The torment that is the WiP - Discuss

[moonlite_tryst]

That's discuss people, not flame!

As an author who has been a bugger for starting to post chaptered fics and not finishing them this may seem a strange post, but here goes.

Whilst spring cleaning my LJ, I clicked on a link for one of the greatest H/D WiPs ever written IMO. Although labelled as catagorically not abandoned, it has not been updated for almost three and a half years *cries* and who knows if it ever will because the author is now writing in another fandom *cries some more*, which leads me to wonder:

If a WiP has been abandoned for a period of time, e.g. over 2 years or more, and the author was close to the end, should said author post a synopsis regarding how things were going to end for the reader's benefit?

Does an author have any obligation to readers who have followed/are following a WiP, or does the label WiP translate into read at your peril?

Thinky thoughts authors, readers?

Comments

[moonlite-tryst.livejournal.com]

Have you abandoned fics? *scratches head*

RL does have the tendency to stick rather large road blocks, or should that be fic blocks, in the way of our hobby.

Re owing: if - LOL! hell would freeze over first - I wrote a fic that had 10 or more long chapters posted and I knew I was never going to finish it, I'd feel an element of closure if I posted a synopsis and I think the readers who took the time to read, follow me on my character's journey, comment and engage in discussion deserve to know how it would all end.

[calanthe-fics.livejournal.com]

Well, I think it's important for you to do whatever makes you feel the most comfortable &hearts

[moonlite-tryst.livejournal.com]

Although this is all hypothetical because we know I'll never write a multi-chaptered fic, I'm now thinking that just a note on the last chapter to say maybe baby or abandon hope all ye who read here rather than an attempt at a synopsis would be better than nothing.

I vowed I wouldn't read anymore WiPs then got sucked into Captive Prince by Freece and Greg the Vampire by Aggybird. Damn those intriguing summaries.