(no subject)

[coffeebuddha]

Okay, I get title banners on fics. I don't like them all that much because most of the ones I saw when I was forming my opinion on them were huge and obnoxious*, but I get them. But has anyone else noticed the recent influx of people posting fics with random screencaps of the pairing in the header? Why do that? What's the point? Do you think I can't read well enough to figure out the pairing from the text? Do you think I don't know who the characters are?

I honestly don't know why this bugs the crap out of me, but it reallyreallyREALLY does.

*Slight edit for clarification.

Comments

[zilentdreamer.livejournal.com]

An understandable pet peeve, especially if they aren't well done.

[coffeebuddha.livejournal.com]

But there's nothing done to them at all, except for maybe some cropping. It's just like 'Oh, I've written a fic and here's a picture of the two main characters in each other's general vicinity.' =/

[zilentdreamer.livejournal.com]

Sounds counterproductive. What would the point be? If the reader doesn't know who they are, why would they read it at all?

[coffeebuddha.livejournal.com]

Exactly. And if you're posting to a comm for the show and the characters you're writing about are literally in every single episode, then chances are we know who they are.

[devon99.livejournal.com]

You know what's worse? I just saw a Sherlock fic posted to a comm with mention of Irene Alder in the summary. Seriously, ALDER!

[coffeebuddha.livejournal.com]

I...don't understand why that's a problem?

Wait, sorry. Dyslexic moment. >.< I get it now.

[cmali.livejournal.com]

I'm feeling embarrassed. I just posted a fic banner...

[coffeebuddha.livejournal.com]

But actual banners don't bother me that much. I tend to frown at them a little bit when they're really big and obnoxious, but for the most part I think of them as fanart that goes along with the fic. What I'm talking about are plain screencaps that haven't been altered in any way except for being cropped. To me it feels like the author looked at the story and said to themselves, 'Oh, I've written a fic. I'd better include a picture of the two main characters in each other's general vicinity so that the readers will know who they're reading about.' Most of the time the pictures don't even fit the feel of the fic. I saw one the other day that was for a piece of fluff that showed the characters glaring at the camera. I just don't get it.

[cmali.livejournal.com]

Rest assured, dear one, I still love you. Rant on, my genius.

[coffeebuddha.livejournal.com]

&hearts

[yggdrasilian.livejournal.com]

Haha, I really like the banners! =)
Though, I haven't seen any of the ones you're talking about (no alterations or anything). All of the ones I've seen tend to be pretty good...

[yggdrasilian.livejournal.com]

Ooh. I'm mostly in a different fandom, so maybe that's why I haven't seen the same ones you have. ^^

[coffeebuddha.livejournal.com]

It varies for me depending on the actual banner. Some I've seen that I loved, but almost every one I came across when I was first getting back into fanfiction was just...horrible. Pause, tilt head to the side, and wonder what the author was thinking horrible.

Honestly, I don't think it would bother me half so much if it looked like they put any more effort or thought into it than just slapping a random picture up with the header.

Fandom could definitely have something to do with it. I've only seen it in the Criminal Minds fandom so far and it's not a huge thing there. It's just something I've noticed happening more often with more writers over the last few months.

[yggdrasilian.livejournal.com]

Ah, that's why. I haven't seen any for Criminal Minds yet (I haven't been in the fandom much lately because I haven't caught up with all the episodes).

I do know the type you're talking about though! Some are so bad I get 2nd hand embarrassment, lol; I scroll past quickly and move my screen so that it doesn't show. ^^;