sick_wilson | Let’s Gather ‘Round the Campfire (#4)

Entry tags:

Let’s Gather ‘Round the Campfire (#4)

7/10 ETA: Help! I've fallen behind on replying and can't get up!

Sorry campers, RL intruded, and I was out most of the day. As a rule, I'm incoherent after 5pm, so I'm not going to attempt responding this evening. Your great comments deserve more than gibberish. Bear with me, I'll be back tomorrow. You guys are the best! *hugs* The mod is in.

Hi Campers!

Have you brought your flashlights? We've had wonderful discussions over the last few weeks, but do you have the fortitude to discuss today's topic, ghost stories? You know what I'm talking about... dun dunn dunnn... the deathfic. Is it a guilty pleasure or does it squick you out? Do you have to be in the mood (bookmark them for later)? Why?

Food for thought:
Is a good cry enough for you, or after you finish the story, do you mentally write a different ending, like House coming to Wilson's rescue with a last minute diagnosis and cure.

What about the causes? Illness or Accident? Anyone want to discuss the irony of the oncologist getting cancer?

Going a bit afield: Does your interest or disinterest about characters dying extend to watching movies, (randomly chosen titles: Dead Poets Society, In the Gloaming) and reading novels, or is that a different experience for you?

For writers: can you write and read them? Do you prefer one or the other?

Alright, I've used up my quota of questions marks so let's hear from you. And as always, please talk amongst yourselves, and don’t be shy about asking questions and chatting with your neighbors.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

In all honesty, I like deathfics, but only if they are well written, obviously. Not just, "Wilson sneezed a bit too hard. And he died. Then end."

The ones I really like are the ones that either show the aftermath or leave it open ended so you don't really know whether or not it is a death fic, and you just sit there thinking "Wut?" One fic that comes to mind that I LOVE is Escape Velocity (http://community.livejournal.com/house_wilson/811786.html) by nightdog_barks

And I always prefer reading them to writing them, because I don't think I write them all that well tbh.

Edited 2010-07-08 19:50 (UTC)

I don't like death fics. I especially don't like ones where Wilson dies. There are some really good ones out there, though. Generally I find that out by accident. I miss the warning on a story and then find out the hard way that its a death fic. I'd probably love 99% of the fic Moose mentioned, because I know that the author is incredibly skilled, but I won't read it. Death fics just make me too sad to want to read them.

I'd think that the cause wouldn't matter, but actually some do. I stopped reading a fic once when the author gave Wilson HIV. He wasn't dying anytime soon, but it didn't matter. Having lost a friend not very long ago to complications from AIDS, I simply did not want to read that.

I use fanfiction as an escape. That's not all I use it for, and I don't think I could enumerate the other things if I tried, but it's part of the attraction. I see enough sad endings that I don't want to read them too.

I don't mind death scenes as much in other media. Actually I don't mind them as much in other kinds of fiction either--I never thought of that till now. I still don't like them though. I think having it play out in my head makes it worse. Or maybe in other venues that type of story gets handled differently. I don't know.

"Wilson sneezed a bit too hard. And he died. The end."
--You are very picky. Guess that means I'll trash my death-by-hangnail fic. :(

Personally, I'm such a Wilson fan, aftermath fics don't get my attention, but that's just me. They are popular. "Escape Velocity" is a beautiful example of an open-ended fic--very haunting.

I don't want to guilt you into writing anything you don't want to write, but one of my favorite deathfics was written by you, Shoe Shine and Theatre Time (http://moose-mcmoose.livejournal.com/12644.html).

*IZ EMBARRASSED*

I'm with yarroway on this one. I read fic as a sort of escape, and for fun. Reading about someone I care about (despite the fact that they're not real) depressing. I have enough depressing shit in real life, I don't come to my fandom to experience what I'm trying to escape from. Even if a story is sad, all I need to be able to read it is hope that things could work out (even if that's just in my own head and doesn't actually happen in the story). For this reason I also can't read brain damage stories. I've tried them, and they're just too sad.

Conversely, I did once stumble upon a deathfic once (much as yarroway did in missing the warning), and ended up being okay with it because both parties died at the end. I guess my real problem is the aftermath and the leaving someone behind part.

I also don't have a problem with death in other mediums, or even similar mediums. I love horror movies and books (I started reading Stephen King when I was 12 and he's always killing off characters I love). I also don't feel the same heart-wrenching almost panic I get from reading deathfic when I see characters I love die on T.V. shows. I was sad when Amber died, and House's Head and Wilson's Heart are horribly depressing episodes, and yet I love them to death (no pun intended). I was also sad but okay when Tara died on Buffy and when Uncle Vic died on Queer As Folk and I loved both of them too.

Strange. Fic must just have a bit of a hold over me or something. I just can't handle Wilson (or House for that matter) buying the farm.

IAWTC in its entirety.

I'm pretty much neutral on death fics - I don't seek them out but I don't avoid them either. They do have to be really well written though to pull if off. I prefer a long build up to the death (so there is lots of comforting) - Wilson has cancer is a good example. I don't tend to reread them though as I cry at just about anything and I don't often want to do that deliberately :) I'm not keen on Wilson commits suicide fics though - though I did read one that was very good. I don't like anything that romanticizes suicide.

I don't mind death on TV shows/movies as long as there appears to be a reason for it, not just a plot device or because the actor wants to leave the show. Kutner's suicide pissed me off big time - just really stupid for the character (pretty much anyone else on the show fine but not Kutner).

I also hate spoilers for characters dying on TV/Movie - if they are going to die I want to be surprised :)

It's all your fault for writing such a good story. ;)

I appreciate what you are saying, and appreciate your serious response to this topic. My apologies if my response is clumsy, because death is difficult topic for me to handle.

You make a good point about cause. AIDS is such a tragic disease. I can't read a story or see a movie about it without getting upset.

Our own personal experiences enter into in our decisions whether we enjoy fics like this. The older I get, and the more friends and family I lose, the more interested I am in the topic, at least to write. I'm usually exploring the concept of loss. It's harder for me to read because then I'm not in the driver's seat, and I'm reacting to what I read--which is more like experiencing a fresh loss.

I don't mind death scenes as much in other media. Actually I don't mind them as much in other kinds of fiction either...
--Is it because it's a double whammy of Wilson? We see the character on the show, and then read a fic which puts us closer in touch with his character?

I avoid death fics, not so much because of the death I think as the separation - House having to go on without Wilson, or vice versa, I find this just too tragic.

The main reason I've commented here actually is to rec

rubberbutton's All Good Things (http://rubberbutton.livejournal.com/15568.html). Awesome fic and the very end, without wishing to spoil it for anyone, makes it for me.

It's a difficult topic for anyone to handle, and my apologies for bringing it up. My dislike of death fics and my experience in RL are intertwined. If anyone else had posted this topic I'd never have said so, though. I probably shouldn't have.

I think your point about control is well taken.

Good writing can take us right inside a character's head. Video is more evocative, especially with a well chosen soundtrack, but writing can literally spell it all out. Maybe that is part of the difference.

As a writer I'm torn about warnings for deathfica--it's rather like giving away the ending, but it's also important to have truth in advertising. If you saw a preview for a movie that made the heroine out to be a madcap heiress on a silly adventure, you don't expect to see a frantic woman dying of poison with three days to live.

Brain damage fics upset me more than deathfics. Nothing brings me to tears quicker. I must say, one of the reasons I can deal with sick!Wilson fics on this topic is that I know I can always hit the reset button by reading a new story.

I guess my real problem is the aftermath and the leaving someone behind part.
--This is a good point. Not to be glib, but paraphrasing Wilson, "Dying is easy, living is hard."

I also don't have a problem with death in other mediums...
--This seems the majority opinion in our group so far. I wonder why this is? The screenwriter or author brings finality? A fanfic deathfic of a living character is too dissonant? I don't know, just putting out a theory.

Wondering out loud: Like the perfect House/Wilson love story, is there the potential for a satisfying deathfic?

*g*

Thank you so much, Moose.

:-D

And it's not a cathartic cry.

It's best to avoid. Come to me if you ever need tissues or a hug.

If we're going to rec, one of the ones I stumbled into was a story by--let's see if I can get this right--Solinak, called Reaction. It's on FF and I can't give you a link because I'm typing on my phone. It was a horrible, upsetting story but it was so good that I've re-read it since then.

I prefer a long build up to the death (so there is lots of comforting
--Yes, I like this too, also I'm looking for a slow build up to allow the characters to resolve issues with each other.

Glad you bring up the point about romanticizing suicide. I cannot comprehend that. Actually, I was told by a therapist that it's a hostile act. As far as what happened with Kutner, I'm going to pass on commenting before I spiral off into a rant.

I hate all types of character death spoilers. It just ruins watching the show. Course, I'm beginning to hate all spoilers. Wish I had the strength not to read them.

House having to go on without Wilson, or vice versa, I find this just too tragic.
--I totally agree. And as much as I love Wilson, he not the same guy without House.

"All Good Things" is a classic. Kind of like "A Modest Proposal" of deathfics, not that the stories are in any way similar.

Let me help you out: Reaction (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3627418/1/Reaction).

It's very well done. Worth reading. Just one warning, this is a House deathfic.

I like deathfics that are well written. I do appreciate a warning though because I only read them when I'm in the right frame of mind. Rarely do I cry at a story but when I do, I'm all the more impressed with how well the author wrote it. I don't rewrite the endings in my head because I want to keep the experience the way the author intended.

I don't much care how the death comes about as long as it's not Wilson depressed and ending it all alone by himself. Which is ironic because I've written at least one of those. Go figure. :P

I don NOT like character deaths on TV - not of main characters. In movies I can handle it as long as it's not an animal. No animal deaths for me ever.

I usually write deathfics to get out of an emotional funk, therapy of sorts, but I usually only read them when I'm not in a funk, I think because I have to be in a good frame of mind to go along with how the author is putting things forth.

That's my favourite death fic - I really would like to read it again but I just can't bring myself to do it. And the ending is really fitting and makes sense and is in character even though its the sort of thing I usually don't like.

What a great topic.

I have a love/hate relationship with death fics. I find myself drawn to them (especially if they are short reads with one of the characters already dead), yet I find them heartbreaking too. The good ones almost always make me cry. I DO stay away from really long ones where one has a terminal illness because the idea of watching one of the boys waste away is just too much for me.

I dislike suicide fics, though I can see where they might come from.

I also get very annoyed when a fic is a death fic and the author does not mention it. I do respect the idea that the element of surprise is often a great literary device, and if the author posts it untagged or with no warning on their own journal then I have no right to complain, but it just kills me (no pun intended) to read through an entire fic only to find House or Wilson dies at the end. I suppose if it is a very short thing like a drabble and the surprise turns out that it is set 'post death' of one of the characters, that is not too bad - but in a long fic that can leave me reeling for days. This only really happened to me on that level once, but it was not good.

I should throw in here that I adore those fics where House is a ghost and stays around. The ghost is always House I have noticed and that is fine, though I would love to come across one where the ghost is Wilson!

No apologies needed. Your response was perfect. I was just warning that my reply many not be worthy.

Since we get inside a character's head in a book and not in a movie, reading is a more intense experience. If both were available, I'm more likely to see the movie than read the book because I can shake off the movie in a day. A book could take a week, and some parts may stay indelible.

I very rarely read a story a second time, but I did with, "All Good Things." It's great if you want a sad multi-chapter fic.

Thanks!

I use fanfiction as an escape. That's not all I use it for, and I don't think I could enumerate the other things if I tried, but it's part of the attraction. I see enough sad endings that I don't want to read them too.

Yeah, I look at fanfiction as an escape too so I know what you mean. There is plenty of real sadness in the world, why go looking for more? I know some people do look at it as a way to work through their feelings so if that works for them then it is all good. I can almost see that more from the writing standpoint. I could even see myself writing that sort of thing because I would have the control. Reading it for me would be harder.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 4

Let’s Gather ‘Round the Campfire (#4)

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject