Eeek!

[altivo]

OMG, I never expected this. I received this morning, out of the blue... A piece of actual fan mail. I recognized the name, he's actually been a watcher on FA for a few months now, but other than the usual exchange of "Thanks for the watch" messages, we hadn't talked at all. Turns out he's a fan of my old podcasts from three years ago, and was tracking me down until he finally found me at FA.

I felt so embarrassed to have to tell him that the six he has listened to are all there were. But the truth is, he's the very first one (other than close friends, who'd say something nice no matter what, I think) to offer any direct response to the podcasts. It took me as much as eight hours to assemble and produce each one, and I had no idea whether anyone was actually listening at all. I'm overwhelmed at receiving such a positive response, even this long after the effort.

I don't know what else to say. I'm actually speechless with surprise, more or less.

Comments

[quickcasey.livejournal.com]

I listened to each one, and enjoyed them. Eight hours is quite a bit of work.
Just think of those out there who like your work, yet never say a thing.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Well, that's the problem. If they never say anything at all, I don't even know they exist.

Actually, as I pointed out in my reply to this good fellow, the download statistics speak for themselves. After three years, some of the episodes have still been downloaded fewer than 200 times. The one with the highest count is the Narnia discussion, and that's just because it came right around when the first movie was released.

By comparison, some of my writing that is posted at FurRag has readership counts that exceed 7000. Seems clear enough where the effort ought to go. ;D

[avon-deer.livejournal.com]

People appreciate creative effort, I think. :)

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm sure of that. The thing is, without at least some feedback, one is working in a total vacuum.

The problem in this case was finding a way to respond to sudden great enthusiasm, yet having to give the bad news that the podcast series is dead.

[schnee.livejournal.com]

I'd just take it as a compliment.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Oh, yes, certainly, it's a compliment and I'm grateful to receive it even now. But I had to deliver the bad news that the series is finished.

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Yay :) Glad to hear you received some fan recognition for your podcasts.

And I wouldn't be nice no matter what you Feline teasing equine lummox.

[altivo.livejournal.com]

*points to a wooden box in the corner*

That used to belong to a fellow named Schrödinger and you'd better behave or I'll let you see what it's like inside the box where no one will know whether you're dead or alive...

[cabcat.livejournal.com]

Bah we made sure that Schrödinger didn't try that again. So watch yourself hay breath ;)

[drgnkiyo.livejournal.com]

Wow. o_o

[altivo.livejournal.com]

Heh. It's a phenomenon called "The Long Tail."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Long_Tail

I just never expected to encounter it with my own work. Long after you think the interest in something has gone, there are still people looking for and reading it. It explains why businesses like Amazon and ABEBooks can make money selling low demand and out of print items, and do as well or better than places like WaldenBooks or Crown that sold only current bestsellers (which in theory ought to have the highest volume and greatest profit.)