"...but then again, I am still not starving for fic reading."
Well, I wouldn't exactly call myself "starving"... but I am a little hungry <g>. I've taken to re-reading many of the classic stories from different site archives. Some of them are 4-5 years old. And many of the author's names are just not people you see in the fandom anymore. I wonder why? Did they get too busy? Did their interest wane? Was it something else?
My "funny idea" is a letter campaign directed to some of these fine authors, enticing them out of retirement! LOL. As if it would really work <g>. But wouldn't it be great? What if we got a new story from Gwen Doucet? Or Mady Bay? Or Christine Bacro? I don't know about you all, but I'd be pretty pleased!
I think that's a GREAT idea!! If anyone is willing to gather up some names & email addresses, we could post them here to make it easier to write to each of them!
I think it's a great idea to try to get the "retirees" back into writing, but we have a number of newer writers who are equally talented. Let's make sure that we encourage these less-experienced writers so that they feel comfortable in the Emergency fandom and will continue to entertain us with their excellent stories.
The up and coming writers don't need a letter writing campaign to get them to write...the purpose of writing the letters is to encourage folks who've written stories in the past to get started again. Besides, posting a list of hundreds of email addresses would be overwhelming.
Send in your favorite "classic" story writer, and I cull it down and post the top 10 (or whatever) in one location.
I'll give you three writers I'd like to see stories from again: Patricia Embury, Kathy Marelli & Kathy Woodbury.
I also think we need to encourage those who have continued to write over the last few years. These writers need to know we are still reading their stories and enjoying them and look forward to more. I got a nice email from a writer who hasn't written in a few years and she was touched that someone was still reading her stories.
Obviously I wasn't suggesting an e-mail barrage! I was just pointing out that we have several writers who would love some encouraging feedback from individuals. I didn't mean to take anything away from absent writers. I think that we need to realize, however, that the fandom is going to evolve, with new writers replacing those who, for whatever reasons, have ceased writing in this particular fandom.
Linda, I didn't mean we should abandon all the current and up and coming writers, L. I agree with you; there is some great talent out there actively writing, and I support them! As a writer myself (occasionally) who got negligible response from my latest offering, we absolutely should all, as a fandom, do a better job of sending feedback to everyone whose work we appreciate.
I was just commenting how nice it would be if some of the authors of the highly regarded "classics" would dust off their keyboards and grace us with their talent again. At least, I think it would be nice. And I don't believe it would take anything away from the newer writers. As some have said so often, "there is room enough in this fandom for everyone!"
I was just commenting how nice it would be if some of the authors of the highly regarded "classics" would dust off their keyboards and grace us with their talent again. At least, I think it would be nice. And I don't believe it would take anything away from the newer writers. As some have said so often, "there is room enough in this fandom for everyone!"
As one of the "newer" writers in the fandom, I would be delighted to see some of these authors write again. They, and their stories, are the ones who inspired me to start writing in the first place.
I've often been curious why they "left" the fandom (although I'm beginning to see some reasons on my own) and wonder if they still take the time to read E! fic, even though they no longer write it. There has been so much written, that it's genuinely tough to develop fresh, original, imaginative storylines anymore. Once a writer is out of touch with the show and with current fan fic, I think they would find it a challenge to return, but one I would love to see some of them answer.
I don't think I have a favorite author, just lots of favorite stories, so any one of them that would want to write again would be terrific in my book.
And, Carol -- regarding the negligible (sp?) feedback -- it's simply the way it is any more. For every 500 hits on a story, if I get 10 emails, I consider myself lucky these days (those that I do get are great!) As others have said, you can't write for the feedback, or as a writer, you'll surely die a lonely death.
Linda C writes:
I was just pointing out that we have several writers who would love some encouraging feedback from individuals. I didn't mean to take anything away from absent writers. I think that we need to realize, however, that the fandom is going to evolve, with new writers replacing those who, for whatever reasons, have ceased writing in this particular fandom.
I wanted to come back to this for a minute, and say that I agree with Linda, too. I'd love to read good E! fic from both old and new writers alike, but...
Perhaps the point Linda is trying to make is that there are segments of this fandom that don't do a very good job of supporting and encouraging their current or up and coming writers. If people want the fandom kept viable, and they don't want good writers leaving, then something more than lip service regarding feedback should be given.
Outside of the opposing philosophies regarding the writing and posting of the fic itself, I see two groups within the fandom -- one comprised of those who read, and one comprised of those who write and host sites, lists, etc.
As I go through my feedback filing cabinet, I would have to say that the readership has been extremely good to me, although the drop off in feedback may be a signal that people are getting tired of my stories, and perhaps it's time to move on. I wonder if that's what happened to some of these writers we don't hear from anymore, or if they just ran out of stories to tell, and retired while they were still "on top." It's something to consider.
When I look through the drawer for the names of fic writers of note, or website or list owners, I pretty much come up empty. Imagine my surprise when someone put one of my stories on her list of favorites. I had no idea. I may be putting my neck out on a limb here by saying this, but I've always been disappointed in the lack of feedback, be it support or criticism, from this half of the fandom. "Your" opinions and suggestions are every bit as important to a writer who really cares about what they're doing, as those of the readers.
"...the drop off in feedback may be a signal that people are getting tired of my stories..."
First of all, I am not getting tired of your stories, Nan.
But it's interesting you say that, because I was thinking the same thing about my own stories. When I was a "new" writer, I got a lot more feedback than I've gotten on my past few stories. I too pondered whether the tastes of the fandom had changed to the point that my writing style was no longer "relevant" or valued. If so, that's okay. I'll just hang it up.
Maybe that is what the "retired" authors experienced as well. I mean, I agree with Linda that new and up-and- coming authors need to be supported, but we should not take the established authors for granted in the process! Everyone works hard at writing and needs to know that their labors are appreciated. It doesn't take any more time or effort to send feedback to an old author than it does to a new author.
That said, perhaps we'd just as well leave the retired authors alone. They may have reasons for quitting that our meddling would only dig up, causing them hurt or irritation. Let's be glad we have what we have from them, and if they decide, of their own volition, to re-emerge, we can rejoice then!
I am not a writer , Don't have that talent. Wish I did.Anyway I am hoplessly addicted to e!fanfic.Personally,I don't send feedback. NOT because of not liking the stories.When I wrote to the writerI told them how much I loved the story.Woundered if they would be doing any more soon.This writer actually,became upset with me.Made comments about real life,maybe I should find one. As a result I don't send feedback.Those Interested I am crazy about the vast majority of stories out there. Keep on writing.
I'm so sorry that happened to you!! Wow..as a writer and as a friend of many other writers we all love to get feedback! I personally respond to EVERY feedback email I recieve no matter how busy I am!
As has been said, a writer cannot write for feedback alone, and I don't. I write for pesonal satisfaction, for the opportunity to explore characters I'm very fond of and to "play" in a world I really like! . However, feedback is a "boost" if you will, its a perk. It's gratifying to know that not only are people reading your stories, but enjoying them too. In some cases I've recived email from people with personal testimonies about how they've dealt with someting simular to some scene or aspect of the story, and it gave them a very personal connection to the story. Feedback emails in my box brighten my day, and makes me like writing just that much more.
Cheryl
Ginger,I'm sorry you got such negative feedback to your positive feedback.We're not all like that.Most of us love hearing someone say our stories are great,(or bad,coz then we can improve).And I don't know a writer alive who doesn't want someone to ask them "That was so good.When are you writing more?"Maybe she just had a bad hair day or something?Seriously,keep up the feedback.It helps us improve as writers and it's people like you who give us a reason to write.I mean, there's no point writing Emergency stories just for myself to read is there?I'd love to have a fan like you.
Good wishes from downunder
Annie
I agree with Carol and Nan, and it's made me look at my own feedback habits. I know that I've been guilty of reading great stories and neglecting the feedback aspect. At the same time I wonder why my most recent stories have not received the amount of feedback that I used to get. I am going to make an effort to be a good writer AND reader.
On another note, I know of one writer who quit the fandom simply because she lost interest. I tried to get her back into Emergency, but she just wasn't into it anymore. I think that some writers are going to move on regardless of feedback, which makes it all the more important to make sure that a lack of responses is not the ultimate reason.
Linda, that's what many an E! writer wonders--why their stories receive little or no feedback. I'm told it's different in many other fandoms, that writers receive all sorts of feedback. I've never experienced it, myself, in either of the fandoms for which I've written. And, perhaps, that's the point Carol wishes to make--that the apparent lack of interest is what causes writers to leave fandoms.
IMHO, good writers don't write for feedback. But lack of recognition certainly doesn't encourage them to continue, especially since feedback is the only pay they get for their work. When the source of income dries up, it's time to find other employment.
Personally, I would love to see some of my favorite past authors, writing again...those that come to mind are Sandy Erickson, Nancy Thysell, C.J. Smith...to name a few, and I know I could come up with more...
And I agree, we can never have too many writers...I love E fanfiction...smile
I think I've got a few stories that want to be written
March 28 2003, 8:05 PM
I've been writing for The Sentinel mostly but I've got a heap of downloaded Emergency stories and I've got a lot of litle plot bunnies driving me nuts.I'll see if I can get any of them to sit still long enough to be written.Catch ya soon.
