#i also play musiv guys. i know how it feels to have 200 people in front of you at once looking at you perform

[scienceoftheidiot]

Ok listen I like these posts about how AO3 kudos and hits don't mean much about the quality of your writing and I do stand by it

But it would make me roll my eyes a lot less if the people who made those posts didn't consider a fic with over 200 kudos (TWO. HUNDRED.) "not working" or "low engagement".

Low. Engagement. Two hundred people. Wtf.

Dudes ? I consider myself successful and I only have a couple of fics that are over 200 kudos. Those are the most important ones I've written, be it the one I'm currently writing or the one I have not managed to finish years ago and that is still receiving kudos (in another fandom. Never again. The guilt is still there. Yet I can't). Either way, I cherish each and every kudos I get. That means. Over 200 actual living people. Have read my stuff.

Like.

This is the same when I have like 3 or 4 or 20 kudos. That means actual real people have read and liked enough to click a button telling me so. Real people. Fuck, that's awesome.

Not even talking about comments because those have been keeping me actually up and functional these last three-four days (if you read this, thank you SO MUCH, I'll try to reply soon - and churn out a new chapter).

What I mean is : those posts are made by people who want to be nice and are, but honestly are lucky enough to write what most of a big big fandom wants, just as they say themselves. That also means they have their numbers incredibly mixed. They're disconnected from most of fic writers.

My most "working" fics have around 200 kudos and this is an INSANE number. Contrary to the people in these posts, I do not consider myself struggling to get views or kudos or comments because of these numbers - it's the total contrary (even if like all writers I crave them!!! I do!!!! The dopamine surge!!! How people underline their fave parts of the chapter!!! DID I MAKE THEM CRY). I'm actually baffled that my fics and especially the one that I'm currently writing are getting so many people to click on them, given how old the fandom is and what I write about.

I'm not saying be happy with what you got if you want to be famous or anything. Just. Put some perspective behind the numbers.

Two. Hundred. Actual. Real. Living. Individuals.

Is a HELL of a lot.

#i also play musiv guys. i know how it feels to have 200 people in front of you at once looking at you perform #it's very rare. i also know what it feels to have 1000 people. it happened once. you don't see most of them but the energy is incredible #however the energy can still be insane when you play in a bar with 20 drunk randos singing along - and those are my fave times #perspective dudes #please