How not to convince a stressed author to write more.

[icarus]

Lobbying for updates is always a good thing. Every author likes to hear that you want them to write more. Some strategies, however, are more effective than others.

Effective strategies:

i was wondering, do u plan on writing more for this story, because its really good and i'd love to read more of it!

and the very unusual but kind...

Figures I would get hooked on this, knowing you have a blockage for the next part. I am eager for an update, but this one is worth waiting for.

and the specific quote plus request...

I loved the timid:

quote: so um what do you need from me?

I hope the next update is not that far.


Ineffective strategies:

Helloo~o! Anyone home? I hope so, 'cause I'd really love to see this fic go beyond chapter one!

and...

IF THIS IS THE END IMA GONNA *CRY*!!!!!!!!!!!!
I SPENT 5 1/2 HOURS READING THIS YOU BETTA FINISH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

and the ever popular...

MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE! MORE!


Also, can anyone spot why the following may be an ineffective offer?

hey mayb we can collaborate ?????

This has been a public service announcement.

Comments

[the-gentleman.livejournal.com]

The 5 1/2 hour one cracks me up. If you've spent that long on fic, then an end to it for a while is probably beneficial to everybody except the optician... Still, must be nice if they're that dedicated!

Advertising the potential of gay Albus chan later in the fic often helps in keeping away the plebe reviews... though I must admit, it keeps away just about everybody else as well.

The gay Albus/Percy chan is delightful. But when will you get to your Snape/House-elf threesome?

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

The best part is that that '5 1/2 hour' comment and the offer to 'collaborate' were from the same person.

I suppose she wanted to guarantee the story continued for at least another 5 1/2 hours. (Opticians rejoice.) Think of it. I could have been hearing from her on a regular basis, encouraging me to write. The fount of story ideas I missed... alas, it wasn't meant to be.

I felt briefly guilty about those misspent 5 1/2 hours. Until I recalled that the story took me months to write. That took the edge off my shame, though hasn't erased it completely.

Icarus