Sunset Rambles #1: Wondering about when people don't update their stories for extended periods · 7:51pm Sep 1st, 2016
I always found it weirdly amazing that when you’re a writer, people tell you that if you don’t continuously push your stories, people will stop reading them. Yet, on a personal basis, when I like a story, I always enjoy a new update. I’ve had people stop updating for months, or even a year and suddenly come back with a chapter and I was glad they did, unless of course the chapter was horrid. But that hardly ever happened, since good writers tend to be, well, good at what they do.
The worst part about fanfiction is probably how fleeting of a hobby it is to some. You walk into a fandom, you enjoy the output, you enjoy what the fandom is into, but sometimes life goes into a different direction and you find yourself liking different things, thinking about doing different stuff and the fandom that was a vessel for you is left in some haborage, tended to by people you don’t know about. Personally, I “left” the fandom, because life’s pursuits wanted my attention elsewhere and I couldn’t write as much as I wanted, because when I worry about whether tomorrow will be worth the wait, I can’t really write.
The intriguing thing is, during my absence, I don’t think I lost all that many viewers. It’s weird to leave a place and when you come back, the same circle of people still attends and when you post something, the few who noticed you before notice you again, like you were never truly gone. It beckons the question: Why?
Whenever an author goes away, doesn’t log in or what have you, I tend to not really care. If they come back, I’m happy. If they publish something again, I’m happy. If they don’t do it? I guess I just let them live their lives. It might be presumptuous, but I think most people work like that. The idea that you need to be a constant presence is true if you want to grow, I guess, but there is more to becoming popular than just writing continuously.
Either way, how was your day and what do you think about authors leaving and coming back again?
I think about this often. A lot of my favorite writers are often slow to update but it's always worth it. I followed MBS from the beginning and it was very worth any wait I had to endure.
People often continue to enjoy their favorite authors works, even of they aren't a real part of that fandom. Many understand, as you said, people tend to go off and live their lives. To me, you should only write if the mood hits you. Writing for popularity will burn you out eventually.
My day was great btw. Thank you. :)
That's life! I expect many to come back as we always move on from things, get accustomed to something new and, while we're enjoying said new things, we reflect on the past and how much we missed it all!