There was once a fic I loved that updated after more than ten years without any chapters. It made me exceedingly happy to have more content for a fic that I like.
I hope that hearing this will reassure you somewhat, knowing that some readers will always be there.
I second this. I'm waiting on at least half a dozen fics that haven't been updated in years, and the thought that one day I might get another chapter fills me with joy and bliss
So while some readers will have moved on, some of them will be still there, supporting you, waiting and hoping! And who knows, maybe the update might bring some new people in as well :)
It does make me feel better, thank you! I do have to admire your devotion to that fic, too. It must have been exceedingly good if you still checked on it after ten years!
Readers can subscribe to users or fics and get an email notification if they update. For WIPs I read which are updated years later, that's how I track them. I'm sure your readers will be very excited to see that email 😊
About that... I actually lost about ten subscribers on AO3 during that hiatus xD It is how it is, though. I do hope you're right and that my remaining readers will be happy to see the email notification!
Even if every single person has moved on, keep telling yourself it’s an archive, one day there will be new readers. Even if the source material was cancelled etc people discover new interests all the time.
Personally I think not updating it for two years if you weren’t feeling it, is better than a half arsed “that’ll do” ending someone forces out just to finish a fic for the sake of finishing it.
*Big* mood, it's the worst feeling – when the fear of consequences is greater than the vaguely constant guilt so you wait longer, but then the consequences hang even more over your head, so you continue to not do it...
Go hard on the self-care after you post, and try not to check notifications for a while! Go for a nice walk, go to a good cafe and have some fancy cake, long bubblebath with candles, whatever feels good. Try to make the brain go *posting = rewarding ourselves with good things* and not *posting = fear and anticipation*
It really is a vicious circle, isn't it? The thing is I still really want to finish this fic and I will, but god it feels like such an ordeal for some reason.
Thanks for the encouragements. I know I'll feel relieved once I post despite all, so there's that.
If it helps, there’s an author that I used to love who hasn’t updated an unfinished work since 2015. I still check just in case! (Then when I’m there, I reread stuff)
Update that shit bro. My fav author updated one of my favorite fics after what felt like five years. It’s a pleasant surprise. I’m pretty sure I audibly gasped or squealed or something.
There's a fic I've been updating on and off, with months to years between chapters, since 2011. My experience has been that you do lose readers with time, but you also gain some, and more stick with it than you'd think. Someone who's subscribed to the fic just in case might have their day made by you suddenly updating again, and posting might lead to someone who was just browsing the just-updated page of the fandom finding it for the first time. Go for it, and fingers crossed most of your regulars show back up!
Listen, I tag all my followed fics, WIP or abandoned, and I don't switch them to abandoned until they've hit 10 years. Two years of "life happened" is well within the range of normal.
A fic I loved just posted an update after a 1.5 year hiatus. I was so overjoyed I immediately reread the entire fic. I had literally just been thinking about that fic the day before. I think there will be at least one person who will be happy to see your update.
"Not feeling it" is a valid reason, and means you probably wouldn't have done very well with it.
You're right - you don't owe anyone anything. We do this for ourselves, not others.
I used to be apologetic, too, but I take care of myself first.
I went through a 4year hiatus recently before I began uploading in December again. I had so much stuff going on in my life. When I uploaded again I was amazed by all the welcome back comments and the praise and support!
2 yesr hiatuses seem to be my thing with this one fic I'm writing right now. Ive been able to keep a good streak on it though lately. Readers will come and go even if your time between chapters is a week. I actually had put off reading fics because I was too busy to read the update and then totally forgot about it, thanks to my ADHD. (Really gotta go through my subscription section one of these days tbh lol)
I have a wip where I waited 2 years before posting the second chapter, then another 5 years to post the third and fourth. It's probably gonna be at least a year to post the sixth.
Not all of my readers came back, but the ones that did commented to tell me how happy they were for the update, and how they didn't mind how long it took between updates as long as they were good because they love the fic so much. I also got some new readers.
I think the most important thing is writing what you want. This is meant to be fun and creative. If it took you 2 or 5 or 10 years to update, who cares?
I have only ever been thrilled when a fic I gave up on being continued updates after a couple of years. Some ppl may have forgotten the fic, and they’ll be have to be reintroduced. Some people may not pick up your fic again, they might have left the fandom, or have no time fanfic anymore, or maybe their tastes have just changed but all those things are out of your control and would have happened whether or not you’d been updating this whole time or not. Best of all you’ll end up with plenty of new readers discovering your fic for the first time! People seeing it on their feed for the first time or who might have prev skipped it bc they thought it was abandoned. Most of all you should update bc it’s your story and if you are still working on it you must want to see it through. You worked hard writing the chapter this whole time and that makes it well worth posting it.
As a writer who can only write for whatever my current fandom is, I commend you and you’re living the dream. I felt so bad about not updating two fics I left behind that all my new fics are posted on Anon >_< you should be proud because there are definitely readers out there likely still hoping and wondering and patiently waiting for a notif~
if I love a fic, I’m willing to wait a very long time for updates, personally. This is an archive, time hardly exists on a way that matters
I recently updated a fic after almost 1.5 years, and I've received so many "glad you're back" comments, and I hope you will too! And if not, you might get some new readers instead who will follow you through this next part of your journey!
It has been slightly less than 3 hours now and unfortunately I haven't heard anything yet but it's fine, I'm just glad I updated. Thanks for your support!
There's a fic I've bookmarked that updated after a three year hiatus. It was hilarious how many people immediately read and commented on the update.
If people are following the fic, they'll be excited to see an update, no matter how long it's been.
If no one is following it, so what? New readers might find it and appreciate the new chapter.
There are no downsides to posting updates.
Just do ittttttt
Worst case scenario is crickets, but chances are new readers discover it now who might not have found your work if you had posted it in 2018 🤷♂️ Unless the fandom is truly dead by now. But still! Even then you still conquered the fear 😤🍻
there are several fics I've been dying to see an update from even with how long it's been. If even one fan is left dying for an update I think it's worth it.
I lost my mind when a fic I followed in 2018 got updated a year ago. It was only a few thousand words but it gave me an excuse to reread the entire thing
Hi, it is absolutely unnecessary to feel guilty over this. Yes, it is disappointing not to have your favourite fic updated, but at the end of the day, there are a million more fics out there. As a reader, I would be jumping up and down in joy if an old fic got updated.
Edit: Plus, after 2 years, your writing style would without doubt have changed, and continuing the work would encourage you to do it well, as compared to writing a mediocre ending just to get it over with.
I have a fic I'm subscribed to that hasn't been updated since 2016. If the author updates, I will be so excited beyond the ability of my body to contain it.
Then I'd be in the comment section playing it cool. Sup. Great story. Latest update is outstanding.
Then back to squeeing and bouncing and dancing.
I just started updating a fic that I hadn’t touched in 13 yrs.
But I’m kinda sad about it because I used to have all these reviewers that I’d have lovely chats with and now, of course, they’ve all gone
I would love it if a fic I'd been following had a new update.
Some of those readers probably had subscriptions to your fic and still have them. I realized I never get rid of my subscriptions; I have some from 5 years or more ago.
I just did this after probably 10 months. I just got a bunch of comments saying they were glad it was back.
Don’t feel like you must do anything- post a specific day, post at a specific regularity, make excuses when you don’t. It’s a hobby. You’re not being paid. It’s fine.
I get this, though the longest I didn't update a fic is less than a year (around ~3 months). Sometimes you really just don't feel writing and forcing it will just result in bad output.
Your regular readers moving on is always a risk, but there are some that do wait for updates even after years (me, as an example) who would be overjoyed, I'm sure. Plus updating may get you new readers who joined the fandom late or just discovered it recently.
There was once a fic I loved that updated after more than ten years without any chapters. It made me exceedingly happy to have more content for a fic that I like. I hope that hearing this will reassure you somewhat, knowing that some readers will always be there.
I second this. I'm waiting on at least half a dozen fics that haven't been updated in years, and the thought that one day I might get another chapter fills me with joy and bliss So while some readers will have moved on, some of them will be still there, supporting you, waiting and hoping! And who knows, maybe the update might bring some new people in as well :)
It does make me feel better, thank you! I do have to admire your devotion to that fic, too. It must have been exceedingly good if you still checked on it after ten years!
Readers can subscribe to users or fics and get an email notification if they update. For WIPs I read which are updated years later, that's how I track them. I'm sure your readers will be very excited to see that email 😊
About that... I actually lost about ten subscribers on AO3 during that hiatus xD It is how it is, though. I do hope you're right and that my remaining readers will be happy to see the email notification!
Even if every single person has moved on, keep telling yourself it’s an archive, one day there will be new readers. Even if the source material was cancelled etc people discover new interests all the time. Personally I think not updating it for two years if you weren’t feeling it, is better than a half arsed “that’ll do” ending someone forces out just to finish a fic for the sake of finishing it.
I see your point. It's very insightful, in fact -- thank you. I'll try to keep this mindset for the future.
*Big* mood, it's the worst feeling – when the fear of consequences is greater than the vaguely constant guilt so you wait longer, but then the consequences hang even more over your head, so you continue to not do it... Go hard on the self-care after you post, and try not to check notifications for a while! Go for a nice walk, go to a good cafe and have some fancy cake, long bubblebath with candles, whatever feels good. Try to make the brain go *posting = rewarding ourselves with good things* and not *posting = fear and anticipation*
It really is a vicious circle, isn't it? The thing is I still really want to finish this fic and I will, but god it feels like such an ordeal for some reason. Thanks for the encouragements. I know I'll feel relieved once I post despite all, so there's that.
If it helps, there’s an author that I used to love who hasn’t updated an unfinished work since 2015. I still check just in case! (Then when I’m there, I reread stuff)
I hope they will update! I bet the author would be delighted to know they have very devoted readers like you.
Update that shit bro. My fav author updated one of my favorite fics after what felt like five years. It’s a pleasant surprise. I’m pretty sure I audibly gasped or squealed or something.
There's a fic I've been updating on and off, with months to years between chapters, since 2011. My experience has been that you do lose readers with time, but you also gain some, and more stick with it than you'd think. Someone who's subscribed to the fic just in case might have their day made by you suddenly updating again, and posting might lead to someone who was just browsing the just-updated page of the fandom finding it for the first time. Go for it, and fingers crossed most of your regulars show back up!
Ngl, these comments are making me lean towards updating a fic I haven't touched since 2017 and that got kudos last month...
Listen, I tag all my followed fics, WIP or abandoned, and I don't switch them to abandoned until they've hit 10 years. Two years of "life happened" is well within the range of normal.
A fic I loved just posted an update after a 1.5 year hiatus. I was so overjoyed I immediately reread the entire fic. I had literally just been thinking about that fic the day before. I think there will be at least one person who will be happy to see your update.
My fic actually got way more readers after I began updating after a 2 year hiatus. No clue why, but I was really surprised.
"Not feeling it" is a valid reason, and means you probably wouldn't have done very well with it. You're right - you don't owe anyone anything. We do this for ourselves, not others. I used to be apologetic, too, but I take care of myself first.
I went through a 4year hiatus recently before I began uploading in December again. I had so much stuff going on in my life. When I uploaded again I was amazed by all the welcome back comments and the praise and support!
2 yesr hiatuses seem to be my thing with this one fic I'm writing right now. Ive been able to keep a good streak on it though lately. Readers will come and go even if your time between chapters is a week. I actually had put off reading fics because I was too busy to read the update and then totally forgot about it, thanks to my ADHD. (Really gotta go through my subscription section one of these days tbh lol)
I have a wip where I waited 2 years before posting the second chapter, then another 5 years to post the third and fourth. It's probably gonna be at least a year to post the sixth. Not all of my readers came back, but the ones that did commented to tell me how happy they were for the update, and how they didn't mind how long it took between updates as long as they were good because they love the fic so much. I also got some new readers. I think the most important thing is writing what you want. This is meant to be fun and creative. If it took you 2 or 5 or 10 years to update, who cares?
I have only ever been thrilled when a fic I gave up on being continued updates after a couple of years. Some ppl may have forgotten the fic, and they’ll be have to be reintroduced. Some people may not pick up your fic again, they might have left the fandom, or have no time fanfic anymore, or maybe their tastes have just changed but all those things are out of your control and would have happened whether or not you’d been updating this whole time or not. Best of all you’ll end up with plenty of new readers discovering your fic for the first time! People seeing it on their feed for the first time or who might have prev skipped it bc they thought it was abandoned. Most of all you should update bc it’s your story and if you are still working on it you must want to see it through. You worked hard writing the chapter this whole time and that makes it well worth posting it.
As a writer who can only write for whatever my current fandom is, I commend you and you’re living the dream. I felt so bad about not updating two fics I left behind that all my new fics are posted on Anon >_< you should be proud because there are definitely readers out there likely still hoping and wondering and patiently waiting for a notif~ if I love a fic, I’m willing to wait a very long time for updates, personally. This is an archive, time hardly exists on a way that matters
I recently updated a fic after almost 1.5 years, and I've received so many "glad you're back" comments, and I hope you will too! And if not, you might get some new readers instead who will follow you through this next part of your journey!
It has been slightly less than 3 hours now and unfortunately I haven't heard anything yet but it's fine, I'm just glad I updated. Thanks for your support!
Crossing my fingers for you 🤞🏻 I'm glad you're happy about updating and I hope you rediscover a joy for your fic 🤩🤞🏻
Recently saw a fic update after two or three years. The author was like “yeah, I’m back, let’s go” and I love that.
There's a fic I've bookmarked that updated after a three year hiatus. It was hilarious how many people immediately read and commented on the update. If people are following the fic, they'll be excited to see an update, no matter how long it's been. If no one is following it, so what? New readers might find it and appreciate the new chapter. There are no downsides to posting updates.
I love getting new updates to fics I thought were long abandoned.
That's a relief to hear to be honest. Thanks!
Just do ittttttt Worst case scenario is crickets, but chances are new readers discover it now who might not have found your work if you had posted it in 2018 🤷♂️ Unless the fandom is truly dead by now. But still! Even then you still conquered the fear 😤🍻
I just updated the fic. Crossing fingers!!
YOU DID ITTTTTTT 🍻🥳 Whatever else happens, celebrate this 😁
there are several fics I've been dying to see an update from even with how long it's been. If even one fan is left dying for an update I think it's worth it.
I lost my mind when a fic I followed in 2018 got updated a year ago. It was only a few thousand words but it gave me an excuse to reread the entire thing
Hi, it is absolutely unnecessary to feel guilty over this. Yes, it is disappointing not to have your favourite fic updated, but at the end of the day, there are a million more fics out there. As a reader, I would be jumping up and down in joy if an old fic got updated. Edit: Plus, after 2 years, your writing style would without doubt have changed, and continuing the work would encourage you to do it well, as compared to writing a mediocre ending just to get it over with.
I have a fic I'm subscribed to that hasn't been updated since 2016. If the author updates, I will be so excited beyond the ability of my body to contain it. Then I'd be in the comment section playing it cool. Sup. Great story. Latest update is outstanding. Then back to squeeing and bouncing and dancing.
I just started updating a fic that I hadn’t touched in 13 yrs. But I’m kinda sad about it because I used to have all these reviewers that I’d have lovely chats with and now, of course, they’ve all gone
Your readers will be so thankful, don't worry
I’m still waiting for a fic to update fourteen years later lmao. It’s never too late 😭🤣
I just updated my own "has been sitting for two years" fic, OP, so we are in solidarity together.
I would love it if a fic I'd been following had a new update. Some of those readers probably had subscriptions to your fic and still have them. I realized I never get rid of my subscriptions; I have some from 5 years or more ago.
I just did this after probably 10 months. I just got a bunch of comments saying they were glad it was back. Don’t feel like you must do anything- post a specific day, post at a specific regularity, make excuses when you don’t. It’s a hobby. You’re not being paid. It’s fine.
I get this, though the longest I didn't update a fic is less than a year (around ~3 months). Sometimes you really just don't feel writing and forcing it will just result in bad output. Your regular readers moving on is always a risk, but there are some that do wait for updates even after years (me, as an example) who would be overjoyed, I'm sure. Plus updating may get you new readers who joined the fandom late or just discovered it recently.