PSA For Anyone Who Thinks Hits/Kudos/Comments Equates to a Fic's Quality
I don't check my ao3 stats much anymore, but today, for some reason, I did and saw that a fic I wrote in three hours and posted almost entirely unedited has almost twice as many kudos as a fic that took me five whole months to write, writing every day for 2-3 hours.
Twice as many for literally 1% of the effort.
Hits/Kudos/Comments tell you how timely your work is, how it hits on exactly what someone was looking for in that moment, and how easily consumable it is. If you're writing longer fics, or it has plot that isn't just a ship, engagement is going to be like pulling teeth. Even people who have every intention to read it may keep pushing it lower on the TBR for easier stuff; even people who love your writing may never have the spoons to support you in that way.
You are the only person who can truly judge the quality of your work. The tastes of others will only be a reflection of their own state of mind and opinions. You know how long it took, you know how far you've come. YOU KNOW the type of writer you have grown into.
Other peoples' approval is lovely, and engagement with readers is one of the most joyous parts of writing fanfiction, but it cannot be the gauge upon which you define your worth as an artist. It's not easy to decouple these things especially when your dash is flooded with other stories that are getting more engagement than yours ever will. I'm still learning it myself, but the sobering stats I listed above really helped.
