AO3 Etiquette

AO3 Etiquette

It would seem a whole new kind of AO3 reader/writer is emerging and it is becoming clear not everyone quite understands how the website community works. Here is some basic guidance on how most people expect you to go about using AO3 to keep this a fun community archive that funtions correctly:

Kudos is for when the story was interesting enough to make you finish reading. If it sucked or was badly written, you probably left. If you finished - you kudos.

If you liked it, you should comment. It can be long and detailed or a literal keysmash. Writers don't care, we just love comments.

No critisism unless the author has specifically asked or agreed to hear it. Even constructive critisism is a no-no unless an author note tells you it's okay. Many people write as a fun hobby or a way to cope with, among other things, insecurity. Don't ruin that for them.

Do not comment to ask the author to write/update something else. It's tacky and off-putting and will probably have the opposite effect than the one you want.

There is no algorithm, it's an archive. Use the search and filter function to add/remove the pairings/characters/tropes etc. you want to read about and it will find you the fics that fit the bill.

For this to work, writers must tag and rate stories. This avoids readers finding the wrong things and missing the stuff they want. I don't care how cringy that trope is in your eyes - it gets tagged.

Character A/Character B means a ROMANTIC or SEXUAL relationship of some kind. Character A&Character B is PLANTONIC, like friendship or family.

Nothing is banned. This is an implicit rule because banning one thing is a slipperly slope to banning another and another, until nothing is allowed anymore. Do not expect anyone to censor for you. Because of the tags system, you are responsible for your own reading experience.

People can create new chapters and sequels/fic series any time after they "complete" a story. So it's considered perfectly normal to subscribe, even to a finished story. You can even subscribe to the author instead just to cover your bases.

Do not repost stories or change the publishing date without an extremely good reason (like a complete top to bottom rewrite). It's an archive, not social media. No one cares what's the most recent, only what fits their tag needs.

Avoid deleting a story you wrote if you hate it - orphan it so others can still enjoy it, without it being connected to you anymore.

This is a creative fanfiction archive. No essays on your insights or theories please. There are other places for that.

I KNOW there's plenty more I missed but I'm trying to cover most of the basics that people seem to be struggling with.

I invite anyone to add to this, but please explain, don't berate.

Overgrown.

other versions + progress shots ↓

My babies 🥺

I love them so muchbwplwoapaosoel😣😣😣😣🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲🤲

I'm gonna draw them until life feels good again🤭🤭🤭

First time doing something with backgrounds in FireAlpaca and first time trying out the design for Dream from the Royal!AU. This took so long- (The mask is haunting my nightmares)

I absolutely adore the idea of Friend being a reference to Schlatt/Glatt. You know...Rammie being the icon of Schlatts channel? Sheep, horns, blue sweater....Wilburs friend.

It's a very sweet HC....if only Wilbur wouldnt say that Ghostbur and Friend have a romantic relationship, like, why? Why Mr.Soot?

So now...if we accept that sweet HC then we would have to accept that Ghostbur and Glatt have a romantic relationship....

I am just here, being nostalgic and thinking about Ghostbur. His final is incredibly sad...so I really wanna write some comfort piece. Like...him meeting Schlatt and recognizing him only from the time they were friends and all....

Schlatt spending his time equally (even more) long in the Limbo to...not really have that angry temperament but instead just being tired, maybe a bit numb.

Both deserve some comfort- common, Schlatt did the least evil of all people on the DSMP technically-

These guys agreed to get undressed to address body positivity in the media. No studio lights or beauty retouching required.

📷 @taylormillerphoto