Public Transport, Writing Fic & AO3

[impulsereader]

Just a couple quick thoughts which I'd like to exorcise.

Dear CTA,
Please raise your one-way fare from $2.25 to $2.50.  This way, you still get my entire $5 bill, but I don't feel ripped off for that $0.50 every single time.  Please see my latest fic for reference.
Cordially yours,
an occasional rider

Readers seem to prefer the fic that mugged me and stole my brain's wallet, which I proceeded to write in the space of a day and a half, to the one which I wrote over the course of a few weeks, crafted very carefully, and for which I spent two entire days agonizing over individual plot points.  Seriously, that last bit about the British Library and the book excerpts I nearly drove myself crazy over.

The problem with AO3 telling my how many 'hits' and how many 'kudos' have been left is that it leaves me with the distinct impression that the delta between the two didn't actually enjoy the story.

Right, not thinking about any of that anymore - exorcised.

Comments

[whiskeydaisy.livejournal.com]

Remember that a person can only leave kudos once, but the hit count tracks people who re-read your stories. There isn't really a relationship between the two, as frustrating and ratio-calculating as it can be to try and figure one out.

Feedback

[impulsereader.livejournal.com]

True. I only spent a few days going onto AO3 multiple times and holding my breath while I hit refresh. LOLing at myself. As with my first beta experience, after a little while my sense of humor came to my rescue.

I'm pretty new to this 'fic writing' business and I'm enjoying the heck out of learning my way around. It's an odd sort of thing, really. The actual writing itself is a pretty great reward, but I'm also chuffed in the extreme by feedback.

Your icon is gorgeous. Did you take the pic?

Re: Feedback

[whiskeydaisy.livejournal.com]

Nope - I do some almost-macro photography but I don't have a lens that's that clear, that close.

Ficwriting is a strange and marvelous place; I took five years or so off, but the pull was too much to resist. AO3 offers a lot more data than just posting on LJ gives, but it's also frustrating (for me anyway) in that it's really hard to figure out what's driving the traffic. I try to be detached about it, but - well, I am self-competitive at heart. :D