The torment that is the WiP - Discuss

[moonlite_tryst]

That's discuss people, not flame!

As an author who has been a bugger for starting to post chaptered fics and not finishing them this may seem a strange post, but here goes.

Whilst spring cleaning my LJ, I clicked on a link for one of the greatest H/D WiPs ever written IMO. Although labelled as catagorically not abandoned, it has not been updated for almost three and a half years *cries* and who knows if it ever will because the author is now writing in another fandom *cries some more*, which leads me to wonder:

If a WiP has been abandoned for a period of time, e.g. over 2 years or more, and the author was close to the end, should said author post a synopsis regarding how things were going to end for the reader's benefit?

Does an author have any obligation to readers who have followed/are following a WiP, or does the label WiP translate into read at your peril?

Thinky thoughts authors, readers?

Comments

[moonlite-tryst.livejournal.com]

If it's the one I'm thinking of.

It is. I was one of the many who asked and she was quite obnoxious about it, even though I said that so many readers thought it was one of the best fics out there. I had the feeling (IMO) that she ranked us below cockroaches.

I know that Harry and Draco will end up together because she said so, but God above, how do they get there from where they are now?????????????????

that ONE fic is the reason I don't read WIPS

Ditto.

[dysonrules.livejournal.com]

YES, THAT IS THE ONE. HAHAHAHA "You want this so bad, bitches, you can NEVER HAVE IT. (insert evil cackle)"

I know that Harry and Draco will end up together because she said so, but God above, how do they get there from where they are now?????????????????
THIIIIIIIIS. I don't want to know how I would end it, I want to bloody well know how she planned to end it.

So yeah, authors have no "obligation" to finish anything. (Even published authors, really.) But my conscience would never allow people to be disappointed, even if only ONE person said they loved it. *shakes head* I appreciate my readers too much and respect the time they invest in reading my stories, especially the longer ones. THEY COULD BE DOING OTHER THINGS, YO.

[moonlite-tryst.livejournal.com]

but boy we sure appreciate and love the feedback and fic recs and reviews we get, don't we!

Hell yes! Even the one word comments can lift the day. That reminds me, I came across a thread there authors moaned about the quality of comment they receive, esepcially the one word kind, but that's a rant for another day.

I think it's just a matter of common courtesy and appreciating your readers to not leave them hanging.

You took the words right out of my mouth. .

[moonlite-tryst.livejournal.com]

and respect the time they invest in reading my stories

Absolutely!

If I knew I was never going to finish a fic people kept asking me about, I would post a synopsis. That way everyone gets closure: the readers get their answer and the author stops getting requests about a fic/fandom they've moved on from.