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feedback--the antichrist or friend?
May. 12th, 2004 04:28 pmThere have been a few interesting conversations occuring regarding aspects of fandom and fanfiction writing, sparked in part by ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
musesfool and her post on what she finds tacky in fandom.
It got me to thinking about the feedback portion in particular. I'm one of those writers who wants feedback--not just the "great story" (though I will take that willingly), but some constructive ideas of what works and what doesn't--and I realize, to a large extent, almost every writer does want feedback. I have no qualms about asking for it from my readers. I believe that writing is one of those careers or hobbies that requires interaction with your audience. You write for an audience. Yes, it's true. You have to want to write and enjoy the characters/storyline, but when people say things like, "I write for myself" I cringe. If you were writing solely for your own amusement, it wouldn't necessitate posting it on the Internet where others could see it. No, writers post their material to find out if it accomplishes what it set out to do--varying often in nature, but almost always hoping to at least be compelling--and the only one who can offer that information is the reader.
That said. It's a tricky balancing act. We all want feedback and I see nothing wrong with asking for it, but on the same hand, I hate needy writers. The needy writer is never satisfied unless their ego is constantly stroked chapter after chapter. They only like positive feedback, tend to constantly question their own works in order to seek out more praise, and often are the type that hold stories hostage to fulfill some sort of weird lacking in their lives. While I willingly accept and ask for feedback, I do not hold it over the head of the audience in general. I do not have demands on the type of feedback I receive--only accepting the positive responses and not taking into consideration anything derogatory--or the quantity that must find its way to my email inbox before I update again. I can't believe the gall of some writers, especially since it appears in most cases to be the bad writers, who make such demands on their readers. While no writer on the web, writes merely for herself, a writer shouldn't be writing to simply expound on what he/she thinks everyone wants.
I find that when I see a story, no matter how good it appears to be, if I see a line like, "If I don't receive at least ten comments on this, I'll stop updating," I stop reading. If the only thing that keeps your chapter going is the reader, maybe it's time not to post it. I know every writer goes through this phase, especially in fanfiction, where you've worked really hard on a piece and then...nothing. No one responds at all for what feels like an eternity and you wonder, "Was it terrible and no one wants to tell me? Has anyone even read it? What the hell is going on?" I've been there plenty of times...but I don't know. Maybe I lack that inherent trait that should tell me to stop posting the remainder of the story, but I do anyway.
It's such a tricky thing to get around. Is there an invisible line in the sand that states when a person has crossed over from the natural I-want-feedback reaction to the crazy feedback-or-else behavior? I wish I knew...but I recognize it when I see it.
**
I signed up for my first Ficathon ever. I usually don't do challenges/ficathons with deadlines because I have enough of those with my regular writing to make and fanfiction for me is more a relaxer. I understand the pull of them. A lot of the times, the challenges are very interesting and good way to force yourself to pull something out of yourself. If I had more time, I might even find myself involved more often, but I don't...so I tend to avoid them.
But I decided to give it a try. One story can't be that bad and the rules give us a month to complete the thing. I can do it and it should be interesting. I've never written in this specific fandom before and I want to give it a try.
**
With that long ramble and meaningless diatribe, I'm off to finish out the remainder of my work day (Twenty minutes! whoop, whoop) and then I get to see Michael Buble in concert in Philly. Gotta love hot boys who soulfully croon to you as their eyes lock on yours.
musesfool and her post on what she finds tacky in fandom.It got me to thinking about the feedback portion in particular. I'm one of those writers who wants feedback--not just the "great story" (though I will take that willingly), but some constructive ideas of what works and what doesn't--and I realize, to a large extent, almost every writer does want feedback. I have no qualms about asking for it from my readers. I believe that writing is one of those careers or hobbies that requires interaction with your audience. You write for an audience. Yes, it's true. You have to want to write and enjoy the characters/storyline, but when people say things like, "I write for myself" I cringe. If you were writing solely for your own amusement, it wouldn't necessitate posting it on the Internet where others could see it. No, writers post their material to find out if it accomplishes what it set out to do--varying often in nature, but almost always hoping to at least be compelling--and the only one who can offer that information is the reader.
That said. It's a tricky balancing act. We all want feedback and I see nothing wrong with asking for it, but on the same hand, I hate needy writers. The needy writer is never satisfied unless their ego is constantly stroked chapter after chapter. They only like positive feedback, tend to constantly question their own works in order to seek out more praise, and often are the type that hold stories hostage to fulfill some sort of weird lacking in their lives. While I willingly accept and ask for feedback, I do not hold it over the head of the audience in general. I do not have demands on the type of feedback I receive--only accepting the positive responses and not taking into consideration anything derogatory--or the quantity that must find its way to my email inbox before I update again. I can't believe the gall of some writers, especially since it appears in most cases to be the bad writers, who make such demands on their readers. While no writer on the web, writes merely for herself, a writer shouldn't be writing to simply expound on what he/she thinks everyone wants.
I find that when I see a story, no matter how good it appears to be, if I see a line like, "If I don't receive at least ten comments on this, I'll stop updating," I stop reading. If the only thing that keeps your chapter going is the reader, maybe it's time not to post it. I know every writer goes through this phase, especially in fanfiction, where you've worked really hard on a piece and then...nothing. No one responds at all for what feels like an eternity and you wonder, "Was it terrible and no one wants to tell me? Has anyone even read it? What the hell is going on?" I've been there plenty of times...but I don't know. Maybe I lack that inherent trait that should tell me to stop posting the remainder of the story, but I do anyway.
It's such a tricky thing to get around. Is there an invisible line in the sand that states when a person has crossed over from the natural I-want-feedback reaction to the crazy feedback-or-else behavior? I wish I knew...but I recognize it when I see it.
**
I signed up for my first Ficathon ever. I usually don't do challenges/ficathons with deadlines because I have enough of those with my regular writing to make and fanfiction for me is more a relaxer. I understand the pull of them. A lot of the times, the challenges are very interesting and good way to force yourself to pull something out of yourself. If I had more time, I might even find myself involved more often, but I don't...so I tend to avoid them.
But I decided to give it a try. One story can't be that bad and the rules give us a month to complete the thing. I can do it and it should be interesting. I've never written in this specific fandom before and I want to give it a try.
**
With that long ramble and meaningless diatribe, I'm off to finish out the remainder of my work day (Twenty minutes! whoop, whoop) and then I get to see Michael Buble in concert in Philly. Gotta love hot boys who soulfully croon to you as their eyes lock on yours.
