[ SECRET POST #5668 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #5668 ⌋

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


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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 00 pages, 00 secrets from Secret Submission Post #811.
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

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

I know a lot of clicks, kudos, comments, etc aren't markers of good content...but I'm really understanding now how difficult of a pill it is to swallow to see mediocre fics get a lot of clout while works by actual good writers barely get that sort of consistency. It also makes me question why my fics aren't getting hits. Am I mediocre in a different (worse) way? 😬
And I don't write for clout but the longer I write and post and see so many random fics in my fandom get all sorts of clout and interaction, I do start to feel jealous (even envious) and start to question if I'm actually a shit writer.

I guess it doesn't help that I see so many writers interacting with their friends, hyping each other up and gushing to each other over their fics...and all I'm reminded of is a bad fallout I had with a friend that partly had to do with fanfic writing.
Like, truly with sincerity, it must be nice to have at least one person be invested in your fics. Someone to write to you asking questions about your fics, characters and writing and be excited when you post a new fic.

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

I've never written fic so I'm sorry I have nothing to contribute on that aspect, but I agree with your overall point. In my main fandom, for my ship, the fics that get all the hype are just...not very good in my opinion, while the ones that are fantastic (IMO) barely get any recognition at all.

For whatever reason, at least half the fics for the ship have the same basic plot (it makes sense given some stuff that happened in canon but I didn't expect *this* many, and I thought there'd at least be some variations, but they're all *so* similar). The most popular fic in the fandom is also, IMO, the worst of the ones with that plot. I don't know if maybe the author is well known in other fandoms and had people follow them to this one or what, but it doesn't make sense to me.

While the fic with the least amount of kudos is one of my favorites, has an actually different, creative plot and is one of the most well-written/in character ones I've read. I don't get it at all.

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT My fandom had similar issues with most pairs I read fics for. A super popular fic that was written meh gained a lot of traction and I saw it recc'd everywhere but I thought it was a little boring and the writing was lacking. Meanwhile a fic with a similar premise has like...a quarter of the kudos and no comments, and that fic is one of my favorites because the story was really engaging and I felt like the writer got the characters' personalities down well, their back and forth much like canon!
And yet, not many people seem to care much for it in my fandom.

I really can't gauge people's tastes I guess

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

That might be part of the answer, if other writers are interacting with their friends they have at least a small, in-built audience for their fic, and of course they'll judge their friend's fics differently and want to be encouraging.

If it helps at all, I've often read fics that I thought were great (well written, interesting plot, ect.) and then wondered why they aren't more popular.

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

SA - Maybe it also helps when there are aready comments on a fic, since people sometimes feel self-conscious being the first? Especially if they don't really know what to say and just want to leave a 'loved the fic' or emojis or something. I don't know, just a thought.

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

AYRT I know some writers get a lot of engagement from their friends, but I suppose I'm jealous that I don't have any friends like that. I don't resent them for their good fortune but from my POV it just reminds me that I'm feeling lonely.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoy writing and it will take a lot to get me to give up writing, but I'm throwing my hands up in frustration right now. Finally admitting to myself that it DOES get lonely and makes me sad that I don't get a lot of engagement. I understand no one owes writers anything and popular fics are like luck of the draw but I just wanted to bitch for a bit lol I don't talk to anyone about my writings so it can feel like negativity manifesting

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

DA I'm sorry for turning this thread into a pity party but I know what you mean, Anon.

I'm also the kind of person who doesn't talk about my writing and my relationship with the hobby is tenuous at best, but I've somehow made friends with people who I think are some of the best writers in the fandom. The thing is I don't get traffic outside of those friends so I've been steeping in negativity wondering if they're just hyping me up because we're on good terms with each other.

It also doesn't help that fandom bs left scars in a lot of people I know, so I'm also scared they'd drop me like a hot potato if I wrote something that might rub salt into those wounds.

I understand they're not obligated to read my stuff if it's not their cup of tea, and this is most definitely just the negativity festering, but the looming isolation is soul crushing

Re: Petty Gripes fandom or non fandom

[(Anonymous)]

That is really annoying, and I'm sorry it makes you cast doubt on your abilities.

If it makes you feel any better, I never look at the kudos or comment numbers. I just ready the summary and the first chapter to see how if I'm going to enjoy it.

I'm also pretty sure the hype machine comes from having the fandom friends. Friend A writes decently (so at minimum,nothing amazing, but enjoyable), writes the types of things people like and takes request in Tumblr (so already has a built in fandom via Tumblr, who will follow off of that site). Friend B and Friend C promote the fic, squee, OMGSOGOOD, add it to their bookmarks, and Friend A returns the favor to Friend B and C when they write. So you've often (not always) have a case of person/people were already active and possibly posting fic on Tumblr, which does reblogs galore, and has fandom friends there/might have a known name there. Add to that other fandom friends who will promote and hype them up, and the fans of A may become fans of B & C. They may have a discord too, to stay on top of engagement.

And of course, there's no accounting for taste. A, B, C might be writing for juggernaut pairings, they might be writing for a smaller pairing the fandom has been thirsting for, they might just be scratching an itch and they got there first so they will be installed as the "classics", and if they keep pumping out fic, well...Add to that people don't always like certain writing styles, some people just want some junk food, some candy.

I hope you find your (at least) one true reader! And don't be discouraged! It's a tale as old as time -- how many amazing and truly talented singers are out there and how many of them end up on the radio or in some sort of limelight? You'll never meet a quarter of all the talented people getting little to no attention.