Warning: This chapter includes ranting, frustration, and the cold hard truth (and I mean COLD and HARD truth). If you are sensitive to frustration or ranting, or you can't handle the truth, please skip this chapter. Thank you.
Many 抖阴社区 authors seem to have a very warped view of the writer/reader relationship. I'm going to put it simply: you serve the reader to every degree and with as much effort as you can give. Not the other way around. You. serve. the. reader. YOU SERVE THE READER! YOU SERVE THE READER! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR HEADS! You know, sometimes I wonder why I even try to get this point across because I doubt the majority of you are even listening.
I'm not going to beat around the bush, I'm here giving you facts- as harsh as they may seem. No, I am not being "mean" or "rude" and I am not "just offending you". You are an author, this is incredibly important, so sit down, shut up, and listen. (For those of you lovely readers that actually listen instead of being arrogant spoiled brats, thank you. My anger is not directed at you, so you can just ignore my ranting and just pay attention to my main points. Once again, thank you for being good people). The rest of you need to pay attention to this though because this is vital, and if you ignore it, then you are the one in the wrong.
This is what you should do:
-Update when you say you will, NO EXCUSES. I am certain that you did not have that much homework (except finals week. That is the only exception, I get finals, but on a day to day basis, you need to get a grip). Admit it, most days you have some free time that you choose to use on something else. So "homework" does not cut it. I am also sure that you're not that busy. Just "not having time" or "I've been busy" is a weak, lame excuse. If you can rearrange your whole schedule for up to weeks to go do something fun, you can surely make time to update for your readers, you're just not putting in the effort. And if you're reading this and you're like "Ugh, fine, I guess I'll update...", then don't go write a crappy, short chapter. Your readers deserve better than that. If you don't think that you can make updates on time, then the solution is simple. Don't make promises about updating and let your readers know that your updates will be slow.
-Honesty is the best policy! Don't lie to your readers, it's mean! Don't mislead them, either. One of the worst things you can do is lie to your readers, whether it's about an update, or a chapter, or a character (not plot twists, I mean like if you say something about a character in an A/N but don't follow through with it). If you make a promise or even if you don't say I promise, you need to come through, or that's on you.
-Canceling a book because of "school" or you "just aren't into the fandom anymore" is pathetic. The only time you can cancel a book because of school is when you are in college and you are studying to be a lawyer or a surgeon. The rest of you, suck it up, buttercup. And if you are still canceling a book, post a chapter about it! Don't leave the readers with false hope and then never come through, that's a really jerky thing to do. And comments: haters gonna hate! (I have a chapter on that, go read it if you haven't). If a couple of people, or even a lot of people are saying mean things, without any constructive criticism, delete their comments, don't read them, or block them. Don't give up on the people that love the book just because someone else doesn't.
-Don't be a freaking slacker. Don't be a slacker! Don't be a slacker! DON'T BE A SLACKER! DON'T BE A SLACKER! DON'T BE A FREAKING SLACKER! Your readers deserve better than that! Just because you're lazy, that means that your readers should suffer? What kind of mentality is that? That is not fair! If a doctor was too lazy to properly diagnose you, you'd be mad, right? Well it's the same thing! Don't be a freaking slacker!
Look, guys, I'm not trying to make writing a chore, here, because if you make it that, your writing will suck. And it will be clear that you put no effort into anything and that you're a lazy jerk that can't bother to think about someone else rather than themselves. But don't let my anger make you bitter towards your readers. Your readers are your support, your lifeline, if you treat them right.
If you want to read further about the writer serving the reader, here's some articles I recommend:
-Why Great Writing Serves the Reader, Not the Ego- Hailey Reissman (Article)
-Great 抖阴社区rs Serve Their Readers- Jeff Goins (Article)
-Writing to Serve Readers- Maribeth Impson (Book)
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Once again, sorry for the very angry rant, but I am very mad at multiple authors who's names will not be stated, so please don't be upset. Almost all of you are lovely and amazing and I love you, it's just that you need to remember what the writer/reader relationship is. Good luck, and happy writing!