Truly, I do not understand review wank
Feb. 24th, 2013 01:27 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
inverarityI get that people want reviews. I want reviews. I include a polite request that people leave reviews for my stories because yes, I like to know people read it and enjoyed it. But I also realized long ago that only a small percentage of your readers will comment on it at all. There are people who will faithfully follow your stories for years, and never leave a single review or comment.
And that's okay! Maybe it's because they're shy. Maybe because they always read on a phone that's inconvenient for posting. Maybe they just don't like leaving comments. I know there are people who read this LJ regularly who have never commented (waves), and of course there are people who "follow" or "favorite" you on ff.net without ever leaving a review. That's okay too.
I can understand an author who really needs a bit of ego-boosting being sad that people follow their story but never comment. But I do not understand the rage some authors display at not getting reviews, not getting enough reviews, getting reviews that don't meet their standards (too short/too vague/too critical/mentioned a ship the author doesn't like/etc.), or (I am not kidding) getting angry that someone "followed" a completed story. I mean, yeah, it's pointless to sign up for updates for a story that is finished, but probably the person didn't notice, or they just automatically "follow" all stories they like just in case the author does post another chapter. It's not like it has any negative impact on the author.
So anyway, the latest fandom_wank entry is yet another fanfic author having a meltdown because people aren't reviewing the way she wants. But the real gem is one of the linked comment threads, in which a former fanfic author and now supposedly a best-selling pro author goes off on how fanfic writing is a "mug's game" because readers are so entitled, they want free stuff, don't they know you are a human being, and maybe writing is how you support yourself? (Uh, then you need to not be writing fan fiction...)
Evidently, because I am not particularly bothered by people who read my stories without commenting, I am just like someone in an abusive relationship who doesn't have enough self esteem to leave.
Wow. How about writing because you fucking enjoy writing? I mean, I might whine and moan about wanting to be published, but ultimately, this is something I do for fun. If you really want to make a living as a writer, you need to go about it seriously and professionally. Otherwise, you need to get over your special snowflake self and make peace with the fact that fandom is what it is, and if you are posting free fiction, you should be content with only a few of your readers leaving reviews, and if you get a small core of regular fans (I love you guys!), that's gonna have to do you as far as ego-stroking goes.
I am more and more convinced that the growing incidence of professional authors having meltdowns over bad reviews is because we're seeing more writers coming out of fandom and going pro... without also making the transition from emotional adolescence to adulthood.
And that's okay! Maybe it's because they're shy. Maybe because they always read on a phone that's inconvenient for posting. Maybe they just don't like leaving comments. I know there are people who read this LJ regularly who have never commented (waves), and of course there are people who "follow" or "favorite" you on ff.net without ever leaving a review. That's okay too.
I can understand an author who really needs a bit of ego-boosting being sad that people follow their story but never comment. But I do not understand the rage some authors display at not getting reviews, not getting enough reviews, getting reviews that don't meet their standards (too short/too vague/too critical/mentioned a ship the author doesn't like/etc.), or (I am not kidding) getting angry that someone "followed" a completed story. I mean, yeah, it's pointless to sign up for updates for a story that is finished, but probably the person didn't notice, or they just automatically "follow" all stories they like just in case the author does post another chapter. It's not like it has any negative impact on the author.
So anyway, the latest fandom_wank entry is yet another fanfic author having a meltdown because people aren't reviewing the way she wants. But the real gem is one of the linked comment threads, in which a former fanfic author and now supposedly a best-selling pro author goes off on how fanfic writing is a "mug's game" because readers are so entitled, they want free stuff, don't they know you are a human being, and maybe writing is how you support yourself? (Uh, then you need to not be writing fan fiction...)
Evidently, because I am not particularly bothered by people who read my stories without commenting, I am just like someone in an abusive relationship who doesn't have enough self esteem to leave.
Wow. How about writing because you fucking enjoy writing? I mean, I might whine and moan about wanting to be published, but ultimately, this is something I do for fun. If you really want to make a living as a writer, you need to go about it seriously and professionally. Otherwise, you need to get over your special snowflake self and make peace with the fact that fandom is what it is, and if you are posting free fiction, you should be content with only a few of your readers leaving reviews, and if you get a small core of regular fans (I love you guys!), that's gonna have to do you as far as ego-stroking goes.
I am more and more convinced that the growing incidence of professional authors having meltdowns over bad reviews is because we're seeing more writers coming out of fandom and going pro... without also making the transition from emotional adolescence to adulthood.
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no subject
Date: 2013-02-24 08:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-25 03:02 am (UTC)That said, it may very well be both; I do think fandom encourages the "special snowflake" syndrome more often than not. It should also be noted that many of these meltdowns are in YA, which is arguably an extension of fandom in many regards...
no subject
Date: 2013-02-25 03:11 am (UTC)And for the record, I don't owe readers crap either, but that doesn't stop them from emailing or PMing me, asking for more stories because "they were so great", even though I have never had any contact with these people before.
Isn't people saying your stories are great and asking for more a...compliment? o_O
Most authors are afraid to say anything, because readers out number writers and they jump on anyone who dares to suggest that, perhaps not saying "thanks" is rude.
I know, right? Where do they get off, reading the stuff you put on the internet for the explicit purpose of getting read and not specifically thanking you for the privilege? O_o
Hey, if you're happy for people to come and enjoy your stuff, ignore you, snub you, then complain when you don't write fast enough for them, you go right ahead.
So reading your stuff is ignoring you? I need to catch up on these new word meanings.
I just deleted my unappreciated fics and shut up shop, no muss, no fuss.
...You deleted stuff you didn't feel got enough reviews. o_O O_o
Where do people get these ideas...
no subject
Date: 2013-02-25 03:36 am (UTC)Also, I need to start demanding that all you motherfuckers start leaving reviews, or else I am a doormat. THAT MEANS EVERY CHAPTER, BUB!
no subject
Date: 2013-02-25 04:43 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-02-25 05:53 am (UTC)I do believe reading these posts is contributing to my hermitness. I hate people. (no offense)
no subject
Date: 2013-02-25 06:44 am (UTC)Goood. Goood. Give in to your anger. Let the hate FLOW through you, and your journey to the Dark Side of the Plot shall be COMPLETE!
no subject
Date: 2013-02-26 07:31 pm (UTC)Well, complaining about reviews being too short is probably a good strategy if you want fewer reviews. ;)
I'm a reader who doesn't comment
Date: 2013-03-04 10:04 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 01:05 am (UTC)I left a few comments on your stories, but not as many as I would have if I had just kept to the "SQUEEEE I lurve this!" format. I really wanted to leave thoughtful, insightful reviews, reviews that you would admire... *sigh*
But that would require a lot of thought and time. So I read and enjoyed - and I'm glad you are cool with that.
I do cherish the one comment you left on my drabble thread on MNFF. I was all "OMG Inverarity read my drabble!" Yay!
no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 01:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2013-03-11 02:34 am (UTC)