Reading and writing.

[foxmonkey]

So...if you write fic, do you read it as well?

I'm asking because I read a comment in a community where the poster (a writer) said that she rarely reads other people's fic unless it's recommended. This just boggles the hell out of me. I get the theory (bad!fic abounds!) but...well, I just can't wrap my brain around it.

Maybe I'm just a Philistine who'll read anything that's put in her path. ;-) Well, not everything, I do have standards, but, yeah. I don't need a rec to read. Hmmm. Just wondering if this is more common than not.

Comments

[pjordha.livejournal.com]

So...if you write fic, do you read it as well?

I'll add to that question: If you write fic, do you read it as well...and send feedback after reading it?

So many times I've seen people talking about reading so much fic, and yet so many writers get so *little* feedback, so the math does not add up. If there's so much reading and enjoying going on, where's the feedback?

When I read something I like, I send feedback, even if it's only a "great story!", even if it's not entirely true. If I hate something, then I wouldn't send feedback, but nowadays I wouldn't bother finishing something I hated.

Sometimes I think writers (at least in popslash) are the worst for sending feedback. Either that or they only read the "popular" stuff. Readers-only or writers just starting out are much better at sending feedback in my experience.

Look at it this way: When a writer sees comments like "I read everything in XYZ fandom...save the really bad stuff," and that writer has written fic in XYZ fandom and never gotten any kind of feedback from those commenters, then they must only conclude that their fanfic is "the really bad stuff." Which is probably kind of demoralizing, I think.

I really don't get the concept of "badfic," unless it's *purposefully* bad. Otherwise, the author was trying his/her best, and is probably a novice. Well, more of a novice than all the other fanfic writers. *All* fanfic writers are novices, though. Anyone who goes pro probably wouldn't have the time or inclination to write fanfic anymore.

Anyway, I guess it's a sensitive topic. Everyone complains about "badfic" but few people take the time out to actually do anything about it -- send helpful, constructive criticism to the authors so they can actually improve their writing. I dare say the so-called badfic writers just think of themselves as...writers.

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

First...I'd like to use this topic in a new post. Do you mind if I snippetize a couple of things you said in your comment? Hmmm. Actually, after reading it again, I may just frame my question before and after, with your comment credited in the middle. Would you mind, or would you rather post as a topic in your own journal?

Actually, looking at it again I'm thinking I might split it into two topics, one on feedback and maybe one on badfic. Anyway, let me know. If you'd rather I didn't, I'll just post the topic without using your comment, though you've got some thought-provoking stuff there. :-)

[pjordha.livejournal.com]

Oh, please, be my guest! Post/cite/snippetize away!

[foxmonkey.livejournal.com]

Oh, please, be my guest! Post/cite/snippetize away!

I'm so pleased! I hoped you'd say yes. :-) You're right, it's a very touchy subject; it'll be interesting to see what kind of responses I get.