It's so hard. :/ I first started writing during a time when community was a HUGE part of the process, and it made being both a reader and a writer so much more fun and rewarding. I know things naturally shift and change (tho lately it feels like so many things are shifting and changing for the worse), but it's just sad to see fandom losing such a core part of it's identity. In the past, I've really tried to do what I could to bring some of that feeling and connection back but unfortunately a lot of my efforts didn't really take off and I eventually got burnt out. I love our little fic community so much and I do actually think the engagement is relatively high compared to fandoms of similar sizes in this current era, but I'll always want to see it thrive more. I want it to be a community that inspires more people to write and read and engage for as long as possible. It's a very dear space to me.

I do welcome all svt fic writers AND readers to join the Carat Collective discord. It's something I am SO SO thankful for and I appreciate everyone who joined and has kept it active and supportive and full of good vibes for so long. If nothing else, you'll have fellow writers to talk to who understand your struggles.

First of all, thank you for contributing to the community and sharing your fics! I'm always really happy to hear that there are new writers in the fandom!

That said, I'm sorry you're feeling discouraged. I know how disappointing it can be to put a lot of love and effort into something and have it go unseen.

I do think the svt fandom (and fandom in general!) is in a bit of a weird place right now. There's less engagement all across the board just by nature of it being enlistment era and less fans are coming in than going out. Minwon being (publicly) separated so long term has absolutely had an effect on both readers and writers. In the past, one interaction between them would result in multiple writers being inspired to create fic, and even more readers being excited to read them. Now we're in a kind of limbo where, generally, I think if you weren't already actively interested in mw fic, there's less to draw you into it. The reader base is shrinking for sure. I would not be surprised if 99% of my own engagement is coming from readers who subscribed to me back when the fic community was booming and are now only exposed to what I'm posting by force-fed AO3 emails lol. I also think, unfortunately, there's some hesitancy around reading works from new fic writers (in all fandoms) because of how prevalent AI usage has become and how much of it is flooding the tags.

But I do think there are still some things you can do to try and get your works out there! I don't know how long you've been writing or exactly what kinds of fics you're putting out, so I'm not sure how helpful some of this advice will be, but I'll still try my best!

First, having even just ONE cheerleader can make a world of difference. If you have any fandom friends who read/write, talk fic with them! So much of my own motivation comes from the encouragement of just a small handful of friends who let me babble in their dms about my fic brainworms. Be willing to be that person for them too! If you don't have anyone, join our Carat Writers discord! There's lots of channels to talk fic, sprint, ask for beta readers, etc. It's a really really great group. The link to join is in my pinned carrd! (i dont post the link directly to avoid bots.)

Self-promote! If you have a twitter or tumblr, post links to your fics with the minwon tag. Share snippets and wips. Use @caratslibrary to boost when you post.

Join fests and exchanges! There's always at least one running and it can be a good way to get new eyes on your works. If deadlines give you writing paralysis (me) do something like kinktober or prompt bingos where you can set your own schedules.

I've noticed that there are a lot of on-going chaptered fics in the mw tag lately (guilty as charged) . Do you have any one-shot stories you're inspired to tell? Readers tend to engage more with new writer's fics when they're complete. You might also find there's more demand for one-shots right now.

I know you said you just wanted to vent (which is totally valid), so you might not even be looking for advice. But I'm sure there are others who are feeling the same way you are. It's been tough to see fandom communities changing over time and direct engagement lessening overall. I do think this fandom is still a wonderful place and more active than many so I hope you stick with writing. You can never really predict what will resonate with people, and sometimes all it takes is posting a fic at the right time to get more eyes on it. Definitely keep trying! I want to see this community thrive even through this difficult enlistment period!

you are very kind. 🥰 honestly, i can't say i really have a favorite author or an author im super attached to. my tastes can be very all over the place and ive always enjoyed reading many different things. (for example, the last four books i read were three bags full, the miracles of the namiya general store, the poet empress, and the last threshold—which is the 26th book in the legend of drizzt series on working through.) i choose mostly horror and high fantasy when i'm at the library, but there's a lot of readers in my family/friend circle who pass around books and recommendations so i read a lot of random stuff that way too!

if i had to give definitive answers on what shaped me the most as a writer, the first would be my high school creative writing teacher. such a badass, encouraging guy. also my 8th grade english teacher who did the coolest long-term edgar allen poe unit, tolkien whose books i read over and over as soon as i could manage it, stephen king who i definitely started reading way too young lol, and c.s. lewis (i will forever consume any and all alice in wonderland related media). in general, i really love writers who can create big, fantastical worlds or set strong atmospheres.

so, that's the long version you probably weren't asking for lol. but thank you for being so sweet and supportive!