I haven't read the historicals from start to finish either. As I said in the post, I did read "Negative Utopia," and loved it.
I'm an RN by training. I have no training, formal or otherwise in anything else. My knowledge about writing comes from having read widely, mostly novels, science fiction, mysteries and classics, but a fair amount of fanfic. I write fanfic too. There were a couple of people here in the past who'd worked in editing, or some other field related to writing, and a lot of fanfic writers have participated, but they've mostly moved on to other fandoms or out of fandom altogether.
Your analysis so far seems well-reasoned and supported by the text. Even if it wasn't--shit, it's a fanfic discussion group. I'm interested in hearing everyone's opinions, even those I disagree with. Especially those I disagree with. It's hard to have a lively discussion without some dissent.
There's definitely enough recognizable about her characters to tell an entertaining story, but there is rarely a time when I can 100% reconcile her Mulder and Scully with the Mulder and Scully we see on the show (jeez, I'm going to get crucified for this, but I also feel the same way about some of the works by other much-beloved authors, like syntax and penumbra). Of course that doesn't mean that I don't still enjoy reading these fics or find them well-written in other ways. I do! It's just that the X-Files is so much about these characters and their interactions that everything else is almost secondary for me, and it's difficult to feel invested in a fic if I don't recognize M&S.
I think we all carry different versions of Scully and Mulder around in our heads. They're influenced by what we consciously or unconsciously bring to watching the series as a result of our own experiences, feelings, and judgments. Each individual life is unique. It's not so surprising then, that your version of Mulder and Scully doesn't match up 100% with other fans. Plus everyone isn't looking for the same thing in reading fic, or writing it, which is fine. It's all fine. No one gets crucified here for their opinions about fanfic. God, I hope no one thinks that.
There are genres I don't enjoy, and others that make me uncomfortable. There are characterizations that seem out there to me that many people love.
Since the characterizations of Penumbra, Syntax6, and prufrock's love don't match up with your head canon, if it doesn't put you on the spot, I'm curious to know why. You would not be alone in those opinions, I'm certain. I'd also love to know which writers do work for you, and why. I'd have opinions, too, naturally. As a fic writer, I'm probably more interested in craft than strict adherence to canon characterization, especially since the series itself was pretty shaky in that regard. I make my own choices about how to portray the characters so I tend to give other writers a lot of leeway, especially if the story they want to tell is compelling enough.
no subject
I'm an RN by training. I have no training, formal or otherwise in anything else. My knowledge about writing comes from having read widely, mostly novels, science fiction, mysteries and classics, but a fair amount of fanfic. I write fanfic too. There were a couple of people here in the past who'd worked in editing, or some other field related to writing, and a lot of fanfic writers have participated, but they've mostly moved on to other fandoms or out of fandom altogether.
Your analysis so far seems well-reasoned and supported by the text. Even if it wasn't--shit, it's a fanfic discussion group. I'm interested in hearing everyone's opinions, even those I disagree with. Especially those I disagree with. It's hard to have a lively discussion without some dissent.
There's definitely enough recognizable about her characters to tell an entertaining story, but there is rarely a time when I can 100% reconcile her Mulder and Scully with the Mulder and Scully we see on the show (jeez, I'm going to get crucified for this, but I also feel the same way about some of the works by other much-beloved authors, like syntax and penumbra). Of course that doesn't mean that I don't still enjoy reading these fics or find them well-written in other ways. I do! It's just that the X-Files is so much about these characters and their interactions that everything else is almost secondary for me, and it's difficult to feel invested in a fic if I don't recognize M&S.
I think we all carry different versions of Scully and Mulder around in our heads. They're influenced by what we consciously or unconsciously bring to watching the series as a result of our own experiences, feelings, and judgments. Each individual life is unique. It's not so surprising then, that your version of Mulder and Scully doesn't match up 100% with other fans. Plus everyone isn't looking for the same thing in reading fic, or writing it, which is fine. It's all fine. No one gets crucified here for their opinions about fanfic. God, I hope no one thinks that.
There are genres I don't enjoy, and others that make me uncomfortable. There are characterizations that seem out there to me that many people love.
Since the characterizations of Penumbra, Syntax6, and prufrock's love don't match up with your head canon, if it doesn't put you on the spot, I'm curious to know why. You would not be alone in those opinions, I'm certain. I'd also love to know which writers do work for you, and why. I'd have opinions, too, naturally. As a fic writer, I'm probably more interested in craft than strict adherence to canon characterization, especially since the series itself was pretty shaky in that regard. I make my own choices about how to portray the characters so I tend to give other writers a lot of leeway, especially if the story they want to tell is compelling enough.
More to come.