Newsflash.

[hackthis_archive]

Okay, guys, it's one thing to hope a story you're reading will turn out the way you want, with the pairing you want, but rolling up on an author and saying a story better turn out the way you want is not cool. In fact, it's rude and aggravating, and you pretty much ruin the story for everyone else, because then, you piss the author off.

An author is not required to do, or write, anything they don't want to do.

Comments

[viverra-libro.livejournal.com]

Yes, you are completely correct. ::hands you paddle for obnoxious reader::

[thistlefinch.livejournal.com]

The best revenge is doing whatever the hell you want.

[randomeliza.livejournal.com]

Ugh, who the hell is doing that? Losers. If they want a story to turn out exactly the way they want it, they can damn well write one. I don't know where you're going with Trade, and that's honestly the way I like it.

Seriously, that is so shit. Some people have no manners.

[fivil.livejournal.com]

That is fucked up. No one needs readers like that.

Hope it doesn't happen again.

[phineasjones.livejournal.com]

there is some kind of strange mentality that seems to exist in the h/d shipping world... by which i mean the world of those for whom shipping (as opposed to even reading or writing) h/d is a passtime and a cause of its own. some of these people seem to think like they're some sort of political party and they need to promote and champion the love of their ship.

it baffles and mystifies me. it could be said, i suppose, that i ship h/d as i very much enjoy the pairing and many h/d fics. however, i fear the warped minds of the people who would say something like, you BETTER give me the h/d ending i want, bitch! or... you know. whatever people say.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

some of these people seem to think like they're some sort of political party and they need to promote and champion the love of their ship.


It's sad how a few people can ruin everything for everyone else. I think it's one thing to be passionate, but there's a line between passion and being an asshole. If I want to promote a cause, I don't think harassing people is the way to do it. Call me old-fashioned.

[ethrosdemon.livejournal.com]

It's sad how a few people can ruin everything for everyone else.

Like in school when you wouldn't get to play Head's Up Seven Up if someone sassed the teacher too many times.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Exactly -- and you'd spend the rest of the day giving that person the evil eye.

[litun.livejournal.com]

Huh, how pathetic is it that most of us don't even have to think about this to know that it must be a H/D fan demanding a happy ending? Bah, pissed off is right. >:|

[scribblinlenore.livejournal.com]

A big old word to that!

[pir8fancier.livejournal.com]

I hear stories like this from other authors and I just shake my head. At what point is the author hostage to the reader? NEVER! I felt this way when Anne Rice had her little hissy fit on Amazon.com and bascially said that she was going to write her books the way she wanted and if people didn't like it, they could go to hell. And not buy her books. Fortunately, for her, she's in the position financially to do that. A lot of people pointed out how crazy and ungrammatical her rambling was, and I have to agree with that part of it. She's probably two sandwiches short of a loaf. HOWEVER, I agree with the spirit of what she said. They are her words and if she wants to write "Johnny is a very bad boy," five hundred thousand times and print it and she finds someone to publish it, so be it. There are her words. Her story. And everyone else CAN go to hell.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

There are her words. Her story. And everyone else CAN go to hell.

Yeah, pretty much.

[oconel]

An author is not required to do, or write, anything they don't want to do.

Word

[notworthy.livejournal.com]

A-fucking-men.

[jonem.livejournal.com]

The way I see it, we're priviledged to be able to read *anything* an author sees fit to share. Yes, we can devoutly hope a story ends the way we want it too, but we have no right whatsoever to expect it.

It's exceedingly presumptious and downright rude.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

The way I see it, we're priviledged to be able to read *anything* an author sees fit to share. Yes, we can devoutly hope a story ends the way we want it too, but we have no right whatsoever to expect it.

That's pretty much all I've *ever* thought. I've read loads of books and stories that other people have loved, but I thought they were crap or didn't like how they went. I didn't write the author and demand they change the ending; I've always thought it was a matter of opinion. If you don't like something either a) don't fucking read it or b) throw it away!

[barely-bean.livejournal.com]

*smites people*

*hugs you*

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

*adores*

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

This probably isn't going to help you feel any less pissed off, but I do think that it's actually a (twisted) form of flattery in a way. I think if someone feels enough personal investment in your story to have that kind of stake in the outcome, it's a tribute to your writing. Misguided, certainly, but a tribute all the same.

For what it's worth.

:)

[ethrosdemon.livejournal.com]

the problem here is that harassing someone who was ready to completely leave fandom because she felt readers were too demanding really defeats the purpose of leaving feedback. This isn't directed at you, but more a commentary on how fans sometimes go way overboard. Some writers respond to that by writing copiously, others feel oppressed and like writing is no longer something done for the existentialist pleasure of it but more an obligation, not unlike WORK.

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

Oh, believe, me, I'm not defending the person who did this. I think they are rude and presumptuous and should languish for eternity in the Special Hell. I was just taking a wild stab at trying to make Zahra feel better about it.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I know what you're trying to say, but yeah, no, not really feeling the love there.

[dorrie6.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I didn't think so, but it seemed worth a try. Just to make you feel better. I don't care about the obnoxious person(s) who left the comment(s).

[marumae.livejournal.com]

Agreed. It's not nice to threaten an author whose currently writing something your a fan of. >_>

[ugaprincess06.livejournal.com]

Definately not cool. I have been guilty in the past of trying to pressure authors to go towards a certain pairing, but I don't think I've ever demanded anything though. Now that I see this post I think from now on I'll make sure I'm not doing this, cuz you're right the author can write whatever the hell they want. You do what you want and damn everybody else (I'll still read it!).

[pocketroxy.livejournal.com]

I agree with someone's comment above, that when someone writes characters and a pairing SO WELL, as you have, the angst in the story can get excruciating. A tribute to your writing, but it is sad that you receive insensitive responses. I of course always have a preference of how I want stories to turn out, but try really hard to stay aware of the awe I feel for the writer's skill in drawing me in and making me FEEL so much, and respecting that skill to create as you wish. We're just along for the ride, sweetie - this is YOUR story, and wow, what a story. You go girl!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I of course always have a preference of how I want stories to turn out, but try really hard to stay aware of the awe I feel for the writer's skill in drawing me in and making me FEEL so much, and respecting that skill to create as you wish.

People seem to think that fans aren't authors too, but we are, we know what it's like to want something really badly and then not get it and be disappointed. But that's life. Life is disappointment, and acting like a two-year old because you're not getting what you want is just immature and rude.

[pocketroxy.livejournal.com]

Well put, and right on the money. I feel so sad when I hear of this going on. You and other authors who share their time and talent are such a gift to us. *sigh*

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

It occurs to me that when you're trying to make a valid point, it helps if you phrase your sentence properly. That was supposed to be 'that authors aren't fans too.'

My bad. *shakes head*

[pocketroxy.livejournal.com]

Oh, it was easy to figure out. He He!

[maybedarkpink.livejournal.com]

Amen to that. *pets you*

[the-naked-city.livejournal.com]

Not that I don't agree with what you've said, because of course I do, this is fandom, everyone's in it for the love and not money or any sense of entitlement and whatnot, but you're kind of vague: is this something that's happened to you? with the story that you're currently working on? an old story? or did it happen to a friend of yours?

It's just that without having a little better idea about things, you sort of make people wonder--"Is it me that she's talking about? Did I not comment the way that she would have liked?" Thinking that, I, at least, feel like I ought to comment using the language I think you want me to rather than the way I feel.

[k-glorificus.livejournal.com]

being passive aggressive online also is pointless. trust me, if it was you, you'd know.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

It's just that without having a little better idea about things, you sort of make people wonder--"Is it me that she's talking about? Did I not comment the way that she would have liked?" Thinking that, I, at least, feel like I ought to comment using the language I think you want me to rather than the way I feel.

The whole point in writing is freedom of expression, right? You can write what you like, when you like, and no one has to read it, or like it, or comment on it, yes? The same applies for commenting -- you can like something, or not like something, and say what you will about it. That's what LJ is all about.

If someone had come along and said 'I hate this story, I think it sucks,' then that would be their opinion. It'd've hurt, but that is one person's opinion. They're entitled to that; you shouldn't be censored in your opinion. What I believe is crossing the line is when people act as though they are 'entitled' to harangue the author to create the ending they want just because that's how they want it.

No one is entitled to anything. Never put your (generic 'you') opinion on someone else and demand that they accept it, because it won't happen, and then they'll get pissed off. Like now.

[the-naked-city.livejournal.com]

If someone had come along and said 'I hate this story, I think it sucks,' then that would be their opinion. It'd've hurt, but that is one person's opinion. They're entitled to that; you shouldn't be censored in your opinion. What I believe is crossing the line is when people act as though they are 'entitled' to harangue the author to create the ending they want just because that's how they want it.

Thanks for answering--everyone has their boundaries: what's constructive criticism to one person is a flame to another, so wanted to know what you considered demanding vs. fannish squeeing/wibbling. To one friend I might be like "OMG! That chapter blew! Get them back together, bitch!" because talking in an over-blown way is the kind of thing she likes and would consider funny. To another person I would try to convery the same feeling in a different manner because I know they wouldn't be at all receptive to that kind of language use.

I didn't actually think you meant me in your post (I think maybe the previous commenter semed to think I did?) because I don't know you and have thus been posting in the more conservative (vs. "OMG!") way, but I think that a lot of people are like me, visiting your LJ temporarily while you post new chapters to your story and so don't have a clear idea of what your commenting boundaries are in the same way that your friends do.

If something does bother you, it's best to do as you did and immediately say "Don't talk to me like this" instead of letting it well up inside of you.

Congratulations

[(Anonymous)]

I think you should be happy that your story inspires such strong emotion. You succeeded in creating a tale that provoked feeling. That is a gift and you should be proud of your accomplishment. As an artist I wonder: Why is she pissed-off? Celebrate the passion you have awoken. It is a rare thing. Be happy.

Re: Congratulations

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Why would I be proud of people harassing me? That doesn't seem particularly inspirational to me. Of course I want people to like what I do, every author does, but I think there comes a point when people can go a step too far. If the reader doesn't like the story, or how it's going, they're not required to read it, or to finish it, or to have anything to do with it. That's their opinion, just as how a story goes is the author's opinion. Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, but forcing your (generic) opinion on someone else is flat-out wrong.

[grey-bard.livejournal.com]

Completely right! I have read many a story with an ending I found disagreeable (this is not one of them), that doesn't mean that I as the reader have any right to demand an ending I prefer! I mean, I can *wish* someone did something different, but I don't have any power over it.

So, you know. Write something fun and brilliant that is exactly what you want to do and enjoy knowing that the pushy idiots will be seething in emotional pain!

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

I as the reader have any right to demand an ending I prefer! I mean, I can *wish* someone did something different, but I don't have any power over it.

As a writer, I've always been told, if there's something you want to see, you should write it yourself. People always laugh nervously when I point this out, but I think it's pretty damn true. As a reader, I too have come across endings that didn't work for me (I think everyone has), but harassing the writer never actually crossed my mind. I just chalked it up to a difference of opinion.

[grey-bard.livejournal.com]

Please don't shoot me, Jules! My grammar was a little strange, but I was agreeing with hackthis!

[k-glorificus.livejournal.com]

is it wrong of me to laugh?

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Yes. Bitch.

[k-glorificus.livejournal.com]

wrong is my third middle name

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Right behind 'The Dark Lord of All Things Orange and V V Gay' and 'Do Not Fuck With Me'

for the love of viggo

[ethrosdemon.livejournal.com]

1. That story better be Blaise/Draco or I'll show up at your place with a bunch of emo cds

2. if I have a whole ramble here I know you won't stop me:

Notice to readers--if you have a vision for a story, have a plot-arc in mind, have certain expectations for the characters/settings/conventions, then go write that story yourself. If you want to read something you didn't have to make up, then go to someone else's lj and read something you didn't make up. Sometimes other people have different ideas than you; this is called The World. There are conventions in The World, too, like variance of opinion, writing style and 'ship. Please remember this when venturing out in The World. Also, wear your helmet, you might hit your head.

Re: for the love of viggo

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

Sometimes other people have different ideas than you; this is called The World. There are conventions in The World, too, like variance of opinion, writing style and 'ship. Please remember this when venturing out in The World. Also, wear your helmet, you might hit your head.

Yeah, That's what I said (http://www.livejournal.com/users/hackthis/298443.html?thread=5946571#t5946571)

Re: for the love of viggo

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

That story better be Blaise/Draco or I'll show up at your place with a bunch of emo cds

I see you over here trying to bribe the judge.

[hackthis.livejournal.com]

*dies*

Word.

bitches. I mean seriously! tsk!

[fashes.livejournal.com]

someone should take their fanfic reading card away. Or point them to the way n00bs should *not* 101... something.