it probably says something about me as a fanfic writer that i am the most delighted by comments expressing that they think the base concept is way too out there, or is very bland, or has been overdone, or is just nonsensical, or usually is something they hate, or should not work, or is otherwise unsuitable

BUT

B U T

THAT I'VE DONE IT IN A WAY THEY ARE ENJOYING IMMENSELY

oh man

those are my favourite fanfic comments ever

tbh i feel like most of what that says about me is that it reveals one of my main motivations for writing fanfic is.... frustration, lol

like, an idea might be popular, commonplace, or even canon! but i feel like so much meat has been left on the bone that i have to get in there and ACTUALLY CARVE UP THOSE TASTY BITS for people to dine on

for example - yeah i like zutara but i like it mainly as a "the gaang does their own thing for a decade, then zuko and katara meet up and have a big mutual OH FUCK WHEN DID YOU GET HOT moment"

also the political aspect of zutara rarely gets addressed - how does the fire nation take to this? (how does it work with the rebuilt southern water tribe?)

also also what are the ramifications of the fire nation spending 100 years as a colonial war economy and then having that Abruptly Halt