The Job of the Reader

Meta
Title:	The Job of the Reader
Creator:
Date(s):	2001
Medium:	online
Fandom:
Topic:	fanfiction
External Links:	online here, via Wayback; WebCite
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

The Job of the Reader is an essay posted at Writers University.

The creators give permission for the article to be posted in full as long as the disclaimer remains intact.

Excerpts

Why is this in the feedback category? It’s the most relevant place to discuss this topic since authors rely on readers to give them feedback. The problem, or so the staff of Writers University has begun notice, is that a lot of authors assume that readers are not readers but rather are beasts or burden, erm excuse us, people who are obligated to give feedback.

The first one is that authors, on a whole, like to receive feedback. Be it flames, praise, constructive criticism, requests to read another author’s stories, feedback makes an author feel good. As such, a lot of authors want more feedback and get frustrated during dry spells when they receive little to no feedback. They begin to superimpose their own desire to receive feedback with the job of the reader and to assume since one writers, the job of the writer is to write and the job of the reader is to react and give feedback. The job of the reader thus becomes in the minds of the author, not to read but to receive feedback. We’ve seen examples on mailing lists where people say "If the reader doesn’t read the story, they should at least e-mail the author and tell them why. They should also do it kindly so as not to offend and scar the writer who may not read again." It’s, to put is simply something the writer wants the reader to really do and the wires between want and need and expect from readers get crossed.

The other reason that people get confused as to the job of the writer is that fandom is about community. Every person in some way contributes even if their only contribution is a number to prove people are actually there. Fandom is about interaction. Each person is expected to give something back to the fannish community. Some people give something back by writing fan fiction. Some people give back by creating web pages. Some people give back by being mailing list moderators, FAQ Maintainers. Some people give back by creating screen savers, wall papers, Windows themes. Some people give back by getting screen grabs, sound clips and video clips. Everyone looks at the reader and expects the reader to give something to this interactive community of fans known as fandom. The activities of readers aren’t as out there, as prominent or as glorious as other fannish roles. Fan fiction readers are thus sometimes looked on as leaches. They are demanding. They are many. They often can’t be detected at first glance. They are quiet. They eat at the community and don’t seem to give anything of worth back to the community. The fannish community doesn’t like leaches [sic]. They don’t like quiet people. They expect people to speak up and to show their contributions. As such, people make the assumption that if readers can’t contribute visibly in any other way, they should be obligated to give feedback to be one with the fandom.

What does this all mean to authors? Value your readers authors. Say THANK YOU to every person who sends you feedback. Remember, it isn't their job to send you feedback. It’s a gift from them to you telling you how they felt about your work.