#{ I do want to write here and on my gbf multi again too but

[goldenteaset]

AO3 Wrapped Writer Q's Part 3 of 3

The last batch. This was fun, and eye-opening too! :D

21. How many kudos in total did you get this year?

348, as of this writing. At a glance, it's the lowest I've ever gotten--but the catch is kudos are still counted long after the year is over. Fic that have been around longer are more likely to amass kudos over time. (And I did write a lot this year...)

(I decided not to answer the comment question because...well, it's a little of the above answer but also more complicated. See the last few questions under the cut for more.)

[I didn't do any collaborations or gifts this year; I want to keep track of things like Big Bangs and such more often though!]

26. What’s your most common category?

M/F, it looks like, with Multi close behind! I do plan to write more Gen next year though.

27. What do you listen to while writing?

Mostly white noise! I brainstorm while exercising and listen to a wide variety of genres then. ("Trailer music" like Two Steps From Hell or '80s ballads, for example.)

28. Favorite work you wrote this year?

Once again, I'm glad that this question is difficult. ;v; Do I say Poisoned Honey again, even though it's a WIP? What about Sweet Rain, Saltwater Rain, which felt like such a breakthrough? And then there's all the Touken Ranbu fic, and Belial/Djeeta...

Maybe I'll go with Charmed Lessons: Lewd Manipulation (GBF, Belial/Djeeta/Lyria)! It not only managed to be exactly the length I wanted from the start, the dark but still sexy twist managed to land. (Also it has Belial moonlighting as a caring senpai in it! XD)

29. Favorite line/passage you wrote this year?

>:3 OH BOY. This one's surprisingly easy, from Chapter 2 of Poisoned Honey (I could've quoted the whole scene):

"I mean it, Lucifer insisted, clasping his hands in ardent prayer. My equal, my Master, my King. Debase me. Reforge me. Teach me what I long to know."

30. Biggest surprise while writing this year?

Oh, boy. Where to even begin.

To start on the lightest possible note: sometimes I can, in fact, be at the tail end of a long fic and only realize in that moment "I should have just written this specific scene, even though I love all the other ones too". (Hi, In the Bedchamber...) This is why I write many chapters ahead now!

But that wasn't the biggest surprise, actually.

The biggest surprise to me this year: the realization that writing for myself-as-audience is still a goal I want, but at the same time I really do need dialogue with readers to feel fully satisfied.

I don't want to guilt people into anything, of course! Least of all something that's meant to be fun. But I'd be lying if I said it wasn't demoralizing to not have that dialogue, you know? I know the assumption is that writers just want praise, but personally I'd rather talk with readers about the fic and these characters we both love.

And for the record, I feel like you absolutely can "write for yourself as audience first with others second" and want to find like-minded readers at the same time. I think that balance is key, and I spent a long time without it this year. No joke, I even considered quitting altogether! (But that was probably the stress of tough courses talking...)

Who knows? Maybe next year will be better. Maybe I should change up how I ask for "feedback" and instead say "dialogue is appreciated"? It's a work in progress, as ever. ^^;

Anyway, here's to next year!

[aaetherius]

I think I’m going to crawl back out from the dirt over on my multi first @barmeciide​ if anyone would like to interact over there!