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Apparently I have a "duty"
15 years ago
General
Somebody over on lj (and apparently here on FA too) is claiming that all furry writers have a "duty" to read and critique other people's writing, otherwise we've no right to expect people to read our own.
Honestly? That's a load of bull honky. I expect people to read my work because my work is readable, good or enjoyable not in some kind of "you pat my back, I'll pat yours" exchange. I earned the right to get readers by writing well. I have no "duty" to read other people's stuff merely because it exists! If they want me to read it, they need to write well so that I can enjoy doing so, there is no "duty" or obligation on my part, and they are entitled to nothing whatsoever on their part. The only "duty" that exists is a writer's duty to him or herself, and that duty is whatever you as a writer damn well want it to be, not what some stranger on the internet tells you it is.
Not to say I don't read other people's stuff. Of course I do. But it's not my "duty", I read other writer's stuff for the same reason I expect people to read mine, because I enjoy doing so.
Heck, I don't even mind crit exchanges, if somebody says "You read my stuff and I'll read yours" I'll happily oblige. But not because it's my duty! Just because I'm a nice person like that, so why not?
Gah. If you seriously want to get people to read more, and have more exchange between authors, demanding we do so because it's our "duty" and we're failing at it, is NOT the way to go about it. It makes me want to pop him on the nose, frankly. Tell me that it's a wonderful way to build readership, tell me that it's a positive experience that I'll enjoy, tell me it'll build a great community, but don't tell me I'm a failure if I don't do it! Nobody likes being guilted into doing something.
Honestly? That's a load of bull honky. I expect people to read my work because my work is readable, good or enjoyable not in some kind of "you pat my back, I'll pat yours" exchange. I earned the right to get readers by writing well. I have no "duty" to read other people's stuff merely because it exists! If they want me to read it, they need to write well so that I can enjoy doing so, there is no "duty" or obligation on my part, and they are entitled to nothing whatsoever on their part. The only "duty" that exists is a writer's duty to him or herself, and that duty is whatever you as a writer damn well want it to be, not what some stranger on the internet tells you it is.
Not to say I don't read other people's stuff. Of course I do. But it's not my "duty", I read other writer's stuff for the same reason I expect people to read mine, because I enjoy doing so.
Heck, I don't even mind crit exchanges, if somebody says "You read my stuff and I'll read yours" I'll happily oblige. But not because it's my duty! Just because I'm a nice person like that, so why not?
Gah. If you seriously want to get people to read more, and have more exchange between authors, demanding we do so because it's our "duty" and we're failing at it, is NOT the way to go about it. It makes me want to pop him on the nose, frankly. Tell me that it's a wonderful way to build readership, tell me that it's a positive experience that I'll enjoy, tell me it'll build a great community, but don't tell me I'm a failure if I don't do it! Nobody likes being guilted into doing something.
Yours R.O.P.
Thing is. If you like what you read. Comment. If you think what you have read is crap. Abstain. However if you think what you have read has potential, but is badly laid out, or full of simple mistakes. Offer constuctive comment. (Or in my case, contact the Author to help with future works if you have time!!).