ivyblossom:
Dear fanfiction readers,
Thank you for reading. Please don’t stop! Click on that fanfic that looks like it might suit you right now; read what you want to. Leave kudos if you want to. Or don’t; if you don’t like what you’re reading, or you’re not ready to add your name or your thumbs up to that fic today, or ever, that’s alright. You aren’t required to. There’s no payment required for reading fanfiction. You’ve honoured us already but being willing to be become our readers in the first place. That’s more than enough, as far as I’m concerned.
Almost all writers enjoy and appreciate comments, and they always will. Comment where you’re moved to, and never imagine that your contribution won’t be welcome. But please don’t let anyone shame you into commenting on a fic where you’re uncomfortable doing so. Interaction in fandom should always be by enthusiastic choice, never through pressure, or a sense of owing the writer anything, or guilt.
As a fanfiction writer, I welcome comments and reactions from readers who feel moved to comment and react. I have learned a great deal from these interactions, and I will be forever grateful for them. But I would never want a comment or kudos on a fic to come from a place of shame, duty, or sense of obligation. If writing fics causes that kind of negative experience and harm to readers, I for one would certainly stop writing. There is nothing for me to learn from that.
The vast majority of any fandom is lurkers. Those of us who do the talking may not understand the drive to lurk, but it would be foolish of us not to acknowledge and respect this form of being fannish. Being out front isn’t for everyone, or it’s not for someone just yet. And that’s okay.
I cannot speak for everyone who writes, and I know many disagree with me. But if you are a lurker and you want to read fics and not kudos them, like them on tumblr, reblog them, or leave comments on them, you’ve got my support. Read on, lurker friend. Read on.
Tumblr Exodus 