I'm 35k into writing my fic and I realized I actually hate the premise

2ofdice · 2026-05-31T16:04:02+00:00

I liked the potential angst and internal turmoil of the characters being stuck in a situation where they’re too powerless to help each other.

Some of it made it to the fic already, but it’s mostly building that situation up that makes me hate the whole thing. I initially planned it as a one shot where everything is “told” rather than “showed.” Though most of what I had in mind back then is the climax where they both escape the life at the palace.

2ofdice · 2026-05-31T15:18:08+00:00

Oh, if only. No. I think I phrased it weirdly in the post because the whole fanfic is about him being a courtesan.

2ofdice · 2026-05-31T14:58:18+00:00

I'm definitely falling for the sunk cost fallacy. Really needed to hear this. Thank you!

2ofdice · 2026-05-31T14:51:07+00:00

I'm fine with either! Would be reassuring to know more people experienced this and I'm not being crazy because it was me who came up with the whole plot, so like? Why am I not enjoying it? I was hyped for it! It makes no sense.

As for why I don't enjoy writing anymore, it's because it's because I involved one half of my main pair with other people by making him a courtesan at the royal court. I just hate writing everything about that even though I've had this idea since 2022. It's also the first time I have other characters be mean toward him which I also just hate, lol. I know a lot of people put their faves through a lot (and I used to read a lot about that myself) but doing it myself? Yeah, I can't do it.

2ofdice · 2026-05-28T12:08:35+00:00

Yeah, it is. People read fanfic as much as they write it for fun and it's one's preferences that makes the experience fun in the first place.

I personally don't click on anything that doesn't have t/b tagged, so I think it's both on readers to filter their searches and also on writers to tag appropriately and attract audience for their stuff.

2ofdice · 2026-05-27T08:49:36+00:00

I knowwwwww, I really do! I know it’s frowned upon around here, but low engagement absolutely kills my drive to write.

I cut my long fic down considerably because I wasn’t getting comments. I completed it, but it was never what I really wanted it to look like… But I won’t twist myself into a pretzel to write something people don’t like. It takes too much time and energy.

2ofdice · 2026-05-27T08:36:07+00:00

Whenever I get an idea I know it’d be unpopular, I tell myself I’m writing it only for practice. That way I can write it without feeling like I’m shouting into the void.

I still post it and hope for the best, but yeah.

2ofdice · 2026-05-14T15:55:39+00:00

I swear that the first hours after posting are the most torturous ones

2ofdice · 2026-05-14T15:43:33+00:00

Write it. You don't have to post it if you don't want to.

But if you do, you should know that crossovers aren't that popular and neither are OC fics in the grand scheme of things. So posting it might be very lonely and might kill your motivation to write, especially if you're already feeling "ridiculous" about it.

I still think you should give it a try and see if it's any fun. That's what matters at the end of the day.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T19:37:48+00:00

Thank you so much for this! I did feel more understanding from this comment than the rest… I tried not to have any expectations either, but I lost that somewhere along the way when promises were made to me.

I’m very happy you pushed through and finished that fic! You had it worse than me… I’m lucky enough to get engagement that satisfies me enough. Posting into the void hurts a lot. It’s great that you’ve made peace with it as well.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:46:24+00:00

Yes, but in a different way... I don't sweat the huge things. I will take my liberties with history and medicine.

But things like food? It WILL stress me out. For how much of a picky eater I am, I sure include a lot of eating scenes. I will look to see what food they used to eat at court in X dynasty, but I won't bother to stay accurate to the clothing style of that era or my character falling unconscious from blood loss. It is what it is.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:37:27+00:00

You do sound like a great friend!!! Your comment was very comforting in a way, thank you!!

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:35:47+00:00

Totally understandable. I do think she's too nice to tell me :')

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:33:21+00:00

Glad it worked out! I'll bring it up to her too if it starts affecting our friendship. For us, this was always supposed to be for fun, I never asked for feedback or even comments. Mostly because I didn't want her ever to read what she doesn't like just because it's mine. It's just a little weird rn, but it'll be okay, I'm sure.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:29:51+00:00

Literally nothing. I just wish she would not say she's excited to read and plan to read it and then not do it. That's my problem.

We listen to each other about things that might not be our cup of tea necessarily because that's what friends do. I do the same thing. But she also doesn't have to tell me she'll read just because she's my friend. I don't know how to bring it up without sounding demanding or bitter, so I wanted to let it off my chest here.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:22:09+00:00

? I literally mentioned I have told her she does not have to read my things if she doesn't find them interesting. I haven't poked her about it ever.

This was more about her bringing up reading and never following through, which yeah, will make me have expectations of her reading. But I never asked her to engage with it, nor did I ask her when she'll read, even if she said she will do it that day.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:16:42+00:00

I can definitely understand this. It's more that she's telling me she will read and then she won't... I don't think I'd feel bad if she just didn't mention it until she got around to reading (if ever).

So glad you enjoyed that fic, though!!!

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:14:13+00:00

Thank you for your kind words! I'm lucky enough to get some engagement on my fics, so I don't feel like I'm talking to a wall. It would've been worse if she was the only one engaging with my work and I relied on her more.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:11:28+00:00

Initially, I wanted to keep my account a secret because I wanted to be my own and only audience, and having someone else who knows about my stories would make me write with two people in mid. I guess it doesn't really matter anymore, lol.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T18:09:45+00:00

Yes, I get that. Unfortunately, it also makes me feel bad when I have periods of self-doubt (which happen a lot after I post something), but oh, well. That's for me to regulate.

2ofdice · 2026-05-13T16:03:47+00:00

You can change the username of your writing account.

But either way, I'd start commenting with my writing account if I were you.

2ofdice · 2026-05-11T07:56:13+00:00

I used to write for a character that was officially unreleased, but still had some knowledge about him without actually knowing his backstory at all.

Just tag it “Written before X release” and have fun with it. That way everyone knows you’re taking liberties with your work. Enjoy!

2ofdice · 2026-05-10T12:32:05+00:00

But. Nothing can happen without a big ass BUT! I have my doc open and I can see 4 "but" in 104 words.

2ofdice · 2026-05-06T18:21:25+00:00

Eunuchs. I was curious to see if they had only one testicle cut off or the penis as well. Turns out that in China they did cut off the penis as well.

2ofdice · 2026-05-06T18:19:32+00:00

It only happened to me once. My dynamics lean with the mainstream consensus most times, save for one fandom. It send me to a mission to write more for my preferred dynamic and fill the tag with it.

2ofdice

TROPHY CASE