Maximum number of self-created fanworks for an unpopular fandom/ship

[g_uava]

What's the upper limit of fanworks you've created as a self-sustaining fan? That means relying on yourself primarily to sustain your own interest to complete your creative projects since your fandom/ship/favourite is so obscure that feedback and other fanworks to inspire you are hard to come by.

Also, would you have wished to have created more for the same unpopular fandom/ship, even if there remains few others who are just as invested?


The most I've created is around 30,000 words of fics and fewer than 10 non-writing fanworks (icons, gifsets, fanvideos) for a rare pair from an old fandom. It's so rare that there were (and still are) no other English language fanworks for the ship aside from what I've created.

I'm satisfied with what I've created and am glad to move on to another canon that involved tackling a new challenge in my fanworks. But if I were to write for the ship again, I'd more deliberately include a larger variety of fun fanfic tropes in my fics.

Comments

[hydriotaphia]

This really got me thinking about my writing experience because I've tended to be more of a reader over the last decade until I fell headfirst into my current fandom about 18 months ago.

Most of my AO3 fics are for one fandom, but I tend to write what interests me so I have random little oneshots for obscure things and pairings.

Three of my AO3 fics across three different fandoms are for pairings that I'm the first and only writer for because *shrug* my brain. I get interested in a thought or scene, and I write when I have something to say.

I will admit that I'm not really self-sustaining. The lack of any user feedback does stop me occasionally and there are WIPs that will probably stay drawer-fic because the amount of effort it'd take me to finish them just feels wildly out of proportion with their likely reception. Always amazed and delighted by people who are self-sustaining!

[g_uava]

Just want to say that I like the lil old guy in your icon. He looks like he's from some academic textbook but with more personality than the usual illustrations.

Even drawer-fics need some kind of sustenance or fuel to get to the good parts since writing is often hard work!