[ SECRET POST #5373 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5373 ⌋

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


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 21 secrets from Secret Submission Post #769.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 1 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

01. https://i.imgur.com/MnwZrpU.png

[(Anonymous)]

Maybe you need to scope out what kind of fic people like to seek for your pairing (like specific AUs, Angst, etc).

[(Anonymous)]

I kinda wish I could but if I'm not inspired organically I just can't force it :(

[(Anonymous)]

It might not have anything to do with the quality of your writing, just that whatever you're writing isn't vibing with your fandom. I know that when I write a gen fic for my current fandom, it's gonna get way less views than if I write a ship fic starring the most popular pairing. It's just how it is.

[(Anonymous)]

Fair point!

[(Anonymous)]

Some people aren't looking for well-written as much as they're looking for that shot of dopamine they get from reading their favorite tropes and kinks.

[(Anonymous)]

Yeah... and I don't know what those are, in general, but I feel like mine should hit SOME of those notes. I do have some readers who really like my stuff. Just not as many as expected, nowadays :(

[(Anonymous)]

That sucks, OP. That is a cute backgound picture though.

[(Anonymous)]

It is! I actually didn't make the secret so can't take credit for it, though.

[(Anonymous)]

Eh, might not have anything to do with your skill level. Different stuff hits people differently.

[(Anonymous)]

I hope that's all it is!

[(Anonymous)]

From a writer's perspective, being a better 'technical' writer does not necessarily mean people will like your stuff more.

People can and will often over look less technically perfect writing if it's more engaging/funny/etc and especially if the plot line is something they're more interested in.

Unless you're writing the same plot, same pairing, same everything, I wouldn't try and compare your story's success (or lack thereof) with your friends'.

[(Anonymous)]

Same pairing, very different writing style and plot. You're right, I know I shouldn't compare -- yet the only time I don't is when I don't even LOOK.

[(Anonymous)]

(Cozy Werewolf Anon)

There's nothing wrong with you. It's a natural instinct to compare likes, hits, and kudos, especially in this social media age. We, as people, can be naturally competitive. The place where I, personally, draw the line is making it public. Like, I had an ex-friend who constantly made things a competition between us and it got very tiring. Especially if you're doing a hobby to have fun together.

If possible, ignore their stats or turn yours off. If you can, re-frame it in your head no matter the hits or likes or kudos you both get, it is good you are both being read! You have an audience. Yay! While there are general trends in fandoms, you never know what is going to resonate with readers. You could start a new trend! People come back and read your story, so someone wants it, it's making someone's day better outside of you. Focus on what you enjoy on writing for that pairing and why you wrote that story. It was for you and sharing it with others is a gift. What makes you happy to write next about that pairing? What trope is inspiring you?

Then write it. Post it. Get more readers! New ones who will read your old fic. Old ones who will read your new fic because you wrote it.

It's less about competition and more about a community who all feel something was lacking from the canon, just a little different from each other, and so are writing it. And there are bigger and smaller groups who are writing things to fulfill those different needs. You are writing to one need. And they're writing to another. And that's okay. You're doing it right. Now, write. Have fun! Celebrate each other's successes. You wrote a story and posted it. That's a big deal right there. Go you! And go them!

[(Anonymous)]

Oh man, if I had a friend who did that, they'd become an ex-friend in a hurry. I feel like back in LJ's heyday, I was part of a smaller community that felt less competitive, and we all supported each other more. I wanted comments on my fic, obviously, but there were no hits and kudos to compare. I don't remember ever feeling down on my writing, because I always had friends who would say nice things about it -- and I would read theirs and do the same. Now it's hard for me to even read someone else's fic because it makes me feel worse about my own, for no good reason. I wonder why some people choose to read my friend's fic instead of mine, and have even complained that "no one writes this pairing anymore." Um, hello? So, better if I just avoid them and focus on my own writing.

Thank you for the kind words, CWA :) I know you're right. I've always said that I write for me, first and foremost, and if other people like it, it's a bonus. I just don't always remember that. I wish I could also remember that people liking other fics takes nothing away from mine. Just doesn't feel that way sometimes!

[(Anonymous)]

It could be that she's just hitting the tropes people love most. It could be that her characterizations are more in line with the popular fandom headcanons. It could be that the sensibilities of her writing jive with what people want to read more than yours do.

I've read plenty of well written fics that I don't enjoy because the author takes a different angle on the characterizations than what I prefer. The author's characterizations aren't necessarily any more OOC than my preferred ones. Their characterizations could even be TOO in character for my liking, that does happen.

Or sometimes I don't enjoy a well-written fic because the author is a little too faithful to reality for my liking. I want a certain degree of fantasy/wish-fulfillment in my fiction. I'm not interested in reading awkward sex scenes or mediocre sex scenes, or highly realistic kink negotiation. Even the way conflict is written between my OTP can really put me off. I don't want to read them being contemptuous and ungenerous with each other, even though fights often involve a certain degree of that IRL. The way trauma-recovery and mental health issues are written can also get a little too realistic for my liking. I don't generally turn to fanfic for extremely realistic depictions of those things. A certain degree of realism is great, but beyond a certain point it can get to be both depressing and a little boring.

Those are all reasons why technically well written fics sometimes put me off, even if I don't actually have anything to objectively criticize about the fic.

And then of course if you're writing the sexual and/or power dynamic between the primary ship in a way that differs from what's most popular with the fandom, that's definitely going to result in less popularity. *shrugs*

[(Anonymous)]

TOO in character? That's interesting. Makes sense if you're looking for more fantasy/escapism. I try to keep things realistic but at the same time, don't always take everything uberseriously. There definitely ARE fantasy elements in most pairings in fic, that I've seen, and I wouldn't want to read things that are too realistic, either. How much of canon is realistic anyways? We don't WANT to see mirrors of our own boring/sad/pathetic/whatever lives.

I LOVE to write awkward scenes, though -- those are my favorite. Sexual ones or otherwise. So, you might not like my stuff, either ;)

[(Anonymous)]

I totally understand this. I was a very good writer but my fandoms always preferred to read other writers’ works. Sometimes we told basically the same story and mine was always the less popular. But for the ones who loved how I wrote? They still ask if I think I may start writing again even though it’s been over ten years. I do think how we tell a story is more important to readers than writing it correctly.

[(Anonymous)]

Aww so does that inspire you to write for that fandom again? That's great that your stories have resonated with them so much that they ask for more. I hope it still gives you warm fuzzies, even if you're not very into that fandom anymore.

I've found that when someone encourages me and inspires me while my muse is taking a little break, that person has vanished by the time I actually get a new story to the point where I can start posting it (perhaps several months later, but not like YEARS later). It's happened multiple times and I just find it so bizarre.

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you, Secret Maker! Cute pic :)

[(Anonymous)]

repeat after me; Thank you jealousy for remanding me that I have needs and goals of my own.

[(Anonymous)]

Envy

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you jealousy for... making me an ugly, selfish, green-eyed monster...

[(Anonymous)]

Storytelling is as much of a skill as the technical side of things. So no, you're not the better writer. Ugh.

[(Anonymous)]

Oh jeez, I don't ever look at other people's stats. That way lies misery. I'm only interested in bettering my own writing with each story I write. Just focus on your own writing, OP! Each story should make you happy. As long as it does, you will have an increasing library of stories that thrill you to go back and read. And I promise you, if your stories satisfy you, there are folks out there they will delight as well.

Love your secret image. :))