#ao3 search

[destinationtoast]

Is there a way to find the longest running fics on AO3? ie. the fics with the longest time elapsed between first posted and last updated, not abandoned works. I say this because I was checking out your Fandom Stats AO3 series and I noticed that it'd been updating for over a decade! That's a lot of commitment.

Oh, great question! And the answer is... yes, sort of? But it might not actually include the results you're most interested in (more on that in a minute).

I searched for works that have been updated in the past month, and then sorted them by when they were first posted -- in ascending order. This gives us results that start with works that have the biggest possible gap between the dates of first posting and last updating. The first three works on the page right now have the following dates:

Published:2009-07-08; Updated:2024-01-15

Published:2009-07-20; Completed:2024-01-06

Published:2009-11-19; Completed:2024-01-14

Published in 2009, updated in 2024 -- that's a giant span! But here are some caveats, which mean that these are not necessarily works that have been updating frequently across that whole stretch of time:

Authors can change the publication date, so that date doesn't necessarily reflect when the work was first uploaded. (I backdated many of the works in my Fandom Stats series on AO3 to when they were first posted to Tumblr.) However, some authors have backdated their publication date all the way to 1950, and those works don't showing up at the start of the results when sorting AO3 in ascending order of date posted -- which makes me suspect that these results are truly be sorted by the date first uploaded, rather than the edited publication date. Meaning I suspect the above works may truly have been first posted to AO3 in 2009 and then updated in 2024! Wow.

...However, based on the author notes, many of the works posted in 2009 and updated in 2024 were completed years ago. The author recently added some new notes or reorganized/ reformatted, but was not updating the story in the intervening years.

These results don't include any series. I don't know of any way to do a similar search for series.

We can also do things like repeat the earlier search but require lots of chapters -- e.g., we can only include works with more than 50 chapters. More chapters might give us a higher probability of works that have actually been updating a bunch over a long period of time. But there's no foolproof way to find the kinds of works you're after. Still, it's pretty fun to peruse some of the things that were first posted ages ago and recently updated! Enjoy. :)

#ao3 #ao3 search #long-running fanworks #asks #toasty replies #how to #op #50

[olderthannetfic]

Whoops. Just deleted my post. Go me.

I wanted to pop this out because I think it’s an interesting cultural point. Many die-hard AO3 fans probably don’t even think about this because they never use search.

How do “all” fic archives work? Obviously, you go to the fandom listing, which is probably by media type, click on your fandom, and add whatever kind of metadata filtering the site allows. That’s how it always works, right? Right?

Or at least that’s what you think if you’re from the Before Times.

On AO3, you don’t even have to start from the fandom tag. You can start from any tag and filter from there.

My guess is that a lot of people, like me, start typing in AO3′s URL and click on whatever autocompletes. In my case, The Rightish Reasons in BTS fandom. From there, they click on tags in the header to take them where they want to go, assuming their autocomplete wasn’t their favorite tag in the first place.

Here’s my front page, for example:

Once at the tag, you’ve got the SIDEBAR, which is the real reason nobody likes search.

The default sort is by date updated, but you can pick others:

If you want to add ~engagement~ back into your searching, you can sort by kudos/comments/bookmarks/hits, but it’s not the default.

Lots of people leave it in date order and just exclude or include tags to get results down to a reasonable number of pages.

This sidebar and the paginated view of everything that you get by starting from a tag beats AO3′s work search page and every other fic archive’s search by leagues.

As for the ‘best match’ thing, it’s something like closest text string match. It doesn’t look at engagement. It doesn’t have any parameters that the site admins tinker with to try to influence user behavior. But people in the replies weren’t even thinking about it because they literally never look at that page.

#ao3 #ao3 meta #fandom meta #ao3 searching #ao3 search

[derseprinceoftbd]

I'm looking for an EriSol fic. Humanstuck; I can recall an Indian Sollux, and presume a white Eridan. Eridan (teenage?) lives with his WASPy family (Cronus, mother, father) and wants to bring someone deeply annoying as a boyfriend for a family dinner, being willing to pay for this; he mentions this to Karkat, who sends him Sollux. Money is discussed several times. Not short. The fic was available on A03 on 08/08/23, when I read it. Finished. Author has other EriSol works with same racial headcanons and general style.

Edit: work found in comments. Issue was Humanstuck was untagged.

#erisol #eridan #eridan ampora #sollux captor #sollux #Homestuck #homestuck eridan #homestuck sollux #ao3 #ao3 search #fanfic search #help find fanfic #humanstuck

[cryptid-crow-writing]

Okay. I’m laughing cause I keep coming across AO3 things here on Tumblr. What’s so funny? Simple. The way I sort fics on AO3 when looking for something new to read.

How do I sort them? Simple: I’ll show you. 😂 {Brackets for non-specific specifics}

And you can also see why I’m huffy that AO3 (Blessed be their staff cause I know it’s all volunteer work) hasn’t added a [Filter Out] section yet.

I will use this set up for searching works frequently. I’ve actually found some really good works this way. Cause it isn’t by “popularity” it’s by the amount of words and when the latest update was. It gives me newer works (Cause I have honestly gone through so many at this point) and with novel length material already finished. …. Please keep in mind I finish around 90,000 words in a day or two, so I need the extreme enrichment.

#ao3 search #ao3 #ao3 tags #ao3 stuff #ao3 reader #ao3 chaos #over 90000 words a day #i read way to much #yes that is with breaks #fanfiction #fanfic #fanfics #I post this while on an undertale kick #so much reading #i probably need help #i probably need sleep #i don’t care #this is how i search #ao3 works

[trying414]

OH MY GOD THIS IS SO HELPFUL AND I HAD NO IDEA IT EXISTED

I can search my bookmarks so much easier now 😭😭😭

#ao3 #ao3feed #archive of our own #ao3 reader #ao3 recs #ao3 writer #ao3 bookmarks #ao3 search #ao3 fanfic #ao3 link #ao3 stuff #ao3 admin post

[vladdyissues]

Where can I find older, taller, stronger, Top, Dom Danny content?

#danny phantom #top danny fenton #ao3 #ao3 search #tag filtering #if it's art you're looking for i suggest rule 34 or twitter #unfortunately art is seldom tagged for top/bottom or D/s on those sites #asks

[roncheg]

where is the exclude tag option on the ao3 search I can't find it I just brace myself for the horny people and scroll

You need to go to the fandom tag with all the works - just do a simple search for a fandom and/or click the tag below any fic-

and then click "Filters" button on top of the fandom tag page -

A "Sort and Filter" pop-up will appear on the right and there you'd find Include and Exclude options❤️

#ao3 #ao3 search #ao3 filters #sort and filter feature my beloved

[azucar-en-sobre]

Hello, sorry to bother.

Was wondering if someone could help me or direct me to help.

I'm looking for a fic, it went like this.

Bucky goes to avengers tower after pulling Steve from the river I think, he doesn't know almost anything, but he knows it is safe with him. Steve's cares for him, Bucky is mostly unresponsive, but he likes a yellow blanket and a lil cactus I think.

The yellow blanket I remember because bucky says something like "yellow, like the sun".

It wasn't so so long, but not sure if it was multichaptered.

Can someone help? Thanks!

#stucky #bucky barnes #steve rogers #ao3 search

[hchollym]

I’ve been searching desperately for this one ao3 fic (it used to be a comfort fic) and just wanted to see if you, or anyone who follows you might know what it is/might have a copy downloaded.

It’s a Percy Weasley was a spy fic. During the war, his boyfriend is a person from the ministry who he suspects is ordered to keep an eye on him. When the tides change in favour of the resistance, Percy warns him to flee.

Do you happen to know it? I think it may have been taken down but maybe not! Or maybe someone still has a copy!

Thank you so, so much!

Hmm, the only fic that I can think of that sounds remotely similar is Twenty-nine by Endrina; Percy's not actually a spy in it, but the Ministry suspects that he is, so his "boyfriend" keeps an eye on him, and Percy warns him to leave when the tides turn.

Anyone else know of any other possibilities? 🤔

#ask me #tothelighthouse1 #percy weasley #percy weasley fic #ao3 search #hp

[this-is-not-a-slow-burn]

RE: This post about AO3 searches and filtering

I see a lot of people confused about the search function vs filtering results. Lots of "how do you get those options?!" "I literally don't see those??" when us olds try to explain how they work.

Biggest thing: Don't use the search feature.

It does not have all of the filtering options that work filters do. Or rather, it's not set up the same.

Caveat: this post is all based on desktop web NOT phone browser. I never use AO3 on my phone because it's a pain in the ass. (and there is no official AO3 app) It should work similarly on a phone but your mileage may vary.

Pretty much all AO3 vets use the works filtering. How do you get to works filtering? Many ways! But you have to get a page of results first. Best way to do that is to just pick a jumping off point. SO. Don't use the search on the front page! (I mean you can, but it's not as user friendly as the works filtering) The way I do it is:

Go to the Fandoms menu, click All Fandoms, (or a category) and then from there pick the fandom you want to read.

Then you can use the filters to narrow down the list of fics it returns.

Other cool shit you can do:

Personally I have a pretty small number of fandoms and ships so I just use the favorites feature. See that "Favorite tag" button? It will add that tag to a list on the front page like this.

If you favorite a ship tag, it will make a link that takes you right to the page of all the fics with that pairing tagged. Then you can just filter to your heart's content.

You can do this with ANY tag btw, not just parings.

Now go out there and read all the M/M/F puppy play Barney Miller/Shadow and Bone crossover modern AU H/C wingifc you want my friend. It's easier than you think.

#AO3 tagging #AO3 search #AO3 instructions #How to use AO3 #AO3 #And now you know!

[ao-ihinata]

some days I think I've mastered ao3 but days like today I'm in shambles because I don't know how to filter everything out and find Eugene Fitzherbert/Rapunzel, alternative universe, modern setting, no Disney or Pixar crossovers, Tangled 2010 exclusive fics...

#ao3 #ao3 search #tangled #tangled 2010 #rapunzel #eugene #eugene fitzherbert #help wanted and needed #fyp #flynn rider

[twocandles]

On ao3 you can include the date in your search, so if the fics end at Dec 2020 you can put date posted before Dec 2020 in order to get the next 5000 or whatever. Repeat repeat. But I'm not sure why you'd need that feature since it's pretty difficult to get through 5000 fics? Older fics come up if you search by anything other than "date posted/updated"

Ah, thank you, I didn't think of that.

@bug-catcher-in-viridian-forest

#ao3 #ao3 search #candles replies #anon

[faeriekit]

"This fic was ai generated—" Cool, so lemme block you real quick

#the ethics are whack but more importantly you didn't even want to write it?? who is it even for?? not you? not me? #you didn't even have enough interest in the premise to take a crack at it?? then who cares? #please don't populate in my search results I'm looking for things that people wrote because they liked something #ao3

[piniatafullofblood]

I’m looking for a fic that I want to reread that’s an irondad fic and Peter got kidnapped by Quentin beck. On ao3 ofc

trigger warning I’m reading some FUCKED UP shit so

Beck told Tony that he’d give him back after eight months but when he gave him back he lost two fingers and an eye. in the beginning of the book there was also baby pigeons that Peter was obsessed with but could never convince Tony to go and see but Tony goes and sees them all the time after

oh also when beck gave him back he was dropped off in an alley with a phone and a gun and told to just off himself instead and he has like conditioned mantras that are like ‘I’m stupid, I’m ugly, I’m all messed up,’ and he keeps repeating that. He also says that ‘oh I shouldn’t have called’ over and over again. Also while Peter was escaping there was a river that he fell into and almost drowned. The first time Morgan say Peter she rushed into his hospital room before she was meant to and it was a bad experience all around.

at the end of the story beck takes Morgan with the intent on doing that like for the rest of Tony’s life, taking one of his friends for eight months and giving them a five month respite only to do it again but they figure out that he’s hidden in a national park in an illegal house that’s been camouflaged by trees and they get Morgan back and kill beck after only two days. Oh also he gets in and takes Morgan by camouflaging himself Loki style as happy. Also Tony keeps thinking about the phrase ‘technicolor violence’ and I think chapter seven is named that.

I cannot find it for the life of me but it’s like close to 100k words and it changed my life so

edit: found it! Frathersoft by KatinaMoon. https://archiveofourown.org/works/42584922

#looking for a fic #tom holland peter parker #iron dad #fanfiction #ao3fic #ao3 search

[frownyalfred]

Reminders for new ao3 users (in no particular order):

- filter your searches like you would on a library website or in an online catalogue

- don’t post placeholders, fic searches, or recommendations as fics. DON’T! It’s against ao3 TOS

- there is no algorithm. ao3 sorts by date posted/updated unless you filter with specific search criteria

- ao3 is a non profit. that means it doesn’t sell ads to make money — it only survives on donations. this is why it can show you so many fics without ever flashing an ad or pop up at you!

- report fics that break TOS when you see them (I.e., placeholder fics, searches) to help other users navigate better

- the tag “dead dove, do not eat” doesn’t equate to gore/awfulness automatically. it is a complementary tag that enhances current tags. E.g., if the fic is tagged “gore” and “dead dove, do not eat” the author really wants you to mind the gore tag

- most fandoms have a variation of “no beta, we die like (x character)” and they all link back to the “No beta” tag

- publishing a new fic sometimes means it won’t show up in the fandom/pairing tag for a few minutes

- subscribers receive update emails at different times, depending on when you update/publish your fic. there’s no good way to predict when an e-mail will be sent — it can be in 30 seconds, or two hours later

- some fics are restricted by authors to those with ao3 accounts only. if you see a blue lock in the upper right corner, that fic is only visible to logged in ao3 users

- you can block commenters now! this didn’t use to be a thing

- updating a fic just to stay at the top of the pairing tag/fandom tag is a dick move. unless you’re legitimately editing or adding chapters, this just annoys readers and fellow authors, and people will skip over your fic

#if someone else already has something like this lmk #but I think this bears repeating #ao3 #archive of our own #I keep seeing placeholder or search fics #and it’s driving me insane #fic #fanfic #fandom #fanfiction #new ao3 users #ao3 tos

[ao3-crack]

(x)

#archive of our own #ao3 stuff #ao3 quotes #archive of our own quotes #fanfic #fanfic quotes #funny #ao3 #ao3 tags #the fbi is watching me through microscopic cameras because of my search history