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  1. In Memory of LAJ_FETT: Please share your remembrances and condolences HERE

Index The Underrated Story Index - Coming soon...

Discussion in 'Fan Fiction and Writing Resource' started by Underrated_Index, May 10, 2008.

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  1. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Thanks for the feature. :)

    Does anyone else cope by having multiple stories going at once? That way I can be discouraged about lack of readership, but spread around so it's not so bad.
     
  2. mrjop2

    mrjop2 Jedi Knight star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 6, 2007
    For the past year, I have written a total of nine stories, eight not counting the one I just could not finish. Of all the eight, 95% of them are not attracting many readers, if my newest one which I am not going to count my beta reader. I have tried to teach myself to be patient and talk on the threads, read others works and always leave comments.

    To tell the truth of the matter, however, after posting here for soon to be over a year, I am becoming very weary, and at times I do lose hope. I'm sure I am not the only one who can't seem to write a story that catches the attention of other reads. I am going to finish my current story, I can pick up some readers here at the Force.net, but I probably will not finish the series if I can't attract any readers.

    I am not quitting writing though. Never quit if you love writing and I LOVE TO WRITE! All this to say, I convince myself to not giving up writing as a whole, because I know deep down, and have been told many people that I have great stories to tell (though my grammar needs improving), but I just have to find the right place to tell them and the right crowd to tell them to. If that's not here, then I have plans on going professional.

    So in short. I convince myself never to give up. If I am unable to find readers here, than I can find them somewhere in the world.
     
  3. Earthknight

    Earthknight Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 3, 2002
    UP.

    I am the up dude for this thread :) .
     
  4. DaenaBenjen42

    DaenaBenjen42 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    May 15, 2005
    About that question of low readership... I just keep posting if not a lot of people are reading it and say so. At least someone is being entertained, and I'm having fun. And there are people who lurk, so it's not always the people you see in thread, but the people who are reading it, and saying nothing that you're reaching. And when someone delurks, it's always good to see.


    I hope that made sense... :)
     
  5. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    I'm frequently PMed by nice people who don't replly in the thread but take the time to write me a detailed review in a more private setting.
     
  6. hyperspace_police

    hyperspace_police Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Jun 22, 2005
    Well, when I first stumbled upon Fan Fic... I didn't write anything for a long time...

    And I've written a few things here and there... It's the learning the lingo and the way of things Fan Fic that have taken me the longest... I'm bad about starting off great and then DRL steps in and takes over so, I don't always have frequent updates...

    But, I've always been pleased with anybody reading something... Even if it's one person.

    I post the stories I post because I enjoy writing them... Feedback is good... But, I know I'm bad to lurk and read and not always post comments... Heck, when I first started this... I didn't realize that feedback was even allowed or encouraged...

    I know that now and I try to post when I read somebody's stuff.. Even if it's just a smiley... So, don't get discouraged... Now, I know what gems are out there and don't mind at all going and checking out an under-rated story...

    I think this is a great idea for a thread...
     
  7. Alexis_Wingstar

    Alexis_Wingstar Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 16, 2006
    Yeah, I agree. Sure, feeback is terrific, especially regular feedback. But when you see someone post in your thread that they had to delurk to respond it's extra special. :)
     
  8. Underrated_Index

    Underrated_Index Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    May 10, 2008
    Mrjop2, that's exactly the attitude I would like to promote in this thread. It's very nice to see that there are others that share my outlook on writing and readership

    DaenaBenjen42 and hyperspace_police, I fully agree. However small the readership you have, it is still a readership, people who have taken the time to read your story and think of a response. I think the worst thing an author can do when wanting to widen his/her readership is to neglect the ones they've already managed to attract.
     
  9. Alexis_Wingstar

    Alexis_Wingstar Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 16, 2006
    Yes, you don't want to alienate the ones who've been with you all along.
     
  10. DaenaBenjen42

    DaenaBenjen42 Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    May 15, 2005
    ^^ That is very true, there. :)
     
  11. ccp

    ccp Jedi Grand Master star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 29, 2005
    I think this is a great idea. I'm not really sure where my writing lands as far as underratted or not, but I know that after I post something I'm better off if I just leave the site for a day or so because I'll keep hitting refresh wondering if anyone has posted a reply.

    Has any one else ever read a really great vig or songfic or short story, left a reply and come back latter maybe a day or two to see what others had to say about the story to find that you were the last to post on it and wonder why no one else saw this? I guess that's kinda the purpose of this index.
     
  12. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    Yes, exactly. I've seen so many stories like that.
     
  13. Underrated_Index

    Underrated_Index Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    May 10, 2008
    Ok, I've got a new featured story up, so all check it out!

    Also, want to throw out a question to you all: should vignettes be eligible to be the featured story of the week?

    When I started this index, the idea was the feature longer stories that had a small readership and try to help them out. Vignettes, due to their shortness, are harder to determine and I at first didn't want to include them. But I changed my mind and as you can see now, the index houses several vignettes. But I'm still unsure whether they should be featured stories or if that should be only something for longer stories. What do you people think?

    I want to also direct everyone's attention to the fact that award time is upon us. The nomination process for the Saga are already underway and the nominations for Beyond the Saga have started today.

    So register as a voter, go over there and nominate your favourite underrated stories! Some familiar ones from this index have already popped up in the Saga thread and some new ones have been brought to my attention.
     
  14. DarthIshtar

    DarthIshtar Chosen One star 10

    Registered:
    Mar 26, 2001
    I think vignettes can be just as underrated as feature-length stories.
     
  15. Alexis_Wingstar

    Alexis_Wingstar Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 16, 2006
    I don't see why vignettes shouldn't be featured.
     
  16. Earthknight

    Earthknight Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Oct 3, 2002
    Vignettes should be included. They're just like stories.
     
  17. Darth_Leia_6669

    Darth_Leia_6669 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2003
    I wanted to reply to the first question: What to do to stay positive. I saw the suggestion to write the entire story first, but I'm too impatient for that. It took all I had to wait as long as I did, seven chapters completed, before I posted. [face_laugh] The worst part is that it took me almost five years to find a good place to start and to actually write it. I was nervous, to say the least!

    Well, I've got a couple posts up, and two readers have faithfully responded each time. I just keeep telling myself that after a few chapters more people will catch on, but if it doesn't happen, oh well. Yeah, I'll be disappointed, but since I'm so far ahead of what I'm posting, I'll keep going until I run out of steam, or I finish!

    In the mean time, I follow all the other suggestions, reading and responding to other fics, and I've finally got the time to cruise the other boards as well, looking for challenges and such. I'm also working on several viggies, since I can only seem to focus on one major story at a time!

    So, I guess my reply is just to love writing and what you write.

    --later--

    6669 [face_devil]
     
  18. Underrated_Index

    Underrated_Index Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    May 10, 2008
    Thanks for the input everyone. From now on, I'll also consider vignettes :)

    The weekly update is late because I've been away over the weekend and I've got some computer trouble. Hopefully, I will be able to feature a story tomorrow, so bear with me.

    Also, I less than two weeks time, I'm going on holiday, so I need someone to run the index whilst I'm away. For further information, check the announcement on the first page
     
  19. Underrated_Index

    Underrated_Index Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    May 10, 2008
    Upping for visibility and to direct everyone's attention to this weeks featured story
     
  20. Robimus

    Robimus Jedi Grand Master star 5

    Registered:
    Jul 6, 2007
    I know different people write for different reasons but let me, a computer illiterate :p fanfic writer, weigh in with a few thoughts......


    I was just out of High School, maybe early in 1992 I think, when I first started my writing of Star Wars fanfiction stories. I was very inspired by Heir to the Empire, Dragonlance and select other series at the time. Now the craziness begins.......

    I hand wrote probably well over a thousand looseleaf pages of stories ranging through my various intersts, none of which has ever been read by anyone but myself[face_mischief], and never will. I wrote the stories for myself with no intention, or idea that I would ever be able to share my stories with anyone. Can you imagine all that work with no potential audience?[face_thinking]

    This was my start in Fan Fiction, my work was crude, scribbled and very messy, but it was still mine. I am still quite proud of it to this day and may have some of my early characters pop up from time to time :D. That said it was all for myself, thats your first and biggest fan. Yourself. Don't get to discouraged if no-one seems to be reading, there are very likely lurkers:), and keep in mind exactly who your biggest fan is at all times. [:D] Your automatically starting with a much bigger audience than many of us did.

    This all said, feedback and support is an incredibly wonderful feeling and I think this thread is a wonderful idea. It's a very nice, warm to know someone is reading. I totally understand the feeling of elation when you get that first post of feedback, I know my own sure felt nice[face_love], but don't get to discouraged if you don't see any early feedback, its likely coming and people are still reading.

    Hope my rambling makes some sense, but as I say different people write for different reasons, this is really just my own take on things.:)
     
  21. Darth_Leia_6669

    Darth_Leia_6669 Jedi Padawan star 4

    Registered:
    Apr 26, 2003
    Robimus, I wanted to let you know that you made sense, at least to me ;). I've also written a lot that no one has ever seen, and probably never will. But nothing beats the rush I get when something that I've worked on for days,(weeks, hours, or whatever) gets feedback. But then, one of my major disfunctions is that I'm driven by gaining approval from others, which I know is a bad thing. It's just hard sometimes to remember that I'm the one who really counts when it comes to approval, and the opinion of others shouldn't define me. Does anyone else have this problem, and if so, how do you deal with it so that it doesn't get you down?

    And if I didn't make sense, blame the evil monkey! [face_monkey]

    --later--
    6669 [face_devil]
     
  22. Underrated_Index

    Underrated_Index Jedi Youngling

    Registered:
    May 10, 2008
    Ok, a new featured story is up, done properly this week so make sure to check it out. There's been a proper update of the index too.

    Unfortunately, no one has volunteered to take care of the index whilst I'm gone. I'm leaving on Saturday, so unless the index is to go on a two week hiatus, I suggest someone contacts me before Thursday, or Friday at the latest.
     
  23. Alexis_Wingstar

    Alexis_Wingstar Jedi Master star 4

    Registered:
    Sep 16, 2006
    Well, I hesitate because I wouldn't want to choose whose story to feature! I think many of us would like to help, but that thought is intimidating.
     
  24. DarthGaul

    DarthGaul Jedi Master star 3

    Registered:
    May 25, 2004
    I feel like I am the most underrated fan fic writer sometimes. I value those that do take the time to read my stuff (when I do get the chance to update chapters that is) and that I'm being pushed down to the abyss of fics where no one sees them at all.

    Frustrated, sure. Bitter, who wouldn't be. But I do try my best at least.

    I may not tackle on crossovers or other universe theories like many on here...but at least I do try to tell an interesting story.

    If the story is good the readers will let you know....unfortunately I've got more of a response from those at fanfiction.com then those on here. Which to me seems strangely odd...seeing how this would be the place where star wars fans would gather and give better reviews in all.
     
  25. MsLanna

    MsLanna Jedi Master star 6

    Registered:
    Jul 8, 2005
    I feel like I own the 'Moste Underrated' category of Saga. [face_plain]
    *Mine!*:p

    I was going to go about the usual stuff, regular updates, challenges, socialising, but..

    ... the story I currently get the most comments on is part of a challenge and gets updated regularly,yes, true. But I was part of the same challenge last year and updated as regularly and somebody nommed that one 'Most Underrated' just now.:oops:

    I have no clue how regular updates and being part of a challenge help anything then.[face_plain]
    It's probably chance or something.

    DarthGaul: I posted my last year's Diary Challenge Response at ff.n as well, and it would never have managed 'Most Underrated' there.8-}

    One thing does seem to work, though: humour. In my case, that always gets the most comments.
     
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