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[marigoldg]

Hullo! I was reminiscing to myself at work today about the hobbity part of the fandom and thinking about how it has become so quiet and missing the excitement of those Golden few years at the beginning of things. I have been wondering for a while now why our part of the fandom seems to be less prolific these days when there still seem to be loads

Comments

[elanivalae]

I think there's definitely something to that, but also it seems like once the general level of conversation dies down in a fandom, the quantity of fic declines rapidly. When there are lots of contests and challenges and this cauldron of simmering ideas with in-jokes and plot-bunnies flying back and forth at the speed of light, it's a lot easier to latch on to an idea, just start writing, and see what comes of it. I know that for me, at least, the vast majority of the fandom projects I've started have had their genesis in conversations with other fans about characters or interesting plot points or "what-ifs". To some degree, no matter how much you love a particular fandom, once everyone else drifts off to other things, it seems like much of the energy (and especially the energy to start new projects) goes out of it.

[marigoldg]

I agree with this but even though this creative give and take to produce lots of stories isn’t what it once there are still lots of readers out there, so quite a few people are still interested. Going from what the authors I chat to regularly say, the moment something is posted the hits start coming in thick and fast. But not the reviews. So, as the interest is still there we readers are shooting ourselves in the foot by not giving the deserved kudos to the authors that are still entertaining us, risking their loss as well. Does that make sense, lol? It is very late here and I am not at my most articulate!

[elanivalae]

Oh, it makes sense. I just think it's a bit of both. :) I haven't seen a lot of newer stuff in this particular part of the LoTR fandom posted recently (it could be that I'm just looking in the wrong places!), so I wasn't aware newer things were still getting many hits.

And my goodness, if it's this late here, it must be really late over there. o_O

[marigoldg]

It was! Bloody shift work, lol! Didn't get home till about 2am : )

[lindahoyland]

Very well said and just what I've been thinking as I'm experiencing the same,though I write about Aragorn and Faramir mostly.I've started posting a new adventure in which they meet a dragon, which I thought people would like and my beta readers thought so too, but hardly anyone has commented, just a few friends and I'm starting to wonder why I bother.I do love writing, but it is disheartening, especially when I used to get lots of comments.I'm reminded of a slogan the Post Office used to have "Use it or lose it."

I admit I don't read like I used to, but if I read a chapter or story to the, I always comment even though it might only be "I enjoyed this."

I did get quite a good response when I wrote one of my rare stories featuring Hobbits a few months ago and I'm glad Shirebound still writes her lovely Hobbits and Aragorn stories as does Larner.

[marigoldg]

I will have to look for your dragon story when I get back from holiday!

I understand what you mean about wondering why you bother as I hear that from quite a few people - the readers are obviously there but why don't they *say* something, sigh...

I also think though that the stories, although folks don't comment enough, are at least *out there* and people are enjoying them and will continue to enjoy them for years to come whether we know about it directly or not - a sort of legacy I suppose. And too, the stories are an homage and thank you to Tolkien for creating his world in the first place so even if we don't get the response that we desire at least the professor is being paid back by our small efforts : )

[lindahoyland]

I hope you'l enjoy the story which will be posted here on LJ.I fear it does not have Hobbits,but it does have a friendly dragon!

You are spot on, as I guess I do care about leaving a legacy "out there" that will hopefully still be there when I'm forgotten.

I guess I'll keep on with my tributes to my favourite author.

Hope you have a nice relaxing break.

[ex_lbilover]

This is pretty much exactly the same thing I wrote privately to a friend a few days ago. There is a level of complacency about leaving fb that is very disheartening, and it's not only in the LOTR fandom. I've seen similar comments made in other fandoms, too. Sometimes, as Linda Hoyland said, you wonder why you bother to post fics at all. There was an excellent post about feedback that I read the other day, and in comments someone said 'I don't write for feedback, I post for feedback.' That struck a chord with me. It's hard to post fics in a vacuum, and as Europanya once told me, there is a symbiotic relationship between fanfic authors and readers. We need each other- it can't all be one way, with the writers giving and getting nothing back.

I know there are other reasons people have left the fandom and fewer fics are being posted, but lack of commenting is a contributing factor, imo.

[marigoldg]

Complacancy is exactly the right word, sigh. People used to be som enthusiastic when a new story was posted and now they seem to take it for granted that the writers will just keep them coming whether they recieve feedback or not. But without encouragement what incentive do the writers have to post - lots of hits with little response is really a form of rejection, as if saying the story isn't worth commenting on, so writers aren't getting enough positive reinforcement to continue posting.

And as you say, I can happily write stories for myself without posting or just imagine them out without writing them down. Posting is offering up your vision which implies in itself the expectation and desire to recieve a response/reaction from others who share your interests.

[lindelea1]

"I don't write for feedback, I post for feedback." Excellent point--something I had not been able to put into words before. Very true. There's a certain energy generated by reading feedback, that translates into more writing, more ideas, more motivation to post, even if I really can't spare much time for writing these days. I am more likely to use those spare moments for writing if I feel motivated to write, but if I feel as if I'm talking to myself, there's not much point in writing it down--I can talk to myself anytime, without having to sit down at the computer.

*hugs* Marigold! I was just thinking of you earlier today, as a matter of fact. I almost never get to LJ lately, so it's nice to see the thoughtful conversations continuing.

[serai1]

Yes, that is a lot of it for me. Writing is not easy for me; I tend to do it when I'm hit with an inspiration, which is neither predictable nor forceable. But I keep writing because I think people want to read what I'm doing. My hobbit writing fell by the wayside in large part because fewer and fewer people seemed to be reading it. When a story gets only one or two comments, my Muse loses energy and wanders away.

[marigoldg]

Writing can be a really emotional and difficult process no matter what the genre and when you share that with people it is really disheartening not to recieve an acknowledgement that your vision, skill and your blood, sweat and tears were appreciated.

Maybe, as Dreamflower says, interest will pick up again when The Hobbit is released and your Hobbit muse will be reinvigorated! And so will the excitement of the readers!

[dreamflower02]

First of all! ((((((((((((hugs

[singeaddams]

I'd love to see the hobbity part of LotR fandom re-energized and revitalized-- perhaps if they ever get around to filming The Hobbit, that may happen.

It'll probably be all Dwarf slash. Dwarves slashed with one lonely hobbit, a dragon and Bjorn the Bear. Sigh.

[marigoldg]

Heaven forfend, Singe!

[shirebound]

In the meantime, we faithful few will just have to cling together and support one another as best we can!

*clings*