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Feeler for interest in B/A - B/S ficathon

I have no business doing this as my participation in the past three ficathon type things I was in has been so harried and kinda craptastic, and I haven't even read the IWRY Marathon entries yet! But I figure it's alright as I'm just casing your interest...Actually sign ups won't take place until February or so (only if there is enough interest). Enough excuses! Here is my idea for the ficathon:

This ficathon wouldn't be for everyone. It would be for people who identify as primarily Buffy/Angel fans or Buffy/Spike fans. NB: I don't mean for people who only identify that way; for instance, I "identify" as a B/Aer, but I do love me my Angel/Spike and Buffy/Faith and Buffy/Connor and Angel/Wesley and so on, and I have read an enjoyed a number of Buffy/Spike fics. But if you ask me what my favorite 'ship is in the 'verse, I'd definitely say B/A. So ends the explanation of who this ficathon would be for, and the rest of you can stop reading.

The idea behind the ficathon is that all the people who identify as B/Aers would try to write a quality B/S fic, and all the people who identify as B/Sers would try to write a quality B/A fic. I was thinking that if there were around an even number of B/Aers and B/Sers, each B/Aer could get partnered to a B/Ser. These "partnerships" could mean various things, something as traditional as each partner makes requests and the other has to write to one of their requests*, or maybe the partners could kind of discuss their ideas and process as they write.

*I say "one of their requests", because I don't think I could do a B/S fic for the kind of ficathon where you write "for" someone and try to get as many of their kinks in there as you can. For instance, I'm not even sure I can write a happy B/S fic and be happy with it (just the way I'm wired, kids). But if someone had three requests, such as "happy ending!" "chains!" "Buffy confessing undying love!" I could take "chains" and run with it.

There are two main objectives behind this ficathon, besides the usual which are WRITE and HAVE FUN and READ FIC! One is that sometimes some shippers hide out in their nooks and don't meet people who ship other stuff. Which, if you're not cool with meeting people who ship differently than you, is just dandy. But if instead it's just something born out of habit you can be all adventuresome and stuff. (I do not mean this ficathon should only be for nook people, though. I am not a nook person. Perhaps obviously.)

Anyway, the other objective is something I was talking about with

moscow_watcher, who recently participated in the B/A IWRY Marathon even though she writes primarily Spuffy. She said she thought that some Spuffy writers have similar styles--both due to the nature of the ship, and to the corpus of Spuffy fanfic behind them. I think it's true that many of our styles can be influenced just as much by the company we keep as writers as by what we are writing; a lot of times, in a lot of fandoms, you see certain trends develop for writing certain ships or circumstances--I don't mean just common fic cliches that arise, but even more fundamental ways of writing.

Anyway,

moscow_watcher mentioned how she felt like she was bringing a lot of her Spuffy style into her B/A. And I think, especially considering the possibility that we are influenced by fic that has come before, this new approach and viewpoint could be really refreshing. We may see some things in B/A written by Spuffy writers that we don't see as much in the B/A by B/Aers we read.

stultiloquentia and

femmenerd primarily identified as Spuffy writers, I think, before Stulti turned into a recluse (not recently though! Huzzah!) and Femme turned into a ho (always. Huzzah!), and they have both written some of my favorite B/A tidbits.

That is to say, I think B/A and B/S are really different ships, and that we could both bring a lot of new insight and freshness into each others' fics. And since the shippers have been at loggerheads sometime in the past before I got into this fandom thank-you-v-much, maybe a little forgetting-where-the-hatchet-even-got-buried could be good and revitalizing for Jossverse fandom as a whole.

So, anyone interested? Just say whether you'd want to do it, what ship you primarily identify with, and whether February for sign ups and around April or May for posting would be good for you, and then we can plan and discuss some more. Also, pimp out to your B/A or B/S friends--even if you think someone could NEVER write that ship, drop 'em a line. HAY YOU GUYS, I got

rahirah to write B/A! That means it can happen. Also, that I rule. Lastly, that your fics would not have to be long--though I might set a minimum limit at 500 words or so. That's not long, is it? I shouldn't be the one to set that. For me 10,000 words is a drop in the bucket.

Anyone?

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I would do that! I would say I'm a B/S shipper, tho I can't remember the last time I wrote it, and the last fic I wrote was a B/A piece -- but if I do it, can I write for Lee? *bats eyes*

(IwanthertowritemeBuffy/Spikedecoratingfic)

...but I'd totally be up for it, and for writing for whoever. yay!!!

Huzzah! If Lee signs up and we do the partnership thing, I'll definitely assign you to each other. Or maybe we could just say you can pick your partner? So you can go beg Lee to say she'll sign up.

IwanthertowritemeBuffy/Spikedecoratingfic

HEE. I can see Lee being tickled by that!

I WILL TOTALLY WRITE YOU SPIKE/BUFFY DECORATING FIC.

Uhm, but that's probably not the "quality" type of fic

tkp was referring to. :P (I. dun. care. I love my lame HGTV fics.)

By "serious" I just meant an honest effort. I did not mean it had to deal with heavy concepts or couldn't be fluff! Your style of decorating fic definitely qualifies!

Hmmmmm. Interesting. I'm not guaranteeing that I'm in any kind of headspace for this, but maybe? (Seriously, I'm so crazy right now, Joy. I don't want to write anything except epic first-time fic about members of Panic! at the Disco. It's getting alarming). Anyway, this is a great idea. As you know, I'm an A/S girl more than anything, but definitely lean more towards B/A than B/S - and I've never written straight-up B/S. I started out shipping B/S when I first got into fandom, but then I sort of, I don't know, changed my mind? I'd definitely count myself as a B/Aer now.

Really, this is a fantastic idea and I would *really* like to see what kind of fic comes out of it. I think I would definitely need some kind of prompt to work with to write B/S outside of an OT3 context.

You are totally alarming. I don't know what to do with you!

People below suggest making it into an "anti-OTP" ficathon, in which you pick your own OTP and then write what you feel blocks it--preferrably the one that's most challenging to you? So you'd probably still be B/S, but anyway, you can see where you are in Feb.

I do not even know how I identify anymore!

And truthfully? It would be harder for me, I think, at this point to write Spike/Buffy then Buffy/Angel. In fact, I have never actually written an S/B fic that I'm satisfied with whereas I STILL LIKE my B/A fics (this is mumblemumble probably at least partially because I wrote them more recently).

Of course the idea of writing S/B kind of sends me into cold sweats of HOW WHAT HUH?

Also, I suck and never even wrote my lynnevitational fic. But! Being immersed in analyzing the crap out of Stulti's S/B pegging fic is...making me think about them again?

I think maybe I would do this if Stulti was the one giving me the requests and I got her to write B/A.

Also, I think this is a very interesting and fandom-in-harmony kind of idea!

Because you're a ho! Hee. <3

I ... would write Stulti's B/A too. But Stulti as a B/Ser would be requesting B/S and writing B/A, if we did the ficathon that way. Anyway, some people below are talking about making it an "anti-OTP" ficathon where you declare your OTP, then the OTP you feel "blocks" your own OTP and would be most challenging for you to try. Maybe that would give you something to try you haven't before, but anyway, see how you feel about it come Feb.

Yay. Total fandom unity thing!

Ah well, we'll see. At this point--being that I am such a ho w/r/t combos of S/B/A--the hardest ship for me to REALLY break up would be Faith/Dean if they were in the same universe. So Sam/Faith would be v. difficult for me. But that would be cheating and totally self-referential because *I* built up all of the fanon!barriers there.

I guess a recent example of me doing this though was the Hermione/Harry that I wrote into that Hermione 5 Things fic I wrote. THAT WAS HARD. But, you know, POTTER.

It's alright if you're breaking your own barriers. That's the main thing.

Still have to read that piece. I had a dream about Hermione. I love her so much. It's funny, because I don't OTP them or read much fic about them or anything, but I have trouble reading Ron with anyone else. IT'S JUST WRONG. But Hermione with some other people is okay. like Snape.

I've read some canon compliant Ron/Lavender. I especially like it when people are sympathetic to Lavender, who really did nothing wrong except crush on a boy who was already in love with someone else. I feel bad for her. Because I am magnanimous even in my OTP-ing!

Also, I would read non-shippy Ron/Harry that was like...teenage hormones over-run or something.

Hmmmm, I kind of have a thing actually for OTP fics that can involve dalliances with others while maintaining the shippiness.

Oh go on, count me in. The time frame sounds good, and it's just too tempting...

And - although I am *such* a Spuffy shipper - I have written B/A (porn no less), and loved it, so an excuse to delve into teh pretty again would be nice. I even have a (non-ironic) B/A icon!

(Btw this ficathon might be a sign of the apocalypse. Not to worry you or anything, but... *g*)

GREAT. Glad to hear it!

I always find that it's often the B/A fic written by non-shippers that turns out to be my favourite. I mean,

lostakasha consistently writes some of my favourite B/A fic- even though I think she started out as a C/A shipper.

madam_meretrix wrote a kick-ass B/A fic for IWRY this year...and she ships A/S. (I think.)

Maybe you could open the field up a little...ie...regardless of your OTP you have to write a quality other pairing...thus allowing a larger field from which to draw. Although maybe that would complicate things..and it would certainly cut down on the amount of B/A fics. (In which case, perhaps you could limit it to the top 3 or 4 traditional pairings...like B/A, B/S, A/C and A/S.)

I, myself, would be up for participating though. I think I could write a decent B/S fic...so long as it was messy and non-fluffy...because I don't see them that way, but I do think I have mostly written them sympathetically.

*smooch*

Okay, I'll probably do what Stultiloquentia suggests, which is an "anti-OTP" thing: you declare an OTP and then do the pairing that "blocks" it, i.e. the one that stands in the way, though I'm going to say preferrably the one in the way that's most challenging for you.

HEE. Well, I know your very first fic was a B/S one...freak. So glad I could rope you in!

I think I'm in. Remember the idea of season 4 BA I wrote to you about? I think I figured out the ending for this story. It won't be All.About.BA - there will be a plot and other characters - but it will ends with a funny, fluffy BA reunion.

(It will be the next step - writing BA in Spike's presence. Hopefully I won't screw it up).

Yay! Great, glad to hear you're probably on board.

I like

chrisleeoctaves' idea: open it up as an anti-OTP ficathon, where you can decide for yourself who's the yang to your yin. Sign-ups would have fields for "Your OTP" and "Anti-OTP you want to tackle." The latter ought to be a pairing that 'gets in the way' of your favourite -- C/Aers wouldn't write B/S, for eg.

I've been meaning to write proper B/A for ages. I have no idea what spring's going to look like, though. Call me in February?

Okay, alright, FINE.

No, I actually think this is an excellent idea. I'll do another post explaining it and then try to get more people roped in. Thanks!

And if this flies and you don't sign up in Feb I'll definitely drop you a line and reduce myself to BEGGING. By I understand if you're busy!

I might be tempted. I can't promise what life will be like when sign-ups roll around but it might be interesting.

I don't think I have to tell you I'm a B/A'er. If a C/A'er wanted to sign up and trade, I'd prefer that to B/S (not because I don't like B/S- I actually do! I'm just terrified to try it), but I could possibly give B/S a try.

Okay, cool! Stultiloquentia above suggested that it just be an anti-OTP-a-thon, where you declare an OTP and then write a pairing you feel "obstructs" it. Though my idea for this was kinda that you should write a pairing that terrifies you to try, but I understand if it's *too* terrifying (I've never once had a single good B/S bunny, and that says to me that I would just be EPIC FAIL at it). So maybe you could do C/A!

Well, they're terrifying for different reasons. C/A is my true Anti-OTP because I *hated* it in canon and still haven't seen big parts of Angel S3 and S4 because of it. It would be a challenge for me to write it but one that I think I'm ready for. B/S terrifies me because I can't think of a single B/S plot bunny that hasn't been written by about a zillion B/S'ers and the fact that other than Willow, there's no other Buffy character I feel less interested in writing than Spike. It's not a pairing thing at all, and not a character thing either because I like the character. Bizarre.

Anyway, too much information I know! Any way you do it sounds like fun.

Not tmi at all! All this is interesting. I hated canon C/A too, but I quite like it in some fic I've read, and while I prefer them to be friends in my head, I like the idea of hot snarky action between them.

I'm really only interested in writing Spike as he relates to Angel. And sometimes Dawn, but yeah, writing him doesn't interest me much either. And I love the character, too!

Hmmm.

Perhaps. *strokes chin thoughtfully*

Above some people proposed making it an "anti-otp"-a-thon in which you pick you main otp and the one you feel most opposes it or doesn't work for you, and see whether you can write it and do it some justice. Hopefully that'll open it up to more people.

I've done all combinations of B/A/S. Oh god, I'd have to write C/A (er, Cordy, not Connor, obvs.)

I think B/S would qualify. Even though you've written it, you identify most as an A/Ser and B/Aer, so, you know, either one.

Although I didn't like C/A in canon, I'm a lot more comfortable with more aspects of the ship than I am with B/S. For some reason, now matter HOW far away from it I start my thought process, B/S always comes back to SR for me.

There's a C/A fic on the back burner I've been wanting to write for a long time now. THough mostly it's about Connor. NATURALLY.

Yea, whenever I do B/S I have to work REALLY HARD to get past the attempted rape. C/A would be me working really hard to get past the fact that I think they had no chemistry. O o

I thought they had chemistry on a friendly basis, just not sexual chemistry. They had more chemistry than Booth and Bones anyway, imo.

Yea, I thought they had awesome 'family chemistry', I guess I just never use the word chemistry outside of a sexual context.

That Bones chick has never had chemistry with ANYONE. Booth has some with the short guy and had a whole lot with the tiny blonde who played his ex. Which is, you know, Dave.

February... May... I hope you realize you're going to be stealing all my lynnevitational writers. Obstructionist!

I'm not signing up for this, because I can't guarantee that I'll make the deadline. But I am working on a fic that should fit very nicely into this event, so... you can lay claim to it, if you want.

Maybe I think that by hosting my own ficathon I won't have to participate in anyone else's. HA.

Oh, that sounds INTERESTING. *plops chin on hands on your desk. Flutters eyelashes* I'm eager to see whatever it is you're working on!

It's the final part of my insect!verse, where Buffy comes to L.A. and they have to figure out how to defeat Illyria. Which I haven't figured out yet. :S

Oh yes!! You said you were going to write that. It qualifies because it is BUFFY.

Your icon is evil.

No, the icon is truth. It's the cursor that's evil.

HA! Seconding icon love.

I'm definitely interested in the concept, but will have to see what's going on in my life in February. But I'm thinking it won't be a problem. :)

Followed the link from

petzipellepingo's LJ. I'd be interested in taking part, if RL in February permits.

I'm primarily an A/S 'shipper, or any 'ship involving Spike, so writing any pairing that doesn't feature him would be pretty challenging, particularly B/A (though I have written it, just found it very, very difficult).

This is the bestest idea ever. I love it.

Even though I don't write either. *sigh* I suck.

But I think it's wicked smart. And awesome.

Aww! Cool. I'm glad you approve!

You don't suck. It makes me want to do a POTO-a-thon where everyone who usually doesn't write E/C has to write it and everyone who usually does write E/C has to write E or C with someone else. That'd be fun.

Weirdly enough, I just yesterday got a new piece of fb on that B/A drabble I wrote. This is an interesting idea. I don't think I could participate, since I suck ass at writing to spec regardless of what the pairing is, but as a concept it's pretty damn cool.

*de-lurks*

That sounds like a great idea. I haven't written a whole lot of Buffy-verse fiction, but I have read mountains. I'd be inerested in participating. In terms of OTPs, I generally have a het OTP and a slash OTP in every fandom. In jossverse they're B/A and A/S. But I would absolutely consider myself a solid BA OTPer. I have a lot of difficulty handling B/S (and C/A, but for different reasons) which is why I think it would be great if I were forced to write it.

i love this idea. just stumbled upon the post today, though. is it still on? because i'd love to participate if it isn't too late.

Hey! I'm still thinking about doing it, but I haven't gotten it together yet. I'm thinking about moving it to start in summer and end in fall, or something like that, since I just have too many other commitments right now. I don't want to wait until the end of the year though, because everyone and their mom's busy with ficathons then. Glad you're interested! I'll try to get the word out more when I do start the actual thon.

Also: I did move to ij, but I still check lj and comment on it and stuff. I just don't post here. But anyway that's not working out so well so I might just bite the bullet and return to lj with my tail between my legs anyway.

i almost moved to ij once, but i have a paid account here and wanted to let it expire first. which it hasn't yet, but i've seen people come back, so i've changed my mind about moving anyway.

and return to lj with my tail between my legs

oh, don't do that! return with a flourish! have a parade - with trumpets! that would be much more fun. :D

everyone and their mom's busy with ficathons then

you know, i always wondered what my mom was doing at the end of the year.

i don't think i've ever actually participated in a ficathon, unless

winter_of_angel and other seasonal communities count. but i'd love for this one to be my first because it sounds very cool.

return with a flourish! have a parade - with trumpets!

HEE. That sounds awesome :o)

you know, i always wondered what my mom was doing at the end of the year.

Now you know! Feel glad I told you!

i don't think i've ever actually participated in a ficathon,

I just did my first one at the end of last year. It was in a fandom where I don't know anyone so it was kinda scary! But in the end it was a lot of fun. I got to meet new people and there were great fics to be read, and it lit a fire under me to actually finish writing something. I hope you stay interested; I really recommend the experience.

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Feeler for interest in B/A - B/S ficathon

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