Comments | dawn_felagund: An Experiment

dawn_felagund

An Experiment

Oct 15, 2011 16:16

Over on heartofoshun's journal, Oshun, pandemonium_213, and I have been talking about the experience that is posting to Fanfiction.net. I haven't posted there in years. Once upon a time, the ability to reach a very broad audience (who might not be inclined to read on a Silm-only archive like the SWG or even a Tolkien-only archive like MPTT or HASA) appealed to me. I quickly ( Read more... )

ff.net, writing, fandom, fan fiction

Comments 32

dreamflower02 October 16 2011, 03:31:14 UTC

I've never posted at ff.net. When I first started posting fic, I attempted to at first, and had technical problems. Once I got accepted at SoA, I didn't even bother to try again, though having an account is good for giving an occasional review.

I know a lot of good writers DO post there, that there are some gems amidst the dross, and sometimes wonder if I should try again after all this time. Then I read about someone getting strange reviews, or about the difficulties posting there, and think "better leave it be".

I'll be curious as to the results of your experiment...

dawn_felagund October 16 2011, 03:38:54 UTC

ff.net has always had such a terrible reputation as a wellspring of crapfic, but I've always found the reviewers there to be the real reason it deserves its moniker, Pit of Voles. The site has tolerated the worst possible behavior from reviewers. I don't know how it is now; rumor had it that they were cracking down on the lovely folks who did things like tell young writers that they were so bad at writing that they should throw themselves off a bridge.

It is annoying to post there too. You have to first upload a story as a "document," then fix all the mistakes that happen during that process (it took me about 10 minutes to find and fix the mistakes made while uploading my 6,000-word story), then post the document as a story. I'm spoiled by our eFiction sites, admittedly. ;)

mithluin October 16 2011, 03:57:50 UTC

I post at ff.net, because when I became interested in posting anime fanfiction online, I discovered that there weren't really very many communities and archives available...despite the fact that the animes I was interested in were extremely mainstream and popular ones. Sure, there are communities here at livejournal, but most people merely post a link to the story on ff.net in those communities ( ... )

dawn_felagund October 16 2011, 18:30:23 UTC

Your experience with the anime fandoms definitely illustrates why ff.net can be a good thing. :) I've also met people on ff.net who have become friends (and I only post in Silmarillion), and I've certainly had good conversations with people. The first fanfic I read, many years ago, was on ff.net.

The Tolkien fandom is a large and steady one: We have a long history, lots of people involved, and aren't going anywhere anytime soon. From reading on groups like metafandom, I get the impression that the loyalty (and multiple archives!) of the Tolkien fandom is rather the exception than the norm.

As for concrit, I'm the type of person who will offer it unsolicited (in all aspects of life, not just fanfic - I'm the person who will jump into your conversation while you're waiting in the checkout line), but I generally try not to assume the author is interested in hearing about itAs a writer, I definitely believe that readers are not only allowed to have but also to share whatever thoughts they have on my story! :) I certainly get my share of concrit ( ... )

phyncke October 16 2011, 05:49:00 UTC

I cannot even remember if I have anything posted on there. I better check.

dawn_felagund October 16 2011, 18:30:52 UTC

So did you? :D

You'd probably remember the convoluted publishing process if you did!

ellynn_ithilwen October 16 2011, 09:19:43 UTC

You and I met of ffnet; there are other nice people I met there, so I'll never regret my time there. :) But yes, it's true, it is not a nice place. I started posting on ffnet, and for a long time I posted only there, only because I didn't know of anything else. It was a long time before I discovered other archives. :(
I still post there, and if I have any bad experience, I simply ignore idiots. :p

dawn_felagund October 16 2011, 18:32:23 UTC

I've certainly met friends there too and had good conversations--of course, you're one of the best examples of that! :)

I would probably fare much better if I could ignore more on that site. But someone makes a stupid comment, I feel the need to respond ... it's just not a good use of my time! :)

rhapsody11 October 16 2011, 10:31:26 UTC

Than the company of those who have written 13 stories in 13 different fandoms without ever having an interest in exploring a community that focuses on just one of those fandoms.

I am not sure if that is an appt reflection of the majority of members there. Then again I might fall in that category after I pulled my Tolkien stuff many years ago when the admin refused to do something about the hurtfull bashers and sporkers once upon a time. ;) Just the fact that I have 10 stories written for 7 fandoms doesn't say a single thing about fannish involvement. I did find that I have gotten very nice and warm comments from certain fandoms (non-tolkien) there that I never got elsewhere. I am involved elsewhere as well when I have time, so eh, yeah. Just sayin'.

Best of luck with Hastaina though *fetches the popcorn grin*

dawn_felagund October 16 2011, 18:40:26 UTC

You're right that there are many reasons why a ff.net member might have involvement spread thin over many fandoms. However, I don't think you'd leave a comment indicating a lack of familiarity with the texts, so I don't think your stats would bias me into thinking that you weren't well-informed about Tolkien either ( ... )