Reasons To Get An AO3 Account As A Reader

Reasons to get an AO3 account as a reader

Every time I see someone who reads lots of fic on AO3 but doesn’t have an account, I have to wonder if they realize how many features AO3 has just for readers. This is not an exhaustive list, but here are a few (and I’ve saved the best for last!):

Bookmarks - You probably know these exist because you’ve seen them on fic you read. But did you know that you can:

Make private bookmarks that only you can see - they don’t show up when someone clicks that “bookmarks” link. Not even the author can see them. 


Organize your bookmarks with tags.

Filter them like you would a search.

Add your own comments/descriptions, either for your own benefit or the benefit of people looking for something to read. (Just remember that unless your bookmark is private everyone including the author can see tags & comments.)

History - AO3 can track every fic you’ve ever viewed. My history is 373 pages long. However, you can delete any fic from your history with the click of a button, clear your entire history at once, or turn this off.

“Marked for Later” - Some people use bookmarks to save fics they haven’t read yet, but there’s also a separate system for that. When you’re logged in there’s a “Mark for Later” button on each fic. Then you can filter your History down to just those Marked for Later. Once you’ve read a marked fic you can then hit the “Mark as Read”  button and it will drop off this

The downside to both the History and Marked for Later is that this system currently can’t be sorted or filtered beyond that, but it can be useful nonetheless if you want to save your Bookmarks for rereading your faves.

Locked fics - Some people lock their fics to registered users for many reasons. They don’t want their fics showing up in search engines, they don’t want bots stealing them, they’re having a troll problem, etc. Without an AO3 account you won’t even see that these exist.

Comment notifications - You have an inbox on AO3, and anytime anyone replies to one of your comments you will get a notification. No more having to go back and check fics to see if authors replied to you! You can also opt to get an email every time.

Customize how you see the site - You can use site skins, hide tags or warnings on fics, skip the extra step to view adult content (if you’re 18+), even customize how your browser titles the window.

Last but very much not least:

Subscribe to fics, series, or authors - I honestly don’t understand how anyone keeps up with WIPs without this.


Get an email every time a new chapter is posted, or every time one of your favorite writers posts a new fic or chapter!

Don’t want to read a WIP as it’s being posted? Subscribe and know as soon as the last chapter goes up.


Worth getting an account just for this alone tbh. 


How are you living without it???


(Hitting subscribe is also one more way to show an author you care, although authors can’t see subscriber #s on series.)

There are probably more, but those are the main ones. Yes, you have to wait a few days to get an account, but it’s worth it. If you’re worried because you don’t want people seeing you kudos certain fics (that one tentacle fic you’ll never admit to having read?) - the way login is setup it’s actually super easy to log out, leave anonymous kudos, and log back in without leaving the fic. AO3 is designed by users; they’ve got your back.

And hey, if you ever decide to take the plunge and post something, that’s one step out of your way!

(And seriously, subscribing is a game-changer.)

I Wrote a Poetry Book 🦷

Hello, friends! I haven’t posted anything on here for a while, apart from reblogging gif sets when I get into a new fandom lol, but I wrote a poetry book, and I want to share more information about it!! I would really appreciate anyone skimming over this and/or reblogging. ❤️

A few months ago, I finished my first poetry manuscript, Is It Bad if My Gums Bleed When I Floss? If you’re a fan of the macabre, poems about trauma and self-acceptance, or you happen to love teeth like I do, this book might be for you! 

Is it Bad if My Gums Bleed When I Floss? is a collection of poems following Netty, a dental student, from childhood to adulthood and the relationships she forms throughout, including a sexually abusive relationship with her professor. When she emerges on the other side, it’s with heavy trauma and a newfound desire to fully accept her own sexuality, as well as heal her fractured relationship with herself. It’s a lot of body horror—it is pulling teeth and probing gum pockets and tasting blood on someone else’s lips. It’s literally teeth poetry. It’s not pretty, but I think that’s the beauty of it.

Because I know it’s easy to see this and not really know what the hell “teeth poetry” means or what my writing is actually like, here’s an example—this is a concrete poem I want on the back cover of the book, which touches on a lot of the themes and images in the collection (please excuse the poor quality; I don’t know how to fix that lol):

I want her, I want her 

under my pillow are my baby 

teeth soaking up saliva 

in his mouth 

I taste my blood

under my fingernails 

press into her skin 

is so pretty

little lips saying

“It’s Netty,” and I—

I’m really proud of this manuscript; completing it was like putting to rest years of hatred and shame that were festering within me. But I can’t say any of this without giving a BIG thank you to @tigerlilycorinne​ and @jovialobservationanchor​ for supporting me while writing this. If it weren’t for them reading it, leaving feedback and suggestions, and generally just being the best cheerleaders in the world, I probably would’ve just let it sit in my Google Drive.

One last note: I have an author Instagram and a Ko-fi if you want to follow or support me elsewhere! I’ll keep you guys updated on any news I hear from the indie publishers I’ve sent this manuscript to, as well as new things I’m writing. (Between you and me, I have another book in the works…!)

Again, I would very much appreciate if anybody reblogs this! Tag a poetry lover, the dental hygienist you follow, a Dead Dove fan, or the casual tooth enjoyer in your life. I want my poetry to find the audience I’m certain is out there. If you know me, you know I’m not always confident in my writing, but I think this is it. 🦷❤️

AO3 Top Relationships Bracket - THIRD PLACE

This poll is a celebration of fandom history; we're aware that there are certain issues with many of the listed pairings and sources, but they are a part of that history. Please do not take this as an endorsement, and refrain from harassment.

I feel so called out, y'all. Wtf? 😭😂

I posted this last year, & as another TDoV has come I figured I would share a bit of progress on my personal journey & some thoughts on the state of things for trans rights in my country.

As of this month, I've been on testosterone for a year & a quarter, & while I have experienced some changes I was looking forward to, I am still misgendered daily. I will probably never pass as a transmasculine person, but I'm doing my best to come to terms with that.

A fully positive experience was finally having top surgery at the beginning of February. My healing for that has gone pretty well overall, & the euphoria I get from having a flat chest has been so incredibly validating that I can't adequately put it into words.

That said, I have experienced transphobia going out in public, from occasional customer service workers & other customers in stores, & even from medical professionals during a recent health scare (I am recovering, no worries there).

My home state has a bill on the docket that would ban HRT for minors & prevent anyone from having their birth certificate amended after they are a year old. I have not yet begun the process of changing my gender markers on any of my legal documents, so this would directly affect two of my transition goals.

Similar bills have already passed in several states in the US, & many more are being introduced & discussed in others. The attacks on the civil rights of transgender people in the US are relentless right now, & the fearmongering & moral panic regarding trans people is at an all time high.

We need our cis & het allies now more than ever because we cannot protect our rights on our own. Our voices, though loud, are often drowned out by the opposition, & even those not directly opposed to trans rights aren't taking the situation here as seriously as they should.

Trans people are people, the same as anyone else, & all we want is to live our lives as ourselves & be afforded the same rights & dignity that cis people are afforded without question. As a visibly trans person living in the Bible Belt of the southern US, I am afraid that my very personhood may be stripped away from me soon.

It isn't a nice way to live, & moving somewhere safer isn't an immediate possibility for me. It's not feasible at all for many people. These transphobic bills & laws need to be met with strong opposition, & we need to fight just as hard to have protections for trans civil rights coded into law.

I am doing what I can, & I implore you all to do the same, be you cis or trans. We're all in this together, & we need each other now more than ever. Compassion & hope are what I wish for all my trans siblings on this day, & may our next TDoV find the world a more accepting place.

Happy International Transgender Day of Visibility from your friendly neighborhood nonbinary owl!

DOFWIJWODIJOW NEW HEADCANON UNLOCKED!!

(they're so cute, omg, I can't! 😭😭😭💛💛💛

When I was a kid I heard that Alan Rickman took the child actors out for milkshakes to help them not be afraid of Snape, but then they ended up spilling the milkshake in his car. I have no idea if it’s actually true but it’s always been on my mind :’)