good afternoon, good evening, and good night!

[tielan]

One of the goals I set myself earlier this year was to write 12 Teyla, team-centric, or Teyla/John longfics (over 10,000 words).

Thinking back, it was a slightly ambitious goal; I've since discarded it. In spite of people insisting that John/Teyla is now "popular", there's just no audience or enthusiasm for this pairing. Hell, I wrote a 60,000-word story for it and got maybe ten pieces of feedback - ten people who thought it was a good story. So, no, this isn't a pairing that anyone wants to encourage, which, to me, means it's not a pairing anyone wants to read. Forget about a sequel.

And no, the direction of the show (no Teyla, no John/Teyla interaction) isn't helping.

So, there'll probably be a lot less John/Teyla work coming out of me in future. In the absence of anything to be excited by, and the absence of anyone being encouraging, I'm not going to bother. I've done my time, tried to prompt people who can't be bothered to move their asses, tried to teach people who don't want to learn, tried to encourage people who are mediocre to lift their game, tried to be uplifting and cheerful and positive.

Enough.

Comments

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I had looked forward to a sequel to your big bang fic.

I plan on doing my review to "The Queen" on Sunday. I thought it was a wonderful eppy and do I need to point out that John and Teyla were having a conversation about the risks to the mission not in a hallway, not in the mess, but in his quarters?

Your Teyla and John fic are the best in the fandom because of the beauty of your words and the realism you convey. Plot and poetry. Heat and action.

I've done my time, tried to prompt people who can't be bothered to move their asses, tried to teach people who don't want to learn, tried to encourage people who are mediocre to lift their game, tried to be uplifting and cheerful and positive.

*flinches*

I understand your anger and frustration, but with comments like these, no one really knows who you are directing these words towards.

But venting is good and I hope you have a change of heart.

HUGS

Kristen

[tielan]

I understand your anger and frustration, but with comments like these, no one really knows who you are directing these words towards.

Overall, it's an omni-directional rant with no specific target.

I can think of people for whom the specific arguments apply in varying degrees, but they're unlikely to read this rant, let alone identify that the arguments apply to them, or that they can do something about the criticism.

I also realise that it's unreasonable to have everything in fandom precisely the way I'd like it; on the other hand, I'm feeling very much as though I've put in a lot and gotten very little in return. Which is, perhaps, the way the cookie crumbles, but isn't a very enjoyable experience.

So, yeah, this is venting. I might feel differently after The Queen but unless something really awesome happens (and even if something awesome happens, I'm going to treat it as an anomaly, not a new way of doing business), I'm going to keep SGA at arm's length for the moment.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

Forget about a sequel.

*falls to knees* NOOOOO!!!



I hear you, though. As sad as I am to hear you say this, sometimes enough is enough. Burnout is a big problem, even in more popular corners of various fandoms, and it's an even bigger problem when you feel like you're single handedly (or at least nearly so) trying to keep everything going. Sounds like the best thing for you to do is to take a step back and give yourself some breathing room. Fuck fandom, fuck having an audience, fuck the show even. If you want to write something just because the spirit moves you (and from a selfish perspective, I hope you do from time to time), then that's fantabulous. But it sounds to me like the time has passed for you to make yourself do it for any other reason whatsoever.

(((hugs)))

[tielan]

Uh, you're not one of the people who'[ve left feedback for Astonishing Persistence Of Memory.

Ergo, I presumed you didn't like the story and didn't particularly care if there was a sequel or not.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

I don't think I left feedback at the actual story but I e-mailed you about it, didn't I? :s

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

Nuh-uh, I left feedback! My real life decided to actually start resembling a life for once, so I didn't get a chance to read the story for a few days, so when I finally did and I came back to leave feedback, I got distracted by the other posts and while I was leaving writing prompts in this post (http://tielan.livejournal.com/287127.html), I decided to go ahead and put my comment there, since I was already posting anyway. I'm sorry, I thought for sure you'd see it!

I wrote:
"Also, I hope you do finish your Big Bang sequel eventually, because I would love more of that storyline! My sister came into town last week and things have been crazy, so I just today got to finish the story and DAMN! You make it hurt so good. Honestly, you could be a professional writer, and I'm not just saying that. The last person I said that to actually got published (my love isn't always the kiss of death!)."


I'll make it up to you. I'll go back and leave something more substantial, in the right post this time! But it'll have to wait until tomorrow or the day after when I get my new pain meds, cuz right now I've got to get off this computer before my arms cease functioning entirely.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Er ... did you look at the feedback on the other Big Bang stories? There were a few runaway hits, but quite a lot of stories (including a lot of the Sheppard/McKay ones, even those with relatively well-known writers) got fewer comments than yours. It's just a big, overwhelming ficathon; I've only had time to read a couple of stories in it myself. Not that I'm saying you aren't entirely within your rights to retreat from fandom if you want to, but the response that you got to your story is better than what a lot of people got to theirs..

[tielan]

I used the Big Bang as an example. It's not the final straw, and the cliqueyness of the feedback process isn't the only issue at stake - it's one part of a greater frustration I'm feeling.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

Honey, haven't you realised the reason you don't get 'a lot' if reviews is because your story doesn't begin with the words "John stayred at Tayla, wanting to no wen he could get anuther minute alone with her so he could tell her how he really felt that he luved her and wanted to mary her and!"

It seems with fandom in general that the worse your story, the better response you get to it. Youre writing is too clever for this fandom and especially this pairing. I don't blame you for taking it to a place where it gets more appreciation :) Though I will miss it.

(Fancy giving me the general idea of the sequel to Astonishing Persistence? ;))

Speaking of which, I still have to re-read it again but I have set Friday aside to do that and then I'll get started on your review of it. It will be good for me to get back into my 'English' mind with uni starting back in October.

But chin up :) I hope you enjoy The Queen when you get to see it; it wasn't as good as it could have been (with SGA when is it ever?) but it IS a good Teyla story :) Though there is one thing I think you will have a problem with... lets see if you comment on it :P

[tielan]

"John stayred at Tayla, wanting to no wen he could get anuther minute alone with her so he could tell her how he really felt that he luved her and wanted to mary her and!"

The saddest thing? I'm tempted to ask if someone actually wrote this as the opening sentence to their story...and afraid of the answer.

You offered to review the story; that's 'feedback' to me. Heck, a four word comment - "I liked your story" - is feedback.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone had written that. But, as far as I'm aware, it came (painfully) from the top of my head.

[asugar.livejournal.com]

I also was looking forward to your sequel. I realize now that I can't remember leaving feedback on the story and if not I am sorry and will do so. I always enjoy your writing and think you're super talented. I love the depth and unexpectedness of the angles you choose to approach an idea, the plots you imagine and how you write John and Teyla. In fact it was reading a couple of your stories that got me into reading fanfiction at all. I'm sorry you are feeling this way and hope that one day things will improve and you will come back to the fandom. I think you (and the pairing) have more fans out there than you realize. Unfortunately, the silent majority is fittingly named. You and your work will be missed.

It seems like a lot of fans of the show are feeling the same way as you. I think the greed and obliviousness of MGM and the show producers in choosing to cancel the show prematurely and how they have handled fan reaction has a lot to do with it.

[chyti.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to hear that you are so dishearten by the fandom but if it is any consolation it was your words that brought me to love john and teyla.

I think your writings is on par with those of professional standard and it will be a great personal lost if you choose to leave the fandom for good. I didn't get a chance to read your big bang story but i will and i will definitely leave feedback.

I am new to all of this and don't know how large or small the fandom is, or if it is popular as my appreciation of the two but in my small corner of the universe there is no better couple and i don't care if it's just me and my family who are enjoying them because they and you bring me much entertainment and joy.

Thank you for doing what it is you do, you have touch at least three people here in New York and we will miss you.

[kristen999.livejournal.com]

I had looked forward to a sequel to your big bang fic.

I plan on doing my review to "The Queen" on Sunday. I thought it was a wonderful eppy and do I need to point out that John and Teyla were having a conversation about the risks to the mission not in a hallway, not in the mess, but in his quarters?

Your Teyla and John fic are the best in the fandom because of the beauty of your words and the realism you convey. Plot and poetry. Heat and action.

I've done my time, tried to prompt people who can't be bothered to move their asses, tried to teach people who don't want to learn, tried to encourage people who are mediocre to lift their game, tried to be uplifting and cheerful and positive.

*flinches*

I understand your anger and frustration, but with comments like these, no one really knows who you are directing these words towards.

But venting is good and I hope you have a change of heart.

HUGS

Kristen

[tielan]

I understand your anger and frustration, but with comments like these, no one really knows who you are directing these words towards.

Overall, it's an omni-directional rant with no specific target.

I can think of people for whom the specific arguments apply in varying degrees, but they're unlikely to read this rant, let alone identify that the arguments apply to them, or that they can do something about the criticism.

I also realise that it's unreasonable to have everything in fandom precisely the way I'd like it; on the other hand, I'm feeling very much as though I've put in a lot and gotten very little in return. Which is, perhaps, the way the cookie crumbles, but isn't a very enjoyable experience.

So, yeah, this is venting. I might feel differently after The Queen but unless something really awesome happens (and even if something awesome happens, I'm going to treat it as an anomaly, not a new way of doing business), I'm going to keep SGA at arm's length for the moment.

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

Forget about a sequel.

*falls to knees* NOOOOO!!!



I hear you, though. As sad as I am to hear you say this, sometimes enough is enough. Burnout is a big problem, even in more popular corners of various fandoms, and it's an even bigger problem when you feel like you're single handedly (or at least nearly so) trying to keep everything going. Sounds like the best thing for you to do is to take a step back and give yourself some breathing room. Fuck fandom, fuck having an audience, fuck the show even. If you want to write something just because the spirit moves you (and from a selfish perspective, I hope you do from time to time), then that's fantabulous. But it sounds to me like the time has passed for you to make yourself do it for any other reason whatsoever.

(((hugs)))

[tielan]

Uh, you're not one of the people who'[ve left feedback for Astonishing Persistence Of Memory.

Ergo, I presumed you didn't like the story and didn't particularly care if there was a sequel or not.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

I don't think I left feedback at the actual story but I e-mailed you about it, didn't I? :s

[raksha38.livejournal.com]

Nuh-uh, I left feedback! My real life decided to actually start resembling a life for once, so I didn't get a chance to read the story for a few days, so when I finally did and I came back to leave feedback, I got distracted by the other posts and while I was leaving writing prompts in this post (http://tielan.livejournal.com/287127.html), I decided to go ahead and put my comment there, since I was already posting anyway. I'm sorry, I thought for sure you'd see it!

I wrote:
"Also, I hope you do finish your Big Bang sequel eventually, because I would love more of that storyline! My sister came into town last week and things have been crazy, so I just today got to finish the story and DAMN! You make it hurt so good. Honestly, you could be a professional writer, and I'm not just saying that. The last person I said that to actually got published (my love isn't always the kiss of death!)."


I'll make it up to you. I'll go back and leave something more substantial, in the right post this time! But it'll have to wait until tomorrow or the day after when I get my new pain meds, cuz right now I've got to get off this computer before my arms cease functioning entirely.

[friendshipper.livejournal.com]

Er ... did you look at the feedback on the other Big Bang stories? There were a few runaway hits, but quite a lot of stories (including a lot of the Sheppard/McKay ones, even those with relatively well-known writers) got fewer comments than yours. It's just a big, overwhelming ficathon; I've only had time to read a couple of stories in it myself. Not that I'm saying you aren't entirely within your rights to retreat from fandom if you want to, but the response that you got to your story is better than what a lot of people got to theirs..

[tielan]

I used the Big Bang as an example. It's not the final straw, and the cliqueyness of the feedback process isn't the only issue at stake - it's one part of a greater frustration I'm feeling.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

Honey, haven't you realised the reason you don't get 'a lot' if reviews is because your story doesn't begin with the words "John stayred at Tayla, wanting to no wen he could get anuther minute alone with her so he could tell her how he really felt that he luved her and wanted to mary her and!"

It seems with fandom in general that the worse your story, the better response you get to it. Youre writing is too clever for this fandom and especially this pairing. I don't blame you for taking it to a place where it gets more appreciation :) Though I will miss it.

(Fancy giving me the general idea of the sequel to Astonishing Persistence? ;))

Speaking of which, I still have to re-read it again but I have set Friday aside to do that and then I'll get started on your review of it. It will be good for me to get back into my 'English' mind with uni starting back in October.

But chin up :) I hope you enjoy The Queen when you get to see it; it wasn't as good as it could have been (with SGA when is it ever?) but it IS a good Teyla story :) Though there is one thing I think you will have a problem with... lets see if you comment on it :P

[tielan]

"John stayred at Tayla, wanting to no wen he could get anuther minute alone with her so he could tell her how he really felt that he luved her and wanted to mary her and!"

The saddest thing? I'm tempted to ask if someone actually wrote this as the opening sentence to their story...and afraid of the answer.

You offered to review the story; that's 'feedback' to me. Heck, a four word comment - "I liked your story" - is feedback.

[azure-horizon.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't be surprised if someone had written that. But, as far as I'm aware, it came (painfully) from the top of my head.

[asugar.livejournal.com]

I also was looking forward to your sequel. I realize now that I can't remember leaving feedback on the story and if not I am sorry and will do so. I always enjoy your writing and think you're super talented. I love the depth and unexpectedness of the angles you choose to approach an idea, the plots you imagine and how you write John and Teyla. In fact it was reading a couple of your stories that got me into reading fanfiction at all. I'm sorry you are feeling this way and hope that one day things will improve and you will come back to the fandom. I think you (and the pairing) have more fans out there than you realize. Unfortunately, the silent majority is fittingly named. You and your work will be missed.

It seems like a lot of fans of the show are feeling the same way as you. I think the greed and obliviousness of MGM and the show producers in choosing to cancel the show prematurely and how they have handled fan reaction has a lot to do with it.

[chyti.livejournal.com]

I am sorry to hear that you are so dishearten by the fandom but if it is any consolation it was your words that brought me to love john and teyla.

I think your writings is on par with those of professional standard and it will be a great personal lost if you choose to leave the fandom for good. I didn't get a chance to read your big bang story but i will and i will definitely leave feedback.

I am new to all of this and don't know how large or small the fandom is, or if it is popular as my appreciation of the two but in my small corner of the universe there is no better couple and i don't care if it's just me and my family who are enjoying them because they and you bring me much entertainment and joy.

Thank you for doing what it is you do, you have touch at least three people here in New York and we will miss you.