![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
On feedback:
Of course I love positive feedback. I can't imagine who doesn't. Positive feedback makes my freaking month. I love everything from "that wuz cute lol" to ten-page analyses. In the past I've expressed bewilderment over feedback that is nothing but "you cannot leave it there; SEQUEL!!!" But you know what? I understand that for some it's their version of high praise, and that's very sweet.
But I don't feedback everything I read, and I don't expect everyone else to either. First, I don't send con-crit unless I've been invited to be a beta. "PLZ R &R!!1!!!" is not a request for a beta. Many think it is, when they see it on stories, and writers sometimes think too when they put it on their stories, but often those writers are unhappy when actual con-crit shows up. Not going there. Uh-uh. Unless I can be uniformly positive in my feedback, I don't want to leave feedback; I'd rather let silence speak for me. I won't damn with faint praise. And so I anticipate a sort of "do unto others" philosophy from readers, and assume that those who aren't commenting may not be entirely giddy over what they've read. Maybe my "this one isn't all that good" fears are right. Maybe the story's the best thing since sliced bread, but it's a subject a lot of people don't like.
(An aside: Do I appreciate negative feedback? God, yes--if it's useful. I won't be making changes to a finished story based on unsolicited con-crit, but if I think the con-crit makes valid points, I'll keep that in mind for future writing. I always want to improve my writing. And con-crit keeps one from turning into a "Gee, I guess I must be the greatest thing since sliced bread" monster. Very important. ^_^ "This kind of story isn't my cup of tea" criticism is understandably not useful, however, and this is why I advocate silence on those sorts of stories unless directly asked.)
And maybe they didn't see the story. Maybe they don't leave feedback for anyone. Maybe they're too busy right now, or ever. Maybe they're in a mood where everything they read just seems to suck. Me too, sometimes.
Most importantly, I know what I'm writing. I'm writing fanfic. I'm writing erotic fanfic. I'm writing explicit (often non-consensual) erotic fanfic based on a family-audience book. I was all blushy about posting this stuff to begin with, and I've got a pseudonym and separate email addy 'n' stuff. The people reading it might not have that kind of luxury. The people reading it might be embarrassed as hell to be reading it, let alone writing email to tell me they're reading it. Bless your embarrassed little hearts, don't worry about it for a minute. Read and enjoy. I consider it a public service to be a pornographer, bringing smut to the delightfully smut-minded. And I'll keep doing it as long as it's fun.
Love you all.
Of course I love positive feedback. I can't imagine who doesn't. Positive feedback makes my freaking month. I love everything from "that wuz cute lol" to ten-page analyses. In the past I've expressed bewilderment over feedback that is nothing but "you cannot leave it there; SEQUEL!!!" But you know what? I understand that for some it's their version of high praise, and that's very sweet.
But I don't feedback everything I read, and I don't expect everyone else to either. First, I don't send con-crit unless I've been invited to be a beta. "PLZ R &R!!1!!!" is not a request for a beta. Many think it is, when they see it on stories, and writers sometimes think too when they put it on their stories, but often those writers are unhappy when actual con-crit shows up. Not going there. Uh-uh. Unless I can be uniformly positive in my feedback, I don't want to leave feedback; I'd rather let silence speak for me. I won't damn with faint praise. And so I anticipate a sort of "do unto others" philosophy from readers, and assume that those who aren't commenting may not be entirely giddy over what they've read. Maybe my "this one isn't all that good" fears are right. Maybe the story's the best thing since sliced bread, but it's a subject a lot of people don't like.
(An aside: Do I appreciate negative feedback? God, yes--if it's useful. I won't be making changes to a finished story based on unsolicited con-crit, but if I think the con-crit makes valid points, I'll keep that in mind for future writing. I always want to improve my writing. And con-crit keeps one from turning into a "Gee, I guess I must be the greatest thing since sliced bread" monster. Very important. ^_^ "This kind of story isn't my cup of tea" criticism is understandably not useful, however, and this is why I advocate silence on those sorts of stories unless directly asked.)
And maybe they didn't see the story. Maybe they don't leave feedback for anyone. Maybe they're too busy right now, or ever. Maybe they're in a mood where everything they read just seems to suck. Me too, sometimes.
Most importantly, I know what I'm writing. I'm writing fanfic. I'm writing erotic fanfic. I'm writing explicit (often non-consensual) erotic fanfic based on a family-audience book. I was all blushy about posting this stuff to begin with, and I've got a pseudonym and separate email addy 'n' stuff. The people reading it might not have that kind of luxury. The people reading it might be embarrassed as hell to be reading it, let alone writing email to tell me they're reading it. Bless your embarrassed little hearts, don't worry about it for a minute. Read and enjoy. I consider it a public service to be a pornographer, bringing smut to the delightfully smut-minded. And I'll keep doing it as long as it's fun.
Love you all.