to out snark each other and the story.
I'd definitely say let it be moderated closely to avoid the discussion crossing the line from discussion to flaming.
And it should be open to all pairings or genres. If someone doesn't like a character,pairing or genre they don't have to participate in the discussion. Or,they could participate in it without it descending into character or story bashing.
I'd like to participate in something like that,thanks for the suggestion!

Edited Date: 2010-01-07 12:40 am (UTC)

From:

highd.livejournal.com

I agree with all your saying with the exception of asking the authors permission. It would be very difficult to ask a lot of the authors first of all since a lot of the fic that will be discuss are most likely going to be old or from authors that have moved on. and Second in a book club you don't call up JK Rowling or Dan Brown and ask if it's ok to read the books.

I don't think the goal is to flame and I would be very on anyone that is just bashing for bashing sakes. We are adults and should be able to be mature about things.

From:

netlagd.livejournal.com

as an author, I am totally open to people discussing what I write.

If they don't like it or if it isn't their cup of tea so be it - and if they can provide a logical argument to support their opinion I don't mind seeing it.

For example, I have a lot of trouble with Brian and Justin in Het relationships, in general things that are overly/way OOC tend to offend me.

But I can say, it's just not me and I don't like it.

Also, there are times when I read something that I think is OOC, and I don't mind debating what I see as OOC that you may not see as OOC. That isn't story bashing.

However, just plain bad!fic - that hasn't been beta'd, that hasn't been spellchecked, that is obviously written by someone who hasn't watched the show - sorry, that's fair game.

But I digress.

I would like to think that after someone has written into

getithere to find a particular fic, and a bunch of folks who haven't read that fic go oh! I'd like to read that, there would be a place to go and discuss the fic.

For instance, something led me down the path to an author who just wrote her first fic. As a first attempt is was quite good - good characterization, stayed in character, but a couple of classic mistakes. Things like mis-spellings for things that were local to Pittsburgh. Justin saying "Mum" instead of "Mom", that sort of thing.

If done right, the discussion (rather than critique) community could be one that provides what I have been looking for, good, well written, new authors and new fics. Yes, I love the classics and read those fics over and over again, but I can't see a fandom surviving if there isn't anything new to read.

BTW, I'm not looking for a place full of gushing "the story is wonderful" and full of "me too's". More, I read this fic and I liked it. I like the way this was handled, I didn't like this, but I can see where the author was going with it...

that sort of thing

just my $.02

From:

highd.livejournal.com

This is what I want our group to be! A real place to go to and talk about fic in a way that doesn't have to be all gushy. I have wanted that for a very long time. It's one of the reasons I wanted to start the group in the first place. Like there are tons of fics out there that should be talked about because they are so dense, and so meaty that you just want to appreciate that and really get into it. There are fics that have been written that deserve to be discussed. Not just on the author LJ or Yahoo group because like you said that get to be sort of a rah rah session or something. Not that those don't have their place but you know what I mean.

This is so what we are going to do.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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.

From:

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!?

From:

michele659.livejournal.com

Well,we can't call famous authors to ask permission,but current writers on lj are accessible.Also, a published writer is used to having their work critiqued. A new or insecure writer is most likely not to view it the same way. It's different, I think with authors who are no longer around or who have left the fandom then it is for those who are still around. Those who are no longer writing for the fandom or who aren't on lj anymore probably wouldn't know or care one way or the other.
I would like to think that everyone would be mature about it,but I've seen some unfortunate things on lj that make me wonder sometimes. I'm all for stopping anyone who starts flaming right away.