#(if you actually don't like it‚ it's fine‚ don't even touch the kudos button‚ no one has to know you were there)

[ghostoffuturespast]

Honestly, getting real tired carrying and supporting other folks around here when most of them aren't returning the favor...

[narrymybed]

Thanks for the Narry rec you posted, it's nice when people actually share the things they enjoy, instead of just liking a post, or worse, ignoring it completely. (Sometimes even when they actually liked it, but just don't care enough to let the author know in some small way.) I don't think people realize how much hard work it takes to write a story, especially longer ones that require research and planning, not to mention the editing, which is practically a second job of its own if people care enough about their work to edit properly.

Writers do this for free, because they enjoy it. They do it because they have a story to tell, and want to share that story with the people they think (or hope) will enjoy it. I know not everyone puts the same level of commitment into their writing, but some people pour their entire hearts and souls into it. Some people spend sleepless nights working on stories that mean something to them and that they hope people will at least enjoy on some level and just maybe, let them know.

The unfortunate thing is that some of these people don't get a single ounce of feedback in return. Not a like, or a reblog, sometimes not even kudos, which requires nothing more than clicking a button.

It's a soul-crushing feeling, which I don't think a lot of non-writers understand.

It's the reason why I stopped writing for a lot of fandoms, including Narry. If no one cares enough to share someone's work or at least leave positive feedback of some kind, then what motiviates us to keep going?

That being said, I do understand that some people don't always have time to read as often as they'd like - myself included - so this isn't directed at them. I don't fault people for not having the time (or desire, or even just the mental capacity) to read, but I do fault people for consuming someone's writing and completely ignoring it.

I'll step off of my anonymous soapbox now, but your rec post inspired me to write this.

Thank you for giving me a place to share my thoughts. (if you choose to reply, that is. If not, that's fine too.) Maybe someone will read it and actually consider interacting with the next story they read.

And thanks for sharing the things you love. Hopefully, that author will see your post and know how much their hard work was appreciated.

First of all sorry it’s taken me all day to respond to this. I ended up working a super long day today.

And second I completely agree with everything you said!

I personally have always (as long as I’ve been reading Narry fic) tried my best to let the writer know just how much I loved and appreciated their work and their time either by commenting and leaving kudos and many times BOTH. Many times I’ve found myself writing novel length comments on fics just because I’ve been so enamored and in awe of what I’d just read that I couldn’t help but gush and fan girl about every single detail that I loved in what I’d just read (- and most times didn’t want to end!!). I used to do this religiously with a few Narry writers (that no longer write to my knowledge) because their fics often moved me to tears, or made me feel things while reading their works that I hadn’t felt so deeply in a long time. It always felt really important for me to try and give them even an OUNCE back if I could for all the things they had made me feel and all the happiness their words brought to me. I wanted to match them which never seemed like it was possible because I could never really say ENOUGH to encompass how thankful and captivated and touched I was by what they’d created.

That being said; I’ve also had a few friends who wrote fics and so I have seen the writing/editing/developing side of writing fic as well because I offered to beta few fics for them while they were still writing (x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x, x) and because of that I have a HUGE appreciation for anyone who puts so much time and effort into something (not to mention for free) and vulnerably and generously puts it out there for everyone to read!

I’ve read some Narry fics that are wonderfully unforgettable and LEAGUES better and than anything I’ve ever read that’s officially been published or could be purchased off a book store shelf, and those writers and their talents should be complimented, praised, and thanked to no end.

I’m so glad there are people out there STILL writing Narry fics because they are so much more detrimental to me and my well-being than even I realize half the time…until it’s 2 AM and I’m knee deep in a story that I’m forcing myself to put down and wondering how someone (or multiple someones) can write something SO wonderful that it’s all consuming and impactful to someone like me. And to me that’s worth 5 minutes at least of my own time to give something back.

The more that people feel appreciated and receive comments and feedback the more inclined they will be to continue writing I think.

We’ve lost so many of our talented writers in this fandom because they seem to have lost interest in the paring or sadly were not getting enough or anything back for all of their efforts…and we (I’m hoping I’m not just speaking for myself here) just can’t afford to lose any more of them. If anything I hope inspiration will re-spark for some of these writers some day, that they’ll RE-fall in love with the pairing in the way I do again and again every time I read a fic about them, and that they might find a way back to this fandom and all of us readers who love and appreciate what they do. 🤞🏻💕