[ SECRET POST #5562 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5562 ⌋

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


01.



__________________________________________________



02.



__________________________________________________



03.



__________________________________________________



04.



__________________________________________________



05.



__________________________________________________



06.



__________________________________________________



07.

















Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 01 pages, 24 secrets from Secret Submission Post #797.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - 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

Fanfic reader etiquette?

[(Anonymous)]

So I joined tumblr to write for a new fandom halfway through last year and I made friends with a fellow fic writer in the fandom. At first it was fun. We exchanged fic recs and talked about ships we liked and didn't like.
But I began to notice some off-putting comments from this friend. They were really critical of everything, even fics they liked. "I like this writer but they [XYZ] too much" "[Ship 1] is a shitty ship but it's popular so that's why so many fics are written with [Ship 1] when we know that most of those fic writers don't even care about [Ship 1]" "So many awful writers get all the likes and followers"

At first, I brushed them off as a difference of tastes and ways we choose to participate/enjoy the fandom. But then it got uncomfortable when I thought that we would use our conversations to talk about writing and it sort of turned into therapy sessions where whenever I showed any insecurity with my writings, it would turn into hours long conversations validating their feelings because their fics weren't doing huge numbers and it's discouraging to the point that they want to quit writing. And then on the flip side, if I were to tell my friend about my successes ("whoa! I got 5 new followers in one week!"), they'd go silent for days/a couple weeks and then return and be all, "Hey! I've been busy!" and address everything but my fic milestones.

So whatever, I know not to go to this friend seeking validation for my successes and insecurities as a writer. I can still gush with them on fics I enjoy. Ask them how their writing is coming along.

And then a few of their fics take off and get the huge numbers they've always wanted. And my friend came to me telling me that so many good writers aren't as good as they used to be, often repeating the same stories over and over, choosing to write for the same pairs over and over. My friend wants to send messages to writers they like to give them some critical feedback but it seems like many writers aren't very good a receiving critical feedback.
It came off really smug and condescending. Like, my friend is on their way to becoming a BNF so they have a voice of authority in the fandom to "give advice" to other writers, as if my friend is "above" other writers in the fandom. I felt like they had this attitude of, "Here I am, always wanting to improve myself and look at all of these OTHER writers, who don't want to improve like me! Must I be the one to tell everyone else where they need to improve?"

And....I'm very much the "don't like, don't engage/back button exists" type of person. Why does it bother someone how other people approach their interests and hobbies? Like, if you keep getting annoyed at a writer's stories/style, maybe stop reading their fics then? I don't know what to tell my friend.

Re: Fanfic reader etiquette?

[(Anonymous)]

I'm sure someone else will answer in more depth; I'm low on energy today. But to put it bluntly, this person sounds like bad news. They sound too arrogant and self-involved (and also insecure) to be a good friend to anyone, and personally I would limit association with them. For one because this sort of person is just too high maintenance, and all-take-no-give. And for two, because they absolutely will become embroiled in drama at some point, largely by their own doing, and you really don't want to get dragged into that.

To be completely honest, I'm all for indulging in a bit of private criticism and even mild snark sometimes, with a fandom friend we're close to. My inner judgmental gremlin is like a dog; it needs to be taken for safe, controlled walkies every now and again so it doesn't go stir crazy and act up. But I think there is a line between being a little judgey occasionally in private, and being wildly arrogant and judgey all the time about everyone behind their backs.

Re: Fanfic reader etiquette?

[(Anonymous)]

I’m another anon who’s too low-energy, and not as well-spoken as you anyway, so I’m seconding this.

Re: Fanfic reader etiquette?

[(Anonymous)]

I didn't think there was anything terribly harsh about the things you listed at the beginning, but if their goal is to go up to people to tell them they're a terrible writer and only get attention because they write for shit pairings or something, then that's not good. Of course, I would assume they would have more class than that and keep the criticism limited to fair things like issues with story structure, characterization, etc. Of course, I don't know your friend.

When I see stuff like this, I'm kind of torn. On the one hand, everyone is just having fun, WGAF. On the other, when you throw something out there, you run the risk of receiving a comment you don't like.

But I will say that if your friend is on some crusade to improve the fanfic writing world...... good luck to them, lmao. It's not going to end well. They have no more authority than any other fic writer.