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

[cheshyre]

What do you do when you get people begging you to continue a story that's clearly over, though? I get these for Don't Judge a Book By its Cover every once in a while, and I'm never sure how to respond.
I rather like what ajhalluk has done, every so often opening up her journal to reader questions about minor plotpoints (what happened to so-and-so? did their relationship work out?) and thus resolving some of those "I want more" needs.

[I have an old paperback guide to SF which includes "if you liked A, try B, C or D" Maybe there ought to be something similar with fanfics.]

BTW, don't forget tomorrow's the last installment of emmagrant01's "Left My Heart"!!!