A serious conversation about fandom

[dizzojay]

Originally posted by sasha_dragon, wings128, and dugindeep

Here

These ladies make a very valid point in this piece, that the nature of fandom is changing.  It's a slow, insidious process, but I can notice the difference from the six years that I've been in fandom.

Feedback is the lifeblood of creativitiy, and creativity is the lifeblood of fandom.  Without feedback we are, as cherie_morte so beautifully put it, 'just shouting into a void'. I'm only active in the Supernatural fandom, so I can't say if this is a universal trend or just one within our fandom, but it's a sad one in any case.

A lot of people do seem to be migrating over to Twitter and Tumblr.  I won't be one of them.  Although I have accounts which I rarely use on both, I also loathe them both.  I dislike the impersonalness (is that even a word??) of those platforms, and the brevity which they encourage, to the point that I don't actually even get the point of them.

When you have put your heart and soul into writing a story, or creating art, you want to know what people think.  What do they particularly like about it?  What do they think you could have done better?  Did it make them laugh?  Did it make them cry?  Did it provoke thought?   This kind of feedback is the fuel that keeps the engine of fandom running.

A one-click A03 kudos, or 'like' on Twitter, Tumblr, Facebook, while a decent gesture which is nevertheless appreciated, is an easy get-out which removes that interaction; that chance to brighten someone's day with a positive comment.  It could be the difference between a writer being inspired to carry on, or giving up.

That's why I love Livejournal.  Quite apart from the fact that I've met an inordinate number of extraordinary people through it, it promotes interaction.  It doesn't give you the one-click easy option of a 'like' button.  It's a platform for giving and sharing and making friends, not just for 'shouting into the void'.

So I'll echo these lovely ladies and say, let's keep commenting, keep reviewing, and leaving that feedback.  Whether it be here on Livejournal, or on A03, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, or wherever - when someone's spent a month writing a 10,000 word story, surely they deserve two minutes of your time to say thank you.

I'll be the first to admit that I haven't been as active on reading and commenting of late, real life has seen to that; but even if it takes me a month to get round to it, I always try to leave a few words of encouragement whenever I read something.  Reading these posts has made me even more determned to stand by that pledge.

So please, let's keep our wonderful fandom active and motivated.  We all owe this fandom so much, we've all benefited from being part of it; so let's pay a little forward, and make sure everyone else gets as much joy and inspiration from our fandom as we all have.

It's the least we can do!

Comments

[metallidean-grl.livejournal.com]

I second that emotion. I don't care for the Tumblr, Twitter and FB formats either. Twitter and Tumblr are too impersonal and don't really allow space for conversations or long, thought provoking comments. As for FB, there are so many people on the SPN pages that it really makes it next to impossible to spark solid friendships. Although many people have found friends through FB, I don't like to find friends that way as there are so many people it is harder for me to keep track of who someone is and strike up conversations.

I enjoy the process of friending on LJ so much more than anywhere else. You find each other because of similar likes and grow from there. It is a much easier format to talk to interact with your friends. I do agree that we need to stay active and comment on posts and stories. RL has slammed me hard this summer and especially this last month so I am very remiss in making any kind of comments, as I see my Inbox growing exponentially with LJ posts. I will get back in the groove once August is over. But I do understand the importance of commenting and acknowledging someone's hard work.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

I agree. The friendships Is've forgen on Livejournal are precious to me. I can't say I've made a single friend on Twitter or Tumblr. As you say, the nature of them doesn't promote getting to know people.

[vexed_wench]

I agree with this so much.

Way back in the day the FullMetal fandom had a community that was noting but reviewers. I think it was a way for people who didn't write, draw or make video's or pod fics still have a chance to be active in fandom.

It was a neat concept I wished it had caught on for a more multi fandom platform.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea; a good way for everyone to be actively involved in fandom :)

[vexed_wench]

Yeah I wish some one would make a community. I would do what I could to help out.

[fairyniamh]

I visit Twitter, mostly, to see what actor I am following is up to. It is a bad platform to keep track of me. Tumblr... well most of the time I forget I even have an account there. FB I keep open mainly for a few friends and family.

The one thing all three of these social medias share... I do not feel comfortable putting my works on it. Not even my old crappy Poser Art. The security levels on them are not up to par to my needs as a creator. On AO3 and LJ I can at least mark as extremely adult.

As for reviews... I am horrible at leaving reviews. I know a simple 'Love it' makes me happy, but I am always afraid it's not enough for an author/artist. Now... oddly enough, this feeling does NOT stretch across the board

Let me explain, I am a muti-fandom writer. However, I am not am only quasi-multi-fandom reader. I try to keep up with new stories/art, but I am behind because I also have to take time to write. Once a piece is older than a month, I feel ridiculous leaving anything more than a kudos. Like I was late to class and I don't want to draw that kind attention to myself. A Kudos allows me to say 'hi, I read it and liked it'.

If I only leave a kudos, that does not mean it was a meh story/art. I will not leave anything if art/story is meh or bad. Nope, not even constructive criticism. The last time I did that was to kindly suggest that using a beta would help them. Which lead to me being called a bitch. When that happens enough, you tend to shy away from commenting on anything but the good.

Now, reviewers in fandoms. SPN: either over sensitive (only a few), or just a few words. (which is fine for me.) SPN RPF: I do not have a solid grip, mostly because my super kinky stories go here and those get a pass. I understand people being embarrassed for reading and/or liking them. Though the reviews I do get sometimes make me blush. Teen Wolf: Want warned about everything and will complain if it's not. However, there is also a lot more love there. Naruto: tiny and with so few readers, it makes sense that there would be a lack of reviews.

Harry Potter: This one is a tricky field to cross. I do not understand their, umm, need, to call writing a good character as evil bashing. I simply call it AU or Evil!character. I've wanted to write an Evil!Ginny Weasley, but I would have to label it as Bashing and... no. Come on HP, grow up. Good characters can be bad and bad characters can be good. This was the first fandom to teach me this... why all the sudden are Evil!Good Guys considered bashing? Whatever, they do tend to at least try to leave reviews. I have seen several mods of HP fests ask for reviews in a story/art that has not gotten enough love. Not pairings I read, but I can appreciate that they want their fest participants to feel the love. Which is something I do NOT see across the board.

Shit, I am rambling and not making a lick of sense. I blame the excessive heat. I will try to leave more reviews once the 100+ weather breaks. Until then, it's too dangerous to bring my computer into the bath.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

It was really interesting to get a look at other fandoms through your comment; I guess there are the same kinds of oddballs across all fandoms. One thing I'm bad at doing is reading. I get so busy with real life and other projects and drawing, writing and posting my own stuff, I hardly ever have time to read now, and I really wish I could make more time to read the stuff that people take so much time on writing. That's my pledge to myself over the next few weeks, to try to read and comment on a couple of decent length (like 1000+ words) every week.

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Agreed! 100% I think this place is still great actually, but then again my flist is very active, but it can be more active and we all need to work for that activeness.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

Me too. I love my Lj F/list. As I said in one of the other comments, I think I need to be more active, I hardly ever have time to read peoples' work and that makes me feel like a bad fangirl! :(

[milly-gal.livejournal.com]

Nah, you're a busy fangirl, big difference!

[sasha-dragon.livejournal.com]

This is such a great article and I think we should do all we can to support fandom. I'm always behind now as my time is limited so I find myself pondering should I be writing or commenting? Then i remember this is meant to be fun, and as long as I'm here I will keep popping up and commenting and supporting all my favourite fan girls.

[dizzojay.livejournal.com]

You're right, and I often find I put myself under pressure because I haven't kept up with my F/list etc, and then I remember it's supposed to be FUN. I'm not under any obligation!