tfa_kink | DISCUSSION/OFF-TOPIC POST

If you're a fan of a fic and haven't seen an update in a few weeks/months, what's the etiquette on asking the author the status?

There's nothing more frustrating than a dead WIP, but I don't want to annoy people by pestering them.

Should you even ask for the status at all?

I generally don't, and just leave them subscribed. Asking for status updates can make people less likely to update, either because guilt kills writing mojo or because they get resentful and deliberately slow down. If you haven't commented on the most recent chapter, you should do so. If you have, maybe say something like "I don't want to rush you, but just so you know, you still have readers who are excited about this and would be happy to see more of it."

"I don't want to rush you, but just so you know, you still have readers who are excited about this and would be happy to see more of it."

I love this idea!

A comment like that would send me straight into a major guilt spiral because I'm disappointing people by working full time and doing a full load of college courses online. I want to continue, but real life has to take precedence.

Yeah, agree, this wording would not work out well

Something more neutral about really loving it or having been recommended it would not induce guilt and make the point of PEOPLE LOVE IT

Same.

I would really prefer a commenter just to say they enjoy it so far than to make a big point of how they have noticed it hasn't been updated for a while and don't want to be pushy etc. That way guilt lies.

It'd stress me out so much more than "update please!!!!" It'd stop being a daydream I post online but an obligation. (This is also why I don't post WIPs lol)

DA, I know that's not the intention, but that sounds kinda passive aggressive and might have the opposite effect.

Even when insecurity strikes authors know that there are people who would like to know what happens next. It's just that there has to be a certain balance of reward/obligation and this would feel like the reward is just not deserving being seen as a disappointment and that just doesn't work for me lol. I'd rather sacrifice my time and go through the pain that is writing or put aside some urgent real life things to make someone who doesn't know me yet happy than stop disappointing people who already are disappointed and might be disappointed anyway.

It's difficult, like, I feel really gross for the fics I haven't managed to finish just from reading this even though the fandoms are dead now and every time I stopped writing I was going through horrible shit. Try to make the author feel good and like they're doing something good for people by updating, but make sure between the lines you're not saying that they're bad for not updating and please, don't use "just so you know" or "for information" nor speak for a group because that feels like people have discussed how much of a failure you are

Knowing that people talk about your fic feels great, but knowing that they've talked about your lack of updates is the worst feeling

Sorry about drama and formatting, on mobile and oversensitive

As a writer, I can confirm sometimes the guilt will make you embarrassed and kill the writing mojo. If you've been having other type of difficulties that prevent you writing and the person seems selfish, it can make you resentful. HOWEVER, when someone who appears to be a new person, shows up and comments on every chapter and/or you run into someone you don't know recommending the fic... that awakens the muse even if you've entirely stopped writing about it. It depends on how long it has been without updates.

If it's less than a week, hold back, if it's less than a month then be encouraging but not demanding, if it's over a month, do the thing above lol.

If it's been that long, you could always comment to say 'hope you're doing okay' and throw in a 'would love to read more whenever you get a chance'.

There's nothing more frustrating than a dead WIP

True for authors too. Sometimes a story just dies on you and no amount of defibrillation is going to bring it back.

Considering fanfic writers do it for free and usually for fun, I'd broadly say the etiquette is tread very carefully indeed. The impact is going to vary widely between authors because of personality, but generally I'd err on the side of not asking to be safe.

An author will update or they won't. They probably haven't literally forgotten a story exists, and either they're feeling like writing it or they're not.

Seconding this.

Trust me, my WIPs are always at the back of my mind, on my "to do list". We don't just easily forget something we put so much time and effort into, so readers truly do not need to remind us that our WIPs exist. If they haven't been updated in ages, best you can do is leave a comment about how much you like the story and leave it at that.

DA seriously!

The average reading speed in adults is apparently 300 wpm, and the average TYPING speed of a professional typist starts at 50 wpm.

That means that writing an average 3k piece in a way so fast that you make no pauses and it's as if you were just typing in a way that is sufficient to make a living off of it, takes ten times longer than to read it. It's always there.

(Personally I read about 150 wpm and take over an hour to write my tiny 600 word things but case stands)

I also can't math, my example is 10 minutes to read, 1 hour to write, that's six times heh

After reading a lot of the comments, I'm gonna err on the side of not bothering the author. You all make a lot of good points. While I would personally love it if someone bugged me to update one of my WIPs (be nice to feel like someone cares), I understand that feeling is not shared by everyone.

Thanks for the advice!

You can show that you care by just commenting that you love it :)

Leaving a comment about how you loved the fic is very much not bothering the author - as you say, it's nice to know someone cared enough to comment. It's only demanding or guilt-inducing comments that really bother (some) authors.

If you haven't left a comment, do so. It might encourage the author if they know that someone out there is still reading.

Just don't bug them for an update.

I'd still leave a comment though. Typically if I comment on a WIP or fic that seems unfinished I compliment it & then follow up with "would love to see the conclusion!"

There are some writers that only write if they get what they feel is enough attention so I tend to assume that with everyone, even if they seem quite lovely & not attention-whorey

DISCUSSION/OFF-TOPIC POST

What's the etiquette on asking an author for an update?

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