Livejournal Thread 4: Can't kill what's already dead inside

[McDuffies]

Oh Jeebuz! Why do I do this to myself?!

Just had a binge on ED's dArt pages - I have seen things no person should ever see - why do those people (can't call them artists) think they're talented? And worse any of the ones that seem to have talent draw nothing but fan-art porn.

And here I was thinking that looking at some crap might make me happy with my own art (and break this stupid artist block), instead all I can think is why fucking bother when these talentless retreads have a ton more fans than I ever do.

Think about it this way: why would you want those people as fans?

[RobboAKAscooby]

Think about it this way: why would you want those people as fans?

True point, of course not.

[McDuffies]

Ask Sortelli what it's like to have a bad kind of fans (he may not want to talk about it tho).

[Sortelli]

hahah oh god my fans

OH GOD my fans

*weeps like a baby*

Okay serious talk about this issue. Having a fandom is weird. I will admit that I did not actually enjoy it on the balance, although it certainly is not all bad, and a lot of the problem was with me myself and not necessarily with my readers. But the relationship between author and fan can get toxic and weird pretty quick. There will be people who just assume that, because they identify with your work, you must be just like them. They will share unwanted information and make unwarranted assumptions and do all sorts of wonderful internet bullshit in your face and in your backyard. It can fairly be said that some of the members I brought to the old Cornstalker forums shat all over the place like wild animals. They can also turn on you quick for any number of reasons of varying validity.

I had no idea how to handle it then and I still have no idea how to handle it now so currently I'm just avoiding the issue altogether by not creating any place for fans to comment or post on my new site.

Also? My new site has like no traffic at all. These things are related.

Fans are an excellent way to get feedback and validation. If you ever want to make money, that money lives in their pockets. And they're probably all decent people for the most part. Just be prepared for the fact that having them will turn you into an asshole whether you want it or not.

[Sortelli]

also you know I opened this thread to bitch about how it never rains unless I wash my car because that straight up happened yesterday.

[RobboAKAscooby]

hahah oh god my fans

OH GOD my fans

*weeps like a baby*

Okay serious talk about this issue. Having a fandom is weird. I will admit that I did not actually enjoy it on the balance, although it certainly is not all bad, and a lot of the problem was with me myself and not necessarily with my readers. But the relationship between author and fan can get toxic and weird pretty quick. There will be people who just assume that, because they identify with your work, you must be just like them. They will share unwanted information and make unwarranted assumptions and do all sorts of wonderful internet bullshit in your face and in your backyard. It can fairly be said that some of the members I brought to the old Cornstalker forums shat all over the place like wild animals. They can also turn on you quick for any number of reasons of varying validity.

I had no idea how to handle it then and I still have no idea how to handle it now so currently I'm just avoiding the issue altogether by not creating any place for fans to comment or post on my new site.

Also? My new site has like no traffic at all. These things are related.

Fans are an excellent way to get feedback and validation. If you ever want to make money, that money lives in their pockets. And they're probably all decent people for the most part. Just be prepared for the fact that having them will turn you into an asshole whether you want it or not.

That's the sad thing, if I ever want to make a living as a writer I'm going to have to get used to that kind of crap.

But the one thing I'm really going to have to get used to is shameless self-promotion, I am just not that kind of person.
Or I could just crap out an erotic fan-fiction over the course of a weekend and pocket a $500,000 check (yes I'm still pissed off about that).
The problem is, with the state of the book industry, big publishers don't want to take chances and bookstores won't touch independent publishers, so I have to build interest on my own. And since I'm writing original stories that don't involve supernatural "romance" (or whatever the latest trend is) I'm fighting an up hill battle, hopefully by making my new site (kind of) blog-centric I'll attract an audience with similar interests and there will be some natural spill-over.
Of course that won't negate the need for active promotion but it's something.

BTW even with only about 70 copies of book one out in the world I've already got "shippers" *groan*.

[Cope]

Or I could just crap out an erotic fan-fiction over the course of a weekend and pocket a $500,000 check (yes I'm still pissed off about that).

Relax, dude.

incidentally, I actually like getting shippers.

[Spaceprincess]

where can one get these crazy stalker fans? i've been trying for years to get a creepy emo stalker.

[Bustertheclown]

where can one get these crazy stalker fans? i've been trying for years to get a creepy emo stalker.

I'll stalk you if you want. I have to warn you, though -- I'm really lazy about social obligations, so I might only get around to being creepy at you once or twice every few years.

[IVstudios]

where can one get these crazy stalker fans? i've been trying for years to get a creepy emo stalker.

Considering how often you draw nudity, I'm honestly surprised you haven't attracted a creeper or two.

[RobboAKAscooby]

where can one get these crazy stalker fans? i've been trying for years to get a creepy emo stalker.

Considering how often you draw nudity, I'm honestly surprised you haven't attracted a creeper or two.

Actually most of her fans (on dA anyway) seem to be the nice kind of pervert

[Spaceprincess]

where can one get these crazy stalker fans? i've been trying for years to get a creepy emo stalker.

I'll stalk you if you want. I have to warn you, though -- I'm really lazy about social obligations, so I might only get around to being creepy at you once or twice every few years.

i thought you already were? i'm still waiting for that wedding ring.

where can one get these crazy stalker fans? i've been trying for years to get a creepy emo stalker.

Considering how often you draw nudity, I'm honestly surprised you haven't attracted a creeper or two.

maybe im just as oblivious about creepiness as I am everything else. or is it one of those things, if you can't spot the creep in the room then its you.

Actually most of her fans (on dA anyway) seem to be the nice kind of pervert

i didn't think you're a pervert, i thought it was just part of being australian

[RobboAKAscooby]

i didn't think you're a pervert, i thought it was just part of being australian

I'm male, we're all perverts.

[McDuffies]

Spaceprincess's fan: Hurr hurr hurr I photoshop faces of your characters onto playboy spreads hurr hurr hurr

Spaceprincess: What a nice young, artistically inclined fellow.

[Tim]

Spaceprincess's fan: Hurr hurr hurr I photoshop faces of your characters onto playboy spreads hurr hurr hurr

That seems redundant.

[VeryCuddlyCornpone]

I was reading something, then suddenly clicked out of it because I had a realization that I needed to be doing something else. Like it was just some fleeting thing I needed to write down or look up or something of that sort. But the thought vanished almost as quickly as it came, except it left the urgent anxiety behind for me to hold onto. terrific.

[RobboAKAscooby]

Just something that strangely has me a little peeved:

I did a whole bunch of drawings that I've uploaded to my dA account and, in my half-hearted attempts to get a few faves or whatnot, submitted various pics to various groups I follow. I did it in a really haphazard way of just opening a bunch of tabs and working my way through them as appropriate.
I submitted these pics to a Disney fangroup without realizing they had rules where "it has to be appropriate for all" and they got rejected, fair enough, there's nothing outrageous about the pics but I accept the decision, really doesn't bother me.
This was the conversation:

Mod: I'm sorry, but our audience is supposed to be acceptable for everyone, i'm afraid I can't except this.
Scooby: Okay that's cool, I just submitted a bunch of stuff to different groups and must of lost track of which group had which rules.
Mod: That's something that's really important here on Deviantart, always pay attention to the rules that groups have.

Something about that final reply just rubbed me the wrong way. I know it's just the inherent lack of tone in written conversation though, so I'm not saying anything back, the person was probably just trying to be helpful.

My point is: Written communication between strangers is a pain.

[VeryCuddlyCornpone]

Just something that strangely has me a little peeved:

I did a whole bunch of drawings that I've uploaded to my dA account and, in my half-hearted attempts to get a few faves or whatnot, submitted various pics to various groups I follow. I did it in a really haphazard way of just opening a bunch of tabs and working my way through them as appropriate.
I submitted these pics to a Disney fangroup without realizing they had rules where "it has to be appropriate for all" and they got rejected, fair enough, there's nothing outrageous about the pics but I accept the decision, really doesn't bother me.
This was the conversation:

Mod: I'm sorry, but our audience is supposed to be acceptable for everyone, i'm afraid I can't except this.
Scooby: Okay that's cool, I just submitted a bunch of stuff to different groups and must of lost track of which group had which rules.
Mod: That's something that's really important here on Deviantart, always pay attention to the rules that groups have.

Something about that final reply just rubbed me the wrong way. I know it's just the inherent lack of tone in written conversation though, so I'm not saying anything back, the person was probably just trying to be helpful.

My point is: Written communication between strangers is a pain.

It's also a load of bullshit given how much shit is allowed to fly on dA :V
In addition, it sounds condescending. "Here on Deviantart," like he owns the place.
Or am I just in a bad mood?

[RobboAKAscooby]

It's also a load of bullshit given how much shit is allowed to fly on dA :V
In addition, it sounds condescending. "Here on Deviantart," like he owns the place.
Or am I just in a bad mood?

See that's how I read it too but I'm trying to give the benefit of the doubt lately...

BTW I've feeling crook today so I'm hanging out on the net, bored out of my mind, hence my quick comment.

[IVstudios]

Sounds pretty innocuous to me. You broke the rules so someone reminded you to follow them. Just because some groups allow NSFW content doesn't mean other groups are out of line for not wanting it.