This informal survey aims to gather statistics on the length and completion status readers on AO3 prefer for fanfic.
The survey is not aff
I put together a relatively short survey (about two dozen questions, mostly multiple choice, all optional) to get some data on what fic lengths and completion statuses readers on AO3 prefer or avoid. If I get enough answers to have a good sample size, it should give us some insight into how people search and read on the archive.
If you find this interesting, feel free to share it with AO3 users elsewhere or post it to other platforms. I'd like to get a good crossection of readers that isn't biased by platform, if at all possible.
The survey is just for fun/curiosity, and isn't associated with any university, company, or other entity. It's just me asking you this stuff here :)
I'm not putting a deadline on this, I'll just let it run until I've got some good numbers, but whenever I do have enough I'll post the results here. You can track this post to watch for that update.
You can read the first chapter of my new fic, these lines we draw, HERE!
SUMMARY:
Suddenly, Guanshan turned around, expression blank.
"I don't get it," he said, after a considering pause.
"Get what?"
"That you are into that. What part does it for you, huh?" The words that He Tian would have found charming in any other circumstances sounded incongruous with the calm tone. Guanshan put his hand on He Tian's bicep and harshly pulled, bringing both of them to eye level, close enough to notice a stray eyelash resting against his cheek. He Tian's vision swirled, leaving only the red speck standing out. "Tell me."
The night before He Tian leaves on an impromptu six-week business trip, Guanshan makes a rather aggressive show of just how badly he wants him to stay.
I like how Mo Guanshan’s arc in the "present" chapters revolves around small moments of growth in the face of what has been lost, and how he deals with He Tian crashing back into his life like a wrecking ball.
Guanshan's technically got what he longed for: having He Tian back. But so many years of absence have twisted that desire into a fear of He Tian actually returning to him, scared that if he 'succumbs' again to those feelings he's kept shut (inside a box), it will leave him vulnerable to being left behind again. And we know there is a precedent for this, since we already saw He Tian come back for Christmas only to seemingly leave all over again sometime later.
Until very recently Guanshan has been so cross with He Tian... And not to say he's now completely happy and comfortable with the current """""housemates"""""" situation, but he certainly seems to have mellowed out a little bit.
It feels like that's due Mo starting to understand the pain He Tian's feels when he shuts him out in order to have a veneer of control in the situation. He’s also realizing that even if He Tian's methods are VERY questionable, everything he does is legitimately for Guan Shan's well-being. It's no coincidence that we've seen some panels where Mo wistfully watches He Tian go. A self-fulfilling prophecy realized right in front him.
In the first instance, it's true that Guanshan is very much in denial about not being hurt by He Tian actually leaving when he pushes him away ("I don't wanna see you! You better not come again... I won't miss you...").
But then, look at my boy now, acknowledging that He Tian is trying to support him in his career and offering to cook him dinner, something that used to bring them together all those years ago. Drama-ass running included!
And in the latest chapter, on a slightly more humorous tone, Mo lashes out at He Tian for his antics, causing He Tian to (fake) sulk away. But immediately after, Mo takes the direct initiative to confess, making sure He Tian knows he is included when Mo said his life was going well. He looks apprehensive and worried. He's so very careful when he fesses up... He truly doesn't want any more fall outs between them.
(obligatory 'He Tian, you little freak idiot!')
Thinking about it, from the first very time we see them sleeping together in the current timeline, we catch a glimpse of said fear of He Tian leaving, even when they spent the night together:
He's scared, but we see him mature and change bit by bit (baaaaby steps) beyond his fears for He Tian. Changing, a bit like when he wanted to become a good student back in their school days to be "worthy" of being by He Tian's side.
Ah, my son(s) with abandonment issues. </3
(Will we see any attempt to address the several elephants in the room from He Tian's side now that Mo seems a bit more open to talk? Who knoooows, who knows. Pls. I'll go insane.)
terrifying when you watch a movie or a show or whatever & youre like that was fun but it felt a little redundant they didnt need to hammer the point home that much & then you go online & theres thousands of people going that was so weird i did not get it what did that mean google.com ending explained please?
Mutuals who I have hardly spoken with but we instead communicate through silently liking and reblogging each other's posts... I hope you're all having a lovely day ✨
huge huge props to anyone who can write long-form stuff on their phone or literally anything that isn't a PC. i could never, i get way too distracted 😅😅😅
gracieabrams
germansingergirl
amandla
andulkaphoto
ellievsbear
