A little rant on the fanfic readership. . .

[catscradle]

Okay, so I'm going though fanfics on a few different lists and I'm dumbfounded by all the horrid fics out there that get masses of comments. This is not new, I know, but after 7 years it still shocks me to see it. Praising the shit only reinforces it in the writers.

It's a good experiment on behavioralism - as I've seen a number of decent and even great writers slowly decline in their skills till what's left is a parody of their former work.

Why?

My guess is that they're looking for the applause and it ain't with quality writing. Or maybe that writing is a lot of work and they can get more comments if they just wing it and toss out any old thing. Shame on them - but that's their perogative, and if they no longer want to work on it than fine. But WHY, OH WHY do people continue to praise it? Why should any writer get to rest on their laurels because of their name alone? If a product stops producing quality, why keep buying it? Are we as a fandom so wrapped in loyalty to certain people that we're incapable of objective judgement anymore?

It's this trend that becomes very disheartening to new writers in the fandom. It's difficult for anyone new to break in unless they know someone. So many times I see GOOD writers just leave because no one will give them the time of day - why? No one will read a fic from someone they don't know. Or if they don't subscribe to a fanon pairing. And if they don't act like an asshole, all giddy and praising of the crap out there, they don't really make friends in the fandom.

Alight, I'm through bitching. ..

Comments

[babaca.livejournal.com]

I feel your pain. And I do feel bad sometimes that I have avoided lots of stories from new writers mainly because there's a fair share of new writers who could use some help. Was that diplomatic enough. In some cases, making suggestions (like getting a beta reader and pointing out some possible pitfalls) help, although some get offended.

Yeah some well beloved writers have become parodies of themselves. I don't know if it's intentional on their part or not. Maybe it is brand loyalty. Or maybe the adoring squad just don't want to offend.

[catscradle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, there's a LOT of newbies that are just. . . not so good. And it's hard to read them and make suggestions and comments as it's difficult to know if you can do that without crushing them (lots of nelly writers out there *G*). Unfortunately, they get a quite a bit of replies as to how great they are and that they are goddesses and so forth, which *really* doesn't help them at all.

But some of the good new writers just get passed by completely, which is sad. If the writing isn't giggly and juvinile, not many, if any, will comment. And I don't say this to make certain people feel bad - I don't have time to read it all and weed through the fics either - I'd just like to know why they get ignored completely while the crap gets a slew of praise letters.

I'm just on a rant, sorry. Whenever I read the lists and boards, I get irritated by the fandoms. I guess I should just expect it - the same goes for published cheesy romance novels vs literature.