I never use reviews in my writing process. Aside from one fic, every story I've posted has been completed before I put it online. I never post WIPs.
The one WIP I did post I did on LJ and I already had part of the story written and the rest outlined. That was the one and only time I've done it. In that case, I used community support as an extra push to keep me writing because the fic itself was kind of daunting. Knowing that I had the support from LJ, whether my friends were reading it or not, helped keep me focused. I've never done it since, though.
And I hate when people use their stories for ransom. Frankly, I fele that if you're writing solely for reviews, your story is going to suck.
Same with me. I got one or two moments of inspiration from reviews on that huge novel S/D AU fic I wrote. But that was about it. I've shied away from posting WIPs as well... I think it's helping me become more disciplined.
Yeah, one fic in particular, I'd scrolled to the bottom and saw something like "Please comment on this fic. Comments are very helpful and if I don't get any I'll stop posting this story right here." Things like that set up huge red flags for me. It bugs me when people hold their fics hostage like that.
I don't think I've ever written a story and let the reviews tell me what to write... I did add an extra scene for someone who requested one, but I felt the chapter needed something anyways... I don't know... I've never liked it as a reader when I see the "review or else" kind of messages, but I know I've been guilty of the insecure "tell me if it sucks" kind of message... I do write for myself & "i am the writer, my word is law" seems to apply for me... i doubt I would ever change a fic completely because of a review...
Yeah, exactly. I usually have a pretty good idea of what I want in a story and I'm not totally dependent on reviews to tell me where to take it. Once I wrote a fic for another fandom where I had it all mapped out, but then someone gave me some advice and I liked her idea...so I made almost a separate version of the fic that addressed it. But that was the only time I did that.
And I sorta do that too: the "like it? hate it? please let me know" or "for anyone interested in reading the story here's a link". I hate insecurity sometimes... But on the whole I write for myself. Some of the fics I was talking about are WIPs where the author uses the reviews to tell him/her how to continue the story. Maybe it's just me but I can't do that...
I'm not a fic-writer so my thoughts would be from a reader.
A while back I was reading a wip where the writer did a 180 on the story because of comments, I couldn't finish it and totally shied away from wip and this writers work. I will read wip if I know the writer, meaning they write what they feel, not for what the masses want. That includes fics that aren't wip.
Anyway, excellent qwestion Jess, I've been wondering the same thing for awhile.
Thoughts from a reader are just as interesting. I came up with this question while I was reading a few fics but for some reason I asked it from a writer's point of view. Oops.
But I know what you mean. I've run into one or two fics where that happened. I think it's great when someone feels they have a story to tell, and they just lay it all out for you. Not asking "so what should I do next? Please let me know or I'll stop continuing the story."
Thanks. :D Was just something that was nagging at the back of my mind for a while.
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The one WIP I did post I did on LJ and I already had part of the story written and the rest outlined. That was the one and only time I've done it. In that case, I used community support as an extra push to keep me writing because the fic itself was kind of daunting. Knowing that I had the support from LJ, whether my friends were reading it or not, helped keep me focused. I've never done it since, though.
And I hate when people use their stories for ransom. Frankly, I fele that if you're writing solely for reviews, your story is going to suck.
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Yeah, one fic in particular, I'd scrolled to the bottom and saw something like "Please comment on this fic. Comments are very helpful and if I don't get any I'll stop posting this story right here." Things like that set up huge red flags for me. It bugs me when people hold their fics hostage like that.
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And I sorta do that too: the "like it? hate it? please let me know" or "for anyone interested in reading the story here's a link". I hate insecurity sometimes... But on the whole I write for myself. Some of the fics I was talking about are WIPs where the author uses the reviews to tell him/her how to continue the story. Maybe it's just me but I can't do that...
Reply
A while back I was reading a wip where the writer did a 180 on the story because of comments, I couldn't finish it and totally shied away from wip and this writers work. I will read wip if I know the writer, meaning they write what they feel, not for what the masses want. That includes fics that aren't wip.
Anyway, excellent qwestion Jess, I've been wondering the same thing for awhile.
Oh...I'm SciFiFan from GW. Hi
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Thoughts from a reader are just as interesting. I came up with this question while I was reading a few fics but for some reason I asked it from a writer's point of view. Oops.
But I know what you mean. I've run into one or two fics where that happened. I think it's great when someone feels they have a story to tell, and they just lay it all out for you. Not asking "so what should I do next? Please let me know or I'll stop continuing the story."
Thanks. :D Was just something that was nagging at the back of my mind for a while.
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