#if someone goes 'hey have you ever thought about writing [xyz ficlet/extra content/etc]?' | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

birlwrites · 2 years ago

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i'm far from being the first person to say this, but i do think it bears repeating - requesting that an author write more does not always come across as a compliment.

in fact, it usually doesn't. most writers are writing either as much as they want to write, or as much as they are able to write. and writing is labor! it's meant to be fun, but it is very much still labor.

i understand the impulse behind wanting to ask for more (whether it's more of a specific story, more set in a particular universe, or just more writing in general), and i understand why people would think of it as a compliment - someone saying they'd love to read more of your writing is a good thing!

but when people ask for more, usually they're not saying 'this is great, i'd love to read more of your work.' they're saying 'i need more,' or 'i need [specific ficlet/additional content idea], you KNOW you want to write it,' or sometimes they're just saying 'MORE.'

when you say that to a writer, it comes across as demanding. like saying 'what you have already written and shared with me is not good enough for me, and you are now required to fix that for me.' EVEN IF that wasn't how you meant it.

i've read along with wips for which i desperately wished the author could update more often. i've read one-shot fics that i would LOVE to read 100k+ of. wanting more is not a bad thing! just please be thoughtful with regard to what you say to writers, as well as how you say it. everyone's trying to have fun here.

#people telling me 'you know you want to write it' is really my pet peeve tbh #like. no. you want me to write it. that is completely different.#it's all about phrasing #if someone goes 'hey have you ever thought about writing [xyz ficlet/extra content/etc]?'#then i'll consider it! which doesn't mean yes but it means i'll CONSIDER it.#but when someone tries to tell me what i want to write...#funnily enough i actually don't want to write that thing at all #i am also particularly stung by 'you know you want to write it'#because i try to encourage people to make stuff inspired by my writing if they want to #and so when someone has a fully-fledged ficlet idea #and then tells me to write it instead of.... giving it a go themself?#that stings.#anyway every piece of fic that's ever been posted IS a gift and you SHOULD treat it as such #and what do we do when we receive a gift? we do NOT yell 'GIVE ME ANOTHER ONE'

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