GuestEssay: Manyafandom and the Call of the Natives

Hello, The Fandom Called - It Wants It's Good Stories Back

Manyafandom

So I think that I should slap a disclaimer right at the top of this before I start. The following are my opinions and thoughts, not necessarily the right or correct ones. I can only speak for myself here, and this is the way I feel and think. You may agree with me or not, and I am perfectly okay with that. Thank you for taking the time to read.

Back in November there was an uproar in the fandom about the stories coming out. How a wave of stories with deviant behavior, strictly smut, and honestly not very good stories were flooding the fandom. There was a call placed by the reader to the fandom to produce a higher quality story. Stories that weren’t smut just for the sake of it, didn’t include “shock” value behavior just because they could and generally a better all around story. Putting more focus on the characters and their motivations and the story the author was trying to tell, a deeper story, a smarter story. Me, personally, I think the call has been answered. And I’ll tell you why.

The quality of stories being written in the fandom recently is of a level and of an abundance that I have never seen before. Some may attribute this to the explosion in the size of the fandom over the past couple of months. That simply, there is more out there to choose from, and to some extent I agree. But, I think or feel that the craftsmanship of the stories being told has increased as well and that the writers are doing an overall better job. Now, I am not saying that this is in direct result of the grumblings and call for better stories, but maybe in some way it is. Either way, the stories are better and I really don’t care how it came about, just that it did. Hopefully this trend will continue as the fandom grows.

I think I should clarify myself a bit. I know, already I’m off to a good start. I am not saying that there weren’t good or great stories out there before the renaissance of sorts that is happening in the fandom. There was or are stories that inspired me and many others to start writing, as well as the writers that we all strive to be as good as.

I cannot talk about a higher quality story without mentioning Jandco. To me, she is the platinum standard that we should all hold ourselves to. In my opinion it does not get any better than her and her stories. Not just because of the stories she tells, but the way she tells them. She mixes a depth of her characters with intriguing and thought provoking story lines, while weaving words together that illicit an emotional response in the reader. Isn’t that what we all want? I know I do. I want to be able to do that. There are others that do this as well; caracol with “A Rite of Passage” and “The Way Back”, vjgm with “Boycotts and Barflies”, Amethyst Jackson with “Only Human” are just a few out of the many.

Now I know that the terms “quality” and “good” are subjective. Something that I think is good and worth a read, someone else will think is crap, and vice versa. So I guess I should explain what makes a story good or of a higher quality to me.

It’s not the lack of grammatical errors, the proper use of their/there/they’re and so on…though that does help. What makes a story good or of a higher quality to me is all on the author, the author’s commitment to telling a story worth telling. Knowing their characters and their motivations in such a way that they are not just moving the characters across the stage but every action and thought has a purpose and rings true. Having a depth to the characters, not just caricatures or pale substitutions of the characters that are so beloved from the books. And then of course having a story that is worth exploring down to its deepest level in the first place. A story and its events that are well thought out and planned. A story that goes beyond the books or takes us to a completely different realm. All the while using words to weave a tale that leaves us breathless and on the edge of our seat wanting more and more. Using imagery and words that are so rich, lush and detailed you can't help but to fall into the world with the characters and see it play out like a movie through your mind. Or using the bare minimum of the right words to achieve the same thing. A story that evokes physical and emotional responses in you. Something that makes you feel. To me, a combination of all of the above is what makes a story good or of a higher quality.

So, you are maybe thinking “okay, I can kinda see your point, now show me some examples”. Well, I happen to have examples. We’ve all read or heard of "Innocent, Vigilant, Ordinary", "Black & White", "Wide Awake", "Coming to Terms", "Hiding in Plain Sight", "Sanctuary", and "The Submissive". All wonderful stories, perfect examples of what I am talking about and initially posted around the time frame I’m referring to. Well worth the time to read, and if you haven’t read them, why not? Trust me, you will not be disappointed. The Ficster has introduced us to other such gems as "Irritable Grizzly Adams", "Salacious Behavior & Earnest Speaking", and "The Nymph and the Waterfall".

But I have more. Yes, I have a few stories that you might not have heard of. Some of the below stories take the deviant and “shock” value concept and use it in a most amazing way. To paraphrase something gustariana once said to me “The behavior is the painting or the picture on the wall. Not the people or the room itself.” The following stories were first posted in the time frame of early November to the present and also are prime examples of excellence in writing and storytelling that I talked about previously. At least to me they are.

I’m going to start off with a rather odd story and one that you don’t see often in the fandom, "I Love L.A." by feathers_mmmm. This is a Rob fic. Yes, you read that right, a Rob fic. And it is oh so good. It mixes the witty, the sweet and the steamy with an honest look at what someone in Rob’s situation might go through in Hollywood while falling in love with a woman that is just about perfect for him. Alice, the writer tells the tale from a snarky and comedic point of view while conveying an innocence and depth and realism that is rare. The term “I laughed, I cried” definitely applies to this story.

Next, I have to talk about the story that owns me right now, "Behind Enemy Lines" by adorablecullens. This is love story in its purest form and about what someone is willing to do to save the one that they love. After nine years of missed connections and it not being the right time, Bella and Edward are finally at a place where they can be together. But Edward must go and do what he thinks is right and morally correct, putting himself in a war zone to defend the country that he loves so much. Edward is lost and has disappeared off the face of the earth. Against impossible odds and with great personal danger Bella goes into enemy territory and saves the man she loves, he in return saves her back. I am going to use this term over and over, but the love between them is palpable. You really do feel it, the emotions and the stress and heightened tension of the situation.You are immersed into the physical conflict as well as the emotional one.

You might dismiss "Return to Sender" by melissa228 as another high school story where Edward is hyper sexually active while pining for Bella as she secretly pines for him as well. And in a way you would be correct, but there is more to this story than has been revealed. I can’t say anymore without giving it all away, but there is more going on just under the surface that is slowly and really, perfectly being exposed piece by piece, layer by layer. Melissa228 is tackling something or an idea that I have yet to see done in the fandom. Taking on a very serious topic and portraying it in a very real and human way.

Now for a taste of the dark and yet completely humorous, "Bonne Foi" by Amethyst Jackson. Edward is a vampire abandoned by his sire after his change and never came into the consciousness he had in the books. His only thought is about his next meal, preferring young co-eds above all else. He meets Bella and as we all know is drawn to her blood in a way he has never encountered before. Also her mind is silent to him, thus intriguing him. He lures her away to a secluded spot to feast on her delicious smelling blood only to find her silent mind an advantage that brings out other feelings in him, feelings of lust. He battles with himself over drinking of her or seducing her, eventually choosing the latter. The hoops that he jumps through and his thoughts as he pretends to be human for her just so he can have her again are highly entertaining. Bella changes Edward in ways that he is not aware of. Amethyst is a master at conveying that concept, the changes in Edward that even he has not realized yet. The story is told completely from Edward’s point of view. Edward is very dark, as he is a vampire that feeds on humans, but also he is witty and snarky at the same time. Amethyst meshes those traits together in a wonderful and perfect way. Again the confusion and lust and need for Bella is palpable.

Now the last two stories deal with deviant or taboo subjects. But as I said before the deviant or taboo is not the whole story it's just one aspect of it.

"Promises of Forever" by forever_dreamer tackles the taboo subject of a student/teacher relationship. For now it is a one-shot with the possibility of a continuation of the story. It is told from Bella’s point of view as she struggles with the secret relationship she carries on with her teacher Edward. You feel like you are in the head of a confused teenager trying to come to terms with what she knows is right and what her heart wants. It’s honest and real and holds nothing back. I hope that she chooses to continue it.

Now my last story is not going to be every one's cup of tea. I already know this, but I feel that I have to talk about it because of the depth of characters and emotions and the words and imagery used to convey it all. "Over the Top" by starfish422 is a slash story. And slash for those not in the know, is a relationship between two people of the same gender, in this case Jasper and Edward. Now I love this story not just because it is one of the few good, not just smut slash stories in the fandom. But because it is about a journey of self discovery and breaking down of pre-conceived notions about one’s self and finding that person that simply gets it and you. That sees who you are underneath all the bullshit, or the person you are capable of being. It’s raw and real and touching and sweet. If the story was between a female and male character it would still be all of those things, it just happens to be between two men. Even if it is something that you would never ever think about reading, give it a try. You might be surprised.

In doing research for this story I asked several respected writers and readers to give me their opinions on the subject. The responses that I received were positive and negative and all completely different. This is what I think makes our fandom so great. You ask one question and you will get a different answer every time. I personally, like to see all sides of an idea or concept. It helps me to better form my own opinion. And though I may not agree with all the responses I received, I do see their points of view and where they are coming from. So let’s see what others have to say about the quality of stories in the fandom recently.

From KatieBelle, author of "Warmth", "Surprises" and co-author of "Place Your Bets":

I have been extremely impressed with the rise in the quality of fanfiction within the past few months. The efforts put in by authors as of late are obvious and numerous, spanning from more frequent use of betas to in-depth research of their stories. Storylines are becoming increasingly intelligent and well thought-out, and realistic characters are being created more and more frequently. For me, it has been immeasurably refreshing to find so many new stories that have been planned and crafted in such a way as to add numerous layers of depth and emotion, thereby allowing me to fall into their worlds. I am exceedingly pleased to say that, in my opinion, the call for higher quality fiction has been answered, and I hope to see many more in the future. Of course, this leaves me with just one, little problem - how the hell am I going to tear myself away from the computer now?

From GinnyW, author of "Coming to Terms":

There was a glut of porny, smutty, sex-filled fics over the summer that were hugely popular. In turn, that led lots of people to try their hand at writing their own story where they pushed the limits to the extremes in an effort to be "the next big story." What a lot of those people didn't realize is that those hugely popular stories had something that a lot of people failed to put into their own story.

An example would be "THE TEENAGE ANGST BRIGADE" by jandco. That story pushed a lot of limits. But the reason that it works is because jandco didn't shy away from the emotional depth of the characters. She showed the consequences of their actions. It wasn't just one huge porny romp. It was a story about a group of messed-up teens and how their decisions affected them all. There were reasons for the characters' actions and for their decisions. There was a purpose to the story. How many copycats emerged from that story alone?

There is a difference between a writer who takes a set of characters and simply dictates what is going to happen and the writer who sits down and asks why a character does the things that they do. It reminds me quite a bit of playing with dolls (I prefer to play with Sims, but same thing.) When you play with dolls, you move their arms and legs, make them sit, stand, etc. A large number of people write like that. They have a plot and they decide that Edward, Bella, Emmett, Jasper, Rosalie, and Alice are going to star in it, and then they write how they picture the dolls interacting in their imaginations. The characters mostly behave as nothing more than caricatures of what they were in the books (or their behavior is based off of a characterization in another fanfiction.) Rosalie is a beautiful bitch, Alice loves to shop, Emmett is a big, burly jokester, etc. Really, there is nothing wrong with that, except that the author typically doesn't know exactly why the characters act the way that they do. They don't know their histories. The characters simply do as their told. And, when that happens, the reader can tell.

Those other authors, the ones who write the stories that tend to draw us in, they work differently. Instead of telling the characters what to do and say, these authors know why the characters act the way that they do, they know how each decision will affect them, and with that knowledge, they allow the characters to dictate the scene. They know everything about their characters. They understand them. And if they don’t know something, they try to figure it out.

There were some excellent stories before this last fall. I read them and I loved them. They were what I aspired to write like. There just weren’t nearly as many before as there seem to be now. But, really, there wasn't nearly as much Twilight fanfiction out there either. There has been an absolute explosion in the Twilight fandom over the last 9-12 months, I believe.

From Limona, author of "Hiding in Plain Sight" and "Merger of Two Hearts":

There were always good stories being written. It is natural that there are more good stories now than there were several months ago because the pool of people writing is larger. Twilight is a relatively young fandom, and I think it is growing and maturing a bit. There is still a ton of smut for smut's sake, but the tide of Twilighted opinion has turned somewhat, and people are giving it less word of mouth. I will agree that more emphasis has been placed lately on discovering the good stories that maybe don't get as much word of mouth, but I doubt that the motivating factor for the authors is a call for better stories. What I do thinking is happening in the Twilight fandom, and it's something I'm psyched about, is that people are actively looking for and noticing superior storytelling.

Here is an opinion that is the complete opposite of mine. I appreciated the opposing viewpoint and complete honesty of the commenter, who will remain anonymous. It was very refreshing and made me pause and re-evaluate my own opinion. I’m choosing to not reveal their identity as to not start something that doesn’t need to be started.

At the risk of opening myself up to dirty looks and rotten tomatoes, I have to say that quality has not really improved. Quantity has risen sharply. Twilight fanfics are spewing at us from all directions, and if you've found more fics that meet your requirement for "quality" I'd say that's simply because there are more to choose from.

I am less enthusiastic about the stories I have discovered lately than ones I found back in the summer. I actually mourn the days when the fics were about exploring the beloved characters or expanding on a facet of the original stories that needed a deeper treatment than SM allotted.

Many newer stories have characters who share absolutely no personality traits with the originals; the only common tie is the familiar name and hair color. Or the theme of the newer story is completely foreign to anything explored or touched upon in the Twilight Saga.

I'd say we have moved away from fanfic completely and have developed a community where amateur writers can explore their craft and their own ideas. This is valid and great in and of itself, but it has very little to do with Twilight. And the wide-open arms of this community have encouraged an influx of every kind of garbage that hungry readers must now wade through--- thus the birth of the Dumpster Dive!

I think, if anything, quality is suffering more now than ever. I feel like the most popular stories are pandering to the lowest common denominator, grammar and plot have fallen entirely to the wayside, and the things that charmed me about Twilight in the first place have been completely lost.

So, I guess what I am trying to say after all this rambling is that I love the Twilight fanficdom right now. I love the product (stories) being posted and shared. I love the lengths that the authors are going through to give us their best. I appreciate the effort, more than mere words could ever express. If anything, there is too much good stuff to read right now. I feel hopelessly behind and like I will never be able to read them all.

I was given many story recommendations when I went about researching this article. Some I had read, some I would never consider recommending because they were not what I thought of as good, some which are on my long and ever increasing “To Be Read” list, and some that I had never heard of. But because I have not read them...yet I can’t list them here. Sorry. Maybe next time.

I hope you enjoyed my ramblings, I enjoyed writing them.

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Manyafandom is the author of "The Arrangement", a mega hot 'accidental threesome' relationship story, and "All I Ever Knew", a life-altering journey of two men (one who previously self-labeled as heterosexual) who fall in love. She has managed to turn even the most slash skeptical Twifans on to her stories by writing believable, flawed, lovable characters. She's an OP (Original Perv) and a contributor to the Perv Pack's Smut Shack Blog and spends her days chasing after her cute kids, ignoring housework, dreaming of Robward and Jacksper and reveling in all things geek. She frequently pretends to write, but is probably actually reading more often than not. manyafandom has a taste for the deliciously deviant, as long as it is well written, and will try just about every flavor of Twific at least once.

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