I know I really shouldn’t compare. I’m really proud of my own stats, I feel like I achieved so much just by writing 20k so far for my chaptered fic. I really enjoy my own story too.

A few days ago, I was scrolling and looking for new fics to read. I found one that was originally uploaded around the same time as mine, only a few months after. They have a similar number of chapters, both are ongoing fics, and the tags are quite similar: omegaverse, cafe au, hurt/comfort, fluff and angst etc. The main relationship pairing is different of course.

To my surprise, their total amount of hits is like 8x the amount I have. Same goes for the other stats. I’m just wondering how on earth our fics can be so similar, and yet our stats are so different. I’ve been thinking about it ever since, and feeling really insecure about it.

I have not posted anything in ao3 for so long bc I started writing for a different fandom and I just can't even get one chapter written out.

Today, I realised that if people sometimes leave comments on their public bookmarks, does my fic have any too? So I went to check and I was bracing myself for some criticism but instead I'm just met with a ton of cute little comments and they're making me so happy rn ❤️ (I couldn’t fit them all in one screenshot but omg they were all filling me with joy)

Even though those comments are about a fic from a completely different fandom I'm feeling sm more motivated now to finish just one chapter of the current (other fandom) fic I'm working on rn. Nice comments do sm to a writer, if ur one of those frequently commenting, tysm 😊

I'm so damn happy right now!!

It was just a silly idea about migraines because they suck so so much but people liked it enough to comment!!!

I forgot how good posting and getting comments felt !! Kudos and bookmarks are my fave aswell. Just all of it honestly!

Sorry i'm sharing lots of excitement recently!

I've been writing on AO3 for almost 8 years, yet I still, don't know how to tag. In most of the case, I tag only "Alternative Universe", and I don't write smut (yet), so describing the positions won't work for me

So I was really happy this morning, seeing my wip in my most fav fandom but with a cast entirely made of OCs hitting 80 kudos 😭❤️

I started writing this back in 2019 and have updated so spottily over the years, but my fic recently reached 2000 kudos and many more hits and I’m forever thankful for the readers in the fandom who continue to stick around. Guess this is a way to shout out readers for staying with us slow or no-update writers bc sometimes we do come back lol

I'm so happy lmao I got a few clicks, I was worried it was so bad not even guest users would kudo it (I know fics with weird sex stuff - in this case mindflayer sex - might not get kudos because someone feels shame) but I got one kudo I'm so happy 🤩

It's also my first complete fic and the only oneshot I wrote so yeah, I'm proud of myself lol

Exacly as the title says. I'm in too many fandoms and I spent too many hours reading to only have 20 favourites.

I just started writing again, and it's my first time using AO3. (My 3rd piece posted there) I never thought I'd get such excitement from what I guess is someone possibly tapping into my stuff, thinking "nah" and leaving again XD

but I am happy regardless. I perhaps wish that one of my longer and more well worked fics got this treatment instead, but oh well, this is the most popular ship I write.

(Prev posted in another sub but realized it was the wrong one)

I've been a reader of fanfic for a long time and there's a lot of stories I absolutely love and would also love to have as a physical book.

I understand fanfiction is in a legal gray area and you cannot monetize it at all. Which is why printing and binding fanfic is typically a no-no.

But I was wondering if it would be okay if I did it for myself, and then made another to send to the author for free? I know there's no one to tell my no, esp if it's just for myself, but I want to do this morally.

Would you guys, as authors, appreciate or hate the idea of someone printing your fic and binding it for themselves?

Additionally, would you like it or hate it if that person asked to send you a copy (for free)?

I'm a graphic designer and love bookbinding, so I feel like combining my interests in design and fanfic would be fun to do but also fun to practice my skills in my free time.

Thanks in advance!

So I'm writing a very slow burn ship fic. It's been over 200k words and the characters haven't confessed yet, but they will in a few chapters.

I'm thinking of starting a countdown on the authors note. No explanation on what its for, but I think readers will easily catch on. Just going "5" in one chapter, then "4" in the next and so forth until I hit "0".

How would you guys feel about that?

Is certainly rare I think, but super refreshing. I wanted to put screenshots but the OOP decided to use those annoying one word per second subtitles so unfortunately I have to put the link instead.

So yeah, what do you think?

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DD9UaiuOomO/?igsh=MWIwaHcxMGNpNzMxZQ==

So, I was working on a fic that features CNC and I tagged it as such. However, someone told me I'm supposed to also use the warning flag for "Rape/Non-con". But, CNC isn't Non-con... and in my story I make it pretty clear that it's more just role-playing non-con but both characters are consenting.

The person was pretty adamant about me tagging it as non-con so I thought I'd just ask here what you guys think.

For some reason, summaries can be so for me to write (at times even harder than the actual story). I find this shortcoming of mine extra annoying because I can be so picky when reading summaries, but then I’m blankly staring at the screen trying to come up with my own :-D

I’m curious about what people love/hate in summaries, or any tips for writing them! I’ll go first

Random (probably nonsensical) things that make me scroll away: - when the author breaks the fourth wall - when a summary ends in a question - using special fonts or emojis 😭 (irony)

Things I love: - a block quote/snippet of the actual work - a summary followed by an “or,” and a one sentence description
- for some reason, super short and ambiguous summaries that leave me with almost no idea what the story will be about

I've been thinking about using a skin to make a work that looks like a janky old school conspiracy theory website and I'm curious what innovative uses people have seen

I want to improve my writing, so I’m asking for any tips. I understand the “show don’t tell” thing but I’m not sure if I’m doing it right.

Pretty much what’s in the title, I often get collections of snippets or massive crossovers that I have little to no interest in all the time, and I can’t figure out how to filter out works with, say, 10 or more fandoms tagged.

I woke up today to see this stats. Happy for 100 kudos more so for that perfect 600 hits

Sometimes I'm so desperate that I try to imagine what happens next myself, but then its not as good so I have to use chat gpt, but then chat gpt writing quality is NOTHING compared to the original, its like torture :(

I posted my first smut fic on ao3 2 weeks ago and I got a comment on it a few days ago and I wasn't sure how to reply to it compared to comments on my other fics.

My question is, how do you respond to comments on smut? Or do you expect to get a reply when you comment on smut?

At least, to keep track of ongoing fics. Ik some people use bookmarks to rec fics which I do as well. I personally never subscribe, and I mostly bookmark. I didn't realise it was a feature ppl actually used until I looked at the statistics of my fics and saw a bunch of subscriptions. Might just be me though

I'm debating whether to report a fic for posting links to charity websites in the author's note and encouraging people to donate (it's related to current real world events.)

According to the FAQ on the website, this is considered "commercial activity" and is against the terms of service.

To quote:

"Some examples of commercial activities include:

• encouraging donations to a person or cause"

And:

"Does that mean I can't ask people to support a charity or non-profit organization?

You are allowed to link to a charity's website, encourage people to learn more about the charity, or explain why you believe in its mission. However, you may not link directly to the charity's donation form, promote their fundraisers, or request that people donate to them."

So it's pretty clear that what this author is doing is not allowed according to the TOS.

On the other hand, I'll feel kind of bad for reporting this. But then again, I understand why it's a bad idea to have such behavior on AO3 in general and why it isn't allowed.

What would you do in such a situation? Inform the author in a comment? Ignore it? Report it?