A question of timing

[flywoman]

As of now, my incredibly patient beta jezziejay is in possession of a complete draft of "Regarding House," my amnesia fic set in late S7 that I would describe as kind of a cross between "Three Months" and "End Up Like This" - that is, a character-driven, dialogue-heavy multi-chapter fic plus some spoilery speculation and House/Wilson slash.

Should I post this to comms as soon as I'm satisfied with it, or should I wait until the events that it's expected to spoil have already taken place on the show?

On the one hand, I know that a lot of people avoid spoilers like the plague and will probably have forgotten all about the existence of this story by the time the episodes in question have aired, so I would be limiting my potential reading audience by putting it out there now.

On the other hand, I really need to finish this off and focus on other things, and if I don't post it, I will be tweaking it for the next two months and stressing over the fact that elements will undoubtedly get Jossed in the meantime so that I will feel compelled to apologize and/or correct them.

You can probably guess which way I'm leaning...

Comments

[barefootpuddles.livejournal.com]

You could always post it to the comms with a warning. I think most H/W people aren't that sensitive to spoilers anymore.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Yes, I'll definitely include warnings. Just wondering whether that means they'll get temporarily bypassed and then never read. But readingrat has an intriguing idea about staggered posts to comms. I hadn't really considered that - I thought that was for people who (unlike me) actually write their stories from beginning to end.

[jezziejay.livejournal.com]

I think you know what I think ;) But in case you don't, POST NOW!:D

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Thanks, as always, for your enthusiasm! ;)

[readingrat.livejournal.com]

I'd risk losing potential readers. Editing an existing and basically completed fic to fit canon is a giant drag, as is having to hold it back artificially because of such considerations. You could stagger your posts so that the final chapter is only up when the danger of 'spoiling' someone is banned. You could then draw attention to your fic once more as a non-spoilery one that will hopefully attract the readers who avoid spoilers.

Are there really that many people who avoid spoilery fics? I can see some sense in avoiding sneak peeks and the like, but the stuff that haunts the internet months in advance tends to be misleading. It isn't inaccurate as such, but I feel that whoever leaks it makes sure that it's the most ambiguous stuff that gets leaked so as to create false expectations. I wouldn't avoid fanfic because of that even if I chose to avoid previews or spoilers by people who get to see advance viewings.

I loved 'Three Months' so I'm really looking forward to this.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Hmm, the idea of staggering my posts is an interesting one. I have my usual system of posting with a link to the next chapter, but when there are a lot of chapters, it gets kind of clunky. Maybe it would make more sense to post all chapters to my f-list but then only release one chapter per week with comm announcement to the general reading public, and then, as you say, a final post with all chapters once there's no further danger of spoilage.

There are folks, even right here on my f-list, who try to avoid spoilers even in fic. I wasn't aware of it initially, so now I'm trying to be extra careful. As far as my fic goes, I think it would be hard to identify the true spoilers unless you were already aware of them, and also it's hard for me to be sure, as you say, how much of what I've incorporated is even accurate.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

I avoid spoilers, so I won't read the story. On the other hand, it sounds like you already know what you want to do, and it'd be silly to wait when that just doesn't work for you.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the input! As suggested by readingrat, I will make sure to put up a final "no-spoilers" post once the coast is clear.

[yarroway.livejournal.com]

That'd be awesome. :D

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

I have no problem reading a story with spoilers...particularly since you're a better writer than the current "House" staff. And at this point I don't give a shit about what happens in the show.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

you're a better writer than the current "House" staff
Wish I could say that I still considered that high praise at this point! :P

Thanks for the feedback, and stay tuned... polishing the last chapter now.

[justjuly4.livejournal.com]

I look forward to reading your story and as for me, spoilers aren't a big problem.Really-really, I can't wait to read what your idea about amnesiac House turned into!!!

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Thanks very much! :)

I've been holding off on posting to comms until my f-list folks have had a chance to offer constructive criticism, but I think I'll unlock it soon, and anyone who's watching my page will be welcome to comment.