#ao3 bookmarks

[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:

[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:

[thanat0s28]

Out of curiosity (and also to potentially prove a point)...

Also, if you're willing, share the general estimate of how many of your bookmarks you've read in the tags. I'm lowkey really curious about this

[insanitysilver]

My ao3 bookmarks were growing unruly, and while additional filters can help, I wanted to see what other organizational methods ao3 readers were using, so I went on a voyage into the vast depths of bookmark tags. Aka:

The expedition's findings? Bookmark tags tend to fall into these eight categories. Very cool how one feature can serve different purposes for different readers!

[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:

[starrymoons26]

my absolute FAVOURITE bookmark to date. i had to share because this actually made my dayyyyy. i’ve been feeling so unmotivated and i saw this and immediately picked up my laptop because i loveeeeee that you guys react like this. THANKYOU to the person that wrote this on player 26! you made me giggle tonight

i would also like to add that this is the kind of stuff that would give a victorian a heart attack, the references are soooo hilarious

[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!

[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?

[ao3-shenanigans]

I had no clue about bookmarking drama that came up until a post came up on my bluesky. After learning I can make comments in bookmarks, I’m sorta torn.

in one breath, I feel authors who look through the ratings are hurting themselves in a lot of ways. Instead of the addiction provided by the likes of Instagram or TikTok, they look to kudos and the comments left on bookmarks. And . . . STOP THAT. That’s bad for your mental health, bad for you to constantly do. It took me forever to learn about bookmarks and I do (apparently) have people who saved some of my stories.

but in the other, I get it. Reading someone’s miscellaneous comment that isn’t glowing review or praise hurts, but like authors who have official reviews, STOP LOOKING! No, seriously, published authors are also completely obsessed with their reviews. It’s so bad I watched someone cyber stalk a person who gave them a negative review. So, it’s an unhealthy obsession when taken too far about caring what others say.

It’s so hard not to obsess over it- the struggle is real!

[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]

😒😒😒