fandomsecrets | [ SECRET POST #2749 ]

[ SECRET POST #2749 ]

⌈ Secret Post #2749 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 073 secrets from Secret Submission Post #393.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 1 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

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Repeat after me: People are not obligated to leave reviews, and that's okay.

Nobody's ever obligated to appreciate it when other people do nice things for them, but it's polite to do so.

There's the rub. Unless it's specifically a gift fanfic, the writer is not writing for the reader.

Not specifically, but the reader benefits, no? None of my favorite authors have ever written a book specifically for me, but they still did a nice thing that I appreciate them doing.

So do you write fanmail to all of them?

When I can find actual contact info, yes, I do. Otherwise, I'll support them by buying their books, recommending them to others and with positive reviews that other readers see even if the authors themselves don't. And you know what? I do this even though 1) all of those things take more effort than leaving a review on AO3 or FFnet or any number of online archives with built-in reviews that go directly to the author and 2) there's only a slim chance that the author will ever read my message.

But for fanfiction, where there is no product to buy? I leave a review. The reasons why I do so are exactly the same: Because I like their work and want to encourage them to write more. I also know that with fanfiction, my message is far more likely to reach the author, and there's a good chance the fanfic author is even more appreciative that I took the time to do this. So why wouldn't I review? Seems silly not to.

But most writers don't appreciate the feeling of writing into an empty void. If I felt like people didn't think about my writing beyond the time it took them to read it, I'd feel like I was doing something wrong and/or wasting my time.

If you aren't writing for yourself, what are you writing for? In most cases, people aren't asking for your fic, and they're not obligated to give you something in return for posting it.

It's only a waste of time if you don't get a reward for it that you feel is worth it. Many writers think the writing itself is its own reward. If your reward is feedback and only feedback, why do you keep doing it? (Honest question.)

My question would be, if your reward is feedback and only feedback, then why don't you write for popular pairings/fandoms where you would get more attention?

I can't tell you how many times I've seen someone complaining because one of their fics didn't get a lot of attention, when it's 100% clear from the fandom/pairing/subject matter why they aren't getting a lot of feedback...

da

I don't think it's an either/or situation. I enjoy writing. I write things for myself that I don't show to anyone, but I also write things I post because I enjoy sharing them with others and knowing that there are other people out there who like what I like. They're not obligated to give me anything in return, but you know, it's really, really nice when they do. I'm far more likely to write more and share more, so both me and the people who read my stuff have the mutual pleasure of sharing that story. It's a win-win situation!

If I didn't get any positive feedback, then yes, I might still write it for myself but I wouldn't share it if I thought nobody wanted it. So I still get the pleasure of writing it, but anyone who might've enjoyed reading doesn't. So why not review? I take the same approach as a reader. It's in my own interests to encourage the writers I like. I would never dream of telling writers they should write and be content with no feedback because the act should be rewarding in itself.

This is really reasonable imo.

re: your last line: doesn't that vary according to the writer?

I'm just a bit annoyed at people acting like they're entitled to feedback. It's almost as annoying as readers acting like they're entitled to writers writing a specific pairing or something just for them.

I'm not sure what your question is. I don't think I'd say that to any writer, no. If they were horrible and holding chapters hostage for reviews, then I'd point out that this is a stupid, douchey thing to do, but it's still 100% their choice to keep writing. Nobody has to write anyone anything out of sheer love of writing. That to me seems as entitled as demanding reviews.

I just meant that different writers write for different reasons.

I wasn't trying to imply that someone *had* to write out of love for writing, I was just kind of confused as to why it seems some people put so much effort into writing when they're constantly disappointed by lack of feedback and not getting satisfaction any other way.

(no subject)

(Anonymous) - 2014-07-14 21:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

diet_poison - 2014-07-15 16:47 (UTC) - Expand

I'd understand this if everyone felt the same way about commenting, but they don't. So it's not a void so much as 'not as many comments as I want'.

AYRT

As the other anon said - unless it's a gift fic specifically for the person in question it's not actually for the reader. So that argument doesn't really hold up too well.

people do nice things for them

That's your opinion on fanfic, I guess. I think of it the other way around--we're nice for reading it, and we're super nice to review it. Most people are not super nice.

da

I find that to be a pretty... self-centered view. While authors certainly like hits and feedback, you are not doing them a favor. They are the ones providing you with free entertainment. Maybe if they asked you to read a fic for feedback, you'd be doing them a favor, but if you found their fic for a fandom you like and are reading it for fun, you are NOT doing THEM a favor.

I'm not saying you have to leave reviews. But I agree with ayrt - it is polite, even if you're just going to say "Thanks for writing."

DA

Eh, idk if it's polite since they didn't exactly write it for you. I mean, was it nice of them to post it? Sure - but not to the extent that you're rude if you don't comment.

DA

Well... if someone holds open a door for someone else and you also go through that door and benefit by having it open, do you say thank you? I would, even if it wasn't originally being held open for me.

Posting fic on the internet /= real life courtesies such as holding doors open.

Most people don't, and honestly there's nothing saying you should or that you're being rude if you don't.

Oh. I always say thank you to people holding open the door for me. I didn't realize others thought it was okay not to because it seems... well actually it does seem kinda rude.

(no subject)

(Anonymous) - 2014-07-14 08:19 (UTC) - Expand

What if they're not good at expressing themselves or don't know what to say? An automatic 'Thank you' to a stranger holding a door open is a lot easier than expressing your opinions about a work of fiction. Sure, you could just say 'thanks for writing' but if you feel uncomfortable with commenting in the first place you're probably going to worry that that's not enough. I don't like the idea that the only reason people don't comment is because they're lazy or rude.

If you didn't want to read it, and you read it out of a sense of obligation, that would be nice. If you read fanfic because you want to read it, then you're not being nice - you're doing what you want to do. Leaving a review is nice.

What if they're not nice? What if the author is mediocre in every way? Are we supposed to say that? Of course not. If you're not getting reviews (i.e., the reviews you want), maybe that's why: you're boring but innocuous.

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