THANK YOU TO EACH AND EVERY READER WHO HAS EVER TAKEN A CHANCE ON A FANFIC STORY. YOU KEEP FANDOMS ALIVE.

I've been writing fanfic all of my life, even when I didn't know what it was called. I started saving my stories as a teen and still have them stowed away in a ratty folder. They're a little embarrassing to read and no one ever will read them whilst I am alive. Still, they remind me that everyone has to start somewhere.

Over the years, readers (and other writers) have asked for advice on writing successful fanfic, but I only have a few suggestions:

#1 -- Finish what you start. If you don't commit to your story, why should anyone else? Abandoning stories becomes a careless, selfish habit. If you lose interest, write a summary telling what you would have liked to see happen, post it as a Final Summary with explanation and be done with it. Your readers will thank you for it.

#2 -- Write because you love The Process (of writing) and have a story you must tell. Don't write if you only want praise.

#3 -- Remember that nobody owes you anything -- not praise, not criticism, nothing. Writing should be the reward in and of itself.

#4 -- Be honest about your "numbers." We've all seen stories where you just know the stats are self-generated bogus ones. It's childish and dishonest, so be realistic and appreciate whatever feedback you do get. It will mean more.

My collection of favorite Kyoya-paired stories are housed in Kyoya's Notebook in FFnet's Communities. It's not been updated recently, so gomen.

My own stories are cross-posted on Archive of Our Own. Do visit and join. It's easy-peasy, there's no censorship and a gazillion fandoms are housed there. Really!

Angelle, acolyte of Seshat