Fanfic meme

[scripsi]

 

Fanfic game from kitarella_imagines

 

If you’ve written fics for more than one year on AO3, go to your statistics page. Click on the different years at the top to see the categories of statistics for each year.

 

1. Which year did you write the most words? Do you know why? e.g. you had more time; you were caught up in an exciting new fandom or pairing; you got a rush of ideas etc.

The year with the highest word count is 2015 with 137 352 words. But that is because when I signed up to AO3 in the very late 2014, I uploaded most of the fics I had written from 2003 onwards. Even if I had a writing spurt in 2015, I'm quite sure it wouldn’t be the year with the highest word count if I just checked the new fics. So the year where I can be absolutely sure is my most productive one, would be 2021 with 94497 words. I had watched The Queen’s Gambit over Christmas, and fell for Beth Harmon/Vasily Borgov. At the time there was a very active Discord for that pairing, which was very inspirational, and I wrote 6 fics for that fandom, one of them being the longest and most ambitious things I have ever written. I also started fanfics for The Mummy and All About Eve.

 

2. Which year did you write the least words? Why was this? e.g. lack of time, too busy, no inspiration etc.

2023 with zero words. The war in Ukraine completely killed my inspiration. So from March 2022 to March 2024 I didn’t write anything at all. I’m writing again now, but I have only worked on fics I started in 2022, I still haven’t got any ideas for new fics. The year with the least wordcount when I have actually written anything is 2024 with 2948 words.

 

3. Which years did you get most hits, kudos, bookmarks and fic subscriptions? Do you know why? (e.g. popular fandoms, lots of words written.) Are there years where you have the same amount of bookmarks and subscriptions?

Again 2015 racks them up, but it’s 2021 that I can be sure of. It has the most of everything. I think it’s because, completely by accident, I managed to fall for a fandom that was hot right then, The Queen’s Gambit, and I have found that The Mummy fanfic seems to have a perpetual fandom, as those fics always are among my most popular. And to my surprise my all About Eve fanfic has got a lot more attention than I ever thought, considering the pairing is so unusual I’m the only one who has written it on AO3.

 

4. Which years did you get least hits, kudos, bookmarks and fic subscriptions? Do you know why? (e.g. niche fandoms, not many fics written.) Do you have any other conclusions?

Apart from the nothing year of 2023, it's 2024, when I only updated with a chapter on a WIP. If I take a year when I participated actively, then it’s 2019, when I wrote 6 fanfics in as many fandoms. But 4 of those were one-shots, and only 2 in fandoms that are on the bigger side. Most of my fandoms are small, and usually I enjoy pairings that aren't the popular ones.

Comments

[kitarella_imagines]

I do find this sort of thing so interesting and the context as to why we wrote a lot or wrote hardly anything.

1. I think that is the answer isn't it- if we get captured by a popular, contemporary fandom like I did with Our Flag Means Death, we are inspired to write and get lots of attention.

2. I'm not surprised the war in Ukraine killed your inspiration, what a shocking situation. I'm wondering if also, Sweden was more disturbed by it due to wondering if you should join NATO or not, and all the confusion about that? Just my theory. For me it was the pandemic in 2020 that killed my inspiration, I had such a lot on my plate that year. Mostly family problems- my daughter was taking important exams, my husband is a nurse.

3. & 4. These match the fandoms and word count situations don't they- write a lot in popular fandoms, get attention (whether wanted or not). Write little in unpopular fandoms, don't get attention.

I think I should do a thesis on this subject! lol.

[scripsi]

1. Yes. I always get a bit surprised when I accidently write for something popular. Usually i fall for niche fandoms, and/or less popular ships.

2. It was a terrible shock! Ukraine isn't that far away, and historically speaking an ally to Sweden. And Russia is even closer, and always a bit threatening. Even if Sweden hasn't been directly involved in a war for 200 years, the last time was because Russia attacked us. The question of joinig wasn't even a question before the Ukraine war, it wasn't seen as necessary. But now both Sweden and Finland has joined. I don't think it would have happened had the war not started. usually i write as an outlet when I feel stressed and upset, but this time I just froze. I couldn't do anything creative at all.

3 and 4. it is interesting! i've never really understood why I feel compelled to write in certain fandom. I know the ingridients that needs to be in it, but there are fandom I love that has the right stuff and that I still enjoy without feeling to compelled to writet hem.

[kitarella_imagines]

It is quite weird when one of our fics suddenly takes off isn't it! I wrote one fic about a certain pairing a few years ago, mine was the only fic, then suddenly there were loads of fics about them, and my fic was super popular! Quite unnerving!

I can understand that, from a British point of view it would be like France or Spain being attacked- an ally nearby we have close ties with, it would be shocking. I'm really glad Sweden and Finland did join NATO, it's like the back door has been closed and locked. I see that Finland is reinforcing its border with Russia now.

Same here- I suddenly get interested in a show or film and have to write fanfic about it. Yet others I don't. I suspect that we feel compelled to write fic about shows that don't feel finished, maybe we need to add more to the story. And those neatly finished shows that explore all angles just aren't as compelling. Maybe that's the reason?

Recently I fell in love with a 1970s show called The Professionals and wrote some fics about that. But then I realised there is basically only one storyline for that show- the main characters, secret agents Bodie and Doyle, are in love with each other and suddenly realise it. While either working on a case or in their private time. So I got a bit stumped then.