"Sometimes I fear we *are* cute." "Oh, niggle-snoosh!"

[mrv3000]

I was pondering just now. About fic. Where do people draw the line between pairing and gen?

I was thinking, say I write the Doctor and Rose having a bubble gum blowing contest...

And then I laughed to myself for a good long while. Anything written by me involving that as a premise would quickly turn overly cute with extreme amounts of grinning and probably would wind up with post-bubble-gum-excitement cuddle napping. (Although, not nose-to-nose, since that's just silly.)

So say a normal fic writer writes the Doctor and Rose having a bubble gum blowing contest. We'll say it's cute, but no real UST/relationship/flirting in it whatsoever. So you'd definitely call it gen.

But could the author herself also throw a Doctor/Rose label on it? Would you as a reader be a bit miffed since you want/expect to see UST/relationship/flirting/etc. content in shipfics?

Comments

[grav-ity.livejournal.com]

Almost everything I've ever written (fr SG-1) is Sam/Jack. But some of the stories themselves aren't about Sam or Jack...I just write them the way I write them.

So I would label it Doctor/Rose, Gen and that way people can take it however they please.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Ah, include both labels to kind of cover your basis? That could work.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

bases. BAH.

[principia-coh.livejournal.com]

The distinction that I would make is Doctor & Rose versus Doctor/Rose. You could also say Doctor/Rose but specify gen. If, on the other hand, if it were a chapter in the middle of a properly shippy fic, there's no reason not to call it Doctor/Rose and just make it clear with the K rating that nothing smuttastic is going to occur.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

The distinction that I would make is Doctor & Rose versus Doctor/Rose. You could also say Doctor/Rose but specify gen.

It probably *should* be "Doctor, Rose" or "Doctor & Rose" instead, shouldn't it? (And then sometimes I see fics labeled as "Doctor, Rose" that *are* shipfic which makes me squint.)

If, on the other hand, if it were a chapter in the middle of a properly shippy fic, there's no reason not to call it Doctor/Rose and just make it clear with the K rating that nothing smuttastic is going to occur.

Right - middle of a fic don't really count. It's gotta be part of a whole.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

middle of a fic don't really count.

SWEET MOTHER OF GOD, I SUCK AT TYPING TODAY.

[joyfulfeather.livejournal.com]

I've waffled over that on a lot of fics, myself. I tend to put "X/Y friendship" for things that aren't overtly shippy. That kind of covers both bases.

As a reader... If it's ship!fic, I expect either overt relationship stuff or at least a lot of those two characters interacting, being cute or angsty or whatever they usually are, usually with some amount of UST (unless it's specified as friendship fic). If it's labeled as gen, I don't expect to see any pairings. That doesn't mean I won't, but that's more a reflection on my own tendency towards wearing ship goggles than to what the writer intended.

I think that's what it comes down to -- the pairing/category gives the reader an idea of what the writer intended. What the reader comes away with is another matter entirely. (Just like watching the shows themselves, really. I mean, how many of our pairings, both het and slash, are completely unintended by the writers?)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I tend to put "X/Y friendship" for things that aren't overtly shippy. That kind of covers both bases.

Okay, I kinda like that label.

I expect either overt relationship stuff or at least a lot of those two characters interacting, being cute or angsty or whatever they usually are, usually with some amount of UST (unless it's specified as friendship fic).

Right now I don't think I'm really the best judge of things, just because of the minuscule amount of fic I actually read - basically none - and also I tend to squee at *everything* these days. "The Doctor and Rose are talking about socks?? EEEEEEE!" *ahem*

If it's labeled as gen, I don't expect to see any pairings. That doesn't mean I won't, but that's more a reflection on my own tendency towards wearing ship goggles than to what the writer intended.

There's always that - sometimes you run into differences between writer's intent and reader's perception.

I think that's what it comes down to -- the pairing/category gives the reader an idea of what the writer intended. What the reader comes away with is another matter entirely. (Just like watching the shows themselves, really. I mean, how many of our pairings, both het and slash, are completely unintended by the writers?)

*nods* Very very very very true.

[pilihalliwell.livejournal.com]

I wrote a fic about the time The Doctor realized he needed glasses, it started with the thought of "mmm, where did he notice that?" And the it ended up being very flirty and very "Oh Rose so likes this new Doctor"

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Awwwww! I'd definitely put that as a shipfic and Doctor/Rose.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

(Although, not nose-to-nose, since that's just silly.)

I... HEY!

But could the author herself also throw a Doctor/Rose label on it? Would you as a reader be a bit miffed since you want/expect to see UST/relationship/flirting/etc. content in shipfics?

I think I'd label bubble gum blowing and naping a shippy fic. Who else but a shipper would even WRITE that? Unless really anti-D/R people DO think to themselves: "Hmm. I could REALLY go for the Doctor and Rose falling asleep on each other right now. PROBABLY nose-to-nose since that would be extra adorable!"

[moeyknight.livejournal.com]

In my mind you can't have Doctor and Rose gen fic. I've tried to come up with exceptions but there are none. I don't think it can be done properly otherwise. Doesn't matter if they are running for their lives, blowing bubbles, or sitting staring at the wall of the TARDIS. It cannot be done.

Of course I read almost no fic anymore because I'm so particular. Get it right or don't bother me with it. ;)

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

See, in my mind, I'd probably put the "Doctor, Rose" gen-fic off into shipland myself. Heh. *taps brain*

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I... HEY!

O:-)

I think I'd label bubble gum blowing and naping a shippy fic. Who else but a shipper would even WRITE that?

Well, definitely the co-napping part. MWAH.

Unless really anti-D/R people DO think to themselves: "Hmm. I could REALLY go for the Doctor and Rose falling asleep on each other right now. PROBABLY nose-to-nose since that would be extra adorable!"

They *secretly* think that to themselves. Especially the hardcore asexualist fanboys. *nods*

[noblealice.livejournal.com]

Whenever I'm writing something that isn't overtly shippy, I label it: Gen (implied Doctor/Rose)
Because then they know going in that there is a pre-established relationship without drama but I'm not going to focus on how they GOT in that relationship, just what they are doing now. It's sorta like dealing with a canon (read: married and fandom all accepts it) couple. Do people writing Mom/Dad fic have to specify? Because if they are always and already a ship, gen fic WOULD include them acting cute.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

I label it: Gen (implied Doctor/Rose)

I have seen that around, which also works for me.

It's sorta like dealing with a canon (read: married and fandom all accepts it) couple. Do people writing Mom/Dad fic have to specify? Because if they are always and already a ship, gen fic WOULD include them acting cute.

I think that's where I've got this fuzzy line going. This whole area of "being cute" without any relationship talk or any overt shippiness. I'm thinking to some, the "cute" would be considered shippy, and to others, it's just not enough to make it shippy. I guess the author just kinda needs to use their best judgment for on-the-line stuff.

[okelay.livejournal.com]

yes, of course they could.
i often add a shipper label even if there's nothing going on, cause i had it on my mind when i did.

but if it's just cause it has both characters, maybe it should be gen

some authors are good at gen while others cant get away from het.

i can never not put at least a slight reference to some pairing in my fics and i think you're like that too.

[mrv3000.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was trying to think of the fics I've written for DW, and I really don't think I've done anything gen. There was a Nine/Rose fic a while back which was mostly just time travel adventure cuteness, but there was a wee bit of flirting.

So yeah, something *usually* sneaks in.