This is my way of consoling myself, otherwise some fics would make me lose my faith in humanity. Sometimes I read a story (even though I hate it form the very beginning. I'm a masochist.) and I end up screaming at my monitor, so to make myself feel better I rationalize things. Because I know that sometimes you think of something and you write it down and then you get a bunch of reviews that say something totally different from what you had in mind.
So why get mad when you can't tell for sure what they had in their minds? Maybe they wanted to write a sweet Harry but overdid it and ended up making him dumb. (Obviously, there are exceptions and sometimes people are just mean bitches who skimmed the books!)
There's this one story in this part of the fandom. Very popular and all. Very well-written. Draco's characterization is superb, plot is wonderful and interesting, Harry/Draco's relationship slow-developing and believable. There's even a sense of equality between them. Just perfect.
But, I only realized it halfway through the story, and became increasingly irritated by the end of it — there's a huge flaw in Harry's characterization. He wasn't too dumb or whinny, nor too clever and too strong. He was just ... nothing. By the end, I had this feeling like Draco had been dragging an inflated Harry doll around.
And I was so angry, especially because the story was so GOOD otherwise, but Harry was so inconsequential! But then I realized that the author was actually trying to put a spin on this contrived plotline and not making Harry (or Draco) whiny and dumb was part of the goal. The author was searching for balance and well, failed just a little by making Harry too flat. So now I like the story better, Harry!doll or not.
He seems to think I expect too much!
Oh, I expect too much as well. And being a struggling amateur writer it makes me hypocritical! There were times when I grumbled about making Harry and Draco jump to bed much too soon. But then I got a review that told me I did exactly that and after I fumed and reread the story I realized they were right! (of course instead of trying to fix this I'm just enjoying those stories more now because I get the whole desire to say: Oh, screw the plot let's bring the sexing! :D) I just make sure to warn for PWP-ness. :D
Re: I have more words to say!
So why get mad when you can't tell for sure what they had in their minds? Maybe they wanted to write a sweet Harry but overdid it and ended up making him dumb. (Obviously, there are exceptions and sometimes people are just mean bitches who skimmed the books!)
There's this one story in this part of the fandom. Very popular and all. Very well-written. Draco's characterization is superb, plot is wonderful and interesting, Harry/Draco's relationship slow-developing and believable. There's even a sense of equality between them. Just perfect.
But, I only realized it halfway through the story, and became increasingly irritated by the end of it — there's a huge flaw in Harry's characterization. He wasn't too dumb or whinny, nor too clever and too strong. He was just ... nothing. By the end, I had this feeling like Draco had been dragging an inflated Harry doll around.
And I was so angry, especially because the story was so GOOD otherwise, but Harry was so inconsequential! But then I realized that the author was actually trying to put a spin on this contrived plotline and not making Harry (or Draco) whiny and dumb was part of the goal. The author was searching for balance and well, failed just a little by making Harry too flat. So now I like the story better, Harry!doll or not.
He seems to think I expect too much!
Oh, I expect too much as well. And being a struggling amateur writer it makes me hypocritical! There were times when I grumbled about making Harry and Draco jump to bed much too soon. But then I got a review that told me I did exactly that and after I fumed and reread the story I realized they were right! (of course instead of trying to fix this I'm just enjoying those stories more now because I get the whole desire to say: Oh, screw the plot let's bring the sexing! :D) I just make sure to warn for PWP-ness. :D