Writing for the approbation of other authors

[EmilyMiller]

I saw a comment elsewhere that some writers (me included) put greater weight on feedback from other authors than general readers. Contrawise some other writers say they care more about what their readers think than other writers.

I wondered about your motivations. For me, I’m much happier if a writer I respect pays me a compliment, than if it is a non-writer, or a writer whose work I am unfamiliar with does the same.

Does that mean I’m writing for other writers? How about you?

 

[SimonDoom]

I don't think there's anything wrong with that, if it's the approach you take. I don't. I care more about my readers than about what other authors think. I DO appreciate getting a positive comment from a fellow author, but I care more about my relationship with my readers and making them happy, even though I don't actually know them at all.

 

[NuclearFairy]

Well, when someone I know likes what I've written it makes me happy in a different way than when a random person likes my work. I'm not sure it's greater or lesser though... Just different.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't think there's anything wrong with that, if it's the approach you take. I don't. I care more about my readers than about what other authors think. I DO appreciate getting a positive comment from a fellow author, but I care more about my relationship with my readers and making them happy, even though I don't actually know them at all.

I think, that it’s because I’m in this “improve my writing” phase and inevitably the views of talented writers are going to hold more weight with me.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Well, when someone I know likes what I've written it makes me happy in a different way than when a random person likes my work. I'm not sure it's greater or lesser though... Just different.

I agree with that

 

[big_cane_sugar]

I'm not aware of thinking about the difference between writers and readers, but I do think about the different kinds of readers. Actually I'm a brazen snob about this, at least when it comes to the stories I put real work into. I'm happy if any average reader appreciates my stories but the readers I really care about are the ones who are conscious of themes, symbolism, allusions, and so on.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm not aware of thinking about the difference between writers and readers, but I do think about the different kinds of readers. Actually I'm a brazen snob about this, at least when it comes to the stories I put real work into. I'm happy if any average reader appreciates my stories but the readers I really care about are the ones who are conscious of themes, symbolism, allusions, and so on.

I like symbolism, they make such a loud sound when you bang them together.

 

[MrPixel]

I like symbolism, they make such a loud sound when you bang them together.

You are soooo bad, Em!

 

[SmilingLez]

When it comes to my prose/poetry, anytime my words have touched someone so deeply (either positive or negative) that they *must* comment, I am gobsmacked. Now regarding my only vignette, I am very grateful to all of the experienced writers who have offered advice and suggestions to improve my story telling.

 

[EmilyMiller]

You are soooo bad, Em!

It’s just the way I’m drawn…

 

[Bamagan]

With the caveat that I receive very little feedback and am satisfied with that state of affairs, I probably put a somewhat higher weight on any compositional analysis a known author makes, especially if I'm a fan of their work. If their remarks are about the content, kinks, or what-have-you, I don't value it any differently than similar remarks from strange handles or anonymous users. (Which is to say, it has little to no impact on my decisions or desires for my future stories.)

 

[XerXesXu]

The true test of character is how one reacts when the feedback is constructive rather than complimentary. Accepting compliments is near meaningless.

 

[SimonDoom]

I think, that it’s because I’m in this “improve my writing” phase and inevitably the views of talented writers are going to hold more weight with me.

I think if you ever leave your "improve your writing" phase you should stop being a writer, or an artist of any kind.

I DO pay attention to feedback, from all sources, including fellow authors.

There are lots of authors here whose works I've enjoyed, but I feel like we're all following different muses, and nobody else is following mine. Like Bamagan, I appreciate someone who has something to say about the technical quality of my writing, as long as it's constructive, but most feedback isn't really like that.

 

[KittyOfSteele]

Emily, I'm writing for the sole reason of being banned and boycotted by the moralists and the regime of my country, and yes there is ONE politician in particular who happens to be a VERY HYPOCRITICAL poet, and is the responsible for me and hundreds of thousands of others getting hunted down like animals last year just because our names popped up into a thing that nobody wants to do. That is the complete opposite of approval.

 

[PapaRomantic]

The true test of character is how one reacts when the feedback is constructive rather than complimentary. Accepting compliments is near meaningless.

Wow, your life must be horrible if you don't enjoy hearing compliments from others.

 

[WCSGarland]

I'm just not sure how to take it when the commenters tell me my story ended too abruptly.

 

[Actingup]

Of course there's a thrill when an author you admire takes the time to read your work and comment (whether positive or constructive). But I'm also conscious that many of our readers are authors or aspiring authors in other fields, and they often come through with comments that are equally as good (or constructive). Our audience is a literate mob - the others are all over at Pornhub watching videos about implausible stepfamily relationships.

 

[THBGato]

I saw a comment elsewhere that some writers (me included) put greater weight on feedback from other authors than general readers.

This is definitely true for me. While it wasn't my main motivation in writing, there's no denying the thrill I felt when writers who were responsible for inspiring me to write commented on my work or followed me. I squealed on several occassions (none more so than when one of them asked me to beta-read a story for her - that's kind of the ultimate compliment).

The flip side of this is the potential for feeling rejected when an author you really admire ignores you. I definitely struggled with that early on - I was a bit puppyish. Now, I've made my peace with it, especially as I've come to realise that a) not everyone reads as voraciously as me, b) not everyone finds imitation flattering, and c) not everyone buys into to the pay-it-forward mindset.

 

[TiberiusPrime]

I'm just not sure how to take it when the commenters tell me my story ended too abruptly.

Most likely they're really invested in the story and the characters you've created and didn't want it to end. Or they wanted/expected a different ending than the one you gave them.

 

[TheLobster]

Our audience is a literate mob - the others are all over at Pornhub watching videos about implausible stepfamily relationships.

Our mob definitely prefers those completely plausible consanguineous relationships instead

 

[XerXesXu]

Wow, your life must be horrible if you don't enjoy hearing compliments from others.

My life is splendid. I accept compliments - and money - with good grace. Life becomes horrible when you're unable to accept constructive criticism - and bills - with good grace.

I summarise:

'If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same
...
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a wise person!'

 

[THBGato]

you'll be a wise person!'

A far better ending than the original.

 

[AlinaX]

Why am I here on Lit? Because I want to write stuff I enjoy writing, and for people to read and enjoy. Views, likes & comments from readers are important to me, therefore.

There are times, yes, when I have written something clever/beautiful/effective and would love to have that recognised. As welcome and entertaining as “I came in my pants reading this” (not an actual comment, lol) is, it doesn’t really speak to the artistic/technical quality of the writing.

So, us writers (LC excepted, ofc) do have a craving for positive comments from other authors. Peer recognition, and all that.

But it’s meaningless. I’m currently reading a Lee Child novel and he does a lot of simplistic writing and blatant foretelling. He also knows guns and military in detail. And he is phenomenally successful. So while I can frown at his technical style, I can only envy his success.

 

[lovecraft68]

Way back when, I thought it mattered more to get feedback from other writers. I quickly learned there's not much difference.

I think writers have a basic appreciation for the amount of work writng takes but beyond that, and especially here, I've found they're no different than readers.

Its just as subjective, one writer may like your story, one may hate it because like readers they have their own tastes as well meaning their opinion has no more weight.

That's just when it comes to what they think of the story, the real issue is what they think of the writer.

Let's just be honest here. People in this forum-and any other one-have people they like, and people they don't. They'll go out of their way to fawn and back slap and gush over a story from someone they like. If its someone they don't, odds are they won't read at all. Same for if they're jealous of someone for some reason, or maybe that person has never had an issue with them, but did you see what they said to so and so?

And let's face it, if the author in question is female? Spare me that some of the guys here won't be extra kind in their feedback especially if the woman in question has a playful persona here. By the same token, if the woman has no interest in that behavior and can be blunt and take no crap, well, they're not getting rave reviews.

What I'm saying is iyou can see it in every thread with who sides with and against who, and it renders any feedback a lot less relevant. It's also basic human nature with all the glory of interwebz dynamics mixed in, so I don't say this with any snark, just stating facts.

Great example is the Om/AMD review thread. If they like the story, they know what they're talking about, they don't like it, what do they know? That goes for any review thread and a lot of feedback comments.

If another author comments on my story I appreciate it a hair more than from a reader but only because I know a lot of us don't read a lot because we only have so much time for our own work, so them taking some of their time is nice, but the comment itself has no more or less weight to me.

Having said that, if a person excels in a particular category here and says something about a story I wrote in that genre, then I do take that a little more seriously but I also do that when I see a reader known for commenting in one particular genre because at that point they tend to take it more seriously.

But in the end? There's too many reasons I see that takes away from the comments. Bias, cliques, desire to "I did yours now you do mine" and thin skin are too common in forums like this for it to be meaningful.

 

[AlinaX]

The fates smile on me today.