(no subject)

[shakatany]

Well I went for a walk to mull over some of the responses to yesterday's post. I do my best (?) thinking while I'm walking or showering or drifting off to sleep.

One commenter wrote: A fic needs a reader to be complete? Maybe. But it's got one; the author. Well that may be true but then why post it? Why not keep it in a notebook where only the writer can read it? Once it's posted others become involved.

Another wrote: We readers are lucky to be able to read so much good fiction, for free. Is it really free? I think the currency is time. These days most of us have so many demands on our time that we have to find the time to spare to read fanfic and give feedback.

I believe fanfic is a form of symbiosis: if a fic is posted and no one reads it, is the writer still satisfied being the only reader? I think not. I think a writer wants/needs an audience but apparently only on the writer's terms. A talented writer such as Ladycat, and I think she's one of the great writers of BtVS fanfic, can paint such vivid scenes and evoke such powerful emotions in her readers that they linger in the mind for years (it's been 3 years since I first read "HB"). If I feel hurt that she's left me and the bois in limbo can't I say something? And say that with a *sob* at the end of a rec?

Lastly: I truly hope you will make a public apology and in future think before you pass judgment on someone you only know as part of the reader-writer relationship, and not as a true friend with full knowledge of their situation and writerly motivations. Was I passing judgement? If so I didn't realize it and I do apologize.

 

Comments

[lit-gal.livejournal.com]

Um... did I miss something??

Okay, I have to say that the writer is the *first* reader of a story, but so often, the comments and questions and discussion in LJ lead me to go to new places in my stories. Hearing someone else say "Why did he do (x)" makes me realize that I haven't explained some part of the character's motivation and having someone else say "I wonder if Xander will do (y) or (z)" makes me realize that y and z are very real possibilities when I was over thinking about (p).

Yes, I can write in a vacuum, but it isn't as much fun, and I don't think my writing is as good because I don't have people to question and challenge and inspire new ideas. I thought Second Verse was done, and then you sent me a whole damn list of questions you thought I hadn't answered. *poof* The questions opened up new lines of thinking that I hadn't even really explored. I wrote Trickster's Treat focusing on toppy Xander, and then Velvet reads it and points out a dozen places where subbie Spike had a need I wasn't filling. So I think in some ways the writer does need the readers. They aren't strickly necessary to get words on the page, but the difference (at least in my writing) is the difference between a dry cheese sandwich (without feedback and discussion) and a full course salmon dinner (with feedback)


I do think that the amount of good free fiction is amazing, though. I thought that back before I ever wrote. But the better the stories, the more I too ache with WIP's. I know as a reader I feel bad every time I look at Musical Wars... I get a little twinge of guilt that I left Xander stuck in that bathroom, but when people write and ask when I'm letting him the hell out of there, I take that twinge of guilt and use it to remind myself that someone out there loves THAT version of Xander enough to want him out of the bathroom. And yes, I do promise to get back there eventually!

[ladycat777.livejournal.com]

Heya. I'm formulating a reply, but I want to sit on it for a while to make sure it's actually what I want to say and not me being hot-headed. In the mean time, however, I'd appreciate it if you'd drop this subject (publically, anyway) because at heart this is about you and me -- not anybody else. I'd like it to stay that way at least until we resolve what's between us. Afterwards, you can bash me to your hearts desire, if you want *g*

And I'd appreciate it if you'd please contact the mmslash ops (soft_princess) to have your mistaken post removed. I know you've apologized, but it's not appropriate there, and it's making me feel isshy.