cfv-week

[cfv-week]

someone I follow on the bird app just announced they’re starting a very exclusive private fic server because they and a bunch of other people want to talk about how much they love the fics they’re reading, and as an author can I just say that a really great place to talk about a fic you love is in the comments for that fic

I understand that people are trying to create safe spaces, but as the number of comments that I get on my fics dwindles with each passing year, knowing these spaces exist where my fics are being discussed, places that I am excluded from, makes me want to write fic LESS

I mean I guess who cares, right, because if I stop writing, there’s 10,000 other people that will continue…but if you participate in a fic “book club” server and you say nice things there about a fic you loved, maybe copy and paste that into a comment on AO3?

the only thing fanfic writers are asking for in return for hours of hard work is attention. please don’t rob us of the one thing that we hope for when we hit “post”

[cfv-week]

AO3 easy trick: sometimes when I want to leave a comment on a fic but I dont know what to say specifically I'll just paste my favorite line(s)/little paragraph and then write something like "I loved this so much/this fic is amazing" or even just a string of hearts.

writers love knowing what lines stuck the most and this way you don't need to elaborate too much of your own

[cfv-week]

Why do people stop commenting on fics if they’re more than a week or two old? Please comment on old fics. Tell me you like my one shot from 2014. Tell me you like my old multi-chap I finished in 2016 that I spent a year writing. I will be fucking thrilled.

[cfv-week]

I’m noticing an increase in new fic writers on AO3 who…uh…mayy not know how to format their fics correctly..so here is a quick and VERY important tip

Using a random fic of mine as example..

The left example: ✅✅✅

The right example: ❌❌❌

Idk how many times I’ve read a good fic summary and been so excited to read before clicking on it and being met with an ugly wall of text. When I see a huge text brick with zero full line breaks my eyes blur and I just siiiigh bc either I click out immediately or I grin and bear it…it’s insufferable!

If a new character speaks, you need a line break. If you notice a paragraph is becoming too large, go ahead and make a line break and/or maybe reconfigure the paragraph to flow better. I’m not a pro writer or even a huge fic writer but…please…ty…

[cfv-week]

The Fanfic Author’s Guide to Metatext

(As Used on Ao3) by Eiiri

Also available as a PDF here. This thing is 13,000 words.  The PDF is recommended.

Intro: What is Metatext?

Metatext is everything we fanfic authors post along with our story that is not the story itself: title, tags, summary, author’s notes, even the rating.

It is how we communicate to potential readers what they’re signing themselves up for if they choose to read our story, how we let them make informed decisions regarding which fics they want to read, how we get their interest and, frequently, how they find our story in the first place. A lot of metatext acts as a consent mechanism for readers, it’s the informed part of informed consent.

Since most of us who write fanfic also read it, we understand how important this is! But, for the most part, no one ever teaches us how to use metatext; we have to pick it up by osmosis. That makes it hard to learn how to use it well, we all suck at it when we first start out, and some of us may go years without learning particular conventions that seem obvious to others in our community. This creates frustration for everybody.

Enter this guide!

This is meant to be a sort of handbook for fic writers, particularly those of us who post on Archive of Our Own, laying out and explaining the established metatext conventions already in use in our community so we (and our readers!) are all on the same page. It will also provide some best-practices tips.

The point is to give all of us the tools to communicate with our audience as clearly and effectively as possible, so the people who want to read a story like ours can find it and recognize it as what they’re looking for, those who don’t want to read a story like ours can easily tell it’s not their cup of tea and avoid it, nobody gets hurt, and everybody has fun—including us!

Now that we know what we’re talking about, let’s get on with the guide! The following content sections appear in the order one is expected to provide each kind of metatext when posting a fic on Ao3, but first….

Keep reading

[cfv-week]

Are you frustrated you can't leave second kudos on AO3? or third kudos? or whatever-who's-counting kudos?

Well, have I got the html for you!

Plop any of these in a comment (by copy&pasting the code) to make an author's day and show your appreciation!

Second kudos: <img src="https://i.ibb.co/tHMjbb6/second-kudos.png" alt="second kudos">

Third kudos: <img src="https://i.ibb.co/52bggQH/third-kudos.png" alt="third kudos">

nth kudos: <img src="https://i.ibb.co/6y7qGtC/nth-kudos.png" alt="nth kudos">

yet another kudos: <img src="https://i.ibb.co/wKtcj0s/yet-another-kudos.png" alt="yet another kudos">

It will look something like this (and will be transparent with white outline on dark backgrounds):

Feel free to spread and use these as much as you like! (and if you have ideas for other variations, let me know ✌️)

[cfv-week]

In the spirit of encouraging people to comment on fanfics while also making it easier to do so, I feel obliged to share a browser extension for ao3 that has quite literally revolutionized the comment game for me.

I present to you: the floating ao3 comment box!

From what I've seen, a big problem for many people is that once you reach the comments at the bottom of a fic, your memory of it miraculously disappears. Anything you wanted to say is stuck ten paragraphs ago, and you barely remember what you thought while reading. This fixes that!

I'll give a little explanation on the features and how it works, but if you want to skip all that, here's the link.

The extension is visible as a small blue box in the upper left corner.

(Side note: The green colouring is not from the extension, that's me.)

If you click on it, you open a comment box window at the bottom of your screen but not at the bottom of the fic. I opened my own fic for demonstrative purposes.

The website also gives explanations on how exactly it functions, but I'll summarize regardless.

insert selection -> if you highlight a sentence in the fic it will be added in italics to the comment box

add to comment box -> once you're done writing your comment, you click this button and the entire thing will automatically copied to the ao3 comment box

delete -> self explanatory

on mulitchapter fics, you will be given the option to either add the comment to just the current chapter or the entire fic

The best part? You can simply close the window the same way you opened it and your progress will automatically be saved. So you can open it, comment on a paragraph, and then close it and keep reading without having the box in your face.

Comments are what keep writers going, and as both a writer and a reader, I think it's such an easy way of showing support and enthusiasm.

[cfv-week]

Fandom is so different now and it’s becoming un-fun with how quickly shit moves.

I just want to enjoy things. I don’t want to have to play a game of Artist-Race that seems to be afoot lately.

Ya’ll eat up fandoms, leave artists and writers bone dry and then move on so fucking quickly then fucking wonder where all the Good Fandom Stuff is.

Idk Maybe cherish some things for longer. Reblog stuff. Interact with people. Comment and share.

Fandom is Capitalism now and I’m not being nuanced.

[cfv-week]

join our community and tell us what you want us to do next (poll tournament? events? something else?). Don't be shy we don't bite...

reminder to join our tumblr community where we are holding polls regarding the upcoming CFV Week! We are finalizing the details at the moment, expect the official announcement towards the middle of the month!

[cfv-week]

Aww, well I love your doodles regardless, Star! So much personality. What a lovely way to finish off the week.

Thank you for all of your hard work both modding and making art!

For Day 7 I’m going free, and I just doodled a TON of them!!! When I was like 90% done with these, I thought to myself: damn I basically did this last year, and I should’ve just done G characters this time 🧍 oh well!!!!!

I LOVE CFV WEEK!!!! Ty to everybody else who participated ily all soooo much 💕💕💕💕

[cfv-week]

YES OMG I LOVE THESE SOOOO MUCH!!!! Your magic au kai is PHENOMENAL and Morikawa in the corner is my favorite thing ever. That face, so smug! And perhaps is that an incredibly cute crossover of sonic and cfv, among other prompts I adore 👁️? Your contributions here are immense and I thank you for your service 🫡

Tiny little offering to the cfv fandom

Close ups under cut

[cfv-week]

Lmao, that's so funny! I haven't seen the movie but even I know that Wolverine is grump supreme while Deadpool is a wholeass goofball, just like those two. XP Miwa picked those costumes, let's be real, and he WILL regret it once Kai pokes him with his fake foam claws.

GUESS WHAT I DID!!!! It’s CROSSOVER for day six, and I’m going deadpool and wolverine because let’s be real it’s my new favorite movie fucking EVER. I think they’re just in Halloween costumes though 😋

I’m sad tomorrow is the last day!!!!! Everybody go make stuff!!!!!

[cfv-week]

thank you for posting for every day regardless of how busy you were, Star! Those are indeed episode 35, 128 and episode 6 of Legion Mate. 😉 I see you with all of those good Kai moments... 👀

Weeeel I rushed out day 5 bc it crept up on me (school and busy ness) BUT here’s a collection of a few of my FAVORITE EPISODES! Or, just scenes from them. >:) gonna be real I’m too tired to remmeber each number rn. 35, 120 something, 165-170 something LMAO

[cfv-week]

Being late is okay, definitely take care of yourself! Your playmat is super sick I literally love it omg i might have to show mine soon....

I hope you feel better soon !!!

CfV week day 7 Free day

Well I missed day 6 and 7 to post on time because of a headcold tbh and I ended up taking a nap yesterday. before I could post day 7 yesterday so it was too late to post before it got too dark and I was unable to take a picture. But wanted to show the G Next playmat I saw and got in December as it's the only thing I have besides cards.

[cfv-week]

MISAKOU MISAKOU MISAKOU MISAKOU!!!!! MY FAVOIRTE SHIP EVER!!! IM ECSTATIC!!!

You did SO GOOD I LOVE IT!!! HPBD to Kourin!!!!!

happy birthday kourin! based on the redraw meme, for @cfv-week day 7: endings and beginnings.

Anyway, a bunch of headcanons on post-canon misakou:

Misaki always saves up for the next ultra rare concert (this is more or less canon). She gets into a modelling side gig, and that's how they meet each other again

Kourin has 0 idea on how a complete stranger can also seem so familiar. (It's because I go to all of your concerts, misaki says lying thru her teeth)

Their first conversation when they meet each other again goes something like:

Kourin: oh, that's a nice hair tie on your wrist.

Misaki, in actual pain: thanks. It's... a gift from a friend.

Kourin: well, whoever it is, they have really good taste.

Misaki: ...yeah. The best.

[cfv-week]

YES!!! i LOVE the thought youve put into this and ive said it before and ill say it again your garchomp looks SO GOOD. I cant believe you got Kai's expression so good on him. I love your art sm AND you ideas SO MUCH!!!

Day 6 of CFV Week 2024!!!!!!

Chosen Prompt: Crossover - Pokemon

Not me showing off some artwork of a story idea I plan to make! My crossover story has the vanguard gang thrown into the Pokemon world, and everyone - but Aichi - turns into Pokemon! Aichi has to find his friends, which doesn't make it any easier now that they're Pokemon!

Miwa was easy to figure out which Pokemon he would turn into. Although, I see Jolteon working well too. (llol Pikamiwa) Kai obvs had to be a Dragon type. And after careful consideration, it had to be Garchomp (Kaichomp lol), plus being Dragon/Ground type is great for him. This also makes Kai pretty strong right out the gate, which works well with his personality and Pokemon lore (If your pokemon is too over levelled and you don't ahve a lot of Pokemon badges, you pokemon won't listen to you, slack off or use a random attack - which works for Kai not wanting to fight anyone weak) Miwa fondly calling him Landshark throughout the story.

Some ideas on their moveset: Miwa - Thundershock, Quick Attack, Double Team and Thunderwave Moves he gets later on: Thunderbolt, Play rough (he wants to at least damage Kai as they train against each other), Iron tail, Volt Tackle, Slam, Mega Punch, Agility, Reflect, Encore, Wild Charge, Discharge and Grassknot. Kai - Dragon Claw, Dig, Bite and Dragon Rage Moves he tries out later on: Crunch, Brickbreak, Poison Jab, Flamethrower, Dragon tail and outrage. (finding more moves that counter his ice/fairy disadvanage)

[cfv-week]

Happy Birthday Kourin!!

Friends! We've reached the final day of CFV Week 2024, but no worries! We accept late entries. So if you take a couple more days to finish your stuff, we'll be there still!

Day 7: Favorite Parallel | Endings & New Beginnings | FREE

Favorite Parallel:

Contrasting motives in media is probably one of the most exciting things I could ever think of. What contrasts and parallels do you see in Vanguard? Blaster Dark and Blaster Blade, perhaps? Character arcs, episode structures, the lore of the cards and the journey of our protagonists... There's parallels everywhere. Delve deep for this one, and find something really interesting to analyze!

Endings and New Beginnings:

Vanguard has some of our absolute favorite endings and beginnings ever, so why not go ahead and show them off? The transition of each arc, each era, each generation, is something to be celebrated. May it be the end of a big tournament, or the beginning of a new season altogether, or something totally different and unexpected!

FREE!

YOU'RE FREE! Do literally anything you want for this last day of CFV Week! Doodle assisticat, make a cool edit, take a picture of your CFV merch, throw out a moodboard, write a 200k word fic (okay, maybe don't try to do that in just one day). But, whatever you choose to do, let's end this week with a bang!