One Thing I Hate About the Sherlock Fandom

[rusty_armour]

If there's one thing I hate about the Sherlock fandom, it's the lack of support for writers on LJ. When I see a really good fic that has only received one comment, I can't help feeling disgusted. I could understand if it was a small fandom, but Sherlock is pretty popular. I just have to see the number of communities and writing challenges to know that. And, yes, I realize that we all lead busy lives, and I've certainly been guilty of reading a story and not commenting, but the lack of support in this particular fandom is really appalling. It seems as if it's every writer for herself, unless said writer is part of a clique or has a large network of friends. Thank fuck for A03. At least such writers might receive hits and kudos.

When I post what I hope will be my last Sherlock story (mostly because I'm supposed to be retired from fic writing), I might just post it on A03. I'm not sure if there's any point in posting it on LJ.

Comments

[theteej2.livejournal.com]

I dare say I am a living example of everything you just wrote, and wrote rather well!

I can write the fic, good ones even, but due to lack of any kind of support, I cannot continue to write it.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

It breaks my heart to say it, but, yes, you do appear to be a living example of everything I wrote in this entry. That's what makes me so angry. What reason does a writer have to stick with a fandom if she's not receiving the feedback she deserves? For the record, I love A Dish Served Cold (http://theteej2.livejournal.com/100156.html). I have it bookmarked on AO3 and have gone back to reread bits of it at least two or three times. If you ever do decide to post fic again, I would happily read it. :-)

[theteej2.livejournal.com]

The trouble I have is not so much the feedback, its the lack of support or friendship after the fic is posted. I'm not a drabble producer, I can't write short things to save my life then post a zillion of the a week. When I put the effort into a long fic then post it, the initial feedback is great, but afterwards is my problem. Seems like everyone just vanishes off the face of the map or go back to thier cliques (I am not a cliquish person) and the writer is left high and dry wondering what happened and where do they go next?

Me, I slunk back into lurkerdom. Lack of support, or friends, kills the writer dead.

[2ndskin.livejournal.com]

Hi there. Just a random person popping in here because I wanted to encourage you not to stop writing. I'm not an experienced fanfic or fandom person--been at it just a year. But my feeling is that if you love the writing and get a little jolt of happy out of the act of creativity--you should keep going. Seems to me that everyone is different in the kind of support they want and need. I was lucky because I happened to find maybe 6-7 people after a few months of reading and posting with whom I felt really comfortable--felt we shared a general outlook on the writing and reading. I think once you find a group--and I did that by betaing and asking for betas from people whose stuff I liked--and yes, commenting a lot--well, once you find those few people--it becomes just a lovely situation. I also think it's super important to find the right comms to post to. Find the niche where there are folks who will get what you're doing. We're all different. And lord knows I read barely 1 percent of what's out there. But I do know that when I'm in the mood to read-there are certain comms and authors I look for. Tons of stuff I know is fabulous, but it just isn't my thing, so I don't read it. I see rusty_armour pointed out a fic of yours she loved. I'll make sure to look at that. Just don't stop making stories--it's really such a powerful thing to do. <3<3<3<3