Oct
18th
2023
The worst feelings on Fimfiction · 11:32am Oct 18th, 2023
Feeling great! /Sarcasm. So I thought, why not blog. Fim has a lot of highs and lows so I thought I'd post what I think the lows are cause why not.
-Posting a story and getting very little attention.
-Getting dislikes without any comments. (Seriously, how do people expect improvement without voicing what the problem is?)
-Losing likes.
-Even worse, having likes turn into dislikes.
-When stories that deserve more attention:
The Voice in the Water ·
337k words
· 554
5 ·
8.1k views
get less than they should. (Yes, I'm aware it has a good bit of likes and views, but for how long it's been up, it should have at least triple its numbers.
-Vice versa the last one. When stories that are completely okay get an insane amount of attention.
There are probably more things. What makes you annoyed here on Fim?
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Hoofprintz · 172 views
·
I'm sorry, but I do not feel annoyed with anything. It might be a boring take, but as a reader (one day I would read more, I hope), I see enormous, even copious amount of different content for every taste possible, what's there is not to like? And likes or dislikes do not really measure the quality of the story, tbh...
As a creator, on the other hand, I sort of surrendered to the thought that my stories won't get much traction or likes, so I can't be bothered with that either. I didn't try to make them with general public in mind anyway, and that means only that I free to not pull punches. Cooking up stuff for the Nightmare Night now...
5751091
Why apologize? Everyone has their own opinions.
Tastes are different, no debate there, however I'm speaking more in a technical sense. Stephanie Meyer is clearly not as technically sound as say Tolkien or King, but boy did Meyer blow up with Twilight. (Which I do enjoy a lot btw, team Carlisle forever.) I mean look at Bedman. His writing is nutty and doesn't get as much attention as it should either.
Like or dislikes measure an audiences enjoyment of a story. It obviously bears no weight on quality. I don't know why that would have to be brought up.
Who is making stories with the audience in mind? (Rhetorical question I'm VERY AWARE of authors here on Fim that do that.) I mean what self respecting writer does?
Same. Got my 3rd one shot coming out Friday.
5751093
That was an opener to the speech that might be not relevant to your personal frustrations.
You first brought up losing likes or gaining dislikes, so I shared my own thoughts on their relevance. That relevance is rather fickle, sometimes.
Uh, anyone who wants to get attention, especially if they want to improve their technique, get necessary feedback that lets you know that you did a good job, or I don't know, anyone who sees it not only as a hobby but a form of art to be viewed?
I want to communicate that it is absolutely normal to be wanted to be read. 😒
And it's normal to not have this as a priority, and that means, taking lack of attention to the writing (one of your annoyances) in stride, and not to be bothered with it. Sort of duality going on here.
You know, on second thought, I totally agree with annoyance about lack of comments when someone downvotes your stuff, so there's that.
5751097
I still don't know how to do that quote thing lol.
On their relevance to quality, which there is none. On their relevance to a person enjoying or having an issue with a story very much so. And while that issue can be a fickle one, it is still an issue in that person's mind.
Anyone who wants to get attention not on the merits of their ideas or technique but purely on pandering is not a self respecting writer, in my opinion, at least.
I will die on the hill that if being read is not a "priority" one wouldn't be posting on a public forum. Now we can argue until the cows come home what "priority" entails, but getting attention is something that authors here enjoy, whether it be good or bad. Is that presumptuous of me? Possibly. Like I said, will I die on that hill? Most definitely. That's action speaking louder than words imo.
5751100
Its here
media.discordapp.net/attachments/545563128939937812/1164187600484061215/image.png?ex=65424d31&is=652fd831&hm=dc6ce678334b6305f0cd8580c5b2979faeb50908c2b51e245bbb28d40248fc43&=
5751101
Oh the little quote? Lemme try...
Huh! Nifty. I learned something new.
Thank ya kindly!
I think what I hate the most are rude negative reviews. Basically, different variations of: "I didn't like your story because I think you made a mistake on X part, and you made that mistake beacause you are a dumbtard, you have no idea what you are doing and you are not a writer. Also, be grateful I'm giving you this critique; if you aren't, then you are a crybaby who doesn't accept negative opinions." That has never happened to me (at the moment), but I hate when I see readers doing this to authors.
5751106
YES! I've seen stuff like this and I agree completely. It's not hard to be kind and constructive, but some people obviously have trouble with it.
I've had a lot of shitty feelings here. Most of it is ego stuff. For example:
-Someone taking an idea I tried to write, and doing it better;
-Negative appreciation (i.e. using specifics), where the critic is correct on every point;
-Other authors getting praise I feel I'm entitled to (darnit!) but which I don't receive;
-Feeling like my work belongs in a trunk.
Maybe this isn't what you mean. I don't get razzed about the success/languishing of certain types of authors because I know that's what the art world is generally like. I think of likes/dislikes as more of a 'business' thing and I don't consider that the reader owes it to me to help me improve.
Maybe you mean something which is merely annoying? Hmm...
I've had it where I'll work on something for literal weeks only to have it fall off the front page in about two hours thanks to crossover/whatever.
All in all, though, we're quite spoiled as fanfiction writers to have something like FIMfiction. Not all doc hosting sites are created equal. This site has a beautiful layout and (what seems like) a dedicated staff with contests, lots of facilitated interaction, places for groups, etc. If you have the right attitude you can actually learn how to write here, learn what it's like to build a readership, etc., as opposed to dumping your thing off somewhere in the sea of the internet.
5751636
Goodness, your replies are great. You pretty much hit the nail on the head on all points.
I adore Fim. I really do. The fact it's still around makes my kokoro feel good. I just get frustrated by things that are out of my hands a lot. It's a me problem more than anything else.
5751666
*hooves
5751678
Fair. That's a fair point.