So, where are my groupies?

[wiseheart]

Something is severely screwed up with the logic in the world of fanfiction.

Lets try a logical approach: I write a lot of stuff, which nobody really reads, and most of the feedback I get is nitpicking.

Therefore, what I write must be crap.

But if I write crap, where are my groupies? Every crapfic writer has them. It's a honorary right for a crapfic writer to have groupies who read every letter they write and make goo-goo noises about the crap, writing happy and gushing comments.

Shouldn't there be equal rights for anyone?

I wanna my own groupies, dammit! I write crap, I have a right to them!

*screams and kicks around when men in nice white coats come to force medication down her throat*

Comments

[circestale.livejournal.com]

Therefore, what I write must be crap.

Absolutely not - you do not write crap. You write wonderfully detailed, emotional, and challenging fics. However, the world(s) of fanfic too often play to the lowest common denominator, which is why the crapfic writers are so lauded and have so many gushing acolytes. Dreadful to say, but the majority of readers only want to read the types of fics which give them immediate gratification without challenging them.

But are these really the kinds of readers you want? When I used to go on ff.net (a long time ago, now), it seemed the majority of fb posts were nothing but, "U Rok! MOR pleaze!" Is that really fb?

And I know these may be totally hypocritical coming from me, as I have one of the worst fb pasts of all. I simply get sidetracked, and then so much time passes that it almost makes me feel guilty to be giving fb so late. So, here is some very late praise. I have loved every LotR work of yours that I have read, and been delighted by your characterizations, thoughtful prose, tight plots, and imaginative stories. Even if I have not been vocal enough, please know that your fanfics have meant a lot to me.

a fan

[ardath3.livejournal.com]

i love your fanfiction-i started reading your LOTR stories and then found your andromeda story. consider this feedback-you are one of the best fanfiction writers i have read. i am adult and you write adult stories with characters who are complex and conflicted.

[mirasaui.livejournal.com]

Don't be so hard on yourself, your writing is damned good. You can even make me feel sorry for Uruk-hai.

[jilba.livejournal.com]

I don't read as much as I should, but your writing is very very good. Excellent, in fact! You see, only good writers get picked on. Everyone knows it's pointless picking on the crappy writers. They can't see they're crap so they pick up a fan base of idiots...well you see where I'm going.

Keep up the good writing!

[skyfiery.livejournal.com]

I support what they've all said. Most readers prefer to read something far less challenging, and far less detailed, which usually equals to crapfics. Your fics have never been crap, not one of them.

I think what happens is that most 'serious' readers (very loose term used here) prefer books (or maybe I'm stereotyping), and those crap-readers flock to crap-fics like...well...like the other wing of a bird who only has one wing.

You write excellently, and don't forget that.

[rcfinch.livejournal.com]

You don't write crap. That's the most likely reason your readers are picking nits. The moment you do acquire a regular following of groupies is the moment you ought to start worrying. (Just my opinion.)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

That's not quite true, and you know that. Many good writers have a large following and are spared of mindless nitpicking.

I'm just born unlucky, I guess.

[(Anonymous)]

Or you're attracting nitpickers because you're a bit subversive? What I was trying to say (I guess) is that one reason writers get picked on is that they're not always following the main stream. (But I'm basing myself mostly on your Tolkien-related fics, which I concede may limit the validity of my viewpoint.)

[wiseheart.livejournal.com]

Or you're attracting nitpickers because you're a bit subversive?

Umm, actually I thought I was being sarcastic, you know...