"State of My HP Fandom" Address

[kelly_chambliss]

I had intended to make this post on October 12, which is the fourth anniversary of my entry into the HP fandom. But various RL things came up, and lo, here it is October 18, and I haven't said "happy anniversary" to myself.

So I'll do it now -- Here's to four years plus six days as an HP obsessive!

In truth, though, the obsession has been gradually waning for over a year now. During 2009 and 2010, HP loomed so large for me: I read, I wrote, I recced, I commented, I followed fests and shamelessly fangirled and squeed. I still do those things, but not with the same urgency. Still, I'm not on my way out the door yet. I think I've still got some HP stories left in me; I can still get all excited about a fantastic fic, I'm still joining new comms. (hp_3somes? Why, yes, I think I will, thank you. Not that there's much chance of seeing older-character fics here, but then again, one never knows.)

Plus, I have made dear friends who I trust will be with me long after we've all stopped writing about Minerva or Severus or Wilhelmina and have moved, as Albus so perceptively says. . . on.

So, yeah. . .HP fandom has changed in four years, of course, and my relationship to it has changed, but I'm still here. And not going anywhere anytime soon. (*panics suddenly* And I'm begging you all not to leave, either. I'm not done with HP yet! Don't you dare go!)

What have I been up to, HP-wise? Glad you asked. I've put everything under cuts, since there's a lot.

First, I need to be preparing for my sabbatical next semester, so of course I have been procrastinating like mad. . .by writing fic. Normally, I procrastinate in order to avoid writing fic. But now that professional writing LOOMS, suddenly "But I have a fic deadline!" becomes the perfect excuse.

Recent Writing
--I wrote and posted this month's fic at daily_deviant.

--I have finished and submitted my fic for hp_darkfest. I have a soft spot for this fest, since it was one of the first few in which I participated, and its 2009 incarnation had a boatload of fine entries. I remember how excited I was to see each day's posting. I also good friends through that fest, several of whom are still with me (*waves at vaysh11, lordhellebore, celestineangel, and the fab mod, melusinahp*). This year is like a homecoming, since Mel has again taken over the modding reins. The fest starts posting on October 31.

--I've started my drabble for my third year of participating in hp_halloween. There are about fifty entrants this year, and all these fun Halloween-themed drabbles will be posted one after the other on Halloween night (US time). It's great fun.

--I'm also working on fics for deeply_horrible and the grand-and-glorious hoggywartyxmas.

Fest Fun!
--I regretfully decided not to enter this year's Kinky Kristmas fest at daily_deviant. But as a DD writer, I was allowed to submit a prompt, and some lovely person claimed it! I can't wait to see what they come up with.

--I'm having an absolute blast as moderator of minerva_fest, which is still going on. We've had two weeks' worth of excellent entries so far, and I've been really pleased at the response. Commenting has fallen off lately, but that's to be expected at this point in the posting. We've still got many entries that have hit double-digits in comments, and several have over 20 comments. You, my dear flist, are responsible for many of those responses, and I can't thank you enough. The headmistress, too, offers you a brisk nod and a crisp "well done."

--samhain_smut is still posting -- see recs below.

Fic Recs -- MM/SS and F/F

minerva_fest isn't the only fest that has showcased some superb stories lately. Check these out:

Minerva/Severus
--The lovely tjs_whatnot offered to write drabbles for her flisties. I asked for "Minerva/Severus" and "boots," and I received this very fine piece of sexual tension in return. When TJ gives you boots, they are BOOTS. Only He Knows (MM/SS; PG-13) Delicious.

--The equally lovely Dueltastic on DW also offered to write ficlets. From her list of prompts, I chose "Minerva/Severus" and "forced to share a bed." I'm delighted with the totally-IC result; check it out here in the comments (Rated G).

--From samhain_smut comes eleven thousand words of Minerva/Severus, expertly set to the tune of one of my favorite guilty-pleasure tropes: characters who must agree to have sex for the good of. . .something, anything, doesn't matter what. Often, writers don't bother to make the trope make sense, but that's not the case here. Mystery Author has built a strongly character-driven, believable, well-developed, really hot version of this convention. It pushes quite a few of my MM/SS buttons (issues that I've tried to deal with in my own stories). Check out Gin a Body Meets a Body by Anonymous-for-now (NC-17).

Femslash
Both these fics come from daily_deviant. Both are distinguished by being as more about character than about kink per se, which is my favorite form of kink fic.

--One Puff [But It Never Is Just One] by woldy (Alice Longbottom/Amelia Bones/Dorcas Meadowes; R)
This fic is another entry with this month's kink of capnolagnia (arousal from watching others smoke), which is turning out to be one of my favorites. The characterization is strong here -- Alice and Dorcas really come alive, as does the tense atmosphere of Auror-hood. And Amelia Bones! Great read.

--Nobody's Business by miss_morland (Rolanda Hooch/Poppy Pomfrey, Minerva McGonagall; R)
This really fine fic manages to be both heartbreaking and hot. Excellent characterizations. I love that Minerva is all the more present in the story by being absent.

So all in all, things are pretty damned good in my corner of the HP-verse!

Comments

[delphi]

Happy Anniversary! I have to say, my little corner of fandom has been immeasurably brightened by discovering your work and your company. :-)

(I myself got a lovely bit of feedback the other day from someone who pointed out that mine was the first Snape fic she had read...ten years ago. At which point, I did the math and realized that I've been writing in the HP fandom for twelve years as of last July. I strongly suspect there's some sort of temporal anomaly at play.)

[kelly_chambliss]

Thank you, my dear! You're too kind.

I'm heartened to hear that you've been in the fandom for twelve years. It's a testament to the staying-power of the universe (and to your own dedication).

[celestinenox]

Hi! ::waves back::

I managed to get my hp_darkfest fic written, betaed and submitted before becoming obsessed with Dragon Age: Origins, so yay! Glad you're writing for this fest this year, I know your entry will be fabulous!

[kelly_chambliss]

I'll look forward to your Darkfest fic. I hope Mel got a lot of entries; I could use some good, thoughtful darkfic.