meta-ish question about reccing

[ratcreature]

I've been wondering how to handle a certain kind of rec. I think at the core of my dilemma is this: While I obviously rec what I like, a recs page is also always intended to be useful for other fans, other readers. And I think everybody who reads fanfic knows that you like some stories because they appeal to you in personal ways, kinks (sexual and non-sexual) if you will, that may not be widely shared in fandom, whereas others appeal because of things that are (nearly) universally appreciated in a specific fandom. The latter stories are often those which get recced everywhere, and generally unproblematic when phrasing the rec, and not what concerns me here.

Since I want my recs to be useful, I usually try to point out if I rec something and a major appeal for me was that it pushed one or more of my specific buttons, especially if the kink sort of pushes the boundary of canon characterization as I see it. That is simple enough when those buttons are a straightforward kink, like for example D/s stories. I usually don't rec if I know that the story is, like, ridiculously OOC and I only liked the kink aspect, but obviously there's a wide and murky area between characterization that is just like we see it in the source and it being twisted completely to serve some kink, or genre or specific plot you like.

Basically I like recs to be transparent, which is why I also point out in a rec if I notice a bunch of typos, but still enjoyed the story, because I'm aware that others won't see any point in clicking on something if the author seems to have a homonym problem or triggers any of the other spelling/grammar pet peeves that people have, whereas some readers like me might not be bothered that much.

My problems with recs start when it isn't really easy to pinpoint why I enjoyed a story with a genre label, but I'm still aware that the reason I like the story is not because it's perfectly in character, or since I maintain an AU recs page a really great extrapolation from canon. But the thing is that I may like it because of that, because certain kinds of OOC-ness is something I enjoy in the service of the kinds of stories I like, even if the author doesn't slowly take me there, but just makes a leap (which especially in AUs is not that brain-breaking). And trying to explain it in more detail in a rec often makes it sound as if I didn't truly like the story, or like I'm criticizing the story instead of reccing it, because I end up inserting all kinds of qualifiers.

It's easy enough to rec if the "problematic" elements are something I'm not generally fond of, but the story convinced and enthralled me nonetheless, because then I can be reasonably sure that it might work for other readers too. Whereas it's hard if I'm aware the story worked in concordance with my preferences, but not those that I could easily label.

I mean, how does one say (diplomatically!) in a rec things like that the story was entertaining, had you totally hooked with the plot and you liked the elements X, Y, and Z about it, but you are aware that others might think the characters are OOC, the plot full of melodrama, the whole set-up like something out of a Lord King Bad challenge, however you did not like it in a train-wreck fashion or anything, but had honestly a good time reading it? And I don't want to sound insulting, and not like I'm apologizing for my preferences either...

The easiest way would be of course not to rec, and thus to avoid the whole issue, and only rec those stories you are fairly certain would be widely considered "good", "in character" or whatever, but on the other hand it is a rec page based on my preferences after all, and I did honestly enjoy those stories, and I'm fairly sure some other people would enjoy the stories I have in mind just like I do.

Comments

[janissa11.livejournal.com]

Good questions. Maybe sidestep the issue with a little blurb very much along the lines of your final paragraph here? Seems to sum it up quite well.

[ratcreature]

The problem with a general blurb is that it isn't all that helpful for the individual story rec.

I'm not quite sure why I seem to have less problems to point out things I honestly disliked, but other things made for it so I'll still rec the story (e.g. in one B5 story I recced I pointed out that I thought the romance was OTT, the prose kind of purple in places, and people burst into tears far too easily, but I really liked the plot) than to explain why I liked things I know some others won't like. I think it is because in the first case I don't mind if it comes across as criticism, after all I honestly didn't like those parts of the story I recced, and everybody reading my rec page can see that I rec stories I had a good time reading overall, not just "perfect" stories, but I don't want to sound like I put down elements I enjoyed after all.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

I write very teeny blurbs, but when I have caveats, I just say something like "Snape on the edge of being OOC, but..." and then move on to the good stuff.

[ratcreature]

See, I have no problem to say something like that, that I liked it for the despite some flaw. My problem is when I really enjoy something *because* the characters are OOC in certain ways as part of a type of story I like. Similar to the implied, but non-judgmental kink labels, like when I rec something saying it's a great Dom!Harry/Sub!Snape story, it's clear that there will be deviations from a strict canon characterization, But that kind of thing is not always a kink you can label neatly so that the readers of your rec page can easily judge if it's their thing.

Like the HP AU I had in mind has me hooked, the plot is engaging, I like the way magic and rituals and wizarding customs are invented and described, which are all quite "conventional" and widely accepted reasons to like stuff. It has also an extremely powerful Harry with more special abilities than in canon, which I happen to like a lot, but I know others loathe. That is also easy enough to point out in a rec. It also has a kind of melodramatic plot device that often results in really bad badfic (i.e. Harry has a twin, his parents also survived), and twists the characterizations with a deus ex machina way, that is enough to make them OOC compared what you see in the books, but not entirely ridiculous or caricatures, like Dumbledore does more ruthless things but you can still understand him and his motivations and he's not some evil villain. Further however the effects this OOC-ness causes within the story actually made me like the effects of the OOC in this AU, because it led to character interactions and plot elements I enjoy, rather than make me like it despite the OOC-ness.

And it's kind of complicated to explain that effect in a rec. *g* For example a well-known story that works that way for me is The Mirror of Maybe, which I really enjoy, but you basically have a ridiculous plot-device to explain why Harry doesn't really act like Harry anymore and is much more powerful, and the story goes from there.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

I would just say, "This story really worked for me, despite what some may consider ridiculous OOC-ness, which I actually found quite interesting and enjoyable, given how it propelled the story" or something like that.

I had one story I hesitated on reccing for a long time because - well, it's a collaborative work and some of the parts were less polished than others, some had some serious tense problems, which i know is a trigger for a lot of people, but because the characterization felt so fresh and real to me, even if, yes, some folks might have considered it OOC (it's a non-magical AU), I had to finally rec it publicly. With a long blurb about what kinks it hit and why I was so hesitant about it.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, I see what you mean. It seems blurbs are a good way to go.

[musesfool.livejournal.com]

I think having the blurb is better than not having it. I mean, okay, some people write the same exact gushy praise for every story *cough* but a list of links with nothing to tell me why the reccer liked the story isn't likely to be useful to me, unless I'm already pretty familiar with the person's taste anyway.

[brownbetty]

I think the normal disclaimer for this is, "If this is the sort of thing you like, then this is the sort of thing you like."

[ratcreature]

True, if nothing else trying to formulate a rec like that is good for figuring out why exactly you like a story, rather than being content to acknowledge "that was fun to read even though (and possibly because?) the characterization was odd"...

[thelastgoodname.livejournal.com]

I often say something exactly like, "the story was entertaining, had you totally hooked with the plot and [I] liked the elements X, Y, and Z about it, but [I am] aware that others might think the characters are OOC, the plot full of melodrama, the whole set-up like something out of a Lord King Bad challenge."

This is because I tend to think of recs as a wholly different kettle of fish than feedback: recs are not for the author (except inasmuch as we all like more readers), but for readers. Sometimes I do offer train wreck recs, too, though, so my reccing clearly tends toward a very particular mode. I also love crack, and I forgive occasional lapses in standards, so my recs are specific to a certain type of fairly flexible reader.

[ratcreature]

Yeah, I totally agree that recs are for the readers' benefit and as such different from feedback, and I want other readers to know what I liked about a story, so that they can judge whether to give it a try, especially with stories having elements that are disliked by a significant number of other readers. I think I just worry sometimes that I sound condescending with such qualifiers, or like I'm apologizing, or am embarrassed that I like something, which is not the tone I want. The whole concept od "guilty pleasure" is not my thing. I mean, either I like something and then I stand by that, or I don't and then I'll say that.

[viciouswishes.livejournal.com]

On top of my recs page on a website, I have a disclaimer that my recs are things I enjoyed. From my website: These are fanfiction pieces that I enjoy. Some of them are great, well-written epics, some are fun, some are very short, and others hit my kinks. Not everyone will enjoy what I recommend. Stories are in no particular order. However, those in a series are together in series order if they don't have a main page. As per my obsession, instead of completely deleting entries of dead links, I'll be simply removing the link.

As for blurbs about the fic themselves, those who read my recs have said that keeping it to one sentence and very simple is the best. Here's an example (http://viciouswishes.livejournal.com/489275.html).

[ratcreature]

Hmm, my reccing style is rather more rambling in general, or rather it sometimes is. I mean, I try to say more about a story and what I liked or didn't like if I have the feeling that it's not going to be everybody's thing, to make that transparent.

[imadra-blue.livejournal.com]

Interesting questions. I generally only rec things I really like, though I link a few other things of interest (some things are politically expected to rec if you liked even a little, as in a gift written for you, etc). Just because I liked something doesn't mean I feel it's worth sharing to my f-list/fandom, though it generally does. When I am reccing something I don't stand behind 100%, I generally just mention what I liked about it, and not mention what I didn't like. Though sometimes, I will try to be polite and point out something I didn't like (as in, "This doesn't do x or y as I would like, but it...") if I feel necessary. It's a fine line to walk, and I sometimes wonder if I'm doing it right. Though, naturally, the nature of recs are subjective and what I like may not be what my f-list or fandom likes. I generally just express what I liked, why, and then let the f-list decide if they trust my opinion and want to read.

Eh, kinda rambly and pointless, but that's how I do it.

[ratcreature]

I think it's a bit different for a specialized rec page like mine, because I don't rec my absolute favorite stories or all stories I especially enjoyed, but those I like most as AUs. For example I will rec things for a fascinating AU premise, even if I dislike some other elements in the story.