So you want to write something but don’t want your name tied to it? Maybe it’s something controversial, maybe it’s something personal, maybe it’s simply something for a fandom you don’t normally write for. Regardless of why you might post something Anon, here’s how you do it.
When you go into Post New there’s a section called: Associations.
This is where you can make a set of stories a series, make a fic chaptered, gift a story to someone, and give inspiration credit to other stories.
It’s also where you can participate in events and such by adding your story to a collection. Those who have participated in events are likely familiar with the box labeled: Post to Collections / Challenges.
You’ll need to type anonymous into the box and it should bring up something like below:
Now I’m not 100% sure these all do the same thing but the one highlighted “Anonymous (anonymous)”, I know for sure makes your fics anonymous.
Now when you post it, no one will know it was you. To you the story will appear to read Anonymous [Your Ao3 Name] but to everyone else it will only read as Anonymous.
If you ever want to reclaim your story you just go into Edit and hit the x button next to the collection.
Your story will be removed from the collection and you’ll be reveled as the author.
How to Orphan a work:
There’s two ways to do this:
1) Orphaning one fic
You hit the Edit button on the fic and over on the far right will be a button that says Orphan Work.
Hit that and you’ll be taken to a warning page about how you can’t undo orphaning a story.
At the bottom will be an option to hide your username (pesud) or to leave it attached to the work.
The first option is the orphan_account. This adds your fic to the countless others under the same name.
The second option is username (orphan_account). This makes a new account which all stories orphaned by you will be posted under so long as you select to keep your pesud.
2) Orphan everything
Go to preferences. Hit Orphan Works and you can orphan all your stories at once. I can’t say whether you can choose to keep your pesud or not this way as I’ve never done it like this.
Bonus: Idk why but I orphaned a series of fics while they were under Anonymous and they still appear under Anonymous and I think its because even when you orphan a work it stays in the collections it’s posted to.
So, why am I telling you this?
Because people love your stories and if you ever need a clean break or something, here’s two options that allow you a clean cut and your fans to keep the stories they love.
Of course if you still find deleting to be the best option that’s up to you but as someone who has in the past written both anonymously and has orphaned works, I figured I’d share.
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