A Note To My Fellow Writers--and my wonderful reviewers [personal entry]

[kidsnurse]

I've  recently had the opportunity to have a variation of the same conversation with three different people, all of whom contribute in some way to either the House fandom, or another fandom.  One of these people hates House, but we're friends  anyway ;).  And hey--there's no accounting for tastes, right?

Anyway, our discussions have centered around

Comments

[blackmare]

I got invited to join a Dr Who fan art comm (never knew such a thing existed!) and post my drawing links. Because I'd just read this, I left some feedback for another artist there. She has already gotten back to me with much appreciation, and made me smile.

It's worth doing. Truly it is. I'll try and be a bit better about it myself.

[kidsnurse]

we forget. we get lazy. we're human.

but--as creative types ourselves--we know best what those few words mean!!! so yeah--i've already got my new year's resolution, and this is it.

and congrats on your very-well-deserved recognition in WhoVille; they're lucky to get you. [your icon makes me smile, btw--he is intriguing]

[med_anomaly]

Too true. It can be easy to forget this every now and then as we get wrapped up in the madness of life.
On another note, regarding that crisis of confidence, it seems fortunately to be over, but just in case you're considering another: You, my dear, are absolutely wonderful at what you do. I can honestly say that I've not only enjoyed your stories, but they and you have helped me get through some tough and stressful times with more of my ever-waning sanity intact. The fandom and my own little world, are definitely better for having you and your writing a part of them.
By the way, don't think I've forgotten that you mentioned there's a piece in hiding (aside from the longer one in the works). I expect it to make an appearance soon. :)

[kidsnurse]

you mentioned there's a piece in hiding (aside from the longer one in the works)

okay--i get that the baclofen has screwed with my brain in varied and deeply disturbing ways, but... am i missing a story? because i recall SDE... and that covers what i recall....

edited because that screwed-up brain is... screwing up. badly. bedtime. now.

[med_anomaly]

Nope, no stories missed. I was referring to SDE, and the long awaited sequel to TMTC. I wouldn't blame the baclofen. This is probably more the result of my brain being under the influence of the alcohol. What can I say? 'tis Friday night. :)

[kidsnurse]

I wouldn't blame the baclofen.

i would. i do. when i am forced to take it, it keeps me from remembering. it disrupts my thought processes. it keeps me from writing. i mean, can you see house taking something that decreases his intellect? and all i've got is my brain. so i won't take it unless i have to, and i resent the bloody hell out of every cognizant moment it steals from me.

you used the dreaded 's' word, which i've conveniently blocked out [and no, can't blame that on the bac--much]. i'll... get there. eventually. i hope.

a glass of wine sounds lovely! but, as it's 6:49am, i'll have to settle for coffee. because now, it's saturday morning! ;)

[angelfirenze]

I LOVE YOU.

*wide, wide grin*

Alas, this was before you came along, but the Pit of Voles used to be the premier site for fanfiction. This was around 1999, when I was the same age as most of the fangirls are there now. Back then, early on, reviews were given freely and abundantly. Not so, anymore. It saddens me. *sighs* But you knew that. Still, I do get quite a lot of feedback here. It's very nice. *brightens again*

*edited because 'premiere' and 'premier' are homophones, damn it*

[romeo46]

IM SORRY IM SORRY

I will admit to doing this. I actually had a discussion once about whether the worth of a piece to an audience could be judged based on feedback or on the amount of people who favorited it/story alerted it. If I go straight off of the amount of feedback I get then the obvious thought would be my stories aren't having any impact, but based on the fact that I have quite a few people who favorite story/story alert my pieces then I have to think that someone likes it. I do find the more multi-chaptered a story is the less likely I am to respond to it. There has to be something about that particular chapter that will make me shake off the reply funk and send a review. Otherwise, I am reading and eagerly awaiting the next chapter. Is it right? Maybe not Is it fair? Maybe not as well, but it is true. To be really honest, if I want to depress myself I will go look at the fact that a story like Lifeline has over 11K hits and just over 100 feedback comments.

[kidsnurse]

if I want to depress myself I will go look at the fact that a story like Lifeline has over 11K hits and just over 100 feedback comments

that's interesting; there's a way to track the number of hits a story gets on LiveJournal? i'd love to know how to do that! how did you find it?

based on the fact that I have quite a few people who favorite story/story alert my pieces then I have to think that someone likes it

does it ever upset you that they favorite it, and yet don't review?
because that bothers me...

[romeo46]

that's interesting; there's a way to track the number of hits a story gets on LiveJournal? i'd love to know how to do that! how did you find it?

Actually I stopped posting on LJ because of the fact that my stories got less attention here than over at the Pit. I wish LJ had a way to count the hits then i would know if it was worth it to post here. I find LJ to be more insular, you are likely to find people who search out and read and authors work or not. IMO they don't seem as open to lesser known authors here.

does it ever upset you that they favorite it, and yet don't review?
because that bothers me...
Sometimes, but if theya re favotiting it then at least they like it enough to want to read it more or again. I personally would take ten really well thought out pieces of feedback than 100 this is great ones. For some reason I don't seem to get that sort of feedback from my readers. I do it get from my betas and that is great, but usually it is more along the lines of this is good, more plase. So for me, since I don't really get

[silja_b]

I agree with this. Feedback is both a help (if constructive) and a nice ego stroke (if positive). There are times though where I have to force myself a bit. It's not always easy to write good feedback either. I think a lot of readers feel that they'll look foolish for just writing 'I liked this' or something like that. People who're not used to posting and commenting might be scared away.

There's also another issue. I always have a negative knee-jerk reaction to 'why don't people comment more?!' type statements. It's not the case here, but sometimes the issue seems to be that the writer feel entitled to feedback because they've spent time and effort on something. I couldn't disagree more. Feedback is nice and useful and 1,342 other things, but it's not a right. I suppose that's also why I find it distasteful when author-persons demand feedback - although that mainly happens at ff.net.

[kidsnurse]

this isn't an 'i demand feedback' post; it's quite the opposite. it's an 'i don't leave feedback the way i should' post. however, i'm with you--ordering me to leave feedback will result not only in no feedback, but in one less reader, as well. because i figure if the author feels that the story is strong enough to post, then the author shouldn't be insecure enough to make feedback a prerequisite! [but i'm feeling really cynical tonight; don't mind me]

[silja_b]

*pst* I did write 'it's not the case here' but yes, I also put on my cynical shoes today so I'm with you there.

Heh, I have something that might make you peak right up. I went to a panto (of sorts) today. It turns out there are clips of previous shows floating around youtube: Enjoy! (warnings for nearly naked flabby men.