Held Hostage... The ubiquitous feedback rant--but it's
not what you think
[I almost titled this piece: "Send feedback or else!" But I didn't
want folks to get the idea I condone that kind of behavior.]
How many times have you seen a story pop up in your in-box that said a variation of "Send me feedback or I won't finish this story/write the next part, etc."? What did you do? Did you immediately send a note begging for more? Or did you just *encourage* the person in a more restrained manner?
I'll tell you what I did. I deleted that sucker and the couple dozen that came before it, just as I'll delete the dozens (or hundreds) that come after it. For two simple reasons, 1) I don't appreciate being blackmailed for fic and b) I don't like to read things that are unfinished.
Now, you might say that "blackmail" is a strong word, and that I'm being too harsh. Maybe the person wants to know if there's an interest in what s/he writes. Maybe she's insecure about her skills with the pairing/fandom, or she's unsure of herself as a writer. Well, yeah so? We all have moments of insecurity (and some of us are wrapped in blanket of insecurity every day of our lives). I write some very obscure pairings and fandoms, and I do it because I want to, *not* because I expect a lot of feedback. I cherish every bit whether it's a detailed critique or just "I have no idea who these guys are but I enjoyed it anyway". I save it and reread it, and revel in the warm fuzzy that it gives me. And hey, I'm only human-- I'd love to get more. BUT I don't *expect* it. I share the stories freely with little expectation about what kind of response that I'll get from them (my hopes and intentions are something else entirely different from my expectations ;-). And no, I didn't always feel this way. I used to get depressed if/when I didn't get much response to something I wrote. I would feel absolutely worthless, and wonder why I bothered to post my stuff at all if no one was going to read it. I believe I've grown quite a bit since then (but as in all things, I could be wrong).
Or maybe I've reached that delightful nirvana of just not giving a damn anymore. No, I don't believe that's the case or I wouldn't have two or three beta readers on each story. Even though I tell the stories for my benefit, I'm also communicating with anyone who reads them. So I feel compelled to make each piece as good as I can make it (and no, I don't think any of it's particularly great and I'm hardly ever truly satisfied with anything I write--but that's beside the point). Although I'm too lazy to look up the actual quote, Strunk or someone once said something like, "The true writer writes for an audience of one", so I have tried to keep that in mind. But if I'm completely honest, I write for a few more people than just myself. Depending on the fandom or the specific story, I do have other people in mind when I write. One of my closest friends gets pre-beta snippets of everything I write (even stuff that still isn't and may never be finished), so she's almost an invisible writing partner since I bounce ideas off her and find out how things work before I'm committed to them. I'm also usually writing with my beta readers and a few other friends who may have a particular interest in that story/fandom in mind. They may know who they are or they may have no idea. And it doesn't make much difference if someone I thought would like a particular story doesn't or rather doesn't *tell* me if she liked it or not. No expectations.
Feedback is an amazing and wonderful thing. It lets the writer know their words didn't fall into some black hole of oblivion. It can let a writer know what works and what doesn't, thereby helping her improve at her craft (or not, if she's not interested in improvement. Whatever.). And it just *feels* pretty damned good when someone says s/he likes something you wrote. So I have no problem with asking for or encouraging feedback, although seeing someone actually *beg* for it makes me uncomfortable. What makes my hackles rise is when someone *demands* it, and threatens not to write any more if s/he doesn't get it. My answer is, invariably, "Fine, don't write any more. There's always someone else willing to fill the void."
If you really want feedback, my advice is to get it before you post. Find a beta reader or three who are willing to help you polish your story while offering you some support by telling you what works and what doesn't. When you post a story that is as good as you can make it, people will respond--and if they don't, you can rest assured in the knowledge that you did all you could and they're all twits who don't *get* your particular genius. <g> Or everyone was busy and just didn't have time, because when you posted there was a slash con going on, it was finals week or a major international holiday, or income taxes were due. Whatever rationalization works for you. I've got a whole bag full of them, myself.
RANT WITHIN A RANT:
I want to take time out right now to encourage first time posters to
please, please, PLEASE use a template. If you don't know what the
template for the list is, pay attention to what other writers use.
And if you really don't know what a template *is*, it's the form at the
beginning of the story that tells all the essential information: Title,
Author's name/pseudonym, Fandom, Pairing, Rating, Disclaimers, Warnings,
etc.--basically anything you have to say about the story. Now, a
few lists I'm on post the template on a regular basis so the writers on
those lists have no excuse for not using it. I'm on at least one
list that seems completely unfamiliar with the concept and seeing as it's
not a "pairing specific" list, I'm constantly frustrated with not having
any idea what the story is before I read it. I like lots of different
things in the stories I read, different pairings, varied levels of schmoop
or darkness, diverse ratings, whatever. Sometimes I'm in the mood
for something specific and it's lovely to be able to glance at the template
at see that the story has this particular thing I want (or not, but it
has something I might be in the mood for later).
I encouraged first timers to do it, but ALL writers should use templates,
in my not even remotely humble opinion. The template *sells* the
story for a lot of people who choose not to buy a pig in a poke.
If you'll reach a much wider audience with just a small bit of *marketing*,
why would you not want to do it?
END RANT WITHIN A RANT
Now to get back to this "demanding feedback to finish" problem. It seems that there are an increasing number of unfinished stories hitting the lists lately, and the majority of them use either blatant demands or more subtle begging for feedback in order to write/post the rest of the story. And frankly, not only is it manipulative, it seems downright rude to me. Surely you wouldn't go to a birthday party and hand the guest of honor a present, let them unwrap half of it, and then snatch it away demanding that they show you the proper gratitude before allowing them to see the gift in its entirety. I certainly hope not, anyway.
And if the person writing the story has no idea where it's going why on earth should *I* care what happens? I guess I should admit to writing stories that are somewhat open-ended, sometimes with the intention of writing a sequel. But I do try to make sure they have some sort of immediate resolution, and almost never use the dreaded words "To Be Continued". The reason for that is simple: I have the attention span of a hyperactive mosquito, and by the time I finish a story, I'm often tired of that set of characters and ready to move on to something else. I also have this fear that every piece of fic that I post will be my last. (TMI? Don't care. Nobody reads these things anyway.)
Now all bitching aside, I do on occasion read and enjoy posted works-in-progress, but I have to really trust the writer. It's no insult to those writers that I don't read, but more like a compliment to those few I do--who are mostly friends in the first place. There have been a couple of massive on-going serials that had me completely mesmerized and hanging on the edge of my seat waiting for the next chapter/post. They tapped into some hidden soap opera-loving part of me, I guess--the part that worried whether Mary Ryan and Jack Fenelli would ever get together--and yes, I was very young when I watched Ryan's Hope, practically a sprout. ;-) In those cases, the idea of reading the entire finished product at once seems a bit overwhelming now, because of the sheer massiveness of the fic. So, as always, there are exceptions to the rule.
So for our final thought: Send me feedback if you want to and I'll adore you for it. Or don't and I'll not worry overmuch about it. As long as I keep getting ideas, I'm going to keep writing either way.