Inu-no-Jess rants about author's rights and unappreciative fanfiction readers.

[lykomancer]

Look, people.

This is really quite simple.
I do not write for you. I write-- rather selfishly, I'll admit-- for me*. I think that this is more or less true of most writers, of fanfic or of original stuff. Now, don't get me wrong!; I love having an audience and I love the praise, and compliments and comments on the fics I post definitely spur me to keep writing...I won't deny that. And I would love more constructive critiques; I don't mind valid criticism about flow and POV and ICness and word choice.

However...
There are some things that are just rude, children. I generally give my readers a lot of information before they get to the actual fic, which includes pairings, rating on a simple G-NC-17 scale, heads-up on spoilers, and warnings about possible squicky things such as bondage, blood-play, incest, snuff, etc. Yeah, read it before you read the body of the story (which is, inevitably, under a cut after the information header).
Read it.
And if you don't like what you see there, or think that you can't properly appreciate the story and respect what I am trying to do, then skip it and go write your own damn story that is what you want to see and read.

DO NOT read the story and then tell me that it was all wonderful except for... I wrote it as I wrote it, and there are no exceptions. I could understand this more if people could give valid reasons for their except for...'s, but they don't; they just whine that they don't like something because it isn't what they wanted to see/read, the way they would have written it, what they want it to be. You know what? Tough titties, kids. My story. Mine. If you want something else, then you write it and post it in a public forum for me to critique, mmm-kay?
It's just fucking rude. If you aren't interested in reading Elricest, DON'T READ the fic that is labeled as such and then bitch about the fact that the author had the audacity to write it.
If you don't like the third party in my threesome, don't read it! Or go write your own.
You don't like the fact that an author used angst as a plot-device and you wanted fluff? Oh, its a tragedy, isn't it?
DON'T read a work and then leave a comment telling the author that (basically) "It was good as long as I overlooked this huge major part/point of the story."
RUDE!

I have other things I could be doing. I don't have to share my writing with you guys. I don't even have to write in the first place. Neither do any of the other talented writers in the fandom.
If you can't appreciate a work for what it is and only want to see what you want in it, stop wasting your time reading my stuff. I assure you that your lack of readership will not break my heart.

I am not saying that all comments should be complimentary; if you've got a problem with something, then comment on that, too, but it damn well better be a valid and realistic critique. I'd be more than delighted actually to run through a serious criticism thread if anyone really wants to do that for one of my fics.
What I am saying is that if you don't like what I write for personal taste reasons, then don't take it out on me. This is not my problem, and it's irritating to get comments that address issues of taste. The fics are labeled; you can see the contents before you dive in... You don't go to a restaurant and taste the bass and then whine because it's fish, ok? That's just stupid, and it's not the cook's fault that you ate what you don't like.

I say all of this because I have suddenly seen a bloody proliferation of the "except for..." variety of comments lately, both on my own works and on other authors', and I thought I'd step in for Miss Manners on this one.
In short, it's fucking rude, and I don't want to hear it/see it. I retain full right to flame anyone's sorry asses for pulling that kind of shit.

KTHXBAI.

___
* The exception to this is when I offer to write drabbles specifically for someone on their request, in which case I am writing for them, obviously.

Comments

[ultrasushi.livejournal.com]

Well said. I totally agree with you. "Don't like it, don't read it" that's my motto. I'm not a fanfiction writter, but I think i can understand what you're going through.

I mean, I don't like the Al/Ed pairing. But I don't go and comment on people's fics "That was an awesome story, except that I would have preferred Envy istead of Al." As you said, it's just RUDE. If I see AlxEd written, I don't read it. Period.

Just so you know, I would NEVER make a rude comment on some of your work, cause I frickin' WORSHIP you. ^_________^

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

It's funny, the example you gave is almost exactly what I've gotten on a few of my fics and what I've seen on quite a few of the awesome and incredible chauni's stuff. You nailed that completely.

(I admit, what I tend to do is read stuff that I might not like and then I end up commenting with, "HOLY COW! I've never liked this before in my life, but you just sold me on it!" *giggles*)

*sighs*
Yeah, with the worship. Y'weirdo! *grins and hugs* I appreciate it, really.

[ultrasushi.livejournal.com]

Keep up the awesome work, you ROCK!!! *cheers*

Yep, I......

[dracschick.livejournal.com]

totally agree with you.

*gives standing ovation*

[chauni.livejournal.com]

Have I mentioned lately that I love you?

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

Awwww... and I love you too, darlin'! *snugs*

[forgottenlover.livejournal.com]

and this lovely has been memed

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

You

[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<memed</i>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

You <memed</i> my ranting? Weirdo... XD

[forgottenlover.livejournal.com]

I save ettiquette rants, yes

OT but...

[die-monster.livejournal.com]

That icon is just too fucking cool. Plus ten...Making Jazzy envy shit points.

Re: OT but...

[forgottenlover.livejournal.com]

thanks, I didn't make it but the lovely who did did a good job ::sticks up one she made::

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

*applause*

[die-monster.livejournal.com]

Well damn. And here we all thought it was a completely selfless labour of love, and that you, poor misguided thing that you are, were only trying to please us with your squicks. /eyeroll.

Seriously, who thinks like that? If you post something, and it sounds squicky, I'll probably read it anyway, and if it bothers me (yeah, right) I'll keep my trap shut. No one was ever harmed by a fanfic, and who would have the audacity to complain? What do they, think you're some sort of smut-writing pet? GOSH, people.

A good rant, all in all^^

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

...I wouldn't mind being someone's smut writing pet, but they'd have to keep in mind that, as far as pattishness goes, I'm much more of a ferret than a dog. I do what I want, am more than a little spastic, sometimes pass out for hours, eat too much, and bite alot. ^_^

[cingula-orionis.livejournal.com]

I totaly agree with you =) I also write but not in english and not fanfiction =) But I understand what are you saying =) I always read warnings? ratings and all before story because I don't like Elriest, but it's mine problem so I just don't read it =)

[malica-blacke.livejournal.com]

Wow, who did THAT? That IS rude ...

[absolut-artemis.livejournal.com]

Amen to that, girl! I hate it when critiquers have no valid point of view or they try to point out something that you're GOING to cover in a later chapter. God, why can't they just enjoy it?

Mmm, a powerful, powerful opinion... I think I might go write that wrong wrong fic I told you about...

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

*encourages the writing of wrong, wrong things*

I don't have quite the same problems you do, since I don't bother writing multi-chaptered fics-- I'm in it for the smut, dammit!-- but I'm sure there's some overlap, and trust me, I know from writing original stuff that its annoying when people pester you for easy answers early in the story. -_-;; Patience, people!

[yuuo.livejournal.com]

I remember this rant when you first posted it (got back here through the links on your newest entry) and it was a thing of beauty then, but my coherency was at Heisenburg's redefined Absolute Zero, so I didn't reply. But WORD.

I've seen a number of stories that were beautifully written, well-handled, the narration and imagry and everything used was gorgeous and struck just this right note with me...

But it was a pairing I couldn't stand.

Guess what.

I didn't comment on that.

It's such a simple comment, you'd think that people would get it. It's not like the pairing not suiting your tastes is something the author can help- okay, technically, the author can but that's not really a constructive criticism. That's personal taste, not anything to do with the writing itself. -_- But then, internet reviewers have been a particularly stupid breed since they started cropping up. I say we weed it a bit, but that makes the police flustered and stern.

[lykomancer.livejournal.com]

It's also partly the way that it's handled, too. I mean, sky_dark wanders over here, reads stuff, and goes, "ICKYPATOOIE!ENVY!...Squick! Nice fic, though." And I laugh, because I know she knew going into it, and it's obviously meant to be amusing.
But there are a few people I'd seen that read things and the only note they leave is an "Except for...", or else their "Except for..." carries the main thrust of their comment, and they do it in all seriousness.
Any time someone starts doing that now, I'm just going to comment with a simple, "De gustibus non est disputandum" and let them try to work out the Latin to see what I've said. ^_^

I'm all for weeding. Weeding is good. We can kill a large number of them before the cops get us.

[yuuo.livejournal.com]

... damnit, I'm gonna be abusing my Latin dictionary later when I'm awake enough to try to translate that.

And weeding is good. We wanna start up where you are and then head this way or start down here? I'm sure we can outrun the police for awhile. A regular Bonnie and Clyde! Only not.

[celes-grant.livejournal.com]

You're my hero for this =D I totally agree, hence why I never say much. I have nothing to argue XD

and I'm sorry I missed your birthday T_T

Happy late birthday~! ♥