Rant: Not Everyone Writes For Reviews

[nyxelestia]

So, in my recent post*, I admitted I was having trouble prioritizing fics in a time of a packed RL schedule, and asked for some responses from my flist to get a general idea of where to go. Some people posted there or voted in the poll, some people PM'd me. Most PM's were various forms of encouragement and advice concerning my fics.

Except for one, suggesting that perhaps I do it by reviews or something, and pick my fics based on that, and drop the fics that don't get many reviews, because what's the point of writing them if I don't get reviews? *headdesk*

I sent back a kind note explaining that I don't write just for reviews and that wasn't the deciding factor. You'd it would end there. But no...

Ze kindly pointed out to me that in general, I'm not a popular author - I don't get many reviews or asked about a lot in finding comms or rec'd a lot, and despite the high number of fics I write, I get very low visibility. Thank you, dear lurker, but I already knew that. What gave you the impression I gave a damn? The lovely note ended with advice that perhaps I should just drop my lesser known fics all together and move on to "PR work" for my other fics, because I'm a fanfic writer and the only point we have in writing and publishing my fanfiction is reviews, and no reviews means no point. (Ze actually said that bolded part)

I'm sorry, but...what?!

Is it seriously hard to believe that some people don't write for the reviews, or care how many they get? Is it really that difficult to understand that some people genuinely enjoy writing for the sake of it? Really? Is is that hard to get that not everyone will hold their fics hostage for review, or that not everyone is intent on getting x-# of reviews or comments?

Seriously, I know I'm not some BNF author and I don't intend to become one - I write because I enjoy writing, and I post because some other people enjoy what I write.

Agh - it's starting to sound dangerously close to RL people, upon hearing that I write, asking me when I intend to publish and make money, and become famous. Ignoring the fact most published writers don't actually become all that famous, why is writing the one and only hobby that you can't do just because you enjoy it, but that it must be for some other purpose?

I get that a lot of people don't like writing, but is it really so hard to understand that other people do? This is fandom, we make art and fics and vids and everything else because we like to. Not to make money, and not always to get reviews. I know there are authors out there who do like to get a lot of reviews, but not everyone is them.

*sighs*

Whether or not I'm just whining about the woes of writers - and if I am, then here, have a lollypop - this attitude of writing as an illegitimate hobby or craft until you get something for it, whether it's money or reviews, is get really damn annoying. Anyone up for a manhunt of people who insist on this "opinion" as fact? I have cookies, coffee, and home-made explosives!

* = updates, thoughts, ect. are still welcome here, btw :D

Comments

[nyxelestia.livejournal.com]

Well, in a sense, they had a view based on opinion, not fact - what do you think they could know better?

[stardate64783.livejournal.com]

I've run into some people who have opinions that they display as very matter of fact, simply because they didn't know any better. (I.E. homosexuality = physiological disease.) Not being the person themself, I can only guess that maybe they were taught that writing is not a hobby but something that's more akin to a competition? Whoever has the most reviews wins? Or that popularity means everything? I don't know. You're a pretty popular writer in my book and it's fanfic, so I personally don't see the point of PR. Maybe you and I and the rest of the people who are like "wtf" were introduced to fanfic as something fun whereas whoever that is got introduced to it as something like a popularity contest?

[nyxelestia.livejournal.com]

I suppose that makes sense. Fanfic being a popularity contest certainly does happen, and I've run into it many times before - just never so directly, and so firmly as me having to lose the fun part of it for competition or something *shrugs*

As for my own popularity *shrugs* I think I'm popular in my "niche", whatever it is, but outside of it I'm not well known. But, people enjoy my writing and I enjoy writing and that's all that matters to me. :)

[stardate64783.livejournal.com]

Well I enjoy your writing. I may not comment as much (usually because I don't have such brilliant things to say other than "HOLY FUCK I'M DEAD/NEED NEW PANTIES") but I do enjoy them. :)

[nyxelestia.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's still a good review. I give panties for reviews! :P

[stardate64783.livejournal.com]

In that case...

/TRUCKLOAD OF PANTIES.

*cough* I may be a bit too fond of the Master and Servant series

[nyxelestia.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you like it. ;) I hope you will enjoy the future installments when I get the time to write them

[stardate64783.livejournal.com]

No rush! Just GUH. The imagery that you write for them is like WHOA.