Confessions

[apollinav]

I posted the next TGC chapter and bit my fingers (no, not my thumbs, nay I do not bite my thumb at thee, nor do I quarrel Sir). I confess I have some aprehension at this point.

Many reviewers have gleefully referenced that Severus will force her to bear his children.

I thought I made it abundantly clear that he hadn't required her to do so, but only said 'if it comes to pass...' Hence the whole 'Voldemort rising from his scattered ashes and I haven't already killed myself' line. Yet I worry when so many reviewers have come to the conclusion that SS wants to force HG to bear him his children, that I have lead them astray. I worry that I need to go back and re-write to make things painfully obvious. I meant to tantalize, sugggest, foreshadow, yes, but not lead astray. Did I goof, or is this a lack of reading comprehension?

I do wonder what the average reading level of my readers are though. That may explain some of it.

I'm starting to second guess myself as reviews are coming in. Of course I can't say 'No, your theory is wrong because *this* happens.' But I sooo totally want to. It's like having a secret I really really want to spill. Sigh.

I know I should be more confident in my work and just let it be. Or accept that some people will never get subtlety, and other don't appreciate (Gryffindor) bluntness. Or whatever.

In the same vein of 'I suck at naming characters' I named Hermione's bear Pud. My younger brother Darren had a Paddington Bear that he would cutely pronounce as Puddington, or usually just Pud. For me, that was my favorite part of the chapter.

Aside from the vows.

I did my damndest to write the most HORRID and UNROMANTIC Ministry-approved marriage vows. It seemed appropriate for a Marriage Law Fic. It took a moment of WWPD? What-Would-Percy-Do? thinking. It took all the willpower I had within me not to write, "Will you Severus Theodore Snape pledge your steadfast and abiding love to Hermione, uphold the terms of your matrimonial contract, and support the Ministry approved guidelines governing the sacred and holy bond of marriage and cauldron-bottom thickness?”

Comments

[chillit.livejournal.com]

What excites me about your plot is that there is no require conjugal visits..YAY!! No forced weekly sexcapades. I find it far more excited to see the characters develop through the forced marriage plot WITHOUT sex.

I'm anxious to see how you weave the plot, what twists and turns you throw in and if they do finally come together.

Best of luck. Let the story progress like YOU want, not the way others want.

Babies? Forced babies? Hmmm, no..Snape was just covering everything for completeness sake. Blame the lawyer ;) *L*

[kierkegaardwife.livejournal.com]

Well said, and LO-freakin'-L at the "Blame the lawyer."

[kierkegaardwife.livejournal.com]

Unrelated, but your headline reminded me--I was reading St. Augustine's Confessions last night *headdesk* "... and I became drowsy and slept away my madness." I was enjoying reading my notes from the early years of undergrad--I had scribbled in the margin a question to ask my professor, "What do lust and theft have in common?" I wrote down her response, "Neither requires an accomplice." *giggle*

Um... I never got that children would occur. At least in any planned manner, much less according to a carefully calculated super-crafty Slytherin plan. Keep your secret! Nothing is better than suspense--though that last chapter was a bit extreme. Hah. Loved the vows--and her throwing the ring at him.

[eloquentquill.livejournal.com]

Haha, well, I got it. At least I think I did. I gather that some of your readers either sped through it... or just didnt understand it. But I do not think that you should edit your writing to accommodate them. Many of us got it, and so I think it reflects on them if they did not. I love your subtlety and bluntness.

And yes, of course the vows should be horrid and unromantic! I am so excited to read the next chapter! :D

[kierkegaardwife.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I just shook my sleeping cat off my arm so that I could tell you I just finished reading Plan B, and loved it in spite of myself (I usually won't continue past the first paragraph if I click on a story written in first person). I found it to be, not surprisingly, fantastic.

[mollyssister.livejournal.com]

Frequently in MLC stories the forced pregnancy is a theme. I think that is why many of your reviewers are jumping on that idea. I am very interested to see how your story progresses without compulsory sex. YOu are taking the road less traveled. The fangirls will follow never fear!

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

The 'Forced Pregnancy' thing makes me shudder in a bad way. But then, hence the choice of an imprisoned Snape. I don't know, maybe I'm cheating some 14 year old fangirl out there, but I honestly don't believe that children are necessary to make a happy marriage. And having babies makes a bad marriage worse. I'll use whatever plot device I have at my disposal to avoid that line of thinking. Not saying may never figure in this fic, I'm saying the philosophy is wrong.

Yeah, now that I ruminate more on your explaination the more I think you're probably right. They're probably making those mental short-cuts that are part of the MLC programing.

[mollyssister.livejournal.com]

((nods)) The MLC is the most sucessful of any challenge issued in the 'ship. In fact its even bleed into DM/HG and HP/SS. Because its been so popular readers tend to use hive thinking and assume the story will take the same path as the one they read last week. Your story will be embraced by those of us who understand that a baby does not equate to happily ever after. You may end up educating a few 14 year olds along the way. Atta girl!

[alienor77310.livejournal.com]

*waves* Welcome to LJ-land. It so happens I read your fic today. It certainly didn't occur to me there would be babies. But then again, the Hermiones I like to read are not really "nesters"...

Keep up the great work!

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

As much as I'd like to post an insightful reply to your comment, the only thing I'd like to say is, "I LOVE YOUR AVATAR!" (Embarassing!) I watched it how many times?

Something wrong with me I swear.

[alienor77310.livejournal.com]

Nothing wrong with you. That avatar single-handedly dragged me into fandom nearly 4 years ago.

[dressagegrrrl.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't worry about it. :) Like mollyssister said, it can be something of a theme in MLC so people latched onto the idea like an old man with rice pudding. (Mmmm, pudding.)

I'm enjoying your story so far, and I'm looking forward to more.

Welcome to LJ!

**Edited to add: I friended you, btw. Hope you don't mind.

[dressagegrrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh, also the internet is full of people who are NOT critical readers. I frequently sit back and stare at a review and think, "Huh. How could you possibly have come to THAT conclusion based on what I wrote?"

[swerley.livejournal.com]

Glad you've got an account.I've been reading your story and enjoying it very much. I agree that the majority of the readship on FF.net is rather young. Your story (so far) is good enough to be posted on TPP, Ashwinder, etc. I wouldn't worry about the reviews you are getting. Just having your LJ friends reccing it will boost readership.

[droxy.livejournal.com]

Just here to say hi to a fellow SS/HG shipper.

Just so you know, I am a MLC whore.

I really never tire of them.

Fandom has taken me down the art path lately. I'm primarily known for cosplay. I mod grangersnape100 on LJ, that's a 100 word challenge community.

Faved your fic on ffn. I am there as well but haven't written much in ages. I need to do that, but I have costumes to sew and conventions to get ready for!

Here via Mollysister. She's a wonderful big name fan. XD

[mollyssister.livejournal.com]

Oh Droxy you do go on! Hush now you'll make me blush.

A: Droxy is an attractive woman who dresses up like Snape at conventions. Thats her in my icon and the one she used with her post. She is amazing!

[droxy.livejournal.com]

NOT THE CHEESECAKE FOTO! lordy molly....

you are going to scare this woman...

[mollyssister.livejournal.com]

Apollina my dear there was much alcohol involved and certain perfectionist dont like the picture. Just ignore her

[droxy.livejournal.com]

There are pics everywhere...yes it was 2:30 AM. My nose was falling off, and I was muggle!Snape that night. You will do anything to get sleep, including dealing with two drunk fangurls with a camera. GAWD, I still remember the giggling. ROTFL

If appolina really wants to know, she can ping me.

Somewhere in my journal is the flocked fangurl present. Posted after Portus. Much better Snape cheesecake.

[apollinav.livejournal.com]

Actually, I've seen pics of Droxy and heard of her loooong before making it to LJ. Don't ask me where, I killed those braincells many margheritas ago. Her reputation preceeds her.

As for the costuming thing, I don't even bat an eyelash. I may not do costumecons, but I do 16th and 18th Century reenacting which is a whole lot of costuming. (And I horde wool like a mo-fo) I ain't skerd.

[geminiscorp.livejournal.com]

I was pointed toward your fic by mollyssister and miamadwyn and have just fav'd it over at ffnet. I'm a horrible reviewer, but much better lj friend. I'm enjoying your story immensely! Mind if I friend you?