An Apology to Sardonicsmiley and Fanfic Writers
I've been thinking a lot about sardonicsmiley , a wonderful fanfic writer who deleted her livejournal last week. I was actually in the middle of reading her last fic when she deleted her whole journal. I got to finish, thankfully, because it would have been tragic, if I hadn't been able to finish the last story in a series, but when I clicked to leave a comment, the journal was gone. I did some Googling to find out the scoop, and read that she had decided she wasn't getting enough feedback and was sick of livejournal. It all happened very fast; I'm sure if she'd waited a little while, she would have had a load of feedback and praise. I have to think that there were other forces in her real life or private relationships that affected her decision, but her action has got me thinking.
I read some rather rude comments about sardonicsmiley's decision to delete her journal - things like, "Well, she shouldn't need feedback. She should be writing for the joy of writing". Well, yes, that would be truly wonderful if all writers wrote for 'the joy of writing' and didn't need money, fame or praise to keep them going. Unfortunately, it is not that easy for most writers. The writers who write because they have to write, write purely for the joy of writing, are the lucky ones. For the others, writing is something that takes a lot of effort, which often goes unrewarded and unappreciated. I think a lot of writers probably need something to keep them going, to make all the work they do mean something.
I am one of the many who don't often leave feedback. I don't write fanfic, but I devour it with an ravenous appetite. It is important to me. I am feeling very guilty right now, thinking about all the wonderful stories I've read and the very few times that I have commented. There are reasons - I'm not really a very chatty person and often just don't know what to say, and also, I often feel that my opinion, the opinion of an untalented, non-writer, will not be very valued or welcomed by a talented fanfic writer. But I realize now that I need to make that extra effort and comment on the fics I love.
More and more it seems that SGA fanfic is declining. Some of my favorite writers are putting out less and less or moving to other fandoms. I can't really see myself moving to another fandom. I love SGA, and, in particular, McKay/Sheppard. I really hate to think about the day when there will be no-one writing that. If there is anything I can do to make my favorite writers feel that they are appreciated and loved, I vow, insardonicsmiley's name, to try to do that. I am sorry that she didn't get what she needed from fandom. I hope she comes back someday and gives us another chance.
I read some rather rude comments about sardonicsmiley's decision to delete her journal - things like, "Well, she shouldn't need feedback. She should be writing for the joy of writing". Well, yes, that would be truly wonderful if all writers wrote for 'the joy of writing' and didn't need money, fame or praise to keep them going. Unfortunately, it is not that easy for most writers. The writers who write because they have to write, write purely for the joy of writing, are the lucky ones. For the others, writing is something that takes a lot of effort, which often goes unrewarded and unappreciated. I think a lot of writers probably need something to keep them going, to make all the work they do mean something.
I am one of the many who don't often leave feedback. I don't write fanfic, but I devour it with an ravenous appetite. It is important to me. I am feeling very guilty right now, thinking about all the wonderful stories I've read and the very few times that I have commented. There are reasons - I'm not really a very chatty person and often just don't know what to say, and also, I often feel that my opinion, the opinion of an untalented, non-writer, will not be very valued or welcomed by a talented fanfic writer. But I realize now that I need to make that extra effort and comment on the fics I love.
More and more it seems that SGA fanfic is declining. Some of my favorite writers are putting out less and less or moving to other fandoms. I can't really see myself moving to another fandom. I love SGA, and, in particular, McKay/Sheppard. I really hate to think about the day when there will be no-one writing that. If there is anything I can do to make my favorite writers feel that they are appreciated and loved, I vow, insardonicsmiley's name, to try to do that. I am sorry that she didn't get what she needed from fandom. I hope she comes back someday and gives us another chance.