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

[fengirl88.livejournal.com]

I keep coming back to stare at this and try to work out what to say.

I wasn't sure what you meant by "every writer for herself", but I know my primary need is to write, though that means I have less time for reading other people's writing.

being in a couple of massive fandoms (Sherlock and now XMFC), I know I don't read more than a tiny fraction of what's out there. I don't even read all the fics and/or recs I would like to from people I know and trust, though that's my main way of reading now.

I need to get better at writing quick comments, I guess, though they sometimes don't feel like enough. I like the kudos option on AO3, both as a writer and as a reader.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I keep coming back to stare at this and try to work out what to say.

I don't blame you. I'll freely admit that I was in a bad place when I wrote this and definitely could have been more diplomatic instead of lashing out.

I wasn't sure what you meant by "every writer for herself", but I know my primary need is to write, though that means I have less time for reading other people's writing.

Well, it comes down to feedback and support again. I'm sorry but if you aren't part of a group, and you're not receiving much feedback, then you can feel very much alone and start to question your abilities. I mean, I realize that if you want to write, you're going to write, but it's possible to get discouraged and lose confidence if you start questioning whether your work is any good. Okay, maybe it hasn't happened to you, but I've certainly had that experience.

I know I probably seem sickeningly passionate and melodramatic, but I ran a fanfic archive for years and helped foster quite a few writers. I've seen what new writers go through and how hard it can be when they have no support.

being in a couple of massive fandoms (Sherlock and now XMFC), I know I don't read more than a tiny fraction of what's out there. I don't even read all the fics and/or recs I would like to from people I know and trust, though that's my main way of reading now.

Believe me, I understand that. I'm only able to read a tiny fraction of what's out there myself. However, I know from my own experience (e.g. checking out the Stats/MyGuests feature on LJ like a stalker) that quite a few people will read a story, while only a couple can be bothered to leave comments. And I'll say, once again, that I don't expect people to leave comments for everything they read, but I think that more effort can be made when it's obvious that a writer isn't receiving the kind of feedback she might deserve -- in some cases any.

I need to get better at writing quick comments, I guess, though they sometimes don't feel like enough. I like the kudos option on AO3, both as a writer and as a reader.

I actually think you do a wonderful job of leaving feedback. I've seen comments from you time and time again when reading fic. But, then, I don't think you're the type of reader who's the problem. I wish all readers were as diligent as you.

[fengirl88.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the bad place - I hope things are better now.

I've never used the Stats/My Guests feature on LJ, though I did look at the stats when I was posting on ff.net. I already knew before I started, from a friend who's studied these things, that the ratio of readers to commenters is very high in fanfiction. but I know I found it difficult on LJ at first, when I thought nobody was reading me or else that they didn't like what I was doing. at that point I was very grateful for ff.net, where I did get feedback, although it was still a tiny proportion of readers who commented. I think I would have kept going even without feedback then, because my need to write (after almost three decades of miserable not-writing) was so strong. but it still makes me happy when I get comments, and I get a bit wistful about the stories that seem to fall through the cracks or off the radar. so it's not that I think this doesn't matter.

I suppose one problem with stats is that it doesn't really tell you who has read a story, as opposed to viewing a page. I know I've sometimes started reading something and thought I needed to come back to it later because I wasn't concentrating or didn't have time to finish it. so when I see the hit count on AO3 I don't know what that means.

[rusty-armour.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry about the bad place - I hope things are better now.

Yes, much better. Thanks for asking, fengirl88. :-) I was just going through a bit of a rough patch and feeling depressed.

I've never used the Stats/My Guests feature on LJ, though I did look at the stats when I was posting on ff.net.

Ah, yes. I remember those days. I used to check my stats on ff.net all the time. Now I conduct obsessive checks on AO3 instead. *g*

I already knew before I started, from a friend who's studied these things, that the ratio of readers to commenters is very high in fanfiction. but I know I found it difficult on LJ at first, when I thought nobody was reading me or else that they didn't like what I was doing. at that point I was very grateful for ff.net, where I did get feedback, although it was still a tiny proportion of readers who commented.

A friend of mine heard that you should multiply the number of comments you receive by ten to figure out how many people are reading your stories. This was quite a while ago, and I'm not sure how accurate that statistic is now, but I'm guessing it still holds some truth. In any case, it is a struggle when you post on LJ and receive little or no comments. I think you start questioning the quality of the story no matter how confident you are. It's great that you were receiving feedback on ff.net. funkyinfishnet made an excellent point about archiving your work at various places. It obviously provided you with some comfort during your early days on LJ.

I think I would have kept going even without feedback then, because my need to write (after almost three decades of miserable not-writing) was so strong.

I know a writer should write for herself first and foremost, and that it shouldn't be about feedback, but even driven writers can get discouraged if they begin doubting their abilities. Such writers might not put down their pens altogether, but they may stop writing for a while. Or, in the case of one writer I know, they might keep writing but stop sharing all of their stories. Actually, this scenario isn't a bad one as that writer I know is still gaining happiness and fulfillment from the writing process. However, I can't help being selfish and think of the fic that isn't being posted. *g*

but it still makes me happy when I get comments, and I get a bit wistful about the stories that seem to fall through the cracks or off the radar. so it's not that I think this doesn't matter.

I think it's only natural to want some acknowledgement and praise for our work. In the case of writing, you want your babies to be liked by someone.

I suppose one problem with stats is that it doesn't really tell you who has read a story, as opposed to viewing a page. I know I've sometimes started reading something and thought I needed to come back to it later because I wasn't concentrating or didn't have time to finish it. so when I see the hit count on AO3 I don't know what that means.

You're absolutely right. Unfortunately, there's no guarantee that the people who clicked on your story actually read it. I try to keep that in mind when I see a hit count. And maybe I'm being an optimist for once, but I think it's safe to assume that at least a portion of the people who clicked on the link read the story. *g*