So, you started writing or reading fanfic because you loved it. Maybe there was a story you read, saw on TV or in a movie you couldn't get enough of so you turned to fanfic for more. Maybe you love stories and you want to tell stories of your own borrowing a little from established stories. Fanfic was the place to go.
It's not that place anymore
In the last few months the site has degraded significantly in its user experience. The email no longer works no matter how many times you opt in. That means you no longer get notifications when there are updates or someone PMs you. It used to be the notifications were permanent and then they changed that to you had to re-opt in every 6 months. Then some idiot changed it to every 3 months. Now they don't even bother to email anyone and try to blame it on the user for not opting in.
DO THEY KNOW THE EMAIL IS BROKEN
Yes, they are aware of this problem and have made absolutely no comment. They don't use X aka Twitter or at least they haven't in more than a year. It's been broken for two months. Why haven't they fixed this?
WRITERS GET NOTHING INCLUDING READER INFO
Writers give their work FREE to this site. They in turn sell ads that make them MILLIONS based off our FREE work. We used to be able to see how many readers were reading our stories. NOT ANYMORE. The traffic counters have been broken for over two months and yes they are aware of this.
THIS SITE IS GOING UNDER PLAN FOR A FUTURE WITHOUT IT
Why would a site not provide email and reader info to its users? They know these features are broken and have done nothing to fix them. Would you put money into fixing a site you were going to abandon?
Competition in fanfic is intense. Wattpad is now the cool place to write. Quotev is an up and coming site as well. And there is always tumblr.
This site must be going under so they are just barely holding it together until they pull the plug.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Contact fanfic support and demand answers. Demand to know if they are closing the site, but don't expect them to tell you the truth. Ask them if the site isn't closing why they aren't fixing the problems on the site. We're (we are a group of concerned readers and writers) betting that they will not respond to you either individually or via X.
MAKE PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
If this site doesn't provide assurances and system fixes for the problems, we'll update our profile page that will list the different options for readers and writers who will need to find a new home. We'll look at all the different free sites and help everyone find another option either because this site is closing or because its failure to provide essential services like email and readers stats for writers has made this site a misery to read and write on.
THEY DON'T OWE US ANYTHING
Quit being a docile little sheep. YES, THEY DO OWE US. Did you miss the part about the free work we supply for them to use to make money? They owe us a site with basic functions. That's all we ask.
SWAMP THEM WITH EMAILS DEMANDING TO KNOW IF THEY ARE GOING UNDER AND IF THAT'S WHY THEY AREN'T FIXING THE SITE. DEMAND ANSWERS NOW.
DON'T SEND THEM ONE EMAIL. EVERYONE NEEDS TO SEND THEM EMAILS EVERY SINGLE DAY. IF WE STICK TOGETHER, WE CAN GET ANSWERS AND CHANGES.
LET'S GET THIS DONE TOGETHER.