To readers who only read finished fics...

I would like to share an anecdote! I recently just finished a longfic that took me close to a year to write. I'm overjoyed and even proud of myself that I got to the finish line, and I want to say that my writing journey was made so much more enjoyable by readers who commented or dropped a kudo or two along the way!

I know we all say to write for ourselves, and of course I wrote this for me first and foremost. But reading sweet comments every chapter cheering me on -- which I don't take for granted!!! -- was like a warm, encouraging hug that kept me going whenever I was unsure or a little burned out.

My point is: so many writers (not all, of course, but plenty) get to the finishing line because readers give them a chance along the way. I promise I'm not trying to dictate your reading preferences, and I totally respect what makes for a safe space for you! But I hope that my experience would allow us to realise that if everyone only ever wanted finished fics from the get-go and nothing else, there may not be as much finished fics as we'd like.

Also, my favourite fanfic of all time was abandoned many years ago but I don't regret reading it at all. Even now, it takes up a special place in my heart and if I could, I would happily read it all again like it's the first time. (My heart still bleeds at the lack of closure though... haha. But I still wouldn't give up what I gained because of what I lost.)

Again, I want to clarify that this is NOT an attack on anyone who reads only finished works -- just some food for thought. Thank you for hearing my recent experience out!

Edit: To the few who took issue with the "if everyone only ever wanted finished fics" part, I just want to clarify.

I meant it's partly thanks to the people with different mindsets (loving WIPs vs only finished works) who sometimes help facilitate creating the finished fics you love. It's just a way of being appreciative of their role here and hoping we can share that appreciation, not a literal way of saying that everyone prefers finished fics. I'm well aware that not everyone prefers finished fics. Sorry for the confusion!