flywoman: (Default)
flywoman ([personal profile] flywoman) wrote2011-01-15 04:45 pm

A question of timing

As of now, my incredibly patient beta [livejournal.com profile] 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...

[identity profile] barefootpuddles.livejournal.com 2011-01-15 09:58 pm (UTC)(link)
You could always post it to the comms with a warning. I think most H/W people aren't that sensitive to spoilers anymore.

[identity profile] jezziejay.livejournal.com 2011-01-15 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I think you know what I think ;) But in case you don't, POST NOW!:D

[identity profile] readingrat.livejournal.com 2011-01-15 10:32 pm (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] yarroway.livejournal.com 2011-01-16 12:57 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] cuddyclothes.livejournal.com 2011-01-16 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
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.

[identity profile] justjuly4.livejournal.com 2011-01-16 03:51 pm (UTC)(link)
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!!!