Oh, you know what? Seriously?

[ladybug_archive]

I honestly don't know if I'll post any more Perry stories to FF.net when I finish getting up The Broken Ties. I haven't heard from Harry in days. I'm wondering if he's not going to be reviewing anymore. I really valued his comments; he enjoyed my gen approach. And reviews from others are often sporadic; they don't always review each chapter. I like at least one review per chapter; I don't think that's asking too much. And for the climax, I kind of thought there'd be more of a turn-out than one review on the first half (and so far, one on the second half); I thought all the regulars/semi-regulars would say something.

And I'm obviously doing something wrong here; my hit count for the past couple of chapters has been way down, like to the point of losing half my audience. Even without a lot of reviews, I was thrilled by my hit count. I thought they would at least stick with me through the end of the story, even if they wanted to leave afterwards.

I'm very curious: Is it really so all-important to have Perry/Della in every chapter? Is that really the only thing most Perry fanfic writers and readers care about? Sometimes it feels that way. I've tried to have the spotlight on all of the main characters, but admittedly this is Hamilton's story, his and Paul's. And Hamilton is the one Vivalene tries to kill in the climax. I'm sorry if the majority of the fanbase doesn't like that, but I won't apologize for writing for Hamilton the most and making him the main hero of this fic. (He deserves to be the hero sometimes. I'm giving him his due.) I can't be what I'm not; I'm not a fan of romance, nor can I figure out how to write as many (platonic) Perry & Della scenes as people want. But I try. I put in extra scenes because I know they're wanted. I extend scenes with them when I can. And sometimes I feel like that's not even appreciated and it doesn't matter to some of them because I don't have Perry & Della (or Perry/Della) as the main, or one of the main, factors.

Actually, I tried, with this story. The villains didn't want them to meet because they were afraid the spell over everyone's memories would start to weaken if they did. Perry and Della's bond was key to everything. I put in scenes wherever I could, but to be honest, it was often difficult for me. I don't connect with them the same as I connect with Hamilton (even though I love them all). And if the majority of the fanbase can't connect with Hamilton and is tired of trying via my stories, then I guess never the twain shall meet. I wouldn't enjoy reading stories where Perry/Della was the main factor, unless there was something else that captured my attention. And I wouldn't expect anyone to read my fics if they didn't want to. I guess in the end, I just feel disappointed and discouraged, especially since I did have a pretty good-sized audience until a couple of chapters ago. I can't figure out what the problem is, unless it does have to do with the way things moved towards the climax and what happened in the climax itself.

I love the fic myself, make no mistake about that. I'm very proud of it and I think it's a good piece of work. And of course that's the most important thing. But that doesn't mean I don't want others to enjoy it too.

I'll be honest; even though I write these stories for myself, first and foremost, when I post them to FF.net it means I'm hoping, even expecting, a bit of commentary and some outside interest. When I post them to Livejournal, on the other hand, I generally don't expect reviews at all. Heck, I don't know if anybody even reads the stuff on Livejournal, since I don't have a hit counter like I do on Blogger.

(However, if I've posted to, say, a Monkees comm and don't get reviews, I probably won't keep posting. I'll figure there's no interest, especially since I can't see a hit count. I don't expect reviews in a place like 31_days, but I do in a fandom-specific comm.)

I did get some inspiration for 31_days. I'm thinking that for the first time I may try the challenge of writing a short fic for every one of the days. The fire/ice themes, I've decided, might serve Hamilton and Mignon well. But since I don't think anyone gives a flying fig about their interaction, and probably most of them have never even seen the episode with Mignon, I really don't think I'll bother putting them on FF.net. Unless I have a change or heart and/or become convinced there would be interest, I think these ficlets will only be on 31_days, as a sort of personal challenge to myself.

I'm reminded of the Princess Tutu ficlets I was writing for 30_deathfics. Some did go on FF.net too, it's true, but others were comm-exclusive.

And in the end, I'm still very indecisive about writing another Perry mystery for FF.net. But the possibility isn't completely canceled out, either. The plot I have in mind for the next one would make it more Perry's story than Hamilton's (and that isn't me giving in to the fanbase; it's just the way the plot would work), but there probably still wouldn't be enough Perry & Della scenes to satisfy the shippers. And there's my concern that I wouldn't be able to to come up with enough plot to carry the story through to the end. I don't want to leave it hanging.

I just don't know what to do about it.

Comments

[rose-of-pollux.livejournal.com]

*nods*

Yeah, the fictional ones are single (animated Martin has no wedding band, but the real one never removes his). But, still...

LOL. Perfectly accurate for this situation, too.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

It is a sticky situation. I wonder what the Kratts would think of it? Somehow I imagine them either being amused or just shaking their heads in amazed disbelief.

[moonshadowmagic.livejournal.com]

Sorry if I horn in here... but what's the fanfic dictum, "if it exists it has porn"? Need to send Zooboomafoo over to jump around on the writers until they see sense, I feel.

I note the tendency to romance-- it is older than me of course, and certainly ancient, and not necessarily a Good Thing for a story. But I can give two recent examples where it was toned down or cut out in the film versions-- in "Return of the King" Faramir and Eowyn only get a look, and the romantic interest was entirely cut out of "The Eagle." (Not that I liked everything the script did with the book, but I can't see Cottia coming across well as written. I recommend Rosemary Sutcliffe's book of course.)

Not only uninvited but wordy....

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

LOL.

Yeah, somehow I can't see the Kratts really taking it seriously.

Faramir and Eowyn did have a scene in the extended version, but it was still vastly toned down from the book.

I'm not familiar with The Eagle at all. Thanks for the recommendation!

[moonshadowmagic.livejournal.com]

Lack of $$ sucks-- I need extended versions!

Anyway, the book's full title is "The Eagle of the Ninth." I picked it up used, but it might be in print again due to the movie. The movie is heavier on violence, too. But the movie has possibly the best attack on a Roman testudo I can remember.

[insaneladybug.livejournal.com]

Yes, you do! Would your library maybe have them to rent, at least?

Interesting!

[moonshadowmagic.livejournal.com]

If the library can't oblige, I bet my sister has 'em.

I'm getting skinny here. I wish it worked on *me.*