Re: Rabid Fangirls turned Authors
Dear Readers,
The whole rabid fangirl controversy in our romance community blogosphere has given me the impetus to blog about my personal pet peeve as a reader — authors who pimp their work all over another author’s site/blog/forum. I call them “Rabid Freeloaders”. And I only have one word (two syllables) to describe these menaces to readers’ sensibilities: TACK-Y!
As a reader, what do you do when authors begin attacking you because you aren’t supportive enough? Or because you have a difference in opinion about characters?
I was once a lurker/reader at Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick’s forum and I had to leave after two somewhat popular B-list authors started taking over the forum with excerpts, posts and contests. In fact, the worse was when Ms. Leigh herself came out the woodworks to COMPLAIN that readers weren’t praising these author’s excerpts enough. The general sentiment was, “We provide these free excerpts for you and work hard and when we don’t get reader feedback, it makes us feel like ya’ll don’t appreciate it, so please comment if you like the excerpt.” I’m paraphrasing HUGELY, but all I could think was: “Did we just get scolded for not kissing these “guest” authors’ asses.” If I wanted to read excerpts of B-list authors I’d join their loops or blogs, but when I am on say, Emma Holly’s blog, I don’t want to read excerpts from say, Lora Leigh. No matter how much I love Ms. Leigh’s work, please believe if she started pimping herself on Emma Holly’s blog, I’d want her to fall back, too.
Now there’s a difference between highlighting an author, interviewing an author or recommending one of their stories. But these authors literally began to take over, posting all the time, even engaging in arguments with Ladies of the forum over how to write stories, after one particular author was criticized for one of her characters. While I have enough fodder for days about authors who are freeloaders, I’m just wondering which is worse — readers who are rabid fans or authors who are such rabid fans of their own work that they pimp their own stuff all over other people’s sites?
Regards, Solaine
May 22nd, 2006 at 12:47 pm
:::sigh::: another “no comment” from me, though you need only take a look at my web site to know that I’ve come to the conclusion, if you can’t beat them, run far far away.
May 22nd, 2006 at 5:04 pm
i saw a term “mobette” on one of the links you had, and i think that is a good word (regardless of how the original user might have meant it) to describe some of the frustration an author can have — everyone’s entitled to their opinion on the value of a read (valid or not (hey, I’ll never disclaim a bit of snobbery on my part)), but you get fan flooding for one particular author on boards that are publisher boards or genre boards and not a board for a specific author. So, yeah, we feel a little frustration where we might not see the problem were it our fans causing a flood in our favor.
May 23rd, 2006 at 12:05 am
What does mobette mean? I’ve not heard this term before, am I out the loop?
May 23rd, 2006 at 4:42 am
Specifically, they’re one of Sarah McCarthy’s more vocal fans “When an accusation got back to the group that “Sarah McCarty has some devoted fans” the resounding response was a laughing, “Heck yeah!” It was seen as a growth moment. The Mobettes had gone from invisible to known. I even created a pin to celebrate the moment. Along with the Mobette logo, it also says, “Rabid Fan and Proud of it!” ”
Now, I’m trying to think of a situation OUTSIDE OF EROTIC ROMANCE where you can’t have a book talk on say:
German literature and have it turn solely to a discussion of Thomas Mann
Sticky horror and have it turn solely to Stephen King
Military families and have it turn solely to Pat Conroy
etc etc etc
Try having a conversation on the EC reader list about cowboys — better yet, I’ve seen an established author (different publisher, but she was not there pushing herself, was really incognito) mention she was interested in subbing something Western-flavored to EC and both fans AND an EC editor on the list essentially [if you the author listening to this]said “You’ll never match Sarah’s cowboys so don’t even [fucking] try.”
If they love cowboys and they love erotica, why would they want to discourage this person from submitting something? I’ve never heard a huge fan of vampire fiction/vampire erotica say, “ah, God, please, not another vamp book!” But rabid fans give the appearance of actively trying to clear the field of all competition for their author. Granted, some authors are so great that any discussion of a topic will at least give rise to mention of that author, but what I’m talking about goes far beyond that natural reference.
Now, I don’t want to discourage fans from giving their well-liked authors good word of mouth. Authors need it, really really bad. It’s one of the most effective (often said to be the most effective) means of generating sales for them.
May 23rd, 2006 at 6:07 am
durn…i wish these were able to be edited, “can’t” should be “can” in
“Now, I’m trying to think of a situation OUTSIDE OF EROTIC ROMANCE where you can’t have a book talk on say:”
May 23rd, 2006 at 9:37 am
So mobette is a term exclusively for Sarah’s fans? What is the definition though, I mean?
May 23rd, 2006 at 9:53 am
you’d have to net one and ask it
May 24th, 2006 at 12:15 pm
darn - I don’t have rabid fangirls. I don’t have rabid anythings, except maybe a rabid fear of spiders.
I have gotten a couple letters about the Phallus from Dallas asking how long, exactly, Mitch’s meat was…but I’ll have to give Ciarra credit for the cryptic count
;-)
Maybe I can rent some fangirls. On second thought, I’m into my tranquility.
Zen and fangirls don’t go together, do they?
(Oh, and did you get that shameless pimp for the Phallus? LOL)
May 24th, 2006 at 4:40 pm
That was a great plug, Sam! I’ll have to look into that story.
I have to admit I’m enthusiastic about authors I like, but I tend to be more low-key about it (huh, Ann?). Maybe if I get rabid, at least it’ll bring some publicity to my faves. They say all publicity is good publicity right…
May 25th, 2006 at 4:02 am
Solaine…a phallus is a great plug indeed. Oh…wait, you meant…
Yeah, you’re pretty low-key but you’re, like, the only fan I have, so I’ll take you however I can get you. ;-)
Sam…ya don’t have to rent ‘em … just get multiple email accounts and be ‘em.
May 25th, 2006 at 6:06 am
Ha!!!
Multiple e-mail accounts and be them - OK Ann - You’re hired!
LOLOL!
May 25th, 2006 at 10:39 am
Ann, I’d tell you to get your mind out the gutter, but that’s where I like it!
Sam - You’ve inspired me to go on a quickie binge, actually. Details to come…
May 30th, 2006 at 1:25 pm
Wow, anyone else thinking that someone has a problem with Sarah McCarty’s popularity? Holy crap. Who knew? She writes fabulous western historicals, but I, personally, have NEVER said that to anyone who wanted to submit. Hell, give me a good cowboy and I’m happy no matter who the author, and I’m a friend and fan of Sarah’s, so I’m a bit surprised at the hostility here. Yikes.
May 30th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
As i have just read this i agree with you. I am a fan myself, and an author, and a new one at that. I used to be very active on another authors list but had the good sense to not try to plug my work even if the author told me it was ok. Yes i stated things like when i got my first contract there, and yes i mentioned that i had my own yahoo group to them, and was if they wished to join and learn about what i wrote. I never tried to ram it down anyones throats, and personally when other authors did it it pissed me off. Yes we are supposed to help each other, and i dont see there being any problem with sharing your sale news or a light blurb, but when the fans start talking the blurb i just think its disrespectful to the author that has the group/forum. Why? because your part of that group for THEM not to hock your own wares tirelessly. promo is ok, but it needs to be controlled. Not to mention there TONS of public promo lists you can do it on… but thats just my take. Since becomming an author and getting busy myself i dont hangout as much on other peoples boards and groups, i have my own i have to build up. one day I might be as popular, and i would rather have the knowledge that i did it through my work and not because i spent every waking minute flooding someone elses board with my stuff. its not fair to you and its not fair to them. Just my two cents.
May 30th, 2006 at 3:29 pm
Hi Anne! I don’t think anyone here has a problem with Sarah McCarty nor is there any hostility directed towards her. I think we are using her case as an example of diehard fan turn a bit rabid. For me, rabid fans don’t turn me off to an author, just as a crazy stalker doesn’t turn me off from an artist or an actor. The actions of the fan while in support of Sarah’s work is supportive to the point of alienation of another author, which seems the activity that should be labeled hostile in this case.
We are in no way criticizing Sarah for the activities of her fans, and I don’t think criticizing the hostile activities of some of Sarah’s fans has any reflection on Sarah, if that makes any sense?
I’m sure you’d agree that Ann’s example reflects poorly on the fan, not the author.
May 30th, 2006 at 3:32 pm
Stella, that’s a great point. Use the promo loops for that stuff! And there are lots of places that readers hang out where authors can be list moms, etc.
I rarely find myself in yahoogroups anymore either — I’ve always found that format a bit too confusing to keep up with anyone, especially places that post hundreds of times a day, the yahoogroup boards give me a headache.
May 30th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
True, Solaine, very true. I agree with you that it does reflect poorly on the fans, but that should not make people hate the author. The author has no control over her fans whatsoever (unless she’s leading some sort of cult, but I don’t think Sarah’s doing that*G*). Anyway, I posted in the comments on my blog …
“I used to frequent a certain Yahoo group and I found it was VERY clique-ish, no matter what I said, I was ignored. Now that is clique-ish.
BUT that didn’t stop me from reading said author’s books. No sir-ee. I still read her books because she’s a FABULOUS writer and I don’t want to miss out on a book because I don’t “fit in” on her Yahoo group or anywhere else she might frequent.
Now another author I could name, but won’t (even though KarenS would LOVE for me to, I’m sure) she’s just turned me off because of her attitude. She’s a total bitch and very proud of it, though in the last six-nine months or so she has calmed down quite a bit. Still, will I buy her books? NO. Why? Her attitude toward not just other authors, but READERS, including HER readers. She didn’t care what she said or who she said it to, she just said it. Is it my loss that I no longer read her books? *shoulder shrug* Yes. Have I been tempted to buy from said author? Yes. Have I? No. I just thought back to the “incidents” and that’s enough for me to say no way am I putting a buck, two, or three in this author’s pocket.
Now if you have instances of that, I can see turning away from authors, or if they change their style. Nothing irks me more.
But because of fan behavior? Nah. I’ve run into rabid Lora Leigh fans, Jaci Burton fans, and so many more. Does that stop me from buying their books because I don’t get along with everyone? No.
It takes more than a few “rabid” fans and some silly behaviors on a Yahoo group to cause me to stop reading one of my favorite authors. “
May 30th, 2006 at 11:37 pm
Well I’ve been on the EC loop on several occasions when Sarah’s more rabid fans have had a go at readers and authors. It isn’t pretty, and it’s a shame that some of these vocal ladies are making it hard for Sarah’s normal fans to speak out about how much they like her work without being accused of being rabid. I’ve never come across fans like that from any other e-author, and I’m on over 400 yahoo groups. But it is just a select few and she does have relatively normal fans too like Anne and Karen S - oh wait, they aren’t normal either *g*
…and Anne - you wouldn’t be talking about a NY comedy vamp writer would you? *snerk*
May 31st, 2006 at 4:03 am
I’ve been on some of these blogs with the “rabid girl” comments and so forth. I was even called “rabid” for defending an authors work, after the blogger dissected the book and completely trashed it.
My problem is the way some of these blogs- criticize a book. Why can’t readers just say the don’t like a book-without disecting the book piece by piece? One of the blogs-even went so far as to call an author, a horrible name. Why go to such lengths? I think it’s way past hurtful, way past indecent. Authors read these blogs all the time. and like I mentioned I don’t have a problem saying “the book did nothing for me,” or “I didn’t like it.” But bashing -is way wrong.
May 31st, 2006 at 5:05 am
Hey Jade, I agree. It’s not form to bash an author or say personal things toward an author - BUT bad reviews need to be more than “I didn’t like it”
Readers want to know why someone doesn’t like it. I can say I don’t like a book because the hero was too beta and the heroine was too dominant. That might help another reader who likes beta heros and dominant heroines - so in fact they buy the book for the very reason I dislike it.
Most authors I know prefer to know why a reader or reviewer dislike a book rather than just have them say it sucks.
May 31st, 2006 at 5:31 am
Jaynie, you are right.
Saying why you didn’t like it is perfectly fine. I agree readers and authors would love to know why a part or if all of the book wasn’t liked.
There is a way to say it, without it being directed to an author harshly.
May 31st, 2006 at 7:38 am
Solaine:
At this moment im part of another authors list with fants that are a bit more insane then Sarah’s. it think its great but it had turned off so many people from being there and talking to the author it is sad. I only corrospond through emails with her now, and granted its better, its also more tedious. the poor woman has to keep up with a group of people that post 1-3k a day of absolutely NOTHING of relavance and the emails of her fans that just wanna say hi and ask questions about her books. then she opened a Forum to try to get the wild traffic off the group, and now its just two places for these insane people to further complicate other peoples lives.
but as the authors she cant alienate them, anyone, and i dont know if she wants to or not. but in a way shes alienating others because they are turned off with the crazy stuff going on on the group. And theres talks of a meeting comming up… i feel for her… some of them are NOT the kinda fans you want to meet… Rabid dosent cover her fans…
But like i said, as an author, i hope to have a semblance of that one day… but i think it might kill me in the long run.
But this is a VERY common issue with a lot of authors right now… and Sarah has a lot of fans… but some are far, far worse then hers….
Stella
May 31st, 2006 at 10:49 am
I think where McCarty may get tarred with the same brush as her fans is that she either doesn’t understand that there is a difference between rabid fans and fans (as evidenced by her post at Let’s Gab) or she chooses not to. Either way, allowing rabid fan behavior to go unchecked on a group that you, the author, run/moderate, will create a negative perception. I do think that an author can take steps to quell off putting behavior by stepping in now and again and saying things like “all authors are welcome” “we need more writers writing westerns” “let’s welcome our new members” etc. Because a rabid fan will take on the attitude of the author - if the author likes something, the RBF likes it too. It’s the nature of the beast.
June 1st, 2006 at 11:47 am
[…] So in blogs this past week and part of last has been the topic of rabid fangirls. I think we can blame Solaine for stirring the pot that might have been filled by Sarah McCarty’s post over at Let’s Gab. The blogging community has chimed in here, here and here. Personally, I think someone has her head in the sand. But instead of going all Ranty McRant, if I can borrow a Lauren Dane parlance, I offer you this. Please feel free to add on or perhaps even denote those that you feel should have an RFG moniker. I’ll fess up to having done one or more of the following. How about you? […]
June 3rd, 2006 at 11:04 am
I’m amused that instead of talking about the topic at hand, Rapid fans turned authors, we’ve managed to get back to Ms. McCarthy.
When is enough enough already? Everyone gets the point, some of her fans are a bit out there, but you know what, she’s not the only person who has out of control fans.
So my question is, why does it keep going back to her? Give her a break already and pick someone new to roast.
Lena
June 5th, 2008 at 2:11 am
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