Update on AO3 performance issues

Since last month, we've been experiencing frequent and worsening performance problems on the Archive of Our Own as the site has expanded suddenly and dramatically. The number of new users joining the site doubled between April and May, and we currently have over 17,000 users waiting for an invitation. We've been working hard to deal with the 502 errors and site slowdowns, and we've implemented a number of emergency fixes which have slightly alleviated the issues, but these haven't been as effective as we'd hoped. We're confident that we will be able to fix the problems, but unfortunately we expect the next round of fixes to take at least two weeks to implement.

You can also follow @AO3_Status for up to date info.

ETA:

There are a few things users can do when browsing which will make the most of the performance fixes we've implemented so far. Doing the following should ease the pressure on the site and also get you to the works you want to see faster:

- Browse while logged out, and only log in when you need to (e.g. to leave comments, subscribe to a work, etc). Most of our caching is currently working for logged-out users, as those pages are easier to cache, so this will mean you get the saved copies which come up faster.
- Go direct to works when you can - for example, follow the feeds for your favourite fandoms to keep up with new works without browsing the AO3 directly, so you can click straight into the works you like the sound of.

LJ feeds for AO3:

http://ao3harrydraco.livejournal.com/
http://ao3merlinarthur.livejournal.com/

If you know of more, let me know and I'll add them here.

Fic: The Ugly Duckling Syndrome (Arthur/Merlin) R -- WIP

This fic is a Work-in-Progress. Short chapters will be posted on A03 every few days until it is complete. Once it’s finished I’ll be posting it to LJ.

Title: The Ugly Duckling Syndrome
Author: marguerite_26
Rating: R
Pairings: Arthur/Merlin, Merlin/Gwaine
Content Notes/kinks: Age Disparity
Summary: At sixteen, Merlin had been gangly and awkward and nothing but the cook's son to his crush: carefree playboy Gwaine Debois. When he returned to England after a couple of years away, he was delighted and surprised to catch Gwaine's interest. But the course of true love never did run smooth and Arthur, Gwaine's business-focused cousin had an agenda of his own and Merlin was standing in his way.
Author's Notes: Thank you to faithwood and chatoyais for beta reading and talking me through this for the last few months and leashy_bebes for the brit-pick and claudine for helping me through the tailoring details. This fic was inspired by the movie Sabrina (both the 1954 and 1995 versions).

The Ugly Duckling Syndrome [Part 1/?]

Prompting Ends Tonight!!

Today is the last day to leave your fabulous prompts for the 2012 H/D Career Fair. ♥

Leave Your Prompts here before midnight Eastern!