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An Appeal for Critique - Advice is needed.
8 years ago
I realise it's been a while since my last journal and a number of you have mentioned you've been missing them, well, this isn't a return to form just yet, I'll get back to posting those soon, but not yet, first... I have something to ask of you all.
Three journals ago, back in September, I celebrated my 300th Watcher.
Last week, I reached 350, got up to 352 and I was set to pat myself on the back and celebrate. This week, I'm down to 349. This isn’t an anomaly, either - I lose watchers frequently, sometimes faster than I gain them. I have to ask myself - why?
With over a million words of story and countless hundreds of hours poured into art resulting in over three hundred submissions so far, so I feel like it can’t be the quantity or the dedication that’s keeping me back. There a lot of folks on FA with far more Watchers for far fewer submissions and even taking into account some of my 'niche' factors (long stories, depreciated art style) this seems... lacking.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't do this for the numbers, I do what I do because I love doing it. I'd most likely keep on creating if I was still under a hundred Watchers and nothing, let alone over three hundred, with a regular Patreon that frankly allows me to survive and a list of commissions I just can't keep up with. Don't think for a second I don't appreciate every part of that, because I wake up every day and want to work hard for you all.
Still, that number of Watchers can't help but feel like some unspoken rating of approval... and when it actively backslides like that, when effort yields a negative result, I have to ask the question; What am I doing wrong?
This problem is compounded by the fact that this is my primary occupation - I afford to eat and live based on my dear commissioners, along with my wonderful supporters on Patreon.
So I'm asking you all, my Watchers, to tell me what you think I could be doing better.
It could be consistent flaws you've seen in my art or writing. Something you think I do which others may find repellant. Perhaps you think I should be doing more of one thing or less of another. Not only do I value your opinions and strive to be the best artist and writer that I can be, but I literally survive based on my success as an artist and writer - and if you think I’m doing something wrong, or aren’t doing something that could really help me, I want to hear it.
It can be anything - whether it's regarding my artistic skill, the kind of things I draw, the length or content of my stories - whatever you’re thinking about. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “I like this guy’s stuff, but-”, then I want to hear that.
Whether in a note or in a comment on this journal, I'd love to get your advice. Because whilst I love what I do and I'm determined to keep on doing it, neither do I want to take your interest and support for granted, so... let's hear it.
What can I do better?
Three journals ago, back in September, I celebrated my 300th Watcher.
Last week, I reached 350, got up to 352 and I was set to pat myself on the back and celebrate. This week, I'm down to 349. This isn’t an anomaly, either - I lose watchers frequently, sometimes faster than I gain them. I have to ask myself - why?
With over a million words of story and countless hundreds of hours poured into art resulting in over three hundred submissions so far, so I feel like it can’t be the quantity or the dedication that’s keeping me back. There a lot of folks on FA with far more Watchers for far fewer submissions and even taking into account some of my 'niche' factors (long stories, depreciated art style) this seems... lacking.
I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't do this for the numbers, I do what I do because I love doing it. I'd most likely keep on creating if I was still under a hundred Watchers and nothing, let alone over three hundred, with a regular Patreon that frankly allows me to survive and a list of commissions I just can't keep up with. Don't think for a second I don't appreciate every part of that, because I wake up every day and want to work hard for you all.
Still, that number of Watchers can't help but feel like some unspoken rating of approval... and when it actively backslides like that, when effort yields a negative result, I have to ask the question; What am I doing wrong?
This problem is compounded by the fact that this is my primary occupation - I afford to eat and live based on my dear commissioners, along with my wonderful supporters on Patreon.
So I'm asking you all, my Watchers, to tell me what you think I could be doing better.
It could be consistent flaws you've seen in my art or writing. Something you think I do which others may find repellant. Perhaps you think I should be doing more of one thing or less of another. Not only do I value your opinions and strive to be the best artist and writer that I can be, but I literally survive based on my success as an artist and writer - and if you think I’m doing something wrong, or aren’t doing something that could really help me, I want to hear it.
It can be anything - whether it's regarding my artistic skill, the kind of things I draw, the length or content of my stories - whatever you’re thinking about. If you’ve ever thought to yourself “I like this guy’s stuff, but-”, then I want to hear that.
Whether in a note or in a comment on this journal, I'd love to get your advice. Because whilst I love what I do and I'm determined to keep on doing it, neither do I want to take your interest and support for granted, so... let's hear it.
What can I do better?
Like what I do? Please support me on Patreon!
I have a lot of WIP stories, picture and animations. Read them early and encourage the ones you like!
Prefer one-off tips? Why not spare me a Coffee for my trouble? Here's a Ko-Fi link!
Rather have something for yourself? Check out my commission price sheet!
I want to do nothing else but write, draw and more for your entertainment! Every little helps my regular releases!
You along with those few others who've been there from the very start and stuck with me through thick and thin are some of my most valued watchers and it's also good to know that I haven't done anything to put you off of late!
So I shall be happy to continue to supply you with thrill of adventure and amorosity, my friend. ^.^
As for your own watcherbase, I count myself amonst those and I'm always happy to see what you come up with! I'm sure you'll continue to attract more to yourself in time!
I suppose I'm just going to have to stick at it, eh?
And while I can't answer your question, the least I can do is, like always, share my personal opinion. It is up to you whether you take it to the heart, or simply ignore it.
I started watching you when you wrote on Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Awakening. A truly a magnificant piece of fanfiction. It was driven by a brilliant plot, masterfully written characters and was... or rather is, one of the most immersive Pokemon stories I've ever read.
It encouraged me to become a writer on my own you know? As I started posting my own crude stories on sofurry after devouring what you had posted until that time. I was a student back then. Lots of leisure time to spend trying to get better at my foreign language writing. Then, on a whim, I started to read your Café Plaisir stories as well...
And honestly: At first, I completely disliked the whole thing. To me It felt like the usual cheesy, clichè filled fanfiction some teen wrote to bring his own character into an already existing unsivers. But after a while, you had managed to enthrall me again with such a charming tale of yours, even urging me to write a little Plaisir story on my own; trying to become a part of an collaborative attempt to fill a shared world with life.
Sadly, however, now my own live caught up on me and I already feel myself moving on. Given that I have little time at hand to write on my own, I simply thought I could supprt others with a small patreon.
Last month, I cancled my subscription to you.
The origin of that decision was a mix of different reasons which I can write you in a private note, If you are interested. Given that you are rather tight on replies, it is rather difficult to stay in touch with you. As for the missing subscription, I think part of the reason could be explained that you have reduced the amount on written stories. Compared to a year or two ago, where you at least granted us with an amazing piece of written art at least once in a month, sometimes even once in a week, your recent output in writing has, obectively speaking declined over the course of the last months. Sure, your stories have grown in size, but furaffinity displays them as a single file. Therefore, how about dividing future posts into more bite-sized chapters, instead of a single, chunky piece? After all, this is still an outdated fanfiction plattform made to publish single stories, rather than whole novels. I know that your recent sickness must have taken a small toll on you as well.
Another reason could perhaps be the lack of new chapters from the mentioned PMD:Awakening. I am sure many people (like me) have started to subsribe for that brilliant story of yours. It's a little sad that it has been on hinatus for such a long time. But that is mearly an assumption on my end.
I already asume that you know that I am not much interested in your artworks and illustrations, mainly because our tastes in how we see and interpret those imaginative worlds couldn't be more different. Therefore, I follow your profile and support you solemly for your writings, not your drawn art. But there is also little you have written which isn't fanfiction. I would love to see more flixard originals, so to speak.
Those points are all the insight I can offer you. I sincerely hope they can help you in achieving the goals you are striving for.
Best Wishes,
Fawayne.
Hmmm, you know, honestly, it bugs me that PMD:A slowed down to a crawl and then has all but stopped. I never intended for that to happen. Cafe Plaisir was meant to be the side project, meant to be more of a relief from the 'serious' writing I was doing for PMD:A, lighter, more fun, not as heavy or important.
I was surprised when it turned out Plaisir had more mass appeal and a lot more interest for commission work. The latter part probably played a fair role in things - don't get me wrong, I would not have survived the last few years without commission work and I'm grateful for every one I get but - I did end up spending more and more time focussing on Plaisir. I wouldn't use the term 'stuck in a rut' because I have enjoyed and continue to enjoy the fun of writing in Plaisir, the light hearted humour, the great sense of community, the gratuitous sex... but I suppose other projects have suffered neglect as a result.
PMD:A Chapter 33 is still in development, but I'm embarrassed to say that it's currently about the same length as the next Plaisir release (17 thousand words.) Perhaps that'll have to get some attention, soon. There are so many unrealised plans... so much still awaiting the light of day...
On that topic, I am going to try out one of your suggestions. The whole smaller parts released more often thing has been put on the shelf since October's Jaunt, Chapter 7: Types, Mismatched and I suppose there is a nice synchronisity in trying it again for Road Trip Chapter 7: The Badlands. That should hopefully out for this weekend.
As for other projects, more original ones, potentially not related to Pokemon at all... well, I have been thinking about such things. We'll just have to see what this new year brings!
Thankyou very much for such extensive feedback. I appreciate it!
I know that I can feel like an annoying bastard sometimes, and I deeply apologize If anything I have said and done has put you on the edge, but I always pefer blunt honesty and civil discourse over sugar-topped sweettalk. That's simply the person I am. And given that my personal amount of leisure time is rather short at the moment, all I can do right now is to throw money in your direction, instead of writing on my own. But in return, you have to grant me with a plattform were it feels well spend, rather than thwrown into a bottomless pot of endless possibilities which may or may not arise. Therefore, once (or if) you deliver the comission you promissed me about half a year ago, I'll gladly reestablish my patreon to you.
I really do like and admire your work. I really really do! But that doesn't even the fact that empty promises, missed replies and the resulting, seemingly endless suspension has left a good dent in the reputation and admiration I have for you as an artist.
If you rather want me to scram and keep my mouth shut, then by all means: Please tell me to do so, instead of keeping me in that limbo forever.
Not that there's anything wrong with your current style, but maybe something brighter and more eye catching will attract people to your page.
Also, perhaps you might want to think about doing 1000 word story shorts. Something like what draconion does just to push out and idea so as to fluff up your page.
Also, you could combine the two to make picture based stories commissions like what Cheetahs does?
Just suggestions.
Shorter stories are also something I've attempted. I sort of have been posting shorter stories recently, the likes of Sinister Abuse and Those Red Eyes are way shorter than my norm...
I suppose I'm just having a harder time adapting. Half of a lot is still a lot, right? ^.^;
I'll keep trying, thanks for the suggestions!