That's too bad, Matt, because that really can ruin an otherwise decent story. I've gotten 20 chapters into a 30 chapter serial and given up in a WTF that way, too. It reaaly sucks. Almost more than an unfinished story. Unfinished stories you can at least imagine how it might end without being radically disabused. Something already finished just pokes at you and keeps tearing the scab off every time you go back to see if it really is that bad.

Fortunately for my fic, I think I've got a pretty decent beta reader, who would never dare let me get away with that.

And I want to thank 'Suela for sticking up for those of us who can't focus on two things at the same time while listening. Either music or talking, but not both at the same time, thank you very much. Intro music, OTOH, is tres cool. It can really set the mood of story and I'm willing to bet Fay chooses really cool music.

Yeah, the podfic of Fay's that I've listened to has tended to have short clips of music (not whole songs) that do a very good job of setting a tone or a mood. I think it's a great add. Music, especially with lyrics, in the background of the reading would be a totally different story.

Fay, as amych said. While I think it's a subjectivity issue with regards to the use of music for interludes and lead-ins (i.e., some people like it, some don't, for some it depends on the music choices, just like vids), my primary issue was with people reading over music. I am an absolutist on that: it's a failure of accessibility, and a disservice to both the story and many of the potential audience members.

On a personal note, I don't like entire songs used as interludes. I want to get to the next part of the story, already, not wait through Johnny Cash singing about Folsom Prison or whatever. But that's not an accessibility issue, it's a personal preference and a formatting aspect. (I do wish people would label the stories when they use entire songs, though.)

In either event, it's my understanding it's not that hard to not use music when putting together podfic, and those of us with hearing problems would like to have the option of listening to a music-free story.

Stolen from Consuela on LJ:

Horrible Fanon Childhood Showdown.

There's only one woman on the list!

I have to admit, I'm not up on fic in many of these fandoms, so I'm guessing about a lot of them. Knowing Bodie has a lot of fanon misery does make me want to seek fic out, though.

I'm very disappointed in Torchwood fic that Ianto couldn't give Daniel Jackson a run for his money--or perhaps I just underestimate the woobiness of Daniel.

What happened to DiNozzo (I don't really follow NCIS) that made his childhood suck worse than Logan Echolls?

perhaps I just underestimate the woobiness of Daniel.

Daniel, IN CANON, watched his parents crushed by a falling museum exhibit. I imagine his fanon childhood is filled with terrible foster home experiences and the like.

Who has more fanon childhood misery?

Jim Kirk (Star Trek (2009)) 47 (67.1%)

Alex Krycek (The X-Files) 23 (32.9%)

I find this very hard to believe. But it's one of the very few where I'm familiar enough with both candidates to even have an opinion.

But honestly, the entire post is making my head explode:

Who has more fanon childhood misery?

Worse fanon childhood?

More fanon ~manpain~ incurred before age eighteen?

Why are these separate questions? What makes them different?

Seriously, I'm getting way too worked up about this.

Tim Bayliss has got to make the top ten.

Oops, I kept reading "fanon" as "canon"-- I guess that explains the Echolls/DiNozzo.

Brenda, have you seen the deleted scenes in the Trek reboot? 700% more fodder than the final cut.