REGARDLESS of what your opinion might be about pulling to publish, maybe we can all agree that there is a way you can pull your fic without being a dick about it.
I just wanted to say a sincere thank you to instntkarmagirl for giving readers a fair warning before pulling her fic. That was the classy way to go and shows a lot of respect for your readers.
Especially in the case of angsty fic where people hold off on reading until it's complete for the sake of their own emotional well being. If you write an angsty fic, there will be people waiting until it's complete to read it.
On the other hand, I did not at all appreciate that out of nowhere Sebastien Robichaud pulled his fic in between the last chapter and epilogue. I read the first half of that fic and for several different reasons decided to wait until it's complete to read the rest. Early on I rec'd the hell out of this fic. I don't take ANY credit at all for it's popularity, but every little voice that spreads the word on a fic contributes to the momentum it gains. It's kind of a slap in the face as a reader when a fic is pulled with no warning. That gives us no chance to get the closure on a story we've invested in.
If I am dying to find out what happens I can of course go through back channels and find a downloaded copy of the fic, but I'd rather not disrespect an author like that. If your readers are given a chance to download your story before you pull it, you are showing your readers respect, and they will then show you respect when you ask us not to disseminate your story once you have pulled it to work on it.
Hi, I'm AltheaJams. When I have issues with the fandom I talk it out on my blog and stamp my name on it. My concerns are legit, I'm not afraid to articulate them, and I don't believe I am being mean about it. just. saying.
p.s.
OF COURSE people are downloading fic - that's because authors keep pulling their fic and I know I don't want to be in a situation where I don't get to read the end of a story just because I am behind on my updates but the fic's been pulled. I also download fic all the time to read on my Nook.
*claps wildly* You go, girl!
ReplyDeletei'm in the EXACT same boat! Thank you for being brave enough to voice this!! Ily!
ReplyDeletethis is why althea is my boo. i love you.
ReplyDeletei agree with everything you say. i also fell in love with IKG when she wrote her a/n's about pulling her fic. she is has the best attitude an author can have. she is grateful for her readers and she has thick skin. i believe people are WAY too sensitive sometimes. i love when people can either laugh shit off or let it roll of their back like whatever.
my name is kari/twicharmed and i approve this message. holla!
Very nicely stated. I applaud you for openly stating your opinion. And I strongly agree -- readers tend to be a loyal bunch and they will usually be advocates and future supporters, when you respect them. You're also better protecting your fic, bc these same readers will look out for you. One of the best-known fics, Wide Awake, author, AG, even created PDFs (as have other authors) for her readers. This protects her even more -- no way can anyone get away with plagiarism or stealing with this fic, for example. Anyway... Internet high five.
ReplyDeleteWhether or not I agree with publishing your fic, giving people fair warning is the way to do it.
ReplyDeleteThank you! I appreciate the post!
ReplyDeleteAgree completely. I know a lot of people were ticked off when SR pulled his fic "in the dead of night". Luckily for me, I had read it all, but for those that hadn't it must have been seriously annoying. I live in hope that he will put it back up on his blog so that people can finish. IKG is class all the way, as far as I am concerned - even going so far as to post the mini epi for those that felt somewhat unfulfilled by the ending of JW. That's another pet peeve of mine when the fandom get their knickers in a knot about authors and the way they finish stories. How else can a story finish, except the way the author intended? I really don't get people sometimes. I was grateful that it ended as well as it did, given the way the story had been going. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and calm down, and be grateful that people are willing to put themselves out there and publish stories for our enjoyment.
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