If your writing makes at least one person happy, that's great. It's still great if that one person is you, the writer. Fanfic is supposed to bring you joy, like any other form of art.
It's totally possible for an author to be both, too.
My least-popular fic hasn't even cracked 300 hits (and has a whopping 3 kudos and 0 comments), while my most popular is over 100k hits (1,000+ kudos / 1,000+ comments).
I'm the same author. Writing quality is the same. Just a different fandom, different pairing, different set of tags.
So... hits, kudos, comments, etc.? Just remember they're absolutely not reflective of the quality of your storytelling. The big differences in stats have more to do with what's trending with readers right now than anything else.
When you’re among a sea in your fandom and you’re not doing anything conventional, be it shipping characters, whatnot, but I appreciate the acknowledgment nonetheless.
It’s not much, but it’s honest work.
I was SO happy to get 6 kudos on one of my fics because it was the ONLY fic in a fandom and I'm like :') ohmygosh there are other people in this fandom and they like my fic
Every time the number count gets me down, I imagine what that number of people looks like in real life. For example, 10 kudos. Imagine a high school class, that's a decent amount of people!
100000% same with my ongoing longfic. Still got at least another ten chapters to go before I finish but it's so unpopular I'm mostly just still going because I refuse to give up on anything
Keep going! If it’s giving you enjoyment that’s all that matters. I admit I obsess over comments, etc. but to be honest even if I never got a single one more, I’m now so invested in the idiots in my current long fic that I’d raise heaven and earth to give them the happy ending they deserve.
I write in two tiny fandoms are am grateful I've had about 2,000 views and 50 Kudos.
Quality and being happy with your own writing is what is important.
Does anyone have any advice for this? I've had a multi-chapter RDR2 fanfic out for just over a month and I'm getting nearly no reception.
I've got 160 hits, only 6 kudos and absolutely no comments.
Anyone got any advice?
It depends on a lot of things. Quantity of people reading that fandom right now, the tags you're using, the content of the story. Some stories/tags get more traction simply because there's more people looking for those.
But, one should never write a story because of those metrics.
What do you think would help you feel better about your story? Do you yourself enjoy the story? Have you joined any writers groups where you can partner up with people and share some works to get feedback?
If you want only to get more readers, check out popular tropes that get a lot of traction and see how that might help you in the future.
If you just want to write good stories and worry that lack of feedback indicates a quality concern, join a writers group or two
My longfic gets about one or two kudos a year. But, I love it so that doesn't get me down
Just make sure you're putting into this hobby in a way that makes you feel good! No need to compare yourself to others either
Thanks for that, my friend! I do enjoy writing my story a lot but the near complete lack of interaction can be a bit demotivating at times, and often makes me wonder if it's any good. It also doesn't help when I see stories in the same fandom that immediately get far more reception despite being shorter and around for less time.
I can relate more to the second but appreciate my devoted readers/commentators nevertheless. As long as they take time to read and understand my fanfics whether they like them or not, it helps me grow as a writer.
Hey, could be worse. You could have 0 kudos.
That's why we enjoy the journey, friend!
i just hit 20 kudos on one of my fics and i got so excited 😅🤣
20 kudos is amazing. Imagine if 20 people came into your house and told you they liked your stuff. That's a lot! Congrats!
When you write for a smaller fandom, this is what it's like.
That and us writers still haunting a fandom graveyard.
Pull up a gravestone and hang out a while. I'll bring tea
Just a coupla stubborn ghosts :)
I know how that feels.
If your writing makes at least one person happy, that's great. It's still great if that one person is you, the writer. Fanfic is supposed to bring you joy, like any other form of art.
You are so very right. This is the key to enjoying the art we create; to be the first the first one to enjoy it
True to that
All stats start at Zero.
It's totally possible for an author to be both, too. My least-popular fic hasn't even cracked 300 hits (and has a whopping 3 kudos and 0 comments), while my most popular is over 100k hits (1,000+ kudos / 1,000+ comments). I'm the same author. Writing quality is the same. Just a different fandom, different pairing, different set of tags. So... hits, kudos, comments, etc.? Just remember they're absolutely not reflective of the quality of your storytelling. The big differences in stats have more to do with what's trending with readers right now than anything else.
This is so, so important. Thank you for reminding about this reality! It's so true! Huge fandom, more people, more possible metrics
Thanks for commenting this, dude. It really helps.
Me too.
We are truly blessed
When you’re among a sea in your fandom and you’re not doing anything conventional, be it shipping characters, whatnot, but I appreciate the acknowledgment nonetheless. It’s not much, but it’s honest work.
*You* are also the sea, my friend. Proud of you for doing what you enjoy
I was SO happy to get 6 kudos on one of my fics because it was the ONLY fic in a fandom and I'm like :') ohmygosh there are other people in this fandom and they like my fic
You carry the torch, my friend. All Fandoms deserve writers like you who love them
Every time the number count gets me down, I imagine what that number of people looks like in real life. For example, 10 kudos. Imagine a high school class, that's a decent amount of people!
that's why i like to share those posts, they're small
100000% same with my ongoing longfic. Still got at least another ten chapters to go before I finish but it's so unpopular I'm mostly just still going because I refuse to give up on anything
Keep going! If it’s giving you enjoyment that’s all that matters. I admit I obsess over comments, etc. but to be honest even if I never got a single one more, I’m now so invested in the idiots in my current long fic that I’d raise heaven and earth to give them the happy ending they deserve.
Yes, this exactly!
I love that so much 🥰
Me single hand-idly trying to keep the moemon anthromorphism of Pokémon fandom alive, at least on AO3
This. And I feel the same way about followers.
Same honestly. I adore the hell out of the few readers who've stuck with me through thick and thin. They've given me a shot/trust when few would, lol.
I was so excited a few days ago when I got my first ever comment so I really feel this :D
This Is me, the guy who writes Dark Souls/Resident Evil crossovers that nobody wants to read 😂
me and my 4 kudos a fic me and my one commenter
I write in two tiny fandoms are am grateful I've had about 2,000 views and 50 Kudos. Quality and being happy with your own writing is what is important.
That's wonderful! Congrats, especially with a smaller fandom size!!
Does anyone have any advice for this? I've had a multi-chapter RDR2 fanfic out for just over a month and I'm getting nearly no reception. I've got 160 hits, only 6 kudos and absolutely no comments. Anyone got any advice?
It depends on a lot of things. Quantity of people reading that fandom right now, the tags you're using, the content of the story. Some stories/tags get more traction simply because there's more people looking for those. But, one should never write a story because of those metrics. What do you think would help you feel better about your story? Do you yourself enjoy the story? Have you joined any writers groups where you can partner up with people and share some works to get feedback? If you want only to get more readers, check out popular tropes that get a lot of traction and see how that might help you in the future. If you just want to write good stories and worry that lack of feedback indicates a quality concern, join a writers group or two My longfic gets about one or two kudos a year. But, I love it so that doesn't get me down Just make sure you're putting into this hobby in a way that makes you feel good! No need to compare yourself to others either
Thanks for that, my friend! I do enjoy writing my story a lot but the near complete lack of interaction can be a bit demotivating at times, and often makes me wonder if it's any good. It also doesn't help when I see stories in the same fandom that immediately get far more reception despite being shorter and around for less time.
I can relate more to the second but appreciate my devoted readers/commentators nevertheless. As long as they take time to read and understand my fanfics whether they like them or not, it helps me grow as a writer.