Contemplations

[tarotgal]

I've been contemplating making a rec journal for some time now. I have a couple small rec lists I've made that I would love to make into more and share... however, the problem is while I'd love to be able to rec sf's and non-sf's at the same time, that's probably not a possibility. The two "worlds" as they exist in my mind have a hard time coming together. And though I post and write h/c's in my non-sf personas and talk about general fandom stuff here in my sf persona... I don't know that I'd want to mix that with other peoples' works. Putting links from both "worlds" together in one place seems like a bad idea to me. Yet, there are a lot of SF's I enjoy for much more than just the sneezing and would love to put on a list. (Heck, at times I've thought of making a list of my very favorites, but there are so many LOL) So I don't really know what to do. And this has kept me from writing any rec lists in general. I've not yet arrived at a solution, apart from just not reccing anything from this "community" which is all right. Of course asking if it's all right to rec a particular story is always a good idea in and of itself, as some authors might not want their things getting all over the place (and many writers here tend to be shy about their sneezefics- including myself). And I'm not sure other writers/artists/etc. would want their work showing up on a list where there's so much sneezing. And, yet, I keep coming back to how nice I would find it to be able to put everything together in one place and be happy and sharing and all that. *sigh* Any advice? Right now I think the best solution is just to make it a non-sneezefic rec list (though if anyone from here wants the link, I'd be happy to provide it). But, yeah, any advice?

Comments

[schtiel.livejournal.com]

I bet I sound like a I'm behind and/or slow, but what's a 'rec'? ^^; I keep thinking one thing, but I don't know if I'm right. LOL

[tarotgal]

Op, sorry! Rec is short for recommendation. People put together rec lists of things they've enjoyed so others with similar tastes can be pointed in those directions.

Recs are usually given along with author, title, rating, pairing, and a short review or summary by the one recommending the work.

Lots of people nowadays also have Rec LJ's and there are even a lot of Rec-a-thons and Rec LJ Communities where people can suggest fics for others to read, etc. and comment on those selections. There are hundreds of lists out there for fandoms, pairings, genres, anything you can think of. You can do a google/yahoo search on '"rec list" Stargate' for some examples.

[schtiel.livejournal.com]

Yay! That's what I thought. ^_^ Sadly, I've never thought of using them and spend hours looking other places for fics I'd want to read. Non-SF that is. Unless there are any other sneeze-fic stories that aren't on the SFA or your site, I haven't been looking else where.

I think it's a great idea, though! ^_^

[tarotgal]

Well... there's the hplotrsneeze Yahoo group for Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings fics... and there's a femslash sneezefic group that's not so active. And a more hardcore slash sneezefic group that's also not very active. And then there's serotica for non-fandom-related stories (original characters). And my TOS page has a bunch of stories-some fanfic, but mostly original characters.

As for Rec lists... I don't use them all that often, myself. Usually I stumble on other peoples' when I'm searching for something specific and then I end up reading everything recommended there and forget to go back ever again. LOL But I have run into a few- from my favorite authors and such- that are really great. Much more enjoyable than hunting for hours (which I still do from time to time)

So if I ended up making one- of whatever sort I decide to- it would partially be to share the things I find are wonderful and make me happy, and half to make a long list of the things that have made me happy so I can find them more easily :-)

[tarotgal]

actually... make that lorthpsneeze
LOL

[schtiel.livejournal.com]

Maaan, I really need to broaden my fandoms and what I like, since the only other one I'm on is the slash one, which like you said, isn't very active. LOL Daarnit.

No thanks to FF.net, they changed their addys for the stories that I have favorite'd, and now I have to search again. That's usually what happens if I'm REALLY into a fic, I'll put it under my favorites. I really need to start reading more too.

I think it's a great idea! :D Instead of hunting around for something, you'll have it in another whole journal. I like that idea!

[vatergrrl.livejournal.com]

It sounds at this point as if the best thing to do would be to make two rec lists and perhaps even two LJ's for them, depending on who tends to visit this one. I'd certainly be interested in a rec list for all kinds of fandoms -- I know very little about very few fandoms, but it would be fun to learn about not only different fandoms, but what people love most about those fandoms. So, my best guess is that *both* sf-specific and non-sf rec lists would be fine for this LJ, but perhaps another LJ for the non-sf exclusively, if you want to circulate that one widely or otherwise protect *this* LJ from non-sf'ers.

[smokeycat-430.livejournal.com]

I agree with VG. I think it would be a good idea to learn about and experience new fandoms and authors. I'm always looking for new and interesting things to read, sneezefic and not. So for that reason I would see no problem with it.

[shadowscast.livejournal.com]

Over in my LJ (which is pretty much limited to Buffyverse fandom), I've been letting the two "worlds" mix for a little while now. It was scary at first, but then nobody called me a freak and several non-SF people said nice things about my sneezy Spike stories.

I totally understand other SF writers' shyness, though!