Lois & Clark Forums Forums Fan Fiction Fanfic Related MB stories not on the Archive -- gasp!

LOL, no. There are plenty of stories that don't make it to the Archive and it's purely the author's choice on anything they write. Throwaway or not.

That's why it's an opt-in scheme. <g> Many other fandoms have automatic archiving when a story is posted, where the author actively has to note on the story that they don't want it to opt-out. But that's never been the tradition here. The onus is firmly on the author to decide to submit a story for Archiving - both to the Fanfic Archive and to Annesplace.

That said, however, this does not preclude authors being nagged mercilessly to get their butts in gear and submit their stories (listen up now, CC!). We do this selflessly for the greater good of fandom, you know! It's rough and a sacrifice, but heck someone has to.

And if nagging doesn't work, I can always bring out my ultimate weapon... /me puts on the big puppy eyes... Do you know how excited I get when my pc makes that little ping and my submissions folder lights up? Don't you think it'd be awfully, awfully mean to deprive me of these simple little enjoyments out of life? Huh?

LabRat

Well, I since you are obviously not *compelled* to submit any story to the archives, if you decide you genuinely don't like a story, by all means forget about it. I admit to wishing a quick death on a few of my stories.

However, if the issue isn't that you hate the story, but just that you see it as a throwaway piece, I don't understand why one wouldn't submit it. The submission process is so quick and easy (and fun - I love getting comments from my GE) that I can't imagine why people would shy away from it. Besides that, even though these short pieces don't mean as much to the writer, they are still enjoyable for the for the readers and there are TONS of people who read only at archives, so why deny those readers the chance to see these stories?

I am glad that the archive is opt-in. I don't think I'd like the idea of being *forced* to submit every story. But I just can't imagine why people would not want to do it in most cases. Sending a story to the archives isn't a public statement that this is the author's best work, it's just a place to hold completed stories.

Annie

Ooooooh, look. Another submission in my mailbox. Thanks, CC. Tick. <g>

Okay, anyone else want to be nice and take account of the giving season, goodwill to all EICs, and send a little extra story gift to my mailbox? Feel free!

LabRat

I see both sides of this discussion. I've had my hard drive crash and had to use the archives to recover my stories. Still, there were a couple that were never recovered because they were never archived.

I do, on occasion write 'throwaway' fics specifically for the denizens of the message boards. These little pieces are meant merely to tweak a certain situation that is applicable to the boards at that particular time. There inclusion on the archive wouldn't have the same meaning.

If those are lost, or forgotten, no big deal. They served their purpose at the time.

Tank (who has occasionally had some of his throwaway pieces 'hijacked' by other authors and has let them make any decision about including them to the archive listing)

You know, once Labby stooped to ' big puppy eyes' I was pretty much a goner.

It isn't 'War and Peace' but I sent the darn thing. And I learned a lesson: don't use the term toss-away and expect that to be a suitable explanation!

I do think, however, as Tank said above, that there is a place for things that are for mbs only.

CC (Curator of Fic Limbo. Send me all your stuff you want ignored or forgotten- I will promptly ignore and forget, I promise.)

You know, you are all making me feel really guilty. Of course, my problem isn't just not sending stuff to the archive, but that I have several "unfinished" snippets sitting on my hard drive that I may never finish. What to do, what to do?

Beverly :-)
http://www.booksanctuary.com

Okay, confession time... as has been pointed out to me, despite nagging CC to death over this throwaway fic thing, I do have a few fics which I wrote this year and have not submitted. But I have good reasons in each case - really, I do! I swear! So just hold off on those little axemen!

These unsubmitted stories include things like the haircut fic I wrote in order to keep Tank unretired; a cameo fic, which would make no sense whatsoever to anyone not familiar with the people on these boards; a silly Irish fic written in response to Sara's challenge and which provoked some controversy - which is why I won't submit it; and a fic written in honour of Tank's birthday. That latter fic has had a number of 'sequels' added to it, so if, say, Roger wanted to compile the lot and submit the complete story I wouldn't object. The rest, though, really wouldn't make any sense to anyone who isn't a regular on these boards.

That's my excuse, anyway, and I'm sticking to it!


Wendy (ducking and running very fast...

you mean it, CC? How about forget about the resolution to my New Krypton Forever and All Eternity series? I haven't touched the final story in almost a year...

And I sent in those last two vignettes because you pleaded, Labby. They're all yours.

Laura (going to hide from Maria, now )

Well, well, well...this has turned interesting, hasn't it?

It would seem that Wendy, who yesterday asserted fairly clearly that there is no such thing as a throwaway fic may have, in fact, thrown away a fic or two...

Hmm...we here at Fic Limbo will take the support wherever we can get it. So, send us those haircuts and Irish songs and whatevers. You too, Laura, whatever you're struggling with. We will catalog and delete them immediately!

And I'll tell you why. We're good that way. No questions asked. You don't want it submitted to the archive? We can accept that- no marching men, no guilt, no puppy eyes.

But the irony is bittersweet here- as Maysons Says... - catalyst for this non-debate has been sent to Labrat!

When it is uploaded in January, I expect to hear from all of you who nagged- I mean it. Extensive, exhaustive feedback. You can make it glowing, too, I won't complain.

CC

This thread made for fun reading. I say submit to all those authors. I can't help it, I love to read! And I know by now this is off topic, but I thought I'd say that while I hadn't really given it thought, I decided to make Grown-Up Christmas List eligible this year. I may attempt a Christmas fic again next year, so I thought it would be better to keep the two separate. If that makes sense. Thanks for the reminded, Kathy!

Jana