State

[alexisjane]

Oh god. Inbox at 395. I feel like my brain is going to fall out...but at least it's going down! : ) I'm not gonna make 0 tonight but I shall persevere!




So, it's taken 5 days for the latest part of my Were fic to get the same amount of kudos on AO3 as my BigBang has received in six months.

I am totally selfish when it comes to writing. I do it for myself and because I enjoy it and if people want to read it that's fine, so I don't worry about hits and stuff (esp. when there are fics with 356k hits out there, coz I'm never going to compete with that!), but it is interesting to me what people read and why.

I hope I've improved as a writer in six months but I'm sure I haven't that much. I have promoted the Were 'verse a bit more but does it make that much difference? Do people really wanna read domestic knotting 'verse more than romantic drama?

Part of me feels a bit gutted that something I worked so long and so hard on, gets less love than something I'm just writing for kicks...but then I guess I do actually love them both equally...and in the end that kinda thing really shouldn't matter. Plus I've received some wonderful comments about my BB so I can never be unhappy with the reception of, what is to all intents and purposes, my first novel.

Sometimes I wish I could see each person reading my stuff, see which bits they laughed at or hated or where they decided to quit...It would be harrowing but so, so interesting.

But then the temptation to write to a formula would probably sneak in, and writing to please other people...I'm just not ready for that yet.

It is kinda nice to get the love though : ) x

Comments

[somersault-j.livejournal.com]

I think you have to take in account that earlier parts of your were fic are already out there for a few months. So people know about it and they read the previous parts, probably subscribed to the verse. And as soon as you posted the new part, they were all over it. Which immediately lets the kudos explode.

I still think your BB was a masterpiece :)

AND SHOULD I EVEN COMMENT?? Because 395, okay 306 now, but woohoo :D

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

Maybe, although it wasn't on AO3, I only just put it up, but i guess people have been reading it on here so...idk

I was wondering whether the tags make a difference too. Like the BB was so hard to warn for where as the Were fic is no problem coz I'm not so invested in the twist element of it.

I'M BEING SO GOOD! I'm going to try to do 100 a day I think, I'll screen shot the 0 for you when I get it ; ) xxx

[somersault-j.livejournal.com]

Can you subscribe tags on AO3? That could be a reason. Since knotting is so popular.And I think the tags make a difference.

And yes, yes, I WANT THAT SCREENSHOT!!! :)

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

It's possible. i figured knotting would be a more niche thing but I guess the kink stuff is more popular.

You'll get it! ...eventually! : ) xx

[majestic-duxk.livejournal.com]

I don't really notice the kudos. Comments I like I think because there is an aspect of engagement and also because then you do know what someone enjoyed about it. It is one of the reasons I make great efforts to comment on stuff.

But even a wow I loved it, is nice to hear.

I think I have... Only 3 readers who read on both forums. And most of my posts here don't get any comments at all. Ah! That might be why I luke comments better too, because really lj is where I have spent most of my time, and there is no kudos here.

I know that for the rbb I am trying to read everything and where possible leave the comments here on lj.

And we'll done getting your inbox down! That's a monumental effort :-)

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I generally figure hits mean nothing, kudos means someone actually read it all the way through and comments are super awesome bonus! I have to say, I almost prefer having no kudos here coz then it makes me comment on what I've read (although I've been super slack with that lately, although I've really not been reading here for the last few months)

I feel like AO3 is really just a fic repository for me, and although I read a lot over there, it's not somewhere to engage with people. But most of the people on my flist on here don't read my fic and I don't read theirs. Which is weird.

Somer is going to have an aneurism if I don't do something about it...she's been freaking out about it for so long! : ) x

[anactoria.livejournal.com]

It's weird, but I quite often find that kind of thing is the case! In both previous fandoms I've been heavily involved in, my most popular fics were slightly cracky fusions written as kinkmeme fills, while heavier stuff that I'd put a lot of thought into got nowhere near as much attention.

I don't know if it's partly that that kind of stuff is easier to react to -- just leave a flying kudos or a "cute!", whereas more involved stories seem to demand a more involved response. IDK. XD

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I think you're right. I tend to read fluffy bits and pieces first thing in the morning and at night when the last thing I want to do is get down to anything serious or lengthy.

In a way it's made me feel more confident, knowing that I can just enjoying telling a story rather than necessarily have to sweat blood over a fic for people to enjoy it : ) xx

[yonkyu.livejournal.com]

YOU ARE AN AMAZING WRITER!!! The stories I have read for you are wonderful. The emotion that pours out of your stories are amazing. You should be proud of the accomplishments you have been with your writing. The way you see your characters and create their story is breathtaking. The voice and pure emotion that you have rolling off your characters, I can relate to in real life. The emotions of the story, the characters, the plot, and situations you create; are beautiful and powerful.

I want you to know that your writing has improved!!! Its stronger!! Its powerful!!! It sends a message, whether you meant to put in there or not!! Its realistic!!!!

NEVER GIVE UP!!! You have talent!! You have original ideas, thoughts, and plot lines for your stories. Keep writing!!!

[roxymissrose.livejournal.com]

Forgive me for butting in, but your BB? I *LOVED*! And flailed all over your comment page.

and this: Part of me feels a bit gutted that something I worked so long and so hard on, gets less love than something I'm just writing for kicks...but then I guess I do actually love them both equally.. is, trust me, too familiar a thought. :)

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

You're never butting in, Hunny : )
God, I still go roll around in your lovely comments sometimes : ) You're just the sweetest :*)

I think it's just the way of things...it's just a weird feeling to get used to...esp considering what I'm writing for this years BB... O_o

heehee : ) x

[ephermeralk.livejournal.com]

I absolutely believe that people are more interested in werewolf knotting porn, haha

I mean, not me, because we all know how I feel about knotting, but I have no doubt should I ever be enslaved coerced into writing such a thing for like, charity, or someone's birthday because they hate me, it would get tons of hits.

That's why you gotta write what you want to.

I personally like my self indulgent fics the most, which are often the ones that other people like less, and sure, it kinda sucks, but actually I'm somewhat over that. what can I say? My specific tastes don't often align with what's popular in fandom *shrugs*.

edited for html fail

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

It's so weird though, right?!

And it's not even that it's a fic about knotting, it's the same kinda thing as my bb but with them being physically bonded because they're Weres rather than psychologically bonded because *mumblemumblespoilermumble*

I guess just having knotting in the warnings is enough though.

I never thought I'd end up writing something like this but I think now the "What if..." has got a hold of me, I have to see it through. And I am enjoying it, I could never write something i hate if someone asked me to.

I cannot think of anything you've written that I don't like?...I think there was that one humiliation thing I didn't read but apart from that...I think you should always write what you love. It's supposed to be for fun after all : ) xx

[wings128.livejournal.com]

I am totally selfish when it comes to writing. I do it for myself and because I enjoy it and if people want to read it that's fine
*\o/* WHEEEEEE! Amen to that, sister! :D

Sometimes I wish I could see each person reading my stuff, see which bits they laughed at or hated or where they decided to quit...It would be harrowing but so, so interesting.
And this right here is why it's so wonderful when people take the time to leave comments/replies. Not only for the joy of knowing your creation has been read instead of being lost in the ether, but to find out if you translated your vision enough for others to enjoy it in the same way you did when you were creating it.

I suppose there is that worry that formula and writing-to-please would sneak in, and on occasion I have fretted that a particular story won't be received the way I hope it will, but I try to remember that my loyalty is to the story and its characters before it is to the readers.

Oh what fun it is to be a writer, lol :D

[alexisjane.livejournal.com]

I try to remember that my loyalty is to the story and its characters

Exactly!! Like with my bb, I agonised over whether or not to keep the last line in, coz I knew it would upset people and potentially put them off but in the end it felt wrong to exclude it because it was right for the story.

I would eventually like to write for money and i think that's where I get a bit scared coz if you get a publisher then you have to put out what they want, when they want it and that sounds terrifying to me.

And right now I'm still enjoying myself a bit too much : ) x

[wings128.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you left that line in, but I definitely understand the heartache and indecision that comes as part and parcel of the process.

When the time's right to publish, hun, you'll know it, and in the meantime keep having fun. The last thing you want is for it to become a job O.O

♥

[tifaching.livejournal.com]

There is no telling what readers are going to respond to, that's for sure. And it's different on different sites too. Some of my most commented on stories on LJ have less hits on AO3 than they do comments on LJ.

As far as the knotting versus romance goes....my fics on AO3 with the most hits and kudos are Acoustics. You have to go a long freakin' way down to get to something that's not violent and ultra kinky and even further to get to anything gen. What I consider some of the best things I've written have the least amount of hits and kudos. So, it's all in the eye of the beholder. People read what they read.

The kudos system too....I love comments. They are wonderful for letting you know what the people who are kind enough to leave them liked about the story. Or, in some cases, didn't like. But I can get behind the kudos because every day I get some on stories that are years old and if anyone is still reading them on LJ and liking them, they're not letting me know. Which is okay. There's no law that says you have to comment on anything. But still. Kudos on something posted four years ago really makes my day.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

I understand the feeling hun, honestly. I know how hard you worked on the BB piece, and sometimes a much as we don't want to admit it we would really like our kudos/comments/hits to reflect the amount of stress and blood, sweat, and tears that went into the story. It sounds wrong to say it out loud, yet we all think it and don't admit it, but there have been pieces I've written over the years that nearly broke me and when posted I got literally one comment on a few of them and it does hurt.

There's a possibility that the were!fic is something that people have read parts of here and followed it there. I know it's rare to get the same coverage on each forum. There is a chance that where your BB piece was relatively MASSIVE people have looked at it and gone, "I'll read that when I have a couple of hours spare where I won;t get disturbed." and it languishes on their bookmarks list *hugs*

You know how I feel about your BB piece, it is a work of art, and it should be given it's own monument! xx

[siennavie.livejournal.com]

I've noticed that; kink is popular, and sometimes kink trumps quality of storytelling and writing. That's the way the ball bounces. Maybe kink is easier to digest. Whatever the case, fandom is just a kinky lot :)