Am I the only one who does this?

[krait]

One of the most influential factors in whether I read an unfinished work is the presence of a defined number of parts. I'm far more likely to read a story that's at "Chapter 3/18" than one that's at "Chapter 3/?" ...and I often 'save' or 'subscribe' to fics but hold off on reading them until that finish-point estimate goes up!

Comments

[soc_puppet]

Honestly, I've just been keeping "Complete only" checked on AO3. I rarely venture out of it, except for specific authors or kinks or, occasionally, ridiculously high "kudos" counts. If I didn't keep it checked, though, that is totally what my strategy would be. Having left unfinished more than a few fics in my day, I like even the suggestion that there's an end in sight.

[krait]

Heh, the "Complete Only" is tempting, yep. Unfortunately, attempting to use it in my current main fandom would result in me finding very little to read; new/ongoing fandom means lots and lots of incomplete fic. D:

Plus, I do (or did; it's slowing down) a fair amount of reading on the kink meme, where there is no "Complete Only" tickybox or kudos counts, so the numbering is often all I have to work from. :D AND, incidentally, where authors are anonymous and quality (and practice) varies widely, so I find that little indicator of "this author has some reasonable notion of where this story's going" to be very reassuring!

[dancing_serpent]

That totally depends. If it's a pairing I like and the summary sounds really good, and the freeform tags contain some of my favourite tropes...then I'll start reading a "Chapter 2/?" WIP anyway and subscribe to it.

[krait]

Heh, yes, there are certain pairings coughcoughRose/Eridanforexamplecough where I'm much more likely to risk it! Likewise certain tropes.

Yes...

[ysabetwordsmith]

I'm more likely to read if there's an estimate of chapters, too. Especially if, like me, the writer has finished the piece and is merely posting it in parts. That's why I distinguish if something is already done, as opposed to things like the poetic series which are usually storylines-in-progress even though individual poems are complete.

[tropicsbear]

I'm more likely to read the WIP with the defined number of chapters. You kind of have an idea of what you're in for? Unlike the "3/?" one that could go one forever.

[krait]

Yes! I think a lot of it is the uncertainty - with "3/?" I have no clue, even with all other considerations aside, whether I'm looking at something that has enough plot to hold my interest! Without any indication whether it's part 3 of 5 or part 3 of 50, I could be wasting my time reading what's basically an intro to a story, rather than a story proper.

I don't MIND if it's 3/50 (though I still might wait till there's a bit more, just to get me past the intro feeling), I just want to know: am I about to read a three quick character/scene summaries, or am I going to be caught up in an intense plot that's halfway (or more) complete? Am I reading an expanded kinkmeme prompt, or boarding an emotional rollercoaster with bonus cliffhanger?

Both of those things have their points of appeal, but not knowing makes me much less likely to commit, because what if it's not the one I'm currently in the mood for?

[pennie_dreadful]

If it's on LJ or DW, I check the dates on the chapters to see how frequently it gets updated. On AO3 I just take a chance, given that the only fandoms I ever seem to get interested in are usually relatively small (or very small), so I'll take what I can get.

[krait]

Oooh, I didn't even think about size of fandom, but you're right; if there was a "Chapter 2/?" fic in the Foreigner fandom, I'd be all over that regardless of uncertainty, because. Foreigner!

Sometimes I forget about my own small fandoms, because I've sort of had two huge ones in a row (there was a big gap in between them, in which I made do with a smattering of tiny fandoms, but not one in particular and not a new one).

[spaceoperadiva]

I do that too. I have a fear of Chapter 3/??, after having read several ?? chapter stories that were abandoned by their authors. Really people, I have enough abandoned stories of my own without having yours stuck in my head as well!

[krait]

. Really people, I have enough abandoned stories of my own without having yours stuck in my head

Hahahaha, yes, very much this! If I want to be frustrated at a fic with a promising premise that never gets updated, well, I can just go stare at my Dave/Sollux thing some more. :P

[cluegirl]

Nope. I do that too -- but I'll usually sample the first couple of chapters, to be sure I like the writer's prose and characterizations, unless I'm already familiar with their work.