If a fanfiction falls on the internet...

[veronicaluv]

will anyone read it?

(also know as V's latest attempt at quantifying the value of fanfiction. Yeah, still haven't figured it out.)

Comments

[idamus]

I don't read fanfiction anymore (was only into Torchwood)
I am however still hoping there will be a Brushback sequel one day :D

Yay for meeting your wordcount, congrats :)

[veronicaluv]

Funny you should mention BB - I recently uploaded all I have of the sequel to googledocs so I could edit it on my tablet and found I had much more than I remember, which got me all excited. I go in fits and starts with it - I love it so much, but original fic is an even lonelier road to walk than fanfiction. It'll come out some day, I still have so much I want to do with Evan and Roman. At least I know you'll read it - that makes two of us ;).

And I'm having all kinds of Torchwood feelings lately - watching JB on Arrow makes me miss Jack terribly.

[idamus]

I know at least two others who are waiting for that sequel ;)
I miss Torchwood, but I don't like the new format, I keep hoping to see Jack in Doctor Who...

I can't watch Arrow until the DVD is out, but I hear more good than bad about it so it's on my wishlist

[tristen84]

I think it really depends on the fandom how popular reading and writing fanfiction is. My current fandom is relatively new and fanfiction is still widely and actively being read and written. There doesn't seem to be a lack of reviewers either

[veronicaluv]

I think you absolutely nailed it - it's the interaction I miss. Fanfiction was my contribution to fandom and when a story was posted, feedback or comments were how I interacted with other fans. The story really didn't matter, it was the camaraderie and discussion that come about after. Tumblr is so passive - I enjoy it, but it's not conducive to sharing in the fun.

It is good to know - or have confirmed - that other fandoms are active with fanfiction and feedback. I do know that my view is very skewed by the fandoms I'm in, but when it comes to H5O specifically, the most current one I write for, they had a perfect storm that nearly killed the fandom, so I think people are a bit gunshy about it.

And I'll keep writing - the lack of feedback only bothers me from the the standpoint that it keeps me wondering if there's anyone out there *g*.

[verasteine]

I wrote in H50 fandom just last week and got quite a few responses, and I didn't even post it to the comms on LJ because it was very short. So there's interest there, even if there isn't a lot of fic coming out because it's a very small fandom.

[veronicaluv]

Yay! I'm glad you're still writing for H5O, it needs all the love it can get. I don't understand why it's such a small fandom, to be honest - sure, the canon has had some huge missteps, but there's a lot to love, too. It's too bad, but it's encouraging to know it hasn't disappeared completely:).

[lilferret]

MY NAME IS IN THERE MY NAME IS IN THERE! *grin* No, seriously, made me all happy. Thank you.

And yes, readership and comments/reviews as a whole have greatly diminished, and that's even since I started writing for TW last year. It makes me sad. That being said, since 2006, when I became active in my first fandom, Stargate SG-1, I've moved on to Sanctuary, and then to TW. It's the nature of the beast, I'm afraid. I did leave a huge contribution of fic in my wake, however, so at least there's that.

I haven't read the universe of which you speak, but as I'm currently out of fic, I might just do that.

As for my own, I'm currently posting my NaNoWriMo fic, and have a WIP. Just have to formulate the plan for the next few chapters. It's a toughy.

You know I look forward to more TP, whenever it appears. I'm surprisingly patients, considering that's SO not my nature. But good writing takes time. :D

Congrats on mini nano. Discipline is a bitch. Lol

[veronicaluv]

LOL, yes, discipline sucks, but at least the words are there. Not many good words, but there's something to work with. I do struggle with the notion that fanfiction is disposable. We work so hard on our stories - I've written hundreds of thousands of words for TW alone - but after even a very short time, they're forgotten, especially when the fandom dies. It's just sad, you're right - I'm not ready to let them go, I guess.

[lilferret]

People do save them for their personal files, though, so there's that. If it ever comes to the point where I no longer get any response, I'll simply stop writing. I write because I want to, but at the same time, I love to share it with others. If there's no others to share it with, I have no urge to write.

[veronicaluv]

That's it exactly - I'm afraid of becoming irrelevant, the sad person churning out fanfiction that no one reads.

Wow, that does sound pathetic! I think I'd better quit while I'm ahead and go back to writing ;).

[dolimir_k]

I agree that original fic is a much lonelier road.

Feedback on LJ/DW is very scarce, although I do sometimes get feedback on AO3. Hearts and "Likes" aren't necessarily enough to feed a writer's soul though.

I find myself still reading fanfic, but I've gotten very, very picky about what I read. Sadly. And writing....*insert hysterical laughter here*

I am thrilled to hear that you have more Brushback sequel than you thought you had. Whoohoo! That makes me happy.

Ultimately, though writing has to be about you. If you enjoy writing a fanfic story, whether you get feedback on it or not, you need to write it. It is relaxing. *g*

[veronicaluv]

There's definitely a difference between the writing for a fandom and writing original fiction when it comes to feedback and enjoyment, at least for me. Fanfiction writers used to be part, or even the backbone, of a community and now, they're just one voice among many - there are so many distractions, even within a fandom. And it really isn't the feedback, not any more. I've been lucky enough through the years to hear back on almost everything I've ever posted. It's the lack of community feeling that bothers me now. But, I'm not involved in megafandoms and I think that may have something to do with. I'm just afraid of becoming that old fogey who still writes fanfiction for dead or dying fandoms - like my contributions don't matter anymore.

Sigh - maybe I'm just feeling old ;).