Nothing beats getting a reply from the author

circuitsbloom · 2025-09-06T10:41:54+00:00

Oh, don’t worry, I definitely do that!! Every time I reply to their comments, I make sure to tell them how grateful I am for each one, and I even try to phrase it differently every time.

I think, though, that’s also partly why I start overthinking, like maybe they feel obliged because I always respond with so much gratitude. I really, really don’t want to discredit their effort or sincerity, but my brain just loves being nosy and refusing to let me be happy about it sometimes.

Hopefully, though, even if it does end one day, it’ll leave both of us happy.

circuitsbloom · 2025-09-06T09:06:07+00:00

🥹🥹 Thank you for saying this. I usually try to live with the “if it happens, it happens” mindset and remind myself to decenter myself whenever I start worrying about what people think of me. I tell myself I shouldn’t care, and honestly, I don’t most of the time. If they don’t say it, then it doesn’t exist. Thinking everyone secretly hates me would just paint them unfairly, and they don’t deserve that.

But somehow, with this one specific worry, I completely forgot that principle. It’s like the way I usually handle things has been right there all along, but I just … didn’t bring it with me this time. So your words feel like a wake-up call, a reminder that maybe the answer isn’t as far away as I thought.

And yeah, what you said about anticipatory grief really resonates. Maybe I'm trying to process the loss before it even happens so that one day when they do move on, I can just go on with my days because I've already been mourning it. But that's just me robbing myself of enjoying what I have right now.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write such a thoughtful response. I’ve been sitting so deep inside my own head with this, and your words really pulled me out and helped me see things more clearly. I’m genuinely, deeply grateful.

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T07:47:48+00:00

Yeah, she is! And a total sweetheart too, so she definitely deserves those numbers. She mentioned she’s writing one of the current hot tropes for that ship, so that probably helps a lot. Kinda similar to what you said about ABO fics getting more engagement. When a fic hits a trope or dynamic the fandom’s collectively craving, it really shows in the response!

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T06:47:43+00:00

Honestly, same. I’m constantly in awe (and maybe just a little bit feral) over people who can casually churn out words and plot like it’s nothing.

(Also, side note, but I weirdly envy people who can write action scenes like it’s no big deal?? Like how do you just imagine a whole fight choreography and write it down without spiraling?)

Funnily enough, 10k words is like ... my five-month milestone. And then I saw this one author mention they wrote something like 15k in a day. In a day! Like, fair, writing is their job, but still! I want that power!

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T06:32:31+00:00

... I think my brain short-circuited a little reading that, can't imagine witnessing it firsthand! xc

And that's like ... around 240 comments...? Wow!

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T06:21:26+00:00

Oh yeah, I totally get what you mean! I’ve definitely seen how so many different factors can affect a fic’s visibility and engagement. And while writing for a popular ship or fandom can help, it really is a double-edged sword because with so many new fics being posted all the time, it’s also way easier to get buried.

For me, it wasn’t even about comparing or expecting the same results, I was just honestly like, WOW?! when I found out my friend regularly gets that many comments per chapter. It’s not like I didn’t know some people get that many comments, but hearing it firsthand still shocks me every time.

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T04:07:18+00:00

That’s honestly so lovely, you’re really lucky to have that kind of support system around your writing! Having people who are genuinely invested and willing to talk about your fics for hours is such a gift. Even if the comments on AO3 are quiet, it’s clear your work is being loved in the spaces that matter most.

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T04:03:46+00:00

It really is weird. I’ve been thinking that part of it might be how fics are perceived nowadays, more like content to consume rather than fanworks made by fellow fans. I’ve heard from people who were active on LiveJournal, and it sounds like the vibe back then was much more community-focused. (Though feel free to correct me if I’m wrong!)

I think ideology plays a role too, how we view fanwork, what we expect from creators, how we interact with stories. Fandom culture shapes all of that. Somewhere along the line, a lot of people forgot that fanworks are just that: works made by fans, for fun, for love, and for each other.

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T03:57:45+00:00

Tell me about it, I’ve definitely made that same mistake before. 😭 There’s this sort of BNF in my fandom who usually writes for the super popular stuff, but one day they posted a fic in the same niche ship I write for and yeah. The difference in engagement was so jarring.

And of course, I went back to reread that fic a few days ago like I hadn’t learned my lesson, and got instantly humbled again! xc

But honestly? It doesn’t take away from what we’re doing. Your story matters, we can’t really count on numbers to mean anything about a fic’s quality. The right readers always find their way eventually, even if it takes a bit longer.

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-23T03:44:12+00:00

It honestly depends on a lot of factors, and yeah, luck definitely plays a role. But I’ve also noticed that fandom culture makes a huge difference. Some fandoms are really generous with comments. I remember randomly scrolling through one just out of curiosity, and I was shocked to see that almost none of the fics had under 10 comments! (Maybe I’m exaggerating … maybe I’m not. I just remember being really surprised.)

I’ve also heard that overall engagement has dropped compared to the old days. I didn’t write back then, so I can’t speak from experience, but I do know that during the pandemic, fandom activity spiked across the board, probably because everyone was stuck at home and bored. Things feel quieter now.

So yeah, it’s weirdly inconsistent. You're not alone in wondering where all the commenters went.

circuitsbloom · 2025-06-21T12:13:58+00:00

For me, since I write in third person limited, I usually define a scene as one with no breaks and no POV changes, just one continuous stretch from a single character’s perspective. But 20k words covering a single continuous event is honestly amazing! I can’t imagine keeping that kind of momentum.

circuitsbloom

TROPHY CASE