mss dbly

It is not surprising news that fanfiction writers are highly underappreciated.

There’s something wrong with the numbers: let’s take a popular fic with almost 4k hits. For let’s say 700 readers, it will get about 50 comments and 300 Kudos. Maybe I’m being too kind, maybe not, but things stay the same; there’s something wrong here. Can you see it?

It takes us days, weeks, sometimes months to write a story for you. We write for ourselves yes, but we also write to share. We write to offer you content about your favourite characters. We write to bring our and your ships to life. It takes you a fraction of second to leave a Kudos, ten seconds to one, two or a few minutes to leave a comment.

And here lies our problem: there’s no proper sharing if there’s no proper feedback. An author not getting comments is generally a sad author. If I didn’t get feedback I’d wonder what’s the point in keeping on writing. A comment makes a writer’s day, most of the time even motivates them to write more.

Another important thing thrandythefabulous and I noticed: why on Earth do so many readers don’t comment (even kudos) if the fic has been up for a little more than a week or two? Why? Your feedback is still welcomed and much appreciated.

We write for ourselves, but also we write for you. And sadly, many readers are being quite… ungrateful, when giving feedback is the least they can do to thank the people offering them stories for free.

So, before we get started on our little day, let’s talk about comments:

It doesn’t matter if other readers already said what you wanted to say, we’ll still love reading it again in your words.

It doesn’t matter the fic has been up for weeks or months or years; comments on those ones are unexpected and so, it makes them ever better.

It doesn’t matter if you don’t have much to say, we’ll be glad anyway.

The point of this day is simple; on August 21th, writers and readers alike would go on AO3 (or any fanfiction website really), on Tumblr, and leave a comment on their favourite fics (even the fics they enjoyed!) and/or send their authors a message about their works.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve already or never commented. It doesn’t matter if the author doesn’t know about this post. It doesn’t matter if the author already knows how much you love their work.

Just let writers know you love the fics they write for you, simple as that!

London, 1909. James Nicholls has his hands full with his ward.

(AU? totally ooc, histrorically quenstionable, especially in regard of clothing, oral sex)

“You are not going out, Marigold,” James stated, his voice firm.

“Of course I am,” Marigold insisted, raising her chin and looking defiantly up at the tall man in front of her. He narrowed his eyes.

Here are links to all of the original poems I have posted on my blog. Hopefully this is mobile friendly.

Ruby Slippers (1) Ruby Slippers (2) — Every woman needs a pair of red shoes

If Dante Was a Tourist — And Virgil his tour guide

Half Dozen One Way, Six the Other — A life on a doorsill

Di/vi/ding /up/ the / day — Here is a list of things to do

Cozy, but Slightly Scratchy — The world like a woolen lover

Mother Love — Look

Penelope and Odysseus — So many years ago

Domestic Zen — All the world, like a woolen lover

Verse Epistle 1 — You love pomegranates

Newton’s First Law — (Just     keep     breathing)

What My Mother Taught Me — Tracking his progress was simple

Visiting Nana’s House — Over here, / she bent double

At an Impasse — The last time I spoke to God

Perspective — Sometimes something matters so much

Potential Energy — It was / an abyss

Negotiations — The red-haired man hands me a glass of Irish Cream

Verse Epistle 2 — It’s not that I don’t love our little talks

Verse Epistle 3 (Dear Reader) — When you read poetry

Definitions — I wonder if the kind of love we’ve found is love at all

Sirius Business — I live my life being judged by dogs

Taking Care of Business — Outside, / big fat snowflakes come straight from God

Ars Poetica — She reached into her word hoard

Knowledge Is Water Soluble — It comes out in tears

Just Testing — just a little blood

Epigram — When I walk in winter

The World Is Full of Bad Jokes — Whimsey with a lead feather

Of Marriage and Comfort Food – You’ll need to find a sturdy iron pot

Verse Epistle IV – You are sharp shiny flashing

Power Play – They / play solitaire / in the bathroom

Verse Epistle V (to Pilgrim) – I don’t even know where to send this

What My Father Taught Me – He is the loudest-quietest man I’ve ever met.

Verse Epistle VI (So, This Is What Today Is Like) – The stars were not as bright as they should have been that night

Verse Epistle VII – You’re such an easy mark

Verse Epistle VIII (Actively Useless) – We are swimming through / the kind of air you could drown in

Verse Epistle IX (Hungover) – I am erasing you,

In Second Childishness – The tv talks to an empty room

Verse Epistle X (to Erato) – Teach me how to write about happy things.

Verse Epistle XI – Lying in the dark

Here’s the thing.

I read a lot of scripts.  A lot.  From professionals to aspiring writers to complete newbies.  Features and pilots.  Specs and treatments.

And 8 times out of 10 the fan fic that I’ve read over the last, oh, 15 years is leagues better than this stuff.  It’s more inspired.  It’s more compelling.  It’s genre bending and creative and heartfelt.  It’s well-paced and intense and funny and sexy and meaningful.  It’s smart and thoughtful and good.  It’s novel-quality.  Better than, sometimes.

Rare is the script I don’t want to put down, but how often have we stayed up until 3am to get to the last chapter of a 100k fic? And it’s not even a fan fic author’s day job.  This is what they do on the side.  In their spare time.  For free.

So my point is, fan fic authors, you’re good.  You’re good writers and great storytellers.  I know it doesn’t always feel like it, especially if you’re one of the authors who’s not a BNF and doesn’t get the notes/hits that a few do.  And  because some people still view fic as “not real writing.” You guys know the shit that gets made into movies.  You’re better than that.  So be better than that.  If writing is what you think want to do, then just know you’re already doing it.   You’ve already started.