Okay, so recently I've been reading a lot on Ao3. Like... a lot a lot. Like too much. I haven't read a new Wattpad book in so fucking long. Like I'll just pop back when that one book I'm reading in my library gets updated and then just fuck off again. But just having spent the last like 6 years on Wattpad (WHAT THE FUCK) and the past week doing nothing but reading SBI AU fics on Ao3, I've noticed somethings.

A lot of the works that exist on Ao3, I don't want to say not canon-complacent or whatever, but they don't really seem to follow the story line of whatever they're writing about. Ya know? Like a lot of TV show/movie fics on here follow the plot of the TV show or movie. With TV shows, there's a chapter per episode or whatever. And it's similar with the books. And 9.999 times out of 10, there's an OC (or multiple ocs). But I don't know if I've read a single book on Ao3 that had an OC. Obviously there are like... background characters that they just created. But there isn't like a main OC ya know. 

Ao3 seems like a steal the characters and do whatever the fuck you want with them. Like AU's run fucking rampant over there. Whereas Wattpad is a create your own character and fucking punt them into the established universe. 

Obviously I'm not saying every book on Wattpad follows the OG plot with an OC and that every book on Ao3 doesn't or whatever. But it's definitely something that seems quite common between the two things. And I'm honestly not quite sure which I prefer. Like I've always really enjoyed OC insertion but I am absolutely adoring these fanfics that are just canon characters somewhere else. 

And like beyond the stories/story elements, there are a lot of differences within the community as well. Like Wattpad feels more like a social media and writing app whereas Ao3 (to me) feels like solely a writing website. And I think a lot of that has to do with the fact that they don't have an app. Like it's solely website which can be a little frustrating. ALSO! They don't save your place in books so if you take a break and mistakenly close out the tab, you've now lost your place in the story which is incredibly frustrating to say the least. 

Also lack of media. For better or for worse. There aren't any covers or cast gifs or anything like that. Just title and story. For the most part I enjoy making covers but like I'm writing here. Even tho

It can be kinda stressful to make covers. Cause I feel like I need to somehow come across the perfect picture and then use the right font in the right place in the right color and if even one of those things is off its horrible. But I also like looking at pretty covers.

I honestly don't know where I'm going anymore and this has no point so yeah.

Enjoy some fun ao3 tags: