why I lock my fics to subscribers only

I've seen this topic floating around from time to time here on AFF and decided to give my two cents.

 

I'm a fairly new writer (started to post here last 2015) and at the beginning, didn't really think about the options - 'members-only', 'subscribers-only', etc. - I just wanted to write and share what I had with the AFF community and hoped someone would be interested enough to read it. And people were (to my complete and utter disbelief) and they were so so nice, very supportive & encouraging.

 

And as a new writer, y'all remember that feeling of excitement, that thrill when your notif icon is red and you get new subs,new comments, upvotes. I will never forget that feeling even two years later, as I'm typing this post. And as a newbie, I got kinda obsessed,  even looking at the views, the stats (pathetic, i know, but this was all so new to me XD) and what I noticed was this - the views for every chapter counted higher than the actual subs. That confused me and obsessed as I was, I started to put two and two together and came up with the conclusion: people were reading my stories but didn't comment or even subscribe to it.

 

And that did not sit well with me, tbh. Here I was, trying my hardest to come up with a good chapter every week and people couldn't even spend one second to click the subscribe button.

 

So, I locked it to 'subscribers-only' and lo and behold, the subs came.

 

What I'm trying to say is that as a writer, I work really hard and spend a ridiculous amount of time (on top of work, school and real life in general) to post a good story. Don't you think that would at least warrant a simple click of the sub button, just one second of your time to let me know that you're reading it?

 

I don't see it as payment or punishment or whatever else. I see it as common courtesy.

 

And I feel the need to stress this out - no, I am not doing it for karma. I have no use for them, tbqh. I spend them because I have them. Not the other way around.

 

Besides, it's not such a disadvantage to see 'subs-only' fics, in my opinion. You get to see the foreword and a snippet of the chapters to figure out for yourself if the story and the writing style is your cup o' tea. And if you do end up not liking it, you are free to unsub (democracy and all that good ).

 

I can honestly say I've grown enough as a person to not be that bothered by unsubs. I know I'm not that good of a writer and there will be people who won't like your writing or plot or characters for whatever reason and i've made my peace with that.

 

 

So yeah, i think i've said everything i needed to.

 

Peace out!  ^^

 

 

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exocat15 #1
i definitely see your point. my stories are open to all and i didn't (i still don't, actually) get many subs or comments in proportion to the number of views. i debated setting my stories to subs only and i did for a short period (like three days, maybe) but then i reverted it back to open to everyone. the lack of comments and subs can be disheartening at times but that just makes the subs and comments i do get more special. i guess i don't mind if people don't subscribe; personally, unless i'm forced to subscribe, i read a story, leave a comment, and if i really enjoyed it, i subscribe. i just don't want to be a snitch demanding subs or comments bc that's really not my cup of tea. i much prefer it if people sub or leave comments out of their own volition.
if there's one circumstance in which setting a story to subs only is ok for me, it would probably be if it's an ongoing story with more spontaneous updates. that way, i won't forget to subscribe and miss the updates ^^
Angel110 #2
You are speaking my mind<3 readers should understand that but instead they keep whining about us bad, bad authors and even come up with new excuses why they don't comment or what bad things we are doing like not replying to comments (what is there to reply to when someone just write a disheartening update soon? I always comment to my readers but does it gain me more subs? nope, it doesn't. another excuse going down~) ah sometimes I'd just love to rant about ungrateful readers but that doesn't help anything ...
alamela040401 #3
There's nothing wrong with what you did...you're the author/writer so you all have the right to your stories...I honestly am a bit guilty of those specially with one shots...I seldom read one shots so I kinda prefer those with no "subscriber only" stories. But if a certain one shot story falls into my liking, i usually subscribed coz there are tendencies i re-read it :) But basically for chaptered ones I usually subscribe even if it has no specific instruction "for subscribers only" coz in that way I can be notified for updates...but there are times that when I find the story kinda boring and not the story that I expected it to be, I usually unsubscribe (sorry to whoever author that is)...but one way or another, it's your story so do anything with it dear... Thanks :)
zan8901 #4
Definitely understand. My stories are free for everyone and it can be a bit disheartening at times with the lack of comments (tbh I don't care for subs, like, I love comments so much. I have literally begged for comments. ;_;) I have thought about going on subscriber only because it could most likely result in more feedback from readers. :/ Sigh. I'm glad I'm not the only one who's had this problem.
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