If you want to read high quality original fiction, why not look for novels?

Not being sarcastic or mean here, just genuinely curious. I know there's a handful of stories posted as webfiction that are of similar quality to published works (Mother of Learning is my favorite so far, and a lot of people like Worm), but what about online original fiction makes you want to seek it out instead of books?

 

CheddarTrek grabbed a quick slice of pizza from the corner stand and ambled down Potter Alley towards the DLP library, eating as she went. Hopefully the new Original Fiction annex would have something decent to read today.

"Sup Ched?" asked Republic as she walked through the gigantic double doors.

"Not much. Anything decent today?" They fell into step as they walked towards the stairs.

"Read that Avatar fic yet?"

"The one with Aang and Azula and the kid? Yeah. Not bad. Was hoping for original fiction though, and don't say Worm. Everyone always suggests Worm."

Republic shrugged and didn't say anything. They split up at the top of the stairs, Republic going to sort through the new incoming fics in search of quality and CheddarTrek to the Dewey Decimal Search Engine. She picked up a portable fic searcher and plopped down at a table by Taure, who was reading one of the few existing books on Occlumency and drinking tea.

"Right then," CheddarTrek whispered to herself. "Let's find some shit to read."

 

I think so, but that might be the sort of thing more should weigh in on. The way I read it, a large part of the story is actually his character growth. Not just in terms of power, but in his ability to socialize and connect to the people around him.

One example, which shouldn't spoiler too much, is the reason his sister is jumping on him to wake him up. It takes him a few restarts to stumble onto the fact that she's not just being bratty that morning, and afterwards he views his sister completely differently.

So yeah, I think that part gets better. But at the same time I was never put off by his characterization. Yes, he's an unlikable asshole, but I don't always mind that in a fictional character.

 

I'm gonna kick your ass, Rep.

 

Hell, I don't know how to answer this. I guess the best way to give a general idea is to say that this guy is not powerful in the traditional sense of the word. His magical reserves/power/whatever are below average, but they grow with practice, and he's been stuck in a time loop for while. What it does mean is that he has to be smart about things, or at least try to be.

There's another time traveler who has a shit ton of raw power, but he goes at things headfirst and while he's a badass that tends to end with him bashing his head against the wall. I think our character is probably more interesting than that one would be, and manages to figure out a few things the other character couldn't.

His motivations are pretty clear cut. For the most part it amounts to "What the fuck is going on?" He approaches this in a believable manner, worrying about himself first. "What is happening to me?" But answers aren't easy to find, and before you realize it he's bumping into the bigger picture as well. And you from early on that the 'big picture' is a big deal, and he wants to help with it somehow.

But does any of that answer your question about how interesting the character is? I have no idea. He's not the most interesting character I've ever encountered in fiction, but I didn't find him boring either. He's fairly standard in the interesting department, like the majority of protagonists in the majority of stories. And let's be honest, he's not that big of an asshole that it's such a major character flaw he needs massive props elsewhere to make up for it.

In other words I don't know. But if you read through to the first or second time loop and weren't into it, you probably aren't going to get into it. He hooked me on the first loop back, but that's partly b/c I just so happen to like Groundhog Day stories in general.