I uploaded a story called Whom Gods Destroy (after the episode) “anonymously” for a couple of reasons.
- It’s intended to be angsty due to the subject matter and I wasn’t sure my current “beta” reader wanted to deal with it. I have been thinking of the story for a while and couldn’t stop so I decided to go for it. And yes I could have asked but was a little nervous to do so.
- I wanted to see how well a story not connected to my name on AO3 would do. Apparently badly as I have almost no hits and no kudos, LOL
Anyway, so I don’t know. I started chapter 2 already but now given the decided lack of apparent interest I may just delete it and call it a failed experiment. I wasn’t intending to maker certain details super graphic but again there would be some pretty heavy angst.
So yeah. I just don’t know.
Spirk (with a small dose of Pinto) 
July 17, 2023 at 8:55 am
Nah, keep it – just put it under your name since you have a following. You got the results of your experiment.
You already knew though. I had 2 stories that other than YOUR hits, never got any. Your readers who support your tags will read it. And you’ll have a hundred hits by lunch.
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July 17, 2023 at 9:20 am
Yeah we will see. I don’t know how new people ever get a following on there. It took me a while back in 2013 honestly but now? I think it would be even longer
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July 17, 2023 at 9:36 am
There’s so much it’s hard for new people to find an audience. Tbf I’m not the typical fanfic reader and only read your stuff. I don’t go looking for the pairing from anyone else.
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July 17, 2023 at 9:39 am
Oh yeah I know about you
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July 17, 2023 at 10:25 am
Second attempt at a comment! When I tried to hit comment, it said lost password! 😢🙄🤦🏻♀️
Please don’t delete it. I am definitely interested in reading it. I keep a tab on my phone’s safari app, with JTK/Spock tag. So I can see if anything new pops up that would interest me. However, this past week I’ve had no free time to do any checking for New stories… Between my husband’s birthday and a memorial service for his college roommate! 🤷🏻♀️😢
I looked at the tags that you have on your new story and I’m definitely interested in seeing where it goes.
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July 17, 2023 at 10:33 am
WordPress is a pain
Yes I have changed it to me though I doubt anyone will get notification of it that follows me as it was already uploaded last night. Probably not until chapter 2 is posted but I don’t really know how AOS’s stuff works sometimes!
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July 17, 2023 at 10:45 am
I know you’re the pro and I’m just the fan. But if I were you, I’d totally delete it and totally repost under your name so EVERYONE would get notification. That’s the only way to make that happen, I think.
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July 17, 2023 at 10:51 am
I *think* I just saw a notice go out so let me know if you didn’t get it but I follow myself just so I can see if/when notice goes out and I got one
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July 17, 2023 at 12:00 pm
I got notification that Ivan posted a story. But I THINK that might be only because I subscribe to YOU. I don’t know that the story itself got notification on Tumblr since I’m not there any more.
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July 17, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Thanks cool!
Since it was pubbed as Spirk I *think* it would show up on tumblr even as anon so Im good
I don’t have an account there either
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July 17, 2023 at 12:08 pm
I got the notification on my email that you published the story and I read and commented. I don’t know how to check tumblr.
🤷🏻♀️
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July 17, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Yep it’s all good
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July 19, 2023 at 11:19 am
I shall check it out when I get a few moments 🙂
I enjoy anything you write
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July 19, 2023 at 4:07 pm
🥺🥺🥺 Please dont stop writing & sharing it, IW. I’m already invested in this story!!! Dont make me 😭😭😭😭🥺
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July 19, 2023 at 5:29 pm
Well I MIGHT make you cry 2 Ra, but it won’t be because I delete it. I am keeping it up
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July 19, 2023 at 5:48 pm
Ok i panicked and totally misread your experiment post 🥴
I stumble onto new Spirk, MCU, and other fave fandom writers all the time and I use the bookmarks from my fave writers AND my fellow fans to find new writers religiously – its how I found you, Sweetasblack, CobraFantasies, Defined_Insanity/JBarnesWilson, 74Days, SarifinasNightmare, SpinachGarden, TonightNoPoetryWillServe, DreamsAMOT, gfawkes, sqpr/spqr, Yaoichan12, Adenil, seashadows, SixesAndSevens, UhuraPrime, PumpkinButterBeer, Solid_Medical_Advice,and other writers I adore with all my heart.🥰💯
Now I admit I tend to gloss over Anon posts bc Ive been burned when they dont finish their fics and leave fans hanging. So i tend to stick to talented writers with reps for finishing their fics. Kinda mercenary of me but really self-preservation against my curiosity and fomo🥴🤷🏽♀️🙂
I can see how new writers with zero support from fellow creatives might get disheartened though and that breaks my heart to think they might quit. Its just that there are sooooo many writers to chose from (😖.. #greedyreaderproblems i know i know). Yup.. Id be lying if i said the sheer # of writers to chose from doesnt thrill my greedy lil bookworm heart..😖😕🥳 (An owerwhelming showering of blessings/ embarrassment of riches that I happily accept as an avid reader 🥴💃🏽🥴💃🏽🤷🏽♀️)
I dunno.. I hope new writers keep trying and posting even if the void is silent. Someone’s gonna find their work when they least expect it. Just give us time to find it. In the interim I guess what you can do is make sure YOU continue to support new blood on Ao3 with visible praise via comments and kudos. Many of your adoring fans will follow your breadcrumbs, bien sûr! 🤩🙂💯
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July 19, 2023 at 7:17 pm
I do on occasion recommend writers I have read on there
Yeah, like I said, these days I am not sure I’d get a following especially given I don’t write TOS but fortunately I do have a large following so it’s all good 🙂
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July 19, 2023 at 5:52 pm
Yippee!!! Just saw you’re keeping it up. Thanks IW you’re a doll 🙂💃🏾🤸🏿💃🏾🤸🏿💃🏾🤸🏿
🤗💚🖖🏿
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July 19, 2023 at 7:16 pm
snort….
I am indeed keeping it
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July 20, 2023 at 1:44 pm
Hey again👋🏾 — 3 things & I’m done bugging you on this thought-provoking post/topic🤓:
#1. Just wanna re-state that I DO know & appreciate that you’ve recommended writers you’ve read on there on occasion.💯 I only mentioned it to (a.) encourage you to “continue” doing so and (b.) bc your recs have weight & I’m proof of your continued influence.🙂 (I happily admit, with ZERO shame, to stalking your fic notes & comments for that VERY purpose & darlin’ HONEY it paid off in spades!😁)
#2. I believe your stellar/impeccable/[insert complimentary adj here] Writing Skills, your ST AOS Spirk Pref, your Steel Spine Ability to withstand rude naysayers/trolls, AND your Fic Completion Status Record would’ve gained you a following in 2023, *almost* as impressive as your original debut year. Why? IMO, that’s 4 outta 5 things needed to build a fic writer fanbase on platforms like Ao3. The 5th being a Recent blockbuster movie release to ride momentum wave of a hugely popular ship.
#3. Now if you REALLY want to test if you could gain a big following as a newbie writer in 2023, then post a brand-new, mass-appealing trope fic under a brand-new unaffiliated name… NOT Anonymous, plz & thanks.
(Btw, 2 Experiment/Test Caveats =
A. We all know Dark Fics are too niche for the kind of mass-appeal trope test I’m suggesting so don’t handicap your experiment. What is, is 🤷🏾♀️🙂🤷🏾♀️. I mean I like Dark Fics but hey I’m brilliant like that😁, hella extra, and extra special. But enough self-praise💅🏾😏🥴🤡🤣
B. The Fandom & OTP that you chose must be just as popular to the masses, AND as equally adored by YOU, as ST AOS & Spirk both were back when you originally debuted as a fanfic writer. Apples-to-Apples, and youve got be as passionate about the fandom or your Muses might boycott the experiment.)
Well? Am I wrong/ clueless/ missing something/ oversimplifying? Heh. Maybe.🤷🏾♀️ But I’m a betting woman and my money’s on you.💅🏾
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July 20, 2023 at 1:54 pm
thank you for your thoughts~ I enjoy reading them
I’m not really interested in any other fandom other than Star Trek, and I’m pretty much done with experimenting anyway but thanks again! Your thoughts have definitely been illuminating (and very kind)
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July 20, 2023 at 3:34 pm
I had written a few Pinto – and posting gifs/pics of them for PdM. I’ve written exactly ONE fic each for Scandal, Perry Mason, and Spones (as kind of gifts to friends – when I deleted my stuff, I gave the PM and Spones fics to those people. And the Scandal went in the trash never to be thought of or heard from again. Ick.)
I admit readily I get hurt those several times just nobody NOBODY even hits my stuff, much less reads it, much less kudos or comments. (I posted one I loved two different times and never got more than a total of 8 hits over the course of 2 months – it was a Star Trek RPF).
I’m not a writer and I literally spend hundreds of hours trying to edit hundreds of times to make them as good as I could make them within my limited abilities, including manips/art. (Sadly, I’m not an artist either. Ivan can attest to even my stick figures being…..inadequate! lol)
But if nobody likes my story, my characters, or my ideas, I guess it doesn’t matter whether I’m a good or bad writer – nobody’s gonna read it. I know IIII sure don’t anything like that! So I deleted ALL I’ve written except those gifts, including Shore Leave and Bestest gift I gave to Ivan, and one other story that I orphaned years ago and now they won’t LET me delete it or touch it. Live and learn. I literally just am no longer interested in reading much by anyone else but Ivan, after 6 solid years of reading in my every spare moment. But I admire your strategy on finding writers and I LOVE your enthusiasm.
But more than that – I so appreciate you reading mine and giving them a chance, and your kindness and support when I WAS writing. It meant (heck, STILL means) everything to me!
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July 20, 2023 at 3:36 pm
(Sorry – I left out a Boston Legal RLF nobody much liked either and I trashed it.)
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