#ao3 writers

[erraticprocrastinator]

Not sure about anyone else but I re-read all my favourite AO3 comments when I’ve had a rough day so if you’ve ever taken the time to write a deep, funny, or just kind comment, thank-you.

[infinite-orangepeel]

i don’t want a ‘career’ ! i want to write sexy fanfiction for my internet friends <3

[ficfinder-general]

Basically, I realized that when people recommend fics, they are often tagging the author's Tumblr as well.

I haven't been doing this (I do tag the author in the actual tags, though) because frankly it's often hard to track down what the Tumblr handle is if it's not identical to the ao3 username (and they might not be active or take it as spamming). So I was wondering whether authors have a preference. (Based on my blog, I am primarily interested in writers who publish codywan fics, but anyone can vote!)

Please feel free to elaborate on your answers in the replies/reblogs!

[chocolattefeverdreams]

[hussyknee]

Shout-out to the brazen AO3 smut crankers posting the nastiest, most unholy filth I can only save in private bookmarks. Y'all's cojones are solid brass. The international sexual deviant community thanks you for your service

[destiel-wings]

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

[serpentarius]

ao3 writers I love you and see you and I know it can be demoralizing when the fic you’ve worked so hard on doesn’t get nearly enough reception as you’d hoped. Whether that’s in the form of hits or kudos or bookmarks or comments. I know it’s frustrating, but just know… there’s often no rhyme or reason to it. no discernible algorithm at play here.

please remind yourself that low numbers are NOT an inherent reflection on the quality of your work. I’ve read incredible, downright masterful stories that have just a few kudos and a handful of bookmarks; and I’ve read extremely popular fics that I simply don’t vibe with. And everything in between. There are so many factors involved—how big the fandom is, how popular the ship is, what kind of tags are included, how other people filter and search for fics, etc. etc... the list TRULY goes on. all this to say, the stats absolutely shouldn't be the thing that keeps you from writing.

be kind to yourself. keep creating, if that's something you want to do and have the energy for. please don't get discouraged. your art matters and is worth so much more than you might think.

if you see this, I’d love for you to drop some of your favourite fics you’ve written in the comments or reblogs ♥️

[roselyn-writing]

this is true tbh 😂

Not mine! credits to sfc movies on yt.

[mikhardwheat]

"I'm a writer" I say as I add 87 words to my draft and go to sleep.

[writtenbyevie]

you ever sit in front of your computer screen for so long without writing anything that it just turns off. like no babygirl I promise I’m still here I’m just stupid

[brigidfromthecelts]

Do you know what makes me super happy as a fanfic author? Regular readers! That! You know why?

Whatever you write, they are there to read it!

Isn't that the most amazing thing ever? I'll give you an example:

I write the most self indulging piece ever! It's angsty, it's hurtful, it's downright sad and I might even kill a character or two just for the whim of it. What happens?

They read it!!

The best part? They comment and still like what you write! Like: oh well, this was not my cup of tea... I prefer fics where the characters I love don't suffer more trauma then what they already have and... You know... LIVE! But I still loved it! Thank you for sharing! ❤️🤗

And I just want to cry!

Because I feel loved! I mean! I wrote that crazy, weird, indulging thing because I have a disturbed mind and just wanted to play around with some horror themes, trauma and angst but hey... You loved it? 😭 I'm crying happy tears now and I want to hug you!

All this just because I wanted to say:

I love you, regular readers! So much! Thank you for all of your unwavering support! It means the world to me! 🙏🏻👏🏻

That was it. Thanks for reading.

🎤 Drop.

[erraticprocrastinator]

Nothing feels more amazing as a fanfic writer than finding the fandom, the pairing, the trope, that reawakens not only your love of writing, but also the joy that comes with just being hopelessly and unapologetically invested in something.

[femininomen0n]

[starelliie]

I swear, I hate those moments when I'm halfway through the story and my brain goes like "hey, here's a new idea how it could go" and I'm like, alright, sounds good. But I have already something written, so I'm just adding new things. Fine. Great.

But then my brain goes again "what if we changed the whole thing?" and I end up deleting most of it to fit my new idea.

That's prolly why I have so many unfinished stories.

[gncbutpi]

for bonus points, let me know how it feels to you!

curious, because I've definitely dropped them in bunches as a reader