OK, I'm just skimming the discussion here, but is there really some etiquette I was heretofore unaware of that I'm supposed to be providing feedback every time I read a fanfic?

I don't think so, but I know that a lot more people read than send feedback, and that some writers are pretty vocal about wishing people would send more feedback in general. Then there are the feedbackers who are vocal about wishing the writers sent more thank you notes, and blah, and blah, and blah.

I don't really care. I love to get feedback. I think it's good to remind folks that hey, tell a body when you liked something, okay?, and that it's good to say thanks for reading, because that's always nice to see.

Okay. Honestly? I don't do as much reading as I used to. I try to send feedback thrice weekly, exclusive of Silverlake. Lately, I've been failing even to do that, because that which I've been reading is either on Silverlake, in which case I do my feedbacking on list, or it's on LJ, so I'll comment.

I haven't had the energy to send good feedback in a while. I need to get better about it again.

Oh good. I try to give feedback if I know the author, but otherwise I haven't even thought about it.

My personal stance on the feedback shit is confined to the personal. I don't give enough of it. This tears at me, because I feel personally obligated to tell the person whose fic made me wear exclamation marks for a week that they rock rock rock, but I'm a lazy-ass bitch in more ways than that.

(I've decided, though, that since it's much easier to write recs than feedback, probably mostly because it's third person rather than second, I'm going to start a habit where I rec things long and loud and detailed in my LJ, and then translate that into an email to the author.)

I try and feedback for every story I read- especially now that I'm only reading three or four stories a week. When I was just getting into fanfic, and reading masses, I didn't feedback: mostly because I didn't have anything to judge 'this is a good story' against. I'm guilty of not feeding back to stories which are very bad, where thier authors seem to be writing for themselves ('I want to be a writer') rather than to tell a story.

On the other hand, when I get feedback I sometimes (ff.n) despise it. It's a tough call. I've never had feedback from a BNF (barring the fact that my current mindset calls any Buffista a BNF- yes, RL, PMM, connie, you). It would probably make my head 'splody, like a good beta.

and I can't think of any rec'cers who notify the rec'ees.

BSO did it when they recced a couple of my stories.

It's just that I'm looking at, f'rinstance, "but we're wanking" disclaimers...

blink.

Is this literal? Or fanwanking? I could see it being used in either way, but I'm not sure how common the word "wanking" is (in its everyday UK sense) Stateside.

I don't think so, but I know that a lot more people read than send feedback, and that some writers are pretty vocal about wishing people would send more feedback in general. Then there are the feedbackers who are vocal about wishing the writers sent more thank you notes, and blah, and blah, and blah.

Wow. I can't imagine having so much self-confidence in my own work as to think that people were obliged to send me plaudits if they'd read it. Wow. But I guess I can understand the frustration, kind of. I mean, it's always lovely to get feedback, and the detailed ones that show someone is coming from the same place as you and that they really got it are wonderful. Whilst, I grant, a few over at FF net made me blink and harbour ungracious thoughts.

I should send more feedback. But I'm not reading much fic right now, what with Real Life stuff. The thing is, though, that if something is outstandignly wonderful and really touches me, then obviously I will send feedback.

Getting the occasional Rec makes me bounce and squee like a teenager.

The thing is, though, that if something is outstandignly wonderful and really touches me, then obviously I will send feedback.

I think the people most fanfic writers are complaining about are those who read something that really touches them, they talk about it all over the place, but they don't drop a line to the writer saying 'I really loved this.' It doesn't happen as often as some writers think it does, but it does happen, and what the writers want to be saying is 'don't be scared, I like hearing what you thought even if I've never heard of you, sending feedback isn't intrusive, and I won't bite you. Promise." This, I think, comes especially from people who find themselves BNW entierly by accident and without thier knowledge.

Eh, in the case I'm thinking of, I really don't think she was saying "send it to MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" so much as "send it when you like something".

Is this literal? Or fanwanking? I could see it being used in either way, but I'm not sure how common the word "wanking" is (in its everyday UK sense) Stateside.

Fanwank outside of here (here being Buffistas) means basically, umm... well, I'm not even sure anymore, but it did seem to be intended to point out things that seemed like a lot of pointless everyday UK sort of wanking, though not LITERALLY.

pointless everyday UK sort of wanking

I actually bridled slightly here, and then considered it and decided there was not point in trying to defend my nation's masturbation habits, whatever they may be.

in the case I'm thinking of, I really don't think she was saying "send it to MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE" so much as "send it when you like something".

Not making myself very clear, am I? I don't know who you're talking about (obviously) but in other places, from other people, I've heard versions of 'send feedback when you liked something' that sounded remarkably like 'someone must like my stuff and I need more feedback to convince me I'm not wasting my time here'. Which, of course, is true in some ways- we write fanfic to be enjoyed (in the first instance by ourselves, but also by others) and feedback is the only way we have of knowing that's happening.