Fanfic malaise?

[valis2]

It seems to me (though I could be spectacularly wrong) that commenting is down. I think a lot of people aren't writing right now, but even moreso...not reading. Or maybe...not commenting. The comments for the dark!fic challenge I was part of seem to be fewer than normal; I also had bookmarked a few fairytale HP stories from a month ago to read, and as I was reading them yesterday, I noticed that none of them had a single comment. Wow.

I think we're all ready for new canon. I think it can't come quickly enough at this point; I'm ready for the breathless babbling that accompanies it! hee!

Comments

[atdt1991.livejournal.com]

email comments are showing up extraordinarily late. I have to check my actual entries

[cordelia_v]

No, I don't think you're imagining it, with the comments. I'd been thinking about doing a post on that myself, but then I was afraid it would sound like I was whining, "why don't you guys comment more on my meta" or something.

But I've noticed that while people are still reading stories and meta (I know this from conversations or emails, where they mention that they read story X or my most recent meta) they aren't leaving comments as much. I'm not sure why that is. Perhaps comment burn-out? Or there's a sort of threshold operating here, where it has to be really unusual to provoke a response, and otherwise, they nod and move on?

*shrugs* I'm not sure what the cause is. It's not that big a deal for me, since I'm not writing in order to get comments. But I know that many authors get a big kick out of it, and when someone has put a lot of effort and thought into writing something, and you read it and even liked it . . . well, it seems wrong not to leave at least a 5 word comment to that effect.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I have heard about that, definitely, but what I mean is looking through all of the entries for a fanfic comm for the last two weeks...it seems like there are fewer comments per entry. I might just be crazy, though.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'd been thinking about doing a post on that myself, but then I was afraid it would sound like I was whining, "why don't you guys comment more on my meta" or something.

hee! And I am whining, definitely. *laughs*

But I've noticed that while people are still reading stories and meta (I know this from conversations or emails, where they mention that they read story X or my most recent meta) they aren't leaving comments as much. I'm not sure why that is. Perhaps comment burn-out?

I'm really thinking it might be something like that. I think that as far as theorizing goes, people are pretty much not going to bother unless it's the most crack!tastic theory every, honestly. I think that we're all waiting for the book before we start babbling again!

when someone has put a lot of effort and thought into writing something, and you read it and even liked it . . . well, it seems wrong not to leave at least a 5 word comment to that effect.

I really felt bad about those poor people who wrote those stories and had no comments. I would have been very very sad, seriously. I should be happy with the number I've received, because I could have just as easily received nothing!

[nehalenia.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure about needing new canon. Possibly the downturn is due to it being summer -- vacations, kids out of school, that sort of thing. Also, it seems to me there's been a lot of fests and exchanges going on. I know when I was working on mine, I wasn't reading much at all, and now that I do, there's so much backlog it's hard to read everything, much less comment. As for the dark fic comments being down, I suspect that's because some -- possibly quite a few -- regular readers/posters don't like darkfic and don't want to read them. Me, I can take almost anything but character death and complete hopelessness, and even pushing myself I haven't read/commented on all the entries.

Also, a lot of folks also are getting ready for Sectus, or feverishly trying to finish fic before canon changes. Me, I don't even know if I *want* new canon, and as much as I'm looking forward to reading the book, I may very well ignore it fic-wise. I'm sure there will be a furor once the book is out and at least a couple of weeks afterward -- I'm certainly not planning on posting anything around the release date -- but hopefully things will return to relative normalcy afterward; if there is such a thing. ;-)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I was quite sad when it was revealed that DH was going to come out this year...I was hoping for another year of happy fandom. But now that it is coming out, and so close...I'm finally starting to feel something about it...mostly relief at finally hearing Snape's fate. And also huge anxiety about finally hearing Snape's fate. heh.

The dark!fic comments are fewer, understandably, because of the topics, but still, I had thought that there would be more. Still, it's hard to get people to read those sometimes, especially when character death is involved, you're absolutely right.

I hadn't thought about Sectus! That will definitely put a damper on posting, too.

[bethbethbeth.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right, although in my case, I'm trying very hard not to read anything because I have fic deadlines in place and it's far too easy to just forget about finishing stories...

...er...

...I just stopped writing to answer this.

Eeep!

*returns to the story*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Good luck with that story. :)

[snegurochka_lee]

LOL.

I could have written this comment exactly. :)

*flees back to Word*

[valis2.livejournal.com]

hee! Off with you, then. *hugs*

[unsymbolic.livejournal.com]

I have been so bummed recently because I'm one of those people who hasn't been reading. I don't even know why and it's really really got me down. Ever since I finished thesis writing (in June) I've just not been driven to read fic. I suppose that could be burn out of its own sort-- I wrote about fic in my thesis and now I'm just oversaturated from it, but recently I just haven't felt moved by what (little) fic I've read. Hell, I haven't even felt moved by slashy subtext in canon lately (and not just Potter canon; I started watching season 1 of House and can't even get excited about all the House/Willson UST).

I'm convinced there's something wrong with me. It's not just writer's block, it's reader's block and thinker's block too. Big time malaise. I'm hoping you're right that new canon will be the fix because damn this sucks. :(

[snegurochka_lee]

But I agree with you that commenting is down. Not sure why. I know before HBP, I had several friends say they were going off fic, in order to get back in touch with canon and what not before the book. But I haven't heard anyone say that this time around - although I'm sure it's happening. Or, as someone said above, people are less impressed in general, now that there's been so much fic for so many years, and we're at the end of our ropes with interpreting HBP, pretty much. It's got to be really spectacular before people will bother commenting.

*guesses wildly* But I have no idea! :)

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I think it's a combination of a lot of things...summer, the new book, Sectus, people getting sick of HBP-canon...hee! Plus, the idea that one's fic could be canon-shafted within weeks of writing it has to be a downer...

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I think new!canon will be like an electric shock to our systems, honestly! It will both inspire us, and bring us to dead ends, I have a feeling.

I'm feeling a little burnt out myself. Normally I go back and read through all of the recced fic that occurred while I was gone, but I didn't do that this time! I'm just trying to keep up with Snupin, that's it. ;)

[florence-craye.livejournal.com]

I haven't kept up with any fic exchanges lately, except for romancingwizard, because they are all 500 words each. That's easy enough for me to check in on every few days, read 4-5 fics and leave comments. But I've been hopeless with daily deviant, hp_funnyfest, and even pimpmy3some. Sigh.

People seem to be writing really long fics, and I can't handle that right now. My limit is about 3,000-5,000 words and over that is too much. I'm not sure if that is because I am feeling pressed for time (2 exchanges due- 1 today, 1 in a week thanks to extension, plus those stole commissions) and my brain is a bit soft from trying to get it all done.

blahdy blahdy blah, that is at least my reasoning. I'm tired and can't focus on things for very long periods of time. My enthusiasm for DH is even a little low at the moment, because it seems like there is so much stuff to do before then. Plus, I am a little saddened with the closing of canon and hope it won't kill the fandom or something like that.

Well, I'm rambling. But I think many of the commenters have made good points. zzzzz

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

I've been reading almost nothing recently, myself. I have read a couple of things--and the things I read I think I did comment on all of them, but yeah, for whatever reason I just haven't been reading fic at all.

[ziasudra-fic.livejournal.com]

A lot of people on my flist seem have moved on to other fandoms lately, even if they're participating in various HP fests. As a result, more squee about SPN or Heroes and fewer comments about HP?

But I do feel bad for fics (especially well written ones) not receiving comments. I try to say something whenever I can, but the reality is I just haven't been reading that much.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I'm completely behind in the daily_snitch stuff...usually I go to at least two or three of the links, but I've been doing fewer of them, and I didn't go back to check the old issues like I normally do!

Yeah, I think only shortfics are what I'm reading, too. When I see that it's over four screenlengths long, I sometimes put it aside for later...

I'm a bit sad about canon, too, but at this point I want something to re-energize us, y'know?

[valis2.livejournal.com]

It's like we're at a deathbed vigil...hee!

[valis2.livejournal.com]

I can't believe how much Dr Who has taken over my flist! *laughs*

I am hoping that new canon knocks our socks off and leaves plenty for us to ruminate on (and write fic about!).

[lady-branwyn.livejournal.com]

Interesting that you should post this because just this morning I was wondering to myself if LOTR fandom had finally flat-lined (something that people had been predicting since the release of the last movie). Commenting seems to be down, less fic is being written. Things are very, very quiet.

[valis2.livejournal.com]

Perhaps it's just summer really getting into swing! So many people end up going outside, instead of obsessing over fic...hee!

;)

[sylvadin.livejournal.com]

I'll join the chorus in agreeing with people that commenting is down, particularly over the past 3-4 months. I think (hope) that much of what's going on is that people have most of their emotional energy sucked into the whole 'waiting for DH to see what happens to canon (and Snape!)' phenomena.

A part of me worries a bit about what will occur in fandom if JKR does kill off Snape. After all, look at the Snapledore people. It used to be a small but thriving rarepair group. Then HBP was published and the number of Snapledore stories being written quickly faded into almost nothingness. Then again, Sirius got chucked through the Veil and he still shows up in a number of stories, so there's hope yet. ;-)

For the moment, I have the impression that people's attention spans for longer stories simply aren't there. At least that seems to be true for my own fics. Right now, my 100-word drabbles are pulling in 2-3x the number of comments than do my 10,000+ word series chapters. Sigh...

We're likely also forgetting that people are wrapped up in waiting for the OOTP movie coming out this month. Maybe some visuals will also help re-energize folks...

[alabastard.livejournal.com]

I keep hearing people say they will leave or distance themselves from this fandom once the book is out, they will move on to others. I find that sad, but I know just as many who will stay in it.

I had no idea there exist so many people who just do fandoms for their own sake, and have many, they are cosplayers first, and any port in a storm as far as what. I am so far from one of those, or a cosplayer in the traditional sense, I am much older and come instead from an acting background. I only do this because it fits so well and I love it. I like Dr. Who, but I'd never do more than watch it or the occasional conversation. Costume, looks, personality wise, Lucius is a perfect fit, thus I do it to the hilt.

[minisinoo.livejournal.com]

Hmm, interesting. I was in X-Men for 6 years, and that's another fandom that would have long gaps between canon entries. Noticed the same tendency, especially just before a new movie was released. It was almost as if the tide had gone out in prep for the tidal wave. (The reaction to X-Men 3 was mostly howls of fury, but otherwise ...)

Once the canon is actually closed, I'll be curious to see what happens. Most fandoms do seem to fade, if never die entirely, or at least those who existed/grew a lot while canon was open. There are fandoms out there which seem to have grown largely POST canon, and that's a completely different animal, I think.

I've got two AUs, both long, and I'm curious to see the reactions post Book 7. I'm about to release the 2nd novella in a novella series before book 7, if I can possibly manage it. Probably right before, as my British beta is swamped with RL. That AU is quite radical, however, and whatever happens in Book 7 won't affect it, so it could go on long after.

The other AU is a very close weaving with book canon, with one significant twist: what if Cedric Diggory hadn't died in the graveyard? How would that have altered dynamics in Harry's 5th year with Umbridge, etc. When I finished the original novel, I specifically said I wouldn't even start on the sequel until Book 7 was out. Because it's a novel, and will take a while to complete -- and assuming the whole thing isn't completely blown out of the water by the canon death of Hermione (which I'm not expected, but you never know) -- I wonder how many people will actually stick with it, to see it completed. I know that people WILL stick with a novel, even if they've left the fandom (happened before with my X-Men novels), but not everyone does. Doesn't mean I won't write it/finish it, mind.

So, random observations. (g) Not sure how significant they are except to say that I've seen this same pattern with X-Men movie fandom.