  Feedback is a critical piece of the creative process. Prior CSCW research has
invented peer-based and crowd-based systems that exchange feedback between
online strangers at scale. However, creators run into socio-psychological
challenges when engaging in online critique exchange with people they have
never met. In this study, we step back and take a different approach to
investigate online feedback by casting our attention to creators in online
affinity spaces, where feedback exchange happens naturally as part of the
interest-driven participatory culture. We present an interview study with 29
fanfiction writers that investigated how they seek feedback online, and how
they identified and built connections with feedback providers. We identify four
distinct feedback practices and unpack the social needs in feedback exchange.
Our findings surface the importance of affinity and trust in online feedback
exchange and illustrate how writers built relationships with feedback providers
in public and private online spaces. Inspired by the powerful stories we heard
about connection and feedback, we conclude with a series of design
considerations for future feedback systems\textemdash namely addressing a range
of social needs in feedback, helping feedback seekers signal interests and
identity, supporting authentic relationships in feedback exchange, and building
inclusive, safe community spaces for feedback.
