A word about linking to fic at Ao3....

[conuly]

Every fic has, really, a few different ways to link to it.

Many people link to a fic with a URL that looks like this: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24138799/chapters/58120888

Do you see that word chapters in the URL? This link will take me directly to the first chapter in chapter-by-chapter view, which would be great if I wanted to read the chapter-by-chapter view.

Personally, I prefer the view full work option: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24138799?view_full_work=true

However, I get that many people don't like that option. You can accommodate everybody at once (or everybody with an account, anyway) by linking directly to this option: https://archiveofourown.org/works/24138799

When you do it that way, the site will send it to whichever view you have saved in your preferences.

Anyway, yes. This is my formal request that everybody stops linking to the chapter-by-chapter view and just links to the fic directly. If you tend to post the URLs bare, rather than as links you'll see that the URL is a smidge shorter than the other two options as well, because you don't include anything after the work's own ID.

Comments

[mindstalk]

Chaotic Evil option: link to a comment.

[conuly]

What monster would do that without a good reason!?

[bluapapilio]

I've accidentally done this before. 😅

[dine]

I too prefer view full work, and always link to that.

but thanks, bc I didn't even know you could set a preference - I've now done so!

[conuly]

Ao3 is missing a whole lot of settings and preferences that I'd think would be standard - like being able to sort fics by more than one language, or to set that you'll always get only fics in those languages - but at least this is an option.

[mindstalk]

I want EPUB download to put numbers on the chapter titles.

[conuly]

We can dream!

[highlyeccentric]

OH I did not know about the third option. It's been ages since I needed to link to a fic, but I'll keep that in mind for future me.

[conuly]

I gotta assume most people don't or they'd all use it more often.

[bluapapilio]

Oh, I'll pay attention from now on! :D

[conuly]

:)