it's all about you, so what are you gonna do?

[hackthis_archive]

There's this completely fucking fascinating debate going on in fandom right now about feedback and quality vs. quantity, and whether it's actually indicative of a story in any way shape or form. And if so, does it necessarily mean a story is better, or if not, why not and whether or not should people write for themselves or their audience.

For the record, I normally stay well shy of stuff like this but thamiris made some interesting points, and then evil_man and I got into an intellectual conversation about the whole thing. He and I NEVER have philosophical ANYTHING... and then somebody went and flamed my mom, so, you know, i had to say something.

head for the storm cellar.





Okay, on the first point - feedback, I have this to say:

When I first started writing, I had no idea what the fuck I was doing. I'd like to say that the same holds true now - I still don't know what the fuck I'm doing, I'm just better at hiding it. I'm better at taking hints from the people that I idolize. You want to blame or thank somebody for me being here (points directly at obsessedmuch and ethrosdemon) talk to them. I started harassing them over a year ago and it's all been down hill from there.

I point to Lar and Kass because they were what I aspired to be, and no I'll never be there, but I know that. I wrote them feedback because I admired them. Not because I felt I had to or because they were big name fans. I didn’t know any of that when I began sending them feedback. I just knew they wrote something I liked, end of story.

I think this happens to most of us, we find people we like and we stick with reading them. We send them feedback. Some writers appeal to a wider audience than others, but this doesn’t necessarily make them better.

I know what I like and what I don't, and so I write feedback to that effect. I write feedback as a sign of my appreciation for what someone’s written, as I sign that I enjoyed it. Not everyone likes the same stuff, not everyone gets feedback for the same thing. The amount of feedback someone gets is as much about the subject matter as the style of writing. I know people who write fascinating stuff who get piddling feedback because the dare to try a different tack. Which is apparently also how people get flamed, by trying something different, who knew? I thought slashers were supposed to be open-minded. (but more on this at the end)

I write feedback not because I expect it back, but as a way to show someone my gratifcation for what they've done. Newsflash: Nobody deserves feedback. It's gift, a really nice one, but a gift nonetheless. It's not something you should expect. When you expect shit, that's when everything goes wrong.

I like feedback because it shows me what people like and what they don't. That's a good thing. I totally take it under advisement, but that’s all it is. Advisement, you know, advice – as in someone else’s two-bits. You don’t have to listen if you don’t want to.

The Unexpected Series never would've left this LJ if Kassie hadn't said I was a dumbass and needed to post it. So that's an example of feedback doing something good for me. However, feedback is not the be all and end all.

Yes, it's great to hear that people like what you write, and yes, it's always nice to get more rather than less. However, when you write you should write for you (generic you here). If other people like what you write then yay for them, and yay for you, but this should never stop you writing. The only way to get better is to practice, to look at the people you admire and decide why you like what you like and how to make it your own. FYI: When I say make it your own I DO NOT mean plagiarizing, I mean adapting it to fit your style and your methods and your ideas.

Do NOT steal. Stealing is bad. You’ll never grow up to be a hip-hop record mogul if you steal.

Now as for me…

I write angst, I like angst. It makes me feel better, I enjoy writing it. It doesn't get me loads of feedback, but it's satisfying in and of itself. That's why I write it. Even if I never got feedback, I'd still write - although I'd probably just keep it all in my Live Journal because when you come to my LJyou come to see what I have to say, that's all there is to it. If you don't wanna know - FUCK. OFF.

At the same time, I've started writing these snarky/humor pieces because people like them and that's cool by me. If you guys like it I'm not adverse to writing more, but that's not my primary forum and it never will be. I may get more feedback, but that doesn't mean I think better of that snarky stuff. Truthfully, once I post it, I kinda forget what I wrote. If you were to ask me what I loved the most, I would mention pieces that some of y'all have never read and probably don't want to because they don't fit a particular mould, and that's your right (coming second, jumping the gun, the good will out). Just like it's my right to write whatever the fuck I want. I write for me, nothing is ever gonna change that.

Don't let the amount of feedback you receive make you think more, or less, of yourself or what you write. You know in your heart what's good, what's not, and if you don’t – you know you can always find someone with an opinion.


Now. For this flaming business. What pisses me off isn't the criticism, because you know, people are entitled to their opinions even when I don't like'em. What pisses me off is when people personally attack an author for writing something different, something non-derivative. Who knew that that was a sin? I sure as hell didn't. I thought writing was all about writing something new and exciting. About writing something that wasn't like everybody else. I thought the point in writing was to try something you wouldn't normally do or taking a different angle in a story.

And I thought I was going to hell for breaking the other commandments, go figure.

Comments

[impudent-rabbit.livejournal.com]

I guess I agree.

I've never flamed anyone for writing style I don't think? In fact, I like to read something that's different. After you've read 50 stories in the same bland format, you stop reading, even though they are well written.I don't want to be stuck in one style/character/genre I usually prefer dark fic, angsty. But I'm starting to read more light/humerous fic.

I do think it's true that you tend to stay with friends, and read anything they write because mostly they're good, they know how to tell a story that captures your interest.

Now I've lost my train of thought, so, whatever.

Re:

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

i've never flamed anybody either, maybe we're too zen to give it that much contemplation. and speaking of sticking with friends, did you read my last entry about the batman v. supes thing? maybe they'll cast gale after all. (as soon as i learn to fly)