Snowflake Challenge #3

[dickinsons]

Challenge #3

In your own space, talk about a fannish opinion you hold that has changed over time.

Well, this wasn't an easy challenge! I'm not one to never change opinions, but I've been in fandom for long and it was hard to find an opinion I remember changing. But I found one!

You see, until a few years ago, I'd go 'NOPE' if I saw a fic was angsty and had a BAD ending. Angst with a happy ending? Sure! Without a happy ending? Why, why would anyone want that, I asked myself. I didn't get it. I thought that, you know, this is fandom, we're here to have fun, fix the parts of canon we aren't happy with and so on, so I didn't understand the point of stories with bad endings. And that didn't exclusively mean something like major character death. I wouldn't read a one-sided ship fic, that sort of thing. I wanted my perfect happy ending, thank you very much!

But now? Boy, do I get it now! I love a messy relationship, a fucked up situation that has no easy solution in sight, a one-sided drama, infidelity... Yes, I still read fic with happy endings! But I'm also open to darker stories that make me cry. I truly get it now! There's so much to explore in fanfiction, and I totally understand if something isn't personally appealing to a particular fan, but all these stories have their audience.

Comments

[florianschild]

I’m someone who loves sadfic, so welcome to the dark side!

[vendettadays]

I'm glad to read you've found something in darker stories to enjoy :) sometimes it hurts before it gets better, or in the case of angst: or does it?

[dickinsons]

Thank you! I know it's not for everyone and I totally respect it, but I'm always happy when I get into something that's new to me.

[mxcatmoon]

That's interesting! That's one opinion I've never changed and probably won't (not liking unhappy endings). Boat-loads of angst? Great! As long as it's resolved by the end. 😉

[dickinsons]

Honestly, I'll always love a good angsty fic with a happy ending! It feels so earned after all the pain.

[author_by_night]

But I'm also open to darker stories that make me cry. I truly get it now!

I can see that!

I don't like purely bleak endings, honestly, but I don't mind hopeful endings. I've also read a few afterlife fics, where couples were able to be together in the afterlife, but I had mixed feelings because while the fics in question were phenomenal, I had a bit of trouble letting go of the fact that they had surviving loved ones. But I did enjoy the conclusion.

And yeah, sometimes things DON'T have a happy ending. I read a post-breakup fic like that, too. It's a very "cruel" but IMHO realistic ending, where the couple does reunite, but they don't get back together. Because that usually isn't what happens, even if it's what we want, right? :/

[dickinsons]

Ohh, I think there are a few B7 fic set in the afterlife I've heard about, but the concept was also a bit weird to me for some reason so I haven't read them yet. I don't think I was thinking about them surviving their loved ones, but you have a point there.

That post-breakup fic sounds great and really sad, but realistic! There's a F/K due South fic about them breaking up and it sounds good but also really sad, haha. So I'm saving it for when I really feel like getting sad and crying at a longfic!

[author_by_night]

Yeah, it really is so sad, but good. And deep down I like to think in that version, they still find each other again for real, as it's clear they only broke up due to a lot of their own shit and not lack of loving each other. But also, sometimes you really can't come back from those things.