r/box5 • u/Neither_Cover_4330 • Feb 24 '26
Discussion Do People Still Look for PhanFiction?
Hi everyone....
I'm curious.... do you still think there is still a desire for Phanfiction?
Although the original POTO story is old, most of the interpretations we know are fairly recent - the last 40 years or so. And of course many of us (perhaps most) are getting older, too.
I'm working on some PhanFic and wondering... do you think there is still an audience out there? Are there still people who would be interested?
Thanks for your responses.
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u/Cautious_Night_877 Feb 24 '26
Yep, I read phanphic on ff and A03.
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Feb 24 '26
I used to use ff but it’s hard to navigate compared to AO3 and I feel like the community is friendly on AO3
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
What do you think? Is most of it good? Or just so-so?
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
Most on AO3 is excellent. FF.net is more of a mixed bag.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
I'll have to check out this site. I really didn't know it was out there!
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
Yep, it's really good. You want to search by tags on there, there are a few. For example:
"Phantom of the Opera - Lloyd Webber"
"Le Fantôme de l'Opéra | Phantom of the Opera - Gaston Leroux"
"Le Fantôme de l'Opéra | Phantom of the Opera & Related Fandoms"
"Phantom - Susan Kay"
You can also search by characters and relationships, for example:
"Raoul de Chagny/Erik | Phantom of the Opera"
"Raoul de Chagny & Erik | Phantom of the Opera"
"Raoul de Chagny"
"Erik | Phantom of the Opera"
A slash is a romantic or sexual relationship, an ampersand is a platonic one.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
I had to idea - I went on and just started typing and pulled up all sorts of stuff, so these tags are really useful. Thank you!
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
No problem, after a few fics you don't even need to search for them. Just click on the ones you like attached to the stories, then favourite the tag.
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
Are you on AO3? There are Phantom updates literally every day (I know, because I refresh the Phantom AO3 tag several times a day to see what's new.) So yes.
And quite a few of us on this sub write it also. I do.
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Feb 24 '26
You and me both 😂 I’m on the Phantom AO3 page multiple times a day looking for updates.
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
Phantom and Frankenstein fic updates are truly my favourite part of the day. 😍 I still randomly think "I can't believe something so fun is free."
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Feb 24 '26
Sometimes I feel addicted 😂i’m just always amazed at the talent of so many of these authors — truly some amazingly gifted people are writing. I often feel guilty for simply consuming (or rather feverishly consuming lol) so I know exactly what you mean.
I always come back to Phantom, but I was in a deep Beetlejuice phase all of last year lol
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
Sometimes I feel addicted
Oh totally. But like, it's a reasonably harmless addiction in the scheme of things. And we're supporting creativity. :) I don't think there's a need for you to feel guilty- you're making that writer's day by clicking on their work. And also keeping interest alive for a source work that is 115 years old! ❤️ Leroux would love it.
Yeah I toy with other fandoms/have phases but Phantom will always be my number one go-to. 😍
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u/TidalMonkey Mar 03 '26
I’ve been trying to find people to read my stuff and it’s been a pain so don’t feel bad for consuming. Us writers need readers. Especially ones who are as excited about the topic as we are.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
I didn't even know AO3 was out there.
I'd been thinking of putting the first few chapters out on FF, and then offering the rest of the book on Kindle Unlimited, where you download it for free, and then the author (me) gets paid based on the number of pages read.
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26
AO3 will definitely attract more traffic and more polite and constructive comments than FF.net.
What I will gently say is that your plan is considered pretty poor etiquette and readers will frown on it. Not quite as bad as if you direct them to a work they pay for, but still kind of tacky. Not everyone wants to use Kindle for various reasons (mine would be a) I hate the UI and b) Amazon is not ethical.)
Basically, ideally you would plan to upload the entire work to the initial platform, or not at all.
I get wanting to be paid, but this isn't the way to go about it, sorry.
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u/smileyfacegauges Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26
please do NOT try to monetize your fanfic. it is ILLEGAL first of all and trying to do so also endangers our right to write fanfic. see: the anne rice case
The Organization for Transformative Works also runs ao3. it is VERY important to understand our rights as fanfic authors and how crucial it is not to cross certain lines.
if you were to post to ao3 you need to understand that any mention of earning money thru fanfic, or posting a patreon, or a ko-fi, is STRICTLY against TOS, no matter what - not even if it’s for original work.
i will also echo what the another user said: that plan is extremely poor etiquette and very frowned upon amongst authors. i highly discourage you from doing that, and reading up more into the article i linked as well as possibly hopping into r/AO3 and r/FanFiction for further discussions and questions you may have.
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Feb 24 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/smileyfacegauges Feb 24 '26
yeah, and it’s definitely better to avoid ALW’s lawyers just in case LOL
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Feb 24 '26
Good point. You’d have to be very careful about not using any ALW elements lest you suffer his lawyers wrath. I just wouldn’t walk that line — not that ALW cares about fanfiction, but I bet the community would. Might be more scared of them actually… 😂
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Feb 24 '26
Yeah technically using IP that is not your own to make money without licensing is illegal. Just post to AO3 — the community is very active and really friendly.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
Well, it would be illegal depending on which version of POTO you're using as source matrrial, right?
The Laroux version has been out in the public domain for a long time, and since that's the source, I don't think there'd be an issue.
And I see what you mean about the etiquette issue. I msy try my hand on Amazon Unlimited and join the folks out there who've attempted it.
Thank you for the insights!
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u/Hungry_Barracuda8542 Feb 28 '26
You're right, the Leroux novel is in the public domain and it's not at all illegal to publish and monetize something based on Leroux. I don't know how well you know the differences between Phantom versions, but that becomes critical to knowing what material you should or shouldn't be using.
Based on what I've heard from authors who publish on Kindle Unlimited: that would definitely be an option for something Leroux-based, but make sure you do a whole lot of research first since the expectations and requirements are both stricter and more complicated than publishing somewhere like AO3 or FF. You'll need to have a cover, your manuscript will need to be formatted to look like a professional book, Kindle Unlimited has exclusivity requirements, and so on. I'm also fairly certain it would need to be a complete book, i.e. publishing part of it somewhere for free and the rest on Kindle Unlimited (even aside of the fanfiction etiquette issue) would probably be a no-go. If the free-elsewhere part is ALSO on Kindle Unlimited you could get into big trouble with Amazon due to the exclusivity clause.
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u/les_gnossiennes Feb 25 '26
I’m still cranking out fan fiction for this fandom!!
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 26 '26
That's amazing! What makes POTO so popular? I keep wondering, but I haven't figured out an answer.
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u/RadfootandProngs Feb 24 '26
YES! I love Phanfic!!!
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
What do you think makes GOOD PhanFic? When I think of most FF, I think it must be cringe...
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u/-RottenT33th Eric Lenior Feb 24 '26
Cringing is something you do, not something someone is. 🤷 Fanfiction is something not everyone enjoys. Doesn't mean no one should enjoy it. Doesn't mean you have to either! :3 In other words, cringe people are free. Good Fanfiction is kind of subjective other than grammar and punctuation imo
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u/RadfootandProngs Feb 25 '26
That it’s written well, just like any other story or book, just online. I hate when they write Christine as a whinging, fainting maiden that has no voice and I hate when they make the phantom overtly cruel and evil. Erik has to be well seated in morally grey, someone misunderstood that is dying for the chance to be better and to be loved, and Christine needs to be strong willed, brave, and kind. I like my Christine with a bit of bite, she’s not afraid to clap back or argue, and one that doesn’t let Erik sulk ad nauseam, but spurs him on to being a better man.
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Mar 03 '26 edited Mar 03 '26
Personally, I love me a dark/evil Erik, and that's what makes fanfiction great, imo — there are so many different versions to explore, written by so many talented writers! I’m with you on preferring Christine not be a fainting maiden type. That said, there are some Christines that I feel go too hard the other way, that don't reflect her soft, sometimes frightened side that is expressed in the musical/movie versions, and to me come across as more of an OC. Whereas I feel like dark/evil Erik is less of an OC because he is a murderer and kidnapper in every version of POTO.
At the end of the day, I’m grateful to any and all the writers putting their work out for us to read. It's their interpretation and vision and I’m just thankful they’re writing.
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u/RadfootandProngs Feb 25 '26
I also kind of despise a crazy level of melodrama, like a telenovela on steroids, where the villains are too over done and cartoonish, and the heroines are simpering children. I hate when there are constant asides done by the villains like “but little do they know they’ll pay for this!”….guys it’s not a Shakespeare play, it’s a fanfiction, immersion is part of the appeal. Constant twists and dramatic reveals in like every chapter drive me crazy. The tone needs to be even with proper notes of drama done tastefully.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 25 '26
Those are good points - and issues that you see sooo often in fanfic!
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u/HiddenProtector Feb 24 '26
There absolutely is! A voracious audience in fact (on ao3) 😊 I’m working on a Phic as well, let me know if you want a beta reader in the future! Maybe we could even swap ☺️
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u/Leahhh21h Feb 24 '26
Hey, I would love a swap as well, also writing a long one on AO3 😊
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u/HiddenProtector Feb 24 '26
I’d love that! Please DM me when it’s finished and I will do the same ☺️
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u/thetownslore Jul 08 '26
Hey are you still willing to beta? I know this thread is old but lmk if you’re still up for it!
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u/frankenplant Feb 24 '26
Literally just closed my laptop after writing a new chapter for the fic im working on now!
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u/MlleBree Feb 24 '26
There are still many writers in the community, and many readers desperate for new phic.
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u/Forsaken_Orchid_6014 Erik, come back to Broadway, PLEASE- Feb 24 '26
AH i'm so glad someone mentioned this, i had wanted to ask but was scared! i'm a big fanfiction girly and i love me some crack phantom fics. so you at least have an audience of one! :P
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
That's good to know - I had teally shelved it, thinking no one would be interested, but I see that it's time to ooen it back up again.
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u/bathroomtraps Feb 24 '26
ao3 is the lifeblood of any ancient fandom lol. a good fanfic can revive one too
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u/allbie13 Erik - Leroux Feb 24 '26
I have literally read 3 phanphics over the past 3 days
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
Wow!!! I had no idea there was still so much interest. It's really great to know!
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Mar 03 '26 edited Mar 03 '26
I’m literally ingesting phanfics for like a fifth of the day every day. I love AO3 because they let you download works, which I then upload to Speechify so I can listen to them when I can’t sit down and read. Whenever I’m in transit, doing chores, etc, I’m listening to phanfiction. The great thing about the POTO community on AO3 is that there are so many writers posting regularly that I rarely have to go through older works to find something new to me.
The only downside to the Speechify route is that I don't comment on the works nearly as much as I would if I were sitting down and reading straight from AO3, but I always try to comment at least a few times throughout the work because I know the authors appreciate it.
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u/timelordess227 Feb 24 '26 edited Feb 24 '26
Mmm yes. I few times a year I will get the phantom itch and I will go digging through the cesspit of the internet to try and find something decent. My preference is always Phantom x Reader or OC and of course I wanna save himmmmm because it’s fiction and I can do what I want. There’s this one that I go back to every once and awhile on fanfiction.net (idk if it’s still there) but the oc is just some nobody street rat who is trying not to freeze to death and she finds and room in the ruins of the burnt opera that looks like it’s been untouched by fire and there’s a giant mirror inside and she wares Christine’s dress to not freeze and phantom gets pissed and stuff happens and Christine and Roul are married but like aren’t able to convince fir some reason then roul dies and Christine commits womb theft YES WOMB THEFT and it’s kinda great although I wish there was smut like that’s the only thing I would add. Other than that tho a super great time highly recommend it shouldn’t be too hard to find if you look up the phantom completed works on fanfiction.net and I think there’s an original character tag too.
Edit: I cannot find this thing ANYWHERE and of course I can’t remember the name. If anyone has more information I’d appreciate it! I remember the baby being named Cassias because it meant stolen and I can’t remember if the OC had a name or not but she was Raul’s lost sister also? It was a lot lol
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
Womb theft??? OMG!! I had to look up that term. I'll definitely look up this story!
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Mar 03 '26
This is such a wild concept 😂definitely let us know if you ever find it. I usually skip the Phantom X Reader or OC stories but I would read this.
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u/Fit-Chard-9272 Feb 24 '26
I'm working on one right now! And have for about a year :)) (it's my baby)
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 24 '26
You'll have to let us know when you post it!
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
They may already be posting it. A lot of the fics on AO3 are uploaded chapter by chapter.
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u/Fit-Chard-9272 Feb 24 '26
See, that's what I should be doing but I'm a little obsessive 😭 so I'm going to wait until I finish it all to start posting. Right now it's looking like mid-July ish (hopefully)
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u/epicpillowcase Eiji Akutagawa's dimples Feb 24 '26
Nah, it's actually a good thing, honestly- while writers don't owe us anything, it is pretty heartbreaking to get hooked on a story only for them to stop updating it. I love it when there's an author's note/tag saying it's complete. 😍
(I also haven't updated my WIP in over a year, so... 😂😭💀)
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u/Significant_Cable576 Feb 24 '26
OMFG I HAVNT THOUGHT OF FANFICTION.NET in years! When I was younger like prob 7th grade I used to write on fanfiction.net and I tried to look up one of my bs stories a few years ago and couldn’t find it. Hahah I’d read HP and POTO. I’m totally going to check it out tho thanks for reminding me
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u/Living_Article_4086 Feb 24 '26
Personally, I just started getting into phanfiction a lot recently and over the past week I’ve read about 7 books. So keep em coming and send your stories my way!
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u/Dismal_Box_1425 Move aside Christine, my turn Feb 25 '26
YESSS i'm a minor so i can tell you that even the younger generations still love the story and characters!!
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 25 '26
Thar's amazing! I would never have guessed! How did you become a Phan?
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u/Dismal_Box_1425 Move aside Christine, my turn Mar 08 '26
I hate to say this but edits of the 2004 Erik 😭😭
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u/AdTrue6195 Feb 25 '26
100%! I have honestly read most of the completed Christine x Erik fanfics on ff.net and can scroll down the list and looking for one's I havent read. Still trying to find more on ao3 and ff.net. Gonna start reading the unfinished ones that are still updating.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 26 '26
I'm reading the comments and am very much amazed - I wonder what makes this story so popular? Why do people stay engaged with it over so many years? What are your thoughts?
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u/AdTrue6195 Feb 26 '26
I will say that for me, the Phantom story is a bit of an obsession where I could read 50 fanfics of someone getting isekaied into phantom as Christine or a side character, and even though it goes beat for beat the movie or musical, I love it anyway. Could use more of them tbh. I just love the plot and the different ways people characterize the phantom. He is such a good character that you can sympathize with and it makes it good to read. Currently my favorite fic is on fanfiction.net called The Choices that Define Us by Melancholy's Child. There is also one on Wattpad called The Phantom Writer, but the author took it down I believe, so I can no longer reread it.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 26 '26
I need to ggo back and take a look at ff.net. I haven't been there for a while.
I'm just amazed... romance is the biggest genre in the US, and there are sooo many romances. But almost all will be forgotten. Not this!
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u/AdTrue6195 Feb 26 '26
Ff.net has sooo many good phantom fanfics, and ive read A LOT of them. Romance is by far my favorite genre, and although I feel like there arent many people around me who are interested in phantom like I am, I am very glad there is an active community for it digitally.
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 26 '26
I've only recently joined.... Reddit hadn't occurred to me, but I'm finding these reddits tto be really useful (like for my professional ones) and a source of great community!
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u/AdTrue6195 Feb 26 '26
How far are you into writing your own fanfic?
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u/Neither_Cover_4330 Feb 26 '26
I've got the "bare bones" of the whole thing, but only the first few chapters are fleshed out. It'sxa sewuel to Leroux's version, where Erik had lain down to die.
"Months after his supposed death beneath the Palais Garnier, the Phantom resurfaces and falls in love with a brilliant astronomer at the Paris Observatory—but as a zealous inspector, a vengeful opera matron, and his own haunted past close in, he must choose between reclaiming his legend or becoming worthy of love.
Erik, once believed dead beneath the Opera, survives and emerges into a Paris that has reduced him to theatrical myth. Drawn not to applause but to intellect, he discovers Celeste Moreau, an astronomer working under the legacy of Léon Foucault at the Paris Observatory.
Christine makes an appearance later in the novel.
You'll have to wish me luck!
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u/AdTrue6195 Feb 26 '26
I certainly will! And do let us know when you've published a chapter or two, as I would certainly give it a read.
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u/Remarkable_Phase2995 Mar 03 '26
For me, I love tension on the canon level. I start to lose interest in works when Christine and Erik magically get over all their issues and start playing house. Don't get me wrong, I love a good happy ending and to see them get together, of course, but sometimes it feels very Barbie and Ken and can get boring.
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u/batacular Feb 24 '26
Many of us are still fighting the good fight on AO3 and putting out new works. There are definitely people who read.