Same Work, Different Archive, Different Response?

[Glory1863]

Just curious if those of you who post the same work to more than one general archive/site (for example, ff.net, AO3, LiveJournal, Tumblr, etc.) find that you get a different response depending on the site. Not necessarily in terms of a negative response, although that could be the case, I suppose, but more that a type of work (slash, fluff, crossover, etc.) gets more hits/reviews at one site as opposed to another. I've got no complaints, but I have noticed it and wonder if others have had the same experience.

[jespah]

Definitely, but I think it's that certain archives have different slants but also different regulars. There are a lot of places where a straightforward ENT story is a very, very hard sell, no matter how good it is. It's just that there's still (after all these years, sheesh, you'd think people would give it a rest) a bias against ENT.

[EntAllat]

Yeah, I've seen it. I've never posted to Livejournal or Dreamwidth and I only recently got my AO3 account (though I was sent an invite years ago and forgot!) so I can't say anything for certain about those generic archives. But I have noticed it on fanfiction.net. My ENT/TOS stories get a lot more attention than my straight up ENT fics at fanfiction.net. It makes sense - there's simply more readers for TOS and the reboot movie than ENT there, so I get more comments and hits on those types of stories.

[mareel]

Yes, absolutely different. I don't post on ff.net, but see major differences between the others. It's definitely pairing-related for me. And, surprisingly, multi-fandom communities (especially on LJ and DW) are more responsive than ENT-specific sites. I always smile when someone in one of those places says 'Oh, you've made me want to watch Enterprise again!'

[Kylah618]

I only post here and on ff.net, but I see a lot of difference. I feel like I get more constructive criticism here. On ff.net, I have to sift through the complaints, nitpicking, and grumblings that my story isn't a reader's cup of tea (though it is CLEARLY labeled) to get to any real, valuable feedback.

[Aquarius]

I think here it's different because most of us approach this as a craft. The commentary leans more constructive because we don't appeal to the author who is just going to churn something out and demand everybody love it because it's there; we all care about our craft as much as you care about yours, so we tend to be invested more in the stories when we read them, if that makes any kind of sense.

Conversely, I think that also means that we don't tend to attract some kinds of readers, so you don't get as many comments. Good, bad, indifferent, it is what it is. You'll get fewer comments, but the ones you get will have more substance than "loved it, write more."

[Kylah618]

You'll get fewer comments, but the ones you get will have more substance than "loved it, write more."

I would much rather have fewer comments with substance than a quick "loved it."

Through the criticism I've gotten here, my writing has improved about a thousand percent over the last year. I recently went back and re-read a fic I wrote for another fandom six years ago, and I was floored by how much my writing has improved since then. I completely credit the good, solid comments and feedback I've gotten here, as opposed to the quick, simple nods on other sites.

[Glory1863]

I think we've kind of morphed to another interesting question here.

What is the purpose of a large multifandom archive like ff.net, AO3 or LiveJournal? In the best of all possible worlds:

Should it be only for serious writers who want to go pro (someday) and want a writer's workshop environment?

Should it be open to anyone who desires a creative outlet regardless of ability?

Should it be primarily a meeting place for fans to enjoy the shows/movies/books/plays/whatever with others with the same interests, some who write (at whatever level) and some who only read?

[EntAllat]

I think we've kind of morphed to another interesting question here.

What is the purpose of a large multifandom archive like ff.net, AO3 or LiveJournal? In the best of all possible worlds:

Interesting questions!

Having been the maintainer of massive software projects with lots of users, I'd first say that the purpose of anything like that should be whatever the the folks who put it out there intended it to be for.

Having said that... almost anything that serves a large population of users well, will become a community of some sort.

Should it be only for serious writers who want to go pro (someday) and want a writer's workshop environment?

The majority of fanfiction writers do it just for fun. (There's a couple of recent articles that explore this.) It's a hobby, like flag football on the weekends, knitting or gardening is for other folks. So making a generic fanfiction forum just about going pro would be counterproductive.

That being said, many hobbyists also seek out workshop environments. I know a lot of the same gardeners, knitters, woodworkers, photographers, home brewers, etc. who have no intention of "going pro" or selling their work (or doing anything other than maybe giving something as a gift at Christmastime) but who still seek out hobbyist environments where they can keep improving (or share techniques that make it easier) what they have fun doing. The degree to which individuals take their hobby "seriously" in an community always varies. I don't think the two - finding a fun creative outlet vs finding a workshop environment - are mutually exclusive in fanfiction or any other hobby. In fact, many such environments now combine the two.

Flicker is a great example of simple photo storage that turned into a community that also allows for professional development. Deviant Art - same thing: storage and sharing of art, a community built around art and creative endeavors, and support for those who wish to improve a hobby as well as support for those who wish to "go pro" or who ARE pro.

Should it be open to anyone who desires a creative outlet regardless of ability?

They already are, but yeah, sure, why not?

Should it be primarily a meeting place for fans to enjoy the shows/movies/books/plays/whatever with others with the same interests, some who write (at whatever level) and some who only read?

Well, if it's an archive of fanfiction, then I think the primary purpose is to be an archive of fanfiction, but that's the software developer in me speaking. I think it should do that well: i.e. be easy to use for writers to upload and organize stories, easy for them to adjust and edit stories, or to promote and share stories. And it should be just as easy for readers to find stories and authors, to follow on-going stories or favorite writers, and it should be comfortable for readers to read any style of writing (regardless of vision and other accessibility issues).

It becomes a meeting place for fans-with-similar-interests - and this may be the anthropologist in me speaking now - as a natural cultural outcome of being an archive of what fans are seeking - the fanfiction.

I like to engage other fans in a forum, on social media or via (the now rapidly disappearing) listservs, where the software is designed for more interaction, than primarily in an archive environment. But even so, generic archives are nice way to meet new people - I've met a lot of fellow fans in archive environments and made several friends that way.

[mareel]

Kylah618 wrote
I would much rather have fewer comments with substance than a quick "loved it."

Of course, it's always a plus to have 'substance' in a comment - but I'm a bit worried that people might feel they have to say something profound or say nothing. This couldn't be further from the truth for me. I'd much much rather see a quick 'nice story' or 'I really liked this' than see no comments at all.

It's a bit like the AO3 kudos system. To me, both mean seeing that people have enjoyed a story even if they didn't have time or inclination to say too much about it. And I like that a lot. It's a welcome connection with the readers.