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

[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!