The Importance of Feedback

POSTED BY: browncoatjim
UPDATED: Sunday, November 5, 2006 06:17
VIEWED: 6177
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BROWNCOATJIM

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:08 PM

If someone takes the time, energy, thought, and effort to put a piece of fanfic together, or a banner, video, or any other somesuch, does it really take so much effort out of your life to leave a little feedback?

I just posted a fanfic "'Verse of the Dead" a FF salute to George A Romero (it's halloween, what the hell!)and what started out as a fun little bit of crossover took a sudden turn towards the end, and became deadly serious, something even I, the auther, never really saw coming.

Now, over 100 people have looked at it so far. Of course, that doesn't mean all those people read it, I know (becuase I am guilty of this too) you open something, and it turns out to be longer than you really want to commit yourself to. This I understand. But what I don't understand, what I get kind of sideways about, is that out of all the people who opened my fic, no one could bother leaving a feedback. Even a "This sucks, and this is why--" is great! At least I learn something.

It's a simple bit of courtesy, and not too terribly much to ask, in my opinion.

Simon: "Were there any Feds?"
mal: "No, no Feds, just an honest brawl between folk."

NVGHOSTRIDER

Wednesday, October 25, 2006 11:20 PM

As a fic contributor (not here, yet) I find that feedback is key to certain aspects of further idea development. My piece is a hand written manuscript that was turned into a very raw tele/sceen play and seems to be getting some good mileage (908 reads in seven weeks) and helps me develop ideas for the actual manuscript. Finding the posatives and negatives also helps the piece develop. It really helps when you have fellow contributors commenting on each others pieces.
Feedback. More please. Just an idea.

HISGOODGIRL

Thursday, October 26, 2006 1:29 PM

Hey browncoatjim,

I totally understand your frustration and concur. I've been posting fanfic here for almost a year and during that time, have noted a significant decrease in the number of readers willing to take the time to offer their comments and suggestions.

This shift seemed to become more pronounced when the site was down for an extended period around Serenity Day last summer and also when the Admin/PowersThatBe made it impossible for anyone to post annonymously. I'm guessing the latter step was taken because some folks had been leaving comments on some writers' stories that were unnecessarily meanspirited and nasty (as opposed to thoughtful and constructive.)

While I put a tremendous amount of thought and effort into my stories, the observations and suggestions of others helps me become a better writer. Writing and posting to no feedback is like performing an aria and having no one in the audience respond. As an artist, I'm hoping for a reaction, I'm hoping to connect with someone else. And if no one comments, I'll never know whether I managed to make that connection or not.

So yeah - like you, I really wish that readers would just say SOMETHING.

What did you love? What didn't work? Where did I get the voicing right or wrong? Would I be better off to put the story in a different tense or write it from another character's perspective.

PLEASE, Gentle Readers, just leave the author a little comment or suggestion. It's the only pay-off they'll get.

SHINYTRINKET

Thursday, October 26, 2006 2:35 PM

I too love feedback! I can't wait, after I post a chapter, to check back later and see who's commented on what! I also enjoy leaving feedback for others, knowing how much I enjoy getting it.

I, for one, am glad we can't leave anonymous remarks; it's too easy to just be snarky without taking responsibility for your reasons.

*************************************************
The 3 rules of aging:
1. Never bypass a bathroom
2. Never waste an erection
3. Never trust a fart

ZEEK

Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:14 PM

Well I can't say I'm a fanfic fan, but I don't think you have any right to get upset. You're volunteering to write fanfic. No one is holding a gun to your head. In the same right no one is required to give you feedback. They didn't ask you to write it. They don't owe you anything. If you don't enjoy writing your fanfic then don't do it. Don't write it just to get attention though. You'll just set yourself up for disappointment.

AGENTROUKA

Thursday, October 26, 2006 3:35 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by hisgoodgirl:
What did you love? What didn't work? Where did I get the voicing right or wrong? Would I be better off to put the story in a different tense or write it from another character's perspective.

PLEASE, Gentle Readers, just leave the author a little comment or suggestion. It's the only pay-off they'll get.

I understand the need to get a reaction. I've written myself, and while I write mainly because I feel the burning need to, I post my stories in public fora to get a reaction from others.

However, that reaction is a generous kindness, not a duty. You can't expect someone to give that to you. They didn't ask you to write - nor me, which is why I don't complain when I get no feedback. It's like complaining that you didn't get presents for Christmas - an understandable case of bad manners.

Feedback is what you get when you have managed to inspire the reader to leave it.

If you utterly want and need commentary on your style or technique or plot coherence, kindly ask someone to be your beta-reader. Those are your real critics. Or post your story in a forum focused on the actual process of writing.

MAVOURNEEN

Thursday, October 26, 2006 4:16 PM

I'm riding the fence here...I'm one of those people who looks at the bottom of the fic, and uses the comment area to judge whether or not I want to invest my time in that piece. I also use the rating number, length, and beginning paragraphs to determine whether I'm going to continue.

When I was writing, I appreciated feedback, both positive and negative tagged to my work. I have gotten much more personal "satisfaction" from posting my off site email address, and asking for comments. I received several really great emails which both encouraged me AND gave constructive criticism.

I find myself leaning more towards the "Don't write to expect feedback" side of things. One of my stories has nearly 1,000 views, yet only 4 comments. It's rated very well, so I have no worries that I wrote complete dreck.

Write to satisfy your inner urge to make the 'Verse continue. If you write for feedback, you'll be sorely disappointed.
From my experience, that's not just here at fff.net, but also on fanfiction.net, and other fic sites.

SHINYTRINKET

Thursday, October 26, 2006 11:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by AgentRouka:
However, that reaction is a generous kindness, not a duty.

Feedback is what you get when you have managed to inspire the reader to leave it.

Oh, absolutely! That's why I'm delighted when I get feedback. I would never consider it someone's duty to leave comments, but I'm touched when someone cares enough to take the time to do so.

*************************************************
The 3 rules of aging:
1. Never bypass a bathroom
2. Never waste an erection
3. Never trust a fart

BROWNCOATJIM

Friday, October 27, 2006 1:23 PM

[guote]no one is required to give you feedback. They didn't ask you to write it. They don't owe you anything.

Quote:

You're right, no in is required to do anything. No one is required to fot the bill for this website. No one is required to set things up the way they have. You're right, no one is required to do anything.

But the next time you are sitting on that side street, trying to pull onto a main road, and no one will give you a break, and you're ready to go completely sideways about it, just remember, no one is required to give you a break. That is something that people do purely out of common decency. We all remember that, don't we? Doing something for someone not because we are required to, but just because it's a decent thing to do?

The idea of not doing a single thing unless we are required to by law, contract, or whatever is, of course, the prevailing sentiment in our society, and look at all the good it has done for us.

Simon: "Were there any Feds?"
mal: "No, no Feds, just an honest brawl between folk."

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