There is no particular reason the AO3 numbers for thing one have to look like the AO3 numbers for thing two. I’m into a lot of things that are unpopular, and it makes me sad, but that’s life.
…yeahhh.
I wrote a complex, weird, funny, sexy, angsty, deep, beautifully messed-up f/f fanfic that I loved writing. I wrote it because I loved it– because the idea grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go.
I didn’t write it primarily for attention. Wasn’t expecting much, because I knew the themes and the setting as well as the f/f pairing were very, very niche. Though of course I would have liked to see others enjoy it and say so, if that had been how things turned out.
And it wasn’t. And I know perfectly well that I can’t reasonably blame anyone for that.
Because if I did, what exactly would I be trying to demand?
Would I be demanding that people read a thing that didn’t interest them? And claim to enjoy it when they didn’t? (Fake, unsatisfying. Don’t want that.)
Would I be demanding that people somehow make themselves enjoy a thing they don’t? (Impossible. Just pick any thing you aren’t interested in and give it a try, if you don’t believe me.)
Only message I can sort of imagine making sense is “people should read things they like and let the author know when they liked it.”
And yeah, there is not enough of that. I’ve gotten about 30 views and 2 kudos and no comments, on that fic. That’s a pretty good ratio, compared to other fics of mine that get 500+ views for 2 kudos and no comments. I have no way of even knowing how many, if any, of those passive viewers even liked the story.
Which I try not to complain too much about– because if I do, then I worry that any subsequent attention my fics get might be just performative and pitying.
But if my inclination to write and post these things was influenced by the reception they get… well, you can bet my inclination would be winding down.
And that’s a problem all through the world of fanfic, and probably all other creative fields in existence.
I don’t know how to solve it, if that’s even a thing we can do. But demanding people create, consume, and pretend to like stuff they don’t? Is not an answer.
