a-class-act-president:

So people always wonder why I have such a long time to update things. Partially it’s because of my hectic schedule and intense desire to finish my education and get a job/move on with my life, but mostly it’s things like this:

or this:

or this:

or this:

And it doesn’t stop at AO3. Tumblr followers have many opinions, too:

There are plenty more, but I’m not willing to post them because not all hate was posted anonymously and I’m not out to start shit with anyone anytime soon.

Look, I get constructive criticism. It’s helpful and I appreciate it all. I’ve understood that some things I write are repetitive; I don’t often notice this because a) it’s been too long since my last update and b) I don’t have a beta to read through my work and catch anything that I could have missed/overlooked. I make mistakes when writing, I will admit. Plenty of them. For example, Costia’s husband’s name is Michael, not Lionel (I had forgotten I had already included him previously in the story) and I didn’t catch it until someone pointed it out. This story is fan fiction. It is not published. It is not professional. It is written by someone who has a passion for psychology, mental illness research, and sociological/criminological processes. I want to make it as realistic as possible, but with a story this complex, I don’t always have all the tools. I’m not a psychologist. I’m not and have never met anyone in the army/navy. All of the experiences I write about are based off of documentaries or films or peer-reviewed articles regarding different treatments/lived experiences of war vets.

But most importantly, Sisters is a work of FICTION. It is not real. It will always have elements of fantasy or things that aren’t always realistic. I am telling a story, not doing a longitudinal study or a thesis or a dissertation on the topic.

I am a human being too, and even though I’m “just a writer” I do have feelings. This is a complex, muddled, at times controversial story and I understand that. People get mad over a lot of things in this story (i.e., some hate Anya, some love her, some hate Tris, some love her, etc.) and I like that. If everyone likes it, I’m not doing something right. The best part about writing Sisters is reading the comments and the discussions/debates people have with each other over the characters I’ve written (either defending or accusing them of something). 

But on a positive note, the negative responses to Sisters are barely a sliver of the comments/feedback I get, so I think so long as the majority thinks I’m doing okay, I’m gonna keep up with my story the way I want to write it. Anyone is free to take themes from Sisters and write them differently if they don’t agree. I don’t own anything so they’re more than welcome to write it differently if they would like that. I’m just putting my ideas and thoughts on the page and writing it for myself. That’s the foundation of all my writing. I write what I want to see happen, regardless if other people share the same views. I of course take prompts and things like that, but the plot of a story is always my idea only.

Thanks for your feedback, and I hope the next ask you send to someone is a little less hostile and a little nicer. The world is dark enough as it is; the last thing you want to do is ruin someone’s passion just because you dislike something. I apologize that you had to sit through 260k+ words of my “shitty ass story”, and I do hope that when I choose to update again, that you do not read and save yourself from the boredom. I’m sorry that I’m no longer one of your favourite authors.

But quite frankly, seeing as you did this anonymously and not even in a private message, I don’t really give a damn. This is the only “hate-mail” related ask/comment I will answer because they’re draining to reply to and half the time whatever is being written as an answer just enables the sender in the first place.

I’m sorry this has happened to you.  This is just wrong from top to bottom.  This isn’t ‘criticism’ these are personal attacks.  Someone prefers smut to drama? Someone prefers Clarke and Anya without Lexa?  Someone thinks Clexa should be endgame and this all boils down to shipping?  Someone doesn’t like ‘angst?’ Read something else.  To put you down for not catering to their preferences is pure shite.  It’s vile, really.   

Sisters is an exceptional story – exceptionally-written and developed and I appreciate you taking the time to build a compelling story around these characters and not back down from how difficult that can be.  I realise it is based on another film, but how much fan fiction out there is borrowed from another source and barely knows what to do with it (or even acknowledge the source material – I’ve seen blatant plagiarism that no one questioned).  Hypocritical to criticise you for doing it when you clearly care so much about doing it well.  

Besides, all stories have been told before at one time or another – Brothers is, in many ways, in line with ancient Greek tragedies – so you’re following a good tradition, really.  

Best to you and for continuing your tale.