Otila > Status Update

Tara ♥'s Hooch & Kendras wrote: "Otila wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "I wade through it and then I've only added and rec'd the ones I really like or love. To share the love, as Meep said. "

And we greatly appreciate y..."

I've left some supportive comments on ones I really love, and lots of kudos, I'm such a terrible person.

MLE wrote: "Jenni Lea wrote: "It seems odd to me that the author making the biggest stink about it all has a recently released book that is P2P. Does she not want us to rate and review that one either? Well,..."

The Bones of You

MLE wrote: "Tara ♥'s Hooch & Kendras wrote: "Otila wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "I wade through it and then I've only added and rec'd the ones I really like or love. To share the love, as Meep sai..."

You really are. You should delete all social media accounts at once. You clearly can't be left unsupervised on the internets! :p

Jenni Lea wrote: "MLE wrote: "Jenni Lea wrote: "It seems odd to me that the author making the biggest stink about it all has a recently released book that is P2P. Does she not want us to rate and review that one e..."

Is it just me, or are reviews in the book description against TOS. I'm sure she'd hate to be caught breaking the rules.

Tara ♥'s Hooch & Kendras wrote: "MLE wrote: "Tara ♥'s Hooch & Kendras wrote: "Otila wrote: "Jenna wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "I wade through it and then I've only added and rec'd the ones I really like or love. To share the love..."

Yes, I should be put in the cone of internet shame.

You're welcome, guys, but any more good fics I find will have to be added to the Sterek fanfic group since I'm not adding anymore. Unless this gets worked out. If that's even possible. You know, I feel some sympathy for these authors but I do not understand how they want to have their wishes respected as authors and creators while simultaneously refusing to be treated as an author or creator. Meaning that your readers will state their opinions of your work.

Rosa, really wrote: "You're welcome, guys, but any more good fics I find will have to be added to the Sterek fanfic group since I'm not adding anymore. Unless this gets worked out. If that's even possible. You know, I ..."

Will have to join.

I really need to go bed, but I wanted to say that this whole debacle saddens me and pisses me off. Especially because the one or two ff writers that started this drama llama create angst and spurred other ff writers on with incorrect information about GR and the people on here. Many of these writers now appear to think that their fics are posted to GR in their entirety and that we are private detectives that are attempting to "out" them by filling their author profiles with personal data. Thank god I've chatted with ff writers that are in fact flattered that people on GR enjoy their work and discovered the fandom through it. Writers that actually appreciate the feedback because it's helpful to them.

It's interesting to me that a key player went to great lenghts and used lots of exclamation marks to drive across her point that people are not allowed to read and review her work on GR because, god forbid, outsiders! Critics! Real feedback as opposed to the endless squeeing that you come across on fanfic sites and that may be the 'etiquette' there...where was I? ...but also makes it kind of impossible to filter out the fics actually worth reading... Yet we are good enough to buy and review her officially published work on GR?

Thank you, but no.

What Loederkoningin said.

Ditto to what Lo said.

Well said Kat! And also kudos to Experiment. He tried to get Goodreaders' point across, but we're still the bad guys. I will only say that if the issue is identity disclosure, i really feel for the authors, but that's a risk we all take (readers, writers, reviewers, etc)and therefore should try to protect it as best as we can. Even more so when our jobs and real life are sensitive. It's ludicrous that only Goodreaders have the capability to disclose your real identity to the world when you have an online presence at several sites. Which brings me to the second issue: only GR poses a threat. Not Tumblr, or any other place where readers read and review, just like we do here, and that pick-and-choose attitude is what does not allow me to understand their demands because it's contradictory. I think that unfortunately this community has been vilified due to a couple of bad apples, but even more so because of our strong position against censorship of any kind.

MLE wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "You're welcome, guys, but any more good fics I find will have to be added to the Sterek fanfic group since I'm not adding anymore. Unless this gets worked out. If that's even p..."

We'd be glad to have you, and anyone else who wants a place to discuss the fics and not have to worry about being told we don't count.

I am not going to stop reading and reviewing fanfic. I love it and the writers can just.... *deep breath, be nice, be nice* ... take a walk.
I am not a librarian, so I can't add anything here (and I won't). But reading, yes. Reviewing will happen on Leafmarks then.

These people will not take away my pleasure of reading the excellent fanfic I have come across!

But I do feel sad that I cannot spread the love here anymore. :'(

I still think most fanfic has better writing than a lot of published books I've read.

It's just so unfortunate all around. I do understand the concerns of these FF writers. I think GR needs to address the possibility to add details to an author profile that has not been claimed. Although GR users can easily verify that an author is not actually on GR by looking at the page, I can see how this is confusing for someone not familiar with the site. I also understand that they are upset when librarians add fanart as random covers for their works. I'm sure the librarian who did so meant well, but it's not right. But I also don’t agree with GR deleting these links to fics -- because that’s what they are: URLs! -- left and right, and doing so with complete disregard for people’s reviews. Again, the blood, sweat and tears GR users put in writing thoughtful reviews are what made it possible for Otis and comrades to cash in big time. To delete those same reviews without providing the reviewer with a copy is so disrespectful to me.

Though what it boils down to, I think, is that these writers are A) clueless about GR and are therefore going into full panic attack mode and B) wish to exercise complete control over who is allowed to read, review and link to their work. Something that is just not realistic in my eyes. Then there's the cultural clash of these writers being used to encouraging and positive comments only, regardless of the quality of their work. In that regard, I do think this comment by a FF writer on Tumblr captures a big part of their actual issue with their works being reviewed on GR:

"I read one (and only one) review, a mostly positive one in fact, from the Goodreads of one of my fics that was put up without my consent. You know what I want to do right now? Pull every fic I’ve ever posted because of all of the little typos that I apparently make all the time. Because now all that’s going through my head is how this is bothering every person who’s ever read my fic and they were too nice to say so. It’s like having all of them laughing behind my back.

Is that silly? Of course it is. But it’s also true, and suddenly a place where I used to find joy is a little less bright, a little more riddled with self-doubt, and a little more discouraging. And for a group of people who are constantly encouraging comments and kudos to motivate writers and make them feel good, it’s frankly a bit hypocritical to say that writers should just handwave off people who say shitty things about their work."

What can I say? I hope I won't accidentally come across work by this person, because for some reason I can't imagine it will be very good when all she is used to and wants to receive are cheers and praise. Her view and my reaction to it are, I think, quite telling of the gap between GR and FF platforms.

Angelica, I think the stance of many GR users on censorship plays a big role indeed! For me personally, a platform like AO3 is a brilliant initiative, but pretty much useless when it comes to selecting my next TBR. Without the valuable real & honest opinions and comments from my friends, I wouldn’t know where to start. Which is also why groups like Freeloaders that offer a ton of links and short impressions are difficult to navigate for me. I just want to be able to see my trusted friends’ reviews in a row and base my decision on what I see. Ah well, all good things must come to an end, I suppose!

Loederkoningin wrote: "It's just so unfortunate all around. I do understand the concerns of these FF writers. I think GR needs to address the possibility to add details to an author profile that has not been claimed. Alt..."

All I can say to that author is that if you expect nothing but praise for your efforts no matter what that the real world is going to hurt you, and hurt you badly.

I have soured with this experience, and I won't be reading fandom stories anymore. I'm just one less person, and not important at all, but the drama and behavior exhibited doesn't encourage honest opinion or any type of interaction without the fear of breaking some type of etiquette that I am unaware or too old to care. I also don't want to join another group to be able to read these stories. I have enough with GR and Leafmarks, and don't have time for more. BUT I will miss the pleausre of reading these stories as well as the reviews, those reviews that have been derided by authors, but that were the ones that exploded in a huge following because they were joyous, tender, funny, and most of all, HONEST.

I'm not letting anyone drive me out, and I'm sure that most of the authors kicking up a stink are not representative of the majority of fanfic authors.

MLE wrote: "I'm not letting anyone drive me out, and I'm sure that most of the authors kicking up a stink are not representative of the majority of fanfic authors."

Same, I will continue reading and reviewing fanfic as always, and will just be sure to keep a backup of my reviews in case the GR deletion spree continues.

I stumbled upon this status update and had no idea this was going on. Does anyone know if the AO3 authors who are asking for the reviews to be removed are doing so due to bad reviews or they just don't want their work on GR? Honestly if it wasn't for GR, I wouldn't even know what Sterek is, much less bother to sort through it on AO3. If it wasn't for my GR friends, I wouldn't have a Sterek shelf that I am eagerly reading through. I can't understand the authors' logic on this one.

I'm afraid you may have discovered Sterek in the dusk of its GR existence, blah.

I would link you the angsty Tumblr post that started the collective panic attack, but it's been suddenly deleted by the author...

Anyway, she urged all her connections to have their work removed from GR for reasons that are mostly strawmen. She later backpaddled somewhat by stating that she hadn't meant for people to panic and adjusted some of her statements about GR. However, it appears that the damage has been done.

It's interesting because this person is actually a GR user (so you'd think that she should know a thing or two about how GR works) who has pulled her fanfic to publish it. Of course, her pricey published former fanfic gets to stay on GR, but she had all her free fics removed by GR.

Links:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

Anyone made a screen-shot of the ranty, caps and exclamation marks riddled original Tumblr post?

I couldn't find anything on that post but this is the one she was commenting on to begin with:
http://authorkurikuri.tumblr.com/post...

Then there's this one:
http://stoney321.tumblr.com/post/1050...

And I've been following this thread. It seems like some authors just didn't understand how gr works and got all riled up and panicked.
https://www.goodreads.com/user_status...

Reblog of original post
http://mklutz.tumblr.com/tagged/but-m...

The first link is fairly decent! (as opposed to the shitstorm this Stoney created in the now deleted post). I understand and respect her opinion. Though I do not necessarily agree with her because on GR too, we have created a little corner where people love reading and chatting about fanfics as readers among each other. And that place can co-exist with, to name something, lit that's also being reviewed on GR. Doesn't mean that it doesn't clash with the etiquette for the fanfic platforms where it's the norm to be jubilant only.

Anyway, I think this is something that will come up again and again and again.... These writers wish to exercise a level of control and demand a 'secret society' that's, I think, not an option when on the Internet.

All this has left a sour taste in my mouth but I enjoy Sterek WAY too much to give it up.

Which is why I was ridiculously happy to discover a "Goodreads approved Sterek" just now.:D

Otila wrote: "http://mklutz.tumblr.com/tagged/but-m..."

Ah yes! That's the post isn't it?

Loederkoningin wrote: "Which is why I was ridiculously happy to discover a "Goodreads approved Sterek" just now.:D"

Which one?

Loederkoningin wrote: "Otila wrote: "http://mklutz.tumblr.com/tagged/but-m..."

Ah yes! That's the post isn't it?"

Yep

Tara ♥'s Hooch & Kendras wrote: "
I've never commented on any posts on AO3 but I've left kudos to the ones I really liked, maybe they'd prefer if we didn't do that either!
..."

That's what I do too.

Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news media (oho! I really love that I get to say that!), I would like to point out that this isn’t how professional reviews work. So."

Uh huh.

Rosa, really wrote: "Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news media (oho! I really love that I get ..."

Otila wrote: "Loederkoningin wrote: "Which is why I was ridiculously happy to discover a "Goodreads approved Sterek" just now.:D"

Which one?"

http://archiveofourown.org/users/Disc... This one!

Loederkoningin wrote: "Otila wrote: "Loederkoningin wrote: "Which is why I was ridiculously happy to discover a "Goodreads approved Sterek" just now.:D"

Which one?"

http://archiveofourown.org/users/Disc......"

I've downloaded it :)

Rosa, really wrote: "Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news media (oho! I really love that I get ..."

Well there's one author I don't have to worry about reading. Just checked to make sure she wasn't one of the ones I was subscribed to.

MLE wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news media (oho! I re..."

And don't read her "actual-fact published" novel. Which is still available on AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/3741...

Rosa, really wrote: "Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news media (oho! I really love that I get ..."

Just read that wow - the published fanfic writer got a bad review.
1 - Gdreads doesn't 'upload' fics it shares links to the original. Publicity.
2 - It's not a professional review site, it's made up of actual readers.

I know with fanfic there are those 'in things' (her nuances) you have to know the series for, BUT -and anyone can jump in an argue this- a well written one should be open to everyone. Reading fanfic I accept it can lack descriptions and to a degree that there'll be 'facts' I'm not aware of; on the other hand it still needs to make sense, a lot of these are AU!

I've read and enjoyed a good few hockey fics (thanks Chris) but don't know the first thing about the game or players.

Loederkoningin wrote: "Otila wrote: "Loederkoningin wrote: "Which is why I was ridiculously happy to discover a "Goodreads approved Sterek" just now.:D"

Which one?"

http://archiveofourown.org/users/Disc......"

I downloaded it last night :)

Loederkoningin wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news media (oho! I re..."

lolol

Oh, so she pulled her post? Interesting.

Rosa, really wrote: "MLE wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "Every time I read it, it just gets better.

"As an actual-fact published novelist (ha! I love that I get to say that!) who has been reviewed by mainstream news med..."

Hell no.

Rosa, really wrote: "MLE wrote: "And don't read her "actual-fact published" novel. Which is still available on AO3.."

It's STILL on A03?!
*bangs head*

Rosa, really wrote: "And don't read her "actual-fact published" novel. Which is still available on AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/3741... "

It's still up but she's selling it? Okaay

Meep wrote: "Loederkoningin wrote: "Otila wrote: "Loederkoningin wrote: "Which is why I was ridiculously happy to discover a "Goodreads approved Sterek" just now.:D"

Which one?"

http://archiveofourown.org/use..."

You guys know who this is, don't you? :)

(view spoiler)[Lisa Henry the Awesome? (hide spoiler)]

Otila wrote: "Rosa, really wrote: "And don't read her "actual-fact published" novel. Which is still available on AO3: http://archiveofourown.org/works/3741... "

It's still up but she's selling it? Okaay"

Kind of ironic a P2P author is lecturing others on proper behavior.

I'm glad some of them are backing off a bit, too bad it's too late and lots of reviews and conversations are gone now.

Bitchie *Bored Now* wrote: "I'm glad some of them are backing off a bit, too bad it's too late and lots of reviews and conversations are gone now."

It sucks. Most of those reviews has great conversations.

Ohh, I didn't know Lisa Henry wrote a Sterek! How exciting! Off to add it to my tbr :D