[ SECRET POST #2309 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2309 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 068 secrets from Secret Submission Post #330.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 1 - broken links ], [ 1 = - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

06. http://i.imgur.com/FStKdLq.jpg

[(Anonymous)]

Checking for interest and demanding reviews is pretty different. I don't usually comment, but if an author posted "I'm not sure if there's any interest, should I keep posting?" I'd reply with a yes if I were reading it. The reason I don't comment is because all I have to say is "I read it and enjoyed it" which sounds too basic to be worth a post, but if any interest is what the author is looking for, I wouldn't mind.

[elaminator]

Checking for interest and demanding reviews is pretty different.

+1

[(Anonymous)]

I don't understand why people never know how to comment on fics beyond "I liked it", it's not that hard. Just quote your favorite lines and say something like "this is really beautifully written" or "I can totally see character X saying that" or "this made me cry", and you already have a unique, nice review that is sure to make the author happy. Of course there's no obligation to comment on fics, that's not what I'm saying. I just don't understand people who say they would comment if they knew what to say when it's really not that hard to comment on a fic if you liked it.

[(Anonymous)]

Wait, so you want feedback and evidence that people like your story but if people ask for updates you get pissed and want to threaten to delete it?

[(Anonymous)]

I thought OP just stops updating? They never said any threats were made, only that they don't update any more because they think nobody is reading anyway.

[inkdust]

I think OP is dividing those people into two groups and saying they're of the former rather than the latter.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't read WiPs. If you ever finished a story that I enjoyed I would comment and say so, but yeah not going there unless it's done.

[(Anonymous)]

I try not to read WiPs either.

[(Anonymous)]

Same here. That used to be a steadfast rule of mine, although I've broken it for a couple of amazing fics. But yeah, for the most part, if it's not done, I'll wait until it is.

[(Anonymous)]

This.

[(Anonymous)]

Ditto. And frankly, holding your story hostage is ridiculous. You should write for yourself and nobody else and be glad if anybody reads your story, not demanding that people must or you'll throw a hissy fit and refuse to finish it.

[queerwolf]

I stopped reading WIPs because of too many abandoned ones, but when I did, it was too hard to comment on every single chapter sometimes beyond "I liked it."

If you just want to make sure people are reading your fic, that's one thing. Demanding/expecting reviews is another. If you want to know, just ask nicely like the first poster suggested.

[silverr]

OP, the last time I got a comment that was a simple "Update!" ... I replied with "I did!" :p

Seriously, though, I generally take the hits as at least a partial indicator of reader interest. If a WIP is old but still getting a stream of hits (especially on chapters other than the first) then I assume it's being re-read, or recced somewhere, and if that's the case I usually try to get into the headspace to finish it.

[(Anonymous)]

JSYK, a lot of people (myself included) wait until WIPs are finished before reading and reviewing.

There are, of course, those I make exceptions to, but I never comment on each and every chapter. Rather, I'd comment only if something really stood out to me. Normally I'd wait for the last chapter before commenting.

JSYK.

[elaminator]

Yea, I find it difficult to think of something interesting to say on each chapter. When I follow WIPs (which I don't like to do either tbh) and DO comment on each chapter I always feel like I'm repeating myself.

OP

[(Anonymous)]

Oh, I know lots of people hold off on WIPs, and I don't blame you at all. My life would have fewer disappointments if I did that, too. But that's not really relevant to the question of phrasing a request for verification of interest/feedback -- people not reading WIPs won't be there to begin with.

[(Anonymous)]

Here's an idea: POST IT ALL AT THE SAME FUCKING TIME

[deadtree]

wow, you sound mad.

[littletown]

Huh, I didn't know some people held off on WIPS. A lot of awesome fic I've read aren't done yet and they were first published years ago.

I try to leave reviews on fics I read but yeah, I get lazy. If I really enjoyed it, I won't hesitate to fave. I think it depends on how the fandom generally behaves too. My fandom is a bit small and there isn't a lot of discussion, so follows/kudos are much more common than reviews.

[scherrymouse]

Your last paragraph doesn't make all that much sense to me, OP, but other than that, I agree with this secret. I find it hard to keep interest in things, and if I'm getting no evidence of interest from readers, my interest tends to wane even more quickly until there doesn't seem to be much point in continuing writing. I'm not particularly concerned with getting X amount of reviews or whatever, I don't hold things hostage, but if there's nothing? I'd just rather go work on something else.

[(Anonymous)]

I thought writing was supposed to be for your enjoyment and not what other people say or want? I must be doing it wrong.

[(Anonymous)]

*eyeroll*

No, you're not doing it wrong. But a lot of people write things at least partially in order to share them, and if it seems like no one is enjoying it, it's just not as much fun. It's not wrong to want to write something other people will like.

I know for me, if I don't think anyone else will enjoy a story that I'm thinking of, I figure I might as well just imagine it in my head instead of putting all that effort into actually writing it down for no one to see.

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, because it's completely ridiculous for people who write fanfiction, mostly porn, in a completely social environment to want feedback.

Wait, I thought I was supposed to suffer in silence and write my Derek/Stiles kink porn and hole up in my cabin in the woods, only becoming famous after I die and people can hypothesize on my mental psyche.

[illiadandoddity]

Okay, I'm just going to repost what I said upthread, because I hate hate HATE the patronizing tone of your comment.

FUCK THAT FUCKING BULLSHIT "WRITE FOR YOURSELF" LINE. There is NOTHING WRONG with wanting, or even needing some feedback for something you put time and effort into. Do you know what "writing for yourself and nobody else" is? Masturbation. It can be fun, it can be enjoyable, and for some people it's all they need, but some of us are content with diddling our own brains. I've written "for myself and nobody else." It was all either crap or something I totally lost interest in. I cannot write a complete story from beginning to end without getting some kind of feedback.

Every single time a writer (and it's only writers who get this, no one scolds artists for wanting feedback) wishes that they could get more reviews/kudos/hits/any other kind of feedback, someone always gives that patronizing, obnoxious "you should write for yourself and nobody else!" line. You know what? I don't write for myself, and I don't want to write for myself. I write for other people, and to do that I need to know that other people are paying attention.

I don't need everyone to review. I certainly don't need everyone to like it, but I need to know that someone at least read it.