I'm aware of the fact that your OP was almost a year ago, but I just stumbled upon it and felt I wanted to throw in my two cents.
Maybe because I'm from across that great dividing line: Unlike pretty much everybody in my neck of fanfic I'm NOT a writer. Or, well, I stopped writing fanfic about 10 years before the term was coined and writing altogether a very, VERY long time ago. I became a student of literature and a teacher and spent years of my life musing and writing about what other, greater, way more accomplished minds had put on paper. And a good deal about what not so great people had written about aforementioned authors before me. I'm USED to criticizing. I'm perfectly able to compartmentalize, to read something (or watch on TV, for that matter) with an abundance of enjoyment and then to go back and say "Well! But this doesn't make sense and that's out of character and "hangar" is actually spelled with an "a".
I usually don't do that when I read fanfiction. I don't criticize. There is such a giant amount of talent out there, and people share their work and their thoughts with us without any monetary gain. I remember enough of my ancient times of yore when I was still writing to know that even the most well-meant criticism can cut like a knife. Fanfic authors give so much, I won't take anything from them.
Which leaves praise. And I used to do that: I kept my counsel on the ones I didn't like or didn't think were that great, but commented on the ones I enjoyed. Until I realized that pretty much everybody else commenting on the authors I consider to be the best of the best are writers as well. And I felt humbled. Who am I to tell the sun that it is shining really very nicely, thank you?! I don't feel I have the right to comment on the work of somebody who has so many so much more worthy and accomplished commentators, people who KNOW what they are talking about?
So I have become one of your numbers: One of the hits without comment. I've read quite a lot of your Castle fanfics and I've loved every one of them. I think they are extraordinary. They might have made my day, lifted my spirits or just have me go "Guh" in the best of possible ways.
So a mere, lame "I really liked this" wouldn't have sufficed. And anything else felt preposterous to me. So I didn't comment and your monster didn't get fed. And now I feel really, really sorry about it. Because, one of the greatest experiences in the life I never ended up living (ie that of a writer)was when a teacher at university smuggled me into a class of students who talked about short stories. Real heavyweights. High literature. History! And one anonymous little piece, which was mine. I got to sit there and listen to them criticizing to their hearts' content, and the worst it did to me was an inward chuckle when I realized they were reading so much more into the story than I had ever WRITTEN into it. But the rest was so gratifying that having read your thoughts and remembering my experience now I shall swear never to leave anything uncommented again. (Unless it's really bad or I don't have any time at all or it already has 300 comments :-)
Firstly, such high praises! I'm not sure I am worthy, but thank you so much and I'm glad the silly little things I scribble down when I'm meant to be doing other things (heh) have been enjoyed.
Secondly, hearing people say nice things about your work, especially people you admire, is always an immensely gratifying experience. And especially when readers interpret things in a light you'd never even considered before. I've written what I considered a 'happily ever after' epilogue before, only to have someone message me and say: "settle this debate between my friend and I, is this chapter a metaphor for them dying?" And I was completely blown away, but also like: wow the author really is dead, and how great is that? I really love that interplay between audience and creator (obviously, I write fanfiction!) Heh. Anyway, I'm glad you had that experience.
Thirdly, I don't think anyone should ever apologise for not commenting. I mean, I try to, because I know how much I treasure every little piece of it that I get, but I appreciate that not everyone has the time or the energy to think of anything profound to say at the end of everything they read. So you know, thank you so much, but there's absolutely no need to apologise. Sometimes there's just nothing left at the end of the day, even when you really love something, and that's okay too. (Though this has made me think a lot about being a reader. Might have to write something about that one day.)
Anyway, thanks for sharing thoughts! I always love to hear people's perspectives on these things.
Maybe because I'm from across that great dividing line: Unlike pretty much everybody in my neck of fanfic I'm NOT a writer. Or, well, I stopped writing fanfic about 10 years before the term was coined and writing altogether a very, VERY long time ago. I became a student of literature and a teacher and spent years of my life musing and writing about what other, greater, way more accomplished minds had put on paper. And a good deal about what not so great people had written about aforementioned authors before me. I'm USED to criticizing. I'm perfectly able to compartmentalize, to read something (or watch on TV, for that matter) with an abundance of enjoyment and then to go back and say "Well! But this doesn't make sense and that's out of character and "hangar" is actually spelled with an "a".
I usually don't do that when I read fanfiction. I don't criticize. There is such a giant amount of talent out there, and people share their work and their thoughts with us without any monetary gain. I remember enough of my ancient times of yore when I was still writing to know that even the most well-meant criticism can cut like a knife. Fanfic authors give so much, I won't take anything from them.
Which leaves praise. And I used to do that: I kept my counsel on the ones I didn't like or didn't think were that great, but commented on the ones I enjoyed. Until I realized that pretty much everybody else commenting on the authors I consider to be the best of the best are writers as well. And I felt humbled. Who am I to tell the sun that it is shining really very nicely, thank you?! I don't feel I have the right to comment on the work of somebody who has so many so much more worthy and accomplished commentators, people who KNOW what they are talking about?
So I have become one of your numbers: One of the hits without comment. I've read quite a lot of your Castle fanfics and I've loved every one of them. I think they are extraordinary. They might have made my day, lifted my spirits or just have me go "Guh" in the best of possible ways.
So a mere, lame "I really liked this" wouldn't have sufficed. And anything else felt preposterous to me. So I didn't comment and your monster didn't get fed. And now I feel really, really sorry about it. Because, one of the greatest experiences in the life I never ended up living (ie that of a writer)was when a teacher at university smuggled me into a class of students who talked about short stories. Real heavyweights. High literature. History! And one anonymous little piece, which was mine. I got to sit there and listen to them criticizing to their hearts' content, and the worst it did to me was an inward chuckle when I realized they were reading so much more into the story than I had ever WRITTEN into it. But the rest was so gratifying that having read your thoughts and remembering my experience now I shall swear never to leave anything uncommented again.
(Unless it's really bad or I don't have any time at all or it already has 300 comments :-)
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Secondly, hearing people say nice things about your work, especially people you admire, is always an immensely gratifying experience. And especially when readers interpret things in a light you'd never even considered before. I've written what I considered a 'happily ever after' epilogue before, only to have someone message me and say: "settle this debate between my friend and I, is this chapter a metaphor for them dying?" And I was completely blown away, but also like: wow the author really is dead, and how great is that? I really love that interplay between audience and creator (obviously, I write fanfiction!) Heh. Anyway, I'm glad you had that experience.
Thirdly, I don't think anyone should ever apologise for not commenting. I mean, I try to, because I know how much I treasure every little piece of it that I get, but I appreciate that not everyone has the time or the energy to think of anything profound to say at the end of everything they read. So you know, thank you so much, but there's absolutely no need to apologise. Sometimes there's just nothing left at the end of the day, even when you really love something, and that's okay too. (Though this has made me think a lot about being a reader. Might have to write something about that one day.)
Anyway, thanks for sharing thoughts! I always love to hear people's perspectives on these things.
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