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DEEP CATACOMBS - The Neopian Times is known for it’s great articles, stories,
comics, and series, written by many talented people. Just as important, however,
are the readers of the NT. Often, I’ve wondered about the readers of the Times
and how much they impact the authors and artists. My pet Ttrrug, who has helped
me with my articles, decided that he wanted to write an article of his own about
it. Here is what he said:
Wow, I get my very own article! I suppose I should properly introduce myself,
my name is Ttrrug and I am a Grundo who likes to write. I have helped my owner
write a couple pieces for The Neopian Times. This time, my owner has allowed
me to write a full article for the Times concerning you, the reader. One thing
I’ve learned since helping my owner write articles is that there is nothing
more important than the readers of The Neopian Times. So yes, I am writing an
article about you and for you. This article is written to thank you for all
you have done. Just by being a reader, you are helping each author of the Neopian
Times in a major way. I don’t think you realize how much you mean to me, my
owner, and other writers of The Neopian Times.
I would first like to thank you for writing to me and my owner. Your Neomails
mean the world to us (and it is a big world out there in Neopia)! I was able
to read every Neomail sent to my owner and help respond. I will tell you that
we are grateful for every word you send to us. We appreciate the fact that you
read our work. We listen to any suggestions you have to give us. I love how
you point out the things you enjoyed about a piece we write. This helps us get
to know what is good about our writing and it gives us a boost and encourages
us to continue. We also love suggestions and constructive criticism.
Constructive criticism is a very hard thing to do well. This is when you offer
suggestions and help in a beneficial way. This is when you help us improve our
writing, while still encouraging us to keep going and still pointing out positive
things about a piece. No piece of writing is ever completely rock solid, there
is always room for improvement. It doesn’t make us sad or angry. We don’t always
expect glowing reviews. As long as suggestions and constructive comments are
done in a kind considerate way, it is very beneficial and very much appreciated.
.
We love any sort of support you give. Even if you don’t have anything more
to say than, “I like your article”, it means a lot to us. You don’t even have
to write to us about our article. I always love a quick hello, or a new Neofriend!
I enjoy getting random funny smiley faces. Oo;oO! This makes us happy and helps
us get to know our readers. By sending this kind of mail, we are becoming friends
and having a fun time with lots of laughs! It can’t get much better than that.
Some might have a problem seeing things this way. Some authors may not seem
to appreciate the little things that our wonderful readers give us. I thank
you for continuing through any discouragement you encounter.
Perhaps others have told you that you weren’t important and perhaps some of
them have poked fun at some of the readers. Maybe other authors have made you
feel less important than them. You may have seen articles criticizing those
who use chat speak. You may have seen authors mimicking and downing some who
write to them. You may even recall articles telling you how to address authors
of The Neopian Times. I am writing you to tell you not to listen to people like
this.
You should not address a writer any differently than you address someone else.
If you wish to use chat speak, you should be able to. After all, we are on the
Internet chatting. You are not less of a person for speaking a certain way.
We are all different, and authors especially should be able to understand this.
Do not feel like you have to change the way you are simply to impress an author
who is supposedly some rock hard 3+ times superstar. The truth is, you are a
superstar too. You make the author and you make the NT. You are the one who
keeps us writers going. We thrive on you, we need you, and you never let us
down. Thank you for that and for continuing through any discouragement you encounter.
I thank you for not letting one or two authors, who think they are precious
Neopian gemstones, stop you from being the warm generous reader that you are
You really do make The Neopian Times what it is. You are the ones who inspire
us to write what we do. You are the ones who support us and you are the reason
we write. Spending hours typing away on the computer about new worlds, new pets,
pet pets, new events, and fun stories is all because of you. You are helping
us achieve something great. It is because of you that I have this chance to
write my very own piece!
Thank you for the inspiration. Thank you for the support. Thank you for the
smiles, the chat, the friendships, the kind words, the help, the suggestions,
and for being you. Anything you are kind enough to give me, even five minutes
of your attention to read my work, is very special to me. For this, I cannot
thank you enough.
Specifically, I want to thank you for reading my article. I wanted to warn
you that not all authors feel the same way I do and not all authors are what
they seem. Please don’t place them on a pedestal. Just like I am just a neopet,
they are all just neopet owners. No one is more special than another, although
at times some authors think they are. Please don’t take these people to heart.
They are like small pebbles that can be tossed out of sight. There are plenty
of others who are not like them, and who know the true value of their readers.
If I could, I would send you all individual thank yous. I would shower you
with gifts and protect you from those with hearts of stone. There is no amount
of words that can describe my deep gratitude and appreciation to you. From the
bottom of my little Grundo heart, I sincerely thank you.
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