Feature: Fics that are in Critical Condition

This week's feature: 
Fics that are in need of mouth-to-mouth.

"Don't you die on me!"

There are a bunch of WIP stories that I adore that have not updated in what feels like ages. Being both stubborn and hopeful, I refuse to believe that these stories are being abandoned by the author. 

Sometimes the story is pretty far enough along, and already so original and well done in what's already written. I'm the type of reader that would happily take a swift albeit premature wrap up of the story over the uncertainty of whether the fic will ever be picked up again. Obviously I'd love for the author to complete the full story they envisioned, but I understand that sometimes things happen, and even authors with the best of intentions are unable to work on their story. 

But for me, I feel additional frustration with the mid air suspension of an otherwise killer story: I can't rec it. I love it, I think it's brilliant, and I want to tell everyone about it. But I can't rec a fic to someone knowing full well that they will fall in love only to be left hanging!  But you see, I am a fic pusher by nature. I think I get more distressed with not being able to pimp the story, than I am about the story having no closure. 

"Can I miss what I never had?"

There are also stories that *everyone* recs but have not updated in forever. I am dying to read these fics but to protect my emotional well being, I have not started them yet. Now again, I have no idea what the author's circumstances are and frankly it's none of my business. Nor am I criticizing ANYONE who is brave enough to put themselves out there like that in the first place (lord knows I couldn't do it!). I am simply expressing the yearning I feel for something that I can't have.  

Fans who develop an emotional attachment to a fic often think longingly about that story that's floating out there, just yearning for resolution. Is there a anything that they can do? Besides show their continued love (ahem, pester) the author for news on the story? YES. Our "electronic panels" comes to us in three little words. Fandom Gives Back

Bidding on an author is one of the ways that readers can show their love and support for the author and her story. Now, if you win... depending on the auction terms, you just might be able to get that next chapter you've been hankering for. Perhaps an author might be willing to temporarily resurrect that pulled story you thought you'd never see again. 

Is this a last ditch effort of fan intervention into the author's process? Yup. Would an author's offer to finish a beloved WIP rally fans to raise a mountain of money? Yup. 


If fics like Nice Catch, Burn and Shine, and A Madman's Mercy were to come to some conclusion, I would do cartwheels in my 1 bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, drywall be damned. If fics like Innocent, Vigilant, Ordinary, The Vampire in the Basement, or Hiding in Plain Site updated, there would be celebrations all throughout Twificland. Authors (and not at all just the ones I singled out), you know what we want, and we're willing to pay to get it. Readers, let's rally together to bring some of our beloved stories back to life.

NOTE:

Please don't be offended if you are an author whose story was just mentioned as an example! And my sincerest apologies if I have inaccurately characterized your fic. (a) My enthusiasm (and that of your fans) is a direct reflection of the love we have for you and your story. (b) You are of course under no obligation and are able to craft the conditions of your auction, indicating that your story is off the table. (c) FGB is an opportunity to raise some money for a good cause, not a chance to bully authors into writing something they don't want to write. 

I am simply mentioning the potential gold mine that exists within beloved yet dormant fic. 

So, are there fics that you'd like to see resurrected? Please drop me a comment to let me know :)