I was thinking...

[leethet]

...as I am wont to do, about fanfic and response, and it occurs to me ... am I the only one who finds that the strongest responses do not come for the fics I think are best? There seems to be no correlation between my favorites of my own stuff and readers' favorites (if one can assume based on locs). Do other fanfic writers find that to be the case?

Comments

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

With mine I think some of it may come down to how my lesser fics are done with a slightly greater air of fun, the prose may be a bit jerky in places and it might not make any deep insights, but it's quick and easy to read and not at all demanding on the reader.

I think you've hit the nail on the head with this one. I always get more responses from my PWP's than I do my novellas. It's frustrating, but something I've come to accept.

Also, I think that in people are intimidated by long, or complex stories and by the time they finish one, they don't know what to say. There's too many things to comment on, so instead they say nothing. I've had people tell me this, at least: "Oh, I would have LoC'd you but the story deserved more of a response than I felt like I could put together." I guess they don't realize that just knowing that someone even read it would be enough. I'd even take negative feedback over none at all.