Jun 1 2006
You Might Be a Fangirl If . . .
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?
. . .You own more than one copy of a book. (me)
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author. (me)
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv. (me again)
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author.
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. (RFG)
. . .You have given “conversion” packages of an authors’ works to another reader.
. . .You have written fan fiction based upon an author’s works.
. . .You have given a 5 star review at amazon.com just to counter negative ratings. (RFG)
. . .You have named yourself after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. (RFG)
. . .You see an author’s book at the store but refuse to buy it because it could hurt the author’s bestseller numbers or you buy it and go back and buy a second copy on the release date. (RFG)
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means.
. . .You have reported a store for violating a street date. (RFG)
. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG)
No related posts.
Jun 01, 2006 @ 15:47:26
You own more than one copy of a book. ME
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author. ME
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv. ME
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author. ME
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. (RFG) – COULDN’T BE ARSED
. . .You have given “conversion" packages of an authors’ works to another reader. WHAT?
. . .You have written fan fiction based upon an author’s works. – SOD THAT, It’s hard enough blogging.
. . .You have given a 5 star review at amazon.com just to counter negative ratings. (RFG) – nope
. . .You have named yourself after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. (RFG) – nope
. . .You see an author’s book at the store but refuse to buy it because it could hurt the author’s bestseller numbers or you buy it and go back and buy a second copy on the release date. (RFG) – Wouldn’t even occur to me
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means. – Definitely not
. . .You have reported a store for violating a street date. (RFG) Even if I knew what that was, I couldn’t be arsed.
. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG)
Jun 01, 2006 @ 15:49:10
.You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG) – Jesus, do people do that?
Jun 01, 2006 @ 15:53:01
Haha, Jane! I wanted to elevate the conversation to a talk about rabid authors who freeload on other author’s sites/loops, but who am I to tell the readers what they should or shouldn’t discuss :p. Anyway, here’s my take:
. . .You own more than one copy of a book. check
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author. check
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv. check
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author. check
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. RFG
. . .You have given “conversion" packages of an authors’ works to another reader. huh?
. . .You have written fan fiction based upon an author’s works.
. . .You have given a 5 star review at amazon.com just to counter negative ratings. RFG
. . .You have named yourself or your children after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. RFG
. . .You see an author’s book at the store but refuse to buy it because it could hurt the author’s bestseller numbers or you buy it and go back and buy a second copy on the release date. RFG
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means. – what if you don’t know what a street date means?
. . .You have reported a store for violating a street date. – see above
. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. RFG
Jun 01, 2006 @ 17:24:43
I copied this to my blog and LJ (with attribution, of course ;) ) … should show up on a trackback ping eventually, but my “results”:
. . .You own more than one copy of a book.
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author. (Not me — but I’m too shy to do that. ;) )
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv.
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author.
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. (RFG) (All the time. Especially when they have, like, ten copies and none are fronted. Dammit.)
. . .You have given “conversion" packages of an authors’ works to another reader.
. . .You have written fan fiction based upon an author’s works. (No, but I’ve wanted to.)
. . .You have given a 5 star review at amazon.com just to counter negative ratings. (RFG)
. . .You have named yourself after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. (RFG)
. . .You see an author’s book at the store but refuse to buy it because it could hurt the author’s bestseller numbers or you buy it and go back and buy a second copy on the release date. (RFG)
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means.
. . .You have reported a store for violating a street date. (RFG)
. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG)
Jun 01, 2006 @ 17:39:08
“. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG)”
HaHAHA! I laughed out loud on this one! I think it probably happens more than people think.
What about:
…You see a negative comment on a message board about an author’s work and send an alert to the author’s reader loop notifying all members that the defense team needs to suit up.
…Fiona
Jun 01, 2006 @ 17:47:45
Okay, I’m an author and a reader and Ihave no clue what a street date is. *blush*
And I’m happy to say I’m not a rabid Fan girl of any, just a big fan of some.
Jun 01, 2006 @ 18:02:22
Street date is the date that bookstores/stores are “supposed” to put the books for sale. They’re not supposed to go on the shelves early. The reason this is important for some authors is because first week sales determine placement on some bestseller lists, and sales before the street date don’t “count” (though pre-orders through places like Amazon do count because those are considered first week sales). So if the book is expected to do well, like JR Ward’s books, fangirls insist on a strict street date so the author will have a higher bestseller list placement.
And I’ve rearranged books on the shelves, but that was Samhain books so I guess that’s different ;)
Jun 01, 2006 @ 18:06:48
Very cool, Angie. Thanks. I did knwo the first week sales counted for the lists but I wasn’t aware people could be so rabid about it.LOL
Jun 01, 2006 @ 18:17:28
I’ve never been rabid about it (I don’t have energy to spare for that, lolol) but I guess I can see why it would be important to a mid-list author. I’m sure Nora Robert’s fans don’t care, but for someone like JR Ward (I’m not citing her specifically, just using her as an example) whose books are expected to do well as their popularity grows, I guess how you do on the bestseller lists can make an impact on future contracts, size of the advances, print runs and the like. So it makes sense to me in that regard, for it to be important to the author. If she expresses those things to her readers, I suppose they feel it’s their duty to “educate” others ;)
Jun 01, 2006 @ 18:21:01
Angie said: So if the book is expected to do well, like JR Ward’s books, fangirls insist on a strict street date so the author will have a higher bestseller list placement.
Personally, I try not to pick up books if I see them before the release date — like, I’ve seen Lynn Viehl’s Dark Need in WalMart and Borders Express and it’s not supposed to be released till June 6th and haven’t bought it. But, then, being a writer, I know how important the first two weeks of release can be to a writer’s future career, especially if the writer isn’t yet “established.”
Jun 01, 2006 @ 18:27:58
Oh I totally understand. As a new print author I’d LOVE to hit a BS list…however, I’ll also just be happy if the books sell-through. If they don’t sell through, there will be NO next contract, let alone a better one. LOL
Exactly Nonny. It is important. I just never realized non writers were aware of , or cared about, that stuff.
Cool. I’m learning. :)
Jun 01, 2006 @ 19:26:56
Oh my fricken’ God, Solaine. Do you know someone who’s named one of their children after a favorite character? I’ve seen people on listserves use id monikers of favorite characters but to actually name their child after one?!?
Jun 01, 2006 @ 20:08:32
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. (RFG)
Wow! I’m my own RFG! So cool! (But it was only at “my” Borders and I did not switch them with books on an endcap, even though it did cross my mind.)
. . .You have named yourself or your children after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. RFG
This one blew me away until I remembered how many children are named Brandon, Brenda, Kelly and most especially Dylan.
Jun 01, 2006 @ 20:15:53
Jayne said: Oh my fricken’ God, Solaine. Do you know someone who’s named one of their children after a favorite character? I’ve seen people on listserves use id monikers of favorite characters but to actually name their child after one?!?
I know a woman — close friend of mine, actually — who named one of her daughters Kyra after Kira Nerys from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. (Apparently her husband at the time was gunning for Jadzia, after another character on the show. Gorgeous name, but…)
So yes, it does happen.
Jun 01, 2006 @ 20:33:22
Oh phew!!! I’m not one!! I’ve only done 2 of those – have more than one copy and written (only a few) gushing letters to authors. As to the rest – haven’t done any of ‘em.
Jun 02, 2006 @ 01:32:43
I’m with Kristie, more than one book and I’ve written/emailed 3 authors. I only managed two, and here I’ve been calling myself a Linda Howard fangirl. I’ll have to work a little harder at this. I just finished re-reading Mackenzie’s Mountain… hmmm, just call me Mrs. Wolf… I don’t think so, that’s just frightening.
I do find myself re-alphabetizing books at any bookstore, when I find things out of place, but I don’t think that counts. I think that just makes me a little obsessive–right?
Ingram has already released this book, so I’m wondering if that date is right. My local indie bookseller had it in stock yesterday and normally Ingram wont release anything until it’s “street date”.
Jun 02, 2006 @ 03:01:34
I don’t know how to do a trackback but I just had to blog about how funny I thought everything was.
You own more than one copy of a book. ME – but it was an accident! I have a bad memory and end up buying seconds. No. Really.
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author. ME – uh, I don’t gush but I have sent exactly two e-mails to two separate authors telling them I liked their book. I don’t need to have a restraining order placed against me because I loved a book too much ;)
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv. Not anymore.
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author. ME
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. (RFG) – COULDN’T BE ARSED
. . .You have given “conversion" packages of an authors’ works to another reader. WHAT? – I know what a conversion kit is but I’m not even remotely organized enough to do that kinda shit.
. . .You have written fan fiction based upon an author’s works. – SOD THAT, It’s hard enough blogging. Sing it!!
. . .You have given a 5 star review at amazon.com just to counter negative ratings. (RFG) – nope – since learning that it’s mostly authors reviewing or that crazed broad I couldn’t be bothered.
. . .You have named yourself after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. (RFG) – nope – I wouldn’t even name a pet after a favorite character but then I hardly remember character names anyways.
. . .You see an author’s book at the store but refuse to buy it because it could hurt the author’s bestseller numbers or you buy it and go back and buy a second copy on the release date. (RFG) – Not a chance, you snooze you lose. Bonus for me!
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means. – Uh, yeah, but don’t hold that against me and obviously from my above comment, I don’t care.
. . .You have reported a store for violating a street date. (RFG) Uh, no – do you turn in the crack dealer? Okay, bad analogy but you see my point.
. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG) Geez, that’s a clear sign you have a personality disorder. Get help.
CindyS – I’ll go learn how to do a trackback because not knowing is lame – sorry.
Jun 02, 2006 @ 05:37:17
Tara Marie said: Ingram has already released this book, so I’m wondering if that date is right. My local indie bookseller had it in stock yesterday and normally Ingram wont release anything until it’s “street date".
If it’s wrong, then the author and some of her more “rabid” fans got the dates mixed up. She had a blog entry some while back mentioning a reader had pointed out that the release date was 06/06/06.
Possible the release date changed since then, but I hadn’t seen anything from her about it, and usual she mentions those things.
Jun 02, 2006 @ 06:01:51
Yep Jayne. Definitely know a very good friend of mine, who doesn’t exhibit rabid fan girl behavior in other areas. She’s supportive an author but she’s also realistic. She’s the first to say: “This author is great, but that last book she wrote sucked!” However, naming your children after characters does equate to RFG behavior in my book.
Not all RFGs are hostile about thier rabidity, I think.
Jun 02, 2006 @ 06:29:57
RE: Dark Need which I picked up last night at Waldens. The bookseller there said her sales sheet said “upon arrival” and thus could put out the book right away. So it must not have a laydown or street date.
Twists and Turns
Jun 02, 2006 @ 08:06:02
[...] Courtesy of Jane from DearAuthor. [...]
Jun 02, 2006 @ 17:52:24
. . .You will only give your favorite author a review site’s highest honor/ranking, etc. Other stories you absolutely love get the next ranking down (RFG)
Jun 04, 2006 @ 11:39:07
Well first I got nervous to see my name, so whew, I’m not in trouble today (yet)
. .You own more than one copy of a book. (me)
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author. (me and I do this more now than I did before I started writing because I know what it means to an author. Oh and I try to stay non stalker and creepy)
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv.
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author. (FG)
. . .You have rearranged an author’s books at a store to give her greater visual exposure. (FG) – I haven’t done this and I’d hope my fans wouldn’t do it to cover up other books with mine but I don’t know that it’s rabid
. . .You have given “conversion" packages of an authors’ works to another reader. (FG)
. . .You have written fan fiction based upon an author’s works. (RFG – jeebus, I barely have time to write my own stuff)
. . .You have given a 5 star review at amazon.com just to counter negative ratings. (RFG)
. . .You have named yourself after a favorite chacter, such as Mrs. Wolf MacKenzie. (RFG) – this makes me laugh and laugh. I know people who’ve named their kids Evenstar and Dylan, which is pretty close.
. . .You see an author’s book at the store but refuse to buy it because it could hurt the author’s bestseller numbers or you buy it and go back and buy a second copy on the release date. (RFG) – wow, people do this? Gawd, I totally want some RFGs!
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means.
. . .You have reported a store for violating a street date. (RFG)
. . .You have pretended to be more than one person commenting on someone’s blog in defense of your favorite author. (RFG)
I’d add – you comment on message boards in an effort to make every conversation about your author, even if it’s someone else’s hosted day (RFG)
Jun 04, 2006 @ 19:05:24
yes, yes, yes to many of them. Not the fan fic, not the pretending to be someone else, and but. . . . .but I’m emmeline deverill (a dotty aunt) on a wodehouse list.
oh, god.
[sobbing]
I might have to steal this. With attribution, naturally.
Jun 04, 2006 @ 23:00:58
. . .You own more than one copy of a book.
. . .You have emailed or mailed a gushing letter of praise to an author.
. . .You belong to and participate in discussion at an author’s website or listserv.
. . .You have voted in a contest as the behest of an author.
. . .You know the street date of an author’s books and what it means
Half ain’t bad. :)
Into the Shadows » You Might Be A Fangirl If …
Jun 20, 2006 @ 03:47:58
[...] Stolen from Jane at Dear Author: [...]
Dear Author: Romance Book Reviews, Author Interviews, and Commentary » Blog Archive » What It Means to Be a Fan
Jan 20, 2008 @ 04:01:30
[...] I don’t know what that means anymore. I thought I did. A couple summers ago, I wrote a tongue in cheek post about traits of a fangirl, but I think its being expanded to encompass anyone who agrees with [...]
Dec 26, 2011 @ 00:37:56
@Jayne: Heath Ledger and his sister. Wuthering Heights, obviously.