Why I Stay at LJ
On the morning of the LJ boycott, I've been thinking non-stop for the last few days about what LJ means to me, my experience there, etc. And that naturally has me thinking about, well, the fic. I tend not to make lists of my favorite fics, etc., because you will forget someone and you will inevitably hurt someone you didn't mean to hurt, so I just randomly rec as I read and that has worked for me so far.

I am a voracious reader. I always have been. Before LJ time, I went through a minimum of 3 books a week. Now, I read most of my fiction here. Publishing is in the doldrums right now. I have a pretty good sense of what is good writing and what is not, and let me tell you, I click here, and I can find material that is forty times better than the majority of what is currently being marketed.

What is the point, pir8fancier? I'd like to list six seven eight nine those fics that moved me profoundly. That made me stop and genuflect in homage: that's writing. That opened my eyes on a number of levels, just not as a writer, but upsided me on the head personally. There's this. And have you thought of this? Or made me just laugh at the wit. Or made me howl with jealousy at how perfectly beautiful the language was. Or made me grumble because the concept is so unique that I *never* would have thought of it. In short, the six seven eight nine those fics that mattered so profoundly to me that this is why I stay at LJ even though I'm on the verge of stroking out over what I consider unethical business practices, and why IJ isn't home yet.

Warning, all of these stories have explicit descriptions of male/male sex. If that's not your cup of tea, move on. The stories:

ETA: I keep adding fic. I suppose that's the whole point of this post.

Authors: shaenie and traveller
Fandom: RPS LoTRIPS
Title: _unsound
This story is a WIP and will most likely not be finished. The writers have moved on to other and better things, but it's unique in two ways. First of all, a seamless interplay of plot and character, only achieved in the most sophisticated of writing. Second, it's tagteam written and the style doesn't waver. I know who wrote whom, but it doesn't crack or betray that. The voice is the same throughout, but not. If that makes sense. So read it, even if you're not into WIPS or RPS. It's that good.

Author: firesignwriter
Fandom: POTC
Title: Moonverse
My first real fandom was pirates. KJ has moved on to life without LJ, and I salute her. She's one talented mfker of a writer and I'd like to see her parlay that into something more lucrative. This is a wonderful, thoughtful piece that explores the dynamic between Jack Sparrow and James Norrington like no other writer I know. Break out your handkerchief, the ending is a killer.

Author: cesperanza
Fandom: due South
Title: Eight Sessions
This writer is famous in fandom for her stellar writing. In fact, it was difficult to choose a specific story (check out Scrabble in due South fandom and, of course, her recent Written by the Victors in SGA). For me, this story rounded up into a neat package what I love about due South. Two lonely, broken people finally reaching out to each other. The amount of love the characters have for each other in this story moves me to tears every time I read it.

Author: traveller
Fandom: RPS LoTRIPS
Title: King of New Orleans
No surprise that this author is listed twice. I was one of the people clapping my hands raw when this came out. It is *perfectly* executed, combined with a truly unique and brilliant concept. This isn't a single thing this author has written that hasn't had wowed me, but in this piece, all of her genius sits majestically in one place. I don't care if you don't like RPS. Read this.

Author: rinsbane
Fandom: SGA
Title: Unto Jerusalem
I'm just dipping my toes into the SGA waters and now I'm thinking, hell, it's been written, what's left for you to say? This is magnificent.

Author: rispacooper
Fandom: Original
Title: Ideas of Sin
Originally I'm sure that rispa thought I was some sort of depraved stalker. Um, she still might think that. This is original fiction that is the smartest read ever. You don't plow through this. It is nuanced and subtle, and the writing so intelligent that I nagged her incessantly to finish it and couldn't have cared less if she thought I was some looney-tune. It is now done and was worth every single nail-biting minute. It is beautifully written and has French pirates! What's not to love?

Author: byblythe
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Corridors of Power
This is so smart. SO SMART. Clever. Great writing. She's written many wonderful pieces, but this is my personal favorite.

Author: resonant8
Fandom: Breakfast Club
Title: Higher Education
Truth, I hated the movie The Breakfast Club. Just a simple movie pandering to its teenage audience saying, Hey, we're all misfits. Like that's a unique perspective. But this fic. Sigh. When people ask me about voice. This is where I tell them to go. The voice in this is perfect. Perfect.

Author: helenish
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: Soft Spot for Lost Causes
This was a difficult choice because I also love her Third Time's a Charm, but then anything with Remus in it immediately has a built in ah factor about it for me (which probably has a lot to do with David Thwelis, but I'm not alone in this). So I'm choosing this story because I think Ron Weasley is a hard sell, and this story made me love Ron Weasley.

Author: Calligraphy
Fandom: Harry Potter
Title: So Lonely Without Me
My favorite Snarry. The writer who made me sit up and notice Severus Snape, and what a marvelous character he was. He is a fanfiction writer's dream character.

The above are why I am at LJ and why I stay at LJ even though they piss the hell out of me.