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

[tvillingar.livejournal.com]

Perhaps people are put off by a Header that reads 'rape, chan, NC-17, Dudley'?

In short, yes. Dudley isn't among my favourite characters and I've read perhaps two fics where his actions seem understandable and not repulsive. I think canon is too strong an influence for me in this one.

Secondly, rape? While I've read rape fics (or rape-recovery fics), they're not something I actively seek. In fact, I usually steer clear from them. Same thing with chan.

Looks like you chose an unusually difficult fragment to post since I had to deviate from my policy of reading anything you write. In case you finish the story (I hate to sound so suspicious but I've been lured to follow WIPs that end up unfinished), I'm not entirely sure I'll read it. Because, Dudley? I think he's the hardest one to get over, anything else I'd probably survive.

[lobelia321.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've come round to accepting that posting this particular fragment was a bit of a mistake! Although, on second thoughts, not that much of a mistake because I learned quite a lot from people's adverse comments, perhaps more than I would have learned if I'd posted a shmoopy bit. So thanks! :-)