It is bad design. If they could combine the adult-filter with the lj-cut function, they'd have a pretty useful tool. (Sort of the way it says "read more" when you just say "lj-cut" without specifying text.") When it could be *anything* behind that link, not so much.

I've been following the conversation, and have to agree with some ratings problems on the internet. My last fanfic was about a child discovering death and how that stayed with him his entire life (and I just thought of a similar one for House). But, because at one point, I describe someone's death as being somewhat bloodier, it automatically puts the rating to "T" or higher. Other than warnings in summaries, is there even some way to be more explicit about what is in the story that's making the rating shoot up in age? I know I do enjoy facing these more "difficult" challenges in life via fanfic, and feel that in some cases, it helps more than just myself. As for tools at LJ, weren't they supposed to introduce a function where you could go back and edit your own comments as well?

As for tools at LJ, weren't they supposed to introduce a function where you could go back and edit your own comments as well? You can do that, but you have to have a paid account.

I agree that it's a bad design. I thought the "over-14" would allow the summary to be displayed but it turns out that it doesn't. The summary is still cloaked. So I've removed the lock from my entry. I can't have my LJ page display nothing but warnings - people who aren't logged in will have no idea what they're clicking on. I would just as soon use locks if I could do so with the LJ cuts, as suggested upthread. My summaries are never explicit, in fact, I write them specifically to warn people who don't want to read explicit fics. To cloak the summary defeats the whole point of my using a warning and rating in my summary. But, the adult-lock is a new feature, so LJ may improve it at a later point. I give them credit for trying to implement it - before they had the lock, there was a big random sweep and a lot of LJs got deleted for having sexual content. I suspect the lines get blurred with stuff like Harry Potter fics, which often feature sex between adults and children. And a lot of it is actually written by teens. That's what ultimately drove me out of the Harry Potter fandom; all those Snape/Hermione fics were more than a little creepy, not to mention all the incest, S&M, and other kinks. I'm still amazed by just how pervy the HP fics are; I don't think I've ever seen anything quite on that level in the House fandom.

I've been thinking about that too MissViolet, especially since I do have a story that will have a great deal of smut coming up (and because I'm still editing, I can call that particular fanfic bit smut). And all I'm planning on doing is putting the more adult rated parts on my BlogSpot blog, and linking back and forth between the two. Sydedalus posted one ages ago (at least I think it was sydedalus) that had some adult content to it. What was doing was that the chapter with the adult content was posted off-ff.net, and a PG-rated summary posted on ff.net in its place. I read both versions, and they worked well enough. I know it's not the ultimate answer, but it's a step in a better direction at least. That's what ultimately drove me out of the Harry Potter fandom; all those Snape/Hermione fics were more than a little creepy, not to mention all the incest, S&M, and other kinks. I don't blame you one bit.

Hope you all don't mind the slightly off topic request here: I am working on an article about fanfiction, particularly House fan fic. So if you are a writer or a reader of fanfic, I'd love your input. If you're a writer: why do you write House fanfic?which characters do you like writing? Do you write other than fanfic? (i.e. are you a writer in your profession?) Do you write for other fandoms? etc. Anything you'd like to share. If you're a reader (and you can, as I am) be both ;): What sorts of stories get to you? Long? Short? shippy stuff, tragic stuff? angsty stuff? slash? Favorite writers? (email me or pm me if you wouldn't mind.) I will not attribute quotes unless you give me permission. Promise. Also, if you wouldn't mind sharing your age range with me: teen, 20 something, 30 something, 40 something or older (my category). thanks kindly.

Sasmom, I sent you a pm.

Fanfiction, fans and House article
Thanks to everyone who encouraged me to write a piece on fanfic and to those who contributed to the article through their comments! The article has been published here:Fanfiction, Fans and House

One thing the Eliot Spitzer scandal in New York is good for: Fanfic writers can now access prices for the kind of high priced call girl that House would conceivably contact. From a story on slate.com about the "agency" that Spitzer used: The Emperors' Club has the diamond. According to a page on "Introduction Fees," the club ranked its call girls from three to seven diamonds based on "individual education, sophistication, and ambiance." Prices range from $1,000 for an hour with a three-diamond prostitute up to $3,100 for a seven-diamond hooker; dawn-to-dawn rates go from $10,000 for a three-diamond to $31,000 for a seven-diamond. Bargain hunters take note: $30,000 will buy you a trio of three-diamond prostitutes—that's a total of nine diamonds for less than the price of a single seven-diamond call girl.

I have a feeling "Jersey girls" go for less than that. :lol: (No offense to any residents of Jersey here, of course!) (Also, wasn't Robin about $1K for the top of the line treatment: "around the world... twice?")

Two stories that I have read in the past and think are very powerful ones are Sheep's The Contract and Bad Company by Nightdog Barks. There are at least 12 writers who have written or are writing stories in the Contractverse and of course there is the collective Black Cigarette who has written a very extensive followup to Nightdog's original story. Since both of them have inspired many of you fic writers to play in those AUs I wondered why.

misanthropicobs, I was wondering the same thing, and also about (a) how a series becomes a 'verse and (b) how an author goes about writing in one that's created by someone else. Do you ask, "Hey, creator, I really like this 'verse and would like to try a story about ____; that OK with you?" Or just jump in and write one? The closest I've come in my own fic writing is to do a sequel to another author's story. I did ask first if she minded, but never heard back from her, so I just went ahead and wrote it. I'm guessing Black Cigarette/"Bad Company"/"Aftershocks" was a case of "Hey, kids, let's put on a ficverse!" but the Contractverse was simply a case of one author's work inspiring others. Sheep, I'm curious about how you feel about other writers playing in your 'verse, if you can answer this without hurting anyone's feelings. What happens if an author who isn't you writes a Contractverse fic that doesn't fit with the vision you have for that world? (Not saying this has happened; I like all the Contractverse fics I've read, but I'm not the creator).

Just as an fyi, there's a Q&A with Sheep in the Housefic_Meta LJ community here (you're welcome to add your own questions as well) which covered some of that area. And there was a discussion with the Black Cigarette/Aftershocks writers there as well recently. Of course you're free to have discussions here too. Feel free to ignore.