[ SECRET POST #2763 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2763 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 060 secrets from Secret Submission Post #394.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[sarillia]

Why is sheer enjoyment for the writing process itself the only valid reason to write? That's the impression I'm getting from this thread. I mean, it's why I write, but I don't think my way is the only way.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't think it is. I mean, I do write because it's fun, but mostly I do it because I want to make people happy.

[(Anonymous)]

I get it as a reason, but if it's the only reason it's a little alarming.

[dreemyweird]

This. I think doing something you don't enjoy for the sake of feedback/making others happy is a really bad practice, emotions-wise.

And also the writing tends to be crappy, so.

[sarillia]

Sometimes you do things because you enjoy the results rather than the process. I like to knit and crochet but I'm not particularly fond of the actual process. I just love being able to use the stuff I make and honestly I like the comments I get on my work. I could see someone coming at writing with the same attitude.

[(Anonymous)]

writing for me is frustrating and draining and kudos/comments are a really big deal. is that just uncool to admit?

In my fandoms - yes. It is not just uncool to admit it, it's taboo. Expect to get dogpiled if you express such a shallow motivation.

You're supposed to write for ~pure artistic reasons~ and wanting someone to show appreciation just pollutes the purity of the fandom.

Or some such shit.

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe people who don't get "enough" attention for writing feel pissed that somebody else requires it to write. I like writing original work for myself and my own enjoyment, but I write fic because I like to make contributions to the liveliness of my fandom.

[(Anonymous)]

I think it's mainly because if you only write for attention, you're going to have a bad time of it.

Anyone who does anything creative should know there are going to be times when you don't get a lot of attention or people may not be liking what you're doing. You have to have the will to go on anyway or else you probably shouldn't be writing.

This goes times infinity if you want to be any level of professional (I know a lot of people do fanfic for fun, but I've met equal amounts of people who would love to write their own series) because you typically won't be able to show your work to the public when it's finished. And if you don't have a kind editor or working team, you may never get any real kudos until that time.

There's nothing wrong with liking feedback, but OP wasn't even saying any feedback is good, they're looking for a specific number which just struck me as odd personally.

[(Anonymous)]

Sorry, when it's finished = until it's finished

[sarillia]

People keep justifying it as feeling like people who want attention aren't doing themselves any favors, which is fair enough (I'm not sure I agree but I can see the argument), but that doesn't explain the anger directed at them.

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT. I wasn't taking it all as anger though? One anon admitted to joking. I wrote a comment above where I wasn't angry, more curious as to why OP felt the need to do things that way.

[diet_poison]

I could understand being angry if someone enthusiastically posted part of a WIP with promises for updates, and then was like "nah just kidding pay me in reviews/kudos first"

[(Anonymous)]

+1

[(Anonymous)]

I think a lot of people find the wording of the secret very cynical, which is why they're replying so strongly.

[(Anonymous)]

But why are other people the main determining factor to how much fun it is? I draw a lot of fanart, the attention is certainly nice and can put me in a good mood, but it has no basis on which piece I had the most fun painting and which piece I like the most (in fact, a lot of my more popular pieces are things I like the least.)

Attention also comes with a lot of annoyances, so it can be nice to get away from people sometimes and just create.

I think people are just worried if OP only creates for attention. Like I said it can end up being bad for you if that's your one motivating factor.

[(Anonymous)]

Anyone who does anything creative should know there are going to be times when you don't get a lot of attention or people may not be liking what you're doing. You have to have the will to go on anyway or else you probably shouldn't be writing.

No. You don't get to dictate who should or should not be writing. That's something writers decide for themselves. If someone wants to stop writing because they're not getting any feedback for it? That's their decision, not yours. You don't "have to have the will to go on", because this isn't some clichéd sports movie where everyone has to keep trying until they drop.

Repeat after me: Writers can write if they want to. Writers can stop if they want to.

[(Anonymous)]

Repeat after me: Writers can write if they want to. Writers can stop if they want to.

LOL, that's a difficult concept for many to grasp, it seems.

[diet_poison]

I think you really misunderstood that sentiment, anon. It's not "you must keep writing because I say so". It's advice: if you want to be successful as a writer - or any kind of artist - you're going to have to deal with time periods where you don't get the attention/feedback you wish you had, and power through them.

Of course you can stop writing whenever you want. For most people, it's just a fun hobby. For some, it's more than that. /shrug

[(Anonymous)]

I'm just going to point to what diet_poison said, because you seem to have misunderstood what I was saying. I have no intention of dictating who writes and who doesn't, I just wanted to warn of some of the problems that can come if your only motivation is attention.

[(Anonymous)]

Agreed. There's a lot of that going on in discussions like this, and it's usually writers who get blasted for wanting encouragement in the form of reviews. People are just weird.

[(Anonymous)]

Motivations/reasons for writing and motivations/reasons for posting are two entirely different things. From reading this through, fandom has huge trouble separating the two.

There are no wrong motivations/reasons for either, even if it is just "I want attention." Stated quotas just feel like emotional blackmail and I know I react badly to emotional blackmail. Internal quotas, that's up to the writer.

But back to my first statement, I'll use myself as an example.

Look, I write for shits and giggles. It helps me work through my emotions and makes me happy. I enjoy writing. Thus, a lot of what I write are romantic comedy type things.

I post because I know that there are people who can be just as depressed, stressed and under pressure as I am, and if my story can make them giggle and feel a little bit better about their day, then that makes me happy. And sometimes, they even tell me this.

So, reviews, kudos, hit counts, favorites or whatever, yeah, surge my ego, but really are icing on a very nice cake.

(This might make a very good GC thread actually.)