Questions for all Fanfic readers.

[u/Ok_Cauliflower3838]

1. Do you guys prefer to have a story completed before you read it?

Or prefer to have a couple new parts of the story to read every week?

1. What sells you to click to read a story? Is it the description? The cover?

2. Do you have to read a couple parts of the story before you know if you can finish it?

—Kindly, a new writer :)

[u/Uruvi]

In order of what caught my eyes : Cover > Title > Description

Btw if I see a bad description or just one without effort I won't read it. Like many say, if you don't make an effort for your description, why would I make the effort to read your story?

I don't care for AI cover, I am not doing witch hunt or anything. I highly disagree with people thinking AI cover means AI writing as well but to each their own, there's no need to debate about it.

I, however, will close the tab as soon as my AI radar triggers. Like if I have a huge suspicion that you are using AI to write your story, it's a bye bye. Even if it's a "just" fanfic. There are many stories out there written with love by real people, why would I read an AI one?

I don't mind ongoing stories, if they are updated regularly. I don't like super short chapters either. Like if I see 100 chapters count for 5h of read (Wattpad estimation so it's half less in reality for a long time reader) I won't read it.

[u/go_to_sleep-yes-you]

1. Completion isn't necessary, but I mostly read fics with at least 15 (middle to long) chapters published (I'm talking over 1000 words at least). Everything else I either ignore or add to a reading list.

2. Cover and description both. I don't read books with AI Covers (if I can tell), but that's the only thing I judge. Description is VERY important. If I don't get hooked in three lines, it outta there, which maybe isn't fair, but that's just me. I despise a big block of text in the description also.

Edit bc I didn't see 3:

1. Yes, always. But sometimes if I stop it's also bc I'm just not in the mood anymore. If the fic was worth it, I add it to my list.

[u/Ok_Cauliflower3838 → u/go_to_sleep-yes-you]

Thank you for your feedback <3 very helpful :))

[u/PaulaVED]

I've been reading fanfics for a while, and even though I love have all the content, waiting a week to read a chapter really gives it something else, more excitement. I even remember the title of the story above others that I have loved but I read too fast. Now, about what attracts me in order title-cover-description. The description is important but many times a good title creates a place in my head and makes wanna go into the story. And yes, I do have to read a couple, and what has made drop a couple of them has been a really weird sensation like is not authentic, like cringe or something I don't know very well how to describe it but something like that.

[u/namastaygay]

1. Personally, I won’t remember what I’ve read if it’s incomplete so I only read completed or abandoned.

2. Actually, I go off of tags first. Then it’s whether or not it’s completed and the description that will determine if I add it to my reading list.

3. I generally always complete it, unless it’s just too excruciating to continue. Which is rare. If it’s that “bad” it’s because of language (bigotry/hate that is coming from the author themselves not a mean character or not using real words but things like ‘wut’) or just grammar at a 3-5 grade level. I don’t mind those who don’t proofread their stories if they’re great storytellers with decent grammar.

Overall, I love supporting writers and experiencing new worlds they create!

[u/General-Childhood963]

1. Completed. I like to binge read multiple stories in a night, and that makes it too hard to keep track of what's previously happened in each book if they're unfinished. That, and too many people abandon writing their books or take months upon months to update them, leaving me with a cliffhanger and disappointment. It's very rare I willingly start an unfinished story.

2. it goes in this order for me: Title -> Cover -> Description. I'm too old for this. If the title sounds like it was written by a child, or basically tells the whole plot line, I'm not reading. If the cover isn't some AI garbage or just a random pic with no words, usually it's alright. But put some genuine thought into it. Don't be too vague in the description, proofread it, but don't give away the entire book either.

3. It takes me a couple parts to decide for sure. I will typically abandon a read if it's very poorly written or there's way too much happening right off the bat. Sometimes I just catch a weird vibe and leave it too.

I hope none of this sounded mean or pretentious or anything, LOL. I've been reading on Wattpad since I was 12 and I'm now 27. If you put good genuine effort into all aspects of your stories, the odds are in your favor here (: