You know...

[leethet]

...something just occurred to me in light of the flood of vignettes that seem to be out there ... is it going to become the preferred style of online fic-writing, and are the longer stories I must assume someone's writing somewhere all reserved for zines?
That would be a bummer. I like long stuff, and I liked it being free. :)

Comments

Hmm

[veronicaluv.livejournal.com]

You know, despite recent evidence to the contrary, I'm currently anti-vignette as far as my own projects are concerned. I've never mastered the art of the snippet or the drabble (although I have written some under extreme - er - duress). The LJ fic mindset is like eating potato chips - you eat a couple, they're tasty, you want more - but pretty soon you're reduced to eating Pringles. Then everyone sees you eating Pringles and all they do is give you more, when what you really want is prime rib.

As for zines - 99% of my fanfiction writing (including all MFU) will always be online at aithine's archive. Rarely will I post directly to the LJ anymore, just because of the Pringle Syndrome; I'm selfish enough to want my stories to be considered something other than just a days' worth of empty calories, delicious though they may be at the time *g*.

Oh yes

[leethet.livejournal.com]

I can't tell you how strongly I agree with this. Di and Nataliya and I have discussed how we prefer to read longer stories, how vignettes are just too darn' little, even if they're good (in fact, particularly if they're good). But you touch on another side of it -- the writing of vignettes. It's never tempted me either. I like to read what I like to write, and I don't want what I read, or what I write, to be quickly read and as quickly forgotten (now, there's no guarantee my stuff is remembered, I realize, but the aim is there). I love stories that stick with me, and not one of the many vignettes I've seen has stuck, though many are excellently composed. Now, that may simply be a fault in my own reading capacity, but I find I have to spend some time with the story, get a certain measure of plot and character development, before I'm "satistfied." (This is true when I'm writing and when I'm reading). Vignettes are too junk foody -- great for a moment, but instantly gone from the tummy of your mind (blech. that was a silly image).

Thanks, Veronica, for another angle on this that I hadn't thought about, but that rang wholly true once I read it. :)