Incomplete, Hiatus, Cancelled · 1:42pm Sep 28th, 2014
Can anyone enlighten me as to why, when there's a story that hasn't been updated for a year, it will be labeled incomplete instead of just changing it to "on hiatus" or "cancelled?"
When I see a fic that's been silent for a year, and it's still just incomplete, I usually assume that it's a dead fic. But I shouldn't really have to, should I? People should be able to let everyone know by changing the status if a fic is dead, or if it's going to be picked up again later, right?
I just don't get why people don't use tools made readily available for them. Is it just laziness? I guess if the fic really is dead, they might not care, but new readers are probably gonna show up eventually if it's rated high enough. It just seems polite to let them know what they're getting into.
Laziness, or wishful thinking on the author's part.
Also, I plead guilty. I leave Luna's Librarian incomplete in part because it's not a linear narrative. It's a collection to which I add whenever I feel inspired, which hasn't happened lately. I did try to mention that in the description at least.
It's probably due to the fact that a lot of the time, the authors of said stories don't even come to fimfiction anymore.
Sorry if this is ungodly bitter, but this is my take on the general trend. So sad watching amazing fics go uncompleted. Seen some amazing authors break down thinking they're not good enough to continue writing.
1) Author X becomes a bit disinterested in writing the next chapter, or just tired.
2) Author X starts thinking to himself "I'll just work on this other thing for awhile and I'll start writing the chapter next week."
3) Author X doesn't meet his goal. And the guilt starts gnawing on him. (Feeling bad about abandoning his readers)
4) He copes with it by avoiding the fic entirely.
The biggest red flag that a fic is in trouble is when the writer starts apologizing for it being late.
In my opinion that should be an automatic feature. If a fic hasn't been updated in a year pop a notification for the author a week ahead with the option to decline this change, if there's no response then change it to 'oh hiatus' when the anniversary rolls around. 'Twould make searching and categorizing fics far easier.
However, that is simply an opinion and would add more workload to our hard working admins.