At 01:40 PM 4/14/97 +0000, you wrote:

It seems to me that, judging from the number of tantrums, 
footstamping and general tear duct leakiness on this list that there 
is a problem.

        I don't know how long you've been around here but, from my
perspective, this has always been a bit of a problem.  What has
apparently exacerbated the condition lately is the problems WW has 
been having with the server - going off line for several days at a 
time, and the like.  The result has been bursts of stories in 
'damn bursting' proportions.  It's quite possible that anything you've 
written and posted at the wrong time just got in the flood of things 
coming from the ML.

This is that quite simply a lot of the people on this list are doing 
their damnedest to write good fiction but their efforts are not being 
rewarded with any C&C. These are the people who, to be quite frank 
are the ones who need it most if they ever want to improve. Added to 
which it's hugely discouraging to not even get so much as a peep out 
of your peers after you have put so much effort into crafting your 
work.

        This bit has me really confused.  Are you suggesting that you
write only for the C&C of others?  I understand that the purpose of
this ML is to act as a writer's workshop of stories and a forum for
fan-fiction writing topics.  It's just the topic you bring up has
been discussed on this ML almost monthly, to one degree or another,
since I got here almost a year ago.  There really doesn't seem to be
much of a solution possible.
        To some degree, I understand your concerns as, I too, went 
through a long period of no one reading or commenting on my stories.  
We all have.  Biles, Lawson, Zen, you name it.  All have gone through 
long periods where they have written stories, posted them to the ML, 
and received only the sounds of crickets chirping for their efforts.  
Over time, they slowly built up a readership, both here and out on 
RAAC, where people recognize the name and associate it with something 
they read and liked in the past so are willing to devote time to reading
that author's latest release.  Remember, just because no one responds
to your posted story, doesn't mean no one has read it.
        In time, people would respond, usually only with a 'nice story' 
or some correction to the series time line or something else - something
simple.  In any case, it takes time before folks will openly acknowledge 
your work.  I'm not saying that's the right way - just the way things 
seem to work.
        My only solution to this has been to always write for myself, 
first and foremost - always.  If I satisfy myself - if I enjoy the 
story - then, and only then, will I share it with others.  If no one 
responds, fine.  At least I satisfied myself and feel good about it.  
Hearing from others is a bonus.  Not that I don't appreciate input, I do, 
but I realize the situations most people are in.  Between school or work, 
writing their own stories, and trying to have some kind of 'normal' 
social life, I'm surprised *anyone* has time to read *anything* posted - 
much less send detailed comments.  It's just the way things are - 
imperfect.  With occasional prodding, like yours, it gets better - for
a while.  
        You just have to understand the nature of a ML.  I think I'm
not all that different from most of the others here.  It's not my work 
or my life, it's a hobby - an avocation, if you will - that fills a niche 
for me and my need to be creative in some way.  It's *not* my life.  I
have varying amounts of free time to devote to reading stories, writing
some of my own, and trying to keep my family happy.  Often, I will either
off-load a story to read later or, regrettably, have to dump the story to
conserve valuable disk space on my computer because I simply don't have
the time to deal with it.  I know, it's my loss.  I miss out on a lot
of really good stories - stories that people, like you, have put a lot
of effort into.  I really feel bad when I have to do this but I just
don't have as much time as I'd like to devote to reading, much less 
doing a good C&C of any stories.  All too often, when I *have* had time
to read someone's efforts, all a reader will get from me is 'nice story' 
if I liked it.  I've never been all that successful at detailed C&C
anyway.
        Sorry if all this sounds like a ramble.  I've got a bad head cold,
I'm tired, and a bit grumpy because I have to go back to work tomorrow.
Please bear with us.  We *do* try but things sometimes have a way of
getting out of hand and we often find ourselves too busy to fully 
participate in the FFML.


        - Greg