I love fanfiction. I love reading fanfiction. I love writing fanfiction. I have a 500+ page Harry Potter fic that I co-wrote with a friend. Not to mention the Smallville "project" (700+ and counting) and various "little" (less than 100 pages) POTC and Riddick fics I've written either alone or with my co-author. The problem is... I'm waaaaaay too chicken to ever post them. They're amusing to me, I had a good time writing them, I have a good time rereading them. But I also know they're fraught with inside jokes that ONLY amuse me. And most of them tend to be Mary Sue's (which I typically hate to read, making me a TOTAL hypocrite). Although, in my defense, my Mary Sue's are, hopefully, more like original characters with flaws and issues ... they're not "I can save the world with a wave of my hand and a swish of my hips" Mary Sue's.

So, I just read other people's stuff and review often. Sometimes I worry that I might get on an author's nerves reviewing every.. single.. chapter of a multi-chap fic, but then I think about how I'd feel about receiving reviews if I were brave enough to post. If I were putting my heart & soul out there, I'd want feedback and lots of it. So, in the spirit of 'do unto others' I offer feedback, and lots of it. Sometimes in the form of rather lengthy paragraphs of thoughts & questions & such. (Just ask Lomonaaeren, Cheryl Dyson and Moiraine Lendreth!)

One note with regard to how I review:

I approach fanfiction reviews the same way I approach movie reviews. Think about your favorite movie, think CRITICALLY about your favorite movie. Of course, if you really tried, you could find flaws and things wrong with it. Now step back and ask yourself -- why would you do that to something that you enjoy? You like it, flaws and all, so just go with it. That's how I feel about reviewing fanfics. If an author is brave enough to put their stuff out there, I'm going to reward them for that bravery, not tear them down for posting! I'll tell you what I liked, I'll mention stuff I'd like to see (although those things are always my personal wish list and are by no means demands) and I'll prattle on endlessly with theories on the characters and where they're going & such.

Now then, if you REALLY want critical feedback from me, I'm happy to give it. Even then I'm going to be gentle because again, that's how I'd want someone to be with my writing. If you want to know if a scene or an idea came across a certain way or how I felt something could be different... message me and I'll be happy to discuss it. But I'm not going to be truly critical of a story in a review, if for no other reason that I don't want other reviewers to jump on the bandwagon and start lambasting a story or author because someone else did it first.

So there you have it... my little dissertation on reviewing!

With regard to my fave lists: Most of the stories on there really are faves of mine, but a few were put there to remind me to read them later. However, ALL of the authors on my fave list are there with purpose and for good reason!

As a final note, if you are into HPDM slash stuff, I have two authors (authoresses?) I HIGHLY recommend:

Lomonaaeren's chapter stories are out of this world and anything Cheryl Dyson posts is phenomenal! One shots & chapter stuff alike!

There are many other really good authors out there but those two always make me SQUEE when I see they've posted a new chapter or story!

Now quit reading this.. and go read some fanfiction!!

UPDATE 06/20/08: "As the Catboy Purrs" is also a podbook which can be found here: http:///audio/tag/authorbyaghro/