Ah artistic types ...

[blamebrampton]

Very quick poll, NB, the first word of the first answer should be care, but lj won't let me fix it. *Damn you, LJ!*:[Poll #1507051]For my own part, after RL attacks of the last option, I entered fandom determined to work solely for myself, and do sometimes achieve that happy state, but more often it's accompanied by occasional wobblies. Having chatted to several friends on the topic, the wobblies seem a common surprise guest.

What about you lot? And how do you combat the wobblies if you're someone they hit?

Comments

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

I find that my answer varies based on what kind of thing I'm writing. For example, I know darkfic gets fewer comments, so that frees me up to write more for myself than for an audience. I know I'm not going to get a huge response, so I don't need to worry about trying to please anyone other than myself (or my fest recipient). I'm still interested in the response, but I know from the outset that it won't be huge, so I'm less likely to feel disappointed.

When I'm writing something that has the potential to be a crowd pleaser, however, I've noticed that I get much more wibbly. I was incredibly wibbly over my hd hols fic, because I put my heart into it and there really wasn't any reason for it to not do well other than it possibly sucking, lol. I did love writing it and I was personally happy with it. But still -- it's so, so nice to know that other people enjoyed something you wrote and to get positive feedback. I'll admit that I would have been quite upset if it had been universally disliked or if my recipient had seemed disappointed.

I know some people claim they write only to please themselves, but I've seen the same people who claim that have huge wibbles when they don't get the response they were hoping for. I think everyone wibbles to an extent. If they were writing only for themselves, they wouldn't need to bother posting things publicly. Wibbling is normal and human and there's nothing wrong with it. ;P

[blamebrampton.livejournal.com]

If they were writing only for themselves, they wouldn't need to bother posting things publicly.

In broad agreement with much of your comment, but I am not sure about this paragraph. I was trying to figure out in my head today why I put stories out into the world when I am happy with them, and came up with many bad metaphors, before deciding, that's just what one does with a finished story. Until you do that, it's not finished.

Of course, I am sleep deprived and whacked myself in the head this morning, so the likelihood that this concept is deranged or the product of yet another brain injury should not be discounted.

[emansil-08.livejournal.com]

Thought I'd pop in here for a mo. Your statement about darkfic getting fewer comments I can't really speak to having never posted dark fic. However, I just want to say that the writers and readers of darkfic are amazingly supportive to new writers angsting over entering the genre. I've had so many people offering me assistance and hand holding as I try to make my way through the writing of darkfic. I can't tell you how very much I've appreciated it. So thanks!

[melusinahp.livejournal.com]

That's because a) we want good new writers! and b) because we remember what it was like when we first ventured into darkfic. <3

[emansil-08.livejournal.com]

Well, I appreciate the vote of confidence. Whatever the reason I really do appreciate it.