Why did you start reading HP fanfiction and why do you continue?

[kadedeetje]

Cindi  asked

> Why did you start reading (or writing) HP fanfiction?

I started reading the HP canon many times in my mother tongue and just did
not get into the story as my sister did. It wasn't until she introduced me
to the DVD language tricks (multi language voice overs and subtitiling) that
I discovered the 'magic' (pardon the pun) of the original English work and I
was seriously hooked. This happened some 6 months before the release of the
GOF book and while waiting I discovered the world and joys of fanfiction.

It wasn't until the time between publication of OotP and HBP that I started
thinking 'that's been done before' and 'what if ....'  has not been done yet
maybe I'll try' that I actually too started writing.

> Why do you continue to read (or write)fanfiction?

The advantage - and at the same time frustration - of fanfic is that the
author can release the story chapter by chapter - a bit like a soap opera on
TV. If the show (or story) is good you'll just keep coming back for more.

And since there are so many fics out there you can pick exactly what you
like : you like Snape ? Choose a story where Harry gets 'adopted' by him, or
if you want Sirius alive and well, you can find plenty of Sirius returns
fics. I believe this is probably one of the reasons that more people were
disappointed with GOF and even more with HBP. I had been reading stories
with Remus as a father-figure to Harry, and that just didn't happen. And
after all, even though it's great we have the fanfics to turn to, JKR still
writes the canon - however much we might dislike the way the 'real' story is
going !

As to my own (attempt at) writing I guess that I want to find out what
happens with the rest of the story as much as the few readers I have.

> What makes a good fanfic?

That may vary but I do believe that writing style (and skill), storyline and
plot play a huge role. For me, the story just has to 'grab' me.

> Who are your top 5 fanfic authors and/or stories?

Difficult, very difficult that question !  there are so many for different
reasons.

greengecko with Resonance and Revolution  - wishweaver with Realisation -
Lady Alchymia's Harry Potter and the Emerald Tablet - katlingon with the
Guild of Night series (and the other stories on her yahoo group)  - these
are just a few. But there are many more, and today's preferences won't be
the same as those yesterday or tomorrow, because there's always some story
to be found for whatever mood you're in !

kadedeetje