#ao3 bookmarks

[ao3-shenanigans]

is it bad if I don't bookmark pics? I usually just leave the tabs open so I can come back whenever. i leave kudos and comments tho

To each their own, having infante tabs bothers me so I personally don’t do it like that

[samuel-m-walker]

As an ao3 author, I can't overstate the impact of comments, but I feel like we don't talk about bookmark notes enough. Comments are usually addressed directly to the author, but most bookmark notes are either what the reader wants to remind themselves or what they want to tell other readers. And I think that can be so insightful and also hilarious. Here's a few of my favorites:

Bookmark note people deserve more recognition. You guys are amazing!

[frownyalfred]

hey just for the record, if you’re on r/ao3 and keep running into these kinds of comments on bookmark related posts — it’s not a good take. calling someone’s writing “slop” and saying it deserves criticism for being bad BECAUSE it’s posted publicly might seem like a nuanced take, but I promise it isn’t.

yes, sometimes us writers get a little too obsessed over a cryptic comment or bookmark; no, that doesn’t actually mean the solution is to say whatever you want in them because authors “deserve” your honesty. 

I know we’re in a touchy time for readers and writers, but comments like these are NOT kind, refreshing, or nuanced. they’re just kind of mean and discouraging.

[writer-of-worlds]

When someone makes a rude public bookmark on a fic of yours:

[gilbirda]

Another fandom PSA - Bookmarks

Hello everyone, I am back with yet another informative post, since I've observed some behavior that could get out of control real fast.

Again, the point is never about shaming those who have done this, but to inform and warn about how disheartening these things can be; and what can you do to avoid hurting anyone in the future.

Let's talk about bookmarks.

Looks easy enough to add a bookmark, just type some notes — maybe to remind future you what the fic was about, maybe some random thoughts of the fic, maybe the chapter where you left of — add some tags if you are that organized and slap the bookmark to a Collection if you have that.

But I want to bring attention to this little guy:

If you are going to leave a hurtful message, at least have the decency to not leave it where the author will see it.

Authors can and will see the bookmarks! I can only speak for myself but I do check the bookmarks because sometimes people get creative and have funny Notes, or their tags are hilarious.

But, sometimes, we wonder if y'all know authors can see the bookmarks, unless you set it as a Private Bookmark.

What do I mean with hurtful bookmarks? Well:

*gestures vaguely towards these*

Granted, not all are rancid takes, but some truly give weird vibes? As in, it feels like people doesn't know authors can see their Notes and bookmarks?

You can have an opinion about the story, that's completely valid, but the option of setting it to Private Bookmark is right there.

So, as a rule of thumb, if you wouldn't like someone telling your words to your face then have the courtesy of not doing the same for someone else.

Mark it as Private if you'd rather not let the author see your Notes.

For more information about Bookmarks, AO3 provides a FAQ page.

[copsecore]

LITERALLY A FUCKING TRAVESTY

[confessionconsensus]

I have two bookmarks on ao3: a novel-length found family story about overcoming mental issues through the power of friendship and good support networks that has inspired impactful real-life decisions even years down the line, and a 300 word flash fic of a mannequin pissing himself

[soft-october-night]

And the award for best AO3 bookmark comment ever goes tooooo:

[mollywog]

Ficback Friday

📚 First Bookmark 🔖

Thank you all who replied to my Ao3 bookmark question! Many of you indicated that you use bookmarks for beloved stories to revisit or for fic recs, so I thought it would be fun to start a tag game:

Rules: Share (one of) your first Ao3 bookmark(s) then tag others to join!

I picked my first non-hunger Games bookmark (since I’ve talked about my first THG bookmark many times).

I love Jane Austen’s Emma and discovered cwmilton while looking for book/2009 miniseries Emma fanfiction. ‘A Very Good List’ was the first of theirs I discovered and it’s a delight! Recommend!

Tagging all who replied to my earlier post (thank you!!): @dead-dolphins @firawren @caesarflickermans @kingedmundsroyalmurder @maidstew @dorcaloveskotlc @teafiend @those-things-we-said @margarita-secreta @youreyesholdgalaxies @mtk4fun @giedd @no-where-new-hero

Plus anyone else who would like to join!

[fantasyinallforms]

It's important to me that you remember that unless you make it a private bookmark on AO3, the author can read 100% of what you put in the bookmark note.

[theficlistpodcast]

😒😒😒

[ao3-shenanigans]

Ao3 PSA

Unless you click “Private” when making a bookmark, your bookmarks are automatically available for the authors (and other users) to see

The “Private” button can be found as shown below:

[ineffablelvrs]

very curious about something

reblog for more data thank you 🫶

[terapsina]

My Dear fellow writers. PLEASE THINK ABOUT ORPHANING YOUR AO3 FICS INSTEAD OF DELETING THEM!

If for whatever reason you're thinking about deleting one (or all... or a few) of your stories - whether because you're embarrassed about the quality of an old work; or because someone from your life has found your account and you're afraid that the contents of those stories might somehow negatively affect your peace of mind or even your safety (you never know); or for literally ANY other reason under the sun - please please PLEASE consider pushing the 'orphan' button instead of the 'delete'.

There is nothing more heartbreaking for a reader than seeing this between their bookmarks.

Orphaning a work will have the same effect for you personally. Because orphaning a story removes your name from both the story AND from any replies you might have made in response to someone's comment. NOTHING will link back to you. The only difference is that the readers will still be able to read the fic they enjoyed.

And it's not very complicated to do. Just click to edit your work and then look in the upper right corner.

And once there follow these instructions.

THOUGH BE CERTAIN THAT YOU DO WANT TO COMPLETLY CUT THE LINK BETWEEN YOU AND THE STORY BECAUSE THIS IS PERMANENT. THERE IS NO WAY TO AFTERWARDS EDIT OR DELETE THE STORY.

The full information in detail about exactly what happens when you Orphan a work CAN BE FOUND HERE.

ALSO

On a slightly related note but directed more toward the readers.

Don't be the asshole who creates Collections and then puts them on private. THIS HIDES THE STORY FROM EVERYONE EXCEPT YOU AND THE AUTHOR.

Everyone else sees this:

Collections being private and hidden are meant for things like Secret Santa Fic Exchanges (not what they're actually called but you get the point) where all the fics can get revealed simultaneously.

IF YOU WANT TO SAVE STORIES BUT DON'T WANT ANYONE TO SEE WHAT YOU ARE READING YOU CAN DO THAT. You just Bookmark it and SET IT TO PRIVATE.

Your username will never appear in the lists of people who have bookmarked that story. NOT EVEN FOR THE AUTHOR OF THE STORY.

(the only thing that author will see is that that there are more bookmarks in the their statistics than on the bookmark page of the story)

IN CONCLUSION. Please don't delete your stories without at least considering orphaning them AND don't ask authors to let you add their fics to your collections only to then hide them from all other readers.

[aeoneskova]

Hey guys quick reminder

Authors can SEE your bookmarks

Now this example is not so egregious, but looking at this person’s profile, they have rated *thousands* of works in this way. I was going to blur their name, but I’d rather the chance they see this and decide to take a different approach.

Fandom etiquette: don’t publicly rate fanfiction. You’re getting it for free. Don’t like it? Don’t read it. Do not apply your consumerist brain to fan works please it can be so discouraging

If you’re really so desperate to rate fics, do it privately. Use a spreadsheet. You can private bookmarks.

Just be mindful ok?

[jasonsbruce]

someone saved my fic "slipping mask" as a bookmark noting that they're all out of character and now i never want to publish anything ever again 🤠