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Post by shywriter on Mar 31, 2007 9:59:12 GMT -5
Since Shy's thread has already been "abused" for the BBWW discussion I just thought it would be the right place to put my opinion. Just hope it's okay. Always okay to come visit! So hard to know, but given how quiet it's been everywhere (even here!) it would be nice to have all discussion in one place, so each comment or thought would be more likely to spark the next response. I like the more multi-media aspect here, but admit I miss having each comment on my favorite topics delivered to me via e-mail -- now *that* was handy! (at least it was when FFN was *working!* : Otherwise, I think DAR is a good place to have our discussions. For ease of checking in (and in the hope that we have so much input we go beyond the "ten replies" limit of recent posts) maybe we should create one fic discussion thread, so we all know where to check? Heck, even call it BBWW-- even I woudn't miss that one! And it would be a good rule of thumb that if a fic-related discussion were also popping up elsewhere (say, in a writer's thread, following a recent posting or such) that a "go to" reference could be dropped in there too as a signpost to more fic discussion. ...shall we?
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Post by lisa316 on Mar 31, 2007 11:54:40 GMT -5
Let me reiterate: I don't care where we're talking as long as we're talking!I think part of the problem is that a lot of people left the fandom right about the time I turned up (but I'll try not to take it personally ) Real life is a terrible thing, but I suppose we all have to deal with it sometimes. I just fervently hope that the more talented authors who went AWOL eventually return to finish their stories! (Perhaps an e-mail flooding campaign? Is that considered stalking? ;D) Anybody who can figure out a way to entice them back, I'm all for it. Anyway, authors were lost, contributing to the quiet. Another cause for the quiet seems to be Writers Pulse "going dark" and switching to e-mail, which is a temporary condition. (and worth it, folks, trust me!) I do like DAR because I have my own little thread where I can get silly and self-promotive and help found shirtless Logan clubs and I know nobody will get mad at me if things go off topic, but hey-I'll go wherever you guys are. If it makes Mari happy, I will post at BBWW. I'll post here if Shy promises not to get crabby with me. I'll post in a new thread if that's where the action is. So...um...what should we talk about?
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tigrou
Devoted Fan
It's all good, all the time
Posts: 149
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Post by tigrou on Mar 31, 2007 12:00:22 GMT -5
I agree! I'd post everywhery you people want me to. And there is no such thing as a general "fanfic discussion" thread at DAR....Let's start one. And once Writer's Pulse has started posting (I'm still not completely convinced that it really exists.... ;D) we can switch back to BBWW.
What does AWOL mean?
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tigrou
Devoted Fan
It's all good, all the time
Posts: 149
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Post by tigrou on Mar 31, 2007 12:45:42 GMT -5
Shy, I'm sorry. I'm not brave enough to open the new thread. But if you do it, I'll post there and try to spark new ideas and be creative. OK?
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Post by shywriter on Mar 31, 2007 12:49:00 GMT -5
Ha! The beauty part of this being in my thread is that I can take a question and beat it to death! ;D As in: alert! (well, not really an angry soapbox, but the smilie is so cute!) I just fervently hope that the more talented authors who went AWOL eventually return to finish their stories! (Perhaps an e-mail flooding campaign? Is that considered stalking? ;D) Anybody who can figure out a way to entice them back, I'm all for it. A serious response, if you can take it: if you really want an author back, a short, sweet "hey I love your work and hope you'll find your way back" would be appreciated by just about anyone, I'd think. Maybe the best place to do it is by using one of their stories to send it as a review (but it's public so be particularly sweet in your begging!) On the other hand: if they do come back on something of a regular basis, posting when they can, or if they're writing other stories and have not updated the one *you* want, you may want to temper your demands. It really is flattering to know that someone is waiting for an update or likes what you write, but when you've just gone two nights without sleep to post something, ignored family and work and bodily needs to get out a chapter, and you get an immediate response demanding that more be done (for free, as we all know!) what is meant as flattery can be deflating. I mentioned to someone here the other day that a couple weekends ago I spent over seventeen of my waking hours on DA fic-- getting a chapter written & posted & finishing a beta for someone. I love this stuff and would do it 24 hrs a day if I could. But until it pays the rent, plants the garden, cleans the windows, has dinner with friends, finishes office projects, buys groceries, takes out the trash and is attentive to hubby for me, I'm not going to have many 17 hour weekends for fic, let alone all the time needed to do fic right. How people with children find time to write remains a mystery to me! And as much as we hate to imagine it, after a while, some writers just lose interest in writing DA. I know a couple of the very popular, very talented ones from a few years back who have either moved on to different fandoms or have moved on from writing altogether. No matter how many times you go begging, it won't change anything. They'd probably appreciate knowing they still have fans, and that new readers are enjoying their work, but we have to remember that some folks just ain't comin' back. I hate it too. Finally-- they may just actually have writer's block, having come up dry with no idea how to finish what they started and no new ideas to offer. Without any lectures about starting a story without at least an idea for the ending in mind ( ) they might want to start writing again even more than you want them to! So be mindful that your intended flattery might have the opposite effect. So: gentle reminders that a writer is loved? An "I miss you" note might be nice. More than that, you might be unwittingly adding to the writer's decision to stay away. Lecture over! We now return you to our regularly scheduled program...
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Post by lisa316 on Mar 31, 2007 13:15:26 GMT -5
Let me back up by stating that I never meant to suggest we harass, nag, or overwhelm fanfic authors. The stalking comment I made was just a joke, obviously a bad one. Anything they contribute is appreciated.
I was under the impression that the discussion was about why BBWW went quiet, why people didn't feel comfortable posting there, and how things could be revived. I was merely pointing out that a lot of authors seem to have left the fandom entirely, not just a particular posting sight. I think that was a major factor contributing to the quiet at BBWW that everyone has been trying to analyze lately. I was merely trying to express my sadness at this development and expressing my wish that they would see fit to return someday.
If my comments were misinterpreted or I did not make myself clear, I apologize.
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Post by shywriter on Mar 31, 2007 14:15:39 GMT -5
Let me back up by stating that I never meant to suggest we harass, nag, or overwhelm fanfic authors. The stalking comment I made was just a joke, obviously a bad one. Anything they contribute is appreciated. If my comments were misinterpreted or I did not make myself clear, I apologize. No, no, no! *sigh*See, I always do this, go off on a rant and make people thing I'm p.o.'d -- I'm not, was merely trying to throw in an alternative POV -- although, admittedly wrote after having been in the dilemma lately of getting clamors for certain stories-- which I love getting -- right after spending way too much time on fic, not sleeping, yada yada-- which makes me feel even more guilty for neglecting it all. PLEASE post whatever you like here, and yes we were talking about lost authors-- I know you're new but people here far longer than either of us can tell us all about all the authors who wandered off, never to return... it seems to be part of the culture here. The wandering off is followed by fans trying to figure out how to get them back. I really just hoped that anyone reading the post and thinking they might go visit an author to ask them back might give another thought or two to how best to do it. (slinking back into my hole...)
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Post by mari on Mar 31, 2007 17:19:26 GMT -5
Tsss, here I sit at the laptop the whole day, waiting for distraction and nothing happens here, and of course, the minute when I go out for a few hours to listen to a beautiful concert , you start having interesting discussions. L If it makes Mari happy, I will post at BBWW. Nope, just ignore me. I don’t have a founded opinion. It took me some time to find the "ten most recent posts" here at DAR (but that might just be ME). ... No, not just you. ;D And of course one of the big advantages of DAR is the search-function. Even a very fast reader can spent way too much time searching for something at BBWW. And it would be a good rule of thumb that if a fic-related discussion were also popping up elsewhere (say, in a writer's thread, following a recent posting or such) that a "go to" reference could be dropped in there too as a signpost to more fic discussion. And have a special smiley, something like: Okay, I’m not creative at all today, must result from reading books all day telling me I should be stupid…. if you really want an author back, a short, sweet "hey I love your work and hope you'll find your way back" would be appreciated by just about anyone, I'd think. Maybe the best place to do it is by using one of their stories to send it as a review (but it's public so be particularly sweet in your begging!) So: gentle reminders that a writer is loved? An "I miss you" note might be nice. More than that, you might be unwittingly adding to the writer's decision to stay away. (Funny that you mention this Shy, because I actually had made the resolution not to nag you about your stories anymore (even more so since you betaing mine must take away precious writing time) but don’t think I’ve been in any way successful )So you personally , would draw the line at just a senctence like “I miss you” (which, where I come from, in this form only would be said in a highly personal and imtimate situation or not at all), not details of why a person likes the story or a ‘hope you’re well’…? Because I admit that I’m one of this people asking for updates, for example reviewing older chapters and politely (or what I hope is perceived as ‘polite’ – though I’m well aware that miscommunication is especially easy in written communication) mentioning that I’d love to see an update. And this is a good place to ask something: Pretty often, when I review I asked myself if a sentence like ‘Looking forward to more’ (which is pretty much my standard ending for reviews just because it’s true) might be seen as in any way ungrateful, because after all the author just has posted a great chapter... Of course this leads to the question of how to review in the right way… Is a review saying only ‘More please’ impolite? I personally never thought so because after all maybe the reviewer is busy with real life and then it’s nice he/she reviews at all. To which grade is it okay to say something like ‘I wondered what this or that character thought in this moment’? (How lengthy are reviews allowed to be? ) Always wondered about that too, figured something like missing? Blue, I really I like your signature-sentence. There’s truth in it ;D.
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Post by shywriter on Mar 31, 2007 20:31:33 GMT -5
Guys, I'm sorry. Really.
I never meant to speak for everyone, or to discourage comments or the like. Or reviews. Especially reviews. They are a writer's only "royalties" and I'd hate to think I contributed in someone getting fewer.
By all means, encourage your faves. Do so however and in whatever way you think is best.
~S~
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Post by dzero on Mar 31, 2007 22:20:56 GMT -5
This thread has become entertaining for me ;D. I don't know the record for most internet message board apologies to each other in a single thread , but I think you've got a shot ;D. AWOL = Absent With Out Leave an american military term for people who leave without permission or go missing. Just so I know, who are some of the authors you guys are talking about? Who have gone AWOL without finishing their stories? Are these DAR members or from your fan fiction site?
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Post by shywriter on Apr 1, 2007 20:46:39 GMT -5
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Post by Blue on Apr 2, 2007 6:21:17 GMT -5
A new chapter of Asylum sounds great!!! Will use my lunch break to read. Mari wrote: Phew, I'm glad I'm not the only one who overlooked that feature. Definitely have to try the search-function. I really wasn't sure whether I should use this quote. I love it but it sounds a bit pessimistic (and I'm really not a pessimistic person). Glad you like it .
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Post by mari on Apr 2, 2007 11:05:45 GMT -5
Good thing I read this before going out of the house, kind of a counterbalance to my crankiness with a rather annoying day (starting with banging the car door into the bridge of my poor nose ) Phew, I'm glad I'm not the only one who overlooked that feature. Even worse I was so dense to miss the whole review-thing on FFnet for about a year (both the red link beside the author's name and the ‘submit-review’ window in the story) . I really wasn't sure whether I should use this quote. I love it but it sounds a bit pessimistic (and I'm really not a pessimistic person). Glad you like it . So it would be more fitting for me. ;D I’ll reveal my ignorance by saying that I don’t know by whom it is. (I didn’t even know whether it was a quote at all or your personal wisdom) Sounds a bit like Murphy’s law. ;D
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Post by shywriter on Apr 14, 2007 14:18:18 GMT -5
Sometimes ya just gotta know how to beat FFN at its own game... Chapter 3 of Unmasked! has been posted...
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Post by shywriter on May 5, 2007 13:22:11 GMT -5
More pre-flannel! Chapter 6 of Asylum II is up. ~S~
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