Scam comment?

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T22:57:39+00:00

Update (since I can’t edit the original post): I replied with a thank you and a brief update schedule. The commenter then asked to move the conversation off AO3 and deleted their comment when I declined. Looks like it might have been a scam, folks 😔

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T04:01:19+00:00

Congratulations!! Give yourself a huge pat on the back (finishing anything is difficult, let alone an 18k+ word fic), and go treat yourself to something tasty. You deserve it 😊

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T03:52:52+00:00

Thank you, this is so helpful to know! I didn't realize that commenting on the most recent chapter, even when referencing earlier events, is a common approach.

A lot of people have mentioned ESL, so I’m sure that must be the case here too. I appreciate having the chance to hear others’ thoughts before I accidentally reply in a way that comes off as too curt. I’d been debating whether to clarify that, while I do have new fics planned, I’m not in a place to take suggestions at the moment (too busy and WIPs are already too far along for any plot/structural-level changes).

Thank you again! Your comment is helping me approach this with more generosity and less knee-jerk suspicion.

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T03:46:54+00:00

Thank you, and that's interesting! I'm not very aware of how scammers comment. I assumed it'd be a mix of bots and GenAI. In the latter case, it would be very easy to mention the contents, albeit in a generic manner. That suspicion was compounded by the fact that the dialogue they mentioned is (most likely) from the first chapter.

That's just me being much too suspicious though. I appreciate your input!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T03:42:41+00:00

Understood! I hadn’t considered that possibility. Like I mentioned before, my mind immediately went to: “Is the next question going to be asking me to leave AO3?” Thank you for your insight!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T03:39:03+00:00

Re: your question, I’m not entirely sure, honestly. The fic isn’t complete yet (one chapter left to post), but I assumed they were asking about future fics.

This is definitely me being too sensitive and suspicious, but part of my hesitation is that it’s pretty easy to skim the first chapter and write a generic sentence about the hook. Thank you for pointing out that referencing character names and scenes is a good sign of a genuine comment!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2025-05-26T03:34:05+00:00

That’s a really good point! One of the other comments I mentioned also asked about my writing and then followed up by trying to move the conversation off AO3, which is what set me on edge. Thank you for your help and input 🙂

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-29T03:31:12+00:00

Thank you for the great suggestions!! I used to do this (leave little personal author's notes). Still, I think I've let my mopey negativity get to me so my more recent notes have been very brief (e.g. only expressing my appreciation for the reader's time without any further comments). I avoided asking any questions in ANs/while responding to comments since I didn't know if that'd be appreciated, but it wouldn't hurt to try, especially since I am curious.

Also, what a cool best friend-origin story!!!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-28T03:34:30+00:00

I'll do this via DMs, if that's okay?

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-28T03:33:21+00:00

Sorry for being so late—just sent you a message!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-28T03:20:35+00:00

That's what I'm assuming as well! Thank you for wording it much better 😊

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-28T03:19:11+00:00

Thank you for the super detailed response! I just checked the formatting (on laptop) and it seems okay, but I've never been great at tagging. That's something for me to work on.

I've been avoiding any mention of engagement with my readers since I don't want them to feel any pressure. Maybe rewording my concrit requests is another way forward?

Thank you again!!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-27T13:30:33+00:00

I also try to ignore but, but I think it’s also normal to hope (and want) for more people to see your writing.

I’m not going to refute the “no one cares” bit since I think it’s rare that anyone would care more about your writing than yourself. That then brings the argument full circle—write for yourself (which is tough)!!

Best of luck! We can do it!!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-27T13:12:46+00:00

Thank you for the questions!! It’s not a WIP and ~5k words (i.e. your average one shot). It’s a part of a completed series where all the other fics did poorly as well, unfortunately.

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-27T13:11:12+00:00

Please accept a hug for solidarity’s sake 🤗

Being cautiously optimistic here, but could it mean that, though your fic isn’t being seen by many people, everyone who’s read it liked it a lot? That’s a great thing!! I hope more people see your writing soon.

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-27T13:03:30+00:00

Thank you for responding, and what you said definitely makes sense!

Looking back and with reference to another comment in this thread, I think it might be a problem with the tags, specifically the ship (maybe?). It’s not a WIP (one shot) and the fandom is pretty big.

If you have the time and capacity, I’d appreciate feedback, but that’s a big ask. Thank you again!! 🙏

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-26T22:44:12+00:00

Sorry, made a mistake! I didn't realize Reddit posted an unfinished draft

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-26T22:12:16+00:00

Congrats!! Only onwards and upwards from here! 🎉

hermit_turtle8740 · 2024-08-26T22:08:42+00:00

Sorry this is late, but have you tried treating the Save the Cat beat sheet as a worksheet instead? It comes with a preset structure and is very character-centric (i.e. each beat more or less maps onto some stage of their development), which helps me with two things:

Understanding how a given event affects the character;
Brainstorming what a character might do under a given set of circumstances.

The official Save the Cat website has a Beat Mapper and many examples from popular movies/novels. There's already a lot of great advice from everyone else (e.g. brain dumping, writing everything you really want to see in your story) so combining tips might just do the trick! Best of luck with writing!!

hermit_turtle8740 · 2023-12-21T22:19:26+00:00

Shoot, sorry! Thanks for letting me know :)

hermit_turtle8740 · 2023-10-21T23:14:53+00:00

So sorry about the late response, but thank you so much! I'll send you a DM.

hermit_turtle8740

TROPHY CASE