Weird questions about AO3, Fanfiction.net, and fanfiction in general

[Greenleaf2024]

Hey, guys, so I've really been wondering about this lately and wonder if you can help me.

I'm pretty new to Middle Earth, fanfiction, and the Internet in general, so I don't know the answer to this question. Have any of you been on FFNet/AO3 (either recently or a long time ago)? If so.... Is it just me, or does it seem like nobody wants to interact with other authors and readers anymore? Is it just the LoTR community that's dead, or is it across the board? Why does it seem like you have to all but wring reviews out of people? Hopefully someone smarter than me knows the answer...🤦🏼‍♀️

For me, it's not about knowing my story is popular, or about being on everyone's favorite list. I simply want community and life. I simply want to know that I'm part of a world wide group of people who get excited about writing the what-ifs and gap-fillers of (especially Tolkien's) published material. Didn't it used to be normal for authors to reply to reviews and messages, and didn't people used to make friends on fanfiction sites?

I hope someone knows more about this than I do, because I'm disappointed. After wanting to post LoTR fanfiction for several years, I finally got involved, only to find that the fandom has seemingly become a ghost town. It makes me really, really sad.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

It probably depends on the individual author. I tend to leave comments on AO3 fanfictions that I really liked. Some authors are very diligent with responding to everyone that leaves a comment (eventually, not always very promptly), resulting in occasional discussions between the author and reader. At other times, the author doesn't respond at all, even if their fanfiction is very popular and has a lot of comments.

AO3 is not designed to be social media. There's no option for people to send direct/private messages to each other, and there are no discussion-only pages: interaction only happens in the comments of a work. I know that some writers are active on other social sites (such as Tumblr), and that's where they mainly interact with people. AO3 is just an archive for them, a convenient place to store and publish their writings.

I do understand the disappointment with not being able to connect with other writers on these platforms, especially if you really like their stories.

I've been posting my Silmarillion fanfictions both here on TTF and on AO3. The discussions I've had on this site have been far more comprehensive and satisfying, especially as I have made friends on TTF with the same interests and we read each other's stories.

 

[Greenleaf2024]

It probably depends on the individual author. I tend to leave comments on AO3 fanfictions that I really liked. Some authors are very diligent with responding to everyone that leaves a comment (eventually, not always very promptly), resulting in occasional discussions between the author and reader. At other times, the author doesn't respond at all, even if their fanfiction is very popular and has a lot of comments.

AO3 is not designed to be social media. There's no option for people to send direct/private messages to each other, and there are no discussion-only pages: interaction only happens in the comments of a work. I know that some writers are active on other social sites (such as Tumblr), and that's where they mainly interact with people. AO3 is just an archive for them, a convenient place to store and publish their writings.

I do understand the disappointment with not being able to connect with other writers on these platforms, especially if you really like their stories.

I've been posting my Silmarillion fanfictions both here on TTF and on AO3. The discussions I've had on this site have been far more comprehensive and satisfying, especially as I have made friends on TTF with the same interests and we read each other's stories.

It is definitely disappointing when I simply want to tell someone how much I love their stories and I never hear back from them. Like, did you actually get my message? 🤦🏼‍♀️

Also I hear about yahoo groups and such... And how such things don't exist anymore. I feel like I was born 25 years too late.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

It's not a weird question at all, and you're not alone; I feel the exact same way! I definitely feel like Fandom spaces were way more interactive 10ish years ago. When I posted a Star Wars fanfic on Wattpad in 2016-2017, it got a ton of reader engagements and lots of comments. Now, when I post my Silmarillion fanfic on AO3, I'm lucky if I get even one comment on anything I post. It's like people in fandoms these days only want to consume, not interact. I know some people are just shy or don't know what to say or whatever, but I think the larger problem is that people just want to be entertained and they're not even thinking about how the writer is a human being who has their own feelings, and needs some sort of positive feedback in order to stay motivated enough to keep writing. I personally don't feel very motivated to post on AO3 because pretty much nobody comments.

TTF is definitely a better community for actual engagement with fanfics. I'm very grateful for the small group here who regularly reads and comments on Ill Chances and Strange Fates, my fanfic. Even here though, it is a small portion of the community.

 

[Greenleaf2024]

It's not a weird question at all, and you're not alone; I feel the exact same way! I definitely feel like Fandom spaces were way more interactive 10ish years ago. When I posted a Star Wars fanfic on Wattpad in 2016-2017, it got a ton of reader engagements and lots of comments. Now, when I post my Silmarillion fanfic on AO3, I'm lucky if I get even one comment on anything I post. It's like people in fandoms these days only want to consume, not interact. I know some people are just shy or don't know what to say or whatever, but I think the larger problem is that people just want to be entertained and they're not even thinking about how the writer is a human being who has their own feelings, and needs some sort of positive feedback in order to stay motivated enough to keep writing. I personally don't feel very motivated to post on AO3 because pretty much nobody comments.

TTF is definitely a better community for actual engagement with fanfics. I'm very grateful for the small group here who regularly reads and comments on Ill Chances and Strange Fates, my fanfic. Even here though, it is a small portion of the community.

I think you're exactly right... I'm not sure why, but it does seem like people don't appreciate the real effort that goes into these things. I mean, we aren't even making money on it. We need some kind of motivation to keep going!! I've found that most of the comments I've gotten on ffnet were only after I told people in every chapter, 'no review, no new chapter, cause I won't know anyone is reading it!' and I have gradually accumulated a small group of consistent reviewers. But it's like... six people, or something? And I've been working on this story since February or March. Also, on AO3 I get tons of kudos, but that's not interaction!!! That's like the most vague form of appreciation possible.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I think you're exactly right... I'm not sure why, but it does seem like people don't appreciate the real effort that goes into these things. I mean, we aren't even making money on it. We need some kind of motivation to keep going!!

So true! We're spending hours of our lives working hard to create something, and we're putting it out there for people to enjoy for free. We don't ask for anything in return except a little bit of engagement, and people don't even give us that.

I've found that most of the comments I've gotten on ffnet were only after I told people in every chapter, 'no review, no new chapter, cause I won't know anyone is reading it!' and I have gradually accumulated a small group of consistent reviewers.

I don't say stuff like that in my chapter notes because I've heard it can be prone to making readers mad, but I'm glad it's helped you get more responses. I want to say stuff like that because it's what I'm feeling, but I'm worried about making my readers mad. I try to ask the readers a discussion question and also remind them how much comments mean to me and motivates me to keep writing, but it doesn't seem to help much.

Also, on AO3 I get tons of kudos, but that's not interaction!!! That's like the most vague form of appreciation possible.

Yes, exactly!!! A Kudos is basically looking at someone and giving them a thumbs up but not speaking to them at all.


Also, what is your fanfic about? Maybe we could support each other's fics, since we both experience these frustrations. Though I will warn you that I don't read very much fanfic because (a) I have an extremely mentally demanding job and (b) I have ADHD, and reading is pretty much the first skill I lose when I'm burned out. My brain just kinda refuses to accept any more input. But, when I do have some calmer moments, I read and leave comments on a few of my friends' fanfics on here. I could add you to the list if you don't mind my visits being infrequent!

 

[Greenleaf2024]

My current fanfic is called A Wound of the Heart. It's set between the events of Lotr and the Hobbit, has some political and family drama with Mirkwood and Rivendell. It's probably quite AU... Lots of OCs and movie elements 🤣

That would be awesome... how do you post fanfiction on here, anyway? I should probably give it a try.

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

My current fanfic is called A Wound of the Heart. It's set between the events of Lotr and the Hobbit, has some political and family drama with Mirkwood and Rivendell. It's probably quite AU... Lots of OCs and movie elements 🤣

I'm always down for some political drama! There is a decent amount of it in my fic too, with one subplot being about Maitimo joining the city council of Tirion once he's of age, and discovering it's a lot harder than he initially thought to make positive change in the wealthy, bureaucratic political sphere.

You can post your fic in the Red Book of Westmarch subforum, and you can post a separate discussion thread in the corresponding subforum. Let me know if you need help finding it. And my fanfic is there if you feel like checking it out!

 

[Elbereth Vala Varda]

@Greenleaf2024 ,

Just reading this now.

I haven't done a lot on those platforms recently, but yeah, I've definitely heard that the engagement has gotten much less than it used to be, which is quite sad.

I would highly recommend posting it here. I'd be interested in reading, when I have the time to do so! And I know others of our members would be interested, too. It sounds really like a creative idea.

Also, I might suggest seeking out LOTR-specific communities. That is where you will get more direct engagement about that part of it. If you're looking for writer-feedback, I'd probably recommend looking into some writer-based communities. Also, there are a few of us over here, so if you're looking for proofreading or feedback, please let me know, I've done both. I've even edited three books, two of them that are now published. And I have two books in the makings, both done, one likely to be published in a year or two.

Communities like ProWritingAid or Reedsy, might also be able to give you some help in your journey as an author. But, bottom line: as a writer myself, I'd recommend getting a core group who you can depend on for honest, respectful, constructive feedback. Believe me, it's easy to feel like you need everyone's opinions and thoughts, but it can get a lot more confusing and destructive than helpful. Having a good group you know will always have helpful points for you is much more useful, at least in my opinion.

Best of luck! I hope you get all the readers, and that they all engage with it and tell you what they think!

Feel free to ask or PM if you think I can help you at all.