#((also every so often someone sends me a pm on ff asking me to update))

[pctaldrunk]

sometimes i remember that i'm on f i c r e c s for d.cmk and i lose my mind a tiny bit

[mysterious-prophetess]

What Not to Do When Messaging a Fanfic Writer (or Any Writer in General)

Getting reviews on fics is really nice. Getting feedback in general is nice. Fic Writers love feedback (I know I do; I crave it). 

However, there are times whenever this can go too far.

Even with the best of intentions, you might want to be mindful of what you send a fic writer.

I’ve decided to make this post because a reader went just too far and I was sick of them, and then when I called them out on their crap, they acted defensive and tried to flip this on me.

For the record: this person who kept messaging me NEVER REVIEWED MY FIC. EVER. Just popped in my inbox, asked questions and then offered very specific suggestions on what I should do for certain story arcs.

 Keep in mind, I didn’t ASK for any input from them or any of my readers. 

Why this is what you shouldn’t do, in short, is because unless the author asks for it, don’t send them any plot ideas. 

Some of us (me) react poorly to people trying to offer us very specific ideas for a fic. By doing that you’re stepping on someone’s toes.

So, unless they ask (or you ask them if you can offer an idea). Don’t do it.

If you want to see the story, stick around and click under the read more.

Now, it started innocently enough. 

They expressed interest in where my story was going and if I was going to cover X arc of said fandom. I replied that I was planning on writing about said arc.

Normally, this would be where this interaction should end. 

I mean, that’s where I would have ended it were I the one making the inquiry.

Question asked. Question answered. The end. Every other reader who has EVER PM’ed me seemed to grasp this concept. 

Not this user.

They persisted,

“Is Character Z going to become _____________?” “Are Characters Z, Y, X, & W going to be in (Insert a different arc here)?” And I responded that No, Character Z is not going to become _______ and that Yes Z, Y, X, & W would be in (that story arc).  You’d think that would be the end of it. But no. They persisted.

“Will you do a (Prequel to the fandom in question) story?” “Will Character Z go with Character M to rescue Character A from (insert place here)?” I responded that I couldn’t tell them much more because that would be a spoiler.

Again, most people would have taken my hint.

Did they? No. they did not.

“I have some ideas for a (Prequel to fandom) story”

I did not solicit any ideas. 

The first response I had to this PM was rage. 

Not gonna lie.

Then I realized that my rage was a bit knee jerk and here was my response:

“That’s really cool, but since I’m not even in the outline phase for the ____sections (I have some vague ideas, nothing more), maybe you could try writing a ___________ fic?

I’m sure it’ll be great and it’ll end up exactly as you want it. I promise to even check it out!”

Seems reasonable right? 

Most people would have understood the “Go Write Your Own Fic” message there that I was being nice about.

Not this person. 

Oh, no. Then they started sending me “suggestions” that I NEVER ASKED THEM TO SEND IN THE FIRST PLACE.

“You know I thought of you making Character T one of Character N’s (specific thing to the fandom) and setting the events of (Prequel story arc) with Character Z time traveling to the events of (Prequel story arc).”

Unless I ask someone for a fic prompt or input, I do NOT appreciate people giving me “suggestions” like this.

Especially AFTER all these other social cues for leaving me alone were ignored by this person.

I tried to ignore them. 

It worked for almost a month.

Then the annoyance had the gall to bug me about a late update 

They came into my inbox. They had the nerve to ask about a fic they NEVER reviewed being late for an update? REALLY!?!?!

Things have finally come to a head because while this wasn’t constant it was often enough that I was getting pissed off.

I don’t mind interacting with readers, I really don’t but this person didn’t get it.

“I made a Blank Points Version for your story” “You could have Character T give Character R such and such ability.” 

The one thing seemed nice but again, I never asked them to do it and they never asked me if I would be cool with that. 

Pattern here of not asking me emerges and also a pattern of me never asking them to do this.

I replied that No. Character T would not do that because they’re not working with Characters N or F.

They persisted.

“I didn’t say Character T was working for Character N but that they noticed the rivalry with Character R and Character S and gave them ability whatever to pit them against one another.”

My response this time “No.”

Then they got mad “Calm down” they told me. They also had the nerve to ask me about a story of the following arc to the current one I was writing.

I was done being calm. 

Also, if you tell me to “calm down” you’ve actually just caused the opposite to happen. At heart I’m a contrarian, so.....yeah. That was an unfortunate accident on their part.

You can ask @makenzie-rush that I don’t actually have that good a handle on my temper. 

They were lucky I lasted this long without getting angry.

My response exactly: “I think I've been calm long enough. I've tried to be patient, far more patient that I am with any IRL situations like this mind you, but I reached my limit a while ago. I appreciate that you like my story, I really do. I also like your enthusiasm for it. However, from my perspective you are trying to tell me what to do and that is not ok. That is not ok at all. You wouldn't like it if I tried to tell you how to write your fics, and I don't appreciate you trying to tell me how to do mine. As for a ___ story, it will be a while as there are still about nine chapters left to this fic as it is. Have a nice night.“

While it is blunt and not as sugary as it could have been it conveyed my feelings clearly and succinctly right? They missed the point.

They played dumb. Claimed they hadn’t tried to tell me what to do.

 “How could you claim that?” they asked.

They were giving me unsolicited input. They were giving me very SPECIFIC unsolicited input about plot elements. How else could I have interpreted that except as them trying to tell me what to write. The problem with written medium is tone is not easily conveyed. Especially whenever you don’t have access to italics and bold.

I never asked for their input and honestly maybe I’m sensitive but who in their right minds thinks this is ok? To go about doing this without saying first 

 “Hey, mind if float an idea your way”

So they got mad and defensive and I responded.

“Keep in mind the whole idea of "perspective" here. From my perspective, your suggestions were not only unwanted but intrusive. You may not have intended it like that (I get it), but that's how it comes off. I'm trying to be nice here, so I'm going to say this: your ability to come up with ideas is not a bad thing. I now will reiterate a point I made a long way down this string (back on July 6): You should write you own fic. You have the ideas for it. I'll even read it if you write it, but sending me suggestions like this is wasting your ideas.“

Again, blunt but I’m not being mean, or all that forceful.

They flipped out.

Claimed I was disrespecting them for telling them that they were wasting their ideas. That they “Don’t got no respect for people who disrespect them”

So, now I’m REALLY pissed off.

And here’s where I lost my maturity and my cool.

“Alright, since you seem to be DELIBERATELY misunderstanding me, I am done beating around the bush. You sent to me unsolicited ideas. I NEVER asked you (or anyone else) for your input and frankly I don't need it. I was not disrespecting you. I was not calling your ideas a waste, but sending them to me whenever I NEVER asked for them is not a good use of your time or effort. Focus on your own fics and leave me to mine, ok? BTW: You DON'T get to play the victim here whenever you started this whole thing and then wouldn't stop messaging me after I'd responded to your inquiry. This should have stopped after I answered your question but you missed a social cue somewhere. Stop messaging me, please. Good night, and good bye -MP”

After that, I discovered a “Block User” function exists on FF. Net. So, I blocked them.

Tl:Dr--A reader kept bugging me and I got angry whenever they gave me unsolicited suggestions and wouldn’t stop PMing me. I called them out, they got pissy and I blocked them. The end.