Updated: 2009-11-11

I came to fanfiction because I couldn't wait for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. When a new HP novel was set to come out, I'd re-read the entire series up to that point and try to figure out what was about to happen, what clues and hints I'd missed the previous time around and so on. Leading up to DH, I'd blown through all six prior books and was extremely excited to finally see what would happen and how the story would come to an end. I was so worried for Harry, Ron and Hermione that I decided to look around for other people's thoughts on what might happen - something I'd never bothered to do before, since I figured I was as clever and insightful as anyone.

Well, one Google search later and I stumbled upon a podcast called PotterFicWeekly, and they were singing the praises of something called After the End. About ten minutes later, I had enjoyed all I could stand off PotterFicWeekly, but the idea of a stand-alone Harry Potter story, not to mention their gushing treatment of it, stuck in my head. I looked up the story on The Sugar Qill and also found a formatted PDF of the story, and although it was AU from before Order of the Phoenix (it was apparently written in the long gap between Goblet of Fire and OotP), it was so incredibly well-written and wonderfully crafted that I was was instantly hooked. So much so that by the time the real Deathly Hallows came out, I was devouring fan fic after fan fic and had to remind myself to stop reading them and read the actual canon events.

As far as canon and its resolution go, I was initially very pleased and felt that while Rowling certainly pulled a huge deus ex machina in the final book, at least she wrapped things up and it wasn't entirely predictable. After re-reading DH a couple times and thinking about things objectively, I now feel that the sheer number of problems outweighs the good, and if I'm to be honest, the series, taken in total, was a letdown as far as a fantasy or young-adult series, and only marginally acceptable as far as a morality tale. The possibilities for this magical world were left not only untapped, but hamstrung by Rowlings treatment of it, and the parting shot to ensure no one attempts to credibly correct things post-DH was the Epilogue, in which Rowling makes damn sure her white-washed but not explained, cookie-cutter vision of the future of Harry's magical world is set in canon stone.

My fanfiction preferences are fairly narrow in light of the expanse of eye-gouging possibilities on this site, meaning that I prefer Harry to be straight and not to be raised by Snape. I prefer Dumbledore to be competent and not outwitted by children. I prefer Harry gaining knowledge the old-fashioned way - by degrees, and through diligence and practice, not finding a dusty old dark magic tome in Flourish & Blott's or his suddenly-pureblood mother's grimoire that dates back to her ancestor, Salzar Slytherin. I prefer Harry not suddenly be the master prankster who dodges every prank thrown his way, and I definitely prefer Harry not have a soul bond, although this has been done surprisingly well a very, very few times.

A really good Harry Potter story has elements of mystery and comedy in it, but takes itself seriously enough that there aren't author's notes in the middle of the chapter, especially not fangirl shoutouts like "Squee!" or "Yum!" A good story will have good sentence structure and will keep the same tense, for fuck's sake. Good stories tend to have good spelling and grammar, and while even the best beta readers can overlook something here or there, if it's a pattern, it ruins the story. Good Harry Potter stories keep magic as the main focus, because if I want to read about guns and sword fights, I can go any number of other places and get that. Hagrid said, "Yer a wizard, Harry," but I don't recall that being followed up with, "but yeh'll be needin' this katana 's'well, 'n' mebee a couple o' these throwin' stars. Come tah think of it, I migh' shouldn'a' bent tha' rifle up. Ah, 's'no matter, there's a magical armory down Diagon where we kin git all yer weapons innyway." No guns, no kung fu, no sword fights. Just no.

Some of the best in fanfiction can be found recommended on the forums at DarkLordPotter. Generally, when I run across a story, in particular a completed story, I check to see if it's been reviewed there before I bother starting on it. There's not much worse than becoming invested in a story and four chapters in it turns to shit or slash. Why risk it when you might avoid wasting that time find out beforehand that the story starts out great and dies, or maybe that it starts out rough but makes up for it a couple chapters in?

Anyway, some of my favorite stories are listed below, as well as a few of my favorite authors. This is nowhere near a complete or even an up-to-date list, as I often hesitate to delete stories and am slow to add authors to my favorites. In general, I've decided that from now on, unless a story is finished, it had better be damned good before I place it in my favorites. Examples of WIP stories that are more than good are:

On the Way to Greatness by mira mirth: If there is a better Slytherin!Harry story, I've never seen it. Essentially, everything up until Harry's Sorting is the same, but the Hat puts him in Slytherin. Magnificent.

Forging the Sword by Myst Shadow: Excellent characterization of the Trio, and the writing is top-notch. Update rate is atrocious, but the story is wonderful.

VULTUS SERPENTIS by nos tres reges: Sequel to VINCET, and one of the best rewrite stories going, with a smart Harry who's a lot more like Tom Riddle than anyone is comfortable with. Again, beautiful writing, and great story-telling.

Ambient by Caliburn: Story began over on DLP and is now here. Very noir and different than most any fic around, and the characters used aren't the usual suspects either. Good stuff.

A Mother In Law's Love by Perspicacity: Another DLP regular and believe me when I tell you your WTF senses will be tingling, but it's a serious thrill ride and great story. Now if he'd only finish the next chapter...

That's about it. Will add more when the need or urge arises.

Updated: 2011-07-25

So, I've finally gotten 'round to updating this. I've now posted or published two HP one-shots at DLP and, subseuently, here and at PatronusCharm. The first, Moksha, was my belated Christmas present to DLP, and received much good and some quite scathing criticism at DLP. I'm pretty pleased with how it turned out, and feel it served its purpose very well.

The second story, Geminio, was submitted to the May contest at DLP, and I was very humbled and honored to learn it garnered first place, narrowly beating out a superb entry by Voice of the Nephilim. I'm a little unnerved to say how proud I was upon learning my story had won.

Now, I'm working (admittedly, sporadically) on a multi-chapter story, and struggling to avoid trying to cram every one of my ideas into that one story. I have a lot of ideas and if I'm honest, I doubt I'll be able to complete more than one extended story. So, I want to include everything, which is not only making the process take too damned long, it's also likely to make it just plain suck.

Ah well.

Anyway, check out my list of Favorite Stories and Authors, and if you read one of my stories, leave me a review. Good, bad, whatever, just let me know what you think. If you liked it, tell me. If you hated it, let me know. If you thought it was "meh," I'd like to hear that too.

Or don't. I don't leave a lot of reviews either, and if that means some writer doesn't update, because he/she didn't get reviews, well - fuck them.