Do I continue?

[lobelia321]

Hm. It's been three days since I posted my teaser fragment from my HP fic which is normally long enough to collect a representative amount of fb. But only one person commented. Don't worry; this is not a feedback solicitation -- I've locked the post now. It is rather a sort of musing and self-questioning: What am I doing wrong? Should I continue this fic? Well, I will continue anyway, because it's become part of me now but will I be motivated to write and finish if nobody will read? It's all very well to say we write for ourselves (and I do! I have reams of stuff I never posted, reams) but to get virtual zero fb is a bit, well, sad.

However, perhaps I simply picked the wrong fragment to use as a teaser? Perhaps people are put off by a Header that reads 'rape, chan, NC-17, Dudley'? This is, of course, only a part of the whole fic and those who know me will also know that I am mooshball number one and mainly write romance, romance, romance -- but inevitably the final Header will still need to include the words 'rape, chan, NC-17, Dudley' because those things will still be occurring somewhere in there. Although 'fluff, moosh, love, lifesaving' will also be appearing.

Possibly I made a mistake in using a Dudley-centred fragment? The fic has many, many Draco-scenes, and much Draco/Harry, and perhaps I should have used one of those?

Or perhaps my writing simply doesn't entice anybody in? How can I sell the story in my head (which I love and adore, make no mistake) to others so that they may also come to love and adore?

Or does it simply not work posting teasers for huge fic? Does one just need to put up and shut up and beaver away in isolation (or go for WIP, except I'm not doing that for this particular fic) and then finally post the whole shebang and hope that people will be enticed by the prospect of a long read?

Or are people just not reading as much? I know that I've heard from others that the fb well seems to have dried up sometime around mid-2003. For lotrps, anyway. Although the fragment was not lotrps. But then again my Friends may all be leftover lotrippers who read no HP on principle (as was I until last September).

I know some of you have also given in and posted fragments of larger fics before posting the whole thing? Any thoughts on this? Perhaps you got more fb and it was thus more helpful?

Comments

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Thank you for your candid comment. It had honestly not occurred to me that Mackenzie Crook might be turning people off! Are you perhaps a non-Office watcher? A non-resident of the UK? Or am I just a benighted cleaver to canon and suspect of fanonish beautiful!Draco? Because Mackenzie Crook is the pointiest actor I can think of. And Draco has a pointy face. And given my Sueish inclinations: my Sue could never be a handsome man (if you have indeed read my progress notes -- which I am very flattered by). To be fair, Draco in my fic does not figure in any rape or chan although he does do NC-17. :-)

[viva-gloria.livejournal.com]

NB have just seen Mackenzie Crook in trailer for Churchill: the Hollywood Years. I fear he is becoming typecast. But has both eyes, here, and is quite decorative (though possibly syphilitic).

[ex-lonicera600.livejournal.com]

Are you perhaps a non-Office watcher? A non-resident of the UK?

All of the above. :-)

my Sue could never be a handsome man (if you have indeed read my progress notes -- which I am very flattered by).

Yes, I know you said that. But to know it and to see... THAT... shudder... are two pairs of shoe, really. I mean, you can tell me that your Draco isn't handsome, but please leave it to my imagination what I do with that information, I beg you.

To be fair, Draco in my fic does not figure in any rape or chan although he does do NC-17.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

:-) Ah, I can't help my Draco/Mackenzie/Gareth-from-the-Office lustful confusion... Maybe I just go for the ugly guys. *g*