More zine blathering...

[graculus]

Quotes of the day so far in the ongoing zine discussion (and all mine, I hasten to add):

On the subject of authors who write for feedback:

"Unfortunately, I keep seeing this whole 'people write for feedback' portrayed as if the online writers in question are sacrificing babies to make their printer ink. Like you say, no writer works in a complete vacuum and nor should they. Yes, there are writers who only write because they need their ego stroked - as I'm sure there were writers whose motivation was (is) the same where zines are concerned. Likewise there are writers who are driven by a need to tell the story that's running around their head, regardless of the medium in which it finally makes its appearance. Neither position (or any place on the spectrum in between) is the sole property of either zine or online fic writers. Surely there's a balance to be found between the two?

If you're only writing for yourself then why should you want your fic in print either, because isn't that driven by a need for feedback or strokes of some kind? And yet that's portrayed by some of those who are ardently pro-zine as a virtuous act almost akin to donating to charity in comparison to the 'greed' of putting fic online for feedback.

Where's the incentive to change your ways if you're already a heretic? And where does that leave those of us who do both? Am I a greedy attention whore when I post fic online if it hasn't been in a zine first, or am I virtuous if I reserve a fic for someone's zine? Kind of confusing..."

There may be more to come, who knows? ;)

Comments

[karendreamer.livejournal.com]

Hmmm...since I've only written two so far mostly unnoticed fics I'm not sure how much I have to offer, but here goes.

I write because I love words, the characters talk to me, and I would someday love feedback.

At this point I don't think my work is zine worthy. A few more fics, and some positive feedback, and I will definitely submit to a zine. I know it is difficult sometimes for zine producers to get enough quality fics. I hope I can help them out one of these days.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

At this point I don't think my work is zine worthy. A few more fics, and some positive feedback, and I will definitely submit to a zine. I know it is difficult sometimes for zine producers to get enough quality fics. I hope I can help them out one of these days.

So why would you think your stories aren't worthy enough yet? If you can string a coherent sentence together and know the difference between their and there at least half the time, you're already ahead of the game. ;)

[seanchaidh.livejournal.com]

Feedback is like getting tips. As a tour guide, tips (and positive comments in general) are over and above my wage, and it's a good way of knowing the audience has enjoyed my performance. Tips are odd, like feedback, and there doesn't seem to be a reason why people give feedback/tips. What I feel was a great performance or a great story... gets little to nothing - nights with nothing other than a mumbled "thanks" as the audience goes away and I wonder what it was that I did wrong. Lukewarm nights/stories? Better reception, sometimes.

I don't get it. I do the tours because I'm a mild exhibitionist, I think. :) And I love interacting with people. I like being rewarded for a good job. It's part of my satisfaction. I guess my stories are something similar, although that's something more personal. If someone enjoys my stories, then it's a lovely bonus - but the best part of a completed story is knowing that huge idea in my brain is gone and I don't have to think about it again.

Hope that makes sense. Not sure if it does even to me.

[graculus.livejournal.com]

I guess my stories are something similar, although that's something more personal. If someone enjoys my stories, then it's a lovely bonus - but the best part of a completed story is knowing that huge idea in my brain is gone and I don't have to think about it again.

So it works either way, but surely what's best is both? Getting the story out *and* getting strokes for it? And what could possibly be wrong with wanting to get strokes?

[seanchaidh.livejournal.com]

Mmm... strokes.

/smutty voice

[blktauna.livejournal.com]

Well as I rarely get feedback for either zine or on-line stories I can guarantee you I don't write for it or I'd have stopped aeons ago.
(but a big shout out to everyone who has given feedback!)

I write because I have something I want to say about the characters I love. I'm not really concerned as to where it goes. If a zine is coming up, I'll ask if they want it, if not, then I post it.