#putting my response under a cut because otherwise it is a long post fsjhdjkvffld

[littleoddwriter]

Hey Ronny! I just wanted to take a moment to say that I read your recent post about feeling frustrated and while as a fan of your work it made me sad, but as a fellow fic writer I understand.

I posted a fic on Ao3 not too long ago. It’s something like over 12,000 words, and while it’s gotten over a hundred views there’s been very little engagement. Only about a handful of kudos and one comment. Which has been my only comment since I joined the archive.

There’s nothing more discouraging than putting time and effort into a piece and then feeling like you’re basically tossing it into the void. I’ve been on the internet for a long long time and I remember the days where if you weren’t going to comment on a fic the very least you did was leave a like or share a link. Social media seems to have really changed the overall consensus on that, and it starts to feel like you’re more like a content farm than a writer after awhile.

You wouldn’t be the first fic author I know of who’s closed their requests because of something like this, and I’d like to just say that no matter what choice you make, you should do whatever’s best for you and what makes you happy in your writing. Creating fics should be something that brings joy into your life, not something that drains you.

Thank you so much for all the good things you’ve brought into fandom with your writing. You truly offer such a unique and meaningful voice for a lot of readers. You bring such imagination and skill to each request, and you deserve to be appreciated properly for that.

Whatever happens going forward I’m still going to be excited to see what you post, requests or not. The day I found your blog was a lucky one for me indeed, and even if I’m too shy to come forward please know you’ve got a friend applauding you from the wings.

Sincerely, Torrance Anon

PS. Sorry for the whole novel here. To end on a positive note, I loved loved loved the HC list you did for Danny and Barba. I also wasn’t raised by good parents and struggle with a lot of the same things those two do when it comes to the possibility of raising a family, which might be why I subconsciously picked them! Everything you wrote gave me the warm fuzzies, and you got the details of their characters just right! Thank you for taking the time to create something so wonderful, it means so much <3

Hello there, Torrance Anon!

I'm sorry your fic didn't really get any engagement, thus far. You deserve better than that; especially after having put in so much time and effort (12k words is extremely impressive!!!). Comments are very rare on Ao3, unfortunately, it can be so disheartening.

Yes, exactly! I've been writing fics since 2013; and even though I was only a child, whose writing was utter garbage, I got way more feedback and general support than I do now. And it has just become a big issue with social media the way it is today. People also seem to not really understand how Tumblr actually works and that it lives off of reblogging content. The same way, most consumers of said content don't seem to really comprehend that feedback = motivation to continue.

Seriously, you're such a kind-hearted person, Torrance Anon; I deeply appreciate you. Thank you very much for telling me this. You're absolutely right, after all. And I'm already making plans to coordinate everything better next year, so that I'll be able to work on the fics I've been putting on hold - no matter if things change and my requests stay open, or not. And it means a lot to me to know that you'll have my back throughout, and that you value my work like this. I can't really express how happy it makes me, thank you so very much for everything. You're a gem! <3

PS. No need to apologise, it was a very nice message to wake up to this morning, and it made being conscious less dreadful, so thank you - from the bottom of my heart. :') <3 And thank you for your feedback! I'm so happy you liked the headcanons!!! I'm sorry you've grown up in such circumstances as well, it's not fair; and I wish you the absolute best. <3 Thank you again! I was very happy to fulfil your request, my friend. <3 :') <3