Well, if you're explaining slash to those not in the know, you're sort of obligated to mention its origins.

I'd like to see an article actually written by someone who participates in fanfic, instead of someone who got it as an assignment.

I guess you're right, how about I rephrase it to---For once I'd like to see an article that managed to mention a current pairing.

And yeah, by someone who is involved with fanfic.

For once I'd like to see an article that managed to mention a current pairing.

Oh, yeah. I mean, Kirk/Spock isn't exactly extinct, but it's not the big happening thing in the fanfic world. Have any of the recent articles mentioned Clark/Lex?

And I have to share this, which was in my cut and paste. It's from Thamiris' LJ, on the subject of writing sex:

My not-very-profound summary? Actual orgasms are easier to have than fictional ones are to write. I need some kind of meta-dildo.

Hee! That made my morning to read. Meta-dildo is now part of my vocab.

I've written the odd bit of fic, and I must admit that slash absolutely baffles me. It just leaves me cold and vaguely confused. I'd really like to understand the attraction that it invokes.

Really a genuine question.

Why hasn't anyone mentioned Clark/Lex? I mean, geez--SV is a huge fandom and they are such pretty, pretty boys.

Before I answer, I'd like to know why it baffles you and leaves you cold and vaguely confused.

askye:

Not sure. I think it's because I was moved to write fic because I was inspired by Buffy/Angel (the programmes :-) ) and so I want to write as much as I can like the shows were written, because that's what inspired me. If a reltionship wasn't put there by the writers then it leaves me cold.

I'm not explaining this well. What I mean is ... what's happened on the shows is what inspired me to write, not what slash pairing I've come up with. Does that make sense?
I don't want anyone to think I'm poo poooinf slashyness, it's just that I don't really get it.

I've written the odd bit of fic, and I must admit that slash absolutely baffles me. It just leaves me cold and vaguely confused. I'd really like to understand the attraction that it invokes.

Well, like askye said, what's the cold confusion coming from?

I write and read het, gen, and slash. GOOD slash, like Thrall, (spoilers through the most recent AtS, but really, people, if you've seen that, READ IT!!!) by shrift, takes the characters we know and the subtext we've been given (and we've been given a fair amount), and makes it text.

Is it only m/m slash that bothers you, or does femslash cause the same issues? I can see a straight male not getting down with the Big Gay Love, because there's a fair number of (female) slash fans who aren't down with the Hot Girl on Girl Action. (I'm down with the HGoGA, FWIW, as well as the BGL). It's just not something they're interested in.

Okay, but what about het relationships that are written about that aren't on the show.

Like, Buffy/Xander or Willow/Xander or Fred/Wes? Do those leave you cold?