[ SECRET POST #4851 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #4851 ⌋

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

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09. https://i.imgur.com/lFBu3wn.png
[link for NSFW, kinda? stock photo?]


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13.
[The Witcher]


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14. [SPOILERS for Hawaii 5-0 (finale)]



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15. [SPOILERS for Good Girls]



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16. [SPOILERS for Tsioque]



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17. [WARNING for discussion of rape]














Notes:

Lots because I counted wrong earlier.

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 00 secrets from Secret Submission Post #694.
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

[fscom]

04. https://i.imgur.com/mxTJkOu.jpg

[(Anonymous)]

I can relate, OP. 'Selfish' or not, the frustration that comes from people not engaging with your work the way they used to or you'd like them to is only natural.

People talk a big game about writing for the art of it and to get the ideas out there, I find; but at the end of the day, writing exists to be shared and enjoyed, and there's no shame in wanting that, especially not to a high degree.

[(Anonymous)]

As a reader of many, many, many, many, many abandoned fics over the years, I won't try and tell you that you have to finish, but I will tell you that those people in the 15% are dying to see you see it through.

[(Anonymous)]

A few of my all time favorite fics baffle me by having way less comments and kudos than I thought they would. I hope the authors have a lot of fun writting it or they get quality feedback from their friends. I also hope that they don't stop writing due to lack of feedback though I'm also ok with the fics as they are, they're amazing even unfinished. And it's not like I have unorthodox tastes, I like a many very popular fics too.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm feeling this too, the lack of engagement for the stories you enjoy writing the most.

[mishey22]

I know that I've personally been burnt by so many unfinished fics that I don't read a WIP until it's done. That could be part of it.

I've also found that I get a better response for my own writing when I post it all at once and don't spread it out. (I always only post when I'm done).

I don't know if that helps or makes you feel better, OP (probably not) but I thought I'd say something in case it did.

Thank you for going to work and doing essential things.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm seconding this. I always choose complete works only because I've had sooooo many WIP never finish. And if it is indeed novel length, there will be a long time before you'll pop up on the radar of people like me.

I hope you do post it in its completion (even if it's not super polished). I once had a writer (way back when I still tried WIP) state she was abandoning the fic and then write out her bullet point plot rough draft for the rest. I really appreciated it then and I bet your readers would appreciate whatever closure you feel comfortable giving them.

[(Anonymous)]

My god, it would be amazing if more authors did this. Even just a paragraph or two summing up where they originally saw the story going/ending would give so much closure.

+1

[(Anonymous)]

I agree to all of the above comments complete!

[(Anonymous)]

Same. If I see that something isn't finished, I won't even touch it.

[silverr]

Though the author's perception that "No one's interested in this" often results in "why bother finishing"?

If the premise is interesting, perhaps consider Subscribing to the fic? That way the author knows that there are potential readers out there, and you get notified if the author actually completes the fic.

[(Anonymous)]

This is also my sentiment - typically I won't invest my time or emotional energy into reading a WIP fic unless I'm familiar with the author's works and know that they have a good record for finishing WIP.

[(Anonymous)]

I hope you stay safe and healthy, OP. I really feel your secret. I haven't posted anything really long, but I do feel a little disheartened when I get a few kudos and no comments after posting something. I do have fun writing my fics, but the lack of response kinda dims my motivation to publish them. At the same time, I think there's always at least one person who will love your fic and look forward to seeing it end. I've run across awesome fics that didn't have many views and was thrilled to see them completed.

[(Anonymous)]

It's the fics that get kudos but no comments that upset me the most. People are reading them - the hits aren't just bots. And those people are going "meh, I'll make the almighty effort to press the kudos button, but I can't be arsed to comment, the fic isn't worth that."

So yeah, mediocre fic writer here. It's depressing.

[(Anonymous)]

That can be the logic. But I think it's also pretty common for people to not comment on fics they really, really love because they feel like they don't know how to leave a comment that's good enough.

+1

[(Anonymous)]

This is a huge issue for me, I can't find words to make comments when I truly adore a fic.

Re: +1

[(Anonymous)]

Then say that maybe? If I got a comment saying "I can't even tell you how much I loved you fic!" I would be happy for weeks!

Re: +1

[silverr]

Seconding this hard. I love even keysmash comments.

[(Anonymous)]

I'll take anything, honest. /desprit for the dopamine hit

[(Anonymous)]

1. Thank you for your service, seriously.
2. I had a stack of books and movies to watch, as well as a novel to write when lockdown began. I've barely made a dent in any of it. At times like these sometimes you just want comfort.

[(Anonymous)]

There are probably reasons this story isn't getting the kind of instant engagement your shorter work has. For eg, as others have said, a lot of people don't want to start a WIP until it's all posted. I also find I'm not always in the right headspace/don't have the time to engage in a long fic, so will put them off until I feel ready to settle into them. So don't be disheartened, OP, you might find this ends up being your most popular work of all, it just might take a while to happen.

[(Anonymous)]

Lots of readers don't read fic until they are finished, and many readers are late/new to fandoms and are reading fics at a much later date (sometimes years later) so I hope you reconsider not finishing.

Me personally, I filter out unfinished stuff on both FF.net and A03 and browse by "complete stories" only.

Its nothing against the authors, I'm sure some of the unfinished fics are amazing and despite me encouraging you to continue above, I don't think authors should feel obligated to finish a fic just to appease the readers. I just prefer to read an entire fic in one sitting. Even if an author said "hey this fic is 100% finished and I'm posting a chapter a day" I would still wait until all the chapters were up.

So keep that in mind. Not everyone reads fic as they are posted.

[(Anonymous)]

I mean first and foremost as a writer /you/ should be enjoying yourself, writing for yourself, and not relying on other peoples encouragements to fuel the fire for your writing. You don't owe it to anyone to post a fic, nor should you base your standards on what other people think. Obviously it's nice to get feedback, it's great for people to see and recognize your hard work, but know that just as you don't owe it to anyone to write, they don't owe it to you to read.... to a point at least.
That being said, I wouldn't hold your chapters back if only because you aren't doing anything but punishing the people who are enjoying and reading your fic. The ones not reading wont care, and those are the people I imagine you want to spite. You can do what you want, but it's really just shitty to not post a finished fic just because you want more people to like it.