long plotty fic based on what are arguably my least favorite characters in the Buffyverse (Angelus and Drusilla)
Always meant to read that. And good on you! I totally laud the effort.
But I get the feeling you're not entirely clear in your own mind as to what the problem is, right?
Perhaps. Part if it is, I'm conflicted on the issue. Also, usually I'm much more careful when I post about something, to make sure my meaning is clear.
And that some people can sell you a Buffy you don't quite agree with, while others, presenting a Buffy who is objectively the same character, ...irritate you no end
That's definitely a way of putting it, but rather generalized in relation to the point I'm aiming at. Often, in the latter case you state, what irritates me is what I read between the lines: that this writer hates Buffy. That this writer does not respect Buffy, that writing Buffy for this author is a chore. Other interpretations of Buffy I may not agree with, but if with those Buffys I *don't* recieve the impression that the writer doesn't like Buffy, and is only attempting to respect her for the purposes of good writing and faithfulness to canon--then it doesn't bother me at all.
Of course, that's completely subject to how I'm reading it. It's concievable that I could read a Buffy by a Buffy-lover, and still come away with the impression that the author secretly hated Buffy and was only trying to write Buffy as she did for the purposes of loyalty to canon. It's also concievable, as I mentioned in the post, that I could read a Buffy by a Buffy-hater, and come away with the impression that the author loves Buffy and portrayed her this way out of love. But I have rarely found those instances to be the case. It's more often that when I recieve the impression from a piece that the writer secretly hates Buffy but is trying to do justice by her for the sake of canon and craft, that the writer does, actually, hate Buffy, or at least professes to do so.
it's a writer who is well-respected within the fandon, if not a BNF, sometimes it's even someone who has written stuff I like a whole lot, using the same characterizations, and then I read a new piece and go "bleaurgh".
Yeah, that's happened to me before, too. But it's not quite what I'm talking about here. A better example would be an author who I personally like and respect (what fandom thinks of her is beside the point) for writing B/S so well, for writing fabulous Buffy and Spike and having so many insights into them and also so many supporting characters. Then this writer writes Angel now and again, because considering the time and place of the fic, he would logically show up--even though this author doesn't usually give two figs for Angel. And the writing of these Angel-parts is good, as this author always is. The insights are there, the voice is there. But inside it there's something forced, something off, and a line or two that says, without saying, that this writer in actuality doesn't like Angel. It makes me want to stand up and say: WELL THEN GET YOUR GRUBBY MITTS OFF OF HIM!
I'm not talking about a specific instance, but rather a trend I notice when lots of people try writing characters they don't like. Like I said, I shouldn't talk, because *I* write characters I don't like, or more importantly, characters I *love* but feel that I don't understand.
because that's what I do, you know: I usually function as a fic rec writer
No, I didn't know; that's pretty cool. And I can see where certain fics just rubbing you the wrong way, even though they were written by good authors, would put you off it. I feel the same: like I *should* respect such and so author's version of Angel (or whoever) because I do respect everything they've written around him so much. I should, at least, respect the effort, the fact that they are *trying* to be fair to him. Instead I get all ranty.
probably stupendously unhelpful again
I thought your comments were very insightful, thanks.
no subject
Always meant to read that. And good on you! I totally laud the effort.
But I get the feeling you're not entirely clear in your own mind as to what the problem is, right?
Perhaps. Part if it is, I'm conflicted on the issue. Also, usually I'm much more careful when I post about something, to make sure my meaning is clear.
And that some people can sell you a Buffy you don't quite agree with, while others, presenting a Buffy who is objectively the same character, ...irritate you no end
That's definitely a way of putting it, but rather generalized in relation to the point I'm aiming at. Often, in the latter case you state, what irritates me is what I read between the lines: that this writer hates Buffy. That this writer does not respect Buffy, that writing Buffy for this author is a chore. Other interpretations of Buffy I may not agree with, but if with those Buffys I *don't* recieve the impression that the writer doesn't like Buffy, and is only attempting to respect her for the purposes of good writing and faithfulness to canon--then it doesn't bother me at all.
Of course, that's completely subject to how I'm reading it. It's concievable that I could read a Buffy by a Buffy-lover, and still come away with the impression that the author secretly hated Buffy and was only trying to write Buffy as she did for the purposes of loyalty to canon. It's also concievable, as I mentioned in the post, that I could read a Buffy by a Buffy-hater, and come away with the impression that the author loves Buffy and portrayed her this way out of love. But I have rarely found those instances to be the case. It's more often that when I recieve the impression from a piece that the writer secretly hates Buffy but is trying to do justice by her for the sake of canon and craft, that the writer does, actually, hate Buffy, or at least professes to do so.
it's a writer who is well-respected within the fandon, if not a BNF, sometimes it's even someone who has written stuff I like a whole lot, using the same characterizations, and then I read a new piece and go "bleaurgh".
Yeah, that's happened to me before, too. But it's not quite what I'm talking about here. A better example would be an author who I personally like and respect (what fandom thinks of her is beside the point) for writing B/S so well, for writing fabulous Buffy and Spike and having so many insights into them and also so many supporting characters. Then this writer writes Angel now and again, because considering the time and place of the fic, he would logically show up--even though this author doesn't usually give two figs for Angel. And the writing of these Angel-parts is good, as this author always is. The insights are there, the voice is there. But inside it there's something forced, something off, and a line or two that says, without saying, that this writer in actuality doesn't like Angel. It makes me want to stand up and say: WELL THEN GET YOUR GRUBBY MITTS OFF OF HIM!
I'm not talking about a specific instance, but rather a trend I notice when lots of people try writing characters they don't like. Like I said, I shouldn't talk, because *I* write characters I don't like, or more importantly, characters I *love* but feel that I don't understand.
because that's what I do, you know: I usually function as a fic rec writer
No, I didn't know; that's pretty cool. And I can see where certain fics just rubbing you the wrong way, even though they were written by good authors, would put you off it. I feel the same: like I *should* respect such and so author's version of Angel (or whoever) because I do respect everything they've written around him so much. I should, at least, respect the effort, the fact that they are *trying* to be fair to him. Instead I get all ranty.
probably stupendously unhelpful again
I thought your comments were very insightful, thanks.