At 7:40 PM -0600 11/25/01, Regina ___ wrote:
This brings to the question that I'm facing as an writer, is my story good or is it as good as it used to be? You see I was used to get all sorts of feedback ranging from; "You paint pictures with your words" to "You killed Willow you filthy SOB". Still now a day the only feedback I read if any is; good work and keep it up. And this does not just apply to me, a seasoned writer, but it also applies those who are just starting out in this world of fan fiction, this does not encourage growth. I may be secure in the quality of my work, but who is to say that those who missed out on the Golden age are equally secure in theirs?I would even prefre constructive critisim, something to assure me that people are appreciating my story and not just the fact that it's a B/W fic. I was NOT here for the "golden age" of fanfic, and I've always been rather insecure about my writing in the first place. It was a huge personal victory to even POST fanfic, and I really dont' think I would have if not for the anonimity given to me by the internet. I have gotten more secure in my writing, but for me it was more because of a personal growth, and from encouragement for others. It didn't bother me to the point to where I was going to say something, or even be to distraugth, but Cilia brought up a VERY good point and I thought I'd add my two cents. Please don't take this as a personal criticism, this is one of the BEST lists in the feedback aspect, Elizalover responds faithfully, lol. It's just sometimes, especially with new authors, a little more encouragment is needed.
While I very much agree with points made both by Regina and Cilia, I thought I'd add my comments from the readers perspective, or at least one reader's perspective. While in thought and theory, I acknowledge that during any decline, that that is the best time to submit encouragement and constructive criticisms to relight the creative flames, etc. But unfortunately, I feel that it is true that during these declines its even less likely that fans will respond. Its pretty much a catch-22.
From my perspective, I love fan fiction, but I also use it to fill avoid that published fiction just can't suffice. I have a great need for it. I'm a fairly voracious reader, on top of tech journals, virus reports, government statistics about the status of nonprofits in America, I need fiction, at least two or three good stories a day (at about 20-45pages, per story). If I get one 100 plus page story, I can be set for the day, otherwise, I may need to read ten or more 1-2, or 4-5 page stories.
What's the point, well unfortunately, the point is, fan fiction in general is on a decline. Lets face the Xena universe, propelled fan fiction to the forefront, and with the show over there is a noticeable decline in new postings. Couple this with the loss of Star Trek Voyager, and multiple missteps on the X-Files, the goodbye's of Babylon-5, the demise of Popular, the current no show of Elizabeth Mitchell on ER, etc., etc., etc., what you have is just a general decline in the overall amount of fiction being produced. What this in general means, for fans like myself, is you spend more and more time either looking for new fan fiction or you replace it with something else.
Some days are better than others, but I can spend at least 2 ours of my day searching for new authors, and new materials to read. What this means is in general, I spend far less time commenting on fiction at all.
I hate to say it, but it's incredibly hard for me to comment on stories that are written with 3-5 pages at a time. I'm aware that's a typical format for a lot of authors. Adopted by some specifically to provide avid readers with something to tide us by. I VERY MUCH appreciate this, especially during low fiction days, but try as I might, I just can't offer any type of good feedback on it. Believe me I TRY, but I find it incredibly hard to say anything other then, "good start..., keep at it..." This is why I also greatly appreciate REPOSTS. I know, a lot of people hate them, but, some times a repost with 5 or 10 chapters of a story at once, will allow me the ability to read the story in mass, and make commentary.
The truth of the matter is, if a story is incredibly well written, then even after 5 or 10 pages, I may have great feedback for the author, but most authors are just growing in their writing skills, and while, I don't want to discourage them, there's just not much I can say to encourage them after 3-5 pages of fiction.
Many new authors put together some great first and sophomore efforts. But sometimes, I find that I'm just gong back now to read them, when they were originally posted a year or six months ago. Like I've just started re-reading "Subterfuge" by Inell. Which is a really great story, that I just didn't pay that much attention to the first time around, because the various chapters got so intermixed with other pieces of work by both the author, and other authors, that it just got lost.
I know this isn't great for the authors, especially those that need immediate feedback and encouragement. All I can say is that if you really, really need constructive criticism, encouragement, and feedback to continue a story, then PLEASE DON'T OVER LOOK BETA READERS. They are fantastic people, who's primary purpose is to help you develop as a writer (well that and get fiction early :)). But the point is fan fiction readers I think in general try to be supportive, but I don't believe our main goal is to support authors. I know my main goal is to get fiction, preferably good fiction, but in general fiction (well slash fiction).
I consider it my job to support an author, when I become a fan of that author's writing. That can sometimes take awhile, but once it happens, I join email lists specifically for them, bookmark web pages, send out commentary, etc., etc. I consider it a goal to support the fan fiction community, but unfortunately, that means my comments are divide up across 7 different fan fiction groupings, with lots of new authors in each grouping. This means that possibly 1 out of 20 new authors may actually receive any comment me on a particular list. I try to make it a habit to send at least one written feedback per month (something more than the "keep it up") to any of the seven slash lists I belong to, as well as the "keep it up's and keep it coming" posts.
I know it doesn't seem like much, but couple it with feedback and commentary for author's who I'm actually a fan of, comments about the shows that actually fuel the fiction, etc., and I'm sending out a fair amount of mail per month, for me. It's just getting diluted across genre's, various lists, and various authors.
I know, I'm not the only one in this situation. I see familiar names and email addresses on at least half of the groups, I belong to. Assuming the authors/fans have made some type of the same commitments as I, then I'd have to state that even in a community as supportive as the "female slash" community is in general, it's still very hard to achieve recognition.
Having a body of work makes achieving and receiving recognition easier. If what it takes to get you there is having regular feedback and writing assistance, then I must again mention the often overlooked, undervalued BETA READERS (I'm not one) but I think the work they do is invaluable. I've been making a strong effort this year to participate in things that encourage the beta reading community, because Beta Readers will ONLY make the slash Fan Fiction community STRONGER. But it's hard work, and Beta Readers should get their props, because without them, many a great fan fiction author, would still be an unknown writer struggling to decide if they should post a story or not.
Just my two cents. AlnisaPS: Just went back and printed the 8 chapters of Penance, it will be my morning read. :)
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