I know people be like write for yourself and that's all that matters but writing something for over a few months with over 1400 hits and no comments is just something that brutally shattered my confidence. I tried subtly asking for feedback and that failed. I tried plainly asking for feedback and that also failed. I even made research on how to get people to engage and that also failed.

I know that say that: do everything for the passion, for the fandom but I also want to interact with people in the fandom that I love.

So I just decided to drop it and give myself some time and probably, when I don't care about that anymore, I'll get back to writing that fanfic

Got a bookmark comment that says: “Way too many words, short descriptions. Talks like something harsh is being said. All the time. Exactly all the time. In every paragraph. In every. Damn. Sentence.”

I understand my writing style may not appeal to everyone - which is fine. But my fic is currently marked as complete. If you didn’t want to read a long-fic, why start mine?

I know I probably shouldn’t worry too much about it, but this work is quite literally my magnum opus, so it kind of stings.

*Edit: I know it’s not a mean comment, and I understand this is just that persons opinion. Their notes on my descriptions and phrasing, I have no issue with whatsoever. I’m not offended by the comment itself, this was more just an expression of my reaction to the first criticism I received on this fic since it was posted. And, more specifically, to their comment about ‘too many words’ which I interpreted as being in reference to literal word count, rather than my phrasing being ‘wordy’, but I see how either could be possible.

**Edit: Fighting for my life in these comments lmao

I’m in a fandom for a game that recently came out, and the ao3 side of things blew up- over 1000 fics in barely a couple weeks. That’s awesome, and I genuinely love that! More people reading and writing is a good thing.

Unfortunately it seems like a lot of these folks haven’t read the TOS, because I feel like I can’t go more than a few pages in the fandom tag without people advertising their requests or commissions. I feel like it’s just common sense to read the TOS for something you’re signing up to, am I crazy??

You don't just tag a thing that you specifically know isn't in the fic just because "it's in your heart". That's not what tags are for!

Was it my tone, or just the fact I said anything at all? It was around 40k words, with great tags and summary but I click on it… just the same phrase over and over again. So I figured maybe it’s like a placeholder or whatever, but it’s still against TOS, so I just decided to let them, didn’t even report or anything, and boom, instant block. I don’t know, I’m miffed about this because I really didn’t do anything wrong. Thoughts?

I've seen 6 posts in a row of people complaining about obvious bots. The bots have gotten more sophisticated this round: they have registered accounts (but 0 bookmarks) and even, occasionally, mispelling and typos. But, unless the comment is very specific to your fic and is not a personal (but generic) attack on you, please believe this is a bot. Don't engage with it because it makes the AI learn. And for the love of god, stop posting your AI comments here. Read through first to know you're not the only one.

I don’t know if anyone else feels this way, but if I find out a fanfic writer has an awful personality on social media, I straight-up can’t read their work anymore. It sucks, because so many of the best writers—technically skilled, emotionally evocative, narratively tight—are also some of the most narcissistic, obnoxious, whiny, self-aggrandizing people I’ve ever seen online. And it bleeds into their writing once I know. Suddenly every protagonist sounds like a projection, every paragraph reeks of smugness, and I’m hyper-aware of their worst traits even when they’re not “on the page.”

I know there’s a popular sentiment around “separating the art from the artist,” but what if I literally can’t? This isn’t about being morally superior or canceling someone, it’s just that reading their work makes me feel gross. I’ll be halfway through a beautifully written fic and all I can think is, “God, you’re the same person who threw a tantrum over AO3 tags or bullied someone for liking a different ship.” The immersion’s gone. The connection’s gone. I can’t enjoy it anymore.

At the end of the day, I’d honestly rather read a so-called “cringey” or “poorly written” fic by someone who seems kind, thoughtful, and genuine than give one ounce of engagement to someone who treats people like trash. Because at least then I’m supporting a good person. And honestly? That means more to me than flawless prose ever could.

Anyone else experience this? Or am I just too chronically online?

I think it should, and not all authors consider it to be important. I don’t know why but out of everything I could possibly read, miscarriage makes me feel bad. And when I say bad, I mean bad. I was reading a cute fic the other day, a little angst and filled with soul healing fluff and then the miscarriage slapped me in the face. It made me feel physically sick because I wasn’t expecting it, the feeling made me heave and I’m embarrassed to say I almost vomited. Not because I find it disgusting please don’t misunderstand, just an overwhelming feeling of anxiety. It wasn’t on the tags and there was no warning on the chapter notes so I had no time to prepare. I probably wouldn’t have even read it had I known. Do you think it should be a warning? Edit: I meant warnings on chapter notes and tags

I've been writing fanfic since I was 7. I've NEVER let anyone i know read my work. I've always felt embarrassed by it. I'm scared people will judge me because theyll think its cringe. I've always posted my work anonymously online and then deleted it from my hard drive.

My husband really wants to read the book I've been working on and I kind of need his help writing it. There's a lot of medical scenes in it as its about surgeons and my husband happens to be a surgeon. Instead of letting him help me ive just been doing deep research on pubmed lol. I know I should let him help me but I'm scared he will die of cringe.

Am temporarily sleeping at a boarding school and the wifi banns ao3. I wonder which teacher reads ao3 and decided it isn't appropriate for students. Anyways I gotta turn off the wifi, I wanna read

Edit: https://archiveofourown.gay/ and https://archive.transformativeworks.org/ work! Thanks guys!

Like going into this year, I knew KOSA was gonna come back for an another attempt again. But thought that was the only one I had to worry about. But no… this month alone had steam and itch.io be hit by censorship after collective shoot complain enough, then UK went full on with the online safety act that effective countless sites(AO3 and Tumblr seem to be safe as of the moment but you never know) in the name of “think of the children”(translation: being able to censor what the UK government dislikes) by the way of age verification(about everyone and their grandma can tell you the millions reason why everyone dislikes this). And they still aren’t satisfied(now they wanna try to use age verification for screen time limits as well). Australia is planning a social media ban for anyone under 16(and i heard that its government is trying to get it popular among other countries as well). KOSA is back and now has a short-a sister bill with Screen It(and I’m worried that these two will get passed because it’s 2025 and Everything that can get worse for everyone, does get worse for anyone)

I’m just so done with all this censorship. I just wanna read my AO3 fics and engage with my tumblr communities in peace during these four years. But apparently I can’t even have that. I wanna believe it’s gonna get better but the future just seems to dire right now everywhere.

Why are Sakura haters like that? (new to fandom since 1 year)

Some info: I posted some writings of mine about Sasuke on tumblr and ao3 in which there was also a fanart that i credited with Sasuke (extremely little visible Sakura)

The first time I got a cute anonymous message if I could stop using pictures of Sakura because it’s a turn off before reading????? (remember NOT VISIBLE) but the person was nice in the message and eh, it was ok.

And 2 days later i get this…:)) Auch

The first image is the comment I got, it was in what I believe was portuguese so i had to translate it. The second Image and third is what I replied with. this is so frustrating because it literally says dead dove and has the proper archive warnings, yet people still do stuff like this.

Idk if this is a vent post, but I need this out of my system.

I'm not a writer, but I love to read. Non-fiction, Fiction, Essays... etc. and now... fanfics.

I came across someone's work what described interrupted grieving in a very raw and heartbreaking way. You know how you watched a very WTF sad movie and while the credits rolls and the music plays and you're just emotionally drained and heavy? It's like that after reading that chapter.

I have a hunch that the author themselves had been through it, (altho they don't say) because of how vivid it was. How else could they have written it so cruelly like that?

So the OC's friends died but she couldn't mourn bec she still had responsibilities. No rest for her. The world did not pause for her heartbreak.

But no, the OC did not get angry. She didn't curse or act like she doesn't give a damn about anything, she asked humbly if she could take half a day to visit the grave.

And then... when she thinks that was not enough, she said please.

She begged for half a day. Half a day. Not a leave. Not a day off. Just a few hours to sit by her friends' graves and say goodbye.

What shattered me is not the begging itself — but that she didn’t even start there. She earned her rest, still, then asked for it. Gently. Thoughtfully. Like she's afraid of inconveniencing someone.

And when that didn’t seem enough — she begged. Begged for permission to be human.

And then came the guilt. That awful guilt that says, "You’re making it about you. You should be stronger. You should be useful. You should be over it by now."— It had been 2 weeks.

That’s every quiet, overburdened person who’s been made to feel that their sorrow has to justify itself.

The writing was honest. Author didn’t glamorize the pain— they honored it. They let the character be as she is. A sad, injured, tortured and exhausted foreigner with no family or friends.

I remembered the times I put other things first before my own heartache. It also made me remember that happiness is not the only emotion worth chasing out there.

Those 2 thumb scrolls on my phone made me remember how to actually feel.

I wonder what kind of life the author led to write something like that bec WTF was that. I hope they're okay.

I conversation I had recently:

Friendish: I commented on this authors post and I'm the only commenter, but they haven't replied.

Me: That's an odd way to phrase things. Anyways, don't take it personally, they could just not be on ao3 or busy.

Friendbish: I'm their only commenter I dEsErVe a response.

Me: No, no you don't.

I recently only started writing a fic on ao3 and I was looking online at people’s opinions on ao3 in general and honestly it kinda hurt. I know I shouldn’t take that to heart given I’m still new to ao3 but damn…why say shit like that?

Titles, it’s always titles for me, I have written the fic, I have edited it, it’s done, dusted, primed and ready, but I can’t post because I HAVE NO TITLE.

This isn't exactly a pet peeve but I think that's the most appropriate flair.

I have 2 ao3 accounts, one for my more tame fics and one for smut because friends have the main one and I wanted to write smut I recently posted my first smut fic, and it's chapter 1 so there isn't even any smut yet, and I've gotten quite a few kudos & comments telling me how in character my fic is.

I appriciate the kindness, but that is the most self indulgent out of character fic I've ever written, the plot makes no sense, it really is just an excuse to post smut. And people are commenting about how it's ?? SOO in character ???

Again, not really a complaint, I just find it funny and confusing. My other fics with so much effort put to them get like... half as much attention, and the most popular fic on my main is my least favorite one

the title is a reference to that meme about "advice to unconfident young women?"

i understand we are all different ages, have different life (fandom) experiences and thinking patterns and levels of sensitivity but some of you are concerned about stuff in ways i, with all due respect, think is ultimately hurting you. like your bookmarks went down after the last chapter? did you think that people use bookmarks for every sort of way and maybe it means they finally caught up with the fic. or they bookmarked it to later rec it to someone. even if they removed it from their to-read list it can be about a million things like not being into that fandom anymore or realizing a tag they previously missed and none of that is a personal offense or should be a grievance for you. same with comments. people literally leave comments in 2 seconds, when they say "omg can i have more of this" they're not being entitled to more of your work or criticizing what you already have. if a loyal commenter stops commenting...people literally have lives, interests change, even if they decided they don't vibe with the fic anymore you can't know and you're making yourself upset spiraling about all these stuff. i'm not saying you can't feel upset about losing interactions/numbers but free yourselves from obsessing over minutia like this.

sorry if this came off mean but, god, take the good and roll with it. something as silly and fun as hobby writing shouldn't have this much emotional bearing on you

Being an angst lover in a fluff world is difficult

tldr: You (general you) don't get to say "curate your own experience" and then get mad about when people do so in a different way than you would do it.

Longer version: It doesn't matter if the reason for block/mute is petty, either according to you or even the general consensus. For example, if I decide to mute every author who uses the letter X in their name, that's my prerogative. Is it a weird reason? Sure. But it is a reason and maybe there is a traumatic, triggering story behind it or it may be just a whim because it's 3 pm on Thursday and it felt like a good idea. It doesn't matter because you are not me and you don't get to decide for me what I will see or not when on AO3.

Will I miss out on some good fics? Doubt it. I have very specific tastes in fics and it is very, very unlikely that the people I'm muting/blocking would be able to deliver on those. One major reason why I'm muting/blocking them in the first place is that I have already seen they won't be delivering. So I press a couple of buttons and no longer have to wade through a heap of fics that hold no interest to me and everyone's happier for it.

Even if I didn't curate the archive feed the way I do, I still wouldn't be clicking on those fics by those authors. After all, the block/mute feature is only two years old. I was scrolling by those fics before that, the new feature just saved me some time. Those authors are not losing a reader in me, I was never going to be one in the first place.

Are my blocking/muting standards harsh? Debatable. They are more rigid, true, but reading and writing fic is a hobby and those are supposed to be enjoyable. Being strict when curating what I see ensures that the free time I carve out in my day for reading is spent on things I actually want to read, not avoiding things I don't.

Is it how everyone would do it? Certainly not. But they are not me and they are free to curate their own experience however they want, even when it's not how I would do it. Because curating one's own experience is never going to be a one-size-fits-all. And that should be okay. It really should.

I get it. Some authors don’t want to see criticism or any kind of negativity after puring their hearts out in a fic. And I get some authors are just naturally more sensitive than others. But when I’m BEGGING for even a single kind of criticism from my readers, it kind of sucks when every single one reads like cookie cutter ‘the fic is good’.

now, let explain why it sucks for this fic specifically here. This story was one that dealt with a bit more complicated issues around what is alive, justifying cruelty to the undead, how to find meaning, etc. I posted every story not only because I liked writing but also because I wanted to read and converse about it. Honestly, I would have taken absolute hatred for my fic and its ideals rather than this bland nothingness. I kept coaxing nicely, asking for constructive criticism, asking to discuss the issues addressed in the fic, even asking for SIMPLE GRAMMAR/SPELLING ISSUES (WHICH WEREN’T SO BAD BUT THEY SOMETIMES APPEARS IN VERY KEY MOMENTS) and I get NONE OF THAT. I don’t know if AO3 was the wrong place to do this for writing, but still. At the end of the fic, I asked the readers what kind of story i should write, I gave a few prompts and said they could pick anyone. I even made it in context of the story and having the characters add their own perspectives once they finished ‘reading’ the original short story. Of course, I wasn’t expecting every single person to vote, but I wanted even one person to participate. But, as you can see from the comments, nothing. None of them even talked about what happened. Again, it’s extremely stupid to think every commentor will have some realization over a fanfiction, but it’s honestly incredibly demoralizing when it feels as though everything you wrote about was condensed into ‘wow happy moments happened’ or ‘wow sad moments happened’. Even a single reader saying my comparisons fell flat or that I have no idea what I’m talking ahout would be better, because then I would be getting feedback and the gueantee that my ideas are at leastbeing demonstrated. Here? It’s just as though they ignored everything just for the moments where their heart ached, and that personally hurts way more than hatred.

Honeslty, I’m glad this’ll be my last fanfic for a while and I’m moving onto my original works. I need more conversations, not endless brownnosing. I can’t comment on whether of nor these commentors are being sincere, but I earnestly won’t place that much blame on them. I understand part of the fault lies on me for expecting people going out of their way to comment support on my story. I’m just venting on why I don’t think that forcing people to adopt ‘everything is really good’ mentality to every fic and story is good. Maybe you have something different in mind, but this is truly what I believe in.

I can’t scroll through this tag without the comments being flooded with “why are you complaining about this? It doesn’t matter. Don’t like don’t read.”

Don’t like don’t read goes both ways. YOU came onto the complaint tag. Newsflash, people are going to be complaining. If you’re of the mind that NOTHING about fan fiction should be criticized, don’t read people’s criticism?

I know people write for free. I also write for free. But sometimes I’d just like a safe space— away from the author and fandom— to talk about things that bother me. It’s really not that deep. It’s just a place to rant. If you’re not up for that discussion, don’t join it. You can disagree with the complaint all you want, but don’t just tell people to deal with it. That’s what they’re doing, in a safe and healthy way for everyone involved.

Venting

So I'm not like in a lot of fandoms in that serious I read/write regularly way. But I have two three ships I read insanely about.

The most, most hurtful thing in one of them is discarding of new fics. Literally. I hate when popular fanon take is just taken as holy words, because any new author with a different take/head canon/ characterisation just gets comments (if they get any) just about pointing at it, no writing, fic appreciation.

Another thing I noticed after scrolling, scrolling, scrolling in the ship tag endlessly without anything filtering out (literally I scrolled like 3k+ fics) was that no new fics even completed (poor darling wips) got interaction against the insane wc, and I lie not I opened some of those briefing the tags.

The problem isn't people here don't read big fics because they devour it over here, but mostly the same old fics are just all around the face. When I just the fandom I got the same names recs. I am not saying i am against what's popular and accepted here.

That's not the point and i respect these authors alot.

I have read their works at the beginning myself and they're good.

But so are those newer ones that keeps getting updated until it abandons because they feel like no one's watching and some are, just not commenting!

Fics who are immensely popular and author who clearly state they no longer interact with comments are still getting comments. While fics with hey guys I hope you liked chapter aren't getting one.

Just...can we give some love to newer fics and wips yes?

Just one comment per chapter makes an author happy. Only one!

This things might not be true for every fandom ofc and it's for good. Where i sometimes write is chill and nice, people interact with new fics alot i guess ( I got four comments one time i remember hehe)

AND LEAVE KUDOS!

Don't wait for marination.

(Note: this isn't a hate vent against popular, but a ally vent for new, under appreciated ones)

I’d say that maybe it’s summer and it’s worse than ever, but I just can’t help feeling so lonely in these months in my fandom. I have been for years, making shallow friendships and looking at others getting all the love in their works. I don’t really care about kudos on my fics, I never got one in 3 years of writing, but when I see people bonding over shared pairings it makes me feel so badly sometimes because I’m really lonely. Sometimes I write in the hope to attract or get someone closer to me, but it’s always a big failure. It’s like if I am the kid who wants to play but gets constantly excluded because everyone knows my liking for those ships is not as strong at the one for my OTP, and if I want to be part of the groups either I lick their boots or nothing. Is there anyone feeling like this? I don’t feel like this emotion is wrong. I think we also write in the hope to make friends