Public Transport, Writing Fic & AO3

[impulsereader]

Just a couple quick thoughts which I'd like to exorcise.

Dear CTA,
Please raise your one-way fare from $2.25 to $2.50.  This way, you still get my entire $5 bill, but I don't feel ripped off for that $0.50 every single time.  Please see my latest fic for reference.
Cordially yours,
an occasional rider

Readers seem to prefer the fic that mugged me and stole my brain's wallet, which I proceeded to write in the space of a day and a half, to the one which I wrote over the course of a few weeks, crafted very carefully, and for which I spent two entire days agonizing over individual plot points.  Seriously, that last bit about the British Library and the book excerpts I nearly drove myself crazy over.

The problem with AO3 telling my how many 'hits' and how many 'kudos' have been left is that it leaves me with the distinct impression that the delta between the two didn't actually enjoy the story.

Right, not thinking about any of that anymore - exorcised.

Comments

[f-m-r-l.livejournal.com]

There are a number of different things that feed into the amount of feedback, readership, and expressed appreciation a piece receives. When something is posted, how many people are online looking for something when they'd still consider it fresh, how popular the pairing/style/setting is (sometimes there's overkill, sometimes something hasn't hit the public interest yet), the title, what else is going on in the world, all these things and more can factor into the reception of a fic. Personally, I sometimes am least likely to comment on pieces I like best because I feel as though I need to contribute some meaningful feedback, and I'm often too tired/too stumped for words/too preoccupied with something on my schedule until it feels as though it's too late. For example, right now I'm sadly out of sleep and have been catching typos, etc., that are comically bad, which probably means there are others I'm not catching at all. Not to mention the commas. Oh, the commas. And the run on sentences.

Where do I find your AO3 postings?

Ao3

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

I logged out then searched for myself - this is what resulted. If it doesn't work, please do let me know. Just a a few but I'm letting myself write now so it should expand.

http://archiveofourown.org/users/impulsereader/pseuds/impulsereader

Yes, the timing is so terribly odd, and it makes me want to periodically pimp my fic, but that seems self-indulgent.

Guh. Fic which I correct as I read is fic I tend to avoid. I cannot promise worthy use of commas, though. In fic especially I am trying for a blend of reading/viewing/hearing in which I end up hand-waving grammar when I really shouldn't.

I'm not even going to worry about feedback here as it is so individual. I will say that I think writers are more likely to leave it and then make it more valuable. A tool shared within the trade.

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Readers seem to prefer the fic that mugged me and stole my brain's wallet, which I proceeded to write in the space of a day and a half, to the one which I wrote over the course of a few weeks, crafted very carefully, and for which I spent two entire days agonizing over individual plot points.

Welcome to fanfic writing.

It's really hard to gauge what happens after we post. I've gotten twice the feedback for 100 word drabbles, mostly, than I have for long multi-chapter posts. And the "kudos" feature on AO3 drives me crazy. About a tenth of readers seem to hit the button - why? We just don't know. It's hard to deny that comments are motivating, and a lot of the fun of putting in the effort to write is sharing your interest with others, discussing things in comments.

IJDK. Keep writing, though! I'm catching up ♥

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

Apparently I am now unable to stop writing.

I really like the story that appeared fully formed, leaping from my brain much as Athena did Zeus's, and am trying not to hold against it the fact that I didn't have to research, plot, or come up with any insane twists worthy of Sherlock in order to birth it.

Yeah, that stupid kudos button is my new least favorite thing. I like that it tells you when someone bookmarks a story. I'm logiccing out that this means someone wants to read it again eventually so they must have actually enjoyed it.

[whiskeydaisy.livejournal.com]

Remember that a person can only leave kudos once, but the hit count tracks people who re-read your stories. There isn't really a relationship between the two, as frustrating and ratio-calculating as it can be to try and figure one out.

Feedback

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

True. I only spent a few days going onto AO3 multiple times and holding my breath while I hit refresh. LOLing at myself. As with my first beta experience, after a little while my sense of humor came to my rescue.

I'm pretty new to this 'fic writing' business and I'm enjoying the heck out of learning my way around. It's an odd sort of thing, really. The actual writing itself is a pretty great reward, but I'm also chuffed in the extreme by feedback.

Your icon is gorgeous. Did you take the pic?

Re: Feedback

[whiskeydaisy.livejournal.com]

Nope - I do some almost-macro photography but I don't have a lens that's that clear, that close.

Ficwriting is a strange and marvelous place; I took five years or so off, but the pull was too much to resist. AO3 offers a lot more data than just posting on LJ gives, but it's also frustrating (for me anyway) in that it's really hard to figure out what's driving the traffic. I try to be detached about it, but - well, I am self-competitive at heart. :D