Yes, and, this? This is actually what an “if you liked that, maybe you’ll like this!” algorithm is trying to replicate, in its own clumsy way. The basic idea is that, if you like Thing X, then you may like other things that people who liked Thing X also liked.
Only the algorithm has no actual reasoning ability, or understanding of what it’s doing--it’s just wandering around bumping into things, looking for patterns that sorta match. Like a sack of ferrets tracking a scent trail through a department store, and the store is trying to tell you that the ferrets are highly skilled personal shoppers.
AO3, on the other hand, is set up so that you can find out directly from other human beings who like Thing X, what else they liked. It probably wouldn’t work in a department store--hence the sack-of-ferrets system--but fandom is a gift economy, so it does.
A further variant on this is to see who bookmarked the stories you love, and investigate their bookmarks. If they seem reliably appealing to you and they're being actively updated, you can also periodically check in on their bookmarks to see what's new.
[Image description: A Twitter thread by sen (@SenLinYuWrites) that reads “I have been reading fanfic for decades. I am going to tell you the secret to finding good stuff without an algorithm.
Find a fic you fucking love, like everything about it hits your buttons, writing, characterization, tropes, kinks, ending, etc.
Read everything written by that author regardless of the stats, since they've already proven themselves to write stories you like.
When you've read all of their stories, go to their bookmarks. They probably read the same quality and kinds stuff they like to write.
Find a story in the bookmarks you fucking love, like everything about it hits your buttons, writing, characterization, tropes, kinks, ending, etc.
Return to step 2.
Repeat ad infinitum.” end description.]
@a-captions-blog
Also, readers... BOOKMARK THE THINGS YOU LOVED. I get so sad when I go to someone's profile and they don't have any bookmarks. That being said, I'm sorry my 1300 bookmarks are an unorganized mess 😅
But luckily, you can filter people's bookmarks just like you filter a tag search! So even if you don't organize them or tag them yourself at all, I can go into your bookmarks and filter them down to the pairing/trope I want and sort by whatever.
AO3 is just... so much better than any algorithm. Because only you know what you mean when you want something "just like this." Maybe for one fic you mean this writing style, and you go read the author's other stuff. Maybe for another fic it's some trope you're suddenly in the mood for, and you can use tags/filters. You have total control!
Remember that bookmarking a fic and subscribing to it are different things - a bookmark is a saved link that you can go back to whenever you want. “Subscribe” will send you an email whenever that fic updates. You can do both.
You may ask "how do I find a fic that I like" well if you are not experience with the tags and are new to AO3 I have a trick.
Go to Google and search "ship name + fanfic rec", normally the top results will be Tumblr recommending fanfics for this ship that they find good! It is always a good point to start and If the ship is popular you may even get a Tumblr totally dedicated to recommend fanfic of this fandom.
