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Meta I can get behind
Surveying Webfiction Feedback, or "why readers hate commenting on fic posted to the internet"
The original survey was posted, among other places, at![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
fanficrants. Here is the results post, for those interested in seeing the raw data.
I always figured I was somewhat in the minority, trying to comment on everything I read (hence the backlog of reading I have to do), but I never realized just how far into the minority I was :P As a writer, this mostly confirms my suspicions/makes me feel better about my lack of comments, though.
Thoughts?
The original survey was posted, among other places, at
fanficrants. Here is the results post, for those interested in seeing the raw data.I always figured I was somewhat in the minority, trying to comment on everything I read (hence the backlog of reading I have to do), but I never realized just how far into the minority I was :P As a writer, this mostly confirms my suspicions/makes me feel better about my lack of comments, though.
Thoughts?
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I think it boils down to just a sheer laziness thing, because comments on the article suggested that a "like" or rating system might garner more reaction.
There is also this contingent of "I'm here for the pr0nz", of people who basically want to get off, not get invested, so *shrug* Posting this to
From the article, it seems like those writing and posting original fiction ("webserials") have even less luck than fanfic writers receiving feedback, so I guess its about what is your limit - how much are you willing to share in a vacuum? IDEK...but it was fun food for thought.
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Oh, God, this has happened to me so much.
I must be in th minority too, since I enjoy commenting on people's work, even I feel that I'm being redundant in my comments, I try to think about being in the writer's shoes (being a writer myself) and how much I would enjoy feedback.
I think writers like us can sympathize with each other. I often get really depressed when people tell me they've read something of mine that they enjoyed but never commented on. (It's even worse when it's a known writer who groans for comments herself/himself.)
I think more readers should read these survey results, and muster a little empathy for us writers.
I will say this: I would most likely still write something if I weren't getting any comments at all. Writing is my escape, to be someone else's escape is almost like an added bonus.
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I don't know if this has happened to me. I basically assume if you don't comment, you don't read *shrug* I've never found myself on a rec list or anything by someone who never commented on my work or otherwise let me know they were reading it. It seems odd to me, but at the same time, I can understand it - I just try to let my fangirl flag fly for the author too, albeit in less squeaky terms, LOL.
I must be in th minority too, since I enjoy commenting on people's work, even I feel that I'm being redundant in my comments, I try to think about being in the writer's shoes (being a writer myself) and how much I would enjoy feedback.
I think writers like us can sympathize with each other. I often get really depressed when people tell me they've read something of mine that they enjoyed but never commented on. (It's even worse when it's a known writer who groans for comments herself/himself.)
EXACTLY - being in this boat myself, I understand how crucial feedback can be, so especially if I know an author would appreciate it, I go out of my way to make sure I leave a comment. I don't tend to critique as much, but then, the authors I read rarely need correction on anything :P
I hate review whores, and I try not to be one.
I will say this: I would most likely still write something if I weren't getting any comments at all. Writing is my escape, to be someone else's escape is almost like an added bonus.
Same! I'm chugging away at this KI fic that only one other person currently cares enough to comment on, and I've already hit 50K words and I'm maaaaaaaaybe 1/3 finished with it. I'm not just going to drop it because I'm not getting feedback on it; it hits a special place for me, and working on it brings me joy. The fact that others have enjoyed it? Pure gravy, really.
Rarely will I ever write for the sake of others. A lack of feedback would never make me stop writing - but it might make me stop sharing.
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That's amazing! I wrote a fic like that for an obscure manga. I got hits at FFnet, but honestly, I wrote it for me, because I wanted the manga to go in another direction. That's what writing fanfic is really about. It makes you happy, right?
I don't know if you were like this, but when I was younger, I wrote fanfic all the time, didn't have internet, and no one ever saw it. I still had fun writing though. XD
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The best kinds of fanfic are the kinds you write for yourself, I think =) This story is pretty much the same idea - veering off from canon to give the story a 'different' ending - and since it was a kid's show, no ship was indulged, so there is a lot of room to play. I didn't realize it was such a big story until I looked at my FF.net page one day and was like "HOSHIT 40K words?! But - but - but - I'm not even close to being done!" O.O
LOL.
I don't know if you were like this, but when I was younger, I wrote fanfic all the time, didn't have internet, and no one ever saw it. I still had fun writing though. XD
*nods* I used to write 'continuations' of my favorite book series when I was younger. Its how I first learned how to construct a story and write characters. It was pretty terrible, but show me something by an 8-year-old that isn't, LOL :P
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I don't read nearly as much as I used to and I fear, but for a few exceptions (namely the author is someone I know and/or the story really made an impression on me), my comments have fallen into "great story--keep up the good work" type thing. A survey looking at the quality of comments would be interesting ;P
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I don't read nearly as much as I used to and I fear, but for a few exceptions (namely the author is someone I know and/or the story really made an impression on me), my comments have fallen into "great story--keep up the good work" type thing.
*nods* I basically only read authors I know by this point, and comment for those who I know will appreciate the effort that goes into reviewing. Maybe that's snobby of me, but especially with IY, you pretty much need recs in hand so as not to waste your time o.O
As a writer, I know that I like to receive feedback, and what kind of feedback I like, so I try to pay it forward in kind. Its different writing for a tiny fandom like KI (only the second story to FF.net was posted last week!), where I know I have readers, they just aren't commenting ~ its an adjustment to make from what I'm used to from IY. But basically I love that story so much myself that sharing it is sort of the afterthought, you know?
A survey looking at the quality of comments would be interesting ;P
But hard as hell to conduct, LOL!!
For the relative few reviews I've received, I can say this: they are almost all substantial in nature. It seems folks moved enough by my work to comment have something to say about it, dammit, and I'm all for them saying it! Knowing I've engaged them beyond "update soon plz" is a reward unto itself.
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It's unfortunate but common. :\
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