And as for dbskgirl4ever, I can understand why they dislike her, but I can't freaking understand why they dislike her and not goddess. Seriously, goddess's story is so damn cliche and the writing is so amateur. Furthermore, unlike dbskgirl4ever, she is not accepting of criticism towards her story and suggestions for improvement. She's the second most popular author, and yet people don't give her any crap. WHAT?! HOW UNFAIR IS THAT T^T

I guess it's a kind of phase. When I first started writing, even 3 subscribers made me happy, and a simple comment made me squeal for joy. As time past, I started thinking of ways to gain subscribers and grew upset when I didn't have a lot of subscribers and comments. But then I realized that the number of comments you get really depends on the quality of your writing. If you write well, and your story has suspense, drama, twist, touching moments, heavy angst, whatever, people will eventually comment. People only comment on something that makes them enthuastic so it's not their fault if the story isn't all that exciting for them. I guess to put it bluntly, if a story doesn't get much comments, it means its lacking and failed to appeal to readers. Of course authors need encouragement to continue on writing, but it's hard to force a comment out of yourself when you are just like 'meh'

You should just try and ignore all those pressure. A good story is formed when you write freely and without being forced to mold your story in this way. A good story only forms when you are inspired to write it and you have the passion to write it. Even if its a cliche story, it would turn out good it you are passionate about it, instead of writing a out of world story that makes you dread writing each update. I say just write whatever you want, ignore all the pressure, and try to take AFF lightly and have fun.

Oh btw random but I absolutely love The Played Playboy <333

Yeah! about getting hungry for attention and comments :o Eeek I'm guilty of it myself though I always tell myself that I'm not writing for comments but because I truly enjoy writing (and I do but... you know? The contradictions ><). Everytime after I update I still anticipate for comments and subs. I guess it's only natural for a writer to want recognition though. We try to come up with a hood piece and we want people to enjoy it too (and to tell us that they do!) Because honestly I think we wouldn't be posting on AFF if we don't expect comments and subs. Though I don't really blame them, sometimes I really wish the silent readers would speak up more... But I understand how we have nothing much to comment (or lazy to heh) at times even though we really loved the story... :/ another thing I'm guilty of is treating short and plain comments with disdain. I know I should treat every comment as gem but everytime I see "nice story! I love it!" or "update soon! ^^", I'll be like "Oh it's another one of those comments. Thank you but... can't you elaborate a bit?" Mehh, I'm a contradictory person I don't even know what I want. Hahah. But well, there are still people who give relevant and constructive comments and I appreciate that :)

And I agree, cliche doesn't mean it will automatically be bad! School life can be really well-written too! I think it's the writing that matters more than the genre. I have to say though that usually ppl who choose to write post-apocalyptic and AUs write better than those who write school life, so maybe that's how the discrimination came about :/

Hmm after all that you've said, maybe there's a need to distinguish between ppl who write for fun and those who take it seriously (?) eh, idk.

Okay what am I doing why is this comment so long eeek

i don't really know what to say
( because i'm awkward with words. orz. )
but this is so true omg. ; ;

Most readers here are silent. I only noticed the change when I posted my first exo short fic last year. While writing my other fics, I never felt so alone. Maybe because I was just blessed to have the most vocal readers. I didn't have a lot then but my reader-comment ratio is good, average.

Come April 2012, I got a hundred subbies for a three chaptered fic but with a veryyy low comment ratio. I honestly thought I was being trolled by one of my friends, like creating all these dummy accounts to subscribe to me, but that wasn't the case. They are just silent. Heh. I realized that when I hid my fic and then my readers are in my wall asking me to post it back. OTL. Yeah, I kinda put up a strike coz I was so confused.

As a writer who decided to publish her fic in a public site, I judge the quality of my chapters based on reader's response, which I had no problems in 2010-2011. It is true that we are our worst critics. And that is why I wonder if I did something wrong or if the chapter bored them. I could ask a review but then the reviewer is not my reader to begin with, he/she didn't see the value of it to make him/her read it, unlike my subbies. It is about preference. So if they liked my story, why do I feel like they don't like it every time I update? Hoho.

Then, that was the time I had a shift in mindset. I won't be pressured by the number, I'll just write until I get satisfied with my update to post. As long as there is one person who shows they care, I will continue. Writing involves motivation and discipline. It would be nice to be motivated by comments, but we can't really expect that nowadays. So, I fill up the lack.

I have read those rant fics, those tumblr pages dedicated to make fun of AFF's fics, confessions... I take in what I think would help me improve but at the end of the day, it is still my story to tell :)

Mind if I comment?

Don't let those ranters bring you down. There's always going to be people like that who think they have the 'perfect' story when in reality no one is perfect.

Write what YOU want to write. Write how YOU like to write :)

I think at some point a lot of writer's want attention on their work, I'd be lying if I said I didn't want comments or subscribers ^^; But I still write regardless if I have no comments or not (unless writer's block attacks me).

But anywho sorry if I rambled through this comment ^^; I just think there shouldn't be so much pressure to write fanfiction, just write what you know and what you're comfortable writing about ^^

omg i get greedy too ): i really wish I could change otl but well well that is what you get from hanging around on the internet XD

truth is, these ranters will never disappear~ thanks for sharing your opinion tho! ^^ I do not want to write so much here because I do not have the strength hahaha but at least I wanted to say SOMETHING and maybe try to encourage you. As long as you try, everything is all right! :D

Personally I only think that telling someone to try to think outside the box, is to encourage them to release their creativeness^^ at least if I do that, that would be my purpose c: But if you want to write about something, have particular names, I dunno, then of course you should

orz I dunno what I am saying anymore, haha! have a good day <3

All I can say is I agree 100% with what you said. I think all us writers we get attention greedy and think why isn't this more popular than it is? And pressure is hard. We want it to be perfect before we post it, we have to love it and then we worry will my subs hate it or like it, will I even get anyone that likes it etc.