geoviki | Housekeeping

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Housekeeping

I read somewhere that obsessive-compulsive behavior and neatness are part of the same continuum. And sometimes I find myself closer to the scarier edge. Now that I'm done with the sequel, I'm finally getting back to RL chores. I finally finished the bloody garage-painting. That took 6 days. Moon landings were accomplished in less time. Just logged 3 hours in kitchen cleaning. Now it's Merlot time.

I admit today that I tested the comment function on Skyehawke to make sure it wasn't broken. I haven't had a comment on the sequel since last Wednesday. Not a peep. It's a good thing I have some self-esteem built up over my writing from my betas, because I'd sure be wondering WTF right about now. Scientifically analyzing the situation, the feedback rate is clocking in at 1%. If I estimate that each reader hits the prologue twice before finishing the story, that's 2%. Which means that 98% of the readers bugger off without saying a thing. Which is my own behaviour with fics I'm not all that enamoured of. Which also, in an odd way, gives me freedom to write the fics in alternate fandoms that I've got bunnying. I've got two plots percolating, one in a fandom that only God and I even read.

ETA: Hey, I didn't intend to make any of you feel bad about not having tons of free time and not reading the sequel. Really! I'm just pondering the thousands who did read it and tiptoed away. But I know that archives are notoriously bad places to gather feedback. I know this. The stupid fic just won't fit on my LJ, though. < / ETA >

There's an age-issue thing going around, and I find myself clueless. Don't know who, don't know how. I was relieved that it wasn't about those of us who might be too old for this sort of thing! So maybe one or two underage fans have wandered over here; if you look at the userinfo you'd have gleaned my age and scurried away by now.

Oh, right, I was going to say something about defriending. I updated my infamous and anal spreadsheet of who's who in my friends list. Here's my policy:

- I can't friend everyone back and still have a RL, dull as it may be.
- if I've friended you, I read your LJ all the time.
- if I haven't friended you back but you still have me friended, I sometimes read your LJ, too.
- I friend folks who interest me. I have lots of folks friended who don't have me friended.
- I'm looking for fandom stuff. If you only post RL topics, I can't keep up.

So here's the kicker: if you have me friended out of guilt, or I used to interest you but now I don't, or you're afraid if you defriend me I'll sic my minions on you or snub you or react badly - don't fret. I'm announcing amnesty: feel free to clean up your list and bid farewell, no bad feelings. I have no minions anyway.

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Thank you. I feel guilty for whining, but there it is. Folks seem to be clicking on the beastie in droves; they just disappear.

But all you sweetie pies who commented already have made me feel loved and appreciated, make no mistake.

I think it's this time of year, finals, end of school, people are gearing up for their summer plans, and probably a lot of people had to bookmark the story to read later.

I know that in advertising 1-2% click through/response rate is pretty average, so it's typical. Other people have brought up that they're less likely to comment in an archive. It is sort of a pain that they don't keep you logged in there so each time I want to comment I have to log back in whereas on LJ I'm usually already in.

Maybe they're so overwhelmed they're left speechless? :D I don't know. I've not sussed out why people comment or don't comment on fics yet. Give it time?

Hehe. Well... Boyd is a pleasent conversation starter, that's for sure. =D

I may aid you in your hostage situation, because... well, I can't afford more icon space. So, maybe I'll just force them to give it to me!

I am reading the sequel, just uberslow because of work. I want to savour it, not readi it in the five minutes I have here and there. :)

not going to spam you again with my DSoT love. ;)

I was also struck by how few people actually left reviews/comments at the skyehawke archive, considering the scads of fans who are obviously reading your fab work. I know ppl are busy and all but, if they've read it, it's not hard to leave an acknowledgement or note of appreciation. I always feel v rude if I don't thank someone for something I've enjoyed and they've provided.

Which means that 98% of the readers bugger off without saying a thing.

They do.
That's what always happens to me. I see the hit count and the lack of comments, so naturally I think that people read but don't like it, and am very surprised when someone tells me they did like it...
One little comment means such a lot to the writer!

I hope you don't think you can get rid of me that easily... :) Can I volunteer for minion duty?

*sigh* The review thing. First, I really wish that skyehawke would put its popular stories listings back up - I know what they're going through in terms of hosting/server problems, etc., but it's not really doing anyone any favours, that's for sure! Second, what with the problems, the site's been down sporadically quite a bit over the past few weeks. I know I've talked to quite a few people who've said they had intended to read DSOT, but skyehawke was down when they'd had free time. Hopefully that will all change soon.

I quite agree that skyehawke's average reader is not a particularly responsible reviewer. I also know tons of lurkers who only come out of the woodwork and comment when you've done something they don't like. It's always sort of a mixed bag when you get comments like "I've been reading your stuff for ages and always loved it, but I can't believe you wrote Harry/Lucius!" or something along those lines. Like, thanks for letting me know! I'm sometimes quite appalled myself, comparing the hits/reviews ratio on tons of stories. There are so many amazing fics on skyehawke with only two or three reviews.

The fics with multiple chapters that get posted one at a time seem to gain momentum, I've noticed. That does absolutely nothing for people who don't necessarily write chronologically, though, so it really isn't fair. But then, your stuff should be getting at least seven times the number of comments (for each chapter, that is). I admit I don't comment on everything I read, particularly if I found it less than inspiring - but I don't think that anyone who read even half a chapter of DSOT could claim that, so we're back to the issue of irresponsible readers. Sometimes I just think about how many words the author wrote, and how few it would take on the part of the reader to give an abridged version of what they thought. And I'm totally rambling. Apologies. :)

Do you really keep a spreadsheet? :) That sounds like something I would do... do you need any info on me? Just ask if you do. :) I have a feeling that the comment word-counter is about to curtail this, so pardon me while I go and start a fresh one.

*squirms with bad conscience*

The other day you said somewhere that posting a fic as a whole gets you less reviews but it's definitely nicer for the reader. You are absolutely right there, if you had posted DSoT as chapters, once a week or once a decade, you would have gotten a review for each chapter from each person who usually reviews. I can't thank you enough for posting your stories the way you do, it's definitely nicer to get to read the whole story at once! The once a week scenario is nice too, as long as the writer sticks to the schedule, it gives you something to look forward to.

As for reviewing *squirms*. Even though I read tonnes of fics everyday (well, there's SOMETHING good about this company, after all ;), I rarely ever post comments. Either I feel stupid about posting *squeeeeeel* reviews, or there was something I didn't like about the fic and I don't know if the writer wants cotton-wrapped concrit or not. This becomes a dilemma when I liked the story but there was something I didn't like, and that changing it would make the story even better.

So, what do you prefer? No reviews (apparently not), positive reviews, or reviews in general even when they might contain concrit?

And, please *snicker* I know you are a Boyd fan (me too! me too!! Oh, I found his fansite, he's a POET! And a CARPENTER!!! *swooooooons infront of pretty carpenters*), and I know you used real Boyd pictures as part of ATBT storylines. So, is there a Boyd picture with the sarong? WANNA SEE!

Hello again. :) I just wanted to thank you for your review of Agnus Dei! I do wish that skyehawke would let you respond to people's emails when they're logged in, but it's apparently not to be, so...

Admit it, you just liked it because of the song title! :) Normally, it doesn't take me a long time to come up with titles, but in a lot of ways, there were quite a few themes in this fic, generally, that I could have based it on. The Barber had to win in the end, though. Some of my friends have nagged me about the fact that I never incorporate music into my fics, and given that it's sort of what I do all the time and all, I supposed I could give it a shot. I've (obviously) sung the Agnus Dei before, several times, and love it. It was raining here, too, most of the times I was working on it. I adore the rain, and dining out, too. Not to mention red wine, particularly Shiraz and Merlot in general. And the tension - ! If they're friends already, then one has to find another obstacle, yes? :)

Thank you for reading it! You know by now, I assume, how I feel about your writing, so it means a lot to me that you even read it, never mind liked it! :)

I would like to apply to be a minion ;-)

And on an unrelated sidenote, I have't listened to that song in forever. BERLIN!!!!

Pick me! Pick me!! I want to be your minion. As qualifications I shall list the fact that I just started my dishwasher, and it is currently 1:03 a.m.

As to the commentage... I've been saving the fic until I have the appropriate amount of time to savor it.

Regarding the proposed minion icon - would it be possible to get permission for the mop to be "Potter's mop"? After all, we all like shiny things, yes???

Is Merlot time some variation on Eastern time?? Only perhaps vaguer and more leisurely.

'why don't you call me at 4 pm Merlot time?'

and then you'd know you could call anytime betwen 1 and 6 and it would still be OK.

i've always been frightened of trying to leave reviews on sites. half the time you have to be a member and i almost never am. so i left a short review on you lj. if i don't have to be a member and it would be a goodness, i can leave another on skyehawk.

i really love the story and have great admiration for you as an author , so if it would make your life happier, i'd be glad too.

If I promise to be really quiet, and sit over here in the corner, can I keep you as a friend? I just never want to miss out on your fic, and actually, you have your interesting moments too *g*... : )

Hope you got the email relating to the prologue and chapter 1. I was hoping to review each chapter as I went along but the 'wank at work' continued into last week and I was paralysed with anger. It's half term now and I'm still angry! I'm going to have to do a RL post to exorcise the awful experience. God, I'm rambling again, sorry.

I have read it all and yes, it did cheer me up. I'm on my second read through now so I can savour every interaction between the characters. There are so many parts I could quote back when I review, but the bit that kept me smiling through last week was:

"We is never having Muggles here before. Not serving them tea. Not being as Master's guests. Muggles in only coming here as prisoners of Master Lucius and the Dark Lord!"

Priceless! I laughed so loudly I woke my husband up. I'm afraid his review wasn't very polite.

Amnesty you say? Now let me think... Nope, I think I'll keep you, on the main filter, no less :P

I can't catch you for a proper talk :/ Instead of vacuuming my flat I did a complete spring cleaning, and something went wrong with my back that now I can't either turn or bend it. Feeling as if I were 85. And now my period has come, too. So now I'm home, absolutely miserable.

Ok, enough whining. As for the people who don't comment, well, I almost never do. I comment only on LJ (commented on Skyehawke 2 times total, on FF net - once, and that's all). I can say that I rec what I liked instead, but that's no excuse. :/

*lives in new england*...it is beautiful in the fall and salem should be done up right for the conference.

*have you friended* because i like what you have to say.

*read the sequel* and loved it. not sure if i commented or not, but could you post it on your lj in chapters/parts?

Yes, I think "give it time" is the best plan, especially when there's no Plan B.

I'd probably hear a lot more on ff.net or FA, but I don't want to bother with cutting up the sex scenes to make their standards.

Not a problem! Don't know why I was all whiny about this anyway; maybe because it had been raining for two days straight.

It's made me more aware, really, and I've been a good little feedbacker myself for the past two weeks! Physician, heal thyself, right?

That's kind of the deadly combination, isn't it? Reading and vanishing. I know it's Skyehawke, but it's not that hard to leave a comment there, I don't find.

Oh, I do keep a spreadsheet! Becasue it's all part of that obsessive-compulsive/neat thing I've got going. Anytime someone mentions something about themselves that is interesting, I tuck it in the spreadsheet.

And it's true I can be all superior about not writing WIPs when it's true that I couldn't write a WIP if I had to! I just am not linear that way.

The best Boyd fansite ever is

kattiya's, here (http://boyd.invisible-cities.net/). And there's an associated community by

oxoniensis,

ohreally___

It's even shorter than a sarong, but here 'tis:

Berlin, yeah! Someone had this available as a download not long ago and I grabbed it!

Shall I be known, then, as the Queen of Clean? Ha!

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