And other fancy things

[serafina20]

I'm wearing my hair differently than I ever have. I've started combing it down and wearing my bangs over my forehead. This is an experiment to see if I can do an approximation of Chloe's S3 hairstyle. I generally go insane if there is hair touching my face. When I had it long, it was always in a braid or in a headband, and I was probably the happiest with it, except for when I first cut my hair. But I'm doing okay right now, and have been wearing my hair for three days like this. A *lot* of men suddenly seem to be looking at me, but that could be my imagination.


I've been thinking about feedback lately and how much I hate it when people beg for it too much. It drives me crazy because, even though I know that, personally, writing is a 60/40 thing: 60 percent of what I write is because I want to tell a story and 40 percent is because I want people to read it. So people who constantly beg for feedback and threaten not to write come off to me as doing it for the wrong reason. Same with people who constantly need to be reassured that what their writing is good; if it makes you that uncertain and unhappy, don't write. Or don't publish. Or just send it to the few people who do read it.

Which got me to thinking: feedback isn't just a way for writers to know that what they're writing is being enjoyed. It's a way for us to know who is reading their fic. I send feedback for about 90 perecent of the stories I read all the way through. I honestly don't read much fic anymore, and often the fic I do read, I've already read and given feedback for. The main times I don't leave fb is either for a fic that was written years ago (like, I rarely fb anything from Sentinel even though one of the authors I adore, dolimir, is on my friend's list and I should stop being such a lazy ass). I don't always leave feedback for every part of a WIP, but I try at least to hit one near the beginning and the last post. Sometimes I have trouble sending fb when reading off the SSA becuase it takes so long for my browser to open a new window for Hotmail, but I've been making the effort to drop a note. I want people to know that their fic has been read and appreciated.

I have to admit that part of this is spawned by fandom_hate or whatever it was called. Even though a part of me was flattered that COTW is considered "overrated" by one person, the comments got me thinking. I don't really know who reads COTW anymore.

I know some. I know probably about twenty or so, and I'm not saying that isn't enough, because, Lord knows, I love you all. But I recently gave my hardcopies to a friend. In the first folder (and the second) are e-mails I recieved way back in the beginning from people I haven't heard from in a year. And I wonder about them. I wonder if I lost them, if it was my writing or plot choices or they simply moved on with their life. I wonder who on my f-list that I think reads it doesn't, and if anyone on my f-list I am positive doesn't read it does. I just wonder.

But, there's nothing I can do but continue what I've been doing: enjoy what I write, write and post, and give feedback to as many authors as I can. And I definetely need to get over something that I read over two months ago.

Comments

[alee-gothphyle.livejournal.com]

*raises hand*

Well, count me in as someone who's still faithfully reading CotW, and... dismally failing to fb. *hangs head* In all honesty, though I vow every week to do better about sending fb, I never seem to.

I feel greedy and selfish, for my failings, but I admit in large part to fearing that whatever I send will come of as rote or half-hearted -- though, I fully admit that the glaring omission does nothing to prove my case of sincerity.

So, slap my wrists and chastise me firmly -- but know that you're still in my list of favorites, as you have been since I started my journey through the fandom of Smallville.

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Well, count me in as someone who's still faithfully reading CotW, and... dismally failing to fb. *hangs head* In all honesty, though I vow every week to do better about sending fb, I never seem to.

Don't feel guilty! THat's not what I was trying to do, seriously. I was just sort of ruminating on the changable and varied nature of fb.

I feel greedy and selfish, for my failings, but I admit in large part to fearing that whatever I send will come of as rote or half-hearted -- though, I fully admit that the glaring omission does nothing to prove my case of sincerity.

Most of what I write as fb is fairly repetative. When I'm particuarly motivated, I'll pull out a line or two, but mostly, I just tell them how much I liked the fic. I usually feel really bad in responding to feedback. I want to say something clever and insightful and thankful back, but generally, I just say thanks for the comments, I appreciate it unless I'm given a lot of food for thought. But, and I'm sure you've heard this many times, no author dislikes being told that their fic was enjoyed.

So, slap my wrists and chastise me firmly

Nope. There's absolutely no reason to.

but know that you're still in my list of favorites, as you have been since I started my journey through the fandom of Smallville.

Yay!!! *does a happy dance*

COTW & feedback in general

[amf-wip.livejournal.com]

I'm still reading. I'm horrid at feedback though. I read everything as it comes out on SSA, and follow links through my flist to find things I haven't read yet. If I wasn't reading so much, I might get more done on Addiction...

But I read a ton of stuff and rarely send feedback. I'm a naughty, ungrateful fic reader, I know.

Feedback is, for me, a reminder that someone is waiting for me to keep going, that other people don't know where the story is going, and are waiting for me to draw the curtain back. It's good to know people are reading, good to see they're enjoying it, but I've been using the list of people who have friended me to really get an idea of how much of an audience Addiction has.

I don't know most of the people who have tapped into my LJ, and it's not like I have anything else that's getting posted there on a regular basis. If they're friending me, it's for one reason. My life isn't interesting enough for people to friend me just to see how I'm doing. ;)

I'm finding feedback more useful for specifics than to know that people generally enjoy what I'm doing. When I feel like I'm getting bogged down in the details, I can go back and remind myself that a few people are reading *for* the details. When I got tired of finding new ways to write about Lex and his technocolor yawn, I looked at the thanks I received for making the recovery process realistic and not just glossing it over. (I did, however, leave out some of the loss of bodily functions... there's only so much gross I can write in a day.)

And just as a side note: I don't find COTW "over-rated". I'm enjoying it quite a bit, thank you. :) Now, where's the next part?!? ;)

Re: COTW & feedback in general

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

But I read a ton of stuff and rarely send feedback. I'm a naughty, ungrateful fic reader, I know.

Hmm. I really don't like the term ungrateful. I'm not posting the fic for you, necessairly, although that partly is my motivation. But, mostely, I want it to be read and enjoyed because it's a *story* and that's what it's purpose is. As much as I like to hear what people think, I would never say that someone who didn't send feedback was ungrateful. Just lazy. :) Seriously, I understand that it's tedious to send feedback at times, especially when you read a lot. On nights that i binge, the first few fics will get fb, and the rest I'll *mean* to send something, but never get around to it.

I don't know most of the people who have tapped into my LJ, and it's not like I have anything else that's getting posted there on a regular basis.

I know for a fact that there are a lot of people on my list who don't read COTW. And honestly, some of them intimidate me so much, I odn't want them to because I have this deep-set fear they'll defriend me if they read it. It's this whole issue that's really illogical.

When I feel like I'm getting bogged down in the details, I can go back and remind myself that a few people are reading *for* the details.

See, I don't get a whole lot of feedback like that. I get some, but mostly it's people who want me to know they enjoy the fic and/or they miss Damien and want more of him. I have a few who get really detailed and make me think of a lot of issues, but for the most part, people don't. I think it's the nature of a series like this. It's really easy to forget the details and threads and such, so people kind of take for granted what I'm writing is correct if something doesn't make sense rather than point it out to me and ask. I wish they would, becuase I love talking about my fics, but I'll take what I can get.

And just as a side note: I don't find COTW "over-rated". I'm enjoying it quite a bit, thank you. :) Now, where's the next part?!? ;)

Thank you! I'm glad you are. Sadly, I have no idea when the next part is. I'm still stuck on the first scene and currently have the atetntion span of a gnat. *sighs*

Re: COTW & feedback in general

[amf-wip.livejournal.com]

Lazy... yeah, that works. :) I haven't commented back to the feedback the last part of my wip got, so it's not just feedback I'm lazy with... but life's gotten busy around here too.

Writer intimidation - been there, done that. Still do it, actually. :)) And if someone de-friends you, is it that big a deal? I don't know if I've ever been de-friended or not.

Detailed feedback is wonderful in a way, and sometimes it's a bit of a pain. I don't really want to complain about *any* feedback :) but when someone writes that they hope to see more of (insert item/character/situation here), it makes me want to give it to them.

But general feedback is good too. If they aren't complaining that something seems really wrong, then that part/chapter must fit in with the rest of the fic. At least, that's what I hope it means. :)

You could always post about the themes that run through CotW, the issues that have been mentioned, and do a little "meta" for your universe. It might generate some conversation so you can think out loud, so to speak, about the things you're expressing in your writing.

And I know what you mean about having trouble with the next part... Clark and Lex are stuck for me right now. Clark's worrying about what his father overheard, and Lex just isn't in the mood to speak to anyone. Meanwhile, I'm jonesing for Flex to the point I started writing it myself. :))

Re: COTW & feedback in general

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Writer intimidation - been there, done that. Still do it, actually. :)) And if someone de-friends you, is it that big a deal? I don't know if I've ever been de-friended or not.

I honestly, for the most part, don't care. But that doesn't stop me from not wanting certain people to read my fic. It's a contradiction, but I can't help it.

You could always post about the themes that run through CotW, the issues that have been mentioned, and do a little "meta" for your universe.

Been there, done that, no one or only a few people responded.

Thanks for your input.

Re: COTW & feedback in general

[amf-wip.livejournal.com]

There's a meta for CotW? Where? I was just reading CotW as it came out on SSA, and didn't find out about your LJ till just recently. :)

Re: COTW & feedback in general

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

I've posted musings and character related things on my livejournal in the past. Barely anyone responds, so I don't do it unless I really need to work something out in my mind.

[chasethecat.livejournal.com]

Did I ever send feedback for CoTW? I don't even remember...I tend to feedback most stories I read on lj, because it's just so easy, but stories I read elsewhere, I usually don't bother. Which is The Suck, and I really should stop being so lazy about it, but...I've been saying that for quite a while. *grin*

Personally, I have stopped reading CoTW, but it has nothing to do with the story; I was offline for a few months, and as my memory for fic is like a sieve, after that time I'd have to re-read any WIPs I was reading to remember what had happened in them. And with CoTW at almost 50 chapters? That's intimidating. I'm sure I'll reread them all, and get caught up, at some point, but for the most part I prefer reading fics after they're finished (patient I am *not*), so at this point I might as well wait a bit longer, you know? (did that even make sense?)

...how close is CoTW to being done, anyway? *grin*

[serafina20.livejournal.com]

Well, COTW isn't a fic. It's a series. I plan to keep writing it until a. the inspiration runs out or b. I manage to finish writing the series so it is an alternative reality to the show. At one point, I'd planned to continue it into the Metrpolis years, but I'm so far behind, I doubt that's really going to happen. So, I don't know when the series will stop. Sorry.

I am fairly certain that you've sent feedback before. And I totally understand about the whole LJ thing. That's one reason I make the LJ post announcing the next fic. I think a lot of people find it easier to return to the post then send fb through e-mail. And I totally wasn't making this post trying to chastize people into sending me, or anyone fb. It was just a sort of personal reminder as to why fb is important.

Thanks for commenting!

[ilovedoyle.livejournal.com]

count me as a fan of your writing, who just got outta touch w/ CoTW.
I may have fb'd when I first started reading it - and if i did, i was probly annoying u 2 continue, but I just haven't had time recently!
Sorry!
You're SV generally rox tho!
That I must say!
U also seem like a fab person (from what I gauge over lj), which should also b said.