Sixteen Years. As many of you know, I learned the ropes of writing fiction in fandom. I’ve always left my old stories, even the ones that make me cringe, posted. It’s sort of like … proof of where I came from, how I developed, what I achieved. But it’s also because I love those stories. I’m proud of them.
Forthright’s Doku-sona (from the Dokuga website)
Gift!art by FoxOfTwilight (kinda how we met!)
This week, I received a flurry of emails from folks because fanfiction.net, the only site where all of my stories are posted, is teetering on the verge of extinction. Abandoned by its administration, the dinosaur may soon vanish, taking everything with it. And my long-time readers, the ones who go back to regularly reread my fanfics, don’t want to lose their favorite stories.
It’s a shame. I’ve often joked over the years that fanfic writers are paid in reviews. Oh, there’s a stats page, too. My numbers are crazy. If you do searches for the most-reviewed and most-favorited stories in the InuYasha fandom, I have 6 titles in the top 20.
- forthright is on the favorites list of 6,700~ members
- my accumulated stories add up to over a million (1,230,000+) words
- my most popular story, Unspoiled, is on the favorites list of 10,785 members
- my most reviewed story, Lord Charming, has 24 million reads and has just shy of 20,000 reviews (uh, that’s spread over 800 chapters, for context)
Assorted gift!art | ARTISTS: lila-me, rikayu-chan, j_lianne, janey-jane
Oodles more art on dA: Forthright Fanclub & Unspoiled Fanclub
I’m so grateful that some of my long-time readers followed me here … and trust my storytelling enough to have picked up the Amaranthine Saga. In a very real way, I wrote the series to tickle my fandom friends. A “-miko” for every main character, familiar plot set-ups (an enslaved butler, two janitors with a big secret, a hoarder and a home organizer, an accidental engagement involving a comb, and even a marooned wolf on an island with a resort), and borrowed settings (apple orchard, college campus, Founder’s Coffee Shop, and even Stately House). And Hisoka-sensei, of course (he’s an OC from Unspoiled). Early on, I used to say that I plotted the entire Saga because he deserved a story of his own.
I’ve been asked (again and again) to post my fics to AO3 (An Archive Of Our Own), which is where all the cool kids hang out these days. I did claim a profile, which is “forthrightly” since someone audaciously snagged my penname ahead of me. Here’s a link. If the worst occurs, I’ll migrate my stories to AO3. Nothing of importance will be lost.
“Miroku” | Commissioned Art by PurpleRebecca
I mean it when I say … thank you for supporting my stories wherever you find them. And happy anniversary to me! ::confetti toss::
FORTHRIGHT 
Oh wow, had no idea that FF.net might be going away. I am a lifelong Inuyasha fan. For some reason it’s one of the fandoms I’ll go back to when I want to read a good fanwork. One of my friends mentioned your works are some of her favorite stories, about a few years ago. That’s how I discovered your fanfics. I fell in love with many of your stories. And that was how I stumbled onto this blog and your original fiction. 🙂
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I mean, the rumors have been circulating for years. But the messages I received all pointed toward “this time for sure!”
It’s fascinating how we find each other! Here’s to forging connections!
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I can’t believe i have been reading your stories this long, and as it was so long ago you still remain one of my absolute favorites. I have hooked my husband into your world of story telling both with the Amaranthine Saga and our favorite Rock Sculptors. You are a legend and so glad to be with you this ride. Happy Anniversary Forthy, well deserved, and very much appreciated!
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I sometimes feel like I raised some of you. (Fangirls start young!)
I’m glad to have some honest-to-goodness Reeves type reavers among my readers. ::twinkle::
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Happy anniversary dear Forthy! So glad to have stumbled across you many, many (many 🙈) moons ago in the Inuyasha fandom. Some part of me is sad to think of the end of ff.net …..many of my formative teen years were spent on that site, devouring fic as fast as humanly possible. Alas, time marches on. So glad you’re in my future, and can’t wait to read the next ‘miko.’
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Yes! To quote the horse clans, “Onward!”
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Fortunately, AO3 has the ability to pull your stories from FF so you don’t have to copy and paste each chapter. You may have to clean up the formatting, though.
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Oh. That *would* help. There’s so much!
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It’s been so long, and every inch a pleasure!! I’ve been reading your works since I was in high school and they’ve always made my life brighter. Just finished a re-read of most of your finished stories, though I admit I’m still quietly hoping you’ll finish those left behind. ;v; (“Faint Heart” and “When You Wish Upon a Shard” are both delightful, just like all the others. TTvTT)
I have followed you on AO3, and somehow managed to claim the first gift spot! Maybe my attempts at emulation will amuse you. ❤
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Happy anniversary! I’m so glad to hear that your stories will migrate if/when FF.net goes down. I started reading Inuyasha fic in the early 2000s so when your fics started showing up, well, I was in love. Thank you so much for sharing your writing with us.
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WOW, the MEMORIES. That one time I hopped in Dokuga chat and my favorite author was just CHILLIN in there.
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Happy Anniversary Dear Forthy! FanFic going away! Wow! I originally found you there. I can’t remember if I stumbled upon your writing or was guided to your stories. But I have been happy ever since. I did go back and reread Froth (one of my very favorite stories) yesterday. Sigh…still Wonderful! Thank you for your wonderful gifts.
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Congratulations on your anniversary~~ Recently I learned you had published so I bought a copy of Tsumiko, because I really wanted to hold your story in my hand. I can’t wait to read it! Much to my surprise, when I came to your website, I discovered this post, where you included one of the art pieces I made back in the day. It’s such a delight to see it again after all these years (and it warms my heart that you still remembered it 😁). Looking at it reminds me of how much joy your ff.net stories gave me. Thank you so much for all you’ve written 💛💛💛
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Well, hey! I’m always happy when my fandom friends find their way here. When I was preparing this post, yours was the first fanart that came to mind to represent Impeccable. ::twinkle:: I think every author cherishes the gift!art their stories inspire. I hope you’ll enjoy Tsumiko, which was definitely written with fandom readers in mind. ::hug::
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Happy anniversary! I’ve been a fan for a long time and it’s been amazing seeing your work get the recognition it deserves, both in fandom and out as you publish original works, and as a stranger I’m super proud of you haha. Cheers to all the years and to the ones yet to come!
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Aww! Thank you so much! ::glomp::
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