since we're all talking a03 lately...

[marguerite_26]

I haven't posted in a few days, which is odd for me who generally can’t shut up. I've been writing a lot and I suppose I've been feeling a bit introverted. I do have a few recs saved up from the past week's reading which I hope to post tomorrow.

In the meantime, I saw vaysh11 and a few others do this A03 meme and I thought it was interesting. I haven't been on A03 long, so it's odd to look at this a try to gain any perspective on stuff that's only been up for a handful of weeks but w/e. I'm bored.

My top ten fics on A03 ranked by hit count.


Protecting the Pendragon Lineage (Merlin/Arthur)
All in the Quest for Knowledge (Merlin/Arthur)
In the Service of the King (Merlin/Arthur)
Let me be your canvas (Merlin/Arthur)
Not Gold or Riches (Merlin/Arthur/Gwaine)
The Thorn Bush Incident (Merlin/Arthur/Gwaine)
The Sample (Merlin/Arthur)
Pack Instinct (Merlin/Arthur)
Return from the Isle (Merlin/Arthur)
The Pet Party (Merlin/Arthur)
link to the list


My deep thoughts
Not an HP fic in the bunch. LOL. Not by a long shot. So. Easy conclusion there. Lots of Merlin readers on A03, not so much with HP. Also HP that is a rare pair? *crickets* LOL Though the reply I have received on my HP fics is awesome, so this meme fails by only looking at hit count where there is no comparison but the hit to kudos ratio is better (I think, I haven't done the math).
Other easy conclusion: TAGS MATTER. While I quite liked my fic Protecting the Pendragon Lineage, I would never claim it was my best piece of writing. It was smut written for a round of kinkspiration which had a ton of warnings. However that ton of warnings translated to a ton of tags on A03. tags like knotting and Master/slave and object insertion which I know attract people who search for a particular kink and don't care which fandom it’s in. That fic has almost three times the number of hits of any other fic I have posted.

So…
1) Knotting == hits.
2) Tags draw people you don't expect to your fic.
3) And Merlin folks should be grateful for their hit counts because not all fandoms get so much love



btw - I still have an a03 code, if anyone wants to start posting there.

Comments

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

nods, Yep, I think because of the tags/search function certain themes or kinks will be easier to find and thus get reads. I need to set my calendar to tell me to do this again in 6 months :)

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

yeah. I would not have pegged those fics up there to be popular, and some fics that are popular on LJ are not as popular on A03 (maybe because the tags are pretty boring? idk?)

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

I think it's ease of finding the needle in the haystack. For instance you search H/D w/Romance and you get 386 fics, while if you go for the H/D w/Sex Toys you only get 32 fics. Basically, the more specific kink, the more likely someone will find it.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

yes! But I wish there was an easier way to know which tags to use. Romance. I never think of that. Someone should make a guide on most helpful tags if you want your fic found.

[rickey-a.livejournal.com]

they have this list of popular tags
http://archiveofourown.org/tags and I usually look through those real quick to see if anything fits well (note the more popular tags are bigger/bolded)

then some things I just make up fun tags like
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/penis%20love
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/SPAG
http://archiveofourown.org/tags/rebuild%20Hogwarts

but no one's searching for those- they'd probably only see them if they were looking through my list of fics

[lilyginny27.livejournal.com]

I totally agree tags matter. Cause if you like a fic w a kink in it, and you see the fic is tagged w that kink, it's easier to go and read more of that kink because hot damn the tag's right there all begging to be clicked. It's like winning the porn lottery. :D

When I first started reading at AO3, it was off a link that took me straight to the Merlin/Arthur tag which I immediately bookmarked. I didn't even know they hosted other fandoms for months.

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

hot damn the tag's right there all begging to be clicked. It's like winning the porn lottery. :D
this this this!!!

[monicaop.livejournal.com]

:), I wish I was a writer, then I'll ask you for the account, I signed up for one, so I can give feedback easier, but is up until June or July :D.

Anyway, I hope you are doing amazing!!! I'm looking forward to anything you might write or rec!! :) tons of hugs!!!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

Sorry! I didn't mean to imply I was only giving out A03 invites to writers! poor choice of wording on my part.

I just gave my last away, but I've asked for more and when I get them, you'll be first in line. :D

Things are good here. Hope things are well with you, too.

[monicaop.livejournal.com]

Yeah, at this moment they are, my mom got her every 8 to 10 month meds after waiting a month for them, my dad got some orders in the business after 2 really dry months... things are ok :D

I'll be happy if I can get an invite one of this days!! Thank you so much :). hugs!!!!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

happy to hear things are good. :)

I got more invites!!! PM me your email and one's yours.

[tari_sue]

Is the code still going begging? I wouldn't say no if no one else want it…

I thought the knotting fic was aces, don't knock it :D

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

:D thank you.

PM me your email and I'll send you the invite.

[katelinmr.livejournal.com]

D: You're chasing all the Harry Potter readers away!

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

I don't mean to do that!!!

D:

I just meant that response is all relative. The numbers only means something if you compare within fandoms, not across fandoms.

[katelinmr.livejournal.com]

YES YOU ARE YOU ARE YOU ARE! *sulks*

You can prove me wrong by writing a new HP related fic especially for me? :3

*purrrs*

[marguerite-26.livejournal.com]

I DON'T MEAN TO!!! I promise!

I have hd_fan_fair where prompting starts in June. And all those damn Merlin folks will be seduced over! :D

and there are a few HP related fics being written right here:
http://marguerite-26.livejournal.com/671349.html?thread=1#t12805749

(does that count?)

[katelinmr.livejournal.com]

Yes ma'am :3

[archaeologist-d.livejournal.com]

I find that AO3 has certain fandoms that are being followed there. My Star Wars stories gets hardly any attention on AO3 but lots on fanfiction.net. So the HP lack isn't surprising.

I never thought that tags would be useful. I may have to rethink how I tag things.

Great list. I went and reread some of them. :D